Chapter 75: Doubts Arise

"...So, how are we going to build the restaurant?"

Luke asked Raymond after their guests had left.

"We'll do it ourselves," Raymond replied matter-of-factly.

"Huh?"

Luke looked puzzled by the response.

Ignoring Luke's confusion, Raymond turned to Jake and Logan, "There's a forest nearby. Go chop some wood and bring it here."

"...But that's a few kilometers away," Jake stammered, voicing the concern shared by Logan.

Raymond remained resolute, "Bring as much as you can. If it's not enough, go back and get more."

"That's going to be exhausting."

Luke chuckled and shook his head, but his amusement quickly faded when Raymond turned to him and Adin with a small smile on his face.

"I need you and Adin to gather as many mint leaves as possible. We need them to fill up the walls."

"..."

Luke fell silent, realizing there was no room for argument. He sighed and questioned, "Why do we need mint leaves?"

"You think we can clear all this trash in a day?" Raymond gestured towards the massive pile surrounding the run-down building as everyone shook their heads. "It's impossible."

"That's why I need the mint leaves," Raymond continued. "We'll use them to cover up and neutralize the smell."

"I suppose that makes sense," Luke scratched his head, considering the idea to be viable. 

Luke narrowed his eyes at Raymond. "What about you? We're the ones doing all the hard work here."

"Don't worry about that, I'll be joining you in the forest," Raymond replied firmly.

"I need to find some large leaves to use as our rooftop."

"..."

There were collective sighs from everyone.

"Can't we do it tomorrow?" Luke grumbled.

"You think you can sleep with those disgusting smells around?"

Raymond retorted, shaking his head at Luke's suggestion.

"...I guess you're right."

As the pungent odor assaulted their senses, everyone wrinkled their noses, realizing they might suffocate to death if they didn't find a way to rid themselves of the stench.

With no other choice, they resigned themselves to following Raymond's plan.

Little did they know, Raymond had no intention of allowing them to rest anytime soon.

In addition to gathering materials, they would also have to build the restaurant. A smirk crept across Raymond's face as he thought of this. 

Meanwhile, not far from them, a disheveled man that looked like a beggar furrowed his brows in concern after seeing Raymond's interaction with Sakujiro, "Did that old man really go meet those new folks?"

He then left his spot as he navigated through the streets of the city, his eyes fixed on his destination as he ventured deeper.

Eventually, he arrived at a building that stood out among the dilapidated surroundings.

Though not fancy, it had a solid presence, its sturdy structure contrasting sharply with the debris-filled streets.

The building, while not fancy, had a certain dignity that set it apart from the rest.

Its walls, though worn, stood tall and strong against the elements. Despite the neglect evident in the city's other structures, this building maintained a sense of order and stability.

As he stepped inside, the beggar-like man found himself amidst a bustling scene. Laughter and conversation filled the air, but it all fell silent as every eye turned to him.

Approaching him was a serious-looking man who seemed to be in charge. He wore a dark loose kimono with his hair tied to his back like a samurai.

"You don't often come here. What's your business today?"

"I need to see our boss," the beggar-like man replied firmly.

"...I see, follow me."

The man nodded and gestured for him to follow. They made their way through the lively crowd, disappearing into the depths of the building.

Arriving at a specific room, they paused outside the door, and the man knocked.

"Come in," boomed a deep voice, sending shivers down their spines. The man opened the door, ushering them inside.

In the room sat an elderly man with a bald head and some hair tied at the back.

He wore a dark red robe and held a long sword in his hand, handling it with precision. He was one of the influential powers in the Meteor City, besides the city's elders.

His name was Watanabe!

"Apologies for the interruption," the man said, but Watanabe silenced him with a gesture, setting aside his sword to focus on his subordinates.

Watanabe then suddenly spoke to the man, "Sajin, ensure the next batch is ready within two months."

Sajin's eyes widened in surprise, prompting him to inquire, "Is there a specific reason for this sudden change?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. They're paying double, and that's all that matters," Watanabe replied with a dismissive shake of his head.

Despite his influence, Watanabe was constrained by the rule against harming Meteor City residents, enforced by the Elders.

However, he found ways around this restriction by outsourcing the tasks to outsiders, who were willing to pay a hefty price for his services.

All he needed to do was to close his eyes when it happened.

"I'll have the list ready soon. Do they have any specific requests this time?" Sajin inquired.

"They won't be concerned with the specifics, as long as the organs are viable," Watanabe remarked, shaking his head.

Typically, they provided the outsiders with a list detailing the individuals, their basic descriptions, and where they could be located.

This streamlined the process for the outsiders to retrieve the desired items.

Their primary client was always the Ten Dons, the dominant mafia group in the continent. The only requirement from the Ten Dons was that the goods had to be in usable condition.

Watanabe folded his arms, fixing his gaze on the beggar-like man.

"And..." 

The beggar-like man bowed nervously, his voice trembling, "It's... um, that old man, Sakujiro, he left his hideout to meet with some newcomers. It seemed like they were making deals or something..."

A frown creased Watanabe's brow. Sakujiro had always kept a low profile in his run-down dwelling ever since Watanabe had decimated his entire crew.

Following the loss of his granddaughter, Sakujiro had become a recluse, rarely venturing outside.

Sajin was aware of the situation as he frowned, "Should we eliminate him?"

"We can't touch him. He's under the elder's protection," Watanabe dismissed the idea immediately.

He couldn't go against the elders, at least, not yet.

However, being cautious wouldn't hurt as he ordered, "Keep an eye on those newcomers. Report any unusual activity to me."

"Got it, Boss!"

Sajin acknowledged before departing.

Left alone, Watanabe resumed tending to his sword, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the beggar-like man's report as he shook his head, "Even if the worst happened, what can he do with these people? I can just kill them all later..."

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