"In search of someone?" Mr. Satoshi raised one eyebrow, then opened his arms and looked to the sides. "Is it me? Because, usually, this place has only me and some random customers. I don't remember their faces as I barely talk to them, though, so I won't be of any help if you want to know something about them."
The guard smiled faintly while leaning against the table. His eyes told him that he figured out Mr. Satoshi's game right away.
"So... are we really going to play in this way? That's not something I like much, Mr. Satoshi."
"What are you talking about? I can't understand you."
The way Satoshi narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms was assertive enough to the guard. Even if he was playing, it was better to clarify things to him.
The guard seemed to struggle to calm down, he also signalized to his man to stay where they were.
"We received many strange reports these days, you know? First of all, someone invaded the temple some weeks ago. We couldn't identify who he was because the bastard ran away. We didn't discover what he was doing there or what he intended to do. Now, the daimyo of our land is worried and paranoid. He won't feel safe until we get the culprit.
"Nonetheless, that's not all. We have reports of people saying that someone is using magic. Indeed, we found some traces of magic in certain parts of the city. One of these traces was very strong at a specific inn. The receptionist of this inn said that the only different thing she saw there was a particular guest of theirs that doesn't usually wear a mask and had a strange accent. Also, he never gives his surname when signing his check-in."
[A/N: daimyo is the name given to the feudal lords of Japan. Google it for more information]
As the guard explained the situation, he signaled with his hands for his partners to spread around. One of them leaned his back against the backdoor of the ramen place, the two others stood in front of the entrance, their backs were so large that they covered the small entrance entirely.
Mr. Satoshi followed them with his eyes, but was unfazed by what they did. He was not even shocked as he imagined that something of the sort would happen.
"So, let's compile all these points together. I am in a situation where I know that someone is using magic at different places in this city. Traces of magic were seen on the roof of the temple. The guard who spotted the invader saw him disappearing suddenly after a strong blue light blinded him. Then, I see these same traces near an inn where someone strange is checking in every day and doesn't use a surname. Finally, by chance, I discover that this guy works for you sometimes, if not every day.
"What am I inclined to think, Mr. Satoshi? Can you guess it?"
Mr. Satoshi shrugged. He understood the point, but he didn't want to admit it.
'That boy never said anything to me about magic', the old man thought. 'There is a high chance that they are just assuming things wrongly and the situation is helping to lead them this way. This, or Hayato has more secrets to hide from me than I expected.'
He sighed as he slowly grabbed a glass and filled it with water, then drank it slowly.
"Come on, Mr. Satoshi. I know you are an intelligent person. You are a businessman, after all."
"When it comes to cooking ramen, not investigating," he quipped.
The guard shook his head.
"Are you trying to make me lose time HERE?" he slapped the table's surface, making a loud sound.
Mr. Satoshi was still unfazed.
"Do you think you can intimidate me with this? That's the very first thing my customers do when they are trying to mess with me. I am used to it", he took another sip of his water, then gently put it on the table. He crossed his arms again. "What is your next try?"
The guard chuckled as if perplexed by Satoshi's attitude. That was not something you saw every day. His courage was something to brag about.
"Frankly, I am losing my patience with you, old man. You are a good cook and people seem to like you, except the ones you beat. That's why I will give you another chance. I am not a generous person. Actually, I would have started to play with you a long while ago if you weren't someone who deserved a little bit of respect. Please, use this last chance carefully."
The guard put his hand on the hilt of his katana, squeezing it tightly, he got up from the chair and gave a step backward.
Mr. Satoshi remained unfazed.
"Satoshi, do you know the person we want to interrogate or not? Answer and I won't need to resort to violence."
The old man seemed to give it some thought. He rubbed his chin with his right hand, then closed his eyes.
"You know, sir guard... All you said to me makes a lot of sense. In fact, I want to remain a respectable citizen, and that includes not only paying my taxes but also offering my help whenever I can, for the sake of our gentle daimyo. I have been living my life as this kind of citizen for a long while and it only brought me peace and plenty..."
He took his glass of water again, looked inside it, then drank it. He cleaned his throat, then looked to the entrance of his small ramen place for a moment.
"But, did I mention that... I am getting very old. I am prone to forget things easily, you know?" he gave the guard a malicious smile.
The guard frowned hard. He began to unsheath his katana at an unbelievable reaction speed. However, even with such speed, he barely had taken half of the blade out of the sheath before a voice echoed.
"Hey, excuse me, please! Sorry, guards, but I am really hungry, you know? But, hey, all respect for you guys!"
"But here is something I do remember, sir guard", Mr. Satoshi continued, still unfazed despite the threat in front of him. "The customers begin to arrive again at seven. One person, in particular, is very punctual about it. Right, young Sora?"
"Yeah! I am soooo hungry!" a young man wearing colorful clothes entered the place. He had a white mask, but fairly more detailed than those that the guards or Mr. Satoshi wore. The expression on the mask was cheerful, maybe devilish depending on the perspective.
The moment he passed by the guard, the latter sheathed his katana again and lowered his head.
"It's good having you here every day, Sora. One of the most influential merchants of this land, I should say."
"Don't mention it. I don't like receiving compliments, old man. I don't know how to react to them. But you can go on, though. You can do it, you are Satoshi, after all, yeah. Ah, by the way, what's with all these guards? I didn't know they came here to eat, too. Let's all eat together, what about it?"
The guard politely bowed to Sora, then sighed.
"Unfortunately, sir Sora, we are already leaving. We just ate. This ramen is as good as people say."
"It is, isn't it? I myself bring the pasta they use for the noodles. Talk shit about their ramen and you are shitting my products, which are always of the highest quality. You better spread the good word about his food, at least the noodles. The meat is not mine, you know? Neither are the spices. So, no problem badmouthing them."
The guard nodded, not really interested in what he was saying. Before leaving, he cast a furious glance at Mr. Satoshi, who just shrugged again, as if saying "What can I do? I am old". That seemed to be his excuse for everything.
The group of guards left the ramen place and went down the street.
"Thank you for that, Sora", Mr. Satoshi bowed to him.
"I don't know what I did, but it certainly won't be for free, yeah! So, you better give me free ramen for one week."
The old man glared at him.
"I won't give a single penny of discount, let alone give you them for free! If you are not satisfied, you can take that guard back here again."
"Hmph, you cheapskate. But I like this side of yours, it's a businessman thing. These days I did the same with a friend of mine. We must keep an eye on our profits and losses, you know? Free is bad because it's only loss. Cheap is bad because it's not enough..."
"And expensive is bad because nobody wants to buy, so it's loss again. I know, I know. You say it all the time. By the way, come here, Hayato! Why are you taking so long!? We have hungry clients coming!"
Hayato slowly opened the backdoor. He looked at Mr. Satoshi with a shocked face.
"What did just happen here?"
"I tell you later. Now, cut that damn meat! Sora is as thin as a stick, but eats more than an elephant."