Lucky Mutual Aid Society (29)

A thug-like security guard shouted at someone who refused to leave, "Hey! Didn't you hear me? I told you to get out. You looking for a beating?"

Seeing this, Inuyama Heita hurried over and said to Hongo, "Sorry, Mr. Hongo. He's my friend."

At the high-ranking members' gathering two days ago, Hongo had also undergone Inuyama Heita's "purification ritual." Knowing that the kid had some unusual qualities, he had his men let the guy go, then told them all to leave.

With both hands in his pockets and a lit cigarette hanging from his lips, Qian Xiaoyi sauntered over. Puffing out smoke, he muttered, "What a show~"

"Qian! Why are you here?!" Harada Taro's pupils contracted when he saw Qian Xiaoyi. Then he said, "I get it! You're in cahoots with Matsui too!"

Qian Xiaoyi rolled his eyes, not even bothering to respond to the idiot. If he were in league with Matsui, why would he have gone through the trouble of giving Harada the Law Ruler for protection?

"That guy is..." Matsui noticed Qian Xiaoyi as well. He remembered that this guy had appeared at the venue a week ago and dirtied his designer suit. He had not expected him to know Inuyama Heita. Thinking of the missing little ghost... the unease that had been growing ever since Harada pulled out that wooden ruler, an unease born from things slipping out of his control, reached its peak with Qian Xiaoyi's appearance. But Matsui had more important matters to deal with right now and had no time for him.

Hongo asked, "President Oiwa... no, Harada, what exactly are you trying to say?!"

Kuroda, the truck driver, pleaded, "President, what you said isn't true, right? I finally managed to climb out of the abyss of misfortune. Please, tell me none of that is true."

The high-ranking members all reacted differently. Half of them, like Hongo, calmly waited for Harada's explanation. A few looked as helpless as Kuroda. Most of the rest were still confused and uneasy, having no idea what was happening as they stood there stupidly at a loss.

"Everyone! There's no such thing as guidance from fate. This is all fake!" In order to save his own life, Harada Taro shouted recklessly, "It's all Matsui's scheme! This so-called guidance from fate is..."

"What nonsense are you spouting?! Stop having another episode!" Matsui panicked the moment he heard that. Tossing aside the microphone, he lunged at Harada Taro without the slightest concern for appearances. Like a rabid dog pouncing on its prey, he tackled Harada to the ground and grappled with him, trying to seize the wooden ruler in his hand. He simply could not bear the consequences of letting the high-ranking members learn the truth. Though they were members in name, they were essentially the organization's executives. They were either wealthy suckers who brought in generous profits or figures with irreplaceable functions. If they united against him, he would never be able to suppress them.

"Let go! I'm going to tell them the truth! The truth is... mmph, mmph!"

Matsui clamped a hand tightly over Harada Taro's mouth while using his other hand to snatch the Law Ruler. The two of them looked utterly wretched and unsightly. Where was their former poise and high spirits? They looked no better than a pair of street thugs. As Matsui fought desperately for it, Harada Taro bit down on his hand, making Matsui shriek in pain.

"Argh! What are you doing?! Let go, you bastard!"

Watching the two make complete fools of themselves, the onlookers finally snapped out of it. Hongo frowned and barked, "Hey! What are you doing? Stop fighting! Someone, get over there and pull them apart!"

Kuroda the truck driver roared, "President, I'll help you!" With that, he joined the fight. Grabbing Matsui's expensive suit, he yanked with all his strength, clearly taking Harada's side.

"Everyone, get over there!" Seeing this, Hongo called for the others to rush in as well and tried to separate them. But the two seemed to be fighting in earnest and refused to let go no matter what, making it impossible to pull them apart for the moment.

"Oh my, no fighting, okay? Everyone should get along peacefully." Maria, the burly queen, could not stand it anymore. She walked over and applied a little strength with her powerful arms, effortlessly pulling apart the two men whom several people had failed to separate.

"Ah! You rabid dog!" Matsui cursed, clutching his bleeding hand.

"Pah!" Harada spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and snarled, "Serves you right! I won!" Feeling the Law Ruler in his hand and surrounded by everyone, Harada felt an indescribable sense of security. Revealing the truth might cost him his position as president, but at least he would survive, wouldn't he?

"You won?" Matsui sneered. "I suggest you think again." As he spoke, he threw something in his hand onto the ground.

Harada stared at it closely. It was half of the Law Ruler! The protective treasure he had relied on to stay alive had been broken!

"Harada, what exactly are you trying to say?!" Hongo demanded bluntly. "What is this so-called truth? Hurry up and tell us!"

"No... I was wrong! Forgive me! Matsui, Lord Matsui! Don't kill me! I surrender." Seeing the little ghosts glaring viciously at him from everyone's bodies, Harada Taro's legs trembled as he begged for mercy.

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? I told you, when your mental illness acts up, you need to wait for a doctor!" Matsui spread his hands, mockery flashing in his eyes. "I haven't done anything at all."

Harada despaired. He knew the other man had no intention of sparing him. Breaking free from the people supporting him, he staggered toward the exit, only to collapse on the stage from exhaustion. Turning his head, he saw those little ghosts slowly moving toward him across the ground. Harada trembled as he backed away, shouting, "There is no fate! There are only monsters, only ghosts! I'm a psychic! The luck you feel is all caused by ghosts! Ghosts! Every one of your necklaces houses the evil spirit of a child!"

"What are you talking about? Ghosts?" Suzuki was utterly confused. Changing fate was one thing, but now ghosts had suddenly entered the picture?

Everyone else thought the same. Given Harada Taro's current state, his words were simply not believable. Ghosts? Psychics? How ridiculous.

"See?" Matsui laughed in relief. "I told you! The president has gone mad. He already had a mental illness! It's perfectly normal for him to say crazy things."

Then he turned to Inuyama Heita and coaxed, "Heita-kun, you're a person with unique talents! Don't let Harada influence you. His current situation is entirely his own doing, but you're different. You have even more potential than he does. You can completely avoid such a tragedy. I don't care what you've been plotting, but I can let bygones be bygones now! Come back. Your talent is one of a kind. We can—"

I won! As long as I can fool that stupid little brat Inuyama Heita, I can keep going... Hm? What's that smell? Just as Matsui's joy reached its peak, he suddenly caught an unusual scent, like incense. It made his head feel slightly groggy.

"So this so-called one-of-a-kind talent... is seeing ghosts? Heh, I can't agree with that." A voice spoke.

Matsui's pupils shook. He had completely forgotten! That guy who had appeared out of nowhere was still here!

Hongo turned around and saw that it was not one of the high-ranking members, but that stranger. He immediately strode over and roared viciously, "You, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? And what are you smoking? Why is it so choking?"

Qian Xiaoyi chuckled. "Why not try it and find out?" He blew a mouthful of white smoke into Hongo's face, choking him badly.

"Cough, cough, cough... Are you looking to die? You bastard..." Just as Hongo was about to lash out, a mysterious hand seal passed through the smoke and tapped his forehead.