Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 899: Chapter 718: Blank Check

It always feels like this old guy definitely harbors ill intentions!

Smiling so happily, you can tell at a glance he’s an old cunning dude.

When Tobio smiled, it almost triggered Huai Shi’s PTSD from Luo Su.

Although he really wanted to throw in a set of ’You ignored me before, and now you can’t afford me,’ he maintained some professional restraint as an undercover agent, immediately squeezing out his brightest smile and greeting the leader, tightly shaking his hands, giving them a vigorous shake.

”You’ve come, but you also brought a car, too embarrassing! Oh, it’s a Bentley...” He pointed behind him: ”Come upstairs, make yourself at home... Ueno? Where the hell is Ueno? Get some water for the boss!”

”No need for water, I specifically came to pick you up, Huaizhi-kun, and wanted to see the young hero in the Alliance before the banquet starts.”

Tobio squeezed Huai Shi’s small hand, smiling warmly: ”Why don’t we walk and talk on the way?”

”Sure, sure.” Huai Shi spoke, but his feet seemed nailed to the ground, not moving an inch. He looked down at himself, showing a regretful look: ”Going to the Alliance’s banquet, I haven’t even changed my clothes yet, it’s quite inappropriate. Why don’t you go first, I’ll catch up shortly.”

”No need, I knew Huaizhi-kun is pressed for time and didn’t have time to make a special order—Sato-kun.”

He turned to look at his subordinate beside him, who immediately raised the box in his hand, opened it, revealing a full set of intricately tailored outfit cut strictly according to Huai Shi’s body shape, additionally paired with a tie and suit, cufflinks, and a modest and solemn wristwatch.

”This is what I specifically instructed the tailor at home to make overnight, quickly have a look, see if it fits.”

Tobio grinned, showing his full set of white teeth, and as he saw Huai Shi trying to speak, he added another sentence: ”If you’re not used to Western attire, the tailor also made a robe and haori—”

Before Huai Shi could reply, he held onto Huai Shi’s hand, showing no intention of letting go.

He shot a glance at the driver, who calmly stood up, walked out of the driver’s seat, and approached the dazed Ueno behind Huai Shi, raising his hand to present the keys with both hands.

Along with two freshly minted driving licenses.

It’s a gift for you.

Ueno, holding the objects, was trembling in place, too stiff to either take or refuse them.

”It’s just a car, what’s there to panic over, Ueno, when Chairman Tobio gives it, you just take it. Miss this chance, and we won’t be able to afford it.”

Huai Shi glanced at Ueno, turned back, and looked at the old man in front of him: ”I must thank the elder for such generosity.”

They’ve gone as far as arranging it right to your doorstep, why hesitate?

He, as an officer of the Astronomical Society, doesn’t even pay when dining in Hell, why fear accepting a car from this old man?

Today, he really wants to see what kind of fake goods the old man’s gourd is selling.

Seeing him accept the items, Tobio nodded satisfiedly and laughed: ”Huaizhi-kun is indeed bold, come on, get in the car, try the suit, see if it fits.”

”Such a sunny day, why change places?”

Huai Shi looked up at the sun, laughing lightly: ”I prefer something more open...”

Right under Huaizhi Corporation’s building, amidst the passing streets, Huai Shi reached out, casually took off his jacket, and threw it to the Ueno behind him.

”Here is fine.” He said.

In the stunned gazes of everyone, he unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, revealing his bare torso, covered in scars and a ferocious wild tattoo.

Under the afternoon sun, the flowing muscles glimmered with a marble-like sheen. With the man’s movements, pure beauty of the body and strength was displayed on the street.

On his back, beneath the solemn, ominous door, grinned an evil ghost burdened with a bell.

Among those astonished gazes, Huai Shi tilted his head, lifted his leg, kicked off his shoes, and undid the casually bought pants.

Aside from underwear, there was no other covering, a robust body bathed in the sunlight.

Not burly, nor were the muscles extraordinarily developed to a bewildering extent.

But at this moment, anyone who witnessed could understand how powerful a force is harbored within this pure and perfect shell. Accompanying the oscillations of the heart, blood surged like torrents, emitting an illusionary, ancient reverberation from beneath the shell.

Feeling no humility or embarrassment, the young man known as Huai Zhisu unreservedly spread his arms, showcasing this near-perfect body.

Like an evil ghost walking down the street in broad daylight.

Displaying this impeccable strength.

Just like that, he reached out, taking from Ueno’s hands piece by piece the outfit intricately crafted from top-notch fabrics, leisurely fastening every button.

Reapplying this trivial constraint over his shell, allowing that body, describable by miracles and art, to be once again hidden within the darkness.

Finally, he lifted the gloomy bangs on his forehead, tied them behind his head, revealing the twisted horn.

After tightening the tie, the bare brute unimaginably transformed, underlining the solemn outfit, resembling a dignified gentleman.

”How does this outfit feel?” Huai Shi turned, asking Ueno.

Ueno bowed, replying respectfully: ”Of course, it couldn’t suit you better, Affiliate!”

”Then let’s go, let’s not keep the adults waiting.”

Huai Shi reached out, opened the car door, and smiled at the old man inside: ”After all, time is short.”

”No rush, Huaizhi-kun.”

Tobio studied his appearance, throwing back his head with a laugh: ”We have plenty of time.”

Soon, the car started, heading away, disappearing down the street.

In the silence, Lawrence smoked a cigarette, staring blankly in the direction where the exhaust fumes had vanished.

Begin to think.

——Did you bastards forget about me?

.

.

The venue for the banquet was in the manor of one of the five top leaders of the Alliance—the Arakawa Family.

Just outside Kyoto, beyond the ancient and serene manor, it was now bustling with cars and people.

Nominally, it was the engagement ceremony of the second son of the Arakawa Family and the eldest daughter of the Ochiai Family, another of the five top leaders, but in reality, at such a precarious moment, it had subtly turned into a serious meeting among the five top leaders.

Perhaps in the foreseeable future, all decisions and directions of the Alliance will be settled here.

Among the five families of Tobio, Ochiai, Hisashiga, Chiba, and Arakawa, the Tobio Family’s main base was in shipping trade, smuggling, and now even deep-sea fishing, the Ochiai Family dealt in gambling, the Hisashiga Family was rooted in electronic products, the Chiba Family in usury and illegal investments, and as for the Arakawa Family, it adhered to the traditional Extreme Path with illegal labor and sweatshops...

Generally speaking, after reaching the level of the five top leaders, they would gradually shake off their black industries, clean up, and transform into legitimate capital.

But in Yingzhou, how could such a good thing happen to the Hybrid?

How could the Dukes and Wu Family tolerate their rise and growth?

Over the long years, the Drug Expulsion Alliance had formed a network laid in darkness, uniting the hybrid enclaves across Yingzhou through the existence of the five top leaders, creating the scale of today’s Alliance.

Even so, it still couldn’t break through the stalemate.

In an environment with formidable foes, once the Alliance tried to expand outward from the Tanbo Inner Circle, it would face suppression and ambush by those with mutual understanding.

Over time, the Alliance abandoned the idea of expansion, and cohesion gradually waned, but this time was different from before.

If they didn’t unite now, then the day after the Order of Nothingness was issued, the so-called Hybrid Alliance would be devoured by all sides.

”...Do you think what I said makes sense, Huaizhi-kun?”

”Makes sense, a lot of sense.”

After listening to Tobio’s analysis, Huai Shi nodded vigorously: ”But there’s just one question... why are you telling me this, old man?”

He raised his hand, pointing at his face: ”What is the Huaizhi Gang in the Alliance? And what am I? A nobody, knowing all this, what use is it?”

”The sandalwood tree gives off a fragrance as leaves grow, Huaizhi-kun, how could someone like you fade into obscurity due to a temporary setback?” Tobio squinted, smiling, and frankly told him: ”Old man here sees great potential in you, hoping you can become my right arm.”

”The Tobio Family has so many arms, does it matter if it loses mine?” Huai Shi shrugged indifferently, retorting: ”Besides, can Tobio-dono really trust a helper like me with an unknown background?”

”Mutual understanding is indeed a necessary process, but just like I don’t understand you, Huaizhi-kun, do you understand me? Through records on paper, rumors from others, does that really count as understanding? Even if trusting with one’s life, does it really count as trust? As honesty?”

Tobio grinned, ”Isn’t that right? So-called trust, does it really exist in the Extreme Path?

Huaizhi-kun, we set up rules anew in the chaotic area, but essentially we still continue the survival method of beasts—so-called beasts, they just need to sniff each other’s scent to recognize if they are the same species.”

Huai Shi laughed, ”Am I of your species?”

”Kidding, of course not, otherwise would I dare recruit you, Huaizhi-kun.” Tobio laughed heartily and told him: ”You still have that thing called conscience.”

That’s why I dared to hold a little hope for you.

The mercy not possessed by the Iron King Party, the lack of reason in the Earth Sky Fool Team, the ambition absent in the Triad and the Great Circle, the bloodline the Russian Federation K Party could not fake, and what the Light Illumination’s Church definitely couldn’t sacrifice for undercover missions...

Not to mention those high and mighty Dukes and the Wu Family.

Ultimately, after the verification of Green Day, you still possess the conscience absent among the Extreme Path.

Like a giant elephant and whale appearing among a pack of fighting beasts—a presence so powerful it’s almost glowing, impossible to ignore.

”Please help me, Huaizhi-kun, come to my side.”

Tobio extended his hand, sincerely inviting: ”To save the Tanbo Inner Circle, to save the Alliance—help me secure the position of head of the Alliance!”

”...”

In silence, Huai Shi lowered his head, looking at the wrinkled palm for a long while, and suddenly asked: ”Everything you said is good, very good, but aren’t these all things you stand to gain?”

He asked, ”Where’s my reward, what I deserve?”

”That depends on how much you can take.”

Tobio smiled, telling him: ”As long as you can take it, Huaizhi-kun, it’s all yours—in the Alliance, you can grow freely, as long as it’s beneath me alone.

Even if later you wish to overthrow, it’s no problem.

I, Tobio Souhei, promise you in my name, this is the pact between you and me.”

”Sounds pretty much like an empty check.”

Huai Shi chuckled softly.

”Deal.”

Huai Shi, the Astronomical Society officer, shook his hand.

The car just happened to stop before the broad entrance, the light outside illuminating their smiling faces.

Each harboring ulterior motives.