Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World

"Call the police?"

Sonoko was taken aback—clearly, she hadn't even considered that option.

"But those guys—"

"Suzuki, take a good look at them."

"Look closely. Doesn't their appearance remind you of something from the recent news?"

"Huh?"

At Ren's prompt, Sonoko focused on the three men.

Two of them were foreigners, while the third was a Japanese man with a mustache.

It was an odd combination.

And considering their shifty behavior, they definitely looked like criminals.

That's when it clicked.

Ren's reminder jogged her memory.

"The Italian robber gang?"

Her eyelids twitched violently.

Her entire expression screamed Are you kidding me?

"How does that guy manage to run into stuff like this every time he steps outside?"

"If we call the police, wouldn't those kids be in danger?"

"Then tell me, Suzuki—why do you think those robbers are here in Japan in the first place?"

"Because… the Maple Leaf Gold Coins."

"Exactly."

Now, she understood why Ren had insisted on calling the police.

The leader of the Italian robbers had been taken down by law enforcement, and now his remaining men were searching for the Maple Leaf Gold Coins he had hidden.

And judging by the situation—

That hidden stash was probably in Shinichi's hands.

Otherwise, those criminals wouldn't be following him so closely.

If Shinichi and the kids didn't return the note they had found, they'd be fine.

But once the robbers made their move, things could escalate fast.

In this situation, reporting them to the police was the safest option.

"Unbelievable. I can't believe I ran into Shinichi while out on a date."

"Yeah, I'd say this is quite the fateful encounter."

"Fate? Amamiya, are you sure this isn't just bad luck?"

Ren was silent for a moment.

"Suzuki-san, hold out your hand. I'll show you a magic trick."

Sonoko, though confused, complied.

Ren tapped her palm with his index finger—

And a gold coin with a maple leaf engraving appeared in her hand.

"???"

For a few seconds, Sonoko just stared at the coin in disbelief.

Then, she examined it carefully.

It was real.

It was definitely a Maple Leaf Gold Coin, the same type the robber gang was after.

She glanced at Shinichi, who was still scratching his head on the street, then at the three men lurking in the alley.

After a brief silence, she suddenly burst into laughter.

"So that's why you said it's fate."

"They're all gathered here because of you."

She had to admit—this was fate, in a way.

"By the way, how did you find the gold coins?"

"Do you have some special ability that lets you locate them in advance?"

"I do."

"Huh? Wait, seriously?"

Sonoko had been asking casually, but Ren admitted it so easily that she was momentarily thrown off.

After a short pause, she pondered something.

"Amamiya, do you have a way to handle these Maple Leaf Gold Coins?"

"Not really."

He understood what she was implying but still had some reservations.

"Wouldn't dealing with them be a problem?"

"It's not a big deal."

"My family's assets are massive. A few Maple Leaf Gold Coins won't make a difference."

"Besides, we already own a collection of them."

"If we just add these to our existing stockpile, no one would ever suspect a thing."

Sonoko wasn't concerned in the slightest.

Even if the 15,000 coins weren't obtained through entirely legal means, it wouldn't impact her family at all.

For most people, 600 million yen was an enormous sum—

But for the Suzuki family, it was pocket change.

So, she wasn't worried about where the coins came from.

"But what I do want to know is how you collected them in the first place."

"That's a fair question."

Trading information on the coin distribution network for insight into his own abilities—

Not exactly an equal exchange, but Sonoko clearly wasn't trying to exploit him.

More than anything, she was curious about how he found them.

"Eh? You'll actually tell me?"

Sonoko hadn't expected him to agree so easily.

"If it's just some of my methods, I don't mind sharing."

"But my abilities are also my trump card."

"There are limits to what I can reveal."

"That's fine."

Sonoko knew better than to push.

After all, she hadn't even received a diary yet.

Some things had to be taken one step at a time.

Ren gestured toward the street.

"But for now, we should focus on dealing with Shinichi's situation."

They had to act fast, if those robbers made a move, it could turn into a serious problem.

With his blue eyes, Ren could clearly see the guns hidden at the waists of the three men.

That was another reason to call the police immediately.

Otherwise, if a reckless officer confronted them without knowing the full situation, things could end in tragedy.

"That guy is always trouble."

Sonoko was beyond exasperated.

But even if she was annoyed, they couldn't just ignore the situation and let things spiral out of control.

So, the two of them left the family restaurant, stepped into a nearby phone booth, and called the police.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. How can I assist you?"

"I just saw a Japanese man and two foreign men targeting a group of four children on the street."

"They resemble members of the Italian robber gang."

"!?"

The operator's tone immediately shifted.

"They seem to be focused on a piece of paper the children are holding."

"I couldn't see what's written on it, but I suspect it might be related to the 15,000 Maple Leaf Gold Coins."

Those coins had never been recovered.

The operator clearly understood the significance of this report.

"In addition—"

"When I observed them earlier, I noticed something bulging under their jackets."

"I caught a metallic reflection, it looked like a weapon."

"!?"

The operator's breathing hitched slightly.

"Are you certain?"

"I can't be certain."

"I'm just a passerby, how could I get close enough to confirm?"

"But whether I'm right or not, I believe the police should assume the worst-case scenario."

The operator took a deep breath.

It was a necessary precaution.

If these men were indeed from the Italian robber gang, then the likelihood of them being armed was extremely high.

"Understood. We'll proceed with extreme caution."

"So, I suggest that officers approach them carefully and attempt to take them down in one swift move."

"If any of the robbers realize they've been exposed, every civilian on the street could become a target."

The operator processed the situation quickly.

"Thank you for your report."

"Can you tell me the suspects' current location?"

"They're in the alley opposite Makino Family Restaurant on the commercial street beneath Tokyo Tower."

***

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