Chapter 86: Dead Tree Revives in Spring 05

The air was like solid gel and the sunlight dimmed a little.

As Nashida scrutinized Akutagawa, the ruthless Mafia was quietly assessing her.

...her breathing was disordered, her steps were weak, her limbs were limp, and she was weaker than an ordinary child; the material of the headdress beside her braid was unknown, it looked like jade or gemstone, but it was definitely worth a lot of money; her clothes were neat, her fingers were white, tender and delicate, without a hairpin, her hair was shiny and meticulously groomed...

Obviously, unlike him who came from the slums, Narcida's original family was not only wealthy, but also caring for her very much.

She should grow up healthily in the world of ordinary people, instead of walking in the shadows and living a life on the edge of a knife.

For her, the Port Mafia was too dangerous. Although Nashida had a similar defensive ability, there was always something that could restrain her - such as his [Rashomon]. When he was in the police station, he directly pierced Nashida's shield.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke came to the final conclusion: he could strangle Narcida and her pet with one hand.

This child is undoubtedly a weakling.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke frowned again.

From the moment he was brought to the port Mafia by Dazai Osamu, "the weak do not deserve to survive" became his life creed, but for the sake of his leader's face, Akutagawa Ryunosuke held back the sarcasm that was about to come out of his mouth.

He thought he had made a concession, but Nashida did not appreciate it. Her voice was soft, but her tone was firm: "Since you have done nothing, why don't you explain why Lansaka is so afraid of you? I think there may be a misunderstanding."

As if thinking of something unpleasant, Akutagawa Ryunosuke's brows, which had just relaxed, wrinkled again, and his eyes became more ferocious: "You can ask your pet directly."

"First of all, Lansaka is not my pet, but my partner," Nashidas said fearlessly, "Secondly, I just want to hear your answer."

The word "partner" caused Akutagawa Ryunosuke to snort in disdain.

Nashida continued to smile, showing no intention of turning the page.

The air was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder, as if it would explode in the next second.

Mori Owl: "..."

On the left is the Little Grass King who must not be offended, and on the right is a diamond that has not yet been carved into shape. No matter which one is hurt, it will be a big loss for the Port Mafia.

At times like this, he, a reliable adult, was the only one who could ease the atmosphere.

Mori Ogai coughed a few more times and successfully diverted Akutagawa Ryunosuke's attention. Then he slightly turned sideways and slid in between the two of them like a loach, blocking Nashida's line of sight.

He smiled and said, "This is all a misunderstanding."

Mori Ogai briefly recounted what happened at the police station. In order to prevent Akutagawa Ryunosuke from saying anything inappropriate, he spoke so fast that it seemed as if his tongue would break in the next second.

Finally, Mori Ogai assured: "Akutagawa-kun has a cold exterior but a warm heart. He is a good boy."

Lanzaca weakly retorted: "Good Nala wouldn't play with something that makes a 'bang' sound. It's scary. Only bad Nala would play with it."

Mori Ouwai said kindly, "That's not accurate. What is a good Nala? What is a bad Nala? If a bad Nala hurts someone with a dinner knife, does that mean a good Nala should give up using a dinner knife to eat? Lansaka, we shouldn't define good and bad."

Lansaka was stunned by the theory it had never heard before. It tried hard to understand this long and complicated string of words: "Good Nala... Bad Nala... Good... Bad... Lady Nashida, Lansaka doesn't understand, but what Nalasen said seems to make sense."

Nashida: "..."

She covered Lansaka's ears to prevent the simple Lanna Luo from being poisoned by the fallacies of the forest gull. She wanted to explain that table knives and bombs were two completely incomparable things, but looking at Lansaka's silly look, Nashida decided to let its poor brain go.

She looked up at Mori Ouwai, who blinked at her with a pitiful expression - please, please don't pursue this topic any further.

Nashida: "..."

Alice: "Rintaro's expression is so disgusting."

Narcida silently agreed in her heart.

Mori Ogai's heart was broken. Akutagawa Ryunosuke was disgusted by the word "good boy" and was brainwashing himself madly: This is what the leader said, he must accept it; this is what the leader said, he must accept it; this is what the leader said...

After suppressing his unspeakable emotions, Akutagawa Ryuunosuke finally realized that something was wrong.

The leader seemed to be trying to avoid any arguments between him and Nashida.

But he had never taken care of such a small matter before. Even when Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuuya were partners, the leader never stepped forward to mediate the conflict between the two.

Why?

Akutagawa Ryunosuke's thinking suddenly reached a dead end.

While thinking, he followed the leader's instructions and acted as Nashida's guide, showing her the various facilities in the Mafia building at the port.

"Thinking too much is bad for your health." The tender voice of a child floated into my ears.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke snorted coldly: "It has nothing to do with you."

"It doesn't matter? Good children shouldn't tell lies."

"What did you say?"

"I said, you have been thinking about me, but unfortunately, you haven't come up with an answer yet."

Akutagawa Ryunosuke suddenly stopped, his dark pupils shrank into a line, and he stared at Nashida like an ambushed beast.

Nashida smiled and looked back nonchalantly: "Akutagawa-kun, am I wrong?"

——She was right.

That's why Akutagawa Ryunosuke was shocked.

He looked at Nashida's gentle features, which were as fresh green as young buds, but for no reason his heart skipped a beat, as if his thoughts were seen through.

...What's going on with this guy?

Akutagawa Ryunosuke forced himself to look away and said coldly: "Put away your little cleverness and stop doing unnecessary things. Now, follow me to the next place."

He took a few steps forward, but Narcida did not follow.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke did not stop to wait for her, but continued to walk forward. The next second——

Bang.

There was a dull thud of something heavy falling behind him, followed by Lansaka's scream: "Lady Nashida! Why are you dizzy again?!"

Ryunosuke Akutagawa: "???"

Could it be that he made her faint?

Akutagawa Ryunosuke looked at Nashida lying on the ground, and his brain went blank. A few seconds later, he quickly walked to Nashida's side and squatted down, and his hand that reached for the tip of his nose trembled a little.

——Still alive.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke breathed a sigh of relief, then became nervous again.

What to do now? Take Narcida to the leader? If the leader asks, how should he answer?

Akutagawa Ryunosuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He always felt that he had been particularly unlucky since he met Narcida.

A few minutes later, in the chief's office.

Mori Ouwai looked at the unconscious Nashida and buried his face deeply in his palms.

...Little Grass King, why are you back again...

*

Seven minutes ago.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke: "Now, follow me to the next place."

At the same time, the system prompts: [Dream detected, analyzing in progress. ]

【Parsing completed.】

【Dreamland: Yumeno Hisasaku.】

[Is the host in a dream? ]

Hoshino looked down and nodded "yes" consciously.