44: Chapter 31 Charging_2 44: Chapter 31 Charging_2 “`
“Our secrets are too many,” Xu Yang couldn’t explain, “asking too much could be very troublesome.”
“That’s fine,” Cui Junyou looked away, “new question, how do we continue our journey on an empty stomach?
I haven’t had proper rest, and I’m not as young as you all.”
“Do we have nutrient paste?” Xu Yang looked at the vending machine.
“…What?” Cui Junyou didn’t understand.
“It’s really strange.” Kanako couldn’t help but say.
“It’s not,” Xu Yang walked up to the vending machine, “I’ve been eating nutrient paste for 6 years, you don’t understand, it tastes bland, but the nutritional value is high, much better than those junk foods.”
“Wait a minute,” Kanako quickly said, “if you can’t enjoy the pleasure through your taste buds when eating, then why did we even evolve to have tongues?”
“When I was young, I thought fried chicken tasted good,” Cui Junyou shook his head, “after working for a while, I found nutrient paste to be tasty.
I’d rather you kill me than make me eat nutrient paste.
This is a classic case of a company person not shedding corporate habits, it’s all the company’s poisoning.
I’ll repeat it again: everything is the company’s fault.
Don’t ask me how I came to this conclusion, I’ve studied this world too much, everyone should just directly agree with my conclusion.”
Xu Yang was touched by their words.
Recalling before spending 6 years at a work station, nutrient paste only existed in advertisements and games, synonymous with poor-quality food.
Xu Yang bought a large amount of real food from the vending machine all at once, piling sushi, fishballs, canned pineapple, marinated chicken cutlets, fried egg sandwiches, sausages, sweet cookies, dill pickles, and cake on the ground.
“Considering the Ratmen rampant outside,” Xu Yang’s gaze swept over the faces of the people, “we, a few trapped souls, can only survive by cooperating.”
“Alright.” Cui Junyou agreed, “Living one more day is still one more day.”
“I don’t care,” Kanako said indifferently.
“At your command,” Lila saluted Xu Yang.
“I’ve always been following you,” Farosa gave a sweet smile, “I wouldn’t run off to other places to do my own thing.”
“That’s good,” Nidelaide said, “with everyone in agreement, my opinion is insignificant.”
“So my opinion is, let’s eat our fill, rest for ten minutes, and then set out.” Xu Yang began to eat heartily; the others also started to help themselves, while Lila looked for a place to recharge.
Kanako ate very little, hastily stuffing some cheap sushi and then running back to play games, urging Farosa to join her.
Farosa had never opened a can, staring dumbly at a can of pineapple, Nidelaide took the can, stuffed it into his sleeve, and using some unknown method, when he brought it back out, the can was already open.
Xu Yang indulged in the feast, allowing his tongue to rediscover a rich palette of flavors, realizing now that eating could be such a happy affair.
Before, eating nutrient paste was like a task, a casual action, as natural as breathing.
But now, he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Xu Yang leaned back, closed his eyes, emptied his mind, lay flat, and relaxed thoroughly, cherishing the breathing opportunity before the Rat Tide mobilized and began to press in.
Only one thing lingered in Xu Yang’s mind…
What exactly did Asa Katsuragi want to tell us with all those phone calls?
Elsewhere, at Suzuki Springs.
As Kanako’s phone went unanswered, Asa Katsuragi could only intercept Nakano Osamu, preaching tirelessly for 10 minutes about why she couldn’t betray Xu Yang, no matter how much money was offered by the Corporate Alliance.
Because Xu Yang was her friend, and friends are not to be betrayed, otherwise, it would go against human conscience.
Nakano Osamu looked up, at his sister who stood well above himself, and after such a long sermon, years of suppressed frustration and incomprehension could no longer be restrained.
Such a good opportunity!
At this critical juncture for the gang!
He couldn’t help but blurt out:
“Asa sister, no, Asa Katsuragi, I’m saying, you’re an idiot!
What’s the point of being such a strong physical specimen if you can’t even think!
You’ve stopped thinking!”
“What’s the use of friends!
What’s the use of loyalty!
Don’t you realize all this is just a joke made up by the Leader Suzuki to entertain you!
You’re the only one in the group who falls for this!”
Nakano Osamu stormed off angrily, and Asa Katsuragi sat in her spot for a long time.
She felt a bit muddled.
Soon, Leader Suzuki convened a meeting of the executives to discuss the next steps, and Asa Katsuragi, gathering her thoughts, arrived promptly.
“The Toshiaki Megastore, lying beside our own territory, is now being occupied by others; it’s something I find unbearable,” an executive said.
“That’s not important,” executive Moriyama Masano said darkly, “we have greater ambitions.”
“The reports are confirmed, the Toshiaki Family Group really was dealing with ‘The Big Shot’,” Leader Suzuki Shinji looked at the file Asa Katsuragi had given him, “Now that they have been annihilated, let us fill this hard-earned void and reach out to The Big Shot!”
“Great!” Other executives raised their fists in excitement.
“Linking up with ‘The Big Shot’ will be transformative for us,” Moriyama Masano said.
Asa Katsuragi roughly knew that the so-called “The Big Shot” referred to an important figure within Kyoto Infinity, seemingly a member of the board of directors.
To the Suzuki Group, this kind of existence was almost divine, with boundless power.
“If we establish contact with The Big Shot, it will be difficult for us to maintain our independence,” Asa Katsuragi spoke at a measured pace, “in the eyes of The Big Shot, we are nothing more than ants, to be commanded at will, even our lives and deaths uncertain.”