Volume 6 Chapter 27 The Meeting
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I’ve had my share of cringeworthy moments, but getting… excited… while Shu-shuria-kun¹ was holding me? That’s a new rock bottom. I’ll never live this down. Even Shu-shuria-kun, who’d managed to get outside, was so worried about me that she just stood there, paralyzed. We were both back in custody before I could even process my shame.
The kidnappers dragged us back to their hideout. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop-torture, interrogation, take your pick-but they didn’t even tie us up. Instead, they gave me some rough first aid, patching up my left thumb where the nail had been ripped off.
”Um… what’s going to happen to us?” I asked the guard, my voice trembling. He was wearing a tactical mask, his eyes unreadable.
”…Just stay still and you won’t get hurt,” the guard said.
It was Japanese. Just who the hell were these people?
Another masked man stepped into the room and whispered to my guard. The guard nodded and turned back to me.
”The client is almost here. Wait quietly. If you need to use the head, tell him,” the guard added, gesturing to his partner.
”ｇＪ％％パＮｗさ, Halt…” Shu-shuria-kun whimpered.
She was clinging to me, her body pressed tight against mine. Through the thin fabric of my T-shirt, I could feel the soft warmth of the Queen-sama. No, no, no. Get a grip, Halt! Do you really want to add ‘pervert’ to your list of failures? I told myself, trying to ignore the sensation.
About thirty minutes passed. My stomach was starting to growl when the quiet was shattered by a commotion outside. The “client” had arrived. I started running through the possibilities. Who stood to gain from snatching the President’s grandson and an otherworldly Queen? A foreign intelligence agency? A corporate hit squad?
The door swung open. Several men in sunglasses marched in, and my heart stopped. Handguns. They fanned out, surrounding us with military precision. I didn’t think; I just moved. I pulled Shu-shuria-kun into my chest, shielding her smaller frame with my own body.
That was when a tall, broad-shouldered Westerner stepped into the room.
”Easy now, boys! You’re scaring the guests,” the man said, his voice booming with practiced charisma.
At his word, the gunmen tucked their weapons into their jackets.
English. He was American. Was I the target after all? If they didn’t want Shu-shuria-kun, maybe I could negotiate her release.
”I’m Anderson Halt,” I declared, trying to sound braver than I felt. “But this girl has nothing to do with your politics. I’ll be your hostage. Just let her go!”
”Ah, Halt-kun. Actually, I have business with both of you,” the tall American replied, looking us over with a predatory sort of curiosity.
”With both of us? Who… who are you? How do you know about her?” I asked.
As I spoke, a sickening sense of recognition washed over me. I’d seen that face on the news. Frequently.
Ignoring my shock, the man stepped closer.
”Halt-kun, first, let me apologize for the injury. I told my people to arrange a discreet, gentlemanly introduction, but it seems there was a massive breakdown in communication. They were far too aggressive. I’m truly sorry for the fright we gave you.”
”A breakdown in communication? We thought we were being executed!” I snapped. “Who are you?!”
Then it clicked.
”Senator Spade King…” I whispered.
He was a heavyweight in my grandfather’s own party-and the man who had been loudest in Congress about investigating the “parallel world” budget. Why was he here? Had he decided to bypass the subcommittees and just steal the evidence himself?
”Forgive me. I’m late with the introductions. I believe this is our first real face-to-face, isn’t it? I’m Spade King, an old friend of your grandfather. It’s a pleasure, Halt-kun. And Shu-shuria-hime².”
”A Senator… doing this? This is insane,” I said.
”I am truly sorry. I’m still adjusting to how things are handled here in Japan. But please, understand-I never intended to harm you. I know trust is earned, but your grandfather didn’t leave me many options. I asked to pay my respects to the Princess, and he stonewalled me at every turn. He’s become quite the ‘occult’ President, hasn’t he? I felt I had to take… direct measures. My apologies for the rough hands I hired. Now, I’m sure you’re starving. Why don’t we have a meal?”
* * *
The “hideout” was actually an abandoned hotel the Senator had “requisitioned” for the meeting. We were led to a dusty dining hall and served massive, greasy hamburgers.
”Now, Halt-kun,” Senator King said between bites. “The plan was to have a quiet chat and send you on your way. But since you were hurt, I couldn’t exactly keep this ‘off the books.’ I’ve already sent a formal apology to your grandfather. You’ll be returned to your mother shortly.”
”That’s… good to hear. But why all this? What do you want from us?”
”I’ve said it before: your grandfather wouldn’t cooperate, so I made my own opportunity. I wanted to hear about the other world directly from the source. I was hoping the Princess and I could become… allies.”
”Allies with Shu-shuria? She doesn’t even have her translator. You can’t talk to her,” I pointed out. “If you wanted a meeting, you should have gone through the AWCC³.”
”A pity,” King sighed. “I’m a busy man, and I doubt I’ll have another chance like this. However, I’ve seen enough of the Princess’s character today to satisfy my curiosity.”
”Character? You kidnapped us!”
”Hahaha! You’ve got that look-‘what could this old shark possibly know?’ But Halt-kun, in my line of work, you learn to read people fast. I see how much this girl trusts you. That means if we ever negotiate with the Elves, you’re the key. Meeting you was the real win today.”
The man was a predator. A “slippery character” didn’t even cover it. He was a presidential hopeful, and I realized then that he wasn’t just investigating a budget; he was scouting for leverage.
”Well, Halt-kun, Shu-shuria-hime. It’s been a slice, but I have to get back to D.C. by morning. Your ride is outside. My men will escort you. If you ever find yourself in a tight spot… give me a call.”
He slid a gold-embossed business card across the table and walked out without looking back.
* * *
”Saran-san! ＆４ｋＰ)せｒｔ7!”
The moment we saw Saran-san waiting by the extraction vehicle, Shu-shuria-kun bolted, throwing herself into her arms.
”Halt. Welcome back to the land of the living,” my mother said, stepping out from behind the car.
”Very funny, Mom. You make it sound like I was on a tour of Gitmo.”
”You were kidnapped and lost a fingernail, Halt,” she said, her voice cracking as she pulled me into a fierce hug. “You did so well. You kept her safe.”
”Spade King… that man is a menace,” Mom muttered, her eyes hardening. “We’ll let George and your grandfather handle the fallout. For now, let’s get back to the inn and rest. Oh, but we need to see to that hand.”
As we started toward the car, Saran-san looked at us with an expression that was half-pity and half-horror.
”Um… Halt-sama? Ma’am?” Saran-san stammered. “Shu-shuria-sama is… she’s insisting that she has to marry Halt-sama immediately. She says she already gave Halt-sama the ‘most precious thing’ a Queen kid has… Halt-kun… by any chance… did you… did you two… do something?”
Saran-san’s face was so red I thought she might actually explode.
”WHAAAAT?!” I screamed.
—
Summary:
Halt and Shu-shuria are recaptured and taken to meet the mysterious ‘client,’ who is revealed to be the influential US Senator Spade King. After a meal and a tense conversation about the other world, the Senator releases them into the custody of Halt’s mother and Saran. However, a massive misunderstanding arises when Shu-shuria declares a need to marry Halt immediately after giving away a ‘precious thing.’
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Trivia:
- Halt’s grandfather is the President of the United States.
- Senator Spade King is from the same party as the President but is investigating him.
- Halt has a painful injury (torn fingernail) from the kidnapping attempt.
- Shu-shuria does not have his translation device during the meeting with the Senator.
- The ‘precious thing’ Shu-shuria gave away refers to a specific cultural item or act that Saran interprets as s*xual
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Character Insight:
Halt shows growth in his protective instincts, literally shielding Shu-shuria with his body when faced with guns. Senator King is established as a manipulative strategist who values Halt’s rapport with the Elves as political leverage.
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Behind the Scenes:
The character ‘Spade King’ serves as a foil to the President, representing a more aggressive, self-serving approach to inter-dimensional relations.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Halt – A sixteen-year-old high school sophomore living in the suburbs of Washington D.C. He is the grandson of the President of the United States and is recognized as a severe otaku by his peers. He attends a prestigious high school for children of celebrities and elite families.
• Anderson – The President of the United States and Halt’s grandfather. Known by the media as the ‘Occult President’ due to rumors of using military funds for other-world investigations.
• Saran – An elf; part of the joint team working on the Gate. A Royal Palace Guard Officer from the Zerlant Royal Family. She has very white skin, is small in stature, and is described as incredibly cute. Despite her appearance, she is a master of all martial arts and exceptionally strong. She is described as ‘stiff’ or serious.
• George – An U.S. military officer and the son of Michael Anderson, a high-ranking official. He is also the brother of Gregory. Tomori’s husband. Halt’s father and a Major General in the military.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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