Chapter 93: The Inside Man (Daiki's Mission)

"This is the stupidest war ever."

Daiki is slumped on the couch in the hotel suite. He is eating all of Mariko's expensive room-service fries.

I am standing in the middle of the room. In the peach dress.

I look like a traumatized cupcake.

"I hate this. I hate all of you."

"It's not that bad," Rika lies, trying to fix a bow in my hair. I slap her hand away.

"Right," I say, ripping the bow out. I point to my whiteboard, which I had Toujo bring over. "Daiki. Your turn."

He sighs. "What is my stupid mission? Am I also wearing a dress?"

"Tempting," Hiroto mutters, looking him up and down. "But no. Your role is more... subtle."

"You are the Inside Man," I say, tapping the board.

"The what?"

"You are the hero of the people now, King," I explain. "You beat Fuji. You defied the Crown Prince. You are the most famous gamer on the planet right now."

He smirks. "He is not wrong. My stream numbers are insane."

"Exactly," Mariko says, stepping in. "Which makes you the only person who can get close to the Imperial Family without an invitation."

"I am not following," Daiki says, eating another fry.

"The Emperor, Fuji's grandfather," I say. "He is the only one who can overrule Takahito. And he is a notorious recluse. He hates politics. He hates his son. But... according to Mariko's research... he has one secret passion."

I point to Daiki.

Daiki looks confused. "He... likes me?"

"No, you moron," I sigh. "He's a gamer."

Daiki drops his fry.

"What?"

"A total closet nerd," Mariko confirms, reading from a file. "He has a private account on Cyber-Blade Online. He plays a Level 99 Shadow Mage. He is in a guild called The Ancient Dragons."

My dad would love this.

"This is the guy who runs the country?" Toujo asks.

"This is our in," I say. "Takahito has Fuji locked down. He controls the Palace. But he does not control the internet.

"You," I say, pointing at Daiki. "Are going to get in touch with the Emperor of Japan. Gamer to gamer."

Daiki is silent. He is processing this.

A slow, dangerous, King's grin spreads across his face.

"You want me... Deception... to infiltrate a video game... to 1v1 the Emperor of Japan... to save the Prince... so he can date you?"

"Yes," I say.

Daiki looks at me. He looks at my stupid peach dress.

He stands up.

"This is the dumbest, most convoluted, most anime plot I have ever heard of."

He cracks his knuckles.

"I'm in."