Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 747: Chapter 606 Banquet_1

Ravens have become increasingly difficult to raise these days.

Huai Shi actually began to reminisce about the past, like an old man.

How simple it was before they evolved, showing them a snippet from his Book of Fate every now and then, like a short film, and they were quite content.

Now? Now even a little notebook is no longer satisfying to them; they want others’ lives...

And the one that recently liked to transform into a human shape and flit about for fun wanted his life.

Each time he saw a long list of debits in his messages, Huai Shi’s heart would wrench with pain. At this rate, he wondered if he would live much longer.

Even the greatest of fortunes couldn’t withstand such squandering!

Huai Shi didn’t wallow in nostalgia for long, as the ravens in the Dream Cage, having been busy half the day without getting any Source Substance or Stigmas, started to squawk their holy praises again, demanding their reward and wanting to watch the ’short film’ from the Book of Fate.

”Twice a day, huh. Can’t do more than that.”

Huai Shi rifled through the Book of Fate and found a page to send in. The instinctive praises, however, were immediately overlaid with a cacophony of thoughts like ’That’s it?’, ’So short!’, and ’One more time!’—it was unclear where they’d picked that up from.

Somehow, he felt the sourness of a washed-up idol being criticized by fans. Life is hard.

He sighed, withdrawing his gaze.

”Let’s go, it’s time to eat,” he said to Raymond. ”You’ve been quite cooperative today, so I’ll treat. Let’s include Xiaoyuan and Nineteen as well.”

”Hmm?”

Raymond, who was about to go back to eat instant noodles, brightened up. He leaned in and asked in a low voice, ”I heard you’re a VIP of Kui Tower, and you’ve got senior memberships at several Hell-rated eateries... the kind where you don’t have to pay for meals, right?”

Huai Shi couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ”What are you thinking? They’re just being polite. You think you can really go there empty-handed? Would you dare to drink a soup I personally cooked for you?”

”As long as it’s not made of rats, I’m all good,” Raymond marveled. ”Don’t fob me off with any old eatery, okay? I’ve lost several pints of blood today, had my head chopped off a dozen times, and this is what you feed me?”

”Alright, let’s go to my place today.”

Huai Shi rolled his eyes again. ”Remember to eat less; don’t make Uncle Fang work too hard.”

When Raymond mentioned rats, it made Huai Shi think again of the batch of Paradise Guards that had been taken away by the nice brothers from the Department of Justice. Although they were just husks, surely after some experience, Little Cat could replicate them again.

It wouldn’t be long before Paradise’s debt-collecting army could start mass production...

What a sin.

As he shook his head in dismay, he saw a desolate figure emerging from the school’s administration building ahead. The man wore a blue Yingzhou robe, had an out-of-date hair braid, a face covered with world-weary stubble, and carried the sword that never left his waist.

”Mr. Sasaki?”

Huai Shi hesitated for a moment, asking with some concern, ”Are you alright?”

Kiyoshi Kusaki was a guest teacher at the Yingzhou Floral Path Classroom. He had once been the swordsmanship instructor for the Satomi clan of the Hua Clan and had even fought with Huai Shi over some rumors before.

But he’s basically a simple-minded, straightforward tough guy; it’s hard to imagine him looking so desolate.

”Is there a problem with the Yingzhou Floral Path Classroom?”

After a moment of silence, Kusaki gave a relaxed smile. ”Huai Shi-kun, I’m no longer employed by the Yingzhou Floral Path Classroom. The next teacher will be a disciple of Professor Yamada. Ning Zi is a good child; please take good care of her, Mr. Huai Shi.”

Huai Shi was taken aback.

”Also...” Kusaki was about to say something, but Huai Shi cut him off.

”It’s time for a meal. Care to join us?” He gestured to the people behind him. ”If you don’t mind, come along. I still have half a bottle of good Tengu Mountain wine at home that’s not yet finished.”

Kusaki was stunned and swallowed involuntarily.

He had intended to decline.

But the fine wine from Tengu Mountain was too tempting.

”Then I shall presumptuously accept your kindness.”

***

The bonds between men can be just like that.

Although Kusaki didn’t know Raymond well before, after sharing a couple of meals and a few drinks, they found common ground—tough guys always do. One talked about racing, the other about flower arrangement, and who cared about the rest after getting drunk? They became so chummy, it was almost as if they were ready to share the same pair of pants.

At least they were sworn brothers until sober.

”Bro Raymond, do you... you really not remember anything?”

During the feast, which lasted from dinner to a midnight snack, a shirtless Kusaki, having shed his cumbersome robe, munched on edamame and curiously asked, ”Don’t you have any memories from before leaving Current Circumstances? Not even a little?”

”Ah, well, there is a bit,” Raymond scratched his head, pondering for a while. ”I only remember that I was a Russian Federation Man—no wait, maybe Roman... Forget it, I can’t recall clearly.”

”That’s pretty much as good as having no memory at all!” Kusaki slammed the table. ”If you ask me, you’re definitely one of the Yingzhou People. You have the air of a master swordsman when you’re drinking!”

”Yingzhou People don’t have green eyes and blond hair, do they?”

Raymond was puzzled for a moment. ”Besides, I can’t even remember what Current Circumstances looks like. I’ve only seen some movies, but I don’t know much. Since arriving at the Ivory Tower, I’ve been running around the Border. I haven’t even been to Yingzhou, let alone Asia.”

”Didn’t you just say you went traveling?”

”Yeah, I went to Shambhala, had a few days of therapy there,” Raymond said, his face lighting up as he pulled out his phone to show them. ”The scenery in the places you recommended, Huai Shi, was really great.”

Huai Shi, watching from the side, couldn’t help but sigh. ”That’s great. I’ve always wanted to go there; I have a friend there too.”

”It’s easy if you want to go. A round trip takes two days, very quick. Want to go together next time?”

”Forget it.”

Huai Shi sipped his drink, sighing again. ”It would be pointless to go. Seeing a friend lying in the intensive care unit is just too saddening. Besides, that guy doesn’t want me to see him; he keeps saying it’s too embarrassing... Wait a minute, the guy in the bed next to yours... hold on, isn’t this bastard doing just fine?!”

He widened his eyes and leaned in closer.

In the photo on Raymond’s phone, why did that flamboyant character in the hospital bed next to Raymond’s look so familiar?

”Is this your friend?” Raymond was also startled, scrutinizing his face. ”Indeed, you two free-spirits should get along... But does your friend have some kind of problem with his brain?”

”Hmm?”

Speaking of this, Raymond’s expression became complicated.

He twitched involuntarily, as if remembering some unspeakable horror.

”One night, I got up to go to the bathroom and found he wasn’t in his bed. After coming out of the bathroom, I discovered that guy was hugging an automatic vending machine and talking to it!”

”What the heck?”

”An automatic vending machine!”

Raymond’s face turned green with fright as he recounted the story. ”You didn’t see it! That guy was mumbling who knows what to himself. Hugging and cuddling it was one thing, but he was about to kiss it too!”

Even Kusaki was astonished. ”Wow, such an intense pervert is rare even in Yingzhou!”

”Mr. Sasaki, I understand your attachment to your homeland, but please don’t compare everything to Yingzhou, okay?”

Huai Shi’s expression had become indescribable.

Something felt off.

Had Old Liu’s condition worsened during his time away for recuperation?

I always knew he had issues with his brain, but I didn’t expect them to be this severe.

Should I take some time to visit him?

”However, speaking of which, your friend is a really impressive figure. The first time I met him, he was killing people like slicing through vegetables—totally abnormal! I nearly got killed by him,” Raymond reflected. ”Fate is truly mysterious.”

”You’ve met before?” Huai Shi wondered.

Raymond opened his mouth to speak but then froze, sobering up in an instant of disbelief.

He didn’t say anything more, merely gesturing a zipper across his lips. Then, he lifted his hair to show the small, mole-like scar behind his ear.

That was the Existence Institute’s oath of silence.

”Phew, that was close. Almost exploded on the spot.”

Raymond grabbed the liquor bottle, filled his cup to the brim, and started chugging. ”Quick, give me something to calm my nerves.”

Huai Shi just pursed his lips, not particularly concerned about the liquor. If worse came to worst, he could always let a little blood and exchange it for a few more bottles from Tengu Mountain.

More than that, he was interested in the Existence Institute’s oath of silence.

An oath of silence wasn’t surprising; the Astronomical Society often imposed them on people involved in missions. But the key was the Existence Institute.

Matters that concerned the Existence Institute seldom left any survivors. Even if there were survivors, they would have been taken away to live a carefree life in prison. To continue walking around alive and well was a miracle in itself.

He has one, which means Old Liu has one too?

Instinctively sensing how deep these waters ran, he didn’t dare to ask further.

When it comes to matters of the Existence Institute, asking too many questions can easily get you dragged into them.

Do you think the Silent Ones Stone Stele is a joke?

Everyone wisely acted as if nothing had happened and continued drinking.

As the feast was drawing to a close, Kusaki pondered for a long time, then put down his cup. He suddenly stood up, straightened his disheveled clothes, retreated a few steps, and bowed deeply.

”Huai-kun, I appreciate all the kindness you’ve shown me in the past,” he said solemnly. ”Your generosity to me, Kiyoshi Kusaki, will always be remembered in my heart!”

Huai Shi looked at him blankly, unable to understand.

”What’s this all about, Mr. Sasaki?” he asked. ”Has something happened? Please speak frankly. If there’s anything I can do to help, I will surely offer my assistance.”

”I am not here to ask for help.”

Kusaki shook his head, straightened up, and finally said what he had been wanting to say, ”In a few days, I will be leaving the Ivory Tower. Reflecting on my years at the school, it all feels like a dream. I am deeply ashamed that I cannot repay the profound kindness all of you have shown me...”

”Alright, alright, sit down first. Take your time and tell me.”

After much persuasion, Huai Shi managed to get him seated and then inquired about the reason.

Upon this topic, the melancholy look on Kusaki’s face vanished, replaced by a joyful expression.

”Half a month ago, at the Yingzhou Court Officials’ meeting, they deposed that pretender who claimed to be the lord!” he said excitedly. ”The rightful return of the Li Jian family is imminent! I heard that Miss Amber has already set out to return to Nara. As a retainer of the Li Jian family, how can I stand by indifferently at such a crucial moment? I must contribute my meager strength to the revival of the Satomi clan!”

”What?”

Huai Shi was gobsmacked.

The amount of information was too much for him to process.

The first thought that came to his mind was: Amber, that stinking sister of mine, is actually going to rise to prominence?