Exclusive Deal

The alley was gloomy, the light scarce, and dark clouds surged into the Port Mafia.

Rhythmic running steps echoed, and firearms gleamed with a cold light. In this high-pressure atmosphere, Nakahara Chuuya also slowly walked out, knocking on the door of the little shop.

The door opened on its own without wind, as if an abyss were opening its massive maw.

Nakahara Chuuya paused, raising a hand to signal. His highly disciplined subordinates behind him took a step back in unison.

Chuuya entered the door alone, and the door shut behind him with a *thud*.

"Shop owner," Nakahara Chuuya said coldly. "Our Boss has a message for me to deliver."

Li Nai: "Mhm, go ahead."

"I will deliver the message, of course. But before that..."

Chuuya couldn't take it anymore. He slammed the table, pointing at Li Nai, who was happily drinking tea and eating pastries, and roared, "Hurry up and take this seriously, you guy! Do you even know what the Port Mafia represents in Yokohama!"

"And this guy!" Chuuya pointed furiously at Dazai beside him. "Why is this annoying mackerel here?!"

"Isn't it normal for me to be here?" Dazai shrugged. "Otherwise, who do you think brought this tea and these pastries?"

Li Nai blinked, swallowing the last sweet pastry in his hand before speaking unhurriedly.

"What the Port Mafia represents, I naturally know," Li Nai said sadly. "I'd rather ask why you guys can always find my door, day and night, never letting me go..."

Yes, just last night, Li Nai had officially confirmed it. Although the peaceful daytime world and the chaotic nighttime world were indeed two different places, rather than two completely different "worlds," they were more like two different parallel timelines.

The biggest proof was the existence of the Port Mafia.

Last night, he had looked at the system map and found that the corresponding faction of Dazai in the daytime world, the "Armed Detective Agency," had not yet appeared. Therefore, Li Nai speculated that the time in the nighttime world belonged to the "past."

However, the daytime Port Mafia was indeed more reliable than the nighttime one. After all, the salary shared with Chuuya was enough for him to easily spend 20 million. It seemed they had changed to a better Boss?

I wonder who it is—surely they are very easy to rip off?

Li Nai looked innocently at Chuuya. "So, what message does your Boss want you to bring me?"

Nakahara Chuuya pulled down his hat, quietly staring at the relaxed Li Nai, a dark, unreadable thought flashing in his eyes.

"Stop using that old trick, Chuuya," Dazai spoke casually. "The psychological pressure tactics the Port Mafia is used to won't work on this guy."

Li Nai: "Wait, so that was the intention?"

Chuuya: "..." *This guy really has no sense of danger at all.*

"Forget it." Chuuya gave up completely, pulling out a chair to sit down, muttering in a low voice, "I should have known..."

"So, Mr. Chuuya," Li Nai pushed a cup of tea over and said with a smile, "what does your Boss want to say?"

Chuuya had almost gotten used to being scammed in this shop. Hearing Li Nai's somewhat intimate address, he was stunned for a moment, and facing the tea pushed toward him, he suddenly felt a bit flattered. "No, the tea is unnecessary..."

"Hey, Li Nai, stop it," Dazai said resentfully. "Why should the tea I worked so hard to bring be shared with this shorty?"

Chuuya immediately took it. "Thanks, I'm definitely drinking it today."

Dazai: "..."

"No need to thank me. This is the treatment after favorability increases," Li Nai encouraged. "Remember to spend more in the future."

Chuuya: ... *His wallet suddenly felt cold.*

"Back to business." Nakahara Chuuya coughed and said seriously, "The Boss asked me to ask you—Li Nai, do you accept the Port Mafia having the exclusive rights to sell the items in your shop?"

The moment those words were spoken, Dazai's expression instantly became subtle, shifting his gaze to Li Nai. In the silence, both of them were waiting for Li Nai's answer.

Li Nai raised an eyebrow.

"Exclusive? That won't do," he said slowly. "This sweet shop is open to everyone..."

"I advise you to consider carefully, shop owner," Chuuya said flatly. "Your goods are indeed irreplaceable, so exclusivity is a must. We absolutely cannot allow you to sell them to other factions."

Dazai's eyes flashed, and he suddenly spoke.

"You seem very confident. It looks like you've already tested the rules of that 【hat】?"

"...Yeah. I don't plan to hide it," Chuuya said coldly. "After a set procedure, it can swallow all the abilities released within its range at once. We haven't tested the maximum limit yet."

"Swallowing abilities... making them disappear?" Dazai paused. "Then isn't that..."

"Yes, your 'No Longer Human.'"

Chuuya bared his teeth at Dazai, sneering, "Although Ane-san Kouyou said 'this is indeed like a mini Dazai,' I feel this thing is much more useful than you. How about you rename your ability to 'little hat'?"

"Objection!" Li Nai said seriously. "Please respect my shop's naming rights. Why must the lawful good military hat suffer such slander!"

"...Why did I suddenly become the target of framing? Is this also because of low favorability?" Dazai couldn't help but say. "Li Nai, is this also one of your marketing tactics?!"

"Not at all," Li Nai said modestly. "I clearly frame everyone equally."

Nakahara Chuuya tapped the table, attempting to drag the conversation back on track.

"In short, this time I indeed brought sincerity to seek peaceful cooperation," Chuuya said in a deep voice. "But if you refuse, next time—it might not be so peaceful."

Nakahara Chuuya looked straight at Li Nai, his gaze sharp.

"So, what is your answer, shop owner?"

Li Nai smiled gently.

"Of course—it's a refusal." He smiled. "With so many people watching me, how could I agree to such an uninteresting thing?"

"...Is that so. It seems we can't negotiate."

Nakahara Chuuya swept his gaze around, confirming there was no one else in the shop, taking Li Nai's words as an excuse to refuse.

Li Nai smiled.

"Well, actually, it's not completely hopeless," Li Nai smiled and said. "But the premise is... I want to talk face-to-face with your Boss."

Chuuya frowned. "I can go back and ask the Boss for instructions. If he has time—"

"Not at your Port Mafia headquarters," Li Nai leaned back in his chair, saying with a half-smile. "Right here, in this little shop."

Before Chuuya could answer, Dazai let out a light laugh.

"That's impossible." Dazai waved his hand. "Boss Mori won't risk himself. The probability of him coming to meet you is lower than the probability of Chuuya growing taller."

Boss Mori?

Li Nai blinked, remembering the Dr. Mori he met at night, and couldn't help but think that there were really many people named Mori. Could it be a clan?

"The Boss cannot possibly come," Chuuya said with certainty. "We can compromise on other conditions, but not this one."

"Then there's nothing we can do," Li Nai said regretfully. "In fact, I am locked in this little shop and cannot go out normally."