"Alright then, we'll hand over the rice."
Sosuke Kitahara nodded. Despite the size of their group, they weren't exactly short on food supplies. After saying that, he smiled and asked Captain Eguchi, "Those people gambling over there they're all waiting to be cleared too, right?"
"Yeah, they're folks who either just came back from food scavenging missions or new survivors like you. Some don't want to pay for the health screening, so they just hang around playing cards while they wait."
Captain Eguchi shrugged. "But hey, this is all for everyone's safety, so most people understand. Over in the far corner, we even have two isolation rooms. If anyone has a visible wound, they're placed there. No card games allowed for them."
As he spoke, he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to an older woman nearby. Grinning, he said, "Here, for your old man. You tell him this sooner or later, you're going to be my woman. Once I save up enough, I'll come marry you properly."
"Hmph~ At least you've got some sense."
The woman threw him a coquettish glance and happily tucked the pack of cigarettes into a drawer.
"Hey, big sis, can people really register marriages here? Do you even have marriage certificates?"
Nanami Mami, who had just finished her physical checkup, popped her head out from behind the folding screen, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Of course we have marriage certificates. Heck, we even issue divorce papers. And it all gets properly filed in the city archive too just like the real thing. We believe in the full force of law here," the older woman replied with a carefree shrug.
"Wow? That official?" Mami's eyes widened in awe, but after a moment she hesitated, then asked shyly, "So... how many wives is a man allowed to have here?"
"Silly girl, that's a foolish question," the older woman replied with a hint of exasperation. "These days, there's no upper limit on how many wives a man can take. As long as he can support them, there's no shortage of women out there. Same goes for women who want to take in men. The police here won't interfere either."
Though she spoke with an air of helplessness, there was a flicker of envy in her eyes.
"Alright, blood tests will be ready soon. For now, I'll need all of you to hand over your weapons for registration," she continued briskly, stepping around to the desk in front of Sosuke.
"Rifles and any high-powered weapons are strictly prohibited inside city limits. You can either lock them in your vehicle at the parking area or store them in one of our paid lockers. As for handguns, you're only allowed to carry ten bullets max, and each round will be engraved with a serial number by our specialists."
While she spoke, the woman pulled out a notepad and pen. "One more thing make sure you don't lose your weapons. If someone steals your gun and uses it to kill someone, you, as the original owner, will be held accountable. So think carefully about what you want to bring in."
"Hm. That's a reasonable rule. You've clearly thought this through."
Kiichiro, a former prison guard, was the first to agree. He slung his automatic rifle off his back and laid it on the desk. Then, after a pause, he asked, "By the way... do you have a prison here? Do they serve food?"
"You wish. Free meals, huh?"
The woman rolled her eyes as she began logging his weapon. "If we fed prisoners, people would be lining up to get locked up. I'd volunteer myself! Even when we get paid here, we still have to count every grain of rice we use."
She muttered on, "All we have are holding cells. Water's provided, but you've got to bring your own food. If someone commits a serious crime, it's either execution or exile beyond the walls. Let them fend for themselves."
"Whoa, sis! They... they have rocket launchers! What do we do?!"
Suddenly, the woman's younger sister cried out in shock, staring in disbelief as Yukino pulled two RPG warheads from her backpack. The girl stumbled backward in fear, looking to her older sister for help.
"Damn, you folks are packing serious heat! I thought a few rifles and shotguns were impressive but RPGs?"
Captain Eguchi was just as stunned, shaking his head with a mixture of awe and dread. "Private hands rarely get ahold of this kind of firepower these days. No wonder your trucks are stocked to the brim with food."
"Sosuke-san, those RPGs must be stored in our secure lockers. You can reclaim them when you leave the city, but the storage fee is non-negotiable. If you refuse, we'll have no choice but to confiscate them or ask you to leave."
The older woman's expression turned grim. While their city maintained decent law and order, there were still plenty of lunatics out there who'd fire on officers without a second thought. The rules were clear: any heavy weaponry had to be stored away immediately. One stray rocket in the city center and the whole place could go up in smoke.
"What? That sounds like extortion."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had recently evolved into a Tier-One Awakened and awakened the Precision talent, narrowed her eyes at the woman with clear hostility.
"Come on, sis, don't be like that. It's for everyone's safety, right?" Eguchi quickly stepped in to mediate. "Surely you don't want someone walking past you with a launcher on their shoulder, do you? Just cooperate, please. It's really just a pound of rice per month it's nothing for folks like you."
It was obvious to anyone with a brain that Sosuke's group wasn't one to mess with. Three men, over a dozen women, and two trucks full of food it was clear they were formidable. Eguchi wasn't just being friendly out of kindness. Aside from the bribe of cigarettes, his personal involvement today was very deliberate.
This was his jurisdiction. If things turned violent, even if he survived stray gunfire, the higher-ups would still hold him accountable. A cushy job like this? He wasn't about to lose it. He had two women at home depending on him.
"It's fine, Utaha. Just do as they say. Hand over the gear."
Sosuke's voice was calm, unconcerned. Hearing that, Utaha didn't argue further, though she did let out a displeased snort. Yukino, on the other hand, handed over the RPGs without hesitation. Technically speaking, their real combat power rested mostly on Sosuke and Utaha right now.
Yukino and her sister Haruno hadn't become true Awakened yet, so they were more like half-combatants. Besides, Yukino hoped the city was truly as safe as it claimed. If not, they wouldn't even be able to sleep soundly, much less search for their parents.
Still, when Yukino handed over the launchers, none of the women in the room dared to touch them. They were afraid one wrong move might blow them all sky-high. In the end, it was Captain Eguchi who personally carried the rockets out. Only then did they issue a receipt for the locker storage.
Their overly cautious reaction helped ease some of the group's tension. After all, once their heavy weapons were surrendered, if they ended up in a den of thieves, they'd be at their mercy.
Fortunately, Sosuke Kitahara had already earned immense respect and authority within this team. When he made a decision, even if the others were nervous, they followed his lead without question.