Having been mocked like that, the store manager looked somewhat embarrassed. Compared with proper Sushi Restaurants, conveyor-belt sushi was indeed often considered too low-class.
His momentum faltered, and his voice lowered, but he still stubbornly said, "Those are two different things."
Wagatsuma Ryuuzou rose to his feet and glared down at him imposingly, smiling sinisterly. "Stop arguing with me. Destroying a tiny place like yours would take me only minutes—don't forget, besides my regular job, I'm also a somewhat well-known food writer. All it takes is a few bad reviews from me, and your restaurant can forget about staying open."
He suddenly pointed toward a corner and sneered. "Just like that old lady's place, where she's currently hiding and eating."
In the corner, a middle-aged woman dressed entirely in pink was startled by his words. She shot him an angry but restrained look, then quickly lowered her gaze again.
The store manager sighed, closed his eyes briefly, and said to Wagatsuma Ryuuzou, "Today's bill will be waived in full. Please leave."
Wagatsuma Ryuuzou had been waiting for exactly that.
His expression relaxed, and he laughed. "In that case, I'll have a little more—oh, and pack up two portions for me. Each one should be enough for a grown man, so don't skimp. Places that cut corners never have a good reputation."
—Done.
He would finish eating himself, then take a serving each for the two subordinates in his group.
Then he could reimburse all three meals at the rates of an upscale restaurant and pocket the reimbursement money as today's overtime pay.
Wagatsuma Ryuuzou settled comfortably back into his seat, eating leisurely as he waited for the store manager to pack his food.
After that scene, quite a few customers found their appetites spoiled and quickly paid before leaving.
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