Once the Convenience Store was free of Honey Shadow's control, the nearby residents streamed back inside to shop as though nothing had happened. The clerk also returned to his post, but after ringing up the first customer, he stared at the open cash drawer and suddenly stopped moving.
"Hey, my change."
Only after the customer reminded him did the clerk take out the change. Rather than continuing to ring up purchases, he turned and locked the Convenience Store's door.
"I need to step away for a moment. Please wait."
With that, the clerk left and entered a small room at the very back of the Convenience Store. About five minutes later, he reappeared before everyone.
After ringing up all the purchases of the residents waiting in line, he unlocked the door, then stopped someone who was about to leave:
"Sir, please wait a moment."
The man in the hat turned at his call. Because he had eaten Candy, he hadn't left the Convenience Store as soon as the lights came back on. Instead, he had wandered around inside a little longer, giving the clerk a chance to catch him on the spot.
"May I take a look in your pocket?"
The clerk's tone was exceedingly polite, but before the man in the hat could answer, his hand reached toward the man's pocket-
Throughout it all, the man in the hat merely stood there smiling. Whether being stopped or searched, he showed not the slightest fear or resistance.
A stack of banknotes was soon pulled from his pocket. After counting them, the clerk took out several and held them up before the man in the hat:
"You stole this money just now, didn't you?"
"That's right."
The man in the hat answered without any hesitation, admitting it with complete composure. The