“State your name!” Uncle Six, probably having the same suspicion, grew even more imposing and shouted.
“I am Black Cat, or Black Moon.” He spoke unhurriedly, a gender-neutral voice coming from behind his mask, soft and pleasant, yet also very oppressive.
The voice was confirmed; it was indeed like this in his previous life. However, it didn't sound like it was produced by an instrument; it should be a disguise using Psychic Energy. Of course, it could also be some kind of treasure.
Before Black Moon finished speaking, everyone instinctively took a step back. Everyone except Yu Lian and Yahata; of course, the latter didn't move because the former didn't, and they had always been on the outermost edge of the crowd anyway.
“You, you, what do you want to do!” Uncle Six shouted, “I’m telling you, we’re not afraid of you! There are over forty of us here, with guns, cannons, and mechs, every one of us a hero who kills without batting an eye!”
Perhaps feeling that his words sounded a bit too much like bluster, Uncle Six quickly added, “We just took out the Norman Gang and the All-Unification Church! Your accomplices are all wiped out! Now, it’s your turn!”
“Being called an accomplice of the Norman Gang and the cult, that’s quite disheartening for me,” Black Moon sighed. “Alright, the timing of this invitation was indeed a bit delicate, but it really was just a coincidence. Do you believe me?”
The people Present exchanged glances, all feeling a sense of humiliation as if their intelligence had been mocked. If it weren’t for the mysterious way the other party appeared, and the high probability that he was the famous rogue Star Hunter, this group of hot-blooded, energetic gang members would probably have charged forward.
Autumn Mountain Yawata pushed up his glasses and stepped forward. “I am Autumn Mountain Yawata. The Autumn Mountain of that Autumn Mountain. I’m in charge here.”
Black Moon looked at the words “Autumn Mountain Scented Tea” on the box and nodded, signaling him to continue.
“If it were according to your usual style, if you truly intended to make trouble for us, then the 1 billion worth of goods here would surely be gone by now, wouldn’t they? So, this time, you shouldn’t have come with ill intent?”
“Very good, not all the young people of the Kuki-gumi are so hot-blooded. I’m very pleased!” Black Moon’s voice seemed to carry a smile, speaking with the tone of an old man greatly comforted.
“But, since I started, I’ve almost completely ignored your presence, which is simply too illogical. I don’t know if such power exists in the world of mysticism… but my common sense tells me that illogical situations are, nine times out of ten, the effect of Psychic Energy.”
“A very calm and intelligent judgment.” Black Moon nodded in agreement.
“Then, this doesn’t seem like a friendly way to say hello.” Yahata’s voice began to cool.
“No choice, because apart from you, and your spiritual confidant, everyone else here is too hot-blooded.” Black Moon looked at Yu Lian, emphasizing the pronunciation of “spiritual confidant” slightly.
Autumn Mountain Yawata felt the other party’s obvious sarcasm and pushed up his glasses helplessly.
So, is he the same person or not? Yu Lian began to ponder.
The Count he met in his previous life was powerful, aloof, and mysterious, yet seemed to carry a heavy sorrow, but this one now seemed quite lively. However, this persona was closer to the various legends.
“The Norman Gang, and the cultists, are strong enemies for you, aren’t they! I really don’t want to distract everyone at this time. And, again, I truly came with good intentions, it would be too tragic if everyone misunderstood,” Black Moon added.
“But if that’s the case, why did you send us a black letter?”
“I came with sincerity to invite you for a matter, so of course I must first Present an invitation; this is proper etiquette. The Autumn Mountain family has long resided in the East, claiming to be an ancient samurai lineage; surely, you wouldn’t fail to understand such a basic principle?” Black Moon said, “Of course, people in the Underworld always spread rumors about my black invitation cards, calling them black letters, death notices, or treasure theft announcements, which is a complete distortion of the truth. What can be done about it? This is human nature, after all; you can’t expect me, a lone wolf, to go around refuting every rumor, can you?”
“…” Autumn Mountain Yawata’s expression was stiff with embarrassment. Of course, everyone else’s expressions were even more awkward.
Yu Lian turned his face away again, his shoulders beginning to tremble.
“Hmph, what strong enemies! Under the command of our Young Master… and the Young Master’s martial friends, the Norman Gang and the All-Unification Church were nothing but chickens and dogs, and now they’re scurrying away with their tails between their legs!” Uncle Six shouted.
The heads claimed by martial friends, of course, are our heads. In this day and age, to make a living in the underworld, connections are naturally part of one’s strength!
Yu Lian felt there was nothing wrong with that statement, but Autumn Mountain Yawata tilted his head slightly, somewhat unnaturally. This future strategist, “Immovable Yahata,” although already possessing a thick skin that made his peers look up to him, was still only a twenty-two-year-old young man, after all, and hadn’t yet cultivated to that level.
At this moment, Black Moon said, “This is why I had to wait until the dust settled before coming out. Young Master of the Autumn Mountain family, you are very intelligent and decisive, but you take too many risks.”
Autumn Mountain Yawata was slightly startled, while Uncle Six showed anger, but before he could erupt, the Count added, “Sending the reinforcements from the East directly to attack the Viking Club and the armory was indeed a stroke of genius. But, have you ever considered what would happen if there were also heavy defenses there?”
“I am very clear about the Norman Gang’s manpower. In terms of intelligence, we far surpass them!” Yahata pushed up his glasses.
“What if they also happened to have a spiritual confidant by their side? Just like you.”
Autumn Mountain Yawata was instantly speechless.
Yu Lian lowered his head, his shoulders still trembling. He was becoming more and more fond of this Count now. If he and the very gloomy big shot he met in his previous life were truly the same person, then he might as well find an opportunity to talk to him. If he had any worries, he would help him understand them. If any tragedy was about to happen, he would find a way to help him avoid it.
Who told me that in my previous life, I was known throughout the Universe as Captain Yu Lian, famous for my warm heart and good connections.
The Count seemed to let out a laugh from behind his mask, then conjured a bloody bundle out of thin air. Inside was an irregularly shaped sphere.
It was clearly a head, but the packaging method was a bit old-fashioned.
“This is…”
“The newly appointed Chief Protector of the All-Unification Church’s Earth Diocese, Kukon Bison, a ‘Star Hunter’.”
The Star Hunter, of course, wasn’t referring to that kind of hunter, but a Three Rings master of the Star Hunter pathway, like Ina.
“Before your subordinates arrived, this guy was resting at the Viking Club, so I just happened to steal his head. How about it, is that enough to express my goodwill?”
His words were so understated, as if stealing the head of a Psychic Energy master skilled in vigilance, perception, and trap-setting was no more difficult than swiping sausages hanging in a neighbor’s yard.
Black Moon probably used the same tone when he stole the head of the Imperial Governor of Earth back then.
Yu Lian felt that Autumn Mountain Yawata’s breathing seemed a bit heavy at this moment; he should be feeling a sense of dread now.
It made sense; if there really was a Three Rings Psychic Energy master in the Viking Club, the fate of the troops he sent would probably not be any better than the corpses of the Norman Gang gunmen outside the factory.
“Additionally, in Big Apple City, there’s also a Bishop of the All-Unification Church’s Earth Diocese, Constan, also from that messy cult. This is also one of the reasons I sent you an invitation. I need some help now, and coincidentally, your Kuki-gumi is one of the few organizations among the Earth’s gangs that still retains a bit of decency and humanity. Anyway, since you’ve already fallen out with the All-Unification Church, don’t you want to settle it once and for all?” Black Moon chuckled.
“This, Yahata…” Uncle Six showed a look of temptation.
Autumn Mountain Yawata must have been tempted too, but he still kept a poker face with a calm and indifferent expression, saying, “You just said, ‘one of’…?”
The Count nodded approvingly. “Yes, it is indeed one of! The other purpose is to discuss a business deal with you. So, Young Master of the Autumn Mountain family, would you like to discuss business first, or the cult first?”
For the esteemed Black Moon to confront a cult was normal, but to discuss business was a bit strange.
Yahata pondered for a moment, then said, “Then, let’s discuss business first. If we discuss enemies first, and we have the experience of fighting alongside you, I’m afraid we won’t be able to fall out and discuss business anymore.”
“You are much more realistic than your elders, and much more composed. It seems that reading more books truly has its benefits.” Black Moon didn’t mind, patting the medicine box he was sitting on, and chuckled, “Then, let’s discuss business first. You said one thing incorrectly, Young Master of the Autumn Mountain family; these goods, these crystal pills that have recently been improved and are even more potent than Morson’s authentic medicine, are actually worth 5 billion.”
“Morson’s are the pirated ones; we are the victims whose patents were stolen… Wait, what do you mean by that?” He couldn’t be planning to make us pay 5 billion to redeem them, could he?
“Your channels can only sell for 1 billion. But my channels can sell for 5 billion,” the Count said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“So, let’s cooperate! Haven’t you ever thought about promoting our crystal pills, promoting the name of Autumn Mountain Scented Tea, to the entire Universe?”
Autumn Mountain Yawata must have felt a huge shock. The boy probably used all his strength to keep his face straight, so as not to overturn his “calm strategist” persona. This was evident from the frequency with which he pushed up his glasses and his trembling shoulders.
Yu Lian said this was not surprising, because even he felt a little like trembling.