"Perfect timing. After this, you'll behave yourselves and go to the Lungmen Guard Department to pay your fines."
"Don't even think about running. If you do, I'll arrest every last one of you for obstruction of justice."
The restaurant went dead silent.
The moment Officer Ch'en (Ch'en Hui-chieh) spoke, even the surrounding diners recognized the famous LGD officer. It was as if someone had hit a mute button—no one dared make a sound.
"…My husband cheated. I'm going home to catch him in the act."
"Me… me too."
"L-Let's go… hurry!"
The scraping clatter of chairs and tables erupted. After paying, the customers all but wished for two extra legs as they rushed out of the restaurant in a flood, disappearing from sight.
Watching the stiff-smiling owner, and the completely unfazed Swire (Shi Huaiya) and Hoshiguma (Xing Xiong), Chen Mo clicked his tongue in envy.
So this was what "Conqueror's Haki" felt like. He wanted that skill too.
Unfortunately, whenever women saw him, they swarmed like their brains had been hijacked by lust.
Lost in thought, Chen Mo's eyes landed on Croissant (Ke Song), whose face had visibly crumpled at the mention of a fine. Feeling confident, he walked up and patted Officer Ch'en on the shoulder.
"Come on, Ch'en—let them off this time, for my sake. Croissant and the others are my friends."
Officer Ch'en jolted as if shocked by the gesture, then subtly leaned aside and shot Chen Mo a quiet sideways glance.
"If that's the case, then I definitely can't let them off."
"Move. I'm taking you to the LGD right now."
…Oh. He'd made it worse.
Now even Texas (De-ke-sa-si / Texas) turned her cool gaze toward Chen Mo. Croissant looked like she was about to cry as she weakly waved at him.
"Thanks, Chen Mo. Next time, please don't trouble yourself helping."
"No need to thank me, no need to thank me. Once you're out, I'll treat you to a meal."
Chen Mo was a little embarrassed, but he'd genuinely tried. He swore on the tail he treasured most—he absolutely hadn't meant to sabotage them.
Exusiai also wore a miserable expression. Instinctively, she grabbed Texas's soft tail—making Texas's whole body twitch.
"Texas, think of something—quick!"
"…Let go."
If Officer Ch'en's presence hadn't been so intimidating and tense, Texas might've kicked Exusiai flying on the spot.
Texas slapped Exusiai's hand away and was about to force a way out when a ringing phone cut through the moment.
Ring ring ring—
Officer Ch'en frowned, ready to hang up. But after seeing the caller ID, she answered in front of everyone.
"What is it?"
"Mm… Chen Mo is with me. What? You want me to come over—right now?"
"…Fine. I understand."
After ending the call, Officer Ch'en faced three pairs of curious eyes. She didn't explain—she only gave Chen Mo a pointed warning.
"After lunch, you can move around on your own. But don't come back too late. Don't go to the Lower City. And don't—"
"Alright, alright. Stop treating me like a kid," Chen Mo cut in, waving her off. "Go handle your business. Don't let it get delayed."
Officer Ch'en could only nod. She turned sharply and left with her usual crisp decisiveness.
Swire wandered up beside Chen Mo with a look of amusement, clearly entertained now that Officer Ch'en's oppressive aura was gone.
"I've never seen that woman act so caring. That didn't even sound like something she'd say."
Then she hurried him along, practically vibrating with curiosity.
"Hey, don't just stand there—come sit down and order."
She'd been dying to talk to him.
Chen Mo waved his hand and stepped to Croissant's side, lifting his chin toward Swire and Hoshiguma.
"You all sit first. I'll come over in a bit."
"…Fine."
Swire was disappointed, but after Hoshiguma quietly talked her down, she agreed with a grin.
No choice. She really liked Chen Mo. If she weren't worried about that "rice-roll dragon" (Officer Ch'en), she would've already tried to snatch him as her own "big brother."
A handsome older-brother type with a fun personality—who wouldn't like that?
Only after Swire and Hoshiguma moved away did Chen Mo turn back to Texas and the others and wink.
"Didn't scare you too badly, did I?"
Croissant nodded, still shaken. They'd come out with only enough money for food—if they'd really been dragged to the LGD, only the boss could've rescued them.
"Yeah… it was scary. But still—thank you, Chen Mo. I didn't expect you'd dare plead for us in front of Officer Ch'en."
As soon as the danger passed, Exusiai immediately popped out from behind Texas and slid up to Chen Mo—polite enough to keep a bit of distance, but shamelessly cheerful as she started flirting.
"So, Chen Mo—where do you live? Are you free later? Wanna hang out sometime?"
Chen Mo didn't respond to her like he would to street thugs with a punch. Since she was Exusiai—a character he actually liked—he was unusually gentle.
"Sure. If I'm free, I'll call you guys and we can go out."
Texas's brows tightened instantly. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with Chen Mo.
But just as she was about to shut it down, her phone rang in her pocket.
"Boss. What is it?"
"…Mm. Got it. I'll be right back."
She slipped the phone away, then—without sparing Chen Mo another glance—turned to Croissant and Exusiai, her expression serious.
"The boss found a way to deal with the trouble lately. It's a job. We're going back now to prepare."
"Aww—of all times," Exusiai complained.
This was the best possible moment to "攻略美人"—to chase the handsome guy!
But Texas wasn't going to indulge her.
And Texas had wanted to get away from Chen Mo from the start. She grabbed the grumbling Exusiai, said a quick goodbye to Chen Mo, and briskly walked off into the distance.
Chen Mo watched them go, flicked his tail, and—still confused—asked Croissant, who had just returned from paying at the counter:
"Did I offend Texas recently?"
It felt like she'd been avoiding him the whole time. Had he ever beaten up that gray wolf before or something?
"No, no," Croissant hurriedly said, waving her hands. "Texas is just like that. Don't take it personally."
Of course she wasn't going to tell him the truth—that Texas thought he was too pretty, too strong, and too well-connected, basically a walking collection of trouble, and she didn't want to get tangled up with him.
Seeing Texas and Exusiai waiting by the vehicle in the distance, Croissant stopped talking and waved.
"I'm heading out. If anything comes up, call me."
Before Chen Mo could reply, Croissant jogged off in a rush.
Chen Mo sat down at Swire's table at her loud beckoning, still full of questions.
Why did this feel like he was Lappland—so disliked by Texas?
"By the way, Chen Mo," Swire asked curiously, pulling him back from his thoughts. "Have you decided what you're going to do next?"
Chen Mo pushed the lingering doubt aside, rubbed his chin, and fell into thought.
"Mm… let me think."
-------
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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