Lucky Mutual Aid Society (28)

"You won't let me succeed? How amusing~" Matsui looked at Harada Taro's enraged expression with disdain. Honestly, he was surprised that Harada Taro hadn't immediately collapsed. This guy had been a shut-in for thirty years, barely exercised, and was already over fifty. His mental weakness made him look like an old man in his sixties. Coupled with nearly a year of dealing with those little ghosts, using his own vital energy to suppress their resentment, Matsui estimated that the other party couldn't perform many more "purification rituals." It was a case of "kill the donkey once it's no longer useful," and he had long wanted to discard the useless and disobedient old man, but he lacked a replacement.

And now... Matsui glanced at Inuyama Heita in the audience, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. Such a young man, his spirit must be stronger, enough for him to use for a long time. Even if he couldn't find a successor, the Mutual Aid Society would surely have become a massive organization by then. At that time, even without such bizarre methods, he could continue to develop...

When Inuyama Heita saw the little ghosts, he was also terrified by the horrifying sight. He turned to look towards the audience. The crowd had already started to stir, many people standing up to crane their necks and check the situation on stage. Qian Xiaoyi's figure was nowhere to be seen.

So, Inuyama Heita walked to Matsui's side and asked nervously, "Mr. Matsui! What exactly is going on? Why are these children attacking the Chairman?"

"What? They're attacking the Chairman? So that's why he's like this?" Matsui feigned surprise at first, then put on a sorrowful expression and said with a pained tone, "...It's no wonder. I already told you before, the Chairman has a severe mental illness, with paranoia being the most serious. I only recently found out that to prevent these children from disobeying him in the future and harming him, the Chairman has been hurting them. You know, I'm not like you psychics, so I couldn't detect the situation in time. Now it's too late. These children must be taking revenge on the Chairman..."

"Can I help?" Inuyama Heita asked.

"No! Don't go over there!" Matsui tightly grabbed Inuyama Heita's wrist and said, "This is all trouble the Chairman caused himself. It's useless for you to go!"

"But..."

"No buts!" Matsui's attitude was very firm. "Those children have suffered a lot, and their resentment is immense. If you go over there, they might attack you too, and then both you and the Chairman will be in danger!" How could he let the successor he had finally found be in danger?

Inuyama Heita asked, "Then what should we do now?"

"Wait for the ambulance!" Matsui said. "If the ambulance comes early, maybe the Chairman can still be saved!" As if! How could he be saved? He wanted the old man to die!

"Matsui!!!" Harada Taro suddenly roared, pulling the Law Ruler Qian Xiaoyi had given him from his embrace. He brandished it wildly around, and the little ghosts retreated, showing fear on their faces, but they didn't leave. Instead, they surrounded him, waiting for an opportunity to attack. The power of the Law Ruler could only do so much.

"He's gone mad! The Chairman has truly gone mad!" Seeing his actions, Harada himself didn't collapse, but many members were starting to break down. The Chairman, whom they revered as a god and claimed could change their destiny, now truly looked like a lunatic, acting like a madman.

Matsui noticed the Law Ruler in Harada Taro's hand and was somewhat surprised. Although he couldn't see the scene of the little ghosts surrounding Harada Taro, he could guess what was happening. He immediately spoke into the microphone, "Security! Arrange for everyone to evacuate quickly and orderly! There are too many people here, and the Chairman cannot be further stimulated! Everyone, please leave immediately, right now. I will stay here with the Chairman and wait for the ambulance to arrive!"

Matsui gave a signal to the tough-looking senior members. They nodded and arranged for the fierce-looking security personnel to disperse the crowd and prepare for evacuation. They had to minimize the impact before things got out of control.

"Why? Mr. Matsui?" Inuyama Heita asked. "Why are you making them leave? Once the crowd disperses, won't the Chairman be..."

Matsui replied, "Heita-kun, please believe me, I know what I'm doing. We can't stop this. And if the Chairman collapses in front of everyone, do you know how many people will go crazy? The situation then will be beyond our control."

"I understand..." Inuyama Heita fell silent. He turned his head, wanting to find that person in the audience. He felt that the situation was already somewhat out of control.

At this moment, Harada Taro also realized that something was seriously wrong. With many people around, he could suppress these little ghosts. Once he was alone, their power would increase. Even if the Law Ruler in his hand was still effective, his old bones definitely couldn't match this young man Matsui, and the Law Ruler would definitely be snatched away. So, while the little ghosts were still wary of the Law Ruler in his hand, Harada Taro, panting, shouted into the microphone, "Don't go! None of you are allowed to leave! I order you as the Chairman! Come back, all of you! Please, come back quickly! He's lying..."

The sound from the speaker abruptly stopped. He turned to look, only to find that Matsui had directly unplugged his microphone cable.

Matsui gave him a cold glance and continued speaking into his own microphone, "Everyone, continue to evacuate. The Chairman's illness requires a quiet environment for him to calm down! Everyone leave!"

Everyone had already accepted that Harada Taro had severe paranoia. At this moment, he was clearly having an episode, so it was best to listen to Mr. Matsui and not provoke such a mentally ill patient. Thus, everyone obediently surged towards the exit.

Watching the crowd gradually disperse, and feeling his body weaken as he was surrounded by numerous little ghosts, unable to escape, Harada Taro knew he was doomed if this continued. In despair, he unleashed a burst of power. He dropped the microphone and yelled at the top of his lungs, "It's all fake! There's no changing fate! No purification rituals, it's all fake! Don't leave, I'll tell you everything! You've been deceived!"

"Everyone, get out of here!" Matsui shouted anxiously into the microphone, trying to drown out the Chairman's voice.

But unfortunately, some people still heard Harada Taro's words.

"Mr. Matsui, did I just hear wrong?" Hongo Daisuke, a tough-looking senior member, walked over with a frown. He was wearing a suit with a floral shirt underneath, his collar open and no tie, looking quite roguish. Hongo walked over, his face grim, "No... changing fate?"

"Chairman, is what you said true? The purification ritual is fake? But I clearly felt..." another senior member, Kuroda the truck driver, asked in surprise.

"Stay! If you stay, I'll tell you everything!" Harada Taro shouted desperately.

"I want to listen."

"Me too."

Several other senior members said.

Hongo waved his hand, signaling the security personnel to drive out the ordinary members, leaving only the senior members in the venue. This was a secret conversation that only they were qualified to overhear.

"It seems we have a lot to discuss," Hongo said, his face dark.