“Phew, I ate well.”
Bobby said with satisfaction as he sipped his post-meal tea.
“Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve eaten with just another man.”
“As expected of Kent. You always have a girl by your side. You have so many, it’s like you have a harem.”
Kent suddenly felt that this kind of meal with just men was a first and let out a word. Bobby, listening, said to Kent with a surprised expression.
“Come to think of it, I think I’ve seen Gordon eating with various women in this place before?”
“Ah, it’s true, I was meeting with various women until around autumn.”
Kent had also seen Gordon eating with women he didn’t know, just as Bobby had said. Gordon didn’t deny it either. However, once he learned Gordon’s true personality, Kent had some slight doubts.
“Did Gordon ask you out?”
“No, no, no, that’s impossible! I was just invited, asking if I’d like to have a meal. She’s also from a respectable family. I can’t break my relationship with her, nor can I treat her carelessly.”
When Kent subtly asked Gordon, he explained the reason in a flustered manner.
“I envy you for being asked out by so many women. Gordon is good-looking, and he’s the prince of this country. His world is different from mine.”
Bobby said with a sigh after hearing that.
“But Bobby, don’t you have beautiful Prim as your girlfriend? Also, you’re very good at business, do you have any problems?”
“Ah, she’s too good for me, but that’s the problem, she’s too competent.”
Bobby, who had seemed energetic until a moment ago, suddenly said in a dispirited tone.
“Being competent is a problem? I don’t quite understand.”
Gordon, due to his position, had been educated that gathering competent people was a good thing, so he couldn’t understand what Bobby was saying.
“Kent, you know too, right? That thing after school.”
“Ah, that. Did you get caught?”
“No, not yet. But they’ve noticed that the flow of money is strange.”
Hearing Bobby talk about “that thing after school,” Kent vaguely understood the reason.
“Could it be that Bobby Prim Trading Company is doing something illegal? If a major trading company is involved in corruption, it would be a huge problem. I can’t just let that go unnoticed.”
The earnest Gordon, aware that the Bobby Prim Trading Company, one of the largest in the country, being involved in corruption would be a major issue, attempted to inquire for details.
“That thing, was it paid for out of Bobby’s personal funds? Please tell me you didn’t use the shop’s money, right?”
Kent thought that if “that thing after school” was done with money taken from the shop, not Bobby’s own, it would be a big problem. He asked Bobby about the source of the money to confirm.
“That’s absolutely not true! I swear!”
“By the way, what is this ‘thing after school’?”
Bobby was using “thing after school” as a code word, so unlike Kent, who knew the circumstances, Gordon had no idea what he was talking about.
“First, I have to explain that. ‘Thing after school’ is…”
Bobby proceeded to explain “that thing after school” to Gordon.
“Wha- what are you boys in your class doing! Such shameful things!”
“G-Gordon, you’re too loud.”
“That’s right. I trusted you and told you. Please be mindful of that.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“That thing after school” was when the boys in the class went out to the entertainment district by themselves after school. Bobby paid for everything at those times. The Bobby Prim Trading Company was so profitable that Bobby had a lot of money at his disposal. It wasn’t just for food and drinks; they also went to adult entertainment establishments, and Kent had been allowed to participate once. Gordon was shocked at hearing this and let out a loud voice.
“Then, the other day, when I wasn’t paying attention, Prim looked through my wallet. She noticed that there was too little money in it and asked me what I spent it on. I managed to brush it off then, but since then, she’s become suspicious and keeps checking my wallet whenever she finds an opportunity.”
“Well, I shouldn’t say this since I was treated, but it’s your own fault.” – Kent said, resignedly.
Hearing that, Prim seemed quite suspicious of Bobby’s actions. Since Bobby’s actions were the original cause, the only solution was to honestly apologize and beg for forgiveness when he was found out. Kent said with a tone of resignation.
“The entertainment district is an area created by the country with certain rules, and its existence has the major benefit of reducing sex crimes. Without it, those who can’t find an outlet for their desires would turn to many crimes, leading to a decline in public safety. I can’t deny its existence, but I was a little shocked to hear that Kent and his companions had been there.”
Gordon seemed shocked to learn that Kent and Bobby had been to the entertainment district.
“Hmm, shocked, huh? But I think the entertainment district exists because of supply and demand under set rules. You know that Patty’s mother works there, right? So, I think it’s wrong to just deny that area outright.”
“That’s right. I don’t think it’s good to judge something without trying it.”
“…Wha- I didn’t mean it that way.”
Kent also did not deny the existence of the entertainment district, so he stated his personal opinion. Bobby, of course, was in favor of it and believed that experiencing it would reveal its merits. Gordon, thoroughly lectured by the two, was at a loss for a response.
“Alright, then the quickest way is to experience it! How about we go after school today?”
“No, Prince, I think inviting a prince of a country to a place like that is problematic.”
“Really? I thought it was a good idea.”
Bobby came up with a brilliant solution and said it, but Kent flatly rejected it.
“Speaking of the entertainment district, the other day I went to the theater run by Eronie’s grandmother, and it had changed so much I was surprised.”
“Ah, that detestable theater…”
When Kent brought up the entertainment district, he remembered the theater he went to with Hanako the other day and started talking about it. Bobby, having had a terrible experience at that theater, made a displeased face.
“Oh, there are theaters in the entertainment district too? Then, what kind of performances were they putting on?”
Since some aristocrats enjoyed theater, Gordon was interested in the story about the theater.
“I haven’t been there since then either, but I’d like to hear about how it’s changed for future reference.”
“Well, um…”
Although Bobby also had a bad experience at that theater, he seemed interested in Kent’s comment about it having changed. So, Kent, while comparing it to the past, spoke in detail about the current theater.
“Oh, a girl naked… ah, ah. And she even spread her most private parts…”
“Hey, Kent. Gordon’s acting strange.”
“I-I might have explained in too much detail.”
Gordon’s condition worsened as he listened to Kent’s story, and Bobby interrupted Kent. Kent, speaking from memory, didn’t have the composure to pay attention to his surroundings. He heard Bobby’s words and saw Gordon’s state. Gordon was muttering something like a delirium, his mouth opening and closing. Kent remembered that Gordon was uncomfortable with naked women and regretted explaining some details too explicitly.
