Yama Reborn-Chapter 414 - 411 [The Secret of the Octopus Monster]

Chapter 414: Chapter 411 [The Secret of the Octopus Monster]

Chapter 411: The Secret of the Octopus Monster

Several beers had gone down, but the three people sitting there hadn’t said a word.

Chen Nuo scrutinized Kamisou Ichiro closely, while Kamisou maintained a polite and gentle smile, never showing any sign of losing his composure.

Selina, full of doubts, held back from speaking.

However, the female mercenary wasn’t very patient. After sitting for a while, she suddenly stood up.

"You two chat. I’ll leave for a bit. It seems there are many things you might not feel comfortable discussing while I’m here."

With that, Selina got up, headed straight for the bar, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and quickly exited the pub.

At the door, she turned back and gestured to Chen Nuo, as if to say, "Be careful, I’m right outside."

Kamisou Ichiro smiled as he retracted his gaze and looked at Chen Nuo. "Miss Selina is a good woman."

Chen Nuo smiled. "So you knew her name was Selina, not Linda."

"Of course."

Chen Nuo sighed. "You... you’re one of the Octopus Monster’s people, aren’t you?"

"Hmm, sort of."

Chen Nuo nodded. "So for the mission in Antarctica back then, among all the participating Ability Users, you had the simplest yet most ambiguous background. You used internal connections to parachute into the mission... Now that I think about it, Team Leader Nolan didn’t know your identity either, did he?"

"He didn’t."

"Hmm, at the start of the mission, you took the initiative to approach me... At the time, I thought you were just trying to get close to the Captain. After all, it’s safer to be by the side of a Controller."

Kamisou Ichiro laughed and waved his hand. "Chen-san, no need to test me. Although the Captain’s strength is considerable, he’s still some distance from being a Controller. I’m well aware of that."

Chen Nuo’s eyes roamed. "So... was it to get close to me?"

"Not exactly," Kamisou Ichiro spoke candidly. "I admit, Chen-san, you are a very interesting person. But compared to the importance of that mission, I was more focused on the mission itself. Approaching you and the Captain was simply because I didn’t want to be with the other two groups. The Wizard, despite his strength, has too many personal agendas. As for the Diamond Lady... I’m sorry, I don’t like her."

"Why not?"

"Because the leaders of the other two groups are true Controllers. True power-wielders have too strong a desire for control. Around them, it’s hard for me to have any space to act independently."

Chen Nuo suddenly frowned. "What exactly is in that base in Antarctica?"

Kamisou Ichiro spread his hands. "Don’t you already know?"

But Chen Nuo shook his head. "I thought I had figured it out. But now... I’m starting to doubt again."

What else in that Antarctic base didn’t he know about?

Besides that so-called alien spaceship, those disgusting monsters, and old Corot...

Was there anything else?

"It seems like you’re not going to tell me," Chen Nuo sighed. "Then let’s change the subject... Selina, have you been protecting her all this time?"

"Protecting?"

"She’s been here for over half a year, constantly investigating the Antarctica mission. I always found it strange that for such an important matter, no one from the Octopus Monster came to trouble her."

"I’ve said it before, Miss Selina is a good woman," Kamisou Ichiro smiled.

"A good woman... by Japanese standards?"

"By any standard," Kamisou Ichiro sighed. "To search for her loved one’s whereabouts, disregarding her own safety, tirelessly working... Isn’t that what makes a good woman?"

"It is," Chen Nuo nodded. "But you wouldn’t protect her just for that reason. As far as I know, the Octopus Monster has very strict internal rules, and the punishment for traitors is extremely harsh."

As he spoke, Chen Nuo suddenly smiled. "Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with this woman."

Kamisou Ichiro was taken aback, then shook his head. "You jest, Chen-san."

"Did you know you’d see me tonight?"

"Not exactly... However, I knew you had arrived within the first hour you set foot on this island."

As he spoke, Kamisou Ichiro suddenly gestured to the bar, "Bring a bottle of liquor here, something strong."

The bartender smiled and made an OK gesture.

When the liquor was brought over, Kamisou Ichiro thoughtfully poured a glass for Chen Nuo. "Need ice?"

"No, I like it neat."

"Very well, a good habit." Kamisou Ichiro, however, smiled and formed an ice cube with his fingertip, dropping it into his own glass. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"So you like ice? Then your compliment earlier... do all you Japanese enjoy flattering people so much?" Chen Nuo said with a smile, shaking his head.

"Of course, the land of proficient ’compliment-smiths,’ one might say," Kamisou Ichiro suddenly remarked in the Huaxia language.

Chen Nuo was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Did you just use a pun to mock your own country?"

"I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression. I’ve just lived in Japan for a long time, so... I’ve unconsciously picked up some of their habits," Kamisou Ichiro said, taking a sip of his drink and nodding. "Not bad."

Chen Nuo carefully recalled Kamisou Ichiro’s behavior during the Antarctica mission...

In fact, there were many times back then when Chen Nuo felt something was odd.

This guy sometimes seemed very low-key. But at other times, he appeared to aggressively take the initiative.

Yet... why hadn’t he been more suspicious of this man at the time?

It seemed... as if subconsciously, whenever a hint of doubt arose, other emotions would suppress the uncertainty, and he would quickly disregard it.

This was very strange indeed!

It was as if, after escaping and occasionally thinking back on the Antarctica incident, he had unintentionally ignored this person’s existence.

This was such an important person, one who had played a significant role throughout the mission and even had a strong presence at several critical moments.

Yet, afterward, he had almost never recalled this man.

Memory fading? Hypnosis? Or...

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "How did you do it?"

"What?"

"Block my memory. If I hadn’t met you today, I might have forgotten you ever existed. I’m a Spiritual-type Ability User; I’m not a forgetful person. Besides, you made such a strong impression. How did you manage it?"

"Just a minor ability. Presence, you see, often causes me some trouble," sighed Kamisou Ichiro. "Actually, you Controllers should also pay attention to this. Your abilities are too prominent and powerful among ordinary people. If this continues, you’ll inevitably interfere with the world in various ways, triggering many karmic consequences."

"Karmic consequences? Don’t tell me you believe in Buddhism," Chen Nuo laughed.

"Are karmic consequences exclusive to Buddhism? I personally find the concepts of quantum physics more interesting, along with things like Causality."

Chen Nuo pondered for a moment, silent, then finished the liquor in his glass and set it down. "Alright."

"Hmm?"

"I asked you several questions. It seemed like you said a lot, but on closer inspection, you haven’t directly answered a single one. So, why did you come to see me?"

Kamisou Ichiro spread his hands innocently. "Chen-san, today it was Miss Selina who brought you to see me."

"No, it was you seeing me," Chen Nuo slowly shook his head, then pointed to his own head. "My memory was interfered with by you. If we hadn’t met, I would have continued to forget you even existed. And you already knew when I came here! You know Selina; you know my background. You also know that you interfered with my memory. If you didn’t want to see me, you could have easily fooled that woman with any excuse to avoid this meeting tonight. And I would have continued to forget you! You’re sitting here waiting for me tonight because you wanted to see me. So... why?"

Kamisou Ichiro’s expression showed a touch of helplessness as he muttered quietly, "Why, why... Ah, you people are always full of questions, always asking why..."

As he spoke, he looked at Chen Nuo seriously. "Then, may I ask you a question first?"

"Go ahead."

"Chen-san, you were doing well in Huaxia, so why did you suddenly return to Antarctica?"

Chen Nuo looked at Kamisou Ichiro.

At this moment, Chen Nuo actually felt a bit helpless.

It proved yet again that this man knew a great deal about his background.

The firewalls he’d set up, the covers for his identity—they all seemed transparent to this person.

"Since you clearly know my background, then you should know... you captured a friend of mine."

Kamisou Ichiro’s eyes widened slightly. "Captured one of your friends? Recently?"

"Yes."

Kamisou Ichiro suddenly showed a strange, bitter smile. "That... little girl? Are you talking about Miss Xicheng Xun?"

"See? You did know," Chen Nuo waved his hand.

"I didn’t know she was actually your friend. In fact, I’m not very familiar with this little girl’s situation. I still don’t understand why you came back to Antarctica because of Xicheng Xun..." Kamisou Ichiro said with a bitter smile. "To be honest, I was also very surprised when I received news of your arrival on the island. I thought you might have reviewed the Antarctica mission and discovered some new doubts or clues. That matter is of great interest to me, which is why I came to see you. Chen-san, the Antarctica situation is very important to me. If you are willing to share your discoveries with me, in return, I can release Miss Xicheng Xun. Furthermore, I can promise that in the future, neither you nor your friends will face any interference from our company in your lives in Huaxia."

Chen Nuo frowned.

It appeared... Antarctica truly held secrets he hadn’t yet uncovered!

Over a year had passed since the base mission ended.

And Kamisou Ichiro’s behavior was proof enough of this.

Chen Nuo suddenly decided to provoke him a little, to test the waters.

He took a deep breath and began to speak slowly, "Regarding Xicheng Xun, you don’t need to trouble yourself with releasing her. In fact, I’ve already reached an agreement with the boss of your company..."

What Chen Nuo didn’t expect was that as soon as he said this, Kamisou Ichiro’s face, which had remained calm and composed all evening, suddenly changed color!

The habitual, peaceful, and polite smile on his face instantly vanished!

"You’re not telling me... the agreement you’re speaking of, is it about that... octopus the size of a sports field?"

Now it was Chen Nuo’s turn for his expression to change!

He narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Kamisou Ichiro.

After locking gazes for a moment, they both spoke at once!

Chen Nuo said, "Holy shit! You’re the Octopus Monster?!"

Kamisou Ichiro said, "How did you know there’s an octopus the size of a sports field here?!"

After speaking, both of them frowned and stared at each other!

Chen Nuo’s mind raced. With his intelligence, he immediately caught the problem in Kamisou Ichiro’s question!

Clearly, Kamisou Ichiro knew there was a giant octopus here!

Because he said: How did you know!

Not: There’s an octopus here?

Wait a minute!!

Kamisou Ichiro is the Octopus Monster!

The Octopus Monster has been searching for a giant octopus!

And from his words, it’s clear he already knew there was a giant octopus here!

So then, why hasn’t Kamisou Ichiro, being the Octopus Monster, captured this giant octopus already?!

Then...

Chen Nuo’s expression changed drastically again!

He blurted out, "Holy shit! That giant octopus here... it wouldn’t be you, would it?!!"

Kamisou Ichiro’s gaze had turned completely cold!

"Chen-san! The location of my true form is unknown to anyone in this world; of that, I am certain! Moreover, that is my greatest secret! Tell me, how did you find out!"

The peacefulness had completely vanished from Kamisou Ichiro’s expression; his eyes even revealed a hint of cold, murderous intent!

At that moment, he looked like someone who genuinely felt threatened!

Cold sweat began to form on Chen Nuo’s back.

He could feel Kamisou Ichiro’s undisguised hostility and killing intent!

How did I know?

I freaking saw it with my own eyes in my past life!

Hmm...

Wait a minute!

Chen Nuo’s expression changed once more!

Past life!!

In his past life... what he had seen with his own eyes wasn’t just simply witnessing the giant octopus’s existence!

It was...

That giant octopus had been personally killed by Seed!!

So...

In his past life...

The Octopus Monster died?

Instantly, countless thoughts flashed through Chen Nuo’s mind! Several logical gaps he couldn’t previously understand were suddenly filled!

In this life, why was there internal turmoil within the Octopus Monster’s organization?

Yet, in his past life, there was no such turmoil, no internal purge leading to the widespread deaths of Elders’ Council members?

Because...

In his past life, the Octopus Monster died!!

In this life, the Octopus Monster’s internal purge happened after the Antarctica mission ended.

But in his past life, the Antarctica mission didn’t take place in 2001, but in 2007!

The timing was different!

Another difference was that in his past life’s Antarctica mission, before the mission even began, during an encounter at sea, the Octopus Monster was killed by Seed!

With the Octopus Monster dead... the Elders’ Council no longer had an "Emperor" above them who could orchestrate an internal purge! So, in his past life, no major purge occurred within the Octopus Monster’s organization!

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[A belated birthday wish! I couldn’t update yesterday, but I’d like to take this opportunity to wish our administrator, Wizard, a happy birthday and thank him for all his hard work managing this book.]

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