Metropolis Lostbelt (Part 5): I'm betting Batman won't die...

"Damn it, where did you get the money?!"

Jason's pupils contracted as he stared incredulously at the banknotes in Gilgamesh's hand. Having arrived a few days earlier than Chaldea, he only had a few coins from Dick.

This guy actually spent hundreds or thousands of dollars in one go?

For the first time, he took a serious look at the second Servant brought by Fujimaru Ritsuka. The man exuded confidence and arrogance, his golden aura dazzling and almost blinding.

Gilgamesh, upon hearing such an ignorant question, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, fool! This is of course because all the world's treasures belong to me, and mere coins—"

“…I found it.” Fujimaru Ritsuka said the truth in a low voice, “A gift from nature.”

"Heh heh, Fujimaru Ritsuka!" The wise king, whose plan had been foiled, slowly turned to look at Fujimaru Ritsuka, sneered, and called out her name word by word.

Debit wasn't particularly surprised. "The Golden Rule, huh? That makes things easier."

Before long, he led Fujimaru Ritsuka and his group to an ordinary house, where the windows on both floors were completely covered by heavy curtains.

Debit knocked on the door rhythmically, a series of short and long knocks. With a creak, the door opened halfway.

Fujimaru Ritsuka followed her in, passing through the second door inside. The living room was piled high with all sorts of junk and secondhand goods, a stark contrast to the clean street outside.

The low ceiling, seemingly within reach, makes the entire space feel even more cramped.

Were the buildings we saw from outside really that short? She tilted her head, turned to Jason, and whispered, "Where exactly is this place?"

“In short, it’s a black market.” Jason crossed his arms and walked through the clutter as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. “It caters to underground dealers and people like us who have no way to survive in the new world.”

He glanced around out of the corner of his eye. "Ha, looks like it's been quite lively these past few days. Quite a few people." Is it all because of the old man?

Meanwhile, Debit, familiar with the place, found the owner of a guesthouse who was pretending to be a normal residence.

Hearing the commotion, the shopkeeper swept aside the clutter piled on the counter with one hand, leaned his right elbow against the counter, and rested his chin on his hand. "Oh, a rare guest indeed."

"Three rooms, thank you."

But the owner just shook his head, returned the money, and said that the hotel would be open for free for the next few days. Then he tossed them the last three keys.

"Have all the fake certificates been made? Those machines upstairs have been checking them very frequently these past few days."

Debit didn't refuse. He took the money back, nodded, and said, "Don't worry, I've used the old connections. Everything else is ready too."

Upon hearing the word "free," Fujimaru Ritsuka subconsciously looked up at Gilgamesh, suspecting it was the Golden Rule exerting its power a second time.

Jason, however, did not readily accept the offer. Faced with this free benefit, he asked warily, "Why?" His hand was already at his side, as if he would subdue his boss immediately if he said anything wrong.

The boss gave a brief laugh, a contradictory expression of gloom and hope appearing on his face. "Haha, then consider it an April Fool's Day gift," he said. "Happy April Fool's Day to you all."

He paused, then murmured softly, "Anyway, there aren't many more chances to get a discount."

Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked; there was more to this than met the eye. She stepped forward and seized the opportunity to inquire about the reason, hoping to gain a better understanding of the world.

The boss raised his eyelids and stared at Fujimaru Ritsuka with a rather strange look, muttering under his breath, "Looking at this regular customer."

Instead of answering Ritsuka's question directly, he changed the subject, "Guess what my previous job was?"

Upon closer inspection of the boss's appearance, she noticed his thin build and shabby clothes, suggesting he wasn't suited for manual labor. Ritsuka turned to look at Merlin, who appeared lost in thought to her left.

The Flower Magician winked slyly at her, not in a hurry to reveal the secret.

Seeing the girl's blank look, the boss gave a self-deprecating laugh, "NASA researchers, that is, the research institution that was completely shut down half a year ago."

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "...?"

Wait, what was laid off?! She looked sharply at Jason, who gave a wry smile. He was hearing this for the first time and thought the world had gone mad.

"Guess which university I graduated from?" The boss seemed to have started talking non-stop, continuing to chatter on and on.

It was as if he had just found a way to vent, and without giving anyone else a moment's attention, he answered his own question, "Harvard University, but it won't exist for long."

“All universities will close before the end of this year. Because,” he pointed to the ceiling, “he believes that knowledge makes humanity commit crimes, and he doesn’t need disobedient humans to live in his empire.”

The new policy was announced to the world a few days ago. People born after that date will be assigned to various positions from birth, learn skills in specialized schools, and then enter the workforce.

As they gradually become accustomed to a life of domestication and forget the knowledge and civilization that humanity should possess... will humanity still have a future?

"Ha, in less than ten years, a place like mine will probably go out of business." He lowered his head, his voice very soft, trembling as if moonlight were melting into water.

What has the universe he loves and depends on for survival brought to human civilization?

Fujimaru Ritsuka fell silent. Perhaps those who become Lostbelt Kings all have similarities, except that the people in the past were kept in the dark from beginning to end, while the people here have lived normally into the 21st century.

Therefore, they became more lucid and more tormented.

Damn it, Jason gritted his teeth, suddenly understanding Batman's previous attitude of trusting and doubting Superman. This world has really gone mad.

As an observer, Merlin looked around and carelessly nudged the wise king beside him, "Oh dear, how's this scene, Your Majesty? Humanity is once again being ruled by so-called gods."

"Hmph, utterly disastrous! Humanity has long since parted ways with the gods and no longer needs their protection. This king and Uruk have already proven it!"

Gilgamesh's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "But it's nothing serious. Since I succeeded once, what harm is there in trying again!"

At the counter, the former scientist, now the owner of a shady shop, asked with childlike curiosity and confusion, "What do you think is the difference between humans and dogs?"

Debit calmly replied, "Dogs can bark."

"...Do you think I don't want to?"

Do you think I'm content with this?!

The boss suddenly became extremely agitated, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "Resistance? Easier said than done... Even Batman couldn't do it, how could we possibly do it!"

"Even the legends of Gotham are going to be executed in front of the whole world!"

"No, it won't happen," the orange-haired girl said firmly.

Her eyebrows curved into a smile, and her golden pupils, as bright as the sun, shone with a captivating brilliance, so intense and warm that they seemed capable of igniting the last vestiges of warmth in the winter night.

"Batman knows better than anyone how powerful the beings he is fighting are. But knowing the outcome, he still decides to fight back. That's what makes him human."

“How about we make a bet?” she asked, looking directly at her boss. “I bet Batman won’t die here.”

She had grown so much, and Merlin gazed with such pride at the unwavering girl before him. But her pure white soul remained unchanged, like a star illuminating the night sky.

He suddenly recalled that at first he simply didn't want to become a lonely man who could only gaze at the garden from the tower, and instead watched Chaldea's battles with bated breath.

But before she knew it, she was completely captivated and began to personally support Fujimaru Ritsuka's story.

Nightmare is ultimately just an empty dream, but even so, it has its own purpose: to see a happy ending for humanity—to see the savior get a good ending.

The king next to him probably thought the same thing, which is why he joined the plan without hesitation when Moriarty invited him.

"Well said!" The sound of feet scraping the ground came from behind, followed by a familiar, hearty laugh. "I hope I'm not too late."

"And Ritsuka, it's been a long time!"

“…Eh?” Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked. Turning around, the black-haired, blue-eyed youth smiled brightly, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth. He warmly opened his arms and gave the long-lost Fujimaru Ritsuka a big hug.

Gilgamesh couldn't stand it anymore and had Merlin separate the two, then lifted Ritsuka backward.

"Ha, Dickie Bird, if you're any slower we could be going into battle empty-handed," Jason said, raising an eyebrow with practiced sarcasm.

"Isn't this perfect? ​​You just wait and see, I just picked up an absolutely amazing helper." Dick said this, beckoning to Fujimaru Ritsuka and pushing Jason and Debit upstairs.

One floor, two floors… Fujimaru Ritsuka stared dumbfounded at the steps leading to the third floor. Jason clicked his tongue, dismissing the illusion. He nudged Dick with his shoulder and asked whose safe house this used to be.

Dick casually mentioned Tim's name, and Jason scoffed, feeling that asking that question was just asking for trouble.

Debit took out his key and opened the door. A group of people rushed into the room. Merlin raised his staff and cast another soundproofing spell before closing the door.

The next second, Fujimaru Ritsuka, as if she had been holding it in for a long time, finally spoke, pointing to the sky and asking, "Nightwing, the helper you mentioned... wouldn't it be this soul in the sky?"

"Hey, you can see?" Dick's eyes widened in surprise, but he calmed down when he realized it was Ritsuka speaking. Oh, it's Ritsuka. It's alright then.

Jason was left completely bewildered. "Hey, did anyone consider the feelings of ordinary people? And Nightwing, how come you have superpowers behind our backs?!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "Hmm? Um, Merlin, please!"

Merlin smiled confidently: "Alright, let the soul manifest, right? Here it comes, leave it to me! Heave-ho, chant!" He asked, "How about it, can you see it clearly now?"

"...That's too bright! Merlin, this isn't a flashbang!"

"Oops. Sorry, it was a slip of the hand."