Hanyu Sara took the card with a look of disgust, as if it were a piece of wastepaper smeared with shit.
Kazama Yin, meanwhile, silently observed the surroundings, noting the positions of several surveillance cameras.
Kagegaya Tsubaki stuck close to Gluttony, like a mother hen protecting her chick.
The four of them, membership cards in hand, followed Uncle Wang’s enthusiastic guidance through a dim corridor into the so-called inner area.
The atmosphere here was even eerier than outside.
The lights were dim, and the air was thick with a rich scent of sandalwood, seemingly masking some other odor.
“Miss Sato.”
Taking advantage of Uncle Wang going ahead to clear the path, Kazama Yin sidled up to Gluttony and whispered.
“No matter what happens later, don’t leave our sight. The layout here is complicated, and… I smell something off.”
Beneath the heavy sandalwood, he detected a foul stench resembling a mix of rotting meat and chemicals.
Gluttony nodded, expressionless, but behind the scenes, Jiang Jian Yue was already on high alert.
‘Rotting smell?’ Jiang Jian Yue narrowed her eyes. ‘Looks like this place isn’t just about scamming money.’
Just then, a heavy door at the end of the corridor slowly creaked open.
A cold wind rushed in, carrying with it a chilling whisper that made one’s skin crawl.
“Welcome… to the Awakening Gate.”
The so-called “Awakening Gate” was nothing more than a series of small cubicles partitioned off with cheap fireproof panels and soundproof velvet curtains.
The nauseating sandalwood smell in the air grew heavier.
Mixed with the stench of foot odor drifting from somewhere and the sour scent of moldy bread, it was a sensory disaster.
“Dear family members, to ensure the purity of spiritual energy transmission, the awakening ritual must be conducted one-on-one.”
Uncle Wang, the fast-talking man, led them to the end of the corridor and pointed to four cubicles with different colored curtains.
“Please go in. The masters have been waiting for some time.”
Kazama Yin frowned and instinctively wanted to refuse. “Why can’t we do it together? We came together.”
“Oh, young man, everyone’s magnetic field frequency is different!”
Uncle Wang said with a straight face, spouting nonsense.
“If you mix them up, you might suffer demonic deviation. Mild cases lead to paralysis, severe cases result in immediate death!”
Kazama Yin wanted to say more, but Hanyu Sara quietly stopped him by pressing his shoulder.
“It’s fine. We’ll be right next door. We’ll hear if anything happens.” Hanyu Sara lowered his voice and gave his companions a look.
Then he turned to Gluttony, who had been keeping her head down, and softened his tone.
“Miss Sato, if something feels wrong, call out to us loudly, or just run out, okay?”
Gluttony nodded obediently, pulling her half-face mask a little tighter.
“Okay… I understand.”
The four of them were thus pushed into different cubicles.
……
Gluttony entered the room with the purple curtain.
The room was tiny, about two tatami mats in size.
A table covered with red cloth stood in the middle, upon which sat a crystal ball that looked like it cost twenty bucks from a street stall.
Behind the table sat a middle-aged man in a Taoist robe, with a goatee. He squinted, trying to create an aura of an immortal.
‘Holy shit, a Chinese-style con artist.’
“Sit down, lost lamb.”
‘And he opens his mouth with vocabulary from a Christian.’
Gluttony obediently sat down.
Goatee didn’t notice anything unusual about the “girl” before him. He began his routine spiel.
“I see black energy between your brows. Even though you’re wearing a mask, the aura of misfortune is seeping out… Have you been having bad luck lately? Do you feel heavy, like something is weighing you down?”
This all-purpose line could apply to anyone alive.
Gluttony said nothing, just silently watched him.
Goatee thought he’d hit the mark and rejoiced internally, stepping up his game.
“It’s because your spiritual root has been contaminated by unclean things! If not cleansed in time, you’ll definitely face a blood disaster within three days!”
“Then… what should I do?” Gluttony played along, her voice trembling.
“Heh, you’re lucky to have met me.”
Goatee pulled out a QR code sign from under the table.
“For just one hundred thousand yen, I can perform an awakening ritual for you. Once you become an esper, no unclean thing can cling to you anymore!”
“Look into my eyes.”
Just as Goatee was spraying saliva everywhere, a voice devoid of emotion cut him off.
“Huh?” Goatee was startled and instinctively looked up.
The girl who had been acting timid had, at some point, removed the half mask covering her eye.
That left eye, which had been hidden, was now emitting an eerie red glow.
The red light swirled like a vortex, instantly absorbing all of Goatee’s attention.
[Cognitive Modification]
“Urgh…”
Goatee’s body stiffened, his eyes instantly became vacant, the cunning, mercenary aura vanishing, replaced by absolute obedience.
“Tell me, what’s the operational model here?”
Since the cognitive modification through the Sculpt Puppet couldn’t directly scan minds—probably due to distance—Jiang Jian Yue had Gluttony ask.
Goatee opened his mouth woodenly. “It’s all fake… all iced tea mixed with tap water… We’re actors on commission… The crystal ball is wholesale from Taobao… The holy water is tap water from the city plant…”
Of course.
Jiang Jian Yue pouted in boredom.
“What about that Master Fuze? Is he also an actor?”
“No…”
A hint of fear appeared on Goatee’s face, a reverence carved into his subconscious. “The master… has real power…”
“Where is he?”
“At the innermost ‘Holy of Holies’…”
“Lead the way.”
Gluttony stood up and put her mask back on.
Goatee rose like a puppet, respectfully lifting the curtain behind him. “Yes… Please follow me.”
……
After passing through a narrow, cluttered staff passageway, Goatee led Gluttony past all prying eyes to the deepest part of the building.
The decor here was completely different from the cheap renovations outside.
Thick carpet covered the floor, paintings of unknown authenticity hung on the walls, and the musty smell was replaced by the aroma of expensive cigars.
A carved mahogany door was slightly ajar.
“He’s inside…” Goatee shrank back, not daring to go further.
Gluttony ignored him and pushed the door open.
The room was extremely spacious, lavishly decorated—even gaudy.
A bald, obese man dressed in a gold Tang suit, resembling a laughing Buddha, was half-lying on a leather sofa.
One hand held a cigar, the other was counting a thick stack of bills. A thick gold chain around his neck swung with his movements.
Hearing the door open, Master Fuze didn’t look up, just waved his hand impatiently.
“Didn’t I say not to disturb me while I’m counting money? Are those idiots outside taken care of?”
No response.
Master Fuze paused, looked up, and saw the figure in the strange mask standing at the door, and Goatee trembling outside.
“Huh? Who are you?”
Master Fuze narrowed his eyes, put down the bills, and sat up straight.
“Where are the security guards?”
Gluttony walked slowly into the room. The door behind her swung shut by itself, clicking locked.
“Are you Fuze?”
“How dare you!”
Master Fuze flew into a rage and slammed the table.
Whoosh—
An invisible wave burst from his body.
The ashtray, teacups, and even the stack of bills on the table floated as if weightless.
“Mortal! Now that you’ve witnessed my divine might, why don’t you kneel!”
Master Fuze spread his hands, and the floating objects began to orbit around him, looking quite intimidating.
If this were an ordinary person, they’d probably be scared shitless.
But in Jiang Jian Yue’s eyes…
“That’s it?”
Gluttony stood still, not even bothering to dodge.
“Looking for death!”
Seeing his opponent unmoved, Master Fuze felt his authority challenged and flicked his finger.
The heavy crystal ashtray whistled toward Gluttony’s head.
Smack.
Gluttony simply raised her hand and caught the ashtray casually.
Her body didn’t even sway.
“Wha—What?”
Master Fuze’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
He increased his telekinetic output, his jowls trembling, trying to push the ashtray down or snatch it back.
But the seemingly frail girl’s hand was like a vise, utterly immovable.
“Returning this.”
Gluttony flicked her wrist.
Whoosh!
The ashtray flew back several times faster than it had come.
Thud!
It grazed Master Fuze’s bald head and slammed into the wall behind him, sending debris flying.
Master Fuze felt a chill on his scalp, and a few stray hairs drifted down.
The arrogance on his face instantly froze, and cold sweat poured down.
One move told all.
Master Fuze bounced off the sofa, waving his arms wildly, trying to gather more objects for defense.
“Help! Help!”
Gluttony’s figure vanished on the spot.
The next second, she appeared right in front of Master Fuze.
It wasn’t teleportation—just pure speed, too fast for the fat man’s retina to track.
A cold hand gripped Master Fuze’s thick neck, lifting his two-hundred-plus-pound body off the ground with one hand.
“Cough… cough!”
Master Fuze’s feet dangled, his legs kicking frantically. His pathetic telekinesis hit Gluttony’s body without even lifting the hood of her sweatshirt.
Gluttony’s mask-covered face leaned in close.
“I ask, you answer.”
Her voice was hoarse, carrying an unquestionable command.
“Yes… yes! Spare me! Spare me!”
Master Fuze was a man who knew when to bend. The instant he realized the gap in strength, he immediately groveled.
“Are you connected to the Inferior Breed Mutual Aid Society?”
Gluttony loosened her fingers slightly, letting him breathe.
“Inferior… Inferior Breed Mutual Aid Society?” Master Fuze gasped, his eyes confused. “What’s that? Never… never heard of it… I’m just a law-abiding citizen trying to make a buck…”
“No connection?”
He really didn’t know.
Jiang Jian Yue was a bit disappointed. She’d hoped to follow the trail to that mysterious organization, but it really was just a simple scam ring.
“Still, since we’re here… taking over this place will probably attract the Inferior Breed Mutual Aid Society’s attention even more.”
“This place is mine now.”
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