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Chapter 2 part 2

I talk to the children for a while. According to them, they rate living in the Western restaurant with a passing grade. On the other hand, I can sense their displeasure towards rotating meals only once every three days. If this cannot be rectified soon, I have to agree to let them use the kitchen.

"Uncle's a very nice person," the oldest boy says, "But how should I put it, he treats us all like little kids. All of us are obviously grown-ups! Are you saying that we'll be a hassle to the adults if we become independent as soon as possible?"

I reply, "Probably."

I tell the kids I look forward to the 'next time'. That's the truth. After which, I leave the second floor.

Returning to the shop on the first floor, I hear the voice of a new customer. It's a familiar voice.

"So spicy! It's so spicy, Uncle, it's so spicy! You didn't put lava in as a secret ingredient, did you?!"

"Hahaha, is that so? Odasaku always eats this. Welcome back, Odasaku. How are the kids?"

"It was pretty thrilling, but I managed to avoid defeat," I reply, "But they predicted where I would grab and covered it with wax crayons to make it slippery; I almost broke into a cold sweat. Uncle, you said before that if there were ten of them, they could rob a bank. But I think in two years, they can do it with just the five of them."

"Should I go recruit those kids?" Dazai laughs, wiping his sweat. "I heard, Odasaku. You're taking care of kids? Furthermore, they are the orphans who lost their parents from the 'Dragon's Head Rush'."

Since it's Dazai, no matter how I try to hide it, he'll be able to find out in half a day. "That's right," I nod.

The children are orphans. If I hadn't saved them, they would have died a long time ago.

Two years ago. A large scale war broke out between several organisations including the Port Mafia, known as 'Dragon's Head Rush'. For the sake of staking claim to fifty billion yen left behind by an ability user, bloodshed broke out between several illegal organisations. Several illegal armed organisations were brought to the brink of collapse.

I was also involved in that campaign. One would run into a bloody fight on the streets every ten minutes, mountains of bodies piled high.

The children on the second floor are children who lost their homes in that war.

"Oda Sakunosuke, the mafioso who refuses to kill, is obviously incredibly skilled but isn't interested in standing out, is raising five orphans." Dazai is laughing, "How strange. Probably the strangest person in the mafia."

As long as Dazai's around, I'm not the strangest person.

I turn to the owner, taking out an envelope filled with cash from my jacket pocket. "Uncle, this is for the children's living expenses."

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"Is this okay, Odasaku?" the owner asks, voice tinged with concern. He wipes his hands on his apron and receives the envelope. "This is practically all your earnings, right? If you don't mind, I can help pay for some of it."

"I'm thankful that Uncle's lending me this place. As long as I can eat the curry here anytime, that's enough for me."

"Does Odasaku always eat such spicy food?" Dazai asks as he drinks a cup of water. "It's so spicy, my chin is going to drop off."

"Then what are you doing here, Dazai?" I ask.

"I wanted to report about that thing to Odasaku. We got a lot of information, especially with regards to the enemy."

That thing... only one comes to mind.

"Sorry Uncle, do you mind leaving us for a while?"

"Sure, sure, I'll be at the back preparing ingredients. If a customer comes, let me know."
It's as though the boss understands everything from my expression. He takes off his apron, leaving quickly through the back door.

In the end, Dazai gulps down his cup of water while finishing off the most part of his curry rice. During this time, I let myself into the kitchen and brew coffee, pouring a cup to drink.

"Ahh, so spicy! Why does curry rice have to be so spicy? Does it have something against the human race? If it wasn't so spicy, more people would eat it. What an insult to food culture!"

After some thought, I reply, "If the number of people who eat it increase, there won't be people to eat other foods. Food culture will collapse on itself."

"I see." Dazai nods in agreement.

"So, the report?"

"Let's start with the conclusion. They're a foreign criminal organisation," Dazai starts talking as he pours more water into the cup. "They've only recently moved into Japan. They're a reputable ability criminal organisation in Europe. They were expelled from Europe by the ancient English organisation 'Order of the Clock Tower' and escaped here."

"A criminal organisation from Europe?"

"Europe is the stronghold of ability users. There are top class ability users amongst their government and criminals, constituting a very complex and delicate domain. Although, because of that, there are very strict bodies monitoring ability users, they shouldn't be able to easily enter other countries."

I try to ask a question, but Dazai replies with a tilt of his head, "Indeed, there isn't a place on earth that criminal ability organisations can just easily illegally immigrate into. There must be some sort of insider. Or someone from within the country helping them."

"For them to specially come all the way to Japan, what do those gifted criminals want?"

"Who knows? We can only ask them. Having said that, I have a conjecture. These penniless guys have fled to a foreign land with no one to rely on. Putting it a little more bluntly - these guys need money to start up. Hence, they might be planning on seizing the Port Mafia's territory and smuggling networks and establish dominance.

This is highly possible. Criminal organisations that are down and out all seek the same thing - money, money, money!

But there's one thing I'm concerned about. Just as I am about to open my mouth and bring this up-

"Let me finish first," Dazai sees through my thoughts, speaking up to stop me. "I know what Odasaku wants to say. For a criminal mob in shambles, those soldiers are too experienced, is what you're concerned about, right? I thought so as well. The sniper and the observer pair's battle movements are a clever tactic rarely seen around these parts. Actually, these people are of military origins. According to the reports, the head of the organisation is a powerful ability user and soldier who led his subordinates into hundreds of battles with his power. It shouldn't be too long before we get more details. In short, don't underestimate them. If they launch a coordinated attack on an organisation-wide level, even the Port Mafia's bases will be shaken."