"Hey, Mr. Ryoma, you're being a bit too blunt."
The leader of the debtor alliance stepped forward with a sneer on his face. "Clearly, it's that deadbeat who hasn't paid his debts, leaving us no choice but to consider taking over the arcade as collateral."
"I just didn't expect that gambling-addicted loser to have such a close relationship with a genius who's created all these miraculous gambling machines."
"It makes me curious whether there's a more complicated story behind it."
"But at the very least, I think that owner named Natsuhiko wouldn't mind helping his lover pay off their gambling debt, would he?"
The other creditors nodded in agreement:
"Yeah, we're the righteous ones here."
"Debts must be repaid; it's only fair."
Ryoma watched their jeering with indifference, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
The truth was, their rationale was merely a flimsy excuse, given that they had seen Tsunade and the mysterious arcade owner frequently together over the past few days, disappearing into the woods at night. That's why they assumed there was something between them.
Although Ryoma doubted things were as they imagined, he had no intention of correcting them.
In the end, they just coveted the lucrative arcade, and their so-called reasons were nothing more than a thin cover for their greed.
As long as his goals were achieved, he didn't care what pretexts these people used.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Ryoma, you're truly a blessing for us."
The leader of the creditors continued, "If you hadn't informed us, we wouldn't have known about this arcade that's sure to change the gambling scene."
It turned out that Ryoma initially approached them intending to buy Tsunade's IOUs at a low price.
They had been roughed up by Tsunade recently, so they were tempted by Ryoma's proposal but stalled for a few days to haggle.
Unexpectedly, Ryoma returned a few days later with news of the arcade and a brand-new plan...
This made the leader of the creditors feel a bit doubtful.
"But Mr. Ryoma… Although I don't know much about ninjas, since the arcade owner might be the one who created those machines, he must have considerable skills, right?"
"Plus, with that strong-armed gambling addict, are we really confident we can take over the arcade?"
The other creditors also fell silent, their smiles fading as they looked toward Ryoma.
Ryoma was well-prepared for their questions.
"Rest assured," he said slowly, "the technology to make those machines has nothing to do with ninja abilities, just as a blacksmith who forges weapons isn't necessarily skilled at using them."
"So, even if that young owner did make the machines, it doesn't mean he's particularly formidable."
"As for the other one, I've already arranged a countermeasure for you."
"And just in case, I've also hired a very skilled bounty hunter to help out, so there's no need to worry—just stick to the plan."
"But… you'll need to cover the bounty hunter's fee."
The leader of the creditors rubbed his hands together, smiling.
"Of course, Mr. Ryoma. You've already done so much for us; how could we let you spend another penny?"
"But about that arcade owner..."
Ryoma glanced at him and said coolly, "If you want him, you can have him."
As soon as he spoke, cheers erupted in the cave.
After all, they all understood that while the arcade was valuable, the real treasure was the owner who could continuously produce more machines.
If they could control him, they might be able to expand their influence beyond the district and even redefine the rules of the gambling world.
The thought made them all smile with ambitious visions, and they looked at Ryoma with gratitude.
Mr. Ryoma was such a great guy, putting in so much effort and only asking for a few machines in return.
Little did they know, Ryoma was inwardly sneering at their joy.
While he wasn't lying about handing over the owner named Natsuhiko, the "owner" they'd receive would most likely be a cold, lifeless corpse.
Though Ryoma had no particular characteristics besides a love for money, his life as a bounty hunter had instilled a tendency toward violence whenever problems arose.
The appearance of Natsuhiko had introduced too many variables to his plan to fleece the "fat sheep." Even if he took over the arcade, he couldn't completely prevent Natsuhiko from building new machines elsewhere.
The only permanent solution was to make both the machines and Natsuhiko disappear from this world.
Indeed, that was Ryoma's true plan all along.
From the very beginning, he never intended to hand over Natsuhiko or the arcade intact to this bunch of fools…
…
Time quickly approached noon. The sun hung high in the sky, and the temperature had risen considerably.
The arcade, inside and out, was bustling as always, like a festive celebration.
For most gamblers, the opening of the arcade was indeed like a holiday.
But soon, an unsettling disturbance arose.
The sound of dense, heavy footsteps drew closer, making the ground tremble slightly.
"Look over there!"
Someone shouted, and the people outside the arcade instinctively turned toward the noise, their faces soon showing signs of fear.
A large group of armed, menacing individuals was approaching, each wearing an expression that suggested trouble was imminent.
"This is the East City Association's business. Anyone unrelated, leave immediately."
The thugs at the front brandished their weapons, loudly clearing the area.
The gamblers and merchants, realizing the danger, backed away without protest, leaving the space.
Yet, they soon regrouped at a distance, forming a new crowd of eager spectators.
Some merchants even began selling snacks, clearly expecting a show.
Meanwhile, the commotion outside drew the attention of those gambling inside, and they all stepped out to see what was going on.
Though the sight of the aggressive gangsters startled them, none left the arcade.
After all, this was their newfound haven; they wouldn't let some lowlife gangsters defile it.
And more importantly, the arcade was already surrounded...
"What's going on out there? Make way so I can see."
At that moment, Tsunade's impatient voice came from inside the arcade.
Obviously, the ruckus had caught her attention as well, but at only 163 cm tall, she couldn't see over the crowd.
Fortunately, nobody dared to offend the fierce woman who roamed the arcade, and they quickly made way for her.
Feeling somewhat smug at receiving different treatment than usual, Tsunade thought to herself that instilling fear was far better than being popular.
But as she swaggered to the entrance, she suddenly regretted her earlier confidence.
She quickly recognized many familiar faces among the gang now surrounding the arcade…
Weren't these the same creditors and their lackeys she had driven away before?
What were they doing here?
With no escape route as the gamblers behind her filled the entrance again, Tsunade found herself trapped.
Despite her frustration, she put on a defiant front.
"Why is it you again? Can't get rid of you pests, huh? Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
The way she spoke made it sound like they owed her money instead.
Unsurprisingly, her attitude reminded the creditors of their previous, unsuccessful debt collection attempts, prompting them to scold her.
"You youngsters are too hot-headed. Last time, we underestimated you, but this time, you'll pay the price."
"I've never seen someone so shameless—owing money and still acting so arrogant."
Their words made the onlookers exchange curious glances and start whispering among themselves.
"So, all this fuss is over collecting a debt…"
"Just how much does that gambling goddess owe them?"
"But isn't she supposed to be really skilled? How did she rack up so much debt…"
The surprised looks from the crowd made Tsunade feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.
After all, she was Tsunade, a member of the Senju Clan, bearing its honor.
Last time, she could act arrogantly because no one else was around, but now, with so many witnesses knowing she was a debtor, even her thick skin couldn't hide her shame.
She was also growing increasingly irritated.
After all, Tsunade had only recently managed to make a name for herself in this arcade, shedding her reputation as an easy mark and becoming a revered "goddess of gambling."
She hadn't expected these guys to expose her history so thoroughly the moment they showed up.
Normally, Tsunade would have already resorted to a physical approach to persuade them.
However, she didn't want her own affairs to affect the arcade's business, so she restrained herself and said, "Isn't it just a little bit of money I owe you? I'll pay you back."
"But this place is open for business; what are you doing blocking the entrance?"
"If you want me to repay the money, let's discuss it somewhere else."
Yes, Tsunade's solution was simple—repayment.
Upon making this decision, she felt a wave of emotion, surprised that she would one day willingly offer to pay back a debt.
Indeed, if money can solve a problem, then it's not really a problem.
The real issue is whether you have the money...
And having earned quite a bit in the arcade recently, Tsunade felt a newfound confidence.
Of course, considering the high-interest debt she had put off for so many days, the amount, principal plus interest, was so large that even all her earnings wouldn't cover it.
So, she only intended to repay the principal and then rely on her skills to make them back off and stop pestering her.
The creditors on the other side looked at each other in surprise after hearing Tsunade's words, caught off guard.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
The infamous easy mark actually said she would pay back the money!?
This wasn't in the script!
As they hesitated, unsure of how to proceed, the leader of the creditors stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone, stay vigilant. You're saying nice things now, but how do we know you won't just run off?"
"This kind of thing has happened before."
"Yeah, yeah, last time you said you were going to the inn to get the money, and then you just disappeared!"
The other creditors chimed in quickly.
Tsunade showed a look of deep remorse.
What had happened to society? Just because she had dodged her debts a few... dozens of times, did that really make her so untrustworthy?
(End of chapter)