"Boom!"
The ground beneath their feet trembled violently.
Before them, the space that had once been untouchable shifted. Illusion overlapped with reality, and suddenly, the barrier that seemed impossible to cross now looked within reach.
Yet, none of them dared to step forward.
Because within that distorted space… a familiar figure appeared.
A white coat fluttered in the wind, exuding an indescribable elegance and power.
It was Arakawa Zenkichi.
"What a coincidence to meet you here."
With a calm smile, Zenkichi descended gracefully, the crushing pressure around him fading as if he were nothing more than an ordinary man.
"Yes… what a coincidence," muttered one of the senior officials of the States, nervously wiping the sweat from his forehead. His hand was drenched—his body trembling under the weight of Zenkichi's presence.
But Zenkichi's smile vanished. His gaze sharpened, and in the next instant, his hand lashed out.
Smack! Smack!
Two sharp slaps echoed through the air.
The man crashed to the ground, his pale face swelling red with the clear imprint of Zenkichi's palm. His eyes were wide, filled with disbelief.
He had never expected that Arakawa Zenkichi would strike him so ruthlessly.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Zenkichi's voice was cold, like ice cutting through the silence.
"There are no coincidences in this world. Everything I encountered here—you were behind it, weren't you? Did you truly wish for my death?"
The air grew heavy. His expression was frost itself, warning all who looked upon him to stay away.
The other officials stood frozen, their rehearsed strategies collapsing. Zenkichi's sudden slap had shattered their composure, leaving them lost in fear.
Finally, Zenkichi broke the silence. His tone was calm, but the weight behind his words was suffocating.
"Should I demand double the price from you?"
That question sent panic through the group. None dared to remain silent now.
"Zenkichi-sama, please rest assured!" one senior official stammered desperately. "The payment is already prepared—we've collected everything!"
With trembling hands, he presented a black bank card, as if it were an offering to a god.
Though his expression twisted with anguish, he didn't dare hesitate. After all, this wasn't a mere fortune—it was wealth on the scale of trillions, nearly their entire treasury emptied in an instant.
The loss burned like fire in their hearts, but survival was worth any price.
Zenkichi took the card, his expression softening ever so slightly.
"At least you know how to show some sense."
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