I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"It's finally here... Sensei. Do you know how long I, as the guild master of the Pandemonium, have waited for this day..."

Makoto, sitting with her arms crossed and legs crossed, let out a soft "heh," her tone suddenly becoming spirited.

“Sensei…you came all this way to see me, surely for a ‘special plan,’ right?”

"Hehe... No need to be nervous, just tell me your desire to conquer and your ambitions... I have a feeling that what follows will be the beginning of a wonderful collaboration!"

Amamiya: "..."

How should I describe my "first impression" of the beautiful girl in front of me with her silver hair, military uniform, and queenly posture?

After pondering for a moment, Amamiya could only describe it as "a pity he had a mouth."

Amamiya simply couldn't imagine... how Makoto, who seemed to have such a "tough female marshal" style, could so brazenly spout things like "conquering the whole world" and "we are invincible together."

In Amamiya's view, a truly ambitious person would never so sincerely reveal their ambition to someone they have just met.

Is this really how it's done...?

That's not ambition, that's pure foolishness.

Trying to maintain a calm expression befitting an adult, Amamiya sighed inwardly—it seemed that negotiating with Makoto was far more complicated than she had imagined…

With his mind racing, Amamiya turned his gaze to the 'core members of the Pandemonium' that Makoto had brought.

Ignoring Makoto's beautiful description of her daydream of "conquering the world," Amamiya focused her gaze on the black-haired girl behind her, who was holding a camera and staring at her with the eyes of a journalist who had "smelled blood."

[Assistant: Motomiya Chiaki / Chief Scribe of the Demon King's Castle]

【Arcana: The Star (XV.Stella)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'The Latin word for "star"?'

With a fleeting glance, Amamiya then looked at the girl standing on the other side, with pink wavy hair and blood-red, crystal-like horns on her head.

[Assistant: Kyogoku Satsuki / The 'Hypnotist' of the Demon King's Castle]

【Arcana: The Demon (XV.Diabolus)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'A master hypnotist, and in quotes at that…'

After turning her gaze away from Satsuki, Amamiya finally turned her attention to the silver-haired girl who was still talking incessantly, but who was exceptionally beautiful when she was quiet, yet had an open mouth—

[Assistant: Hanuma Makoto / The 'Demon Lord' of the Demon King's Castle]

[Arcana: Emperor (.Impator)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

"The Emperor's Arcana... and that title, also enclosed in single quotes..."

The moment Amamiya saw these messages, he knew—something was wrong.

Negotiating with this 'Hanuma Makoto' will likely be extremely difficult.

First, those who hold the "Emperor" card often exhibit a subtle lapse in judgment in interpersonal interactions. Dealing with them can be quite challenging, often requiring a "cross-channel" communication.

Secondly, this title enclosed in single quotes...

In terms of substance, it's nowhere near as valuable as Rion's "The Black Ruler of the Seminar" (without single quotes).

The thought of dealing with these kinds of people gave Amamiya a real headache.

"..."

Upon noticing that Amamiya was not speaking and was only looking at her while describing her grand vision, Makoto's voice gradually weakened.

Sensei… was he stunned by his own brilliant conquest plan?

Or perhaps... his unique silence is actually a special test for himself?

She first fell into deep thought, as if trying to figure out the meaning behind Amamiya's silence, and the profound intentions she wanted to express from that silence.

Realizing she couldn't fathom it, Makoto narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly marveling at how difficult it was to understand the profound meaning behind Amamiya's silence.

Makoto hesitated, as if she wanted to say something, when Amamiya suddenly began to move.

He breathed a soft sigh of relief, and then suddenly grasped her soft hand, which was clad in a white silk glove, with great enthusiasm.

"...Sensei?"

Ignoring Makoto's momentary bewilderment and panic in her shout, Amamiya raised her voice slightly and said sincerely, "Indeed... Makoto-sama is just as I imagined... very 'special'."

【~???~】(from Makoto)

"Special...?"

Makoto froze, momentarily at a loss for words, in response to Amamiya's completely unfounded praise.

However, she then smiled confidently, exuding an aura of power that seemed to come from nowhere, like that of a conqueror.

“…I see. Is this ‘silence’ your test, Sensei?”

No one knows what she was imagining, but Amamiya immediately felt the hand she was holding tighten its grip on hers.

"I see... This is the mutual test that must be experienced in negotiations between 'higher-ups'... Sensei really taught me a lesson right from the start!"

"With your assistance, the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons will thrive like a fish in water and a tiger with wings!"

"Expanding our influence to the entirety of Kiwatos is just around the corner!"

Amamiya: "..."

How did she come up with so much from just a moment of silence and the subsequent handshake and compliments?

Did she really not realize that her compliment was actually a high-EQ "euphemism"?

Clearly, Makoto is somewhat like Yusuke Kitagawa—the kind of person you often don't know which channel she's on when she's negotiating with you.

Faced with such a person...

During negotiations, you must never let yourself fall into the other party's rhythm.

Because these kinds of people are especially good at bringing your thinking to the same level as theirs.

To put it simply... it means they are more likely to have their intelligence lowered.

"Makoto-sama really gave me a long-lost feeling... the special feeling of 'mystery' (having to guess what the other person is thinking or expressing) when communicating with 'artistic people' (Yusuke Kitagawa)."

【~???~】(from Makoto)

Makoto seemed quite pleased with Amamiya's seemingly incomprehensible praise.

He unconsciously straightened his back, slightly raised his nose, and his aura of "unfounded confidence" grew even stronger.

"Heh... Is this what they call 'love at first sight'?"

After reflecting on her own feelings, Makoto looked seriously at Amamiya, her azure eyes calm as a lake, seemingly carrying a hint of the 'majesty of an iron-blooded ruler'.

However... that moment of authority shattered instantly with her next words.

"As Sensei said... I also felt that I benefited a lot from the conversation with Sensei."

"Let's skip the pleasantries for now... Let's get down to business—Sensei, I've just come up with a groundbreaking plan to conquer Kivotos—Sensei, would you like to sit down and listen?"

Amamiya: "..."

A character who constantly talks about 'conquering the world'... if he's a villain, he'll most likely be a silly villain.

If he's a decent person, then he's probably got some mental issues—the kind of person who would drool even if he were cured.

Amamiya maintained that gentle smile that was about to burst out, and 'just in time' interrupted Makoto.

“Let’s leave those plans for later—Makoto, cooperation needs to start from the basics…”

"To show our sincerity..."

Amamiya turned her gaze to the group behind Makoto, who had been acting as a 'ceremonial guard' the whole time, but hadn't said a word. Her gaze lingered on Iroha for a moment.

“I have a ‘basic cooperation plan’.”

Noticing Amamiya's gaze, Makoto seemed to 'sense something'. After imagining something, she waved her hand magnanimously.

I felt the trust that Makoto conveyed...

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Makoto Hanuma (Emperor)★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

【★Skill 1, 'Demon Emperor's Authority', is now unlocked!】

"If it concerns Iroha... Sensei, make your request!"

Have you considered Iroha's feelings...?

Amamiya squinted, but ultimately didn't say anything.

Can I "borrow" Iroha for a day?

Chapter Seventeen: As everyone knows, Ibuki is the true president.

Can I "borrow" Iroha for a day?

As soon as he finished speaking, Amamiya could clearly feel the atmosphere in the Pandemonium's reception room fall silent for a moment.

Makoto, as well as Satsuki, Chiaki, and Iroha herself who acted as her honor guard, all showed varying degrees of surprise and confusion.

Iroha, who had been 'called out' by Amamiya, also showed a rather puzzled expression.

"'borrow'……?"

A sharp glint flashed in Qianqiu's crimson eyes, as if he had discovered a major news story.

At that moment, she had even thought of the headline for the front page of tomorrow's issue of "Weekly Pandemonium".

—Shocking! Xia Lai's Sensei "borrows" a councilor from the Pandemonium, but what is his real purpose...?

"Sensei, what exactly do you mean by 'borrow'?"

Satsuki cast a questioning look at her—clearly, she was more concerned about the vague keyword description.

Iroha herself, as if struck by a thought, closed the book in her hand and sighed softly.

"Everything develops gradually, from a point to a line, from a beginning to a surface—the same applies to relationships with others. To build a long-term and stable cooperative relationship, you must first start from a certain 'point'..."

Meeting Iroha's curious yet somewhat helpless gaze, as if asking, "Sensei, what exactly are you going to do?" Amamiya said in a serious tone, "...I think Iroha is the most suitable 'starting point' for us."

"I want to start with Iroha, gradually get to know everyone in Pandemonium—and then build a good relationship with everyone."

"But before that... I want to ask Iroha to do something rather 'special' for me in a private capacity... and this 'special' thing might get Iroha 'entangled in a scandal.'"

"..."

Slowly putting the book back into the pocket of her oversized trench coat, Iroha asked in a slightly languid tone, "...Sensei, what exactly is this 'special thing' you're talking about?"

The unusual excuse of being "embroiled in scandals" reminded her of the series of actions she had taken not long ago when she took Ibuki to Xia Lai for her duty.

It seems... it's time to 'pay back the debt'?

"It's not a particularly troublesome matter—it just requires you, Iroha, to come with me to Trinity College so we can take a 'legitimate' stroll around the academy."

Before Iroha, the person involved, could reply, Makoto's eyes flashed first.

She "shrewdly" realized that Sensei's invitation to Iroha to stroll around Trinity was an opportunity to show off to Trinity that "Pandemon Palace and Sensei's relationship is getting closer!"

I see……

Is this a way of showing their determination to cooperate with the Pandemonium...?

Or……

"If it's just a request like that, then it's not impossible to grant it."

“Sensei, we at Pandemonium accept your offer… If you require a specific date and time, I can grant Iroha leave right now to give her time to prepare before and after the event.”

What are pre-event and post-event preparations?