Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 886 - 711: Where Water Flows Like Wine

Deathly silence, solidified silence.

Even the big shots quietly spying from the side room were dumbfounded, staring at the arrogant figure. For the first time in a long time, they saw someone brazenly dare to trample on Kitahara’s dignity.

Only Kitahara, staring in disbelief, looking at the finger poking into his chest.

Still, he couldn’t believe it.

When he raised his head, he saw Huai Shi’s mocking yet indifferent eyes, his face turning from flushed to livid, the cane in his fingers almost crushed, roaring in fury:

"You scoundrel, how dare you insult me!"

"I just spoke a few truths, no need to get so angry, right?"

Huai Shi sighed, "There’s no need to speak so loudly, I can hear you—"

He paused, his gaze turning dangerous, calmly patting the shoulder of the man before him, tidying his collar and hair, gently telling him, "Even if you don’t understand etiquette, you shouldn’t be so disrespectful in front of the deceased’s spirit, calm down, okay?"

Through the suit, he patted the man’s gun holster beneath his ribs, Huai Shi slowly released his hand, stepped back a bit, scrutinizing his appearance, nodding with satisfaction: "That’s more like it, you’re an envoy of the big five, you shouldn’t stoop to the level of us street-rat nobodies, you should maintain decorum."

"You think you’ve won?"

Kitahara squeezed out a hoarse voice through clenched teeth, his old face full of gloom, staring fixedly at Huai Shi’s face, "You think you’re so great, so powerful, I know, every year there’s always someone like you who doesn’t know your place jumping out, trying to challenge authority, oblivious to reality.

You think with Fujimoto’s legacy in your hands, you can stand up to the big five, but you’re dreaming, Huaizhi, if the big five don’t allow it, you wouldn’t even get to be the boss!"

"Maybe, perhaps, it might just be as you say?"

Huai Shi shrugged nonchalantly, smiling: "But, what do you amount to anyway? If you want to take my place, let the big five tell me directly."

"Ochiai, Tobio, Hisashiga, Chiba, and Arakawa, any of them."

He bent down, whispered softly in Kitahara’s ear: "If they’re dissatisfied with me, the newcomer, then let them come and tell me themselves."

In the silence, Kitahara raised his eyes, looking at the man before him, soon, he slowly nodded: "Very well, I will convey your words.

Huaizhi, I sincerely hope you maintain your courage when facing your doom."

He withdrew his venomous gaze, said nothing more, turned and left. But after walking a few steps, he heard the voice behind him.

"... Weren’t you here to pay your respects?"

Huai Shi turned around before the spirit tablet, puzzled: "Why not offer incense?"

Kitahara’s steps halted, his expression twitching, restraining his anger, turned around and raised his hand towards Yamada. Yamada bent down, offering a bundle of incense.

The incense was lit by candle flame, the brief blaze illuminated the faces of the old and the young, quickly disappeared into the mist brought by the light rain.

Only a flickering flame fell into the Incense Burner, transformed into thin curling smoke, dispersing in all directions.

Watching Kitahara leave in anger, Yamada, pale-faced, approached, lowered his voice: "Kitahara is an envoy of the big five, if..."

"I know."

Huai Shi said: "I did it on purpose."

Yamada was stunned: "Why, why?"

"It’s simple." Huai Shi turned back, looking at him calmly, "If there’s no opportunity, how does a newcomer make an entrance?"

Yamada wanted to speak but held back.

He wanted to say this was putting the Fujimoto Group on a hot seat, once spread, there might be a risk of collapse. But the Fujimoto Group no longer exists, now it should be the Huaizhi Gang. The affiliate has already decided, what right does he, a washed-up underboss, have to say anything?

The deed is done, what’s left but mountains of daggers and seas of flames, after fear, Yamada had already accepted reality. If the big five hold them accountable, he might as well go down with the leader.

He lowered his gaze, said nothing more.

The consequences of offending Kitahara were apparent even before tomorrow; the big shots originally participating in the farewell from the side room began to make various excuses, leaving one after another.

Admiration for Huaizhi’s courage in expelling the envoy of the big five didn’t mean they liked associating with someone who doesn’t know his place.

"Oh, Mr. Huaizhi can be considered talented despite his youth, should’ve stayed to drink a few more cups, but something urgent came up at home, can’t stay long, truly a shame."

The old man from the Yamada Group feigned regret, holding Huai Shi’s hand in an emotional farewell.

Huai Shi did not insist, not even Fujimoto’s widow and children were retained.

Just smiling, bidding them farewell one by one.

"Leaving without dinner? Truly a shame." He courteously sent them to the door: "Everyone, take care on your way, I won’t see you off."

Watching the elders turn away, Huai Shi looked at Takuma, seemingly puzzled: "Strange, is everyone really uninterested in the Tiger King Group’s legacy?"

Under the umbrella, Yamada’s old man’s steps paused slightly, but he did not turn back, leaving with an unchanged expression.

Five minutes later, the back door was knocked.

The old man who’d turned back smiled at Yamada: "Oh dear, forgot my umbrella, could I trouble you for a meal?"