Charles had no intention of making things hard for Kurama, so he watched him leave and did nothing.
Taking care of Gouki on the road hadn't cost Charles any time—he didn't even show up late for work.
He found Yusuke Urameshi and tossed him the Demon Orb, telling him to pass along a message to Koenma to hurry up with the intel Charles wanted.
Nothing else happened the rest of the day. Even the little familiars someone had loosed around the school didn't affect Charles's mood.
After clocking out as usual, Charles came home to find Stella busy in the kitchen.
He loosened his tie and sat at the table, watching Stella—who looked very much the housewife.
People say cooking is the art of flame, but Charles—a man who could control fire with ease—had no talent for cooking at all.
What he made was merely edible; at best, the taste earned a "not bad."
Truth be told, Stella didn't have much talent for cooking either, but to be a good girlfriend she'd poured a lot of time and effort into learning.
Charles didn't think a girlfriend had to be good at cooking, nor did he fuss about "good wife, good mother," but since she insisted, he could only support her.
Dinner was steak—one of the few dishes Stella was confident in. With good meat, as long as you control the heat, it won't taste bad.
Stella had actually been studying Chinese dishes to suit Charles's palate, but the results so far weren't great.
She was already considering becoming a chef in the next world if she got the chance.
They enjoyed a warm dinner and caught up on the day.
Afterward, Charles set the clean plates on the rack and said, "Tomorrow's a day off. Want to go somewhere?"
Sprawled on the sofa with a face mask on and a steady supply of chips, Stella said, "Sure! The Fire Dragon Crew's development is on track lately—I don't need to mind it.
I hear a new arcade opened on the next street. Let's go check it out tomorrow!"
Wiping his hands dry, Charles walked over. "It's a plan. But do you even like video games? I've never seen you play any."
Stella's hand froze halfway to her mouth. No way could she admit she and Shizuku Kurogane had played a certain game commonly called a "lewd game" back at Hagun Academy.
Shizuku preferred ones with a brother-sister angle, while Stella liked a title whose protagonist looked uncannily like Charles.
In fact, the developer liked to model characters after famous Blazers, so the MC really was based on Charles.
There was also a character based on Ikki Kurogane. Rumor had it there was even a hidden taboo route where the MC and that character…
Let's just say Charles's reputation had been quietly tarnished without his knowledge. Good thing he didn't touch that stuff—otherwise the developer wouldn't even have time to write a will.
Charles didn't notice Stella's suspicious silence and started planning the next day.
The weather cooperated—the next day was bright and sunny, perfect for going out. After getting ready, they headed to the arcade.
Even in this era, gaming had developed to where it didn't differ much from later times. Aside from tech limits making many games less polished, most classics were already around.
With their physical abilities and reaction speed, Charles and Stella handled most games with ease.
After dragging a scowling Stella off the dance machine, they played several rounds of classic fighters.
Then, just before Stella could punch a claw machine to pieces, Charles snagged a plush in time, and the two went to find lunch.
Charles picked a restaurant. Strangely, despite the lunch rush, it was empty.
Only one table was occupied in the large space, and the man at it was facing the entrance; Charles and Stella saw him as soon as they walked in.
He was a tall man even sitting down, with long hair combed back and a conspicuous scar over his left eye.
Though he wore a crisp black suit, the deep, unfathomable air about him wasn't that of an ordinary salaryman.
Stella, who'd been joking with Charles a moment ago, turned serious. "Looks like he's here specifically for us."
Charles felt the same—and he recognized the man.
Sakyo, a bona fide big shot in the underworld—big enough to bankroll his own team at the Dark Tournament.
The so-called underworld wasn't just the yakuza; it encompassed everything not meant for ordinary eyes.
Sakyo was the kind of figure who could sway the entire underworld's currents. A man like him commanded wealth on the order of a developed nation's annual budget—rich enough to rival a country.
Sakyo himself was more complicated still—Charles had never understood the logic behind wanting to open a gateway to the Demon World.
He wasn't afraid of him, though. In the end, Sakyo was only human. And while ruthless, he cared about aesthetics.
So Charles and Stella sat across from him.
Sakyo took the cigarette from his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself. Sakyo—call me a businessman. I've long wanted to meet the leader of the Fire Dragon Crew, so I waited for you here.
To make up for showing up uninvited, lunch is on me. Order whatever you like."
Charles took the menu from the waiter but didn't open it. "Then we won't be shy—but let's be clear before we eat.
If you can spare time from your busy schedule to see us, it's not just to make acquaintances. Say what you came to say."
Sakyo smiled. "I hear you've been gathering intel on Tsurugane Genzō. Interested in him as well?"
Charles nodded, enlightened. "So you're here to warn us not to poach your prey?"
Sakyo wagged a finger. "No. I'm here to propose cooperation. I doubt you care about Tsurugane's money.
That gives us a basis to work together. In return, I'll help you take over his seat in the Black Club."
Charles twirled the menu between his fingers. "Sounds like a win-win. I've no reason to refuse."
"Then here's to a pleasant partnership. I won't intrude on your cozy afternoon—excuse me."
He stood, offered a slight bow, and left without hesitation.
Watching his back disappear, Stella said, "Why does that feel… off?"
"Of course it's off," Charles laughed. "He said 'cooperate' but never said what he wants us to do."
Stella blinked. "Right—why's that?"
"Because no matter what we do, it will produce the outcome he wants. Confident guy, isn't he?"
"Then why bother with us? He'll get what he wants anyway."
"Who knows," Charles sighed.
In the original story, Sakyo hadn't partnered with Yusuke at all—he must have his own reasons this time.
Charles understood that much; he just didn't know what those reasons were.
He had no desire to parse the thinking of someone whose logic didn't run straight. As long as he still had the power to flip the table, he wasn't afraid of any scheming.
As Sakyo stepped out of the restaurant, a man even taller than him approached.
"Well?"
At Sakyo's question, the man's chiseled features shifted slightly.
"What do you mean, 'well'?"
His retort made Sakyo chuckle. "You know what I mean—and you can barely keep a lid on it, can you?"
Indeed, the man's facial muscles were taut, standing out beneath the skin—a sign that he was barely suppressing his emotions.
"Strong. So strong I'm trembling from this far away."
Sakyo lit a cigarette and smiled. "Is that so? Then you won't have to act so hard when the time comes. Still, for someone like that to show up… this world just got more interesting."
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