(Second Update) (Continued)

"2. The only ways for DOLLARS members to level up and obtain item resources are by killing monsters, opening treasure chests, farming dungeons, receiving system rewards, and other means that do not harm other players."

"3. When DOLLARS encounters players in difficulty, members should do their best to help them and promote DOLLARS' image."

"4. Every DOLLARS member has the duty to promote the organization, recruit as many players as possible, and establish order in the Inner World as soon as possible."

"5. DOLLARS members must not kill other players. They should lead by example and uphold the image of the law. Evildoers should be dealt with through education and persuasion whenever possible. Players who have already committed wrongdoing should first be restrained, but their lives must not be taken. After returning to the original world and consulting multiple legal experts, appropriate punishment may be imposed. (If conditions permit, evildoers may also apply for a lawyer to defend them.)"

There were not many rules, but after reading them, Tsukikawa Shu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

It was clear that the other party truly wanted to establish a peaceful and harmonious society in the Inner World.

But how should he put it? After all, he was a high school student. He could not write anything particularly profound or detailed, and quite a bit of naivety had seeped into it.

It looked righteous and just enough, but trying to play by legal rules in the Inner World? Could you really outplay those nobles and capitalists?

Ever heard of Nanshan Pizza Hut?

A classic light-novel protagonist: even after becoming invincible, he still had to do everything by the book. Like quite a few characters in Dragon Ball.

"I'll do my best."

Tsukikawa Shu gave him a perfunctory reply and could not even be bothered to engage further.

Would an adult who had entered society really fuss with some chuunibyou kid? Once he had taken enough beatings from reality, he would naturally come to his senses.

Still, part of their goals aligned for now: establishing a relatively stable environment in which to grow stronger. Otherwise, Tsukikawa Shu would not have bothered with this organization at all.

The Inner World needed order, but it absolutely could not be built around these few rules as a blueprint.

An organization like DOLLARS could serve as part of the force pushing order forward, but it could not be the one holding the reins.

"Building order is still a long and arduous road," Tsukikawa Shu mused.

Sure enough, professional matters had to be handled by professionals. He needed to get acquainted with people who understood this field.

"How many people do you have now? What levels are they?"

Tsukikawa Shu could not be bothered to argue with him over this, so he asked something else.

"The Inner World has opened twice now, and DOLLARS already has more than fifty members. The exact information is unclear, but there are five core members including myself, ranging from level 10 to 15," the other party answered.

A team of fifty was already no small force in the current Inner World. Their strength was certainly uneven, but their numbers alone were enough to hold the field.

Ryūgamine Mikado should have only been sixteen this year. Becoming the leader of more than fifty people at that age and having his confidence shoot through the roof fit the situation perfectly.

"How can you be sure the rules you set are actually feasible?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.

"I'm already level 15. My ability is related to hacking and mental control. I won't explain the details for now, but once the Inner World opens, I can discuss them with Mr. Tsukikawa in detail. I already possess considerable strength, and I believe I can take on that responsibility in the future as well," the other party said.

Oh, so he believed in his future wisdom.

Tsukikawa Shu rolled his eyes and lost all interest in continuing the conversation.

"Then good luck."

Tsukikawa Shu replied before closing the chat window.

He had not agreed to join them anyway. They were not enemies right now, so however the other party wanted to mess around was none of his business.

[Time until the Inner World opens: 24:00]

[Total duration of the Inner World's third opening: 7 days]

Each opening of the Inner World was announced only one day in advance, and both the opening time and the duration of each survival mission were irregular.

Of course, for Tsukikawa Shu now, they could no longer be called survival missions. They were periods for farming experience instead. He even hoped the Inner World would remain open longer.

At this moment, all Veteran Players were surely making intense preparations, but Tsukikawa Shu and the others did not care at all.

It was the weekend, after all, so Tsukikawa Shu went on dates as usual.

The train slowly pulled into the station, and Tsukikawa Shu, Goto Hitori, and Hiratsuka Shizuka got off.

Today's date was mainly about visiting the sea.

"Um... do we really have to wear swimsuits?"

Goto Hitori clutched a shopping bag, looking incredibly nervous.

She was still wearing that pink tracksuit, concealing her figure from head to toe. In truth, she was quite well-endowed.

When they dated nearby, Tsukikawa Shu could coax her into wearing a little dress, but on long trips, Goto Hitori would feel uncomfortable all over unless she wore this kind of athletic outfit.

"What kind of sense would it make to visit the beach without wearing a swimsuit?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said, one hand on her hip as she slightly raised her head toward the bright sunlight.

She looked even younger than Goto Hitori did.

Hiratsuka Shizuka carried a small, expensive black handbag and wore sunglasses along with a straw hat. Her upper body was dressed in a refreshing lace-trimmed top, while she wore denim shorts below. Her legs were bare from thigh to calf, and she had on a pair of white sandals, fully showing off her mature charm, long legs, and tall figure.

Compared to that, Hiratsuka Shizuka's outfit practically screamed midsummer.

She was a wealthy woman, after all. Tsukikawa Shu knew that she owned at least two expensive cars, so naturally she would not skimp on clothes either.

At school, Hiratsuka Shizuka dressed rather conservatively, but once she was somewhere nobody knew her, she let herself go.

It was also because they did not have to worry about running into acquaintances on a trip like this that Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed to come with Tsukikawa Shu.

Compared to how she was at school, Hiratsuka Shizuka was much more uninhibited here.

The moment they got off the train, she wrapped herself around Tsukikawa Shu's arm.

She was a mature adult, after all. Once their relationship had been confirmed, she naturally would not act shy and awkward like a little girl.

"Tsukikawa-kun, I bought a new sexy swimsuit."

Leaning against Tsukikawa Shu's chest, Hiratsuka Shizuka spoke with a radiant smile.

"A sexy... swimsuit?"

Goto Hitori immediately panicked. She looked at the clothes tucked into her shopping bag.

It was a school swimsuit, the kind worn for swimming classes.

Compared to that, how was she supposed to show this off?!

Goto Hitori regretted it.

She should have braved the risk of social death and gone into a swimsuit shop to pick one at random... After all, she would die sooner or later. At least if she suffered social death inside the shop, no acquaintances would recognize her.

But now, she was about to embarrass herself in front of people she knew!

Why wasn't her awakened skill time reversal?!

Goto Hitori desperately wanted to turn back time.

"Mm... that's not something you should say," Tsukikawa Shu said.

"Why not?" Hiratsuka Shizuka blinked.

"Because a certain Fujiwara Takumi would find it pretty damn depressing."

"Who's that?"

"A man who could drift through drainage ditches as long as there were no women in his heart."

Hiratsuka Shizuka did not understand who Tsukikawa Shu was talking about.

"Let's go, Hitori."

Tsukikawa Shu did not leave Goto Hitori behind either. One hand was held by Hiratsuka Shizuka, while his other arm wrapped around Goto Hitori's waist.

"Huh? Okay!"

Goto Hitori was startled as Tsukikawa Shu easily guided her away.

His behavior of having one woman on each side drew looks of envy, jealousy, resentment, and surprise from quite a few people along the way.

"That guy is definitely a scumbag."

"Yeah, and the kind of scumbag who likes luring innocent girls!"

"Look at that girl in the tracksuit next to him. Poor thing. He must have tricked her into coming."

The men were filled with righteous indignation.

But in the eyes of those girls with springtime feelings, it was a different story entirely.

"He's so handsome. I really want his LINE, but he has two women with him, so he's hard to approach."

"No one would openly bring two girlfriends out with them, right? Maybe those two are just hookups. You still have a chance."

"By the way, how did that country bumpkin he's holding end up with him?"

A few women dressed to the nines did consider coming over to greet him, but Hiratsuka Shizuka took off her sunglasses and glared every one of them away.

"Teacher Hiratsuka, didn't you say it was a good thing for me to find more girls? The Inner World needs me to keep growing stronger," Tsukikawa Shu asked.

"Those women wandering around outside don't look like decent people. Be careful, or they'll chew you up and spit you out," Hiratsuka Shizuka said with her arms crossed, looking like an adult lecturing a child.

"Hmm, so you introduce good girls for me to ruin?" Tsukikawa Shu looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka's profile. "Like those two from the Service Club?"

"..." Hiratsuka Shizuka immediately became displeased. Turning around, she knocked Tsukikawa Shu on the head.

"So you don't want them even when I introduce them to you? You get to take advantage, and you still want to act virtuous?"

"Besides, I never told you to force them. I only told you to develop your relationship with them."

"More and more people will be dragged into the Inner World in the future. If one day they get caught up in it too, wouldn't that make things easier for you?"

"So it's always good to lay the groundwork."

"Stop thinking in those crooked directions!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka gave Tsukikawa Shu a fierce scolding.

Tsukikawa Shu pursed his lips as the three continued forward.

But then Tsukikawa Shu suddenly noticed something odd about Goto Hitori's clothes.

He looked at the tracksuit she was wearing—more precisely, at the pocket beneath the hand he had wrapped around her waist.

"What do you have in your pocket?" Tsukikawa Shu asked suspiciously.

"Ah... it's nothing!" Goto Hitori hurriedly explained, but she looked unbelievably nervous.

"Really nothing?" Tsukikawa Shu eyed her skeptically.

"Really nothing!" Goto Hitori flatly denied it, covering her pocket so Tsukikawa Shu could not see.

Tsukikawa Shu was still a little puzzled, but after thinking about it, he stopped caring.

She was Bocchi, after all. It was normal for her to do incomprehensible, weird things and have all sorts of secrets she wanted to hide.

Tsukikawa Shu did not pay attention, but Goto Hitori was panicking inside, her heart pounding wildly.

She touched the tiny paper box in her pocket, feeling deeply uneasy.

It was not something else.

Ever since she and Ijichi Nijika had passed that unattended adult goods shop on their way home last time, Goto Hitori had been unable to stop thinking about it.

Every time she went shopping, attended school, or had something else to do, she always slipped over to take a look.

Whether it was on the way or not, she would find some excuse to make it on the way.

And every time, her mind was never really on whatever else she was doing. Her hands handled other matters, but her eyes kept sneaking toward that narrow shop hidden behind a curtain.

Finally, on a pitch-black night, after careful deliberation, multiple scouting trips, and no longer being able to hold herself back, Bocchi-chan finally made her move!