The man's gaze pierced through San like a beam of light.

  A light searching for answers.

  "Get lost!" he said sternly.

  "Wha... What?"

  "I SAID: GET LOST!" he shouted this time.

  It felt as if his shout had kicked up a small cloud of dust.

  "Who are you, and what do you want from us?"

  San's comrades had returned after hearing the madman's yell.

  The man turned casually toward them.

  He examined them carefully.

  "You really haven’t heard of me?" he asked, now sounding curious.

  "Uh… No?

  Should we know you?"

  A manic grin spread across his face.

  From San’s angle, he could just barely see that something was written on the man's teeth before he closed his mouth again.

  Had he drawn something on his teeth?

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  The man let go of him, and San quickly ran back to the others.

  The lunatic now gave them a polite bow and formally introduced himself.

  "My name isn’t important to most.

  But those who know me, or have heard of me, call me:

  The Calculator."

  "The Calculator?" they all repeated in unison.

  "The Guardian of the Ministry of Finance?"

  "The very same."

  "Oh my god, we had no idea!"

  "It’s fine, I also mistook you for a client.

  So forgive my rough behavior earlier!"

  "No, no, it’s all good.

  We should be the ones apologizing!"

  They awkwardly tried to apologize to each other when suddenly—

  "Oh! That reminds me...

  Funo asked me to send you to him.

  Apparently, he has your first assignment."

  "Wait, weren’t we supposed to have the day off?"

  "Well, yes, but as recruits of Kasaka, you always need to be ready.

  Funo won’t admit it, but he actually feels bad about pulling you out of your free time.

  He hates working, you know?

  If it were up to him, he’d rule over the most peaceful city in the world,

  just so he wouldn’t have to do anything.

  ...Anyway, you need to go to him."

  The others nodded silently, and they all went their separate ways.

  As San and the others walked back to the garrison, they continued talking about their encounter.

  "Was that really the Calculator?"

  "I think so.

  He was absolutely terrifying when he grabbed San."

  "Did he hurt you?"

  "No, I’m fine.

  But for a moment, I really thought he was going to attack me."

  "I never expected him to have such a split personality."

  "Me neither.

  Especially not after everything people say about him."

  "Like what?"

  "Wait, you’ve never heard?

  They say he’s the Finance Minister’s bloodhound.

  He hunts down every debtor in the country...

  and ‘eases’ their debt and taxes."

  They kept talking about their bizarre encounter until they finally reached the garrison.

  Meanwhile, elsewhere in Kunkan...

  The Calculator grumbled to himself as he continued his mission through the streets.

  ‘Damn recruits!

  They don’t know a damn thing!

  Saying they didn’t recognize me.

  They were just too scared to admit it!

  Damn amateurs!’