The sound of the door opening startled the girl behind the counter.
Marechiyo Ōmaeda Kiyo looked up at the man in white restraints standing in the doorway.
"Welcome. What can I get for you?"
Sōya Azashiro did not look at the shelves. He simply set a heavy wooden chest on the counter.
"I've come to repay a debt."
Kiyo froze for a moment.
Sōya Azashiro opened the chest. Inside were neatly arranged stacks of gold notes and an old contract that had already yellowed.
"Two hundred years ago, your Ōmaeda family supplied the 11th Division with a shipment of provisions. That operation resulted in heavy casualties, but the compensation promised to your family was put on hold because I was imprisoned."
He pushed the old contract toward Kiyo.
"The principal and two hundred years of interest are all here."
Kiyo picked up the contract and carefully checked the family crest on it.
Just then, someone shoved the shop door open.
"Kiyo, get away from him!"
Marechiyo Ōmaeda squeezed into the shop, still clutching half a rice cracker. He shielded his younger sister and swiftly drew Gegetsuburi.
"Sōya Azashiro, how dare you come into my family's shop!"
"Lieutenant of the Second Division."
Sōya Azashiro glanced at him.
"Judging by your reiatsu, judgment, and physique, you are unsuited to the Stealth Force in every respect. Soi Fon probably appointed you lieutenant because of the funding the Ōmaeda family provides."
Ōmaeda's face instantly flushed red.
"What did you say?"
"I'm merely stating the facts."
"My brother didn't get where he is because of our family!"
Kiyo suddenly stepped out from behind him.
She glared fearlessly at Sōya Azashiro.
"My brother does eat too much, he isn't handsome, and he often slacks off, but he became a lieutenant because he has the ability to