After the head chef went down, the restaurant's serving speed slowed dramatically.
Oguri Cap had eaten through most of the shop's ingredients, and the kitchen needed to keep what remained for the next wave of customers—so later on, the staff actually asked them to stop ordering.
At this point, Su Luo didn't plan to stay any longer. He called a server over to pay the bill.
The sushi feast cost him close to 300,000 yen. And since the head chef's hand had cramped up because of Oguri's appetite, Su Luo thoughtfully left an extra 100,000 yen as compensation for lost work time.
So in total, it came to about 400,000 yen.
For Su Luo, this was basically a surprise jackpot.
Honestly, spending that much money wasn't even easy. When he tried to pay, the manager actually told him the owner had instructed them to treat Su Luo as a "special guest," so they shouldn't charge him.
But Su Luo insisted on paying anyway.
What the hell—why are you trying to stop me from paying?!
Before leaving, Su Luo specifically asked the manager who the owner was.
"Huh? You didn't know?" the manager said, genuinely shocked that Su Luo didn't know who ran the place. But shock aside, he answered.
"Half the businesses on this street belong to our owner. And you should definitely know the owner's name…"
"Uh…?" Su Luo was completely confused.
"This is property of the Zanshin family."
"…Huh?!"
Su Luo made the loudest baffled sound of his entire life.
——
"Um… is Su Luo acting like that really okay…?"
Inside a lounge at Central Tracen, Su Luo was currently crouched in a corner facing the wall, both hands braced on his knees, looking like he'd shut down emotionally.
Tamamo Cross looked worried.
"If it's Su Luo… he should be fine… right?" Oguri Cap said, but even she sounded uncertain—this was apparently her first time seeing Su Luo this depressed.
Yes. Su Luo was in an ultra-low state.
If you mentioned the surname "Zanshin," and then narrowed down the people connected to him…
There was only one possible candidate left.
Aaaah—!
Zanshin Glorious!
You… you betrayed me—!!
Weren't you supposed to be the kind of totally ordinary horsegirl who couldn't do anything and lived a plain everyday life?
What do you mean the "ordinary horsegirl" I invested in actually owns half a street's worth of prime real estate in Tokyo's busiest district?!
Hey!
If you're that rich, why were you studying in Kasamatsu?!
Damn it!
And when I invested in you back then, why did you look so honored and surprised?!
Just imagining it—
That he never needed to grind away under the money-losing system, and could've simply lived the ultimate life by eating Zanshin Glorious's "soft rice"—
made Su Luo's heart ache.
Don't tell me about that cruel possibility!!
The only thing that comforted him was that Zanshin Glorious's profits in Tokyo probably didn't count as his profits in the system's eyes.
Mainly because that money wasn't going into Su Luo's bank account—so it wasn't Su Luo's money.
Unless Zanshin Glorious transferred her earnings to him, then it would count as profit.
But that probably wouldn't happen.
Probably…
"Su Luo…? Are you really okay? If you're not feeling well, you should go to the infirmary," Tamamo said, seeing Su Luo's expression twist even more—she thought he was physically ill and stepped closer to check.
"No… I'm fine. I'm just… tired in my soul," Su Luo answered like a lifeless machine, eyes completely hollow.
"Are you sure…? Your face looks like you're about to die…"
"I-I'm fine…"
Su Luo opened his mouth and practically let half his spirit drift out.
…There's no need to keep fighting anymore…
"Su Luo! Don't die—!!" Tamamo yelled, shaking him, then turning to Oguri.
"Hurry up and comfort him!"
"O-okay!" Oguri said, finally reacting. She stepped forward and gently patted Su Luo's head, trying to bring him back.
Just as the two of them were "rescuing" Su Luo, Kitahara pushed the door open and walked in.
"Su Luo—! I have something I want to ask you—!"
"…Eh?"
Naturally, he saw Su Luo surrounded by a whole bouquet of girls.
"Am I… here at a bad time?"
"Ahem… no, no… it's fine…" With the girls' soothing, Su Luo finally managed to recover a little.
He looked at Kitahara.
"Alright. What did you want to ask?"
"You actually have questions for me… that's pretty rare," Su Luo muttered.
"Yeah…" Kitahara nodded, but didn't ask right away. He glanced at Tamamo and Oguri beside Su Luo, hesitating.
"Oh—look at the time. I should head back," Tamamo said, instantly catching on that Kitahara had something he didn't want to say in front of them.
"By the way, Oguri Cap—come with me for a second. I have something to tell you."
"..."
Oguri looked at Tamamo's face, then nodded, and followed her out.
Once they left, only Su Luo and Kitahara remained in the room.
"Now it's just the two of us. If you've got something to say, stop holding back and say it."
"Cough… to be honest, after what you said earlier, I've figured out what the problem is!"
Kitahara hesitated for a moment, then spoke earnestly.
"You were right. If Oguri is going to run the Japan Derby, she can't stay at her current level!"
"If she doesn't master a 'Domain,' then even if she goes to the Japan Derby, she won't have a guaranteed win… so!"
Kitahara bowed deeply toward Su Luo, expression sincere.
"Su Luo! Please teach me how to train Oguri to master Domain!"
"…?"
Su Luo stared at Kitahara bowing and slowly produced a single question mark in his mind.
Domain…? The hell is that?
Wait.
You're the trainer, and you're asking me?
What would I know?!
Why do you think something you don't know is something I would know?!
I swear—Kitahara is a top-tier troll too.
Damn it, I should dock your salary!
No, wait…
If I dock his salary, doesn't that mean I lose money?
Then… raise it! Raise it hard!
....
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