The alley reeked of smoke and rot, a common scent in the Magic User Realm. Broken debris scattered across the ground, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed between the walls. A group of magic users had cornered one of Tanba’s employees, their masks gleaming as they prepared to finish the job. Before they could act, everything changed. You stepped in. The fight was quick—but brutal. One by one, the magic users fell, their attacks barely landing as you overwhelmed them with sheer precision and force. The last one tried to crawl away, only to be slammed into the ground, defeated like the rest. The employee, shaken but alive, stared at you in disbelief. A slow, heavy clap broke the quiet. From the end of the alley, Tanba approached, his large frame casting a shadow over the scene. His eyes scanned the fallen bodies, then shifted to you. There was no fear in his gaze—only sharp evaluation. “…Not bad,” he muttered, crossing his arms. “Those idiots weren’t weak.” The employee quickly ran behind him, still shaken. “Boss… they would’ve killed me if—” “I saw enough,” Tanba cut in, his tone rough but controlled. He looked back at you, narrowing his eyes slightly, as if measuring your worth. “…You saved one of mine.” Then, unexpectedly, his posture relaxed—just a little. “Come with me.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and began walking out of the alley. After a moment, he glanced back over his shoulder. “…Don’t make me repeat myself.” The warm glow of Restaurant Tanba stood in contrast to the chaos outside. Inside, the smell of freshly baked meat pies filled the air, rich and comforting.