Just as he was preparing to get up, the shop door was pushed open.
It wasn't the group of thugs, but a girl.
Short hair, black-rimmed glasses, black long sleeves, and a cross necklace.
Shizuku walked in.
She seemed completely oblivious to the chaos at the entrance, walking straight to the counter and saying to the trembling waiter.
"Excuse me, do you sell maps? I think I'm lost."
The waiter was stunned.
The thugs outside the door were also dumbfounded.
Leo's pupils constricted slightly.
Shizuku!
Although her hairstyle and attire were slightly different from his memories, those iconic black-rimmed glasses and the cross necklace, along with that harmless-looking face—there was no mistake, it was the new member of the Genei Ryodan, No. 8, Shizuku.
"At this point in time..."
Leo quickly recalled the timeline.
According to the plot, Shizuku joined the Phantom Troupe only after Shalnark died.
And now, Shalnark had already been killed by Sliva, so the Phantom Troupe indeed had a vacancy. But he couldn't be sure if Shizuku had already joined.
Pino, the leader, reacted, cursed, and walked to the door with two lackeys.
"Hey! Didn't you hear? This shop is closed today! Get out!"
Shizuku turned her head, glanced at Pino, and then—she actually started to think seriously.
"Hmm... are you talking to me?"
She tilted her head.
"But I just want to buy a map. I'll leave after I buy it."
This reaction left Pino speechless for a moment.
He sized up Shizuku—petite figure, quiet appearance, looking just like an ordinary schoolgirl.
"Damn it..."
Pino spat, reached out, and was about to grab Shizuku's shoulder.
"Can't you understand human speech? I'm telling you—"
His hand stopped in mid-air.
Shizuku had grabbed his wrist before he knew it.
The movement didn't look fast, even somewhat casual, but Pino found himself unable to move—that slender hand clamped onto him like an iron pincer.
"Please don't touch me."
Shizuku said calmly.
"I don't like it when others touch me."
"You...!"
Pino tried hard to pull his hand back, but it didn't budge.
A flash of shame and anger crossed his face, and he swung an iron rod with his left hand toward Shizuku's head!
The next second, Pino flew into the air.
Shizuku just lifted her left hand and gave a gentle push, and this man, weighing at least 80 kilograms, was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing through the glass door, landing on the street outside, and rolling several times before stopping.
There was dead silence inside and outside the shop.
The remaining thugs widened their eyes, looking at the groaning Pino outside the door, and then at the harmless-looking girl in the shop.
Shizuku clapped her hands, as if she had just done something trivial.
She turned to the waiter and asked again.
"So, do you have a map?"
The waiter was too scared to speak.
At this moment, the thugs reacted.
"Damn it! How dare you move against Boss Pino!"
"Attack together! Take her down!"
Seven or eight people rushed into the shop brandishing weapons! Baseball bats, chains, and daggers attacked Shizuku from different angles!
Leo sat by the window, watching quietly.
Shizuku moved.
Her movements had no frills, one could even say they were unadorned—side-stepping to avoid the swinging baseball bat, while simultaneously placing her left fist gently on that person's chest.
"Pfft!"
The man's eyes bulged, his whole body curled up like a shrimp, and he flew backward, knocking over two tables.
She lifted her right leg and delivered a simple side kick to the side of another person's knee.
Crack!
A clear sound of bone breaking. The man screamed and fell to the ground.
Turning around, she delivered a hand-blade strike to the wrist of the person holding the dagger. The dagger fell from his hand, and the man clutched his wrist, wailing.
Less than ten seconds.
The seven thugs who rushed in were all on the ground; some were unconscious, some were clutching their injured parts and screaming, and none could stand up again.
Shizuku stood in place, adjusted her glasses, looked down at the people fallen all over the floor, and a hint of confusion appeared on her face.
"Why... did you attack me?"
She whispered to herself.
"I just wanted to buy a map."
Seeing this, the remaining thugs outside the shop were scared and turned to run, not even caring about Pino on the ground.
Shizuku didn't pursue them either. She walked to the counter, looked at the still-trembling waiter, and asked for the third time.
"Excuse me, do you have a map?"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
The waiter snapped out of it, scrambled to find a city map from the drawer, and practically offered it with both hands.
"Thank you."
Shizuku took the map, paid, and turned to leave.
When she reached the door, she stopped, looked back at the mess and the groaning thugs on the floor, and then looked at Leo, who had been sitting by the window without moving.
Their eyes met.
Shizuku blinked, seemingly trying to recall something, but quickly gave up.
She nodded slightly at Leo—probably just out of politeness—and then pushed the door open and left.
Leo sat where he was, watching her figure disappear around the street corner.
"It really is her."
He whispered to himself.
Calm, decisive, powerful in combat, but at the same time looking a bit dazed due to her forgetfulness.
A typical "cute exterior, ruthless interior."
Most importantly—she was alone, likely not having joined the Genei Ryodan yet, because the members of the Phantom Troupe always operated in pairs.
"Should I snatch her up..."
Leo tapped his fingers gently on the table.
Shizuku's ability "vacuum cleaner" is very practical, able to inhale any non-living things and spit them out upon command.
If he goes to the Dark Continent in the future, her ability will be an indispensable part.
Moreover, her personality is simple and direct; once she decides on something, she will stick to it to the end.
If he could establish a connection before she joined the Phantom Troupe...
Leo stood up and settled the bill—including compensation for the broken doors, windows, tables, and chairs; he left extra money for the terrified waiter.
Walking out of the barbecue shop, he walked in the direction Shizuku had left, observing the surroundings along the way.
At the street corner, Shizuku was standing by the roadside, looking down at the map in her hands, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly troubled again about which way to go.
Leo walked over and stopped beside her.
"Do you need any help?" he asked.
Shizuku looked up at Leo.
She scrutinized him for a few seconds, and then—a look of sudden realization appeared on her face.
"Ah, you're the person from the shop earlier."
She said.
"Thank you... uh..."
She got stuck, seemingly struggling to recall Leo's name.
"Leo."
Leo smiled.
"My name is Leo. Your name is Shizuku, right?"
Shizuku's eyes widened slightly.
"You know me?"
"I've heard of you."
Leo didn't elaborate.
"You look lost. Where are you going? Maybe I can show you the way."
Shizuku looked down at the map, then looked up at Leo, seemingly weighing the options.
Finally, she pointed to a mark on the map.
"Here. But I don't know how to get there."
Leo took a look—it was an address in the western district of the city, not too far, but the route was rather complicated.
"I happen to be going that way."
He said.
"Let me take you there."
"Is that okay?" Shizuku tilted her head.
"Won't it be a bother for you?"
"Not at all."
"Then... thank you." Shizuku put away the map and adjusted her glasses.
"You are a good person, Mr. Leo."
Leo smiled and didn't respond.
The two walked side by side on the street. The sunlight spilled onto their shoulders, and a gentle breeze brushed their faces.
Leo was quickly calculating in his mind how to bring it up.
A direct invitation definitely wouldn't work; although Shizuku is forgetful, she isn't stupid.
He had to build trust first, understand her current situation, and then guide her slowly.
Meanwhile, Shizuku walked quietly beside him, occasionally looking left and right as if trying to memorize the path, but given her memory, she would probably forget it the moment she turned her head.
After walking for a while, Leo asked casually.
"Did you come to this city to run an errand, Shizuku?"
"Yes." Shizuku nodded.
"To find someone. But I don't remember why I need to find him."
Typical amnesia.
"Do you need help finding him?" Leo said.
Shizuku thought for a moment and shook her head.
"No need. I can handle it myself. Thank you."
Polite, but distant.
Leo wasn't in a rush either. He changed the subject.
"You were quite skilled back at the shop."
Shizuku said with a calm face.
"Yes, someone taught me."
Shizuku nodded, but didn't say more.
The two walked into a small alley, and just as they were about to reach their destination, Shizuku suddenly stopped.
She turned to look at Leo, her pure black eyes staring straight at him through her lenses, calm and without a ripple.
"Mr. Leo," she said, "Do you have any motive for following me?"
Leo's heart stirred. Sure enough, although Shizuku is forgetful, her intuition is sharp.
Leo thought about it; instead of beating around the bush, it was better to be direct.
He met her gaze frankly.
"If I said that I wanted to invite you to join my team, would you consider it?"
Shizuku blinked, seemingly processing this sentence.
Then she asked: "What does your team do?"
"Explore the unknown, challenge the strong."
Leo said it concisely.
"Occasionally, we also take on some commissions to help people in need."
Shizuku was silent for a few seconds.
"I can't promise you right now," she said. "I still have things to deal with. And..."
She paused, and for a rare moment, a look of trouble appeared on her face.
"I'm not very good at remembering things. I might cause you trouble."
"It's okay."
Leo smiled.
"I don't mind. Besides, we can find a way to solve this problem—like carrying a notebook or something."
Shizuku looked at Leo for a long time.
Finally, she nodded slightly.
"After I finish dealing with the matters at hand."
She said with a calm face.
"If you still want to invite me by then, we can talk again."
"Okay."
Leo took a business card out of his pocket—it had his contact information on it.
"If you need any help, contact me anytime."
Shizuku took the business card, looked at it carefully, and then carefully put it into her pocket.
"Thank you, Mr. Leo."
She said.
"I've arrived."
In front was an ordinary apartment building.
Shizuku waved at Leo and turned to walk into the building. Her figure soon disappeared behind the door.
Leo stood by the roadside, looked up at the building, and turned to wait by the side of the road.
He didn't know who Shizuku was looking for, nor did he know her purpose in coming to this city.
But at least, he had taken the first step.