Chapter 134: Yokohama: If you want to get something, you must first take responsibility...
Mori Ogai temporarily dismissed the others and also told Nakahara Chuuya not to stay by his side all the time.
The chief's office was empty, yet seemed oppressive and cramped due to the dark decor. For a moment, the only sounds were the shallow breathing and the rustling sound of crayons on paper.
The candlelight in the room could only provide enough light for viewing, shrouding people in dim shadows.
It had been a long time since the sound of Mori Ogai's pen was written while he was correcting documents. After realizing this, the player looked up and happened to meet Mori Ogai's gaze, which had been looking at him for who knows how long.
When there were no outsiders around, he behaved like an ordinary middle-aged man, and it was difficult to sense the aura of a leader of the port mafia from Mori Ogai.
"Are you still adapting to working in the Port Mafia?" For example, now, he would ask the player in a casual manner how he felt about the new job.
The player was temporarily assigned to the Black Lizard. According to Mori Ogai, the player had known Guangjin Liulang before, and being in the same department, the two of them could also look after each other.
Currently serving as Guangjin Liulang's deputy, the player is actually assigned a relaxed task with no time limit, investigating Lan Tang's background.
Fushimi Kyoji looked up at him and, based on the above premise, made a reasonable guess about the true intention of Mori Ogai's words: "Mr. Mori, do you want to ask about the progress of Mr. Randou?"
Mori Ogai said "eh" in a strange way.
"Eh, eh? Could it be that my preconceived notion led me to misunderstand?" The player rubbed his index finger across his face in embarrassment. "Generally speaking... cadre candidates wouldn't volunteer for such simple manual labor."
That's obviously the case!
"I thought it was Mr. Mori's order that gave me this opportunity to meet Mr. Dao Lantang. ——Although Mr. Lantang's special ability is indeed very convenient!"
"Ah..." A slightly distressed look crossed Moriou's face. After a moment, he seemed to have given up defending himself in the confrontation. He sighed helplessly, and his dark eyes narrowed into a smile that resembled relief. "You're a little too frank, but that's also cute."
"I'm sure Lan Tang-jun won't mind either."
"So, how do you feel about getting along with Randou-kun?" Mori Ogai no longer concealed his purpose and asked directly what he really cared about.
Ugh!
Apart from feeling that the other party was very talented in playing cards, the players could not think of any other impressions of Lan Tang.
However, Mori Ogai didn't seem to be obsessed with how the players would answer. As soon as he finished speaking the previous sentence, he continued with another sentence smoothly without any noticeable pause.
"Perhaps I could rephrase the question. Do you, Fushimi, think Randou-kun is capable of being a leader of the Port Mafia?"
Fushimi Kyoki: Damn...
"Haha, I just can't understand why you haven't given up on making Lan Tangjun a cadre even though you know there are suspicious things about him?"
The pair of purple eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts and suck people's minds into them like a whirlpool were floating with a frightening light.
"For a behemoth the size of the Port Mafia, it's almost impossible to ensure absolute loyalty from every member."
"Sometimes, it's necessary to make the right choices. If you want to gain the loyalty of your subordinates, you have to be lenient with their actions."
"If you covet someone's power, you must be prepared to cause widespread damage and financial losses to the organization."
“If you believe in someone’s wisdom, you must be wary of the uncertainty that comes with that wisdom.”
“To appreciate someone’s character is to be tolerant of a heart that has not been exposed to filth.”
Mori Ogai looked at the player calmly, a hint of indifference etched in his eyes. "As long as it doesn't affect the interests of the Port Mafia, I don't think it's a serious problem for my subordinates to have hidden secrets."
Eh...
"It seems that the leader is working much harder than I imagined."
Mori Ogai smiled but didn't agree or deny it.
"Rintaro is so nagging!" Alice covered her ears, sat on the carpet, kicked the man's trouser leg, and complained, "It's already afternoon! Where's the dessert we promised you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Alice~ It's my fault for being so busy that I forgot about time." Mori Ogai clasped his hands together, bowed to the little girl, and looked at the player for help. "Why don't you let Fushimi take Alice out to buy some sweets instead of me to make it up to her."
"Hmph, that's perfect! I don't want to be hanging out with a useless old man." Alice clattered over to the player and took his hand with ease. "Let's go! Let Rintaro stay here and work himself to death to earn money."
Fushimi Kyoki didn't let Alice pull him away, so he asked, "Mr. Mori, aren't you coming with us?"
"How thoughtful of you to think of me even at this moment," Mori Ogai replied with a simple smile. "But the chief's work isn't over yet. Fushimi and Alice should just have fun."
"Let's go!" Alice urged the players impatiently.
The player has no idea why the little girl has so much strength, and is dragged out.
Before leaving the leader's office, Fushimi Kyoji suddenly had an idea and looked back.
The thin figure sitting there alone almost blended into the inky darkness, with his elbows resting on the table and his chin supported by his hands, like an unshakable sculpture.
“If you want to get something, you must first bear the loneliness it brings.”
His voice came from the direction where the light source was weak.
"Go play."
…
Not everyone buys Mori Ogai's rhetoric.
"These are all dirty tricks used by a cunning old man to make his subordinates willingly sacrifice their lives for him. Don't believe them."
To emphasize the seriousness of the situation, Dazai folded his hands in front of him and made a big 'X' to express his refusal.
Dazai Osamu paused - ever since he was rescued from his suicide attempt by hanging, players would often see him absent-minded like this for no reason.
Dazai usually recovered quickly, and this time was no exception. He then said lightly: "But a fool like Fushimi who doesn't understand romance will never succeed no matter what Mr. Mori wants to do."
“…”
Not getting a response from the player, Dazai Osamu childishly clenched his hands into tubes: "—Hey, hey."
"The unromantic idiot is going to deliver a cupcake to Alice now." Fushimi Kyoji passed him by.
Dazai Osamu puffed up his face in dissatisfaction and said to the player's back: "...Tsk."
He stood there, inexplicably stiff for a while, then followed with dragging steps.
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