Loid looked at Hasami with a bright yet serious expression.
"Aunt Hasami, from now on, you'll work with me and Mac."
Hasami blinked.
"…Work?"
I don't know why, she thought worriedly, but my hand moved on its own when he grabbed it.
Loid continued calmly.
"I'll explain it simply. Mac and I are doing business for someone. We sell his products to buyers, and he pays us. From now on—"
He smiled brightly.
"—you'll work with us too."
Hasami's eyes widened.
"Huh?! You're doing something like this without telling any of us? Do you even realize how risky this is for beggars?"
"That's exactly why we're beggars," Loid replied seriously.
"If we don't take risks, how will our lives ever improve? Aunt, don't you want to live well… with respect?"
Hasami lowered her head.
"Who doesn't want that…"
Then her expression hardened slightly.
"But that's not the point right now. This is dangerous—for you and for Mac. Now I understand why you two went to the streets… and how you got the bread. From now on, you're not allowed to go there anymore."
Loid's expression didn't change.
"I told you—you never got the chance to show your potential. Right now, I'm giving you that chance, and you're refusing it."
He grabbed her hand, his voice firm yet bright.
"If we succeed, we'll live a good, comfortable life. If we fail, we'll get beaten by guards and stay beggars. Either way, we don't have much to lose. Fate is giving you a chance. Take it. Don't let it slip."
Hasami looked at him deeply.
"Loid… you've changed so much that you don't even listen to me anymore."
"Aunt—"
Before he could finish, Hasami interrupted him.
"…Fine. I'll take your offer. You've become so mature that I don't even know if you're still the Loid I knew."
Loid paused, then smiled brightly.
"I promise you won't regret this decision."
Finally, he thought with relief. She agreed.
Hasami took a breath.
"So… what should I do?"
Loid explained everything clearly.
They were working for a hidden merchant who sold only high-quality goods.
They acted as salespeople.
For now, they were selling only salt.
He explained how the business worked and what risks were involved.
After listening, Hasami exhaled.
"So it's even riskier than I thought… but fine. Let's do it."
Then she looked at him seriously.
"But answer me one thing. Why did you choose me? You could've asked Mr. Roberto or Moneru."
Loid smiled.
"After seeing how you sensed danger and handled it, any businessman would want you. I do plan to involve them too—just not now."
Hasami's voice wavered.
"Loid… do you really think I can do this?"
"Yes," he replied immediately.
"Don't doubt yourself."
She smiled faintly.
"Alright. I'll try my best. When do we start?"
"Not now," Loid said, standing up.
"Tomorrow morning, we sell again. For now, we observe that shop."
Hasami frowned.
"Didn't you say you weren't feeling well?"
Loid answered flatly.
"Oh… I said that to stop you. And it worked."
"What?! Do you know how worried I was?" she snapped.
He smiled apologetically.
"Sorry. Let's go."
Hasami scolded him the whole way as they walked toward the shop.
I observed carefully.
Everything looked the same as before.
No obvious trouble.
No clear danger.
Yet, I felt uneasy.
I turned to Hasami.
"What did you notice?"
She answered seriously.
"I'm not sure if I'm right, but that man standing in the corner… he's watching everything closely. And that person talking to the shopkeeper—something about him feels suspicious. I don't know if my observation is correct."
I smiled.
"Aunt, I'm going to trust your judgment."
Women really do have sharp eyes, I thought. Let's trust her.
"Aunt Hasami," I said, "I need you to do something. Will you?"
After I explained the plan, she nodded firmly.
"Alright. I'll do it."
She walked into Dov Dakins' shop and spoke like a beggar.
"I haven't eaten in days. Can you give me something?"
Dov immediately waved her off.
"Leave. I don't have anything for you."
Hasami leaned closer and whispered something to him.
Dov's expression turned serious—
then returned to normal.
Hasami left and headed back toward Beggar's Alley.
When she met me near the entrance, she said,
"I did exactly what you told me. I also checked if anyone followed me."
I smiled.
"Good work."
She looked at me thoughtfully.
"When you do this business… I'll be with you. I won't take no for an answer."
"…Alright," I said with a small smile.
I handed her two loaves of bread.
"Hide these carefully. When you get the chance, give them to everyone and say we got them from that noble woman."
Her eyes widened.
"Bread? Where did you—"
"That's an unreasonable question," I said lightly.
"I told you I'm earning now. You should get used to it."
She laughed softly.
"Oh… right. I'll get used to it."
We returned to Beggar's Alley.
As time passed, the sun slowly set.
Roberto, Mac, and Moneru returned with only a little water in their hands. Their faces were downcast.
Moneru spoke sadly.
"We couldn't find any food to share. Sorry."
Mac looked disappointed but said nothing.
Roberto remained expressionless, though faint sadness showed.
Hasami quietly showed them the bread.
Lowering her voice, she shared it and repeated the story about the noble woman.
We ate the bread secretly, dividing it carefully.
Mac thought to himself, puzzled.
Where did this noble woman even come from…?
Night fell.
Everyone eventually fell asleep.
At midnight, I woke up.
Hasami was awake too.
Without a word, she followed me out of the alley.
The wind was cold.
Ahead of us stood a man with his face covered by a cloak.
We walked toward him.
When we reached him, I spoke quietly.
"Mr. Dakins… you came, just like I told you."