Edward Harris put down his briefcase, a polite smile appearing on his face. “Good morning.”

“Ah, it’s you.”

Mary Bennett naturally recognized Edward Harris. She had also graduated from Tokyo’s Takehara South Private Academy, and she’d known about Edward Harris moving into the apartment from the start. She’d even gone out of her way to greet him before graduation.

She just hadn’t expected this guy to repeat two years in a row at school. If he couldn’t graduate next year, he’d be asked to leave. Because of that, whenever she ran into him, she was afraid of hurting his self-esteem and felt awkward about greeting him first.

But today... the way he called out “Mai-senpai” was so cheerful and friendly, his smile open and natural, like a breath of fresh air. He was nothing like the gloomy, lifeless person she remembered.

Hmm... looking closely, this guy actually looks pretty sunny and handsome when he smiles.

Weird...

How did I never notice before?

She thought back to their chance encounter at Shibuya Station last night...

A smile appeared on Mary Bennett’s face as well. She greeted him, “Oh, it’s Mr. Harris. Good morning. You were really brave last night. Thanks to you, we caught that guy.”

She forced herself not to ask...

Why did you shove that thing in my face just now?

“Uh... it’s just what every enthusiastic citizen of New Tokyo should do. You all work hard too.” Edward Harris replied politely, then suddenly remembered the image of Charlotte he’d seen in his mind last night, and couldn’t help but ask, “That... female thief from last night, how is she? When will she be tried?”

Unexpectedly, at the mention of this, Mary Bennett immediately got angry and huffed, “We don’t have the authority to judge Celestials! Last night, the Celestial Government’s Adjudication Division made a scene all night. It was only because the captain insisted that we didn’t hand her over... but today, we’ll definitely have to.”

At this point, her voice lost its energy, and she looked defeated and powerless.

Edward Harris could understand. Which rookie in their line of work didn’t have some ambition and ideals?

But reality is reality.

The Celestial World Government had ruled this world for over a thousand years with overwhelming military might. Although in the past century, with the rise of powerful humans and the Celestial descendants’ own decadence and cruelty toward humans sparking countless allied rebellions, their rule was nowhere near as stable as before.

But a centipede dies but never falls down; the World Government was still a giant pressing down on all the allied nations.

Wano Country was one of the few allied nations that maintained relatively stable relations with the World Government, but unless things really fell apart, the Third Investigation Unit would definitely have to hand people over to the Adjudication Division under pressure.

According to past practice, Celestial criminals from noble families or with connections would be taken by the Adjudication Division for internal trial—which was a global joke, since most of them would just go through the motions and be bailed out.

“Hmph! That Celestial Cat girl must have some kind of background, otherwise those guys from the Adjudication Division wouldn’t be so eager.” Mary Bennett muttered in complaint.

You guessed wrong.

Edward Harris thought to himself.

He’d seen Charlotte’s image analysis last night—that mixed-blood airhead who couldn’t even tell if she was a Celestial Cat or Celestial Tiger, just a poor girl who’d hopped a train from Okinawa to New Tokyo to work. There was no way she had any background.

He was also a bit puzzled why the Adjudication Division would protect her, but it wasn’t his place to say, nor was it his responsibility.

So he just echoed Mary Bennett’s complaints and cursed the World Government’s Adjudication Division a few times—making Mary Bennett look at this newly refreshed, handsome underclassman with even more approval.

The two of them chatted as they walked down the hallway and out of the apartment. Mary Bennett was heading to the Metropolitan Police Department in Chuo Ward, which was on a different train line from Takehara South Private Academy, so they said their goodbyes at the entrance.

“Good luck, Mr. Harris! You can do it next year!”

Mary Bennett ran a few steps, then suddenly turned around and gave Edward Harris a strong fist pump.

In the morning light, the ponytailed girl’s face seemed to glow, soft and radiant, full of vibrant energy.

Edward Harris was stunned for a moment, feeling inexplicably uplifted. He smiled and said, “Thank you! You too, Mai-senpai!”

“Haha, I’m going to be late, so I’ll stop here. Bye!”

The girl turned and jogged away, her ponytail bouncing with each step, her silhouette in the sunlight brimming with vitality.

Edward Harris stood there for a while, when he suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind. A lazy voice sounded in his ear.

“Hey kid, my daughter’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Uh... she is pretty.

Edward Harris thought, but said aloud, “Good morning, Mr. Bennett. I’m off to school, see you!”

With that, he left without waiting for a response.

At the entrance, Walter Bennett, his hair a mess, scratched his crotch as he watched the boy’s back, a puzzled look on his face. “Weird, why does it feel like this kid’s getting sharper lately?”

......

After a few stops on the train, Edward Harris got off and walked a bit. After climbing a slope, the gate of Takehara South Private Academy gradually came into view.