Chapter 162: Therefore, the True Boss Who Will Be Drinking Tea Is....
〜One Piece World〜
At the dining table, Sanji set down his wine glass. Little March's words had brought back childhood fairy tales, but her reasoning was even more outlandish than any story.
"In Little March's eyes, how is Luocha selling Stellarons like selling matches on the street?"
"But isn't Luocha a merchant?"
Luffy, currently devouring his food, suddenly asked.
Usopp, beside him, shook his head.
"Merchant is clearly just a facade he uses when traveling. Without powerful backing that reaches the heavens, how could an ordinary person get their hands on something so world-shattering?"
"Oh… But Luocha doesn't look like a bad guy?"
Luffy mumbled, still chewing on a chicken leg.
"How should I put it? He gives off a feeling, like…"
Luffy struggled to find the right adjective, but the next second, Zoro, across the table, calmly interjected:
"…He's too calm."
"Just from his oddly styled sword, I can tell it's not a blade specialized for killing. If it were only for killing, that sword would be far too inefficient."
Zoro drained a large gulp from his wine glass.
"Besides, can that Emanator of 『 Destruction 』 really conduct business properly? Even if she's trying to maintain her disguise and not reveal her identity, wouldn't it be easy for an Emanator to kill an ordinary person and simply snatch the Stellaron?"
Recalling the battle between Phantylia and Jing Yuan in the Scalegorge Waterscape, Zoro felt a chill run down his spine just sensing a trace of their aura from outside the sky curtain. It was indeed hard to imagine Phantylia, who could almost single-handedly defeat the General, sitting down calmly to trade a Stellaron.
—
「 "Please let me see your boss? Pleaaaase? Have a heart, good sir! I'm begging you!" Luocha immediately switched to an even more subservient tone.
"Considering how much I'm begging you, just make an exception, please!"
Welt (Fake) haughtily held his head high, his tone tinged with disdain, sneering, "Many people beg me every day. Am I supposed to make an exception for all of them?"
(March 7th: "Looks like that trick won't work.")
(Stelle silently wiped sweat from her brow: "Is Luocha really like that?")
(Welt shook his head: "The Luocha I know would never beg anyone.") 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat, Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius—
"Eh? Why won't that trick work, big brother Kaeya?"
In the Acting Grand Master's office, Klee looked at Kaeya with a puzzled expression. She often said the same things Luocha had said, and it almost always worked.
"Hmm, that's a simple question."
Kaeya smiled faintly, pointing to the Dodoco plushie hanging behind little Klee.
"Dodoco's magic accompanies little Klee, but big brother Luocha doesn't have Dodoco, so it naturally won't work."
"Oh, I see!"
Klee subconsciously hugged her Dodoco plushie tighter.
"But I can lend Dodoco to big brother Luocha first! He can return it to Klee after Dodoco's magic works!"
"Uh… Little Klee, let's not."
Kaeya wiped sweat from his forehead. A Stellaron—no matter how you looked at it—wasn't something that could be easily sold with subservience and Dodoco's magic, was it?
—
「 After handing over the torn-out flyleaf, Welt (Fake)'s eyes widened instantly.
"This is… a secret code?" Welt (Fake)'s tone abruptly shifted, and his gaze suddenly held a clear respect. "So you're the one. Wait here a moment — I'll call the boss right away."
"Take your time, I'm not in a hurry." Luocha was quite pleased with his deferential attitude.
(March 7th: "Pu'er took the flyleaf for the rendezvous and went to inform his boss. A short while later, he saw a majestic figure approaching him.")
"Hmm… Let me see the goods first, Pam."
Luocha opened his eyes at the words, but after scanning the vicinity twice, he saw no one. Finally, he realized the voice was coming from his feet.
This legendary boss… was actually Pam!
Truly… what a magnificent and dignified figure!
("What a cute boss… Cutest boss I ever saw," Stelle couldn't help but stifle a laugh.) 」
「 .....」
〜Honkai: Impact 3rd World〜
"Pfft, this boss, the boss is also… hahahahahahaha!"
Kiana burst out laughing, almost dying, slumped over her seat, unable to straighten her back.
"And, and what's with this name? Startaro Bubble? Isn't that a bubble tea name?"
"Bubble tea is still tea, so it's perfectly reasonable for the boss of the Tea Society to be bubble tea, right?"
Bronya explained from the side.
"…Oh, right."
But Bronya was also very curious:
"But why isn't the boss Himeko? Doesn't Himeko look more dignified?"
"Miss Himeko is just Uncle Yang's colleague! If it were really Himeko, it would totally break immersion!"
Kiana held up a finger.
"The only one who can be Uncle Yang's boss has to be a cute Pam like this! March 7th is a genius!"
—
「 (March 7th scratched her head, looking a little wronged: "When I think of Uncle Yang's boss, I can only think of Pam…")
Welt (Fake) cleared his throat beside them, gravely stating: "This is our boss, Startaro Bubble. Quickly, bring out the goods for him to inspect."
"Cash on delivery, goods on hand. You wouldn't be unfamiliar with such a simple rule, would you?" Luocha said, arms crossed, with a serious expression.
Pam's peripheral vision flickered towards Welt (Fake): "Pu'er, give him the money, Pam. Well? Are you willing to give me the goods now, Pam?"
Luocha extended his hands forward, and the angle of the light curtain perfectly obscured the goods he was trading.
"Be careful, this thing is extremely dangerous. Farewell."
With that, Luocha intended to turn and leave.
"Indeed, we won't meet again, Pam. Pu'er, eliminate him, Pam." Pam, with the expression of a true mastermind, coldly issued the command. As the view pulled back, the figure who had just been Welt-shaped, Pu'er, had transformed in an instant into… an Aurumaton!
"I thought the transaction went smoothly."
"You sold me such dangerous things, making us accomplices, Pam. To keep the secret, I can only regretfully silence you forever, Pam." 」
「 .....」
〜Gintama World〜
"That makes so much sense… No, no! It makes absolutely no sense at all! Hey! How did a living person just turn into a Aurumaton in an instant!? That's way too abrupt!"
Shinpachi's eyes widened as he began his (tsukkomi).
"What's unreasonable about it? It's perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"
Sakata Gintoki, lying on the tatami, picked his nose, then flicked it gently with his index finger.
"Don't these kinds of settings appear in anime all the time? Robots disguised as humans?"
"There was no build-up whatsoever!"
Shinpachi couldn't comprehend.
"And is it really okay for such a cute character to say something like that? It's practically risen to the level of children's horror! Wouldn't it be much more logical to make the boss look like Kafka?!"
"…Kafka, huh."
Sakata Gintoki pondered for a moment.
"While it would fit her character… it fits too well, making it out of place in Little March's version. Let's just drop it."
—