Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 118: Arc 3, - 28: Well Hello Minister

"Who bothers me at this hour?"

"Sir, the, Thundering Blade and her companions," the guard in full chainmail and a polearm relayed.

"What!?"

"Apparently they were with an incoming group of travellers heading for Galuvit Town, but were caught in the travel ban. They wish to speak with you to leave sooner," the guard never lifted his head.

The minister put a hand on his forehead, pushing it up to his short spiky tufts of black hair. A green shirt he quickly buttoned, adorning a tie, "Where are they now?"

"In the guest hall sir."

"Provide them refreshments, I shall be out in a minute."

The minister hurriedly put himself together, shutting the drawers of his desk with lock and key. He cracked his neck and elbows before walking out not realizing a shadow appearing through the window as he closed the door.

Jotou, Hotaru and Asobi sat in cushioned sofas whilst a fan spun overhead. The guards kept an eye, one of them brought glasses of juice and a plate of chocolates before them. Hotaru’s eyes widened...

Walls of white and rugs that Asobi wiggled her toes in. "Wow, I would not have believed it if I didn’t see her myself," he walked out from behind them.

"Thundering Blade, your news spreads wide across Cravolta. It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Eustace Saady, the Minister of Hartamat," he gave his hand.

They stood up. Jotou stared at the hand... ’You’re the reason they died. You’re the reason people are trapped in Hartamat for this experiment...’

Jotou shook his hand, a pleasant smile, "Nice to meet you minister; Jotou Howllett." ’Calm down Jotou, that hasn’t happened technically. Play it cool.’

"Please, sit Ms Howllett. Make yourselves comfortable," he moved his hand to the others.

"Hotaru Kinoshita, adventurer."

"The Amazing Asobi, magician and adventurer, " her beaming grin lit the room, shaking his hand.

Taking their seats, Jotou scanned him over. What a bright smile for a liar. Then again, what corrupt official didn’t have this appearance? Much like Jotou’s pretending... It belongs in a circus next to Asobi for this much acting.

"So, I hear you have been caught up in the travel ban?"

"Yes. We were hoping to acquire a pass out of here, me being the Thundering Blade and all."

"I’m so sorry," he threw his hands up, "It’s a bit of a conundrum; lots of important people go in and out of here, but unless it’s the Princess of Cravolta herself I can’t let anyone through."

"And who is this princess?"

The minister narrowed his eyes, "The current monarch of Cravolta... The king and queen were assassinated a while ago, the princess survived. I’m sure you’ve heard the news."

Hotaru’s eyes shifted to the chocolate, her ears spiking to hear the conversation proper, "I read about it when it happened, but the country’s still running, so nothing too detrimental I would hope."

"Yes, Cravolta is running just as it was. However, not everyone’s keen to be under the princess’s rule, but an heir is an heir, even by technicality. Luckily, the Council of Cravolta handles a lot of the governing so her rule is not supreme."

The blonde gave a sideways glance, and the plate of chocolate had indeed disappeared as the minister was finishing his reply. The minister followed the Jotou’s eyes to Hotaru holding an empty plate.

Asobi chewed one, melting on her tongue whilst holding one other piece, but the rest of the plate filled the corners of Hotaru’s mouth.

The wolf-girl’s face was in bliss, her eyes closed. Her ears bristled to the sudden absence of sound, her cheeks stuffed full. Her brilliant blue eyes stared back...

Asobi looked to Jotou, still smiling as she noticed the plate missing of all desserts. "Wow! I thought only Fumeko could eat so much so quickly!"

She gulped, covering her lips with a hand, "I’m so sorry!" Only then had she realized she finished them all.

Jotou watched, a tiny giggle till her teeth revealed themselves. Jotou began laughing with a hand over her mouth, eyes shrinking in amusement.

"Hey! Don’t laugh!" she whispered her request, Hotaru’s face only reddening further. Asobi began giggling seeing the blonde. "Stop it!" she put the plate down, lips squirming.

Minister Saady faced the three, "This is a usual occurrence?"

The memory of her ears falling, tail going limp, dying from the poison webbing across her face... Jotou laughed more, a little struggle to bring it down to a giggle as she stopped, clearing her throat.

"Sorry." Jotou snapped out of it, "We can’t blame a chocolate lover for coming to Galuvit can we?"

"I deeply apologize, I, thought I only took a few, not the... whole plate," she kept her hands folded on her lap. "My focus is here, one hundred percent."

"It’s alright," Minister Saady put a hand up, "Could we bring Ms Kinoshita more chocolate?"

"No," Hotaru waved her hand, "No, no, please, I just..." her eyes snuck to Jotou, "I can’t control myself around chocolate..."

"I know. Just enjoy it, I’m not blaming you," Jotou replied.

"Could I have some more please?" Asobi raised her hand.

The guard nodded, sighing; what a pitiful duty for a guard to also be their waiter... "As much as I’d like to enjoy myself, there’re matters that need attending to."

Jotou composed herself, "Back to business?" she faced the minister.

"Of course," Minister Saady moved on.

’Why isn’t she here yet... Unless there’s nothing there, crap. I need a backup.’ "Anyway, what if I asked her permission?" Jotou knitted her brows.

"The princess? That’s... quite a bold tactic Thundering Blade. I’m unsure if your fame would reach you all the way there, she’s been quite reclusive as of late.

And even so, all the proper documents have already been sent to her royal advisor. Any further mail can only be received and sent through the eastern road and we can’t allow travel for now."

Hotaru opened her mouth-

"So why can’t we travel through the eastern roads? If my sources are correct, the rogue battalion is set up in the west. Why in the world would all four directions be blocked from travel?"

Hotaru glanced to Jotou, the blonde eyebrows glaring to the minister. Asobi tilted her head leaning forward.

The minister’s eyes shifted, "Well, it’s a travel ban for a reason. We need to count all those in Hartamat who were and are here. Travel allowed out would mean travel allowed in, the reason being they could simply travel out again.

Just, a couple or so days and we can allow people to exit at the very least. The town itself is in danger and fleeing would cause panic and economic concerns when we don’t fully know the threat."

Jotou glared, "That’s a sloppy reason at best. Is this what you’re planning to tell everyone?"

"That reasoning is, very questionable. I apologize for her rudeness, but that doesn’t make a lot of sense for travelling out; at least in the eastern direction," Hotaru laid a hand on Jotou’s leg.

’I get that you want to take care of this Hotaru, but he can’t even tell us a proper reason. He didn’t even question how I knew this info. I guess this excuse would be enough for most people; but I already know what’s going on.’

Minister Saady got up, brushing off his trousers, "I’m sorry, but I don’t have to answer these questions. The travel ban shall stay up and no pass will be issued."

"Why is that the case? We travelled via private means, you can’t give such short notice on matters like these.

We’re proposing a pass to avoid being in police custody and waste everybody’s time when we aren’t doing anything illegal," Hotaru looked up.

Asobi’s glance never wavered from Jotou’s face, still glaring as the minister got up. "Because nobody can go in or out, or it might interfere or even ruin the experiment," Jotou uttered.

Minister Saady’s body froze for a second, before the corners of lips curled, "I’m sorry?"

Hotaru’s ears bristled, about to reach for Jotou... However, she instead stopped herself, opting to not question what was happening. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Oh? That caught your attention. Do I need to pay a little extra for you to tell me all of what’s going on minister? That’s more your style, isn’t it?" she barely blinked.

"I’m sorry, my hospitality has to be cut short Thundering Blade. Guards, please escort her and her party out of the office," he avoided her eyes.

The guards nodded, stepping forward. Asobi held her wand tightly, looking around at all of them, then to Jotou. Hotaru stared at Jotou whilst the blonde’s hand rested gently on the hilt of her blade.

A door creaked open behind the three. "Woosh!" Shadows appeared in between them all, "Jotou! You were right! I found the evidence!"

Fumeko held a closed briefcase, locks busted. She flaunted a handful of documents in the air, "It’s all here, this shady minister’s been writing back and forth with some Lieutenant Frye for the past week!" she glared.

"What!? How dare you go into my office and plant false evidence!? Some noble put you up to this to take me off the seat, didn’t he!? Guards!"

Jotou stood up, the other two following her lead. "What- what’s happening, what do we do?" Asobi held her wand tightly, hiding behind Hotaru.

Jotou grabbed Fumeko, "Really needed to gloat huh?"

"Of course I need to gloat, don’t I get a thanks?" Fumeko pouted.

"Not the time! You know what to do, GO! Hotaru, give her some juice will you?" Jotou pointed with her eyes.

"Uh, sure! Rejuvenate!" Hotaru splashed on the brunette as Fumeko’s eyes opened fully, still sweating from the heat.

"Got it! I’ll see you in a bit!" Fumeko blinked out the window, and again and again, the shadows travelling to where Jotou had directed her.

"Guards! After that girl!" Two of them ran out the building, whilst the minister ran back behind the cover of guards.

They held their polearms at the ready to the three, "Please put your arms in the air and drop any weapons on your person. Or we will have to do so by force," their chainmail clinked.

Jotou drew her blade, "Oh, so you wanna fight for your lying minister? Good, I needed a little warmup."