Tokyo Knights: The Odd Jobs X Files

Of course, it's not that the coffee shop has never had any customers since it reopened. When it first opened, there were still many customers, but they left quickly after visiting once.

Is it a problem with the coffee? But I clearly brewed it according to the recipe the landlord left behind. Even the landlord said it was almost identical to hers after tasting it. That's why the landlord felt comfortable handing over the coffee shop to him.

If it's not a problem with the coffee, then what is it?

Hayato Ijuin stroked his chin, utterly terrified.

Hearing the wind chimes at the door, Hayato Ijuin jumped up, immediately put on a friendly expression, and smiled, saying, "Welcome, Hikaru... Oh, it's you!"

Before he could even finish saying "Welcome," Hayato Ijuin's face fell, because he already knew who was entering the coffee shop from the sound of their footsteps.

"Haha, Sea Monster, I heard from Makimura that you opened a coffee shop. I didn't really believe it before, but now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I have no choice but to believe it!"

With a smug grin, Ryo Saeba walked to the bar, rested his elbow on it, and said to Hayato Ijuin with a grin, "Speaking of which, your bald head and apron actually suit you quite well!"

A dark, gaping "RPG" was pressed against Yaoyu Liao's face. Yaoyu Liao immediately raised his hands and said sullenly, "Just kidding, sea monster, you can't take a joke!"

Like Ryo Saeba, the new manager of Cat's Eye Cafe, Hayato Ijuin, was once a mercenary before becoming a city cleaner. Because of his tall stature and bald head, Ryo Saeba jokingly calls him "Umibozu," which is a bald sea monster in Japanese legend.

Hayato Ijuin put down his RPG and said in a very rude tone, "You're not welcome here, get out!"

Yao Yu Liao shamelessly retorted, "No way! Sea monster, is this how you treat your customers? No wonder you don't have much business!"

"If you can come up with 500 yen, I'll treat you as a guest."

Hayato Ijuin said coldly.

Ryo Saeba gave an embarrassed smile, clearly unable to even come up with five hundred yen.

Hayato Ijuin shook his head and sighed, "Makimura is really unlucky to have a partner like you..."

Ya Yu Liao shook his head and said, "No, no, no, being able to partner with a handsome, dashing, and universally loved guy like me is a blessing he has accumulated over eight lifetimes!"

Hayato Ijuin sneered, too lazy to pay any attention to that shameless guy, Ryo Saeba.

After a moment of silence, Hayato Ijuin suddenly remembered something and asked Ryo Saeba, "Ryo, can I ask you something? Why are there so few customers at my café? I've investigated, and this café used to be very popular..."

Although Hayato Ijuin had considerable savings and wouldn't starve even without customers, this was undoubtedly a huge blow to his desire to retire and live a normal life.

"You said it yourself, it was in the past! I heard the former manager of this coffee shop was a super beauty, and the staff were her two sisters—three beauties! How could they compare to a bald monster like you? Of course, you look so mature and reliable, and you're tall and imposing, maybe some beautiful policewoman will like your appearance and come to your shop to patronize your business... Okay, can you put the 'RPG' down now? If this thing goes off, I don't care if I die, but your coffee shop will be doomed too! I'm begging you!"

"Ya Yu Liao begged for mercy."

Hayato Ijuin put down the RPG, not because he was being lenient with Ryo Saeba, but because Ryo Saeba was right about one thing: firing an RPG here would damage the café, and he had promised the landlord he would take good care of the place.

The wind chimes rang again. Hayato Ijuin and Ryo Saeba looked towards the door. Ryo Saeba whistled and said, "I told you a beautiful policewoman would come to our door. Saeko, long time no see. Let's have some fun!"

Kicking away the lunging Ryo Saeko, Nogami Saeko sat at the bar and greeted Hayato Ijuin, "'Umibozu,' it's been a long time."

"Saeko, it's been a long time."

Hayato Ijuin asked Saeko Nogami, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"OK, thanks."

Nogami Saeko smiled and nodded.

Ryo Saeba leaned closer and said in a resentful tone, "It's not fair. You give Saeko coffee, but you don't even know how to treat me!"

“Saeko will pay, you won’t.”

Ijuin Hayato said coldly.

Given his friendship with Ryo Saeba, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to treat Ryo Saeba to a free meal, but that guy is too cheeky and always making jokes, so Hayato Ijuin wouldn't give him a free meal.

Saeko Nogami smiled at the two of them. Hayato Ijuin started making coffee and asked Saeko, "Saeko, what brings you here? You're not here to patronize my business, are you?"

"if not?"

Saeko Nogami smiled and said.

Hayato Ijuin looked noncommittal, while Saeko Nogami shrugged and said, "Well, I actually had an appointment here to discuss something."

"Meeting here?"

"Yes, he was a regular here, well, I mean before the coffee shop was sold."

Saeko Nogami explained.

Upon hearing this, Hayato Ijuin was immediately filled with intense fighting spirit.

When that guest arrives, I will definitely, absolutely make him coffee that he will rave about!

Hayato Ijuin skillfully brewed the coffee, and Saeko Nogami smelled it and immediately exclaimed, "What fragrant coffee! 'Umibozu,' I never knew you had such skills!"

Hearing Saeko Nogami's praise, Hayato Ijuin raised his head high, but Ryo Saeba immediately chimed in, "No matter how good the coffee is, with that face of his, no customer would dare to come in!"

These words immediately caused Hayato Ijuin to lower his head, which had been held high.

With his eyes darting around, Yao Yu Liao suddenly said, "By the way, I have a great idea, 'Sea Monster,' why don't you hire a few young, beautiful, and well-built waitresses? That way, your business will definitely improve!"

“That’s a good idea,” Nogami Saeko nodded. “Although I think Ryo has ulterior motives, it is indeed a good suggestion.”

She works at the Metropolitan Police Department, so of course she knows why the officers who used to practically live at Cat's Eye Cafe are now keeping their distance from the newly opened cafe. It's all because the manager, Hayato Ijuin, is too intimidating.

He was tall and had a serious expression. He always wore sunglasses, making it impossible to discern his emotions. Just standing in front of him gave people a sense of oppression and terror. Even the police, who often dealt with criminals, were afraid of him, let alone ordinary people. It would be strange if he did any business.

If there were a few more cute waiters to dilute the terrifying feeling that Hayato Ijuin brings, given Hayato's coffee-making skills, even if the business can't return to the level it was when the three sisters ran the coffee shop, it would still be much better than the coffee shop next door.

"Hiring waiters... I'll think about it!"

Hayato Ijuin wasn't the kind of stubborn guy who wouldn't listen to advice. If it was just Ryo Saeba who suggested it, he would just ignore it. But since even Saeko Nogami said so, he might as well give it a try.

Ryo Saeba couldn't get any food or drinks at the cafe, and Saeko Nogami had things to do, so he was too lazy to chat with her. Feeling bored, he had no choice but to leave. Shortly after Ryo Saeba left, Cat's Eye Cafe welcomed its third customer of the day.

"Ah-Xin, over here!"

Nogami Saeko, sitting opposite Li Xin in the seat he used to sit in, waved to him.

Hayato Ijuin immediately realized that this person was the regular customer of Cat's Eye Cafe that Saeko Nogami had mentioned before. He immediately stepped forward very attentively and rubbed his hands together as he asked Li Xin, "Sir, is there anything you need?"

"A cup of hot water, please."

Upon hearing that Li Xin had only ordered a cup of hot water, Ijuin Hayato felt greatly insulted: "Sir, do you not trust my coffee-making skills?"

Li Xin thought for a moment and said to Ijuin Hayato, "No, you misunderstood. I always order hot water when I come here before, and I never order coffee."

“I can testify to that.”

Saeko Nogami, who was laughing so hard she was almost convulsing, raised her hand and said, "I can vouch for that. He really does always just order one cup of hot water and then sit there for ages..."

Hayato Ijuin's facial muscles twitched as he said to Li Xin, "Esteemed guest, our shop is newly opened, the first cup of coffee is free!"

"Huh? Free?"

Li Xin immediately perked up: "Then please bring me a drink."

Saeko Nogami couldn't help but cover her face: "Hey, Shin, you're supposed to be a superhuman..."

"What, does that mean extraordinary powerhouses can't drink free coffee? I often go with Lisha to buy discounted eggs at the supermarket!"

Li Xin didn't care about the local customs.

"Fine, fine, you're an extraordinary powerhouse, you can do whatever you want..."

Nogami Saeko said helplessly.

While waiting for her coffee, Saeko Nogami cleared her throat and said to Shin, "Shin, I've come to see you today about the cooperation between your agency and the Metropolitan Police Department. We need to add a few clauses."

"Oh? What terms?"

Li Xin asked.

"It's about the 'catastrophe' of the world, of course."

Saeko Nogami handed a document to Li Xin. Upon reading it, Li Xin discovered that it was an instruction directly issued by the Cabinet to the Metropolitan Police Department, instructing the department to assist the "Super Disaster Countermeasures Office" in containing "forbidden relics" within Tokyo.

The so-called "forbidden relics" may sound like a new term, but they are actually a collective term for objects related to the "catastrophe of destruction".

Previously, those "demons" and evil beings related to near-divine legacies that could not be destroyed were collectively referred to as "the cataclysm of destruction." Now, an international organization has been established specifically to deal with the "cataclysm of destruction," and the "cataclysm of destruction" has naturally been further subdivided.

First, the "Anti-World Calamity Countermeasures Organization" officially refers to calamities whose power level reaches near-god level and can only be resisted by near-god level experts as "Anti-World Calamities," while "Anti-World Calamities" below the near-god level can only be called "Calamities of Disaster," and related items are called "Forbidden Relics."

The "Anti-Apocalypse Countermeasures Organization" is currently demanding that all member states hand over all "forbidden relics" within their borders for safekeeping by the Pentagon. Although no member states have responded yet, governments around the world have begun to openly or covertly collect their "forbidden relics."

After briefly glancing through the document, Li Xin said, "It's just asking you to assist in containing the 'Forbidden Relics.' In essence, the work of containing the 'Forbidden Relics' is still led by the 'Super Disaster Countermeasures Office,' and it doesn't have much to do with your Metropolitan Police Department, right?"

"That's how it is in theory, but in reality..."

Saeko Nogami rubbed her temples: "Even the 'Super Disaster Countermeasures Room' itself doesn't have the capability to contain 'Forbidden Relics'!"

Most of the "forbidden relics" are sealed, such as "Tiger Soul," which was previously sealed—although that seal was basically useless to "Tiger Soul."

However, some "forbidden relics" are still in a state where the seal has been broken or the seal is not stable. Even if these "forbidden relics" are just inanimate objects, they are not something that ordinary people can touch, and even the "Super Disaster Countermeasures Room" does not have a good way to contain them.

It can only be said that these Japanese politicians act on a whim, doing whatever comes to mind, without caring whether the Metropolitan Police Department and the "Super Disaster Countermeasures Office" actually have the capability to do so.

"So you're planning to add clauses to the agreement regarding the containment of 'forbidden relics'?"

Li Xin asked.

"Yes."

Saeko Nogami didn't keep them in suspense and nodded directly.

Originally, the "X" agency and the Metropolitan Police Department signed a cooperation agreement to capture eccentric criminals. Now that they have an additional task, it is natural to renegotiate the agreement.

“‘Forbidden relics’ are much more dangerous than ordinary extraordinary criminals, so we will significantly increase the reward. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Saeko Nogami knew that her reputation with Li Xin was completely ruined, so she put the matter of compensation first.

"No, let's do it the way we always do."

Li Xin shook his head at Nogami Saeko.

Saeko Nogami looked at Li Xin with a look of utter disbelief: "Are you possessed? Or have you been turned on? I thought you were going to ask for an exorbitant amount!"

She had known Li Xin for so long, and this was the first time she had ever seen him voluntarily lower the price. Was this still the same Li Xin who was so greedy for money?

Li Xin's eye twitched: "I also live in Tokyo. It's better to contain those dangerous things as soon as possible."

"you sure?"

Saeko Nogami glanced at Li Xin.

The Japanese understand the Japanese best. Nogami Saeko doesn't believe that the government's order to contain "forbidden relics" is to maintain social order.

"I'm sure."

Li Xin nodded.

He was well aware, of course, that once those politicians obtained the "forbidden relics," they would undoubtedly use them to do some dangerous things.

But who said Li Xin was going to give them the complete "forbidden relics"? They only said they would take in the "forbidden relics," so giving them fragments of the "forbidden relics" would be acceptable, right?

Li Xin's "tiger soul" is thirsting for it!

Chapter 690 Unexpected Gain

After finishing her business with Li Xin, Nogami Saeko hurriedly left, as her father was still waiting for her response.

Li Xin, however, remained at the Cat's Eye Cafe, waiting for Hayato Ijuin's coffee—which was free!

"Sorry to keep you waiting, here's your coffee!"

Hayato Ijuin personally served coffee to Li Xin, facing him with a confident expression.

Hayato Ijuin used all his coffee-making skills and the best coffee beans in this cup of coffee. He didn't believe Li Xin would say that his coffee was not good!

Li Xin took a sip, and Ijuin Hayato looked at him expectantly: "Guest, how is the coffee? Is there anything that needs improvement?"

"Mmm, mmm, it's delicious, thank you for the coffee."

Li Xin vaguely replied that he didn't know anything about coffee, so how could he comment on it?

Not hearing Li Xin's accurate assessment, Ijuin Hayato couldn't help but ask, "Compared to the previous manager..."

"It tastes good."

Li Xin answered without hesitation.

Although Li Xin was grateful for the free coffee the other party offered him, he couldn't say things against his conscience!

"..."

Hayato Ijuin was hurt by Li Xin's words. Despite his tall stature, he was actually very sensitive and easily hurt.