Chapter 204: That Wooden Stake Has a Master

The next few days went by normally. Ryan seemed to return to vacation mode, not deliberately investigating anything and not even visiting the Eastern District branch.

He spent his days watching TV at home, occasionally going out for lunch, and then strolling through the streets with Hua.

It was so normal, so normal that it was hard to believe. Those lives had been taken as a warning, and now even monitoring couldn't get too close. Who knows what might be going on outside of their line of sight?

From a logical standpoint, would someone like Ryan, who had caused chaos everywhere, really just be on vacation? What a joke!

"But I really am just on vacation. This house doesn't even have a secret passage," Ryan yawned as he stood on the balcony drinking coffee, feeling the eyes of surveillance from far away.

They were being more cautious, more tense now. Ryan wanted to see how long they could maintain their composure.

You can't guard against a thief forever, and Ryan normal routine was enough to drive certain people crazy. They knew he had bad intentions, but they didn't know what he was planning, so they saw danger in everything.

But for these past few days, he was actually enjoying himself.

Ryan squinted as he looked outside. The snow had stopped, and the temperature was rising. A light drizzle fell, making the summer feel more like early spring.

He'd been staying at Hua place these days. When he thought about it, his days had been rather peaceful. Nothing particularly exciting had happened, just ordinary.

"I'm lucky I don't have a superior. If I did, I could fish around until the world ends."

By day, he stayed at home watching TV, occasionally going out for a walk. He always ran into that Major Coleman, and at first, it annoyed him. But then he realized that this guy was a real pervert.

Every time he met him, he was either at the entrance of a love hotel or outside a brothel. His thick black eye circles didn't look like someone who was lying.

This bastard couldn't possibly be the first fusion warrior to die from overexertion, could he? Should I tie him up and take him to Mobius's lab, and let Vil-V make a full-automatic juicer to analyze the data?

Click.

Lost in thought, Ryan snapped out of it as the door was pushed open. He turned around to see Hua, dressed in military uniform, placing an umbrella by the door while complaining as she changed her shoes.

"Can't believe it's raining. This weather is so confusing. It's impossible to tell whether it's spring, summer, or autumn."

She took off her boots, one hand propped against the wall, and slipped her feet, wrapped in gray stockings, into the fluffy slippers. She then hung her coat on the door, revealing her thin white shirt.

"I brought you some Shengjian Bao from Shinjuku. Try them later."

"I've told you so many times, I cook well enough. There's no need to waste money."

Ryan walked over, took the bag, and began lecturing her.

"You've also said that everything is about trying things, right? I just want to share the things I know with you."

Ryan paused, then gently tapped her on the head. "Sharp tongue, no backtalk."

He turned and returned to the room, putting the Shengjian Bao in the steamer and the chopped vegetables in the frying pan.

"Is Carol not coming to eat today?"

"That girl has thick skin. She knows your cooking is good, so she comes every day. I turned her down today."

While Ryan cooked, Hua stuffed dirty clothes into the washing machine.

"Don't be so petty. It's just extra chopsticks."

"Hmph, she talked too much."

"What did she say?"

Hua immediately went silent, her cheeks turning red. That brat not only borrowed her car but dared to flirt with her, saying things like, "I won't disturb your little world," and "Try hard and aim to have a baby next year."

Tch, I was just concerned because my senior brother worked hard, and you kept talking, making it hard for me to get a word in. I don't want you here anymore.

"She didn't say anything. She was just embarrassed."

Embarrassed?

Ryan thought of that spicy girl who wore hot pants even in the cold weather. Carol was lively, and she brought out a side of Hua that made him feel at ease.

"Anyway, be honest with friends and communicate any conflicts."

"I know, I know. I'm not a child," Hua grumbled as she walked over, inhaling deeply when she saw the dishes on the table. "Fish-flavored shredded pork, winter bamboo shoots with sliced pork... We're having Chinese food today?"

"Then go wash your hands."

In no time, the two of them sat down at the table to eat. They chatted intermittently, mostly focusing on Hua work.

After dinner, Ryan went back to watching TV, listening to the sounds of water running from the sink, finding it a little amusing.

This was the standard lazy life he lived every day, while those people kept overthinking, as if he were always scheming to find flaws.

No, I'm just a lazy fish who doesn't care about the world. What I'm thinking about is something else.

"Hua, I suddenly realized something."

"What?"

"You've hardly called me 'senior brother' lately, and you don't like hearing me lecture you anymore. Why is that?"

The girl, who was washing the dishes, froze, a look of fear in her eyes.

Oh no, I've been found out! Carol made me intentionally downplay the brother-sister relationship. How could I be so dumb? Senior brother is such a clever person, how could I hide this from him?

Hua started to panic, not knowing how to respond. She remembered the scene from earlier when she was rehearsing. According to Carol, she had no comparison to Miss Elysia. If she just rushed in, it would be a dead-end.

She lowered her head and inadvertently looked at her toes, feeling even more defeated.

"I... I don't know..."

"It's my fault. After going through so much, you're no longer a child," Ryan suddenly sighed, not turning his head as he looked at the boring TV screen. "After all, I've known you the longest. Some things have already become ingrained in me, and changing them is indeed a bit difficult."

"But you've already become an excellent warrior. I shouldn't treat you like before, so from now on, just call me by my name."

Hua shivered all over. This wasn't how she imagined it, but when she thought about it...

Huh, I think I've gained something?

"Senior brother."

"Huh?"

Ryan turned around and saw Hua taking a deep breath, trembling yet filled with courage, and very seriously saying two words.

"Ryan."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression inadvertently softening. "Hmm."

The sound of a song from the bathroom reached Ryan ears, making him stop typing on the keyboard and listen to the cheerful melody.

Hua seemed especially happy today.

He smiled unconsciously, then went back to typing. These days, his life had been very routine, almost like a clock.

Buy groceries, cook, after dinner Hua washes the dishes, and then they sit on the couch, playing on their phones and chatting until around 10 PM.

Then Hua would go take a shower, and Ryan would write a couple of chapters. Recently, he had been so diligent that the readers joked that he was out handling official business.

No big surprises, no big events. Life just passed by so smoothly and orderly, and then at 10:30 PM...

Ding-ling-ling.

The phone rang on time. Ryan didn't even need to check, he answered it directly and put it to his ear.

"Mobius, why do you call me at the same time every day? I've already calculated those topics for you."

Ryan said slowly, smiling slightly, throwing out a topic he had been holding in for a few days: "Could it be that I've been gone for just a few days, and you miss me?"

"Heh, the old habit of a toad is showing again, huh?" The same slow voice sounded on the other end. Mobius was lounging with her legs crossed on the table, a pair of mechanical hands massaging her long black stockings.

Silly, I predicted you'd say that five days ago.

"Get it right, you're the one calling me every time!"

"I'm just giving you the topics. We've hardly talked about anything else, have we?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're just trying to subtly find out what I've been doing every day. Don't you think that explanation is a bit forced?"

"Yeah, your life is monotonous and boring, just like a retired old man. Heh, but it's provided me with a lot of laughs."

What does that mean, "retired old man life"? Well, Hua and I don't have much passion. We just do things methodically every day. But why are you so happy about it?

Ryan gritted his teeth slightly, thinking that Mobius was quite good, being able to predict his predictions.

"So, are you still that bored today? Remember to report every detail. That's our deal."

She helped under pressure, forcing Mobius while carrying the risk of being labeled a traitor, only to get a period of reports in return.

Hmph, this time you've really won.

She must have known I'm a person who keeps my word. She's really holding on to my weakness tightly.

Ryan couldn't do anything about it. Fortunately, his lazy days hadn't provided Mobius with much material, so he just started talking from the moment he woke up, all the way to dinner time.

"Wait, you let that wooden stake call you by your name?" Mobius quickly found a blind spot.

"Hua has grown up. Calling me 'senior brother' all the time is awkward. What does that have to do with you?"

That wooden stake has a master.

Mobius unconsciously bit her finger. She had already realized, this was a subtle infiltration. For that wooden stake, the past was both an advantage and a flaw.

Why are there so many thieves everywhere?

"If you're not going to talk, I'll just get to work."

"Wait." Mobius instinctively stopped Ryan, then didn't know what to say, so she just muttered, "When are you leaving Tokyo?"

"Even if I leave, I have to go to Sundown Alley. What? Do you want me to go back? You could try begging me."

"Who would beg you? Who do you think you are?" Mobius said as she twirled her hair around her finger, sitting up slightly. "It's a waste of time staying there. Efficiency is important. Why bother competing with a bunch of insects in patience?"

What a forced excuse. Did she forget her own persona?

Ryan squinted. He still didn't fully understand Mobius's true intentions, but he knew that she didn't want him to do something, so he would do it anyway.

"Stop interfering with my thoughts, Mobius. The snow here has finally stopped, and I'm planning to have some fun."

"Ryan! You're supposed to be on vacation!"

"Wrong." Ryan lightly tapped the table, standing up with a proud smile. "I am on vacation."