Chapter 227: Put It on Sara's Tab, Will You?
After leaving a letter for Scaramouche at the Fatui's outpost, Bai Luo hung his mask back at his waist and stepped once more onto the streets of Inazuma.
Though he'd only been away for a short time, Inazuma City had seen some subtle changes.
For one, the streets were a bit emptier—but at least things had calmed down.
Most Vision bearers had either been captured or fled to the resistance. Those who still wore Visions in the city were only the ones officially recognized by the Shogun herself.
The chaos brought by the Vision Hunt Decree had largely settled down.
Though some merchants were still sighing and sulking.
After all, along with the Vision Hunt Decree came the Sakoku Decree, which drastically reduced the number of foreign visitors to Inazuma City. Their businesses had taken a direct hit.
Word had it that the Kanjou Commission on Ritou had become even more ruthless—plucking feathers off passing geese, as the saying went. With their extortionate tactics, the International Trade Association couldn't even consider doing business in the capital.
"Boss, we really should keep a low profile in the city," came a quiet voice.
A masked girl held up a hulking oni by the arm.
Honestly, if he hadn't eaten that sketchy-looking fruit and nearly gone from famous oni of Hanamizaka to dead ghost oni of Hanamizaka, Kuki Shinobu wouldn't have brought him along.
She didn't trust anyone else in the Arataki Gang to take care of him properly.
"Hah? What're you saying? If I acted all quiet and behaved, I wouldn't be the great Arataki Itto, now would I?"
Still, even Itto himself was a little confused.
That fruit—hidden among the grilled Lavender Melons—had looked kinda like a discolored one at first glance.
But the kick it packed? Absolutely bean-level.
Normally, he could power through even kitsune ramen swimming in fried tofu, and still scarf down dozens of bowls.
But that one sad-looking melon? One bite and he was out cold.
Hmm… guess it's like those sprouted potatoes you're not supposed to eat. A discolored Lavender Melon is a no-go.
Heh, maybe I've uncovered a secret nobody else knows.
I really am a genius.
"Let me warn you—Kujou Sara's been reassigned to the front lines. Her replacement at the Tenryou Commission is someone new. If you cause trouble again, don't expect your 'trespassing' charge to magically become 'public disturbance' like last time."
Shinobu, who had known Kujou Sara for a long time, understood all too well. If it hadn't been her in charge, who knew how long Itto would've rotted in jail?
Now that Sara was gone, who knew what kind of person the new acting general was?
One thing was for sure—they wouldn't be another tengu who, seeing a fellow non-human, would be inclined to cut some slack.
Her boss was going to stand out like a sore thumb in Inazuma City.
"So just be straight with me—can you bust me out or not?"
Itto didn't really care for the legal mumbo jumbo Shinobu was talking about—public order, breaking and entering, whatever.
He only cared about one thing.
Would his adorable underling come to rescue him?
"I can."
She didn't even hesitate.
Shinobu, trained under the top legal minds of Liyue, had full confidence she could spring him from jail.
Assuming the acting Tenryou Commissioner was someone who respected the law, of course.
If those in power dismissed the rule of law entirely, then even the sharpest legal advisor would be helpless.
"HAHAHAHA! That's what I like to hear! With you on the case, I feel ten times braver!"
"..."
Shinobu had a bad feeling.
Her boss… was definitely up to something again.
When they arrived at the shopping district, Shinobu looked at the bustling crowd, then at the big oni beside her.
Knowing his personality, there was no doubt—he would stir up trouble here.
So maybe…
"Boss, stay here. Don't move. I'm going to buy some Lavender Melons."
"Lavender Melons? Just don't pick the discolored ones—trust me!"
When he heard the words Lavender Melon, Arataki Itto's face lit up at first—but then quickly darkened.
Realizing something crucial, he called out urgently.
This was important. He had to share the hard-earned knowledge he'd gained with his life as the price.
"Hey! I'm serious—don't get the ones that look faded! Trust me on this!"
"I know, I know..." Shinobu waved dismissively, shaking her head in exasperation.
She didn't have the heart to tell him that thing he ate wasn't even a Lavender Melon to begin with.
Sometimes… ignorance truly was bliss.
Shinobu was quick with her errands. It had only been a few minutes.
But when she returned—there was no sign of Itto.
The bag of fresh fruits slipped from her hand, hitting the ground with a thud.
"Where's my boss...?"
She stared at the now-empty street corner.
A bad feeling crept up her spine.
Truth be told, Itto hadn't meant to cause any trouble. He knew full well how much Shinobu had to bend over backwards to get him out today. He didn't want to make her angry.
But the moment he caught a whiff of something delicious in the air—his feet just… moved.
. .. . . . . …
"Yo, boss! One bowl of udon!"
With a swift flick of his comb, Itto ran it through his white hair, striking a cool pose as he swaggered into Shimura's Diner.
He slid into a seat, acting like he owned the place.
Seeing the large oni plop down beside them, a few other customers instinctively scooted their chairs a little further away.
Shimura Kanbei, the owner, was a former samurai. He didn't share the same fear of oni that most ordinary people did.
Plus, running a diner near Hanamizaka, he'd heard plenty about the infamous Arataki Gang.
So he didn't treat Itto any differently than any other customer.
"One bowl of udon, right?"
To Shimura, a customer was a customer. No such thing as high or low class here—only hungry people.
"Wait, hold up—there isn't any tofu in this, right?"
"Relax, I won't add a single piece."
Shimura smiled knowingly.
He was well aware of the oni tribe's intense allergy to anything bean-based.
He'd long since mastered the art of making delicious udon that didn't include any fried tofu sides—without compromising flavor.
Itto had walked in with a skeptical attitude.
Noodles, after all, had once traumatized him deeply.
If not for that irresistible aroma, he wouldn't have ordered any at all.
But the moment he took a bite of that steaming bowl of udon—
His expression melted into pure bliss.
So good! A hundred times better than grilled Lavender Melon!
"Boss! Another bowl! My wounded stomach needs the healing touch of deliciousness!"
Slurping down the entire bowl in record time, he wiped his mouth and slammed his hand on the table.
Then he stood up, rubbing his slightly bulging belly.
"Alrighty, I'm off!"
"Oi—oni boy. You forgot to pay."
"Huh? Just ask Shinobu, she'll take care of it."
He casually pointed behind him, fully confident.
Whenever he was out with Shinobu, she was the one who paid. That was just how things worked.
"…Shinobu?" Shimura raised an eyebrow.
If he remembered correctly… this guy walked in alone.
"Of course! Shinobu is—huh?"
Itto turned around.
And froze.
There was no one there.
"HUH?! Where's my Shinobu?! My big, dependable Shinobu? Where'd she go?!"
He panicked, eyes darting left and right.
He'd totally forgotten—Shinobu had confiscated all the money he earned earlier doing part-time work at the docks.
He was… completely broke.
"Ugh, this is so unlike her! How could she just wander off like that?!"
Itto conveniently forgot it was him who had wandered off, after being very specifically told to stay put.
Just as the situation was heading into dangerously awkward territory, a calm, refined voice cut through the tension.
"Shopkeeper, go ahead and put this oni boy's tab… on Sara's account."
. . . . .
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