Chapter 105 – Crossing America

We stayed in Los Angeles for three days before boarding the transcontinental railroad.
The reason we stayed for three days was partly because the appointment with Walt Disney-sama fell on that date, but above all it was arranged to match the schedule of Kouryuu-sensei’s lecture.

The immediate destination is Detroit, where Ford is. But since the starting and ending point of the transcontinental railroad is Chicago just before that, we will ride the transcontinental railroad to Chicago.
The route is mainly southward. Passing along the line near the Mexican border, crossing the Rocky Mountains, then heading northeast across the great plains and prairies toward Chicago.

During that time, the journey is practically like renting out an entire car. After all, most of the people around me are non-white.
It is considered presumptuous for non-whites to ride in the same car as white people—or so goes the official reasoning, but in reality, it’s to avoid troublesome security issues.

Naturally, we paid a large sum, including bribes. Everyone is honest when it comes to dollars.

Besides, we have enough people to fill a sleeping car.
For myself and Kouryuu-sensei, there’s Tokita, Shizu, Kouryuu-sensei’s butler, old man Yagami, Mr. Wan, other servants and guards, plus Sebastian with his secretary and servants. Altogether, it comes to nearly twenty people.

In the 21st century, it would be like chartering a business jet.

And since we were renting out an entire car, naturally it wasn’t an ordinary train but a luxury one. However, since we didn’t plan to visit the dining car or salon, meals would be brought to us.
It’s best to avoid unnecessary friction as much as possible.

Also, for Kouryuu-sensei, this was one of the rare chances to not be chased around by people, so he strongly wished to remain secluded.
Apparently, keeping a smile fixed on his face had been quite exhausting.

As for the train itself, it was the typically oversized, massive American locomotive, but a little outdated. If we waited a few more years, streamlined-body cars and diesel locomotives would appear, but in this era the transcontinental railroad still had that classic look.
Its speed was slower than expected too. It took two nights and three days to reach Chicago.

And from Chicago, we would slowly tour around various places while heading toward New York.
Naturally, Kouryuu-sensei would be giving lectures at prestigious universities along the way. In Chicago, of course, at the University of Chicago.
From there, partly apart from us, the university circuit would begin. Apparently, he would be visiting around twenty schools.

I heard he would be receiving quite a large sum in lecture fees, but this meant we would be forced to stay in the eastern United States for about two months.

That’s why you could say we came to America at the end of August. And during this time, aside from my personal main goal of becoming a witness to history, I also plan to devote myself to business.

“There’s really nothing here.”

“Truly the New Continent.”

“The development of the West is still far ahead, sir.”

We relaxed with Kouryuu-sensei in one of the compartments, using it like a mini-lounge. And for another purpose—to size him up—I also had Sebastian join us under the pretext of hearing about the state of affairs in America.

Sebastian was perfect for listening to firsthand stories about America. Especially since the next day we would be crossing the Rocky Mountains, where there was nothing but mountains, so his presence was helpful.

Yes, in this era, once you left the coastal area of the West Coast, both the West Coast and Midwest were truly sparsely populated countryside. No, not just countryside—basically the wilderness you often see in Westerns.
Cars were still in their developing stage, so once you left the railroad there was absolutely nothing.

Relatively close to Los Angeles, there was the Grand Canyon. At this time, it had already been designated a national park, but it could hardly be called a tourist destination.

Besides, it was far off from the transcontinental railroad route. While it wasn’t impossible to force a visit, I was told it would take at least four full days round trip with special preparations, so I gave up on the idea.

Well, I already got to see it in my previous life, so it doesn’t really bother me.
Other than that, in this era most things don’t even exist yet.

Near the Grand Canyon there’s Las Vegas, but back then it was just a small town hardly anyone knew about. Nearby Hoover Dam also didn’t exist yet, since it was built after the Great Depression.

And later I learned that Las Vegas developed as a town to provide entertainment for the workers who gathered for the Hoover Dam’s construction, as gambling was legalized in 1931.

Speaking of casinos, what comes to mind are the bunny girls that otaku and old men love, but I can’t imagine that costume existing before the war, so there’s no chance of seeing them.

More importantly, America was still in the Prohibition era.
And our destination was Chicago. And speaking of Chicago—

“Hey, Sebastian. Al Capone was arrested, right?”

“Yes. However, the prevailing rumor is that it was a staged act to escape from that February incident.”

“A staged act, huh. Well, if he’s been arrested, then maybe Chicago will be quiet?”

“They are not the only gang, but since the police are devoting considerable effort to maintaining order, I believe no harm will come to you, milady.”

“I’d really rather not be mowed down by a machine gun barrage.”

“There are hardly any who would try to harm Doctor Ootori. And besides, the ones who truly know about you, milady, are only a tiny portion of the upper class and Wall Street.”

“I see. Then I’d better stay as close as possible to Kouryuu-sensei.”

“That would certainly make things easier for the guards as well. But is there nowhere in Chicago you want to visit?”

“Not particularly in Chicago. More than that, I’d like to see Detroit where Ford is, and beyond that, Niagara Falls.”

I answered casually, but at the same time thought a little about Al Capone, whose name I had brought up.
This man would end up afflicted with syphilis during his imprisonment. But in this world, thanks to the penicillin Kouryuu-sensei developed, treatment at an early stage is possible. 

Which means that after serving his sentence, it’s not impossible he might make a comeback.

The fact that Kouryuu-sensei is in such demand in America is the clearest proof that the new medicine is spreading. It must have already saved many lives.

The world’s greatest economic power—so convenient and advanced that even I, who knows the 21st century, can live here without feeling much discrepancy compared to my past life. Yet even here, there are many people whose lives are saved by a revolutionary new drug.

“What’s the matter? You’re not that eager for sightseeing?”

“If you want to, I shall escort you wherever you desire.”

Just from me spacing out a little, the two adults leaned in to peer at my face.
Was I really making such a serious expression?

“No, I was just thinking about how I should explain myself to Mr. Ford.”

“Tokita will handle that part. In fact, he’s probably already done so. You just need to give them a polite smile or two. They’ll only see you as a child anyway.”

“I wonder about Mr. Ford. Through Torasaburou-sama, he already has close ties with the Ootori Group, and he also has very deep connections with American political and financial circles. We should assume he’s heard rumors of the ‘Priestess of Ootori.’”

“Sebastian is probably right. Kouryuu-sensei is too optimistic.”

“But nothing happened in Los Angeles, did it?”

Saying that, he gave me a somewhat reproachful look, as if I had spent the whole time fooling around. Well, half of it really was playing around.
Still, I felt like I had been watched wherever I went.

So I asked Sebastian. I could have asked Tokita, but unless I called him, he would remain waiting in the next room with Shizu and the others.

“What about that?”

“Hollywood is the city of movies—in other words, a city of the Jews. In that respect, it should be thought of as somewhat similar to New York. And since they must create works that sell and then promote them, information travels quickly. We should assume that, at the very least, there are those who know not only the Ootori Group’s official success stories, but also mere rumors. Furthermore—”

“Furthermore?”

“You should assume that there are quite a number of conglomerate dogs scouting ahead.”

“I figured. On this train too?”

“Certainly, in the lounge and dining cars. Though they must be quite disappointed, I imagine.”

“Well, that’s troublesome for them. Especially since I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re not doing anything?”

“Yes, that’s right. Is there a problem?”

“No, but if you’re truly that free, then come with me. Even at the university in Los Angeles, I was asked more than once whether my niece in traditional costume wouldn’t be attending.”

“Wait, that’s definitely something I shouldn’t go to, right?”

“Indeed. While there are surely some who, out of mere curiosity or pure admiration, would wish to catch a glimpse of your charming figure, we must assume that among them are less pure individuals.”

Sebastian stroked his double chin as he gave his assessment. But Kouryuu-sensei seemed unconvinced.

“So you mean there are fellows who’d even attempt a kidnapping? If they tried something like that, it’d be nothing less than dragging the reputations of all involved through the mud.”

“Two billion dollars is certainly worth that much. Killing you would be pointless, so it would surely be a kidnapping and confinement. Honestly, I believe even this number of guards is far too few.”

“How many would you want?”

“At the very least, three times this number.”

“But we’ve already arranged for guards, servants, and staff to be waiting for us at our destinations.”

“Even so, it is still too few.”

He pressed his opinion with surprising seriousness. Perhaps that was simply how Americans like Sebastian thought.
And then—there was a knock at the door.

“This is Tokita.”

“Come in. What is it?”

I asked as soon as the door opened.

“I was simply concerned you might have worries about the security.”

“So, everything’s fine then?”

“Yes, there is no problem at all.”

Saying that, Tokita bowed respectfully.

“And? Is it that someone else is actually protecting us?”

“As you surmise, yes. We keep ourselves to the bare minimum, while everything else is thoroughly arranged by those we are close with in this country.”

“See, Sebastian? The people you spotted might have been the ones secretly protecting me.”

“Indeed. One shouldn’t meddle in things one isn’t used to. Still, as expected of you, milady—you’re practically being treated as a state guest.”

“Though it doesn’t seem like the government of this country is doing anything.”

I made that flippant remark on purpose.
Yes. The reason my safety is assured is because there are so many people who would take a huge loss if anything happened to me.
That’s precisely why I can afford to be this relatively carefree.