Returning to familiar ground, beneath the same toilet, with the same Old Eight...
Oh, the man in charge of this Underground Bounty Station called himself Old Eight and said he enjoyed eating meat-stuffed flatbread made with a secret recipe.
Shinji had not dared ask any more, afraid he might be invited to join him.
"The restroom upstairs has been rebuilt pretty nicely. That was fast. But does anyone really come all the way out here into the wilderness?"
In no hurry to make the transaction, Shinji started with a little idle chatter.
Old Eight raised his eyelids. "Aren't you people? Besides, how many of the people who come here are actually here to relieve themselves?"
Shinji thought about it. Fair enough.
The form did not matter at all. What mattered was the substance.
Otherwise, even if they built a palace up there, no one would come.
"You don't seem at all surprised to see us back?"
Old Eight thought, How could I not be surprised!
He had simply received the news earlier and had already gotten over his surprise.
He had never expected Shinji and the others to actually deal with the monsters occupying Black Mountain so cleanly and decisively.
Several Elite Ninja had already been lost there, which showed just how dangerous it was!
But he would not say any of that. Instead, he gave a mysterious smile. "With Demon God Akagi personally taking action, dealing with a mere Black Mountain was bound to be a breeze. What's there to be surprised about?"
"Nicely done. Subtle, unobtrusive flattery. I like it. Keep up the good work next time."
Shinji laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.
Old Eight did not mind. Instead, he showed his merchant's mercenary face. "At this point, you might as well bring out the