The morning sun shone through the windows of Malfoy's bar.
The atmosphere had become peaceful again.
Saito and the Blue Scarf crew sat around their usual table.
Kaito quietly sharpened one of his knives.
Rin leaned back in his chair, half asleep.
Alya sipped her drink while chatting with Fanny.
Across from them, Scrapper calmly finished another cup of wine.
The front door suddenly opened.
Creak.
Bomb stepped inside carrying a thick brown envelope.
"I got it."
Everyone looked toward him.
Bomb walked straight to Malfoy.
Without saying another word, he placed the envelope on the counter.
"Here you go."
Malfoy looked at it in confusion.
"...What's this?"
Bomb smiled.
"Captain's money."
Malfoy slowly opened the envelope.
His eyes widened.
Inside were neatly stacked coins.
"...Wow..."
He looked at Saito in disbelief.
"I..."
"I don't know how to repay this."
Saito smiled and waved a hand.
"It's okay."
He took another sip of his drink.
"As long as..."
"...you stop borrowing money from loan sharks."
Malfoy lowered his head.
"...I will."
"I promise."
Fanny looked at her father and smiled with relief.
"See?"
"I told you Captain would help."
Malfoy nodded.
"I know."
He carefully held the envelope against his chest.
"...Thank you."
Saito simply smiled.
"You're under Blue Scarf protection."
"That's what family is for."
The room fell quiet for a moment before Scrapper leaned back in his chair with a faint grin, silently watching how differently the Blue Scarf Gang handled its territory compared with any other gang he had known.
Scrapper watched Malfoy carefully place the envelope behind the counter.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...Weird."
Bomb looked over.
"What?"
Scrapper leaned back in his chair.
"You people are a weird gang."
No one answered.
Instead, Kaito looked toward Scrapper.
"Anyway..."
"I want to ask you something."
Scrapper nodded.
"Go ahead."
Kaito rested his elbows on the table.
"The other Noctarions."
"Have you heard anything?"
Scrapper thought for a moment.
"Hmm..."
"Your leader is still active in the Calamity Table."
Kaito's expression remained calm.
Scrapper continued.
"During the last meeting..."
"I heard him asking his subordinates where you were."
Silence.
Kaito lowered his eyes.
"...I see."
He glanced across the room.
Saito was laughing with Bomb, Rin, Alya, and Fanny over something Malfoy had just said.
A faint smile appeared on Kaito's face.
Scrapper noticed.
"You don't want them finding Blue Scarf."
Kaito slowly nodded.
"Even though Captain is strong..."
"...the Noctarions are on a completely different level."
Scrapper let out a quiet chuckle.
"Maybe."
"But..."
"He still defeated me."
He looked down at his mechanical hand.
"What a joke."
He laughed softly.
"...Looks like we're the same after all."
Kaito nodded once.
"...Maybe."
He looked back at Scrapper.
"One more question."
Scrapper folded his arms.
"What is it?"
"Why are you helping us?"
For a moment—
Scrapper didn't answer.
His eyes drifted toward Saito.
The Blue Scarf captain was still smiling, completely unaware that he was being watched.
A faint grin appeared on Scrapper's face.
"Let me guess..."
"He changed me."
"...A little."
He looked out the window.
"He reminded me..."
"...of who I used to be."
"So..."
"I decided to stop making him my enemy."
Kaito listened quietly.
Then gave a small nod.
"...I see."
Neither of them spoke again.
Across the room, Saito laughed loudly with his crew, completely unaware that one of his former enemies had quietly admitted he no longer wanted to stand against him.
Alya suddenly looked toward the front window.
"...Someone's here."
The laughter inside the bar faded.
Saito followed her gaze.
Scrapper glanced outside for only a second.
His expression became serious.
"...Warren."
"He's here."
Saito stood up.
He looked at Malfoy.
"Go."
"Pay the debt."
He nodded toward the door.
"We'll watch your back."
Malfoy took a deep breath.
"...Alright."
He picked up the envelope of coins and walked outside.
The Blue Scarf crew remained inside, watching through the window.
Standing in front of the bar was a broad-shouldered man with a short beard.
A strange shotgun-like weapon was mounted along his right forearm.
He stood calmly, without any sign of impatience.
Warren looked at Malfoy.
"The debt?"
Malfoy immediately handed him the envelope.
"Here you go."
Warren opened it.
He counted the coins without saying a word.
After a moment, he closed the envelope.
"...Good."
He turned to leave.
Then paused.
"Remember to pay next month."
Malfoy blinked.
"...What?"
"This should cover everything."
"My debt is fully paid."
Warren looked back over his shoulder.
His expression didn't change.
"Then..."
"You can tell that to my client."
He tapped the envelope lightly.
"I'm only here to collect."
"If you think the debt is settled..."
"...say it to his face."
Without another word—
Warren walked away down the road.
Malfoy stood frozen for several seconds.
Then let out a long, weary sigh.
"...This isn't over."
The door opened.
Creak...
Malfoy walked back into the bar.
His shoulders were slumped.
Saito looked at him.
"So?"
"It's done?"
Malfoy slowly shook his head.
"...No."
Saito frowned.
"...Jeez."
"What's wrong with him?"
Malfoy placed the empty envelope on the counter.
"He took the money."
"But he said..."
"...I have to speak with his client."
Fanny looked confused.
"I thought the money was enough to clear the debt."
Malfoy sighed.
"So did I."
The room fell silent.
Saito rested his chin on one hand, thinking.
After a few seconds, he stood up.
"Then..."
"There's only one way to settle this."
Scrapper crossed his arms.
"Oh yeah?"
"How?"
Saito smiled.
"We meet this guy."
He looked around at his crew.
"If there's a misunderstanding..."
"We settle it face to face."
Bomb stood up immediately.
"I'm in."
Rin stretched his arms.
"Better than sitting around all day."
Alya nodded.
"I'll come too."
Kaito quietly sheathed one of his knives.
"I'm not letting Captain walk into an unknown place alone."
Scrapper chuckled.
"Heh."
"Looks like I'm joining as well."
Saito nodded once.
"Good."
He looked toward Malfoy.
"Lead the way."
Malfoy hesitated.
"...I don't even know where the client lives."
Scrapper smiled faintly.
"I do."
Every eye in the room turned toward him.
Scrapper placed his mug on the table.
"I've dealt with people like this before."
"I know where to start looking."
Saito grinned.
"Perfect."
"Then let's pay your client a visit."
The Blue Scarf crew rose from their seats together, ready to settle the matter directly rather than let it continue hanging over Malfoy and his family.
Meanwhile...
At the top of a tall building overlooking the town—
A heavy wooden door opened.
Click.
Warren stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
Bookshelves lined the walls.
A large desk stood before the window.
Behind it sat a man in a neatly tailored black suit.
His hair was neatly cut, and his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair.
Without a word, Warren placed the envelope on the desk.
"Here's the money."
The man opened it.
He counted the coins carefully.
A small smile appeared.
"Oh..."
"That's quite a lot."
He closed the envelope.
"How is Malfoy?"
Warren folded his arms.
"Looks like Blue Scarf is helping him."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Blue Scarf?"
"Who is that?"
Warren answered calmly.
"The Jokun Conqueror."
The man leaned back in his chair.
"...Oh."
"So it's that one."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"Heh..."
"If he's decided to involve himself..."
"...then he'll be dragged into this as well."
Warren remained expressionless.
"What are your orders?"
The man slowly stood and walked toward the large window overlooking the town below.
His eyes narrowed as he gazed into the distance.
"For now..."
"Do nothing."
"If Blue Scarf comes looking for me..."
"...I'll welcome him personally."
A faint smile spread across his face.
"I've always wanted to see..."
"...whether the conqueror of Jokun City truly deserves his reputation."