Apocalypse Forecast

As he spoke, Fujimoto took off his suit jacket and beckoned to Huai Shi, ”If you want to be a Green Day, you at least need to be able to fight, right? See here, I’m the weakest of those making the calls here, and if you can’t even beat me, don’t dream about becoming a Green Day.

You’ve signed my contract. I’ll put you into an assembly line in a black factory. Unless you earn me ten million Yingzhou currency, you won’t be leaving even if you cough up blood.”

This was a lie.

He was not only one of the best fighters here but had already made up his mind to break Huai Shi’s legs in the most cruel way to extinguish such unrealistic ideas.

At worst, just take care of a cripple for three or four days. The welfare in Yingzhou is decent enough. You can earn it back by doing a few deals with his residency proof and driver’s license.

Being a Yakutza isn’t running a charity.

Every year, there are those dull-witted guys who come over thinking they can join in, dreaming naïvely about making big bucks after committing some crimes, when there’s not a single useful guy among them.

All of them are worthless.

They only end up harming themselves and others.

”Come! Hurry up!”

He patted his chest, shouting furiously at the hesitant Huai Shi, ”Why aren’t you moving? Are you useless too? Or is this how pathetic your resolve is, Huai Shi!”

”I... I’m afraid of hurting you,” the novice said timidly, ”I am really good.”

The sound of jeering laughter erupted from the surroundings.

Fujimoto laughed up to the sky, thumping his chest. The former ’Ghost Fujimoto’ smiled more mockingly, ”Come on, Huaizhi-kun, come, hit here, show me how good you are.”

In the silence, the trembling Huai Shi hesitated for a long time before nodding slowly.

Then, he stepped forward.

Took a deep breath.

Amidst the mocking glances from those around, he slowly bent down, like in a horse stance, arms forward, head held high towards Fujimoto.

The gaze from beneath his bangs seemed to grow serious.

The familiar yet striking posture stunned the others, rendering them incredulous.

Sumo wrestling?

Yes, that was a sumo wrestler’s starting pose.

Shikiri.

Lowering the center of gravity, arms forward, always ready to grapple with the opponent.

But this stance is unique to sumo giants weighing over two hundred pounds, solid and broad. It looked utterly ridiculous when performed by a thin, reed-like Huai Shi.

”Oh lord, this is a wrestler, huh?”

Fujimoto snorted, unable to hold back laughter, ”Is this going to be a sumo match with me? Come on, come on!”

”Be careful, Mr. Fujimoto.”

Huai Zhisu People leaned over, said softly, ”I’ve been practicing sumo since I was a child. If I accidentally hurt you, I’d feel bad.”

This was also a lie.

He had learned this stance from a ”Teach Yourself Sumo in Ten Minutes” guide he casually picked up at the subway bookstore before going out, and after ten minutes of practice felt he had fully mastered the sport of sumo.

Right, getting into this position, but before the start, it seems one must first...

He lowered his raised hands slowly.

Pressed against his thighs, supporting his upper body, and then deeply, deeply, deeply... inhaled a breath.

As if trying to suck all the air from the basement into his stomach.

This astonishing lung capacity made Fujimoto’s expression change, but before he could speak, he saw Huai Shi’s body leaning forward, left foot slowly lifting, lifting, lifting... reaching above head height, then a gale roared.

A thunderous noise erupted.

The entire dojo, remade from an underground warehouse, burst into immense tremors at that instant.

Like a massive piling iron rod crashing onto the ground, countless dust clouds ascended from beneath the tatami, swirling embarrassingly in the air.

Because the left foot Huai Shi had raised, stomped towards the ground!

Next was the right foot!

Another thunderous roar, two large holes appeared above the tatami, his feet deeply embedded into the floor, almost covering the middle of his shins.

Banishing evil, purifying the dohyo.

A sacred and solemn aura emanated from that stance.

This was a perfect—’shiko’!

The preparation was complete.

At that moment, the deep sound of air breaking burst forth.

Huai Zhisu People lifted his arms, pushing forward, slowly and heavily smashing the air, stirring up a layer of gust as they stumbled out. A dull rumble continuously echoed.

As he stepped forward, his continuous arm pushes unleashed momentum like a tidal wave.

Push hands!

In an instant, the revolving pushing palms advanced to Fujimoto’s face, a meter away, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Hard to breathe!

”Stop! Stop! Stop!!!!!!”

Fujimoto forgot his previous mocking, tottered backward, screaming in terror.

The extended palm stopped at his chest.

Separated by twenty centimeters, a distinct five-fingered palm print already emerged on the damp shirt on his chest…

If you’re hit by this push hand, you’ll die!

Fujimoto stood in place, drenched in sweat, his legs feeling a bit weak, looking at Huai Zhisu before him, who had reverted back to his introverted and anxious self, feeling like a beast hiding its face, completely suffocating.

”You... You’re a Sublimator?”

”Yes.” Huai Zhisu nodded.

”Wait a minute—”

Fujimoto waved his hand this time, pulled out his phone, walked to the corner, dialed Tanaka’s number, and started scolding again: ”Goddamn bastard, why didn’t you say it earlier!”

”I did, I told you long ago, that kid is incredible, really amazing! But you were too busy cursing at the time!”

Tanaka asked back, indignantly: ”He grew up at Matsumoto Ozeki’s dojo, Matsumoto Ozeki, you know, the one who almost claimed the title of Yokozuna! If he weren’t a Hybrid and desperately in need of money, he’d have gone to Izumo long ago. I introduced such a remarkable person to you, and you still curse at me, are you even human!”

The embarrassed Fujimoto was scolded back for ten minutes, and he had to nod and bow in thanks.

After hanging up the phone, his expression looking at Huai Zhisu became very complicated.

”Do you really want to join Green Day?”

”Yeah, I’ve made up my mind, Tanaka-san also tried to persuade me, but I need money...” Huai Zhisu raised his head, through his bangs, there was a sincerity that could be felt, speaking from the heart: ”I want to make money, as much money as possible!”

”...”

In silence, Fujimoto sighed helplessly and waved his hand.

”I understand, I’ll report it to the people above, Huai Zhisu... Novice-kun, do you have a place to stay in Kyoto?”

Huai Zhisu shook his head.

”Then just stay at Fujimoto Group for now, don’t worry, there will soon be a result.”

Fujimoto put on his coat again, looking at the harmless yet sinister guy beside him, feeling anxious, finally asked: ”By the way, is it convenient for you to let me see your... features? To help you pick a code name, you can’t work under your real name, right?”

Features, the identification marks among Hybrids.

Huai Zhisu was silent for a long time, then raised his hand, pressed down his somewhat messy hair, revealing the slightly protruding small horns between his hair.

”Is it a ghost?” Fujimoto was startled, then suddenly realized: ”No, ghosts generally can’t control their temperament well, if you say so, it’s kind of like the Minotaur Great Mob.”

”Because of this, everyone has called me Minotaur since I was a kid.”

Huai Zhisu brushed away his passing hair and smiled slightly at Fujimoto, that pale and weak face immediately showing a smile worthy of being called handsome.

”So, if there’s a codename, just call me ’Minotaur’.”

He said.

Even the codename seemed harmless like him.

The subsequent arrangements were not noteworthy, after a brief registration of detailed information, he was sent to a messy inn in the Tanbo Inner Circle.

Living in a crowded room with six or seven people.

But for Hybrids, being able to not sleep on the streets was already good enough, what more could they demand?

Fujimoto also bought a bedding and a washbasin for him and reminded him to keep an eye on his personal belongings, as the roommates might not be trustworthy.

After seeing Fujimoto off, Huai Zhisu smiled at his roommates, friendly yet timid, and then lay on the bed, starting to sleep.

That’s when a clear and cold voice came from his ear.

”Seems like the infiltration mission is going smoothly?”

”Who says it’s not?”

Huai Shi’s lips moved silently, sighing, smelling the pungent second-hand smoke in the air, amid the sounds of his roommates scratching feet and playing cards, the newly minted ’Minotaur’ began to suspect... Whether his style had become strange again?

And why does he always end up connected with the Second fifth?

.

.

The story starts three days ago.

When Huai Shi rushed to Kyoto, before he even exited the station, he was directly taken to the headquarters of the Kyoto Astronomical Association by the students of the Ivory Tower waiting at the station’s entrance.

To be precise, it was inside a prison cell.

About a month ago, a professor of biology employed by the Ivory Tower was secretly detained due to issues concerning Current Circumstances security.

Actually, it wasn’t a big deal, just an invitation for questioning.

It concerned some recent movements of Green Day, and some clues they pursued.

The people from the Astronomical Society didn’t expect such a professor focused on research to be involved deeply; however, this old professor hasn’t spoken a word since being detained.

Refusing to cooperate, refusing dialogue, and also refusing any legal aid.

Except for the initial request.

He said, ”I want to see someone from the Ivory Tower.”

This was one of the undisclosed purposes of the Yingzhou Academic Exchange Group on the surface, and the one responsible for this was Vice Principal Mr. Isaac, leading the delegation.

He had to help clear the suspicions of this highly respected professor who had educated countless students and bring him back unharmed.

Unfortunately, when Professor Matsumoto saw it was the vice principal who came, he was greatly disappointed.

In the interrogation room, seeing Isaac, he did not hide his distrust and displeasure in the slightest, stating bluntly: ”I want to see the principal.”

”The principal’s identity is sensitive, it’s impossible for him to meet you, Professor Matsumoto, whatever it is, you can tell me, I can fully represent the Ivory Tower to ensure your personal safety and privacy space, but regarding the case, you must explain properly.”

Professor Matsumoto fell silent again.

Then, after half an hour, he made another request to the vice principal who could represent the Ivory Tower.

He said, ”I want to see Huai Shi.”