After arriving at the motel, Sasaki booked a room for the three of them.
They climbed the stairs and entered their room.
It didn't take long before Alfie and Jackson were completely asleep.
Sasaki, however, remained awake.
He sat quietly on a couch near the window, holding a bottle of water from the table in front of him. He took a drink and slowly exhaled.
That guy...
Sasaki's eyes narrowed.
I still don't know who he is... or what he is.
He glanced toward the buildings outside.
He's extremely careful with his movements. He only lets me notice him when he wants me to.
Sasaki took another drink.
If he doesn't mean well, he's going to become a problem later.
Suddenly....
Something moved below.
Sasaki immediately stood up.
He opened the window and jumped down.
He landed barefoot on the ground, still wearing his night clothes.
The moment his feet touched the ground—
SWOOSH!
A sword came swinging toward his head.
Sasaki leaned backward.
The blade passed inches above him.
Another sword came from behind.
He turned his body sideways, allowing it to miss him.
A third attacker rushed forward.
Sasaki caught the man's wrist.
THUD!
He pulled him forward and slammed him into the ground.
Four more men surrounded him.
All of them were disguised.
"What are you guys doing?"
Sasaki looked around calmly.
"You've got a death wish or something?"
"Don't stop! Attack him!"
One of the men shouted.
The others charged.
Sasaki sighed.
"So you're the leader."
He stepped backward as two swords came at him from opposite sides.
He ducked beneath the first blade, then caught the second man's arm.
With a quick twist—
CRACK!
The man's sword dropped from his hand.
Sasaki kicked it away.
"Listen, I don't know what's going on here."
He stepped back.
"I'm just a traveler with two boys. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
"No mistake!"
The leader charged.
"It was you!"
Sasaki moved at the last second.
The man's sword cut through empty air.
Sasaki grabbed his arm and pulled him off balance.
Before the man could recover, Sasaki swept his leg out from underneath him.
THUD!
The leader hit the ground.
"You people really don't know when to stop."
The other four attacked again.
One came from the left.
Another from behind.
Sasaki jumped over the first sword and landed between them.
He grabbed one man's shoulder and used his momentum to throw him into another attacker.
BAM!
The two crashed into each other.
The remaining two rushed him.
Sasaki caught one punch with his palm and blocked the other with his forearm.
He pushed both men away.
"Enough!"
The force sent them stumbling backward.
Sasaki grabbed the nearest man by the collar.
"What is this about?"
He pulled down the man's disguise, revealing his face.
"I don't know you."
The man struggled in Sasaki's grip.
"You... you took our money!"
Sasaki blinked.
"Hmm?"
"You thief!"
The leader shouted from the ground.
"You stole our money!"
"Calm down!"
The fifth man quickly looked around.
"You'll wake everyone up!"
The leader pointed angrily at Sasaki.
"You Shinra came to the bakery and used your Renshi strength to steal our money!"
His voice shook with anger.
"You hypocrite! Renshi is supposed to protect humans, yet you're using it to rob people!"
Sasaki slowly released the man he was holding.
He sighed and reached into his pocket.
"First of all, we didn't use Renshi."
The men stared at him.
"We only used our normal physical strength."
He paused.
"Well... normal strength for people with Renshi."
Sasaki scratched his cheek.
"It's stronger than an ordinary person's strength, but that's all you need to know."
He looked at the five men.
"Now tell me something."
He stepped closer.
"What exactly was your plan?"
The men remained silent.
"Were you planning to beat me up and take the money back?"
Sasaki shook his head.
"That wouldn't have worked."
He sighed.
"I did a job that all of you couldn't finish."
He raised three fingers.
"And I did it with only two kids helping me."
Alfie and Jackson were nowhere to be seen.
Thankfully, they were still sleeping upstairs.
Sasaki looked at the men.
"You really picked the wrong person to rob."
The leader clenched his teeth.
"You must have a death wish."
Sasaki's expression became slightly colder.
He switched to the leader's front.
"No."
He reached into his pocket.
"I just don't like unnecessary fighting."
He pulled out a bag filled with gold coins.
The men's eyes widened.
Sasaki tossed the bag toward their leader.
THUD.
The man caught it against his chest.
"Take it."
He opened the bag.
Gold coins gleamed under the moonlight.
"This should be enough for your trouble."
The leader stood frozen.
Everything had happened so quickly that he couldn't even process it.
Sasaki raised an eyebrow.
"Well?"
He pointed at the bag.
"Take it... or did you suddenly stop wanting money?"
"Of course I want it!"
The man's nervous expression immediately changed.
Sasaki sighed.
"Then share it with the others."
He looked at the remaining four.
"You all came together, right?"
He shook his head.
"You guys have quite an appetite for money."
The five men stared at him.
Then—
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
"Thank you so much!"
They repeatedly bowed.
Sasaki waved his hand.
"Just go home."
The men quickly ran off.
Sasaki turned toward the motel.
With a sudden movement....
SWISH!
He switched back to the window of their room.
He landed silently on the ledge.
But then.....
He stopped.
A familiar gaze.
Sasaki slowly turned his head.
Several buildings away stood a dark figure.
Watching him.
"You again..."
Sasaki immediately switched toward the figure.
The moment his hand reached out....
The figure faded into the air.
A soft, almost playful laugh echoed through the night.
Sasaki froze.
"What the hell...?"
He stood alone on the rooftop.
His eyes scanned the empty surroundings.
Nothing.
The figure was gone.
Sasaki switched back into the motel room.
He immediately looked toward the beds.
Alfie and Jackson were still asleep.
Both were completely unaware of what had happened.
Their loud snores filled the room.
Sasaki walked toward the window again.
Whatever that thing is...
His expression became serious.
It doesn't mean well.
He pulled a chair toward the window and sat down.
I need to keep my guard up.
The moonlight slowly moved across the room.
Sasaki remained seated.
Watching.
Waiting.
All night.
---
Morning arrived.
Jackson slowly opened his eyes.
He yawned and stretched.
Then he noticed Sasaki sitting in front of the window.
"Hey, Mister Sasaki..."
Sasaki turned around.
"What are you doing there?"
Jackson rubbed his eyes.
"Are you facing the sun or something?"
"Good. You're awake."
Sasaki stood up.
"Wake Alfie. We have to leave."
Jackson looked toward Alfie.
"Hey, Alfie."
Alfie barely moved.
"Not today, Jack..."
He pulled the blanket over his head.
"I need more sleep."
Sasaki's eyebrow twitched.
"ALFIE!"
BOOM!
Alfie jumped straight out of bed.
"I'm awake!"
Sasaki stared at him with a serious expression.
"We're leaving."
Alfie immediately noticed something was different about Sasaki.
He didn't complain.
"Alright."
Jackson quickly got ready as well.
A few minutes later, the three of them left the room and headed toward the motel's chariot garage.
They brought their horses out and prepared to leave.
Just as they mounted....
Four men approached them.
Sasaki immediately became cautious.
One of them raised his hand.
"Hey, Mister."
Sasaki stared at him without answering.
The man smiled awkwardly.
"It's us."
The second man stepped forward.
"We came to thank you before you left."
Sasaki finally recognized them.
"Oh... you guys."
He looked around.
"Where's the hot-headed one?"
The first man scratched his head.
"He was too ashamed to come with us."
Sasaki stared at them for a moment.
Then he sighed.