Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 951: Chapter 752: Waiting_3

”Ah?” Zhenxi was bewildered, ”Huai Zhisu... a person?”

”Yeah, the name is strange, right?” Toshio snorted, ”They say he’s really vulgar too. I saw him taking off clothes on the street last time, shameless.”

Zhenxi felt her mind couldn’t process it, something seemed off: ”Uh, maybe he’s not necessarily a bad person?”

Toshio paused, his eyes lowered, unable to hide his hatred.

”Brother Ryuuto was killed by him. Aunt Nakayama, such a good person, cries every day now... And he pretends to give money to people, as if anyone cares for his filthy money!”

Toshio paused his movements, his hand gripping the knife turned white from strain.

He lowered his head and squeezed out a hoarse voice through gritted teeth:

”One day, I’ll kill him...”

Amidst the heavy footsteps, a tall shadow appeared behind him. He froze for a moment, then turned to see Takahashi’s cold expression.

”Kid, I’m warning you for the last time: I don’t care about your business. After leaving the ship, you can go wherever you want, but if you keep talking like some punk on my ship, I’ll kick you off, got it?”

Toshio paused, begrudgingly nodding his head, and continued to scrape fish.

After a while, Takahashi turned and left.

Lunch was a seafood bowl with unlimited fish roe and salmon. That’s the upside of working on a fishing boat. Zhenxi ate most of the pot again.

After lunch, Takahashi called Zhenxi into the cabin, opened the safe inside, took out a stack of thin banknotes, and handed them to her.

”Four hundred thousand, this is your salary.”

”Yay! Thank you, Mr. Takahashi!”

Zhenxi held the money aloft like a treasure, excitedly waving her hands: ”With this, I can pay off quite a bit of debt. When are we heading out next?”

”At least four or five days later,” Takahashi shook his head, glanced at Zhenxi, hesitating to speak.

”Huh? What’s wrong?” Zhenxi was puzzled.

”...Just be cautious,” Takahashi muttered, ”I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry for money, but be careful of those smooth talkers once ashore. Tanbo Inner Circle is more treacherous than other places.”

He didn’t know how such a naive hybrid girl grew up this way.

A week ago, she came looking for work. If she weren’t strong enough to do the work of four or five people, and only asked for regular wages, Takahashi wouldn’t have planned to hire her.

Initially, he was prepared for her to cry and collapse after a few days, but unexpectedly, she worked non-stop for a week without any complaint.

Too naive.

If Takahashi hadn’t been watching closely, her money would have been conned by the lazy crew long ago.

”Eh?” Zhenxi was confused: ”I feel everyone’s quite nice; they don’t seem like bad people.”

Are you a dog?

Takahashi rolled his eyes, pointed at the cabin door for her to leave, uninterested in any more conversation.

But just before she left, he called out to her, with a serious expression: ”Don’t spread Toshio’s words outside... It’s just youthful foolish jargon, got it?”

Zhenxi nodded cluelessly, seemingly understanding but unsure.

Her foolish demeanor annoyed Takahashi even more.

So careless, don’t get conned somewhere as soon as you land; imagining the consequences...

”Hey, Zhenxi!”

He clicked his tongue, stood up, and chased after her, asking: ”Have you found a place to work afterward?”

”Ah?” Zhenxi turned around.

”I... I...”

Takahashi hesitated, finally sighed: ”Didn’t you say you used to assist in the kitchen before? I know a cooking restaurant looking to hire...”

”Oh! Great!” Zhenxi’s eyes widened with excitement, rushing over to grip his rough hands, ”Please introduce me!”

Crunch. A cracking sound.

Takahashi’s face turned green.

”Zhenxi, you...”

”Huh? Mr. Takahashi, why are you crying?”

”Release your grip first; my wrist is dislocated...”

.

.

”Oh, luckily it’s fine, sorry Mr. Takahashi...”

Holding the address and business card Takahashi gave her, Zhenxi still anxiously glanced back at the port direction after getting off the ship, lamenting worriedly: ”I feel like I messed up again.”

”Sister Zhenxi, you need to be careful yourself.”

Beside her, Toshio snorted: ”Such middle-aged single men, they might harbor ill-will. You’re so pretty; what if one day he gets lustful and does something...”

”Alright, alright, don’t say that. Uncle Takahashi has his own difficulties too.” Zhenxi laughed as she ruffled his hair, ”Where are you headed next?”

”I... don’t know.” Toshio’s expression fell: ”Since Brother left, Aunt Nakayama’s been sad these days. I don’t want to bother her.”

”This is exactly when someone needs comforting, you know? Family is very important!”

Zhenxi gave his head a firm squeeze until Toshio repeatedly yelped in pain, releasing him: ”Okay, don’t waste the money; buy Aunt Nakayama a gift. She surely misses you.”

”Mm...”

”What’s wrong? Don’t be sad.” Zhenxi thought for a moment and suggested: ”How about I treat you to ramen? Unlimited servings.”

”Tch, it’s not like a comic; who besides Uncle would like that stuff?”

”Hey! Ramen’s great; it’s cheap, high-calorie, keeps you full, and sometimes you get extra noodles for free...”

Zhenxi babbled on: ”In short, growing up means eating more; let’s go, let’s go.”

She took Toshio for a ramen meal, then insisted on watching him buy a gift for Aunt Nakayama before resolutely accompanying him to the place.

”It’s late; no need to escort me.”

The closer he got, the more Toshio resisted, afraid to enter the door. Zhenxi then calmly rolled up her sleeves and punched the nearby wall.

”I am very strong, don’t worry.”

With a thud, a large hole appeared in the wall.

Even knowing her monster strength, Toshio’s eyes widened as those hiding sinister intentions in the alleys swallowed hard and retreated into the darkness.

”Come on, go ahead, Aunt Nakayama must be waiting for you.”

She patted his back and pushed him to the rundown door.

Toshio took a deep breath, gathered courage, knocked on the door, no response, knocked again, still no reply.

In the silence, they exchanged a glance, fear creeping up, but soon the door opened.

No anticipated sorrow or desolation, the atmosphere inside was warm and harmonious. An elder with a cane escorted a woman smiling to the door, seeing them, looked incredulous.

”Toshio, you finally returned?” The elder joyfully embraced the child: ”You brought friends; come in, come in.”

”Is this Toshio?” The middle-aged woman smiled: ”As Ms. Nakayama said, so young and cute.”

”Aunt, who is she?” Toshio looked at the woman with suspicion.

”So rude.” The elder tapped his head: ”Don’t be impolite, these days this is Miss Sonoda who came to comfort me and help.”

”Oh, not at all; as mutual aid members, just doing our duty.”

Ms. Sonoda waved smilingly: ”I’ll be leaving now... If you have time, you both could join our aid activities, everyone helps each other to overcome difficulties.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, she turned and left.

Zhenxi stood puzzled, watching her exit.

That lady, she has a strange scent...