Chapter 28

Rokudo Mukuro and Dazai Osamu walked along Raihachi Street, looking at the chaotic surroundings.

The dilapidated streets were in ruins and eerily silent. Yet, it was precisely in this silence that evil continued to breed.

A gentle breeze rustled their clothes, making them appear as if they were strolling in a courtyard rather than in the heart of Raibo Street.

Dazai Osamu held a book with a red cover, reading it while muttering to himself, "So swallowing gold can be a form of suicide... Wow, I didn't know you could do that. I can try it sometime."

Rokudo Mukuro had seen Dazai Osamu reading this book before, so he wasn't too surprised. He simply stated the facts: "However, you don't have that much money to buy gold to support your suicide, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Dazai Osamu turned his head to the side, not wanting to talk to a rich person.

But Rokudo Mukuro had no intention of letting him go. "Not only do you not have money to buy gold, but the bandages you use and the crab meat you eat, I bought all of these for you, didn't I?"

Dazai Osamu internally refuted: No, it was obtained by trading his intellect and freedom.

"So, Dazai-kun, instead of rushing to commit suicide, you should hurry up and return my money."

"Ah, Dr. Mori's request is really difficult to resolve." Dazai Osamu immediately changed the subject. Returning the money was out of the question; his money and bank cards were just going to be wasted.

Rokudo Mukuro smiled slightly, playing along with him, "Dr. Mori only asked us to invite them, he didn't ask us to bring them directly to the port Mafia."

“That’s true, but,” Dazai Osamu crossed his arms behind his head, looking rather lazy, “I have a feeling that the person we’re meeting will definitely not get along with me.”

Rokudo Mukuro recalled the details of his interactions with Nakahara Chuuya, and then looked at Dazai Osamu beside him: "I've met Nakahara-kun before. He's a person with pure emotions, great strength, and a firm will."

Dazai Osamu made a disgusted expression, staggered along, and muttered, "...I hate people like that the most. Sure enough, even before meeting Nakahara Chuuya, I..."

Rokudo Mukuro paused, moving a little further away from Dazai Osamu, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

Dazai Osamu immediately noticed his movement and was about to turn around when he was kicked away by a dark figure.

He only stopped when he crashed into a wall. After the dust settled, the person who attacked him was revealed.

The person who kicked him away still had one foot on his chest. He was wearing a military green jacket, had unusually bright orange hair, and his blue eyes were as bright as a clear sky. Just one look was enough to tell that this person contained a vibrant life force.

Dazai Osamu lay on the ground, utterly dejected. Only when he saw Rokudo Mukuro walking towards them did he manage to say, "I told you, I absolutely can't get along with this guy."

Chuuya Nakahara was equally furious. After discovering Rokudo Mukuro and Dazai Osamu's whereabouts, he secretly followed them, fearing they might be in danger. After all, the two looked frail, and Raiba Street wasn't exactly a peaceful place.

Rokudo Mukuro was under his protection.

Although the brat next to Rokudo Mukuro looked really annoying, he still held back.

Until this kid directly said he hated him.

He had been suppressing the urge to punch him to protect his safety, but the man actually said he hated him and spoke ill of him in front of Rokudo Mukuro. This was completely unacceptable.

"You brat, shut up!" Chuuya Nakahara raised his foot to step on him, and then kicked his arm twice.

"Get up, stop pretending to be dead. I didn't use any force at all."

Seeing Dazai Osamu lying there motionless and expressionless, Chuuya Nakahara's anger kept rising.

"You're just a kid yourself," Dazai Osamu said, stubbornly refusing to budge. "Besides, I'm physically weak, and that kick you just gave me has left me seriously injured. You'll have to pay for it!"

Chuuya Nakahara gritted his teeth, “...you.”

"Nakahara-kun, it's been a long time." Rokudo Mukuro walked up to the two of them and said to Nakahara Chuuya with a smile.

"Ah, Mukuro-kun, it's been a long time." Chuuya Nakahara simply couldn't refuse someone who showed him kindness.

"Thank you for protecting us along the way." Rokudo Mukuro genuinely thought Mori Ougai was a scumbag. Look at Nakahara Chuuya, what a kind and good kid he is! If he were to be a Mafia member, he should be in the Mist Clan under the Vongola!

Hearing this, Chuuya Nakahara smiled arrogantly: "It's nothing, just something I did."

"Mukuro-kun, you just watched me get beaten up by him, do you still want me to pay you back?"

"I believe that Lord Zhongyuan acted with great restraint."

“Of course. If I had used my full strength, he wouldn’t be able to say a word right now.” Chuuya Nakahara was very clear about the force he used. The man would feel some pain, but he would definitely not be injured.

But now he's lying on the ground and won't get up, and he's even asking him for money. Is he trying to stage an accident?

"Hey, Mukuro-kun, and this little slug that looks like a slug, don't ignore me!" Dazai Osamu, lying on the ground, showed no intention of getting up, but kept trying to make his presence known.

A tiny slug?! Chuuya Nakahara's forehead veins throbbed, his hands clenched tightly in his pockets, and his smile gradually turned ferocious: "...Mukuro-kun, where did you bring this thing that looks exactly like a mackerel from?"

"You little green slug, how rude of you to call me a mackerel!" Dazai Osamu said with a displeased expression.

Chuuya Nakahara couldn't take it anymore, but he was too embarrassed to kick Rokudo Mukuro a few more times in front of him, so he bent down, reached out and grabbed Dazai Osamu's collar, lifting him up.

"Do you think you're being polite, you mackerel?"

Chuuya pulled very hard, and Dazai Osamu could feel his clenched fist, which was originally intended to be aimed at his face.

From that kick just now, Dazai Osamu could already feel Nakahara Chuuya's power, so he didn't want to take his punch.

He was seeking death, but he hated pain.

So he broke free from Chuuya's grasp and stood beside Rokudo Mukuro, but still couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark:

"Turns out she was short..."

Before he could finish speaking, the stone slab beneath Chuuya Nakahara's feet shattered into pieces.

Having witnessed the whole thing, Rokudo Mukuro's interest grew even stronger. Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuuya are truly fascinating!

They dislike and despise each other, yet are also attracted to one another, and can even complement each other. If the Vongola members saw this, they would probably have a lot to say. Isn't the way these two get along somewhat similar to the way Rokudo Mukuro and Hibari Kyoya get along?

Tsk tsk, if these two really get lured away by Mori Ougai, then he'll really hit the jackpot.

Thinking this to himself, he said it aloud: "Even though Dazai-kun and Nakahara-kun have only just met, their relationship can improve very quickly."

Upon hearing this, Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuuya exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned away, making expressions as if they were about to vomit from disgust.

"Mukuro-kun, did I do something to offend you? Why are you disgusting me like this?" Dazai Osamu looked aggrieved.

“Mukuro-kun, I hate this mackerel,” Chuuya Nakahara said firmly.

Rokudo Mukuro smiled without saying a word, having no intention of joining the bickering between the two.

"Oh, really? Then I absolutely love you just the way you are~"

Chuuya Nakahara: "How disgusting..."

…………

"So, you've come to see me?"

The three of them were currently atop a dilapidated building, the tallest building on Raibo Street, from which they could clearly see everything on Raibo Street.

"Yeah, that pervert Dr. Mori always likes to daydream and try to get something for nothing." Dazai Osamu shrugged, speaking ill of Mori Ougai without a care in the world.

Because of his acquaintance with Rokudo Mukuro, Chuuya Nakahara knew who the Dr. Mori that Dazai Osamu was talking about was.

Chuuya Nakahara: "Is this how you talk badly about your leader behind his back?"

Dazai Osamu tilted his head, feigning cuteness: "What's wrong with talking badly about him? Besides, I haven't joined the Port Mafia yet, and Dr. Mori isn't my leader right now~"

Even if it is true, they will still say bad things without hesitation.

Rokudo Mukuro gazed at the distant port and the setting sun: "So, Nakahara-kun, what are your thoughts?"

Chuuya Nakahara turned to look at the ruins of Raibo Street and answered without hesitation, "I will not join the Port Mafia." He could not leave Raibo Street.

Neither Rokudo Mukuro nor Dazai Osamu were surprised by this answer.

Rokudo Mukuro nodded: "Okay, we understand."

The matter should have ended there, but Dazai Osamu suddenly asked:

"Is it because of those people?"

Following Dazai Osamu's gaze, they saw two children hiding in an abandoned building not far from them, peeking out and secretly watching the three of them.

"Yes, they are members of the 'Sheep' group."

Dazai Osamu gave a strange smile: "And you are the king of the 'sheep'."

Hearing this, Chuuya Nakahara became somewhat agitated and said, "I'm not a king, I just have a good hand."

Hearing Chuuya Nakahara's words, and combining them with the information he had gathered about the "sheep," Rokudo Mukuro roughly understood his situation.

"The good card you have is 'power.' Use your power to protect these vulnerable groups, and these weak people will support you as their king. Isn't that only natural?" Rokudo Mukuro tried to comfort Nakahara Chuuya.

Just like him, he saved thousands of dogs, Chrome and the others. They saw him as their savior, as their god, while he saw them as his companions, as the most important people to him.

The relationship between the two requires maintenance and effort from both sides.

If you can't get anything from the other person, then try to control them and make them work for you.

This is the right thing to do in Rokudo Mukuro's mind.

Chuuya Nakahara remained silent and did not answer. He was not unaware of his situation, but at this moment, he could not possibly give up "sheep," even if he became a tool.

"Chuuya~ I have a feeling that you'll definitely be taken back by Dr. Mori later..."

Dazai Osamu drawled out his words, his brows furrowing as if in considerable distress, "Then we'll definitely be seeing each other all the time, ah, just thinking about it makes me very unhappy."

"Shut up, you have a premonition? Did you have a premonition that you were going to get beaten up?" Chuuya Nakahara gritted his teeth, turned around, and waved his fist at him.

Rokudo Mukuro remained silent, but he also felt that "sheep" was not the right word for Chuuya Nakahara.