The Crystal Evening was held in one of the skyscrapers of Tokyo City in the city center. Our car stopped in front of the main entrance, flanked by guards of the imperial family, dressed in light mobile infantry armor, which were stylized as samurai armor. These armors were developed by the Seimitsu Kiko Design Bureau, a state—owned engineering company. And, as far as I know, they perform ceremonial and representative functions. What do you immediately believe, looking at this uncomfortable pile of metal and ceramic plastic. The guards generally looked out of place here and probably stand here only to show that there is a representative of the imperial family in the building. Although no, I'm lying — the imperial family. An ordinary representative of the genus can hardly afford to put guards anywhere.
After waiting for Goro to open the door, Aneko got out of the car, and I followed her. Looking back and offering the girl an elbow, he headed inside the building. We passed the guards, who, as I thought, did not even move, and found ourselves in a huge hall with two circular staircases, decorated with gilt and marble. There weren't many people around, mostly local staff, as well as people walking around here and there, who looked like each other and didn't look like either employees or guests.
—Funny," I said.
— What are you talking about? Aneko asked.
"The guards here are all foreigners, and if I'm not mistaken, they're all Hindus.
—What's the big deal?" The prince can afford such a thing. If you're right, they're probably from Dral Khochna, and this security agency is the best of the best.
— A controversial statement, but the fact is that just the prince can't afford it.
In response to this, the girl looked at me in surprise:
"The Prince?" The emperor's third son? Can't it?
"That's right. It's strange that you don't know that. It's not about finance, it's about politics. A member of the imperial family cannot be surrounded by representatives of another state. Unpatriotic. In addition, Dral Khochna is a purely private organization, not associated with any states or clans. Otherwise, they would never have risen to such a level. And since they are private owners, then you should not expect high ranks from them. Oh, Masters and Virtuosos are undoubtedly present in this organization, but their number is very small. And I strongly doubt that they are rented out. It turns out that in this regard they are hopeless for the prince. Especially for the third eldest prince, to whom the Virtuosos simply would not have reached.
— I see. And then what about these?
— There are a lot of options. Come up with something and, quite possibly, you will not be mistaken.
— I didn't know you were interested in such questions.
"I also didn't know that the eldest daughter of the head of the Ohayashi clan is not aware of such things. — I, by the way, now felt like a fool who was allowed to show off his knowledge in front of a stupid beautiful girl.
— You have a preconceived opinion about the aristocracy. We don't have to know about everything and everyone. I just wasn't interested. I'm sure my father and older brothers know. But why should I know such a thing? Although I would certainly have found out over time," and after a couple of moments: "Or maybe not…
After checking with the administrator where to go, we went to the elevator and went up to the twentieth floor. The elevator let us out into the corridor, where the guards shifted from one foot to the other.
— Good evening, gentlemen, — the girl at the reception blossomed with a smile on duty. — How can I help you?
— Sakurai Shinji.
Looking down, the beauty began tapping on the keyboard keys, looking for my name in the guest lists.
— Sakurai-san, I am glad to welcome you to the Crystal Party. The tournament starts in half an hour. You can get chips at the cash register, which is located behind a single opaque counter. The cash register itself accepts both cash and cards. Please," she pointed with her hand to the side, "the guard will show you how to get into the hall. Have a nice time and good luck playing.
What can I say about the hall where a man with an expressionless face took us? Large, two-tiered, the walls and floor are lined with blue marble. Everything else, except for poker tables and chairs next to them, from chandeliers to decorative columns, is transparent. Something must be crystal, and something, like the same columns, is just an imitation. In the center of the hall there are six oval tables with ten seats.
The conversing guests scattered evenly throughout the room, from time to time picking up glasses from trays carried by waitresses in short skirts. In general, I didn't see anything new, thank God.
— What will you do when the game starts?
— Oh, — Aneko answered me, staring intently into the hall and smiling a little, - believe me, I will find something to do.
Well yes. For some, such events are entertainment, and for others - work. Not exactly a job, of course, but you can't call it a vacation either.
— Okay, let's go exchange money for chips.
— My brother said that the game is not the main thing for you today, — Aneko remarked as we walked to the checkout. — At the same time, he did not specify the true purpose of coming here.
— And just to ask what... demon I came here for, is not fate? I chuckled in response. — We commoners are stupid and narrow-minded people, so it's better to just ask a question. I can't even understand you. What will you do then?
This time it was the girl who chuckled.
— That's when I'll ask. Straight and simple.
— Quite an unpleasant situation for me, don't you think? The girl raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Any direct question from you will make me look like an idiot," I finished, smiling a little.
She even seemed a little embarrassed by my words.
"I didn't mean anything like that.
"I really hope so," I sighed sadly.
—That's enough for you, Shinji-san. I officially declare that I do not consider you an idiot.
— It's nice to hear that from a beautiful girl.
She only snorted softly in response. Even a strict-looking Aneko can be cute and kawaii. The main thing is the right approach.
— And I came here for the auction, which will begin after the game. And yes," I noticed the girl's slightly raised eyebrows, "I'm ready to spend ten million rubles on this.
- hm. So you're giving up in advance?
— Of course not! But this does not prevent me from stating the fact.
There was another pretty girl behind the cash register. I handed over my credit card and after some manipulations got it back together with a card, it seems to be made of plastic, on one side of which my name was written, and on the other a joker was drawn.
"Just choose your seat at the table, Sakurai—san, and put the card next to it. Before the very beginning of the game, you will be given chips.
That's also right, I don't have to drag them around the hall before the game.
Aneko went to the bar, and I went to choose a place for myself. I decided to sit at the end table, so that everyone else could see, it's even strange that no one took it. There were already two cards on the table, so, throwing his own in front of the chair, he went for juice. Raydon's sister was talking to a woman in her mid-thirties at that moment.
—Shinji, let me introduce you to Ishikawa Mihiko, the wife of the head of the Ishikawa clan.
Somewhere I have already heard this name, apparently, flashed recently on TV.
— Sakurai Shinji, lady. It's nice to meet a woman of such beauty," I bowed.
— Sakurai Shinji. A familiar name," she smiled back.
And I turned on my brains to the fullest, because we could not be acquainted.
— Hardly, madam, I am too insignificant a person for persons of your level. — Ishikawa, Ishikawa, where could I have heard that name?
— But Kisho-san, my husband, still caught your ear.
— Ishikawa Kisho? — Yes, what is it! Although it's better than it could be.
— M-yes, it's a pity that the reason was so... unseemly.
— We all make mistakes. "That's not fair, I was right. — And not just you.
Oh, I see. She confirmed my correctness, but reproached me that I could have handled it less conflictively. But I need it, to restrain myself after that hit—and-run?
- Next time I will definitely try to solve the case in peace.
— I hope, — the woman waved her head negatively with the same smile, — that there won't be a next time after all.
—I hope so, too."
After saying goodbye to us, Mihiko went about her business, and Aneko, taking a sip from a glass, stood and looked somewhere into the hall. Either she has no curiosity as a class, or just a wildly strict upbringing. But at least she can more than hint at the question, so we are counting down the time.
— An interesting situation, — at the seventh second she could not stand it. — Won 't it be excessive persistence…
— And simpler? I interrupted. Yes, it's rude, but everything has its place. Even etiquette. I'm not against him, but I need a good relationship with the Ohayashi clan, which I can start... continue to establish through the eldest daughter of the clan head. And naturalness and free communication on her part are indispensable attributes of this.
"What happened with Ishikawa over there?" — for form's sake, the girl asked with a heavy sigh.
— I was rude to their eldest daughter on the first day of the school year.
— Wow... hmm. You're lucky it was Ishikawa. Her father is a man of honor. Many would not understand what is happening.
— It's dangerous to study at your school.
— In
our
school. And don't forget, the children of influential people study there.
That is, these "many" would not understand only in my case. Well, yes, of course, I'm a commoner, you can roll me without any proceedings. Only here there is one "but".
"And they all live next door to the head of the Koyama clan?" Stunningly.
— Ahem. Yes. I admit, I expressed myself inaccurately. But Ishikawa Kisho is really a man of honor.
—Kenta-san said the same thing.
"Koyama Kenta—san is a wise man.
Well, yes, well, yes. You should try to hayat him, at least in my presence. But it's just nerves, so I'm grumbling. There is less and less time before the start of the tournament. And I will not only have to participate in it, what the hell with it, but also communicate with far from the last people of this world. Or at least this country.
Finally. Prince Oama, approaching the railing on the second tier of the hall, clapped his hands a couple of times, attracting attention. By the way, he has another table there for the most-the most.