Saito stood near the window.
His arms crossed.
Watching the bar below.
Fanny was helping Malfoy carry drinks between tables.
Despite everything that had happened earlier—
the two continued working as if nothing had happened.
Saito frowned.
Then looked at Kaito.
"We can't leave them."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"You sure?"
"We planned to leave tomorrow."
Saito nodded.
"I know."
He looked back at the bar.
"But it feels wrong."
Kaito followed his gaze.
Seeing Malfoy and Fanny working together.
Then sighed.
"So."
"What do you want me to do, Captain?"
A grin appeared on Saito's face.
"Find any information about that captain."
Kaito smirked.
"On it."
The next moment—
he vanished into the air.
Leaving the room.
Saito turned toward the others.
Bomb was sitting against the wall.
Rin was sharpening his scythe.
Alya was tinkering with her device.
Saito looked at them.
"We stay here until Kaito comes back with information."
Bomb nodded.
"Works for me."
Rin grinned.
"I had a feeling our vacation wasn't ending anytime soon."
Alya smiled.
"At least the rooms are nice."
Saito laughed.
"Good."
Then he sat down and waited.
Outside—
the sun slowly began to set over Jaha Town.
While somewhere in the city—
Kaito began searching for information about the corrupt captain and the men calling themselves police.
Evening arrived.
The sky had begun turning orange as the sun lowered beyond the hills.
A carriage slowly rolled toward the bar.
Malfoy guided the horse while Fanny sat beside him.
The two had just returned from delivering drinks around Jaha Town.
As they approached the building—
Malfoy suddenly blinked.
Then looked again.
Saito was sitting outside near the entrance.
Waiting.
The fox beastman climbed down from the carriage.
"You're still here?"
Saito nodded.
"Yep."
Malfoy looked confused.
"I thought you were leaving."
Saito stood up.
Then smiled.
"How about a deal, Sir Malfoy?"
Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"A deal?"
Before he could continue—
Fanny immediately stepped forward.
"Absolutely not."
She pointed directly at Saito.
"Don't trust them, Dad."
"They'll trick us."
Saito placed a hand over his chest.
"I'm offended."
"You should be."
Fanny replied immediately.
Rin, who was watching from the doorway, nearly laughed.
Saito ignored him.
Then looked back at Malfoy.
"My offer is simple."
"We stay."
Fanny folded her arms.
"And then we pay you a ridiculous amount of money?"
Saito shook his head.
"No."
That answer caught both of them off guard.
Saito continued.
"We stay here."
"And we protect this place."
Fanny blinked.
"What?"
Saito pointed toward the road.
"If those fake tax collectors come back."
"We handle it."
Malfoy looked surprised.
Saito smiled.
"In return..."
He pointed at the bar.
"Just give us good service while we're here."
Silence.
Fanny stared at him.
Clearly waiting for the catch.
But none came.
Saito simply waited.
Malfoy slowly turned toward his daughter.
Fanny looked away.
Thinking.
Then after a few seconds—
she hesitated.
And gave a small nod.
Malfoy smiled.
Then looked back at Saito.
"Yes."
Saito immediately grinned.
"Great."
Rin pumped a fist from the doorway.
"Looks like we're staying."
Bomb sighed.
"Our vacation has officially become work."
Alya laughed.
And for the first time—
Fanny didn't immediately argue with them.
Meanwhile—
in Jaha Town's police base.
Kaito silently leaped onto a stone wall surrounding the compound.
His black cloak blended into the evening shadows.
Without making a sound—
he crouched on the edge and observed the yard below.
Several officers were gathered around.
Some were drinking.
Some were talking.
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
Then suddenly froze.
"Jeez."
"That guy is here too."
His gaze landed on a familiar figure.
Captain Norway.
The metal invoker Saito had encountered earlier.
Norway was standing near the entrance with his arms crossed.
Looking as serious as ever.
Kaito watched for a few more seconds.
Then his attention shifted.
Standing beside Norway—
was the same captain from earlier.
The man with the small axes.
The one extorting Malfoy.
Kaito frowned.
"So he really is a police officer."
The captain laughed loudly at something one of the officers said.
Kaito's eyes narrowed further.
"Just a corrupted jerk."
From his position on the wall—
he continued watching the two captains talk.
Carefully memorizing faces.
Ranks.
Numbers.
Anything useful.
From atop the wall—
Kaito remained hidden in the shadows.
The officers below had no idea he was there.
Captain Norway stood near a wooden table.
Across from him was Captain Matthew.
The corrupt officer from earlier.
Norway crossed his arms.
"Matthew."
"I heard reports that you harassed civilians again."
Matthew laughed.
"And if I did?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"What can you do about it, Norway?"
Norway's expression didn't change.
"Don't test me."
His voice was cold.
"There will be evidence eventually."
"And when I find it..."
"I'll arrest you myself."
Matthew's smile faded slightly.
Then he scoffed.
"You always say that."
Norway ignored the comment.
Instead, he looked toward the town.
"But I have a bigger problem right now."
Matthew immediately understood.
"The Blue Scarf kid?"
Norway nodded.
"Yes."
"The one that got away."
Matthew chuckled.
"Still chasing him?"
Norway looked at him.
"That's my job."
Then he turned away.
"But after I deal with Blue Scarf..."
His eyes narrowed.
"...you're next."
For a brief moment—
Matthew's smile disappeared.
Then he laughed again.
Trying to hide his irritation.
"Good luck with that."
From the shadows above—
Kaito smirked.
"So Norway isn't with him."
That was useful information.
Very useful.
A corrupt captain.
And an honest captain.
Both inside the same police force.
Kaito memorized everything he heard.
Then silently disappeared into the darkness—
ready to report back to Saito.
Inside the bar—
the atmosphere had become much calmer.
The Blue Scarf crew sat around a table drinking beer and chatting.
Malfoy worked behind the counter.
Meanwhile—
Fanny sat beside Alya.
Watching Saito from across the room.
After a moment, she pointed at him.
"That kid is weird."
Alya followed her gaze.
Saito was currently trying to balance a spoon on his nose.
Alya laughed.
"Maybe."
Fanny shook her head.
"No."
"Definitely weird."
Alya chuckled.
Then—
without warning—
Kaito appeared beside Saito.
"Jeez!"
Saito nearly spilled his drink.
"Kaito!"
Kaito calmly sat down.
"I got some useful information."
Saito immediately leaned forward.
"What is it?"
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Unfortunately..."
"He really is a police captain."
Saito groaned.
"Crap."
"I thought he was just a bandit."
Kaito nodded.
"So did I."
Bomb frowned.
"That complicates things."
"Very."
Kaito agreed.
"If we fight him directly..."
"We fight the entire police department."
The table fell silent.
Saito rubbed his forehead.
"Wonderful."
Then Kaito smirked.
"But."
Saito immediately looked up.
"You have an idea?"
Kaito nodded.
"I do."
Saito pointed at him.
"Go on."
Kaito leaned forward.
"You remember that metal captain?"
Saito immediately nodded.
"Yep."
"Escaped him once."
Kaito smiled.
"I think we can use him."
Saito blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Now he understood.
Kaito continued.
"Norway already dislikes Matthew."
"If we help him find proof..."
"He'll do the arresting for us."
Bomb nodded.
"A win-win."
Alya smiled.
"And legal."
Rin sighed dramatically.
"There goes my plan of hitting him with a scythe."
"No."
Kaito replied immediately.
"There goes your plan."
Saito laughed.
Then looked back at Kaito.
"Brilliant one."
Kaito stood up.
"Now I need to talk to Captain Norway first."
Saito nodded.
"Be careful."
Kaito gave a thumbs-up.
Then—
whoosh
He vanished.
Leaving the table once again.
Saito watched the empty seat.
Then took a sip of his drink.
"Well."
"Let's hope he doesn't accidentally get arrested."
Fanny stared at him.
"You sent your friend to negotiate with a police captain."
Saito nodded.
"Yep."
Fanny blinked.
"...You're all insane."
Alya couldn't argue with that.