đźź Chapter 44:
🟧 Takeru's POV:
"I refuse this."
That was Haizen's answer to the idea I proposed. The plan was simple: use Number Five's black suit and dye his wig blonde like Number Five's hair—after all, he's bald. But Haizen refused to do it himself and wanted me to handle it."
"Why don't you dye your hair?"
"Dude, this is my real hair. If I dye it, it'll stay this way for a long time. You, on the other hand… well, you're bald. You can just get a new wig. Honestly, why do you care about black hair anyway? You don't even have any."
"Because that was my hair color when I had hair."
"Wait… you had hair? How did you lose it?"
"Doesn't matter how. The point is, I won't do it."
He's acting like a child. Meanwhile, Number Five was watching with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
"I didn't know this dark-skinned guy was bald. Well, he's kind of handsome… but not as handsome as me. I don't think dyeing his hair blonde will make him look like me."
His confidence in his own looks was ridiculous. I wasn't trying to make him look exactly like him; just having some of his hair on Haizen would be enough. Since Haizen was adamant about refusing, I decided to try another approach.
"Okay, Haizen, what if we don't dye your hair—let's just cut Number Five's hair and put it on you?"
He seemed fine with the idea.
"Alright, no problem. I agree."
But Number Five didn't like this at all.
"Wait, you two can't! My hair is part of my charm. I can't just give it up that easily."
Haizen replied coldly:
"Who said your opinion matters?"
Number Five was shocked. Haizen then continued talking to me:
"But even so, I don't understand your goal. Even if I put his hair on my head, it won't make me look like him."
"That's true, but you won't be showing your face at all. Just some of your hair is enough for them to think you're Number Five."
"How's that possible? Number Five's suit is torn at the top—I can't hide my face."
"Then we'll buy some black cloth."
"What? Black cloth? You really think that's enough to fool them?"
"I didn't say they won't suspect us, but even if they do, they won't quickly guess that you're Number Five. Right, Number Five?"
I looked at him for a reaction. Still shocked that we were going to cut his hair, he said miserably:
"If you mean the guards outside our headquarters, they're just fools. They won't notice quickly."
"Really? Well… that's good. Looks like we won't have a problem after all."
Once we agreed, Haizen asked where we could find black fabric.
"Where can we get this cloth? We're in the fruit and vegetable market… oh, wait, there's a fabric market on the other side."
Sure enough, there was a market selling clothes and fabrics across from the fruit and vegetable stalls. Haizen gestured with his hand. I asked him what he meant.
"What's up?"
"The money. Give me money to buy the fabric. You think I'm paying with my own?"
Meanwhile, Number Five wondered what he would wear if we took his suit.
"Wait, what about me? Aren't you going to buy me clothes since you're taking this suit?"
To avoid money problems, I decided to use the Stone—perhaps the prince still had money hidden with the junk in the stone. Haizen didn't like the idea but didn't refuse either.
"You know we spent a lot of his money in the Industrial City."
But there was no other way to buy clothes and fabric. Even I was a bit broke, so I simply said:
"Unfortunately, we have no other choice. We have to do this."
As I tried to extract money from the stone, something else came out… Ryo. He immediately started shouting and trying to look intimidating.
"Gaaaaah! I will… wait, are we still on the building? Haven't we reached the gang yet?"
Apparently, he had been practicing this display inside the stone. Haizen and I started mocking him, and even Number Five laughed. Ryo's face turned red with anger.
"What are you idiots doing? Why are we still on top of this building?"
"Calm down, we're planning. By the way, since you came out of the stone, can you get us some money? We need it for the plan."
Ryo grew angrier:
"Why use the prince's money for your plan? We already spent a lot in the Industrial City."
"I know, but we need disguises. Since you're good at pulling things out of the stone, go ahead and do it."
Despite his anger, Ryo eventually agreed. He pulled out a box of gold coins—not full, but enough for our plan. Haizen and I looked at the coins excitedly.
"Hohoho, look at all this money, Haizen! Isn't it amazing?"
"Well, looking at money is fun, honestly."
Ryo was disgusted by our behavior and demanded to be returned to the stone.
"Fine, here's the money. Spend it wisely. Now put me back in the stone."
"Alright."
I used the Storage Stone and returned Ryo. Now, with the money in hand, we could buy what we needed. Haizen grabbed the box to purchase fabric and some clothes, but I stopped him.
"Wait, why take the whole box? Just a few coins will do."
"Don't worry, I won't spend any on myself."
"Let me go instead."
"Of course not, you're too slow. I'll handle it quickly."
I didn't argue further and let him do it. I stayed on the building with Number Five. Then a thought occurred to me: why hadn't he attacked us this whole time? Are these ropes really enough to restrain him? I asked.
"Number Five, why haven't you attacked since we tied you up? Are you really that weak?"
He looked at me with unexpected surprise:
"All this time, and you didn't realize these ropes disrupt the mana in my body? Wow, you're ignorant. You really don't seem to be from this world."
Ah, so the ropes were magical. He didn't realize I truly wasn't from this world. I guess I should trust what he says... yeah, right. I'll just take Ryo out of the stone again.
So I did-and he immediately repeated his little entrance, then noticed we hadn't moved yet.
"What now?"
"Listen, is it true Number Five is tied up with magical ropes that disrupt his mana?"
"Did you bring me out for this… ugh, yes, that's right. Otherwise, we'd have a problem."
"Good, that's settled."
"Can you put me back now?"
"Of course."
I returned Ryo to the stone and waited for Haizen. Number Five laughed miserably:
"Feeling better now?"
"Of course. Now I can use you however I want."
Moments later, Haizen returned with the fabric—and other things.
"You fool, why did you buy another black wig and all these sweets?"
"Before reaching the fabric market, I found a shop selling desserts with huge discounts."
Number Five asked about the wig:
"If you bought another wig, why not a blonde one?"
"Don't try to dodge—your hair will be cut anyway."
I intervened:
"Number Five is right. Also, what about his clothes?"
Haizen pulled out a very long white ribbon:
"We'll tie him with this. It's enough."
"What? Are you trying to mummy him? He's already tied up!"
"I'm just trying to save money."
Number Five looked so miserable that I had to ask if he was even wearing anything under that black suit.
"Do you really have nothing under this suit?"
"Actually, I'm wearing shorts."
"Good. Then the ribbon will do."
"Are you okay with this too?"
"No choice."
Everything collapsed in any case. I took some of the sweets Haizen bought—I was hungry anyway—and we let Number Five have a little too. Then it was time to cut his hair. Haizen decided to take charge.
"Alright, leave this to me. I'll cut it carefully with my sword."
I had no objection. Number Five panicked.
"Wait, what if you cut my head or brain instead?"
Haizen replied coldly:
"Then we'll put a new head on you."
"Kyahhh!"
Number Five screamed like a coward—it was pitiful—but before he noticed, Haizen began cutting. Number Five stopped screaming and then… started crying.
"My glorious hair… I'm no longer handsome."
Then it was time to change his clothes. Under the threat of Haizen's sword, Number Five didn't resist. We removed his ropes and suit, then tied him with the white ribbon and the ropes. Number Five was now fully "mummified."
Haizen wore the black suit and replaced his wig with Number Five's hair, securing it with glue bought from Orivia. Then he turned to us and asked
"So, does it work? Do I look like him?"
Number Five, though shattered, answered:
"Well… I think this is enough to fool the guards, as long as only your hair is visible."
After this, one final step remained before heading to the gang's headquarters.