Man, reality really is brutal. These people…
Hachiman couldn't help letting out a sigh.
Especially that guy Tamanawa.
Bold as hell.
He'd thrown a tantrum right to Hachiman's face, demanding Hachiman cough up the "tribute" he'd already paid.
According to what Tobe said, Tamanawa needed prestige within his own squad.
Because Hayato's a smart one—if Tamanawa didn't do something, sooner or later he'd get replaced by Hayato.
So…
I'm the example he's using to establish authority?
Hachiman's head throbbed.
But he didn't do anything extra.
Right now, the most important thing for him was to wait.
Wait for the person in charge, Inoue, to come back.
Given his current situation, it might not even be Tamanawa's doing alone—other supervisors could have had a hand in it.
So he couldn't go smashing a rock with an egg.
At the same time.
In another big bunk-room.
Tamanawa kept the fake smile plastered on his face, his gaze drifting now and then toward Hayato.
Hayato's blank expression didn't give anything away.
Instead, a few thugs watched Tamanawa with thinly veiled awe.
This leader… when he moves, he really does it.
And he seemed sharp, too—spelling it out plainly that Hachiman had clearly lost his footing, and was safe to stomp on.
Of course.
The most important part was that he'd actually managed to wring a decent amount of rations out of Hachiman's lackeys.
For those thugs, it was simple: you feed us, we work for you.
That's all there was to it.
Following a smart leader beat scraping by on your own.
Hayato didn't say a word, but he felt Tamanawa was going too far.
Leaving no way out at all.
Maybe the first person to eat the crab gets remembered. Maybe the payoff is huge.
But…
What if it backfires?
No "what if"!
Tamanawa grinned and clapped his hands. Seeing Hayato still sitting there with his head lowered filled him with a rush of satisfaction.
At least he'd finally pushed this troublemaker down.
Earlier, Hayato had said they should wait a bit longer.
Wasn't that openly opposing him, the leader?
His authority had been challenged. He had to prove he was right.
"Alright, everyone. Today we keep collecting debts.
They're just a bunch of little punks—don't be scared. They won't dare fight back."
That sent the thugs into a frenzy.
Won't fight back?
Then they could rob them blind.
There were more than ten of them—how many rations could they haul back?
The room's energy steadily heated up.
Everyone talked over each other, circling back again and again to snatching rations.
Only Hayato stayed silent, completely out of place among them.
Tamanawa was just about to throw a jab his way when a lookout burst in, face drained white.
"N-Not good! Inoue-sama is back!!"
In an instant.
Pupils tightened. His heart slammed hard—three vicious beats.
Tamanawa felt the words drop him straight into an ice pit.
The mood crashed, like deep winter.
He shot to his feet, his eyes bloodshot.
He wanted the lookout to tell him it was a lie.
How could that be?
How could that possibly be?
At Hitomaru Market, if either a Hitomaru or the supervisor disappeared for a while, it meant they were dead.
So what went wrong?!
Then, as if something clicked.
He whipped his head around and locked onto Hayato.
Right as Hayato lifted his head, their eyes met—an unreadable look.
Was it mockery? Coldness? Schadenfreude?
That gaze made ice crawl up Tamanawa's spine.
"You knew! You knew all along!?"
This time Hayato didn't lower his head. He raised it and met Tamanawa's eyes evenly.
He even took the time to straighten his collar.
"No. I didn't."
But when you're at rock bottom and you cross paths with someone truly powerful, there are some things you really shouldn't do too absolutely.
That single "piece of advice" turned Tamanawa deathly pale. Cold sweat soaked his temples.
His steps wobbled, and he had to lean against a pillar just to stay upright.
It was over.
He was done…
Meanwhile.
News that Inoue had returned set off a storm of chatter across Hitomaru Market.
How the hell did he come back?
And he looked like he was moving at full speed—like someone who'd just found a treasure, practically glowing.
Hachiman's private room.
Tobe paced in frantic circles.
"Hachiman, say something, Hachiman!"
"What do we do now? Still no word from Inoue-sama?"
"Should we try throwing in with another supervisor?"
The lackeys desperately wanted Hachiman to reassure them.
But Hachiman didn't say a word, because he couldn't guarantee anything.
This carried real risk.
Hachiman's silence made Yamato and Ooka exchange flickering looks.
One guy pacing with red-rimmed urgency, the others keeping their mouths shut with ulterior motives.
Tobe couldn't hold back his irritation.
Damn it!
When it was time to enjoy the power, you all had a great time.
Now that there's trouble, you're turning into headless flies?
Seeing the subtle expressions on Yamato and Ooka's faces, Tobe grit his teeth, ready to spit out a few curses and force their morale back into place—
When a lackey came running in, practically dancing with excitement.
"Hachiman-sama! He's back!!"
That one line made everyone in the room stiffen.
Who's back?
"Inoue! Inoue-sama is back!!"
"…"
The room fell into a brief, dead silence.
Then the dam broke—howls like people venting everything they'd held in.
"Hahahahahahaha…!!"
"Hachiman! Quick! Quick!! We're going to see him right now!"
…
"Hachiman-sama! I've got you!"
Yamato and Ooka, who'd been wooden and tight-lipped just moments ago, suddenly transformed.
They moved with a quickness Tobe couldn't even dream of matching.
But Tobe didn't have the bandwidth to notice that now.
His face was flushed with excitement, and he finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
Holy hell, that was intense…
Thank god—Hachiman's position was safe.
Which meant his own position was safe, too.
"I knew it! I knew Inoue-sama would be fine!"
"Hachiman-sama, this way!"
"Hachiman-sama! Do we work first, or go see him right away?"
That chorus of "Hachiman-sama" finally made Hachiman feel drunk on it.
Even he couldn't help showing a genuinely fired-up smile.
The pressure on him had been enormous.
If it worked out, great. If it didn't…
He didn't even want to imagine what would happen to him.
"Go straight there! Seeing Inoue-sama comes first!"
Only now did Hachiman truly understand how intoxicating power was.
Before, it hadn't felt all that real.
But after being put through the grinder these past few days, he finally got it—completely.
"Move! All of you, move!!"
Up front, Tobe barked at the Hitomaru who occasionally blocked the path.
I'm the strongest weapon under Hachiman.
He flicked his eyes toward Yamato and Ooka.
Then he caught Hachiman's small nod.
His chest lit up like a bonfire, strength surging through him.
Exactly.
A bunch of fair-weather rats—what are they supposed to do against me?
(End of Chapter)
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