Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1044: Chapter 810: Drumstick

Whether it was Yamachigoya or Wood Cottage.

The young man ’registering’ behind the table clenched the fists hidden in his sleeves with excitement.

Halfway there!

But he couldn’t let his guard down just yet.

The truly critical moment had just begun.

Half an hour.

He only had half an hour.

During this half-hour, the gatekeepers he bribed to divert wouldn’t return.

And the senior instructors and their deputies in the dojo were having a meeting regarding the results of this Sword Hunting event and the subsequent arrangements; no one would be impulsive enough to rush in and interrupt.

Several esteemed senior brothers had already returned to the main hall, and the only two who liked to wander had been sent by Wood Cottage to Ginza and Huangquan’s largest nightclubs and casinos.

The final afternoon of the last day.

This half-hour was the last opportunity that Wood Cottage had fought for with all its might!

By relying on a counterfeit teapot bought internally from his uncles, he knocked out the original mountain and assumed his place, borrowing two hundred and forty swords from Yuan Yuan as capital.

This was Wood Cottage’s high-stakes gamble.

An easily-exposed lie...

—He hadn’t even registered at the dojo; an alarm would sound as soon as he entered the door, exposing him.

Now, at this moment, right before the main entrance.

The time for reaping had come.

As time flew by quickly, more and more students returning from Sword Hunting were drawn by the crowd in front of the gate, obediently following others’ guidance, and offering up the results of their hunt with both hands.

They hadn’t even doubted his authenticity.

Instead, they were exceedingly respectful of his authority.

”Senior Brother Yamano, I have ninety-two swords...”

Wood Cottage looked up, noticing the nervousness of the newcomer, and scratched his ear: ”Speak up, I can’t hear you.”

”Didn’t you eat?!”

”Louder!”

The dojo disciples watching the spectacle instantly started jeering, with senior disciples chastising, ”In the dojo, if a fourth-year says he can’t hear, he can’t hear!”

The disciple tensed up nervously, then made an effort to raise his voice: ”Ninety-two swords!!!”

”Good, next one!”

Wood Cottage clapped and waved, signaling a volunteer he casually picked to move the bin of swords aside and bring in an empty one.

The next person came prepared, raising his voice and shouting with effort: ”One hundred seventy-nine swords!!!”

”Good, full of spirit!”

Wood Cottage was delighted, patting the blackboard beside him. Instantly, the handwriting changed, and the top ten rankings shifted, the original fourth place being bumped down and replaced with a new name.

In the back of the crowd, a disciple watching turned pale.

His ranking had been pushed down.

But soon, there were excited shouts and stunned exclamations from the crowd.

”Two hundred thirty swords!!!”

The third-year Sugano Yoshito was instantly at the top of the rankings!

Relishing the excited glances from around him, Sugano laughed triumphantly to the sky.

But the smile hadn’t lasted long before a new leader emerged.

Wood Cottage exclaimed:

”—Third-year Kurofuji Ichiro, two hundred forty-one swords!”

Sugano’s smile froze for a moment, quickly noticing Kurofuji’s triumphant gaze directed at him, making his expression twitch... This guy was still competing with me!

He clenched his fist angrily, pulling aside his follower: ”Fujino, go find others and gather a few more swords for me. Today, I must make Kurofuji understand who truly is the number one third-year!”

Soon, both sides engaged people to start collecting spare swords from other disciples, beginning a new showdown under the rankings.

Wood Cottage’s smile stiffened for a moment.

No, this is getting out of hand.

Things were already beyond his control.

Only twenty minutes had passed, theoretically leaving ten safe minutes, but the plan couldn’t be entirely foolproof, as any plan would have flaws and surprises.

It’s time to make a decisive cut.

Wood Cottage put down the registration board in his hand, passing the pen to another student he called to help move things, and quietly shrunk back as everyone was distracted...

But just as he was about to slip out of the crowd and disappear, a large hand suddenly pressed on his shoulder.

Gripped tightly.

With such force...

”Wait a minute!”

A raspy voice sounded from behind. When Wood Cottage turned around with a calm face and looked at the gloomy Sugano behind him, a Samurai raised his hand impatiently and said: ”I’ve got two more here that haven’t been registered yet!”

Wood Cottage covered his stomach, giving an awkward smile: ”Sorry, my stomach hurts a bit; I’ve handed the registration duties to Disciple Iwata, you can find him.”

”Oh...” Sugano released his grip, slightly puzzled by his direction: ”The restroom in the dojo isn’t far, why are you heading out?”

Wood Cottage’s face turned tense: ”What if a master finds out I’ve sneaked out? Sugano Junior Brother, don’t say anything carelessly! I’ll be back soon.”

”Alright, alright.” Sugano nodded knowingly, letting go of his hand.

Wood Cottage took a couple of steps, then suddenly turned back, pointing at the busy registration spot: ”By the way, could Sugano Junior Brother do me a favor and temporarily take over the hosting? I don’t think one person can handle it... The predecessor assisting with the work was injured and couldn’t make it.”