After reaching Munkan and his colleagues on the first floor, San quickly told them what had happened downstairs.

  They all seemed unsettled, just as uncertain as he was.

  Still, Munkan decided they should go down together to investigate.

  When they arrived at the storage room, they found it partially destroyed.

  But the two guardians were gone.

  Munkan wasn’t sure whether to believe San’s story, so he sent him to the third floor for the rest of the night.

  There, San recounted everything to the others.

  They, too, found it hard to believe.

  The night passed, and as the first rays of sunlight reached the city, Munkan and his colleagues realized that—once again—nothing had been stolen.

  Even in the wrecked storage room, everything was still there, albeit damaged.

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  With that, Munkan dismissed them back to the garrison and set to work cleaning up the mess himself.

  On the way back, San couldn’t think of anything else but how everyone must see him as crazy now.

  Maybe they were right.

  Maybe he had imagined the figure.

  But he was certain that the two guardians were real.

  Even if he was the only one who believed it.

  Until they arrived at the garrison.

  Because standing at the entrance, waiting for him, was the Calculator.

  As they got closer, he spoke.

  "You all can go ahead.

  I just need a quick word with your friend here."

  He pointed at San.

  The others exchanged surprised glances but quickly moved along onto the grounds.

  The Calculator looked at San with a grim expression.

  San was still afraid—but not as much as during their first encounter.

  "I'm here to collect your debt."

  "My debt?"

  "Yes!

  For saving you from that lunatic, you owe me!"

  "And what exactly do you have in mind?"

  For a moment, the two locked eyes in a dark, silent exchange.

  "100 coins."

  "Whaaaat?"

  "100 coins.

  Not a single one more or less."

  San had never expected this.

  His rescue had just been invoiced.

  "Can’t pay?" the Calculator asked, slowly tensing up.

  "I can!

  I can!

  Here!"

  San flinched and quickly fumbled for his money.

  Luckily, he had 115 coins on him—just in case.

  He had never been so happy to have a little extra cash.

  He handed over the money, and the Calculator relaxed.

  "Good. Glad we understand each other," he said before turning and heading back into the city.

  San watched him go for a brief moment before realizing—

  He still had to report to Funo.