"Who are you people? No unauthorized entry. That's what Boss Yuta said."
Panda folded his arms, his round body blocking the middle of the path, his tone carrying an unmistakable air of "I'm serious."
"Kelp," Toge Inumaki added briefly.
"Get out of here, or Boss Yuta will beat you up." Maki rested her long sword on her shoulder, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly as her gaze swept from Suguru Geto to the pelican, then back again.
"Huh?" Yuta Okkotsu froze beside them.
The next second, Suguru Geto was standing in front of him, close enough for Yuta to see his own reflection in the man's pupils.
So fast! The thought flashed through all their minds at once. None of them had seen how he moved. Even the wind had failed to keep up with his steps.
"Nice to meet you, Okkotsu." Suguru Geto took Yuta Okkotsu's hand. His palm was dry and warm, his grip neither too firm nor too light, as though he were greeting an old friend after a long separation. "I'm Suguru Geto."
Yuta Okkotsu looked down at his hand, then up at the man before him, dressed in black monk's robes with long hair falling to his shoulders. He paused, his voice carrying a bewildered politeness.
"Hello..."
"You have a truly wonderful power." Suguru Geto tilted his head and winked at Yuta Okkotsu. His smile was warm and sincere, like a teacher praising his favorite student.
He released Yuta's hand and stepped half a pace back. His smile faded a little, replaced by a deeper, weightier seriousness. His voice was quiet, but each word seemed like a carefully polished pebble, dropped one by one into Yuta Okkotsu's ears.
"I believe great power should be used to achieve great things. Have you ever questioned the