After finishing his daily work, Shirou was now on his way to a candy shop, holding the address given by Lin Yuhsia.
As a side note, after asking Lin Yuhsia, he learned that this candy shop was quite famous in Lungmen and something easily found online.
Unfortunately, after seeing Penguin Logistics get fooled by "internet-famous shops" more than once, Shirou was somewhat skeptical.
Still, since it was run by someone he knew, he was willing to support it. Besides, he had checked himself and the shop really did have a good reputation.
And since it was not far from the slums, he headed there right after finishing his schedule.
The shop was easy to find. Shirou simply had never walked this route before, so he had seen it before.
Seeing the "Open" sign hanging on the glass door, he pushed it open and stepped inside.
A rich sweetness filled the entire shop. Shirou felt like if he walked around with a stick, he could probably gather a cloud of cotton candy.
"Welcome."
The one greeting him was… an old man holding a dragon-headed cane.
Shirou: "?"
In that instant, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
The surname Lin. A Zalak. The same candy shop…
So Lin Yuhsia was this old man's… daughter or granddaughter?
That was quite a lot to process.
"I already heard from my daughter. You are here to buy candy for Remembrance Day, right? If you want custom orders, we have all kinds of styles and flavors, so pick what you like. As for ready-made goods, they are displayed in the shop."
Seeing Shirou standing there blankly, the old man waved an order catalog filled with various candies.
He had only just learned about the situation himself. Since he happened to be nearby, he came over personally and he had not even changed clothes.
It had been a while since he last saw this kid, but he had been keeping tabs on him, including his daughter's interactions with him.
He had even prepared for the worst, yet the two had only cooperated to eliminate some troublemakers. Most of their conversations afterward were about that as well.
Frankly, it made him… want to hit someone.
Forget it. After learning Shirou's real age from a certain penguin, he gave up on those thoughts. Better to let things take their course.
As long as this guy did not suddenly lose his mind and start "setting off fireworks" in Lungmen, everything was negotiable.
"O-Okay."
Hearing this, Shirou stepped forward, took the catalog, and looked through it.
There were quite a lot of handmade candies. Based on what he remembered about everyone's preferences, he ordered some, and also picked up a few ready-made sweets that looked good.
The shop was nice, but the constant gaze from the side made him a bit uncomfortable.
"You got some time? Keep this old man company for some tea and we can talk a bit."
By the time Shirou finished choosing, the old man better known as the Rat King had already prepared tea, waiting for him.
"…"
Seeing everything already set up and feeling that persistent gaze Shirou found it hard to refuse.
Besides, he had a feeling that even if he declined, he would end up sitting here anyway. Rather than taking a detour, it was better to just sit down from the start.
"Careful, it is hot. I just brewed it."
Seeing Shirou obediently take a seat, the Rat King showed a smile.
But to Shirou, that smile felt rather unsettling. He still was not used to dealing with elders.
Moreover, the elders he knew were all people of high status and each more cunning than the last. Seeing that smile triggered a bit of PTSD in him, making him worry he was about to be tricked again.
"Alright."
Although his inner defenses were fully raised, Shirou still accepted the tea that the Rat King handed him, while showing the kind of smile one should show toward an elder.
It was an exceptionally warm and approachable smile.
"Hoo… I heard you have been dealing with quite a lot of harassment recently?"
Blowing lightly on the hot tea in his hands, the Rat King directly opened the conversation.
From what he knew, the Shirou before him had indeed been facing quite a few disturbances lately, though most of those people had simply been driven back by him.
He had heard that the Lungmen Guard Department's recent performance had been fairly good as well.
"Mm… there has been a little, but overall I do not think it counts as me being harassed, right? The people targeting me were probably after the medicine I was escorting."
Watching the old man carefully blow on his tea, the corners of Shirou's mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly calmed himself and answered the question.
"Medicine, hm…? I know a little about that situation as well. Both the treatment and the medication seem fairly good, and the pricing is very affordable. Its current reputation also seems quite positive."
Even when the subject of the medicine, namely the inhibitors was brought up, the Rat King's expression did not change in the slightest. He still looked like an ordinary friendly old neighbor.
"Mm, I am also cooperating with Rhodes Island, so they are trustworthy in this regard."
Shirou maintained the trademark smile he used when dealing with elders while explaining his thoughts.
He was not entirely sure what the other man wanted to talk about by bringing him here, but Shirou knew that in situations like this, speaking positively about his own side was definitely the correct choice.
Considering how large Lin Yuhsia's influence in the slums seemed to be, the man before him was probably even more influential.
At the very least, if he said more good things, Rhodes Island's office in the slums should have a somewhat easier time operating here.
"You young people can handle your own affairs. This old man will not interfere… let us talk about something else instead. What do you think of the slums?"
Glancing at Shirou, the Rat King clearly had no intention of continuing to listen to his promotion.
The only reason he had brought up Rhodes Island's office was to lead the conversation into this topic.
"Hm? That question…"
Hearing the Rat King's question, Shirou thought for a moment.
Mainly because the topic covered too much. Shirou was not entirely sure what exactly the other man wanted to ask.
Was he asking about the literal meaning, or something deeper?
After thinking about it, Shirou felt the old man before him was probably asking for the latter.
After all, he frequently interacted with both the Guard Department and the people of the slums. Learning things that ordinary people did not understand from them would be completely normal.
"Lungmen's buffer zone… and also the buffer between ordinary people and the infected, right?"
Shirou said.
"You are correct. That is precisely the main reason for the slums' existence, and also one of the reasons why they are so difficult to develop. The moment an ordinary person becomes infected with Oripathy, it means they possess a certain level of danger and the possibility of infecting others."
"When a person carries various forms of danger, it becomes very easy for them to be excluded, marginalized, or even bullied to death by society. I do not wish to see any of those outcomes, so I believe the infected and other marginalized groups should have a place and a community of their own."
"They need a relatively safe and stable living environment. They need mutual support and assistance. Driven by these thoughts, Lungmen's slums were born."
Hearing Shirou's answer, the Rat King nodded in satisfaction and began explaining the primary reasons behind the slums' creation.
Shirou: "..."
He felt like he had just heard something absolutely unbelievable.
Was the man before him the founder of Lungmen's slums?
Those rumors regarding the Gray Forest and the Rat King… they all matched this old Mr. Lin standing before him.
So these powerful underworld leaders really were that cunning.
Who could have imagined that the Rat King, who dominated the entire slum district, was actually an old Mr. Lin who constantly wore a gentle smile?
At least before the man said it outright, Shirou truly had not realized it.
He could not really judge the man either, because he had personally witnessed the chaos within the slums.
But saying the man was wrong did not seem right either. Perhaps he had already done the best he possibly could.
Judging from what Yith had said, while Lungmen's slums could not be considered the best place for the infected on Terra, they were still an exceptionally decent environment.
Compared to other places that rejected the infected entirely, Lungmen at least had the slums where they could stay, instead of being exiled into the wilderness to starve or freeze to death.
Shirou felt that he did not possess the qualifications to judge whether the creation of the slums was right or wrong.
But one could not deny that precisely because the slums existed, Lungmen was comparatively friendlier toward the infected.
Without comparison, there was no harm.
"Heh heh, quite shocking, is it not? An old geezer actually being an important figure and all that."
Watching Shirou's expression shift repeatedly, from shock to complicated contemplation, the Rat King drank a sip of tea and laughed.
Mainly because Shirou's reaction was rather amusing.
"It is not that shocking. There are just a few things I still do not understand. Why did you choose to approach me in that manner back then?"
After recovering from the surprise, Shirou quickly regained his composure. What he was thinking about now was why an important figure like the Rat King would have gone to that shabby little shop in the first place.
Surely he had not really gone there just to buy a few things?
"I have seen many people who claimed to be helping the infected while in reality oppressing them."
That was the Rat King's answer.
"Ha… so that is how it was?"
The moment he heard that, Shirou immediately understood the meaning behind it. He froze briefly before laughing.
He had originally assumed that the person who founded the slums would be some ruthless executioner, but unexpectedly, the man actually cared deeply about the slum residents.
That contrast… was rather interesting.
"And ever since then, I have continued watching you. Watching you, a person who extends all of his kindness toward strangers who have nothing to do with him."
After saying that, the Rat King let out a long breath. Shirou had no intention of interrupting him and simply listened quietly while refilling the tea in the other man's cup.
When speaking with elderly people, more often than not, one simply needed to be a quiet listener.
The Rat King spoke for a very long time. By the time he finished, the hot tea in Shirou's hands had already gone cold, yet Shirou still continued listening to him.
He did not know why the man had pulled him aside to say so much, but after the Rat King's final sentence, Shirou understood what he was thinking.
"You should know that I am already old. The slums need fresh blood to stabilize their future development."
After drinking who knew how many refills of tea Shirou had poured for him, this was the first time the Rat King had spoken so freely, to the point that even his throat did not hurt afterward.
To be honest, what he valued was precisely the fact that Shirou held no prejudice toward the infected or the slums as a whole.
As he had said, he was already old, but Lungmen was still young, and the slums were still young as well. He was destined to become the one left behind.
Before he was completely discarded, he hoped to arrange everything properly. As long as things continued developing steadily according to the original plan, the slums would definitely be able to get on the right track and prosper.
The Shirou before him was an excellent candidate. He was young, had a good personality, and was also very capable.
Most importantly, Lin Yuhsia was willing to cooperate with him. That was the truly important part.
Although he felt it was still somewhat early for his daughter to inherit everything, he did not mind paving the road for her in advance.
Taking a step back, even if it was not Lin Yuhsia, the resources he left behind would still be extremely important to the next successor.
"Forgive me, but I cannot agree. The Emperor has treated me quite well. However, if help is ever needed, I will not refuse about lending a hand so please do not worry about that."
After realizing that the Rat King's ultimate goal was still to recruit him away, Shirou replied with the skill of someone highly experienced at rejecting recruitment attempts.
The first time gave experience, the second gave familiarity, and by the third time he practically had the script memorized.
Shirou first politely rejected the attempt to poach him, then expressed that he would definitely help if assistance was truly needed. This way, there was no need to worry about damaging their relationship.
"Heh, fine then. Those words are enough for me."
After hearing Shirou's response, the Rat King glanced at the surveillance camera above them, then drank the remaining tea in one gulp. Standing up, he stretched slightly and said:
"Consider these candies payment for accompanying an old man like me. Once the handmade candy is finished, I will notify you again. Remember to come pick it up."
"Is that really alright…?"
Looking at the large bag of candy in his hands, Shirou felt somewhat embarrassed.
Sugar was considered a fairly valuable commodity here. Receiving this much candy for no reason at all made his conscience uneasy.
"Then just treat it as an old geezer like me giving the children an early gift. If you do not take it away, I will simply send it over myself later. And when that happens, the amount might be just a little more than what you are holding now."
As he spoke, the Rat King raised his thumb and index finger, leaving a tiny gap between them to indicate "a little."
But in Shirou's eyes, both those words and that gesture seemed more like a warning that if he refused this bag of candy, even more candy would be delivered later.
As for exactly how much, Shirou had no desire to find out.
In the end, he could only accept the old man's kindness.
"Then I will gratefully accept it. Next time you come by, I will make sure to treat you properly."
Shirou forced a smile onto his face as he spoke, then left the candy shop under the Rat King's watchful gaze.
After Shirou left the candy shop, the Rat King's phone suddenly rang.
Without even checking the caller information, he answered directly:
"Heh, having a child like that stay with you is truly a waste."
"You damn rat, stop constantly coveting my people, alright? Be careful or I will get myself a matching rat cane and carry it every time I go on stage."
Emperor's voice burst out from the phone, sounding extremely irritated.
Which was only natural. Not everyone could remain in a good mood after discovering someone was trying to poach their employee, especially when the target was an important one.
After all, the last time Shirou merely took a few days off, the entire dormitory had nearly turned into a garbage dump. If Shirou were truly poached away, the four members of Texas's squad would probably end up buried under trash in the future.
"You are one to talk. Stop hacking into my store's surveillance system whenever you feel like it."
Hearing the other man's furious voice, the Rat King narrowed his eyes.
That penguin had apparently hacked into the shop's surveillance cameras a long time ago and had been listening to his entire conversation with Shirou. If this had not been his own store, he would have smashed the camera apart with sand immediately.
"Hmph! You old geezer clearly had bad intentions. Rotten to the core!"
Faced with the Rat King's accusation, Emperor was completely fearless.
"He did not accept my invitation. I truly do not know what kind of spell you cast on him."
Too lazy to argue further, the Rat King directly steered the topic back.
"That is obviously because I am a great and wise boss! With a boss like me around, why would my employees ever think about going elsewhere?"
Hearing the Rat King's words, Emperor's voice became thoroughly smug and mocking.
"..."
Listening to such narcissistic remarks from the other end of the phone, the Rat King began wondering why he even knew this person.
"If there is a next time, I really am going to get myself a matching rat cane. Do not think I do not know why you carry that dragon-headed cane around. You have polished the dragon head until it is shiny!"
"Fine, fine. There definitely will not be a next time."
Hearing that rather strange method of threatening him, the Rat King could only feel utterly helpless.
Forget it, forget it. It was not as though there were no people even harder to deal with than the Emperor. A few perfunctory responses would be enough. After talking for so long, it was about time to empty his mind and get some rest.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shirou had already left the candy shop some distance behind and was riding his bicycle. In the basket at the front were the candies and biscuits the Rat King had just given him.
"One portion for the children, one portion for the office, and the rest can be brought back for everyone else to enjoy… I should leave extra apple-flavored candy and chocolate."
As he rode, Shirou quickly sorted out how to distribute the sweets inside the bag.
There was no way he could bring the entire bag back. Otherwise, the people from Penguin Logistics would definitely devour everything in one sitting.
To avoid everyone consuming too much sugar, Shirou could only first ride his bicycle to the shop to drop some off there, then deliver some to the office, and only afterward return to the dormitory.
Upon arriving at the Fuyuki Shop, Shirou skillfully parked his bicycle to the side and pushed open the door while carrying a large bag.
"I brought some things over… hm? It is Phal?"
After opening the door, Shirou called out first, only to discover that the person sitting beside the cashier counter was not Rope, but Phal instead.
It seemed that after he left, a certain purple mochi had very skillfully dumped the work onto someone else again.
Thinking of this, Shirou narrowed his eyes slightly and began considering how he should deal with her later.
Far away, Rope who had infiltrated the infected group that had recently been causing quite a stir in an attempt to gather information suddenly felt the surrounding air grow a little cold.
"Hiss… why does this feel like I got caught doing something bad by Mom?"