The two people from the recent incident were sent to the hospital for treatment, and one of them is under interrogation right now. For the record, I told him that if he didn't cooperate properly, I'd turn him into a twelfth grader, and this time he actually understood me.
On top of that, I had to write a report explaining the sequence of events, so I had to sit there with my head in my hands. No, I just caught a bastard. What else do you need me to say?
"No, more importantly, how did you catch up to the truck?"
"How did I catch it? I crossed over the rooftops and took the fastest route after it."
"The rooftops... I see. At least you didn't chase down a moving truck on foot."
"Well, I wouldn't do long-distance. Short range, maybe, but long-distance would wear me out too."
"So short range you might not...? What?"
"If it had been short range, I would've caught it. But over a long distance, my body would've stopped listening halfway through, so I didn't do it."
If I overtax myself while running, that would be a problem.
"Where on earth did Lord Wei Yenwu pick up a monster like you..."
"Picked me up? That's rude."
From a child who'd been dumped in a back alley and barely survived, no less!
"No, wait. Since Mojang picked you up, does that mean he borrowed a picked-up kid...?"
There's that saying that the first person to pick something up gets to keep it, so it wasn't entirely wrong, I guess.
"I don't know... can't we just say I caught him and leave it at that?"
"If incident reports were that simple, why would we be working overtime?"
"Ugh, forget it! Let's eat dinner! Follow me, and bring your wallet."
"You've already decided on the place, right? Please don't make it somewhere expensive. This old man's wallet has been empty lately."
"What, you're a bachelor anyway. What do you even have to spend money on?"
"What? Who told you that?"
"The ladies in HR did. They said you've gone on a hundred blind dates and been rejected a hundred times."
"Damn it, why are the Guard Bureau people all so loose-lipped..."
"So you really did get rejected a hundred times?"
"Don't ask... a man's love life isn't easy..."
"I heard our society calls this kind of thing pathetic. That'll hurt if I say it, won't it?"
"The moment it leaves your mouth, you're dead..."
Oops. That wasn't intentional, really, but now I can't say anything else. He really does look hurt.
"Uh... should we go eat?"
"Yeah... let's."
Awkward. Damn it, this is why people need to watch their mouths.
"This place... isn't closed, is it?"
"Hey now. That's a disappointing thing to say. Is Jay inside?"
"Yes, sir. Welcome."
"See? Not closed."
"It really isn't..."
"Jay, give me the most expensive thing you can make right now."
It's not my money anyway, so I might as well order something pricey while I'm here.
"Hey... you didn't already forget I said I had no money, did you?"
"Youth dementia is rampant these days."
"So in other words, you're telling me to go screw myself."
"Correct. You order too, old man. He's good at cooking. Especially slicing fish."
"Haa... give me the same thing."
Anyone who's ever used a knife knows this: cutting something evenly is a brutally demanding task. Whether it's a person or ingredients, it doesn't matter. In that sense, Jay was an excellent inspector of kitchen knives.
"Understood. Ah, would you like some alcohol to go with it?"
"I've still got overtime left, so unfortunately I can't have a drink."
"Tch."
What a shame. I'd thought I might get a free drink or two.
Normally, when people get younger, they celebrate it as a second youth, a chance to live a new life. But what the hell is there to be happy about? My new life starts in Terra's back alleys, and even with side dishes this good, I still can't have a drink. What a joke.
"Damn, this is the kind of food you drink with."
Looking at those perfectly sliced pieces of sashimi, I couldn't help thinking of a green bottle full of alcohol. And I still can't drink?
"Be honest. You're not actually a kid, are you? Did some Sarkaz sorcery make you younger or something?"
"Hey now, what kind of nonsense is that? It'd be more believable if I said I died in another world and was reborn."
"That makes even less sense, doesn't it...?"
No, it doesn't. It makes perfect sense. It's right in front of you.
"It's really good, right? I eat here every morning."
"Yeah. It tastes good."
"Thanks. Ah, by the way, did you see the news?"
"The news? No. Why?"
"There was a big report at noon. A criminal group robbed a bank and fled onto the road..."
"Ah, damn it! You already heard about that? That's... ah, come on..."
"Word is, someone who looked like a Guard Bureau officer subdued them more than necessary, then even rolled them around on the ground."
"....."
"Kid. Lord Wei Yenwu wants to see you over the radio."
Fuck. Seriously.
"Yeah. You came, Baekhyun?"
"Dragon head. I... sorry."
"Hm? For what?"
"What? You didn't call me because of the news?"
"Ah, that too happened. And the hush money for that was..."
"...Your mouth really is the problem. Anyway."
"Well, that's not why I called you, so sit down."
"If it wasn't that, then why?"
"Sit, and I'll explain. Ah, I also managed to get some persimmons to go with the tea."
"Ow, my back hurts. I need to sit down."
"...You really are hard to tell apart, child or adult. Sometimes I can't tell."
"I am what you see. What else do you need?"
"How is life in Lungmen treating you?"
"Since my first day of work got me into the news and I had a private meeting with my superior, it's been more or less fine."
"So you do know when you're at fault."
What, so he was holding a grudge after all.
"Baekhyun, do you remember why you stayed here?"
"To broaden my horizons... and, while I'm at it, to deal with the Black Cloud Society."
"Mm. Correct. In fact, I hired you for the latter purpose."
With that, Wei Yenwu took a small sip of tea and continued.
"I am a politician. A politician of Lungmen. Politicians have neither enemies nor allies. The enemy who snarls at you today may become a reliable ally tomorrow, and the ally who seems endlessly lovable may become an enemy just as easily."
"...And what exactly is your point in telling me that?"
The air grows cold. No, that's not quite right. It sharpens. It's the subtle current that rises just before swords are drawn, the same tension that appears when seasoned swordsmen face one another, blade to blade.
So sharp.
How many blades was he hiding behind that easy smile?
At best, I'd last three exchanges if I rushed him now.
He was the one who would one day wield the blade Chen would turn toward the right target, and he was an exceptional swordsman. If I charged him now, I'd be lucky to survive three moves.
"Baekhyun... what if I had joined hands with the Black Cloud Society?"
"...Hard to say. First I'd kill either Chen or Talulah."
"You say that so calmly? I thought we were friends."
"Ah. I thought we were close too. Why?"
"It's simple. A collapsing sword world, a rising yakuza organization, and according to the information Meursault passed along, they're on friendly terms with Ursus. Whose hand Lungmen should take to survive is obvious, isn't it?"
"...Yeah. It is. So why did you bring me here?"
"Well, isn't it simple?"
With a soft metallic whisper, a fine blade that reflected the city's neon in red was drawn into his hand.
"If you want to strengthen a friendship, you need a gift first."
"...Ha."
This wasn't even funny. I got up from the chair and trudged toward him. I didn't put a hand on my sword, nor did I even take a defensive stance.
"Giving up already? I misjudged you."
The blade came to my throat. A little deeper and it would tear the artery and crush the airway.
"What are you waiting for? Cut already."
"...Your recklessness truly transcends your age."
The blade pressed a little deeper and touched my skin. A heart pounding, pupils widening. Death approaching.
"Any last words?"
Last words? Like hell.
"...Pahahaha! Enough acting. That was fun, dragon head."
"...What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
"You're good at acting, I'll give you that. But can we stop now? I ran out of dinner to come here."
"...Kahahaha! So you noticed? You could at least pretend to be a little scared."
"Puhaha! That was a disgusting hobby!"
If anyone had seen this scene, they would surely have said one thing.
"Those lunatics."