The vendor spotted Yashiro and immediately hurried over.
"Captain Yashiro, you have to settle this for us."
"This guy damaged my perfectly good fruit by squeezing it, refused to buy it, and started swearing at me."
The customer refused to back down, pointing right at the vendor's nose as he argued.
"Bullshit! You put rotten fruit on top and mixed it in with the good stuff!"
As Yashiro listened to their accusations fly back and forth, his head began to buzz.
In the past, he would have given each of them a kick and chased them both off.
But ever since Chikage had laid down the rules on South Street, the merchants' attitude toward the Konoha Military Police Force had changed completely.
Now everyone counted on the police to uphold justice whenever something happened.
Yashiro scratched the back of his head, feeling a headache coming on.
"All right, all right, stop arguing."
"It's nothing serious. Just apologize to each other and call it settled."
The vendor refused, muttering with a pout.
"That won't do."
"Deputy Captain Chikage said that for business disputes, you first record the losses, then verify both sides' accounts, and finally determine compensation under the Public Security Administration Regulations."
"Anyone who damages a merchant's property has to pay its full value."
"You police can't go back on your word."
Yashiro was left speechless for a long moment.
The Public Security Administration Regulations?
He had never even taken a proper look at the cover of that thick volume.
He turned to the young police officer behind him.
"You, go get Deputy Captain Chikage's copy of the regulations and look it up."
The young officer spread his hands helplessly, looking miserable.
"Captain, the deputy captain took that book with him on his trip."
"He said it was public property,