Daichi looked at him, eyes hardening. "Yeah… and maybe this is the way. There's no harm in trying. If we do this… maybe we can get the money we need for the treatments. For my brother… for yours too."

Haruya nodded. "Yeah… no harm at all. We'll try."

"You have his number, right? So call him," Haruya said.

"Hey, why me? You can call him too," Daichi muttered.

"Okay, fine. I'll call him," Haruya said, pulling out his phone. He scrolled through his contacts, found the one labeled Boss, and tapped it. The line started ringing.

"Hello, who is this?" Raito's calm, low voice came through.

"Boss… it's Haruya," he replied.

Raito's tone shifted slightly. "Oh. Haruya… why are you calling me?"

"Just wanted to ask you something," Haruya said.

"Alright… go ahead," Raito replied.

"When I woke up, I didn't really know what happened in that dungeon. But when I opened my eyes, I saw myself on the other side. And… people have been asking about you. About who you really are. It's like… the Alpha didn't even see your face, even though you cleared the dungeon," Haruya explained.

Raito's voice was calm, almost amused. "Yes, I cleared the dungeon. And I see… you didn't say a word. I hope I'm right?"

"Yes, boss. You're right. I… I'd like to meet you in person," Haruya said.

"Alright… and Daichi is there with you?" Raito asked.

"Yes, boss. He's here," Haruya confirmed.

"Fine. Meet me at the construction site near City Hall. Seven o'clock," Raito said, his voice precise, commanding.

"Understood, boss," Haruya replied, and ended the call.

After a while—while it was around 7—after a while, as it was 7, they reached the construction sites near the city hall.

Raito saw Rony and Fuji. Both of them came to him.

"Master! Boss!" Titan and Haruya said.

"Oh, you guys are already here. But why are you still wearing the same clothes you wore the time you came out? The time the media snapped you guys?" Raito said. "Wait here. I'm going to the mall to get something for you guys."

He didn't wait for their response. He turned and walked toward the mall, which was just near the construction site.

After about 20 minutes, he came back with two bags in his hands. He stretched one toward Titan and the other toward Haruya.

"Take this and find somewhere to change," Raito said.

"But boss… we're on the road. Let's go somewhere—maybe inside the construction site, which is just here," Haruya said.

Raito nodded. "Okay, fine. I'll wait here. You two go there and change."

After a while, they came out. Fuji had bought clothes for them too.

"You two… it was good you didn't tell anyone about me," Raito said. "And not only that—it isn't easy. It was better to escape the media. Not only that, if people saw you two talking to me, they might know I'm actually the one… the guy who cleared a dungeon that surpassed S-Rank. S-Rank capacity."

"Yes, boss," they said. "But boss… we want to tell you something." They lowered their voices.

Raito glanced at them. "Well?"

"Isn't it better if we go into the coffee shop that's just there?" Haruya asked.

"Okay, fine," Raito said.

They walked to the coffee shop and entered, hoodies covering their faces. Raito, Titan, and Haruya sat at the same table facing him.

A lady came to their table. "What do you guys want? Black coffee or sugar coffee?"

"Coffee with a lot of sugar for both of us," Haruya said. "Master, what do you want?"

"Black coffee. No sugar," Raito said.

The lady nodded and returned with their drinks, placing them on the table.

Haruya leaned forward, ready to speak.

Raito looked at him. "Alright… talk."

"Like we told you on the phone… we spoke to the Chairman of the Black Whale Association," Haruya said quietly. "He told us to tell you. He said he needs you to reveal yourself to him. And… he wants to meet you in person."

Raito's eyes narrowed. "Chairman Jinta, right? I see where this is going. So—tell me why you think I should reveal myself to him."

Haruya swallowed. "Boss… you won't understand, but I'm going to say it anyway."

Raito stayed silent.

"My parents died in an accident. And my brother… he was in the same car. He's been in a coma for years," Haruya said, voice shaking. "Daichi is the same. His mom died in a burning building trying to save him and his brother. His brother suffered severe burns… and he still hasn't woken up. He's still in treatment. And the money, the debt… it's too much."

He clenched his fists.

"But Chairman Jinta offered us a deal. He said he'd cover everything—our brothers' hospital bills, all the debt. And he said he'd give me about 15 million yen to Daichi."

Raito's expression darkened.

"Boss… please," Haruya whispered. "He just wants to meet you. But if you don't want him to see you… tell us. We won't force you."

Daichi and Haruya stared at him, tense, nervous.

Raito didn't speak for almost two minutes.

Then—

SLAM!

His hand hit the table.

"It's fine," Raito said. "He's giving you that money, right? Good. You two will take it. But I'm not joining his association."

His eyes sharpened, deadly calm.

"I can meet him. But if he ever reveals anything—to anyone… if he leaks to the news who I am… then he'll pay with his life."

A heavy, crushing pressure exploded from Raito, shaking the air.

"Y-yes! Yes, Boss!" Daichi and Haruya said instantly.

They reached for their phones—

"Stop."

Raito's voice froze them.

"Before that… take me to the hospital where your siblings are."

His tone was quiet, but terrifying.

Raito stood.

"But, Boss… why all of a sudden do you want to see our siblings?" Haruya asked cautiously.

Raito's voice was calm but heavy. "I just… want to know their condition. Is there a problem with that? If you don't want me to… just tell me, and I won't force it."

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