"It's been a hard time, Higashino-kun."

Hotel suite, living room.

Tokugawa Kurita, who had been reinstated as the leader of the Third Investigation Team, was dressed in a navy blue windbreaker with an open neckline and a black textile shirt lining inside, and his unshaven beard looked even more tired and haggard than Higashinohara who had returned from the hellish world.

Higashinohara stared at the middle-aged man sitting on the opposite side who had just climbed back from the line of life and death in Hokkaido, and plunged headlong into the quagmire of Wano Country without hesitation.

Higashinohara admits that he can't do this level for Wano Country, but this does not affect his respect for this middle-aged man who cherishes his family and country, and he said in a very humble tone, "Where... I sent out all the letters entrusted to me by the Tokugawa team leader, but it worked..."

"Not ideal, is it?"

Tokugawa Kurita shook his head with a wry smile, and said in a somewhat helpless tone, "It's not your fault, the wall is down and everyone pushes it, and no one wants to be touched by the hot potato of Wano Country at this time."

When he said this, a trace of exhaustion appeared between his majestic and resolute eyebrows.

Obviously, he and Interim Prime Minister Nobuo Kobayashi did not miss the mansions of dignitaries and politicians during the time he arrived in Meji Province in the United States of Tagos.

The results were also less than satisfactory.

With a deep groan, Higashinohara stared at the tired face of the middle-aged man in front of him with short chestnut hair and now mixed with a little gray.

Thinking of each other's time to Nishimaru Miri and Aunt Kolotia. Oselle's help, he still spoke, "If needed, I am willing to provide some help in my capacity."

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old face of the young man in front of him stood in the afternoon sunlight projected outside the window of the living room, smiling gently and sincerely, making people feel like a spring breeze.

If a young man of seventeen or eighteen had said such a thing at a time when such a country was at stake, the Tokugawa Kuritora might not have taken it to heart at all.

I just think it's the enthusiasm of a young man.

But Tokugawa Kurita knew that the young man in front of him was different.

He didn't have any blood.

He will only let cut open the chest of the enemy,

Let the enemy spill their blood.

however

family and national affairs,

After all, it's not a fight.

Even if this mild-eyed young man used some unknown identity to kill the adjudicators who made ordinary people fearful.

But those tiger-like rulings make

What is it for the huge world government and the nine masters who have lived in the clouds for thousands of years?

It's just a dog that bites if you throw a bone.

Can kill a dog.

Can he still kill his master?

In the affairs of the family and the country,

Killing alone will never solve the problem.

Sighing, Tokugawa Kurita shook his head, "Higashino-kun has a heart, but at present, our prime minister is still working hard to promote cooperation with the politicians and parliamentarians of Meiji Province, and there is still a month before the World Conference, so I hope things will turn around then......

Clearly, the Tokugawa Chestnut Tiger preferred temporary agreements concluded between states rather than Higashinohara's help, even if they themselves were not so solid.

Turnaround?

Higashinohara was just polite, and for the time being, he didn't have a good way to help Tokugawa Kurita and Interim Prime Minister Nobuo Kobayashi, who arrived in the United States of Tagos ahead of schedule. ….

They can't say which dignitary's mansion they are going to visit tomorrow, and he will sneak in tonight and force the other party to agree with a big knife on the neck...

"Hehe, Higashino-kun is not too worried."

Tokugawa Kurithu forced a smile, and then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, you've been away from Wano Country for a while, and Miri-chan has always missed you, this time I heard that I was going to the United States of Tagos on a business trip, so I have to bring her anyway, hehe, I really can't do anything about her."

When talking about this topic, Tokugawa

The tired look on Chestnut Tiger's face dissipated slightly, revealing some doting smiles.

He spent most of his life, and in his early years, he traveled between Kyoto and New Tokyo to establish the Third Investigation Group, which was on the same level as the Metropolitan Police Department, and later only responsible to successive prime ministers.

It can be said that most of his life's hard work has been spent on this, and he has never taken it again after his wife passed away, and he is nearly half a hundred years old but has no heirs.

Perhaps because of this,

For Nishimaru Miri, a well-behaved and lovely daughter, he loves him from the bottom of his heart, so much so that he has a sense of "love for the house and Wu" for Higashinohara.

Otherwise, if you change to someone else in power who specializes in managing domestic capabilities, you will learn by chance that such an "extremely dangerous capable person" has appeared in the country.

I'm afraid that even if I don't hand over Higashinohara's identity to the adjudication department, I will rack my brains to think about how to squeeze out the potential of the other party and use it for the government department.

It's not like Tokugawa Kuritaka at all, even if he is cautious in conversation, for fear that exposing Higashinohara's identity will bring him unnecessary trouble.

But then again,

For Higashinohara, if it weren't for the reason for Nishimarumiri.

It is estimated that the naval battle in Hokkaido, Tokugawa Chesturi Tiger had already died in the conspiracy of the previous foreign minister, and there was no chance to know the identity of Higashinohara.

Perhaps, this is cause and effect.

After a few more small talks, Tokugawa Kurita left the living room of the hotel suite with a smile, walked to the door and picked up a hat - he and the interim prime minister had an itinerary for today in the Maiji Mansion.

At the same time, this is also to give Higashinohara and Nishimaru Miri, who had previously avoided their conversation in the bedroom, a private communication space.

When he was about to go out, Tokugawa Kurithu seemed to remember something, and turned to Higashinohara with a smile and said, "By the way, I've already asked for leave for Higashino-kun at the Stafford Private Great Sword Academy, and you've been with me and Miri-chan these days, and there will be a car to take you back when you go back to the school park in the evening."

Higashinohara was stunned for a moment, and some reacted, no wonder he received a message from Tokugawa Kurita after secretly leaving White Swan Harbor asking him not to return to school first.

With the endorsement of the Tokugawa Kurita, the people who exchanged students in Wano Country would not have any doubts about his itinerary in the past few days, which saved him a lot of trouble.

"Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

After Tokugawa Kurita finished speaking, he pointed to the door of Nishimaru Miri's room, shook his head with a wry smile, and said softly, and then put on his hat and turned around to leave the hotel suite.

Sure enough.

He just walked on his front foot,

Nishimaru Miri, who heard the sound of the door closing, opened the door and walked out, looking at the door twice,....

Dissatisfied, they all said,

"Is Daddy out again? Really, I drink so much every time I come back at night."

Tokugawa Kurita and Kobayashi Nobuo went to the mansions of those parliamentarians and magnates to attend a banquet, and it was probably inevitable that they would ask someone to do errands and drink.

When encountering some members of parliament with bad personalities, they may deliberately pour alcohol, and Nishimaru Miri has some not very good memories and is very sensitive to "wine".

But today is different.

Turning her head, Nishimaru Miri saw Higashinohara standing in the sun, and her little face suddenly showed sweet dimples.

Obviously, the days of separation are not too long, but at this moment, there is a strong sense of longing and dependence in my heart.

Nishimaru Miri trotted out quickly, as if she wanted to give Higashinohara a hug - just now she opened the door for Higashinohara, and in the back of the living room stood Tokugawa Chestnut Tiger, the little girl inevitably couldn't let go.

There is no one else at this moment,

You don't have to worry about anything anymore.

Running closer, the little guy circled around Higashinohara puppy twice, and after making sure that there was no big injury to his broken arm and leg, a smile suddenly appeared on his little face, and he wanted to come up and hug Higashinohara's arm as before.

Unexpectedly, without warning,

Higashinohara found that Nishimaru Miri's smiling little face suddenly fleshed

Visible loss of smile,

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Doubts filled my mind.

How did this little girl learn to "change her face".

Nishimaru Miri was holding the corner of his clothes with his small hands, and he stood in front of Higashinohara with his little head bowed slightly, looking down at the tips of his shoes and saying, "Big brother... Are you... I have a girlfriend..."

"Huh?"

Higashinohara was stunned for a moment.

Immediately reacted, a week ago, during the battle in White Swan Harbor, Nishimaru Miri was still in Wano Country.

But the footage captured by the media of Shangjing TV has gone viral on the Internet. Alita vs. Demon Sword Pusho. Wiseman's unrivaled two-man blade waltz.

The charm and intimacy contained in it can't hide the eyes of Nishimaru Miri, who is familiar with him.

And at that moment,

In the country of Wano on the shore of the East China Sea of the Cross Continent, Nishimaru Miri and his aunt Kolotia, who cut the fruit after the meal, sat on the tatami mat and watched the live news.

When this picture came in, I didn't know that the aunt Kolotia, who had another identity in Higashinohara, was okay, but Nishimaru Miri was stunned.

At this moment, I finally saw Higashinohara,

Her little heart, after a surge of great joy, now only wanted to be sure of that.

Higashinohara looked at the black jewel-like pure child hole in the eyes of Nishimaru Miri, who was wide-eyed, although he was caught off guard by this question?

But there was no secret between him and Nishimaru Miri so far, so he smiled and nodded and said calmly,

"Hmm... Sort of."

These words were suddenly like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and a thought flashed through his mind like a wooden body in Nishimaru.

It turns out that all this speculation is true.

It is said that the eldest brother is like a father, and a father's love is like a mountain, so now the world of the little girl is a landslide!

Nishimaru Miri's little heart inexplicably gave birth to an awkward feeling of "stepmother from heaven", in addition, there is an inexplicable loss in her heart. ….

Nishimaru Miri, who seemed to be a little pale with a small face, blinked his big black and white eyes, stared at Higashinohara's cheek and asked.

"It's the one...

Is it the big sister with long legs?"

Big sister with long legs?

There are many women with long legs in this world.

But at this moment, as soon as Nishimaru's words came out, the first thing that flashed in Higashinohara's mind was that night... Dolohi. Alita's long legs that made him thrilling.

Coming back to his senses, Higashinohara nodded Nishimarumiri's head with some amusement, shook his head and said,

"How can anyone describe others like this, her name is Doloshi, and I will introduce you to you if I have a chance in the future."

Dolohi...

Even the title omits the surname so intimately?

Nishimaru Miri thought with some loss.

Higashinohara saw Nishimaru Miri's depressed mood, and couldn't help but look at her with some amusement and said,

"Who are you unhappy about, don't worry, even if you have a girlfriend, you will always be my sister."

These words did not seem to comfort Nishimaru Miri.

The little girl lowered her head and was silent for a while, suddenly twitched her small nose, raised her head and stared at Higashinohara with those big black and white eyes, and asked thoughtlessly, "Big brother, what do you think of my aunt?"

Yes?

Youngest maternal aunt?

The two looked at each other for a moment.

Higashinohara finally reacted, and immediately knocked on Nishimaru Miri's head angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about, how old is Miss Kolotia."

"I'm in my twenties."

Nishimaru Miri covered his little head and said dissatisfied.

Higashinohara was a little stunned.

Only then did I think of the aunt Kolotia who was busy taking care of him and Nishimaru Miri on weekdays like a housewife in New Tokyo. Othello, actually

Kami is the youngest younger sister of Nishimaru Miri's mother, much younger than her mother.

Nishimaru Miri still stared at Higashinohara with his head tilted and blinked, staring at Higashinohara with big black jewel-like eyes, and asked again, "Big brother, what do you think of my aunt?"

Higashinohara had a little headache because of the persistence that the little girl in front of him occasionally showed, and couldn't help but shake his head and said, "Of course Miss Kolotia is very good, but she is your aunt, and she is also an elder to me, and she is still older than me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Nishimaru Miri interrupted him with a dripping mutter, "But that... That Miss Doroshi is older than you... Big Brother Loves Yearly Type... Then why can't Auntie?"

Higashinohara was stunned.

Year-on type?

It's all a mess.

I haven't seen it for a while.,What did this little girl learn in Zhuyuan South Power School Park.。

Was it because I was exposed to high school life in advance?

Shaking his head,

Higashinohara was about to say something...

Unexpectedly, Nishimaru Miri put his finger against his little chin, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked himself and continued, "I know, is it because Auntie's legs are not as long as Sister Doroshi?"

"......" Higashinohara.

Nicole is such a little genius.

Higashinohara is completely speechless?

I didn't expect to be absent for a long time... In fact, it is not a warm reunion for a long time, and it has become like this.

Nishimaru Miri, a young girl who was originally precocious and introverted due to family reasons, has now met Higashinohara and Tokugawa Kuritoro, and because of her personal talent, she has been exposed to high school life in advance, and it seems to have become more and more eccentric. ….

Nishimaru Miri rarely saw Higashinohara's speechless appearance, and couldn't help but laugh.

She hurriedly rubbed Higashinohara's palm with her little head like a puppy before, and said obediently and flatteringly, "Okay, okay, okay, I won't talk nonsense, big brother, don't be angry."

The atmosphere is back on track.

Higashinohara couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, he really couldn't do anything about this little girl, but he said with a straight face, "When you go back to Wano Country, you are not allowed to talk nonsense in front of Miss Kolotia."

Nishimaru puffed out his mouth and muttered, "But my aunt has taken care of us for so long, and she is also very good to the eldest brother, and the age gap is not big, I think you guys really..."

"Still talking nonsense!"

"Ah! I'm sorry!"

「......」

After a little noise, the life that had not been seen for a long time suddenly dissipated without a trace.

The next afternoon,

Higashinohara basically sits on the couch and is pestered by Nishimaru Miri to ask what he encountered in the world of hell.

Higashinohara roughly said,

Skip what can't be said.

But Nishimaru doesn't seem to care too much about this, and mainly focuses on Higashinohara and Doroshi. Details of Alita's first acquaintance.

It's even harder to describe them all.

Higashinohara could only cough dryly twice, and this time he only said what he could say.

Point-to-point,

It's not good to talk too much.

But hearing that the two of them were being chased and killed by the Nine Masters and the Ruling Division, Nishimaru Miri, who had made up a poignant picture of the end of the world, was still proud when he heard it, and his little face squinting at those eyes was full of envy......

An afternoon went by.

In the evening, there was a knock on the door of the hotel suite, and it was the driver who had been arranged in advance by Tokugawa Kurita, who was in charge of Higashinohara's return to school and reported to Kikuchi Natsuichi, the teacher who led the exchange students.

Higashinohara said goodbye to the reluctant Nishimaru Miri, and agreed to see you tomorrow, and then left the hotel and went downstairs to get into the car.

......

on urban roads,

In a car that is driving gently.

The driver was a new young man from the 3rd Investigation Group, and through the rearview mirror, he was a little surprised that his task was to pick up a stranger than him

An average high school student who is a few years younger.

Thinking that the Tokugawa team leader was quite solemn when he explained the task to him at that time, as if he was dealing with some big person, he was even more puzzled.

But remembering the appearance of having a very happy conversation with Nishimaru Miri when he just left, he only thought that the other party was a friend of Miss Nishimaru, the pearl of the Tokugawa team leader, and at the same time, I was a little envious of the fact that he was white and handsome this year, and his popularity was good...

Rear seat in the car,

Although Higashinohara noticed the driver's gaze, he didn't pay attention to it, but looking at the passing scene outside the window, his brows suddenly frowned slightly.

meanwhile

In the city car radio in the car,

A cheerful male announcer was shouting in a tone full of surprise:

"Two billion!

！」

"The World Government announces the acceptance of anonymous donations from social justice figures! The third ruling empress who invested two billion to reward the rebellion and surrender to the enemy! OMG! Did we hear you right?!"

.....。.

Ed midnight