"It looks like you have not learned your lesson about when you should and shouldn’t speak. Hey, take them to prison now."

Hands reached for them, pulling them in different directions.

"Let’s comply with these people for now."

Madam Yao smiled back at Rin. Rin did not even have time to feel betrayed before he was locked behind bars.

That was how Rin ended up alone in a cell.

"Ugh, how long am I going to be stuck here for? Until Shelly or Albus decide to break me out?"

Rin questioned, but got no answer.

"Well, should I try breaking out of here?"

"I wouldn’t advise it if I were you. We have invested a lot in defense, so all you’ll accomplish is exhausting yourself if you try to break free. However, since you want to meet our boss, I can comply with your request for once and show you the way. What do you think?"

Red eyes, black hair, and a familiar attitude. The figure standing in front of Rin looked so familiar that he could not help gasping in surprise.

"You are...Serena?"

It was hard to connect the small child from his memories to the tough-looking girl standing in front of him now. But there was no denying that this was Serena.

"So you remember me as well? I don’t usually remember people, but you left a strong enough impression on me."

It was...somehow surprising to run into Serena like this. Somehow, Rin had expected her to already be part of Albus’s group when they met again.

"The advice you gave me helped a lot. Even if no one else survived, they were able to fight until the end. That was all I wanted for them."

So...things had not worked out? But since Serena did not look too disappointed, it was not something Rin should feel guilty about.

[Some canon events cannot be changed because they are directly connected to a person’s character development. Please be cautious, Rookie.]

Of course Rin knew that. That was why he had pushed for Shelly to have the same start as in the original novel.

"I told the boss about you, and she’s been interested in you ever since. Madam Yao as well because of her...abilities. Just, don’t be too startled when you meet her later."

Serena warned him before silence filled Rin’s cell once more.

...

"I am here to take you to the boss."

Serena returned at the end of the day and took Rin and Madam Yao to another building not too far away.

Rin looked around to judge how quickly he could blow this place apart if he needed to, and the answer was—not long.

It would be a risk worth taking if things came to that. Rin would blow this place apart to rescue his people.

"Let’s keep blowing people up as a last resort. We are not here to make enemies, remember?"

Madam Yao reminded Rin, and he nodded, keeping his ambitions under control.

"We are here. Please try to keep an open mind."

Was Rin mistaken, or did Madam Yao look a little uncomfortable? It was certainly Rin’s first time seeing her make such an expression.

"Madam-"

"Call me sir today. Don’t you understand I’m in that kind of mood? Aren’t young people all about pronouns these days anyway?"

The gunshot was followed by the appearance of the smallest, angriest adult Rin had ever seen.

The person barely reached Rin’s chest, but they carried an overwhelmingly powerful aura.

"Boss, we have Madam Yao and Rin here. You said you wanted to see them before."

Serena called out to the elder standing in front of them, and the wizened old lady’s eyes widened into a half-smile.

"Ah yes, come on in. I didn’t expect you to visit me so soon. Now then, shall we continue this discussion inside?"

The elderly person opened the door and led everyone into the office.

It was a well-lit room, but it was nothing compared to the office Rin had in his settlement. Still, the seat was comfortable.

"So, did my girls treat you nicely? I heard you all received help at gunpoint? Ah, those must have been fun times. I remember moments just as thrilling from when I was younger."

"Madam, you were a politician."

"Tsk, I told you I was Sir today. Can’t you young people do your young people thing and address me the way I want to be addressed?"

The old...person was easily distracted, so Rin decided to grab their attention before things became any more chaotic.

"Sir, thank you for giving us a chance to speak with you. Madam Yao believed you would be able to help us."

Rin selected his words carefully, and the elder seemed more delighted with every word.

"Oh! What did the young lady say about me? I would love to hear all about it. You don’t have to be shy, kid. Tell me everything. This old man promises to help you."

"Boss, please don’t make promises before you hear the other party out fully. What if they decide to take advantage of your generosity?"

The old boss’s caretaker asked worriedly, but the elder only laughed.

"It will be fine. Since our Serena is here, I will be fine. And after speaking with these people, I believe we can trust them. So you can release the others as well."

This was the best news Rin had received all day, and he immediately felt the tension draining from his body.

It did not take long to free Albus and Reina. However, the area around Shelly’s prison resembled a dog-fighting ring.

It was a miracle that the walls were still standing. But they looked dangerously strained.

The guards looked delighted to see them arrive and immediately fell at Serena’s feet.

"You...where do you think you’re going? Won’t you play with me? Or just tell me where you took Rin, and I’ll forgive you."

Shelly’s voice sounded shy and dangerous at the same time, making even Albus shiver as he remembered just how terrifying Shelly could be.