RNP Page 352
Page 352
"It's less about getting lost and more about lacking a guide."
The young man shrugged.
Do you know any good restaurants nearby? I'm hungry.
Aozaki Aoko intended to just point in any direction to get rid of him, but for some inexplicable reason, she pointed to the conveyor belt sushi restaurant behind her.
"That place is pretty good, the prices are reasonable, and the ingredients are fresh."
She thought the conversation was over, but the young man took out a neatly folded 10,000 yen banknote from his pocket and handed it to her.
"This is?"
"I ask cautiously," Aozaki Aoko asked.
Chapter 437 Food Problem
"Compensation for your time."
The young man spoke casually, as if giving money to strangers was the most normal thing in the world.
Aozaki Aoko stared at the banknote, her mind in turmoil.
Ten thousand yen is equivalent to half a month's living expenses for her.
If she accepts this banknote, she can not only have a good meal, but also solve her food problem for the next few days.
On the other hand, she was well aware of what this meant—accepting the money would mean establishing some kind of connection with this suspicious person.
"I can't accept it."
Aozaki Aoko finally said, though her gaze was still fixed on the banknote.
The young man seemed to misunderstand her meaning and took out two more banknotes of the same denomination from his pocket.
"Is this enough?"
The three 10,000-yuan bills looked particularly tempting in the rain.
Aozaki Aoko felt her throat go dry; this amount of money was an astronomical sum for her.
She can buy a new school uniform, no longer worry about her food expenses at the end of the month, and can even save some money.
"I'm not..."
Aozaki Aoko wanted to explain, but her hand had already reached out uncontrollably and tightly grasped the three banknotes.
The young man showed a knowing expression.
"So, could that conveyor belt sushi restaurant be our lunch spot?"
"us?"
Aozaki Aoko suddenly looked up.
"Wait, you've misunderstood, I didn't..."
"You took my money."
The young man pointed it out calmly, his tone carrying an air of undeniable authority.
"Logically, this means you agree to be my guide, at least for today."
Aozaki Aoko opened her mouth, but couldn't find a reason to refute it.
She did receive money, and it wasn't a small amount. One of the rules of the magician's world is equivalent exchange, and she couldn't deny that the deal had been made.
"Ok."
Aozaki Aoko eventually compromised.
"But I'm only responsible for taking you out to eat; I'm not responsible for anything else."
"enough."
The young man smiled.
They walked together toward the conveyor belt sushi restaurant, with Aozaki Aoko deliberately keeping an arm's length distance.
Upon arrival, she quickly chose a seat. The conveyor belt of the sushi restaurant emitted a soft hum, and colorful sushi plates moved slowly in front of Aozaki Aoko.
She stared at the plate of tuna sushi for three seconds before finally reaching out to take it off.
The moment her fingertips touched the cool porcelain plate, she suddenly realized that her palms were slightly sweaty.
"It's really worthless."
Aozaki Aoko chuckled to herself as she placed the sushi on the small plate in front of her.
The soy sauce gleamed with an amber luster under the light. She carefully dipped a little into it with the tip of her chopsticks, afraid of staining the cuffs of her school uniform.
Since entering high school, these ordinary after-school hours have become a luxury.
Student council work, magic lessons, and that ever-filling coin purse—Aozaki Aoko sighed and put the sushi into her mouth.
The tuna oil melted on her tongue, and she involuntarily squinted her eyes.
"Looks like you're enjoying it."
The voice from the other end made Aozaki Aoko open her eyes abruptly.
Shiraishi Chuan had put down his phone at some point and was now looking at her with his chin resting on his hand.
Two plates of the most expensive bluefin tuna belly sushi were placed in front of him, and the numbers on the price tags made Aozaki Aoko's eyes twitch.
"I'm just hungry."
Aozaki Aoko calmly put down her chopsticks.
"You have a good eye for choosing."
Shiraishikawa smiled, a smile that reminded Aozaki Aoko of a cat she once owned—lazy yet cunning.
"It's rare for someone to treat us, so of course we have to choose the best."
He gracefully picked up a piece of pink fish.
"Besides, compared to the windfall you received, this expense is nothing."
Aozaki Aoko's fingers froze.
She did receive a remittance from an unknown source, the amount of which was just enough for her expenses for three months.
She had originally planned to use the meal as an excuse, but the other party had pointed it out directly.
"I do not understand what you are saying."
Aozaki Aoko lowered her head and took a sip of tea, the steam blurring her expression.
"Miss Aozaki."
Shiraishikawa suddenly lowered his voice.
"Let's be frank. I transferred that money as...consulting fees."
"consult?"
Aozaki Aoko suddenly looked up.
"I don't remember promising you anything."
The sushi plates on the conveyor belt clattered and rattled, while the child at the next table clamored for salmon roe gunkan.
Amidst the noise, Shiraishi's voice was exceptionally clear.
"A special location in Misaki City."
Chapter 438 Instinctive Reaction
Aoko Aozaki felt a chill run down her spine.
She put down her teacup, the porcelain clinking together with a crisp sound.
"If you mean tourist attractions, they are all described in the tourist brochures in front of the station."
Shiraishi Kawa shook his head and took out his phone from his pocket.
The screen displays a satellite map, with a coastline marked by a red circle.
“I’m looking for a place like this—Cape Calvina, a rocket launch site in the United States.”
"The gravity there is abnormal, and the tidal phenomena are unusual."
He swiped the screen, and the map transformed into an overhead view of Misaki City.
"100" "And as far as I know, this city also has similar... characteristics."
Aozaki Aoko's heart raced.
The distribution of spiritual veins in Misaki City is a secret guarded by the Aozaki family. How could this stranger know it?
"The aerospace industry in island nations isn't very good."
She forced herself to put on a mocking smile.
"If such a place really existed, JAXA would—"
"I'm not looking for a launch site."
Shiraishikawa interrupted her, looking directly at Aozaki Aoko.
"What I'm looking for is a surreal existence, a place out of place with this era."
He paused.
"For example, places where magic is still said to be active."
The word "magic" was like a knife piercing Aozaki Aoko's heart.
She felt the magic circuits burning slightly under her skin, a primal reaction of her body to danger.
She had to be careful and first figure out how much the other party knew.
"You read too many comics, don't you?"
Aozaki Aoko deliberately spoke loudly, attracting the attention of guests at several nearby tables.
"You must believe in science, Mr. Shi."