Chapter 205 Fortune Telling is a Skill
[Anti-fraud expert #11: In the end, I still have to go.]
The alpacas, sitting on Morofushi Kagemitsu's shoulders and head, were clearly not used to the pace of a raid.
Oh? I thought you had already noticed when you saw me heading in this direction. Are you still hoping for the best?
[Anti-fraud expert #148: We just... we just thought you should prepare before going in. Look, we don't have any equipment...]
He took out various emergency spare parts he had prepared, and considering his previous experience, he also put on a mask, colored contact lenses, and sunglasses.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Once we go in, we'll trigger a time loop. You've seen all the time-displaying devices inside. We might end up getting lost even after using up a lot of time energy...]
He shook his phone, which contained a number of scheduled text messages. These were his backup plans in case he might not be able to get out in time.
[Anti-Fraud Guru No. 19: Going inside will also have a significant impact on your physical and mental health, and we can't be sure if you can withstand it...]
He directly produced his full physical examination report from the police station some time ago, and even a mental health assessment form—regardless of whether he had prepared for those assessment questions beforehand, he passed them in the end and was fully qualified.
[...]
Seeing that the anti-fraud officers were all dejected, he easily suppressed their last struggle by climbing the stairs.
While the alpacas were struggling to convince each other and accept the current situation as quickly as possible, Morofushi Kagemitsu had already climbed the stairs and stood at the main entrance of the shrine.
He wasn't in a hurry to enter the illusion space. Instead, he first walked around the shrine, inspecting it and trying to memorize everything he saw.
Although he could get help from the all-powerful Anti-Fraud Guy for such a small matter, he had to be prepared to lose contact with him at any time—after all, this wasn't the first time this had happened—in case he was completely helpless without the Anti-Fraud Guy's assistance, something he absolutely could not accept.
After carefully confirming that there were no other unrelated people in the shrine, he acted like an ordinary tourist, bowing, cleaning, donating money (the anti-fraud reporter also donated some of their accumulated merit), drawing a fortune slip, and even sitting behind the small table for fortune telling to interpret and write down his own slip: [Wishing fulfilled].
This is truly a good omen.
[Anti-fraud expert #19: If your wish wasn't to "enter the illusionary space," that would be even better...]
That's our purpose this time, so naturally we'll bring it along when making a wish. To ensure our trip won't be as arduous as ours in Tottori, I even bought a local lucky charm.
[Anti-fraud expert #148: ...So you're not planning on doing anything else? So far, we haven't found anything wrong here.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: ...It would be strange if something unusual actually happened now. Jing didn't do anything special, how could the "hidden plot" be triggered so easily?]
Yes. However, I think we can still draw on our past experiences with time travel, since what we're about to do is also closely related to changes in time and space.
Perhaps we can discover something unusual in these seemingly ordinary things, which could very well become the opportunity for us to enter and exit the illusionary space-time.
[Anti-fraud expert #214: Something unusual... Hmm, it's starting to snow lightly now, does that count? I remember Jing specifically checked the weather forecast before we came, and today was supposed to be a sunny day.]
Morofushi Kagemitsu put down the fortune slip in his hand, stepped out of the hut, and found that, just as Anti-Fraud King had said, it had begun to snow outside the window.
It's snowing again. Last time, when Number 234 entered the spacetime rift, he also used a similar marker to transition.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Could it be snow? However, the appearance of such natural factors isn't entirely unpredictable.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: Not quite. Last time, when Jing traveled through time, he did so through snow, and the landmarks overlapped. Speaking of which, when we accidentally entered the illusionary space in Tottori last time, it seemed we encountered a series of accidents and cases, and afterwards, after obtaining the original information about his death, we emerged through a coffin.]
In that sense, the symbol from last time was less of an object and more of a concept—death—or more accurately, a warning about death.
Morofushi Kagemitsu reached out and caught a snowflake. The expected cold touch did not come. Instead, it turned into a cherry blossom petal and lay quietly on his bed.
Cherry blossoms?
He blinked, making sure he was holding a cherry blossom in his palm.
How could it be cherry blossoms? He remembered very clearly that the shrine's cherry blossom trees were only planted beside the steps at the foot of the mountain. Even with the help of the wind, it was impossible for them to be sent down from the sky like that.
His discovery quickly caught the attention of the anti-fraud team. The alpacas perked up and scattered in all directions. Some observed the weather, while others surveyed their surroundings. The most proactive of them, number 148, was already planning to go to the foot of the mountain to see if the cherry blossom trees had secretly come to life.
[Anti-Fraud King #148: Ah…! I'm afraid I have some bad news for you all. We can't leave the shrine anymore. This invisible wall at the entrance is blocking my way.]
Morofushi Kagemitsu quickly walked to the door and stretched out a hand to feel around inside. Sure enough, he felt as if an invisible force was blocking his way.
The air wall here is different from the almost physical barrier in the space-time rift, so it seems that the same method cannot be used to break through the "wall".
He took a step back, retreating into the shrine's corridor, and looked at the sky and his surroundings again. Only then did he realize that the previously scattered cherry blossom rain was becoming increasingly dense, resembling a light snowfall turning into a heavy snowfall.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #198: Jing, we're about to start channeling time energy to resist the erosion. Have you felt any physical discomfort? Is your vision still normal?]
So he turned his attention to himself and carefully observed the changes in his senses.
...I feel fine now, I don't feel dizzy anymore.
However, my vision has become a bit blurry, and I can only make out the general outline now; I really can't see the fine details anymore.
Upon hearing this, Number 11 picked up a stone in the courtyard and then smashed it down, and also made Number 214 shake the leaves of the Japanese cedar tree, making a rustling sound.
Morofushi Kagemitsu squinted and looked in the direction of the willow cedar.
The sound of leaves cannot be heard, but the sound of stones can.
[Anti-fraud expert #205: Our eyesight and hearing have both weakened; it seems we've been gradually drawn into the illusionary space. Strange, we haven't done anything yet, how did we get in?]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: Um, I remember Jing made a wish... Now this counts as "wish fulfilled"? Is this place really that effective?!]
Upon hearing No. 26 mention his wish, he took out the amulet he had specially placed on his left chest and examined it carefully, discovering that the original ordinary design had been changed to a rhombus shape.
interesting.
Perhaps I should go back to that little hut where they interpret fortune sticks and take another look.
He was trying to adapt to his current physical condition. Fortunately, he communicated with the anti-fraud team through consciousness, so listening to them was not a problem.
When they opened the door of the ticket-cutting hut again, he and the anti-fraud officer were both stunned—there was actually someone sitting there!
He couldn't see the person's face clearly, but the person's figure inexplicably gave him a very familiar feeling.
[Anti-fraud expert #19: This is yourself! Of course you'd feel a sense of familiarity!]
Me?!
[Anti-fraud expert #66: No, to be precise, it should be that fortune teller, Master Matsuno! I've been analyzing this persona for so long, I'm all too familiar with it.]
Morofushi Kagemitsu was slightly taken aback, recalling the trap he had set for the Utsumi general manager in order to achieve his goal of going to Tottori. It seemed that he had been sitting in a small room like this, interpreting fortunes for others.
[Anti-fraud expert #214: Yes, that's it! There's a puppet next to him. But it looks like it's carved with your likeness... Wow! It's you! Your birth date and time are even written on the puppet's clothes!]
A subtle feeling welled up inside him, and he was unsure how to proceed.
However, just as he hesitated, "Master Matsuno" sitting in the back moved. He reached out his hand, as if asking Kagemitsu for something.
What should I give him? That skewer?
[Anti-fraud expert #11: I'm not too sure either, how about... you give it a try?]
He gently placed the skewer in "Master Matsuno's" hand and then observed its reaction.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #148: He accepted it; it's useful!]
Master Matsuno examined the fortune stick, laid the puppet beside him flat, and placed the stick under its head. Then, he pointed to the backyard of the shrine's main hall.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Let's go check it out! Based on our past experience, our main focus this time will be the backyard.]
Morobuchi Kagemitsu nodded; he thought so too.
They walked toward the backyard and discovered that the cherry blossoms, which had been falling from an unknown source, were now flying toward the backyard, as if something there was drawing them there.
Could there be a cherry blossom tree there?
He quickened his pace and soon arrived at the small backyard.
However, the cherry blossom tree he had imagined did not appear; instead, a large locust tree with a thick trunk came into view.
[Anti-fraud expert #198: Wait, this locust tree… its scan results are exactly the same as that strange research institute in the suburbs of the future timeline!]
Upon seeing such a familiar scene, Morofushi Kagemitsu was filled with surprise. He subconsciously placed his hand on the pocket where his spare cell phone was.
Perhaps... he should hang it up?
A voice inside him said this.
So, he formatted his spare phone and hung it on a locust tree with a red string tied with a lucky charm.
The cherry blossoms that gathered seemed to embrace him and lull him to sleep, but a cold touch jolted him awake.
He moved his stiff fingers and found that a thin layer of snow had accumulated on his body.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
