Of the four seasons of the year, spring is the most unpredictable.

The sun is warm during the day, but the cold air hits people in the morning and evening, making people feel that "the spring cold is steep - this is commonly known as the "inverted spring cold", which tends to appear more frequently when it is rainy for a long time.

In the words of meteorologists,

It is caused by the frequent attack of strong cold air in the area, and the temperature drops rapidly at night.

At this time, walking in the rain outside the Kenneth Mansion with an umbrella, Higashinohara clearly felt a kind of cold that did not belong to this season in April.

But those ladies who dressed up for the banquet with most of their skin exposed, dragging long skirts to highlight the amplitude and depth of their figures, obviously have an unusual ability to resist the cold.

Higashinohara shook his head secretly at first, feeling that women really don't want any temperature for beauty.

But when he walked to the door of Councilor Kenneth's mansion, handed over the invitation, and followed in the footsteps of the guests in front of him to step into the mansion for the first time, he realized that he was "superficial".

It has to be said that the facilities of Councilor Kenneth's residence are very well furnished.

As soon as you enter the mansion and enter the courtyard, a warm breeze automatically rises under your feet, which makes people not feel the slightest hint of "pouring spring cold" in the rainy night, but has a feeling of "warm wind smokes tourists drunk".

Higashinohara followed in the footsteps of these mayors and councillors.

On the way, his gaze swept over the faces of these big people, looking for the man named "Councilor Kenneth" who would invite him to the banquet tonight, but these big people's eyes barely stayed on Higashinohara's shoulders for more than a second.

In fact, if it weren't for the formal dress that Aunt Kolotia had prepared for Higashinohara, it would have been different from the waiters who walked back and forth with trays at today's birthday dinner.

Maybe when Higashinohara shuttles through the crowd, someone will snap his fingers and call the young and handsome "waiter" for a glass of champagne.

Finally, before the banquet began, Higashinohara found Councilor Kenneth holding his daughter's hand next to a champagne tower - he had searched the Internet before he came, and easily found a photo of Councilor Kenneth.

But when his eyes fell on the man of the mansion, Councillor Kenneth, the host of tonight's banquet, finally someone's eyes also fell on him.

Those were two black-clad Ableman agents of the Condor Secret Service of the United States of Tagos, tall and strong, who looked like they were supposed to be in charge of Councilor Kenneth's birthday dinner tonight.

So when Higashinohara, who was alone in the courtyard, stared at Councilor Kenneth and stepped forward.

The two black-clad agents glanced at each other, walked towards Higashinohara in unison, and then silently stretched out an arm and crossed it in front of Higashinohara.

"Excuse me, do you need anything?" One of the agents asked softly.

They'll stop Higashinohara,

On the one hand, Kenneth has a special status.

Kenneth is known to be the favourite to become the next mayor of Mae Province.

If you continue to develop on this resume, you may even have the opportunity to run for the presidency of the United Kenneth States, and of course the security around you will be strengthened in public places such as birthday parties.

On the other hand

It's Higashinohara's personal problem.

The people who came to tonight's banquet were either rich or noble, and everyone had a long-standing temperament between their reserved eyebrows and eyes, and most of them were not holding beautiful and proud female companions around them.

Only Higashinohara is alone, and his temperament is incompatible with such a field.

As if sensing something strange here, Councillor Kenneth, who was talking to His Excellency a Minister from another party, glanced at this place out of the corner of his eye, and quickly withdrew his gaze, smiling and toasting with His Excellency the Minister in front of him.

The ten-year-old girl who followed him stood with a doll of a princess doll in her hand and stood a little bored.

Probably she also knew in her heart that today's dinner was nominally to celebrate her birthday.

But in reality, it was just a gathering for my father to connect with his friends in the political and business circles.

At this time, Higashinohara withdrew his gaze from Congressman Kenneth's father and daughter.

Facing the two figures standing in front of him, he stopped and said, "I'm sorry, I was invited by Councilor Kenneth last night, so I would like to inform you that it is the messenger of the Tokugawa team leader of Wano Country." ”

The black-clothed agent glanced at Higashinohara, bowed slightly politely, then turned around and walked over, nodded towards Higashinohara and said, "Please wait a moment." ”

After saying that, one of the men turned and walked over, and the rest of the man was still staring at Higashinohara with a blank face.

Higashinohara didn't care.

He looked at the agent who had returned to report, watched as he walked behind Congressman Kenneth, waited for the member to talk to the minister with a bald forehead for a while, and whispered something with his hand over his ear.

Councilor Kenneth turned his head to look at Higashinohara, and for a moment, a slight doubt appeared on his face - perhaps Higashinohara's visit last night was a trivial matter to him.

Fortunately, our Kenneth was not a fish for a few seconds, and the frowning lines of his brow quickly widened, and his face showed a thoughtful look.

Suddenly, he smiled and said something to the minister who turned around to leave with a bald forehead, and the other party looked up in some surprise in the direction of Higashinohara outside the crowd, and a smile appeared on his face.

Higashinohara, who stood quietly in place, couldn't hear what they had just said in the noisy environment, but the smile on the faces of the two made him feel a little déjà vu inexplicably.

And then I don't like it in my heart.

I can't help but think of some officials in the country of Wano in the past.

Soon, the agent of the Condor Bureau walked back quickly, and said respectfully in front of Higashinohara:

"Mr. Councillor invites you to sit down in the corridor next to the courtyard, and he will be happy to discuss your concerns with you before the banquet begins, please come with me."

Is that so?

Higashinohara's face was thoughtful.

But since it's already here, there's no reason to give up halfway.

Higashinohara bowed slightly, and followed the man along the bluestone path next to the courtyard towards the resting place, and from time to time a slightly humid warm breeze blew out from behind the potted plants next to the corridor.

What Higashinohara must admit is that

The United States of Tagos is one of the most powerful countries on the Cross Continent, and the facilities of the residence of the Metropolitan Councillor alone are even more luxurious and exquisite than the official residence of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet where Higashinohara once visited.

Watching the flowers all the way,

When he was about to take a break in the corridor, Higashinohara suddenly noticed a sight.

Turning his head, he saw a woman in a black evening dress, standing alone in the crowd with a goblet like he had before.

But the difference is that Higashinohara, who was just alone, was just a small transparent that no one noticed, and almost no one's eyes stayed on him for a second longer.

However, a woman in a tight black evening dress, even if she can't see her face clearly with a light veil on her face, but the half of the swan-like white and slender neck exposed and her beautiful and outstanding figure and temperament are all types that are easy for people to indulge in at a glance.

But this woman exudes an indescribable aura.

Even if you don't get close and just look at it with both eyes, you will feel that your eyes feel cold and dry after looking at it for a long time.

Those who tried to go up after the start of the dinner party all stopped unconsciously after approaching each other ten meters away.

It was as if there was an invisible, cold invisible force field in front of them, silently blocking their steps.

But at this time, the woman with the wine glass was through the crowd and cast her eyes towards Higashinohara, who was following behind the two black-clothed guards in the corridor.

The red lips under her veil curled slightly, and a slightly thoughtful expression appeared on her delicate fair face.

Is that him?

The boy with an umbrella in the rain when he came.

......

As soon as Higashinohara walked to the corridor to take a nap, he heard the crisp sound of clinking glasses in front of him.

Three middle-aged men held a rich amber wine in their hands, collided with each other and toasted, and could vaguely hear words like "Then let's have a good time working together".

"Oh, here's the man."

Councilor Kenneth, who took a slight sip of his drink, noticed Higashinohara behind the black-clothed guard, and couldn't help but smile and walked up and said, "Sit down first, do you want something to drink?" ”

"No, thank you." Higashinohara sat down and said.

Diagonally across from him, the Minister with a slightly bald forehead whom he had seen before picked up a cigar from a humidor, gently slid it under his greasy nose, took a deep breath of the tobacco, cut it and lit it with great skill, and after taking a deep breath, exhaled a large amount of smoke.

Under the thick smoke, His Excellency the Minister looked at him a little, and said condescendingly to Higashinohara, "Young man, do you want one?" ”

"Thanks, no need." Higashinohara politely declined again.

Among the three, the thin middle-aged man sitting on the far right shook his dazzling amber wine glass under the light in his hand, and said with a smile:

"Hehe, it seems to be a 'three-good youth' from the country of Wano, no wonder he is running so hard for the country."

It's not enough to run around.

Higashino Harashin Road.

At this time, Councilor Kenneth, who had re-seated, put down his glass, straightened his appearance, and said with a smile, "I read the letter of your Tokugawa leader yesterday, and I understand his sincerity and devotion to the country, and I believe that you are the same, but before I do that, I would like to introduce you to the two future colleagues sitting next to me." ”

"The one on the left is His Excellency Sharvin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and it is no surprise that he will also be part of the delegation of the Tagos country to the World Conference in June, and your request depends heavily on His Excellency Sharvin."

When Kenneth introduced, Foreign Minister Sulvin was still puffing on a sweet cigarette with a cigar in his hand, and there was a condescending look on his face.

"The one on the right is Director Byron of the Trade Office of the Ministry of Energy, who is mainly responsible for the country's foreign energy import and export trade, of course! Today's conversation is personal, so you don't have to worry about that. ”

Councillor Kenneth said with a smile.

Higashinohara nodded,

Without saying a word, I waited for the following.

But in fact, the three Kenneth members did not like the composure of young people.

At their age and status, compared to "calm", they are more willing to see the cramped anxiety and "sincere fear" that they get up immediately after introducing their identity.

It's a pity that this kind of performance didn't appear in Higashinohara's body.

From meeting all the way to the present,

The expression on Higashinohara's face was always surging, as if he was an outsider who didn't care about himself.

Councilor Kenneth couldn't help frowning slightly when he saw this, and Higashinohara's performance made him feel that their next conversation might not be as smooth as he imagined...

......

"I heard from Mr. Sen, the Tokugawa leader of Wano Country would like our help at this world conference, and I hope that the Tagos delegation will be able to vote for them at a critical moment."

Suddenly, Director Byron of the Department of Energy gently shook the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile, "Regarding this, I think that as long as His Excellency Minister Sulvin next to me is willing, it can be done very easily. ”

This is a declarative sentence.

The fact that they can help is laid out straight to the point, followed by a brief mutter...

Higashinohara looked up at Congressman Kenneth who was sitting in the middle, and then at the owner of the Ministry of Energy Byron and Minister Sulvin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sitting on the left and right.

Finally, his gaze returned to Councillor Kenneth, who was playing with the wine glass in his hand...

I suddenly laughed silently in my heart.

He kind of understood.

I understand why Congressman Kenneth did not give a reply after reading Tokugawa Kuritora last night, but asked him to come over today for a detailed discussion.

Because today, the identity of this Kenneth Councillor is no longer a "parliamentarian", but a long-sleeved and good "broker", a broker who helps Mr. Director and His Excellency the Minister to win over business.

To be honest, Tokugawa Kurita asked Higashinohara to send a letter to wait for a reply.

With the experience of that tiger,

Higashinohara didn't believe that the other party only relied on his enthusiasm to work as a politician in Tagos, and did not make any "promises" or "conditions" in the letter.

But unfortunately, Congressman Kenneth in front of him was obviously not satisfied with the conditions set by Tokugawa Kurita.

That's why we have this scene now.

They want more.

It's just that Higashinohara doesn't have this permission.

Taking a step back, even if there were, he would not put meat in the mouths of politicians.

Higashinohara is different from Tokugawa Chestnut Tora, who had a strong sense of responsibility for Wano Country and went to the hospital in a hurry.

In his mind,

It's no different from beating a dog with a meat bun.

"Frankly,

I sympathize with what your country is suffering. ”

At this time, Foreign Minister Sharvin, who had been swallowing clouds and spitting smoke with a cigar between his eyes condescendingly and looking condescendingly, slowly spoke:

"But in this world, you can't do things with sympathy, and the conditions for energy mining rights offered by the Tokugawa team leader are very tempting, at least for our country, but it is those of us who are below us who do things."

Speaking of this, Foreign Minister Clerk Salvin paused and continued, "Although I am one of the speakers of the Tagos delegation at the World Conference, I am not the only one in the delegation, and there are some things that I cannot say if I want to. ”

"I'd love to help your country as much as you do, but I can't guarantee that my colleagues are as enthusiastic as I am, so I have to come up with something that will impress people, right?"

At this point, Minister Sulvin gently raised his hand to flick the ash of his cigar.

He was satisfied with his flawless and reasonable statement, and his gaze glanced at Higashinohara nonchalantly.

The three of them didn't think that the young man in front of them could make a decision.

But the advantage of "young people" is that in the face of these mature politicians and parliamentarians, they only need to use appropriate words to confuse the other party, so as to grab more benefits for themselves in this "deal".

However, at this moment, Higashinohara, who had always been silent, suddenly spoke.

"So, what does Your Excellency the Minister mean... Want to get more benefits? ”

As he spoke, Higashinohara raised his right hand.

The middle finger of the index finger and the thumb rubbed together and made the "international universal" gesture.

Suddenly

The air froze all at once!

Three people sitting here with elegant manners,

No one thought that this young man in front of him, who was gentle-looking, powerful, and calm, would actually say such "vulgar words" in front of them.

That's right!

Compared to Minister Sulvin's words, what Higashinohara just said was extremely "vulgar", and the gesture of twisting his fingers made them even more sven.

It was as if they were not sitting here in the elite class who had lived in the top for a long time, but a group of mud-legged people in the vegetable market haggling for a fat pig to be slaughtered.

In just a few seconds,

Minister Sulvin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lord Byron of the Ministry of Energy had slightly gloomy faces.

For a while, even the organizer Kenneth, who was sitting in the middle, looked a little unpleasant, and looked at the "harmless" young man in front of him again.

He had to admit that

Today he was a little out of sight.

"If you understand it that way,

Not impossible. ”

Suddenly, Congressman Kenneth bowed his head slightly and said, "They need to add another 50 percent to the conditions proposed by the Tokugawa team leader, and an additional 50 percent for personal purposes."

You should be able to understand,

This is not an overstatement. ”

Higashinohara did not know what other conditions and costs Tokugawa Kuritora had set in his letter.

But just talking about the "energy mine",

According to the common sense that Higashinohara knows, energy mines are the economic lifeblood of any country in the world, and now these three people are going to add half to their private individuals when they open their mouths.

If that's not too much...

Then there are really ghosts.

However, now, after completely "opening up their faces", Minister Sulvin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director Byron of the Ministry of Energy have both resumed their previous high-level eyes and looked at Higashinohara without impatience.

Obviously, they were not in a hurry, but looked at Higashinohara's silence with interest.

Because they know that in this world situation, it is Higashinohara and the people behind him who should be anxious.

After being silent, Higashinohara said calmly, "With all due respect, the benefit fee asked for by Mr. Councilor... It's just too reluctant... I don't think Tokugawa and Wano Kuni will agree to your request for cooperation. ”

Hearing Higashinohara say vulgar words again and refuse, the faces of the three of them also became indifferent.

Even Councilor Kenneth's eyes seemed to be looking at a beggar crawling on the side of the road.

Not the guest he had just sent out an invitation to his daughter's birthday party last night.

"Listen to me, kid..."

Councilor Kenneth shook his head amusedly, and his face suddenly turned blank.

He said with a blank face:

"There will not be too few people in this world who are qualified to reject us, but there is absolutely no you among them. In fact, you are able to enter this mansion thanks in large part to the country behind you that is willing to 'sell your body'. ”

"So...."

Councillor Kenneth paused and continued, "Don't turn people down easily, because that will only plunge you and the country behind you into endless remorse and pain. ”

With that, Councilor Kenneth lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch, a smile returning to his face.

He apologized to Minister Sulvin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director Byron of the Ministry of Energy, "I'm sorry for the delay, but the dinner is about to start, and we have arranged a dance, and I'm sure you will be interested." ”

"Of course."

Minister Sulvin and Director Byron said with a smile, and their eyes never fell on Higashinohara again.

As if this person didn't exist,

With their status and status in this country, they can indeed ignore most people.

The Condor agents standing behind Higashinohara noticed Congressman Kenneth's cold words.

For a while, his previous respectful attitude was no longer the same, and he said in a cold and stiff tone, "Sir, please here, we will arrange to open the side door to send you out." ”

Apparently...

This is already an expulsion.

Higashinohara doesn't covet this place.

He looked at the backs of the three people who stood up and said to himself, "Although I don't approve of meat buns beating dogs, I will still bring your answers, and the choice is still left to the Tokugawa team leader and the top management of Wano Province." ”

After saying that, he also turned to leave.

Walking in the corridor of the courtyard,

Many of the guests noticed the "unhappy breakup" in the corner of the banquet, and at this time, looking at the "lonely" back of Higashinohara, they couldn't help but shake their heads and sneer.

At every banquet in high society, there will be one or two young people who want to fight for their heads.

Isn't it?

Higashinohara naturally didn't care about these sights.

He walked down the hallway with a calm face, catching a glimpse of the symphony conductor on the second floor of the mansion arranging the bow tie at the bottom of his neck, and the other musicians making final preparations for the instruments.

The prom is about to begin.

In the blink of an eye, a soft musical prelude flowed through the courtyard.

Many of the guests in the courtyard quickly withdrew their gaze, and the man with the dance partner put his hand around the woman's slender waist, and those without the dance partner turned their eyes to the single women in the courtyard.

The men's eyes crisscrossed each other, but finally most of them once again focused on the woman in a black evening dress in a corner of the courtyard with a black veil on her face.

Someone's heart began to move inch by inch.

Men are creatures who naturally expect to be able to win the favor of women in front of other males.

But at this moment, the woman who looked like a black evening lotus suddenly put down her goblet and walked around.

For a while, I don't know how many people's eyes followed the woman.

In the end, a young man appeared from the corridor next to the courtyard and was about to be sent out by the security personnel from the side door.

"Can you enjoy your face and dance?"

Under the black veil that could not see his face clearly, his red lips opened slightly, and a soft and tactful voice said to Higashinohara.

In the corner of the courtyard, when several people from the adjudication department saw this, their faces suddenly became extremely weird...

.....。

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