The Final Volume: A Tiny World in the Dust - The Criminal Ye (Part 2)

I'd better help him put it into words.

"The counselor's saying... you want me to 'keep my mouth shut'?"

I said it for him. He froze for a few seconds, then squeezed out a smile with that greasy, pig-fat face of his.

"Heh... You're a pretty sensible kid, aren't you?"

"It's got nothing to do with being sensible... I'm past the age when I fantasized about playing the hero and rescuing a damsel," I said, scratching my head. "I know how to weigh the pros and cons. If I played the hero on impulse, your connections would probably make my life miserable before I got any praise from the crowd, right? That wouldn't do either of us any good, so I'm not about to do that."

"—!!!"

The girl, Department Flower Something-or-Other, looked utterly shocked for a moment, then her expression turned furious. She tried to shout something, but with her mouth covered, all that came out was a muffled "Mmmph, mmmph." I'd ignore her for now.

"Well, what do you know? At least it was you who caught me. I like sensible kids. But..."

"But I'm no fool, either. If you want me to keep quiet, I'd like a little something in return. If I get some 'tangible' benefits, then we'll be in the same boat, and you'll feel more at ease too, right?"

"Benefits, huh... You—how much do you want?"

"Money? No, no. I'm not exactly short on cash."

"Then you mean... Ah!"

His gaze shifted to Department Flower Something-or-Other, who'd been looking utterly dejected since earlier. His eyes lit up, and he put on that sleazy expression that said he understood perfectly. Department Flower Something-or-Other seemed to get it too. Her expression turned incredulous again, and she looked at me like I was a cockroach. Ignore, ignore.