"Come in."
Omaeda answered casually, and a familiar figure walked in.
When she saw Duan Mu sitting beside Omaeda, she paused slightly and instinctively said, "Boss Duan Mu?"
The newcomer was Kanon, one of the two employees at the Yorozuya branch.
"You came at just the right time. Go tell Jōze later that Duan Mu's Yorozuya will open for business tomorrow."
"Yes."
Kanon acknowledged him, then said, "Young Master, President Suigawa of the Golden Seal Society has come to visit. He says he has something to discuss with you."
"What does he want?"
Omaeda frowned slightly, apparently not fond of the visitor, but nodded in the end. "Bring him in."
"Yes, Young Master."
Kanon acknowledged him, turned, and left. Not long afterward, she returned with a richly dressed middle-aged man.
When Omaeda saw him, he did not rise to greet him. Instead, he said casually, "President Suigawa, what can I do for you?"
President Suigawa did not answer. He merely glanced at Duan Mu beside Omaeda.
Seeing this, Duan Mu picked up the plate of sake-lees dumplings and said, "You two talk. I've eaten about enough." With that, he prepared to leave.
But Omaeda immediately pulled him back and said to President Suigawa, "Just say what you came for. He's my friend, so it doesn't matter if he hears."
"..." Duan Mu.
To be honest, he had no interest whatsoever in what the two of them wanted to discuss. But since Omaeda had put it that way, insisting on leaving would only put him in an awkward position. In the end, he sat back down and continued eating with his head lowered.
President Suigawa hesitated before saying, "Vice-Captain Omaeda, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"What favor?"
"My little Hato joined the Thirteenth Division, didn't he?" President Suigawa