kscans

Chapter 48 - Episode 48

I had been on high alert, but there were no problems during landing or anything.

Rena woke up normally, and we came together to the VIP-only immigration counter.

Exiting Japan could be handled by a proxy thanks to the power of the Shinonome Zaibatsu. But entering America apparently requires each person to go through screening. They said it was because of a large-scale terrorist attack in this country two years ago.

"You look gloomy, Hayate."

"Unlike in Thailand, I’m nervous because I have to go through the screening alone."

"It’s another country’s rules, after all. Even Father’s influence can’t change that. But I’m sure you’ll be fine, Hayate. Here, just run through the responses I taught you in your head."

"R, right."

Show my passport, say my name. When they ask my purpose, I answer ‘sightseeing.’

I don’t think I could say in English, ‘To clear a dungeon and rescue the President’s daughter who has been turned into a trophy.’ Yeah, definitely impossible. For the record, when entering Thailand, things had been arranged beforehand, and I was able to enter the screening area with Rena, so there was no problem.

After a short wait, it was my turn.

"Good luck, Hayate!"

I was too nervous to speak. I just waved to Rena in silence.

Come to think of it, if the four-sword style hadn’t been discontinued in FWO, I was planning to come to this country by myself for the event… I won the qualifying tournament on sheer momentum back then, but I never expected it to be like this.

Not being able to understand the language is seriously scary.

The officer who called my passport number seemed to tell me to move to a separate private room, so I followed his instructions. I can’t understand most of what he’s saying, but he points and stuff, so I’m getting by.

I entered the private room.

On the other side of a glass partition was a mean-looking old man.

This is for VIPs, and it’s okay to have someone so unfriendly in charge?

Thinking that, I did as Rena had told me.

First, place my passport on the table. Pass it to the old man through the slot in the glass.

The old man who opened my passport ran it through something that looked like a scanner.

"Name?"

Oh, huh. It’s in Japanese.

"Shizukuishi Hayate."

"Purpose of your visit to this country?"

"Um. Sightseeing."

If he understands Japanese, maybe it would have been okay to say I came to clear a dungeon at the President’s request. But since I plan to tour the country after completing the trophy rescue mission, it’s not a lie. I thought it would surely be fine.

The old man who had been sitting in his chair suddenly stood up. He looked angry about something.

He suddenly switched to English, and he was speaking so fast I couldn’t understand anything.

Wh, what!? What did I do!?

Confused and flustered, I saw two security guards enter the room.

They restrained me by both arms.

I had been caught by some pretty well-built security guards. If I used my ninja powers, I could probably beat people of this level and escape, but doing so might get me in serious legal trouble in this country.

But is it even possible to be arrested upon entry when I came here at the President’s request to save his daughter?

This has to be some kind of mistake, right!? …Y, yeah, it does.

There must have been some kind of mix-up.

It’s not time to panic yet.

What I need to worry about right now is Rena’s safety. I focused on her presence.

Ah, good. It seems she passed through screening and has joined up with the maids who were being processed at another gate.

I’m the only one who’s been detained.

So, was it a bad idea to lie and say my purpose was sightseeing after all?

The man just now was incredibly angry, so I must have done something.

What’s going to happen to me!?