Chapter 36: A Bit Like a Pyramid Scheme

The female guest ordered another bottle of wine, smilingly brushing off a handsome boy who had come to invite her to dance, and continued to drink on her own.

In truth, she had only just left the Chidori Bar a short while ago. She had gone there hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary host, but despite spending an entire week there, Kazama Ruri had not appeared once.

So, she left that disappointing place and found a random spot to drink.

Even she couldn't quite explain why she was so desperate to see Kazama Ruri. Perhaps it was because she had too many troubles in her heart she longed to confide in someone, and that man was the perfect listener.

Recalling the girl she had seen earlier, she felt a trace of disdain. Did she really think Kazama Ruri was that easy to meet? There were so many girls across Japan who wanted to see him; it wouldn't be her turn even in a thousand years.

If a living legend were so easy to encounter, would he still be a legend?

Yet, at that very moment, the door outside the dance floor was gently knocked open.

"Excuse me, is this Takamagahara? Is Miss Erii here? Kazama Ruri has come to pay a visit, uninvited."

Everyone looked toward the door in astonishment, the female guest included.

The handsome youth stood under the brilliant lights, dressed in a white shirt and black suit, his straight hair looking fresh and clean, clutching a bouquet of tulip buds.

The very next moment, the girls erupted into screams, even drowning out the pounding rock music.

The scene descended into instant chaos. Girls swarmed toward the man while the other hosts stood there, completely at a loss. But the legendary figure simply waved his hand, signaling for everyone to listen.

"My apologies, I have some business today and am looking for Miss Erii. May I attend to you all later?" The man's voice was warm, reminiscent of gentle sunlight. The girls looked around with jealousy, wondering who on earth "Erii" was.

The next moment, they saw the beautiful girl on the top-tier VIP seat wave her hand, her tone nonchalant: "Over here."

Kazama Ruri offered the guests an apologetic smile and turned to head upstairs, leaving behind a group of girls with varied expressions—the female guest among them, her eyes filled with shock.

"You're a bit late," Tang Xi said casually as she watched the man walk up the stairs step by step.

"I couldn't help it; this was all very sudden. It took some time to track your location," Kazama Ruri smiled, his expression radiant under the lights.

This legendary host was not the seductive, bewitching figure one might imagine; rather, he was as clear and understated as spring water, yet whenever light caught him, he would refract an endless spectrum of brilliance.

In the back of her mind, Erii let out a puzzled sound. Tang Xi knew what she was wondering: Kazama Ruri and Gen Chisaki looked almost exactly the same.

"Let me introduce myself. Nigh-Ghost Clan, Dragon King," Kazama Ruri said. "My real name is Gen Chime. The second son of the Gen family. Gen Chisaki is my older brother."

"Uesugi Erii," Tang Xi replied.

"You were waiting for me to appear," Gen Chime used a tone of certainty. "Because you knew I would come."

"It wasn't hard to guess."

"Indeed. Many people want to see you now, but because you wanted to see me, I was the first to see you. Only..." He paused, his eyes scanning Tang Xi with profound meaning. "I don't know what your purpose is in meeting me."

"To give you an opportunity," Tang Xi didn't mince words, getting straight to the point. "An opportunity for revenge."

Gen Chime’s eyes flickered, as if his interest had been piqued. "What kind of revenge? Let’s hear it."

"I killed Tachibana Masamune. Your brother is in great pain right now. Wouldn't you like to make him suffer a little more? For instance, by letting him become a 'Ghost' while you become the 'Emperor'?"

Gen Chime’s eyes lit up instantly. He watched her without blinking, his voice tinged with excitement. "Go on."

"And while you're at it, get revenge on the 'King of Games.' Don't you crave freedom? I'll kill him for you and grant you that freedom. Is that enough?"

"It’s enough, surely... but how do you know all these things?" Gen Chime chuckled, a dangerous glint entering his eyes. "I’ve looked into you, Uesugi Erii. You are the head of the Uesugi clan, yet you haven't concerned yourself with affairs for years. How could you know all this?"

"Does it matter?" Tang Xi countered. "Does it affect me helping you get your revenge?"

Gen Chime stared intently at Tang Xi, and she returned his gaze without fear. After a long silence, Gen Chime finally looked away, seeming to calm down.

"It truly doesn't matter," he said. "Then what is your objective in helping me? What do you need?"

Finally, they were getting to the point. Tang Xi snapped her fingers and said crisply, "I want the Nigh-Ghost Clan."

Gen Chime: "?"

Sensing his confusion, Tang Xi explained helpfully, "Actually, I am a messenger of God. As long as you believe in God, God will help you fulfill all your wishes."

"I lack for nothing, except believers, and I want to start a cult. I see you have plenty of people in the Nigh-Ghost Clan. You bring them all to worship me, and I’ll help you flatten the Serpent Eight Families."

Gen Chime thought of that bunch of villains in the Nigh-Ghost Clan. To call them human would be a stretch; they were more like evil spirits. A cult with those kinds of followers? Was this even a legitimate religion?

"What? Is there a problem?"

"Perhaps a little..." Gen Chime rubbed his forehead, a rare moment of speechlessness. "I can believe in you, but I'm not sure about them. They only serve the King of Games."

"Oh, that's simple," Tang Xi said. "Just kill the King of Games later. Let them all believe in me instead; I’m much more useful and reliable."

Her tone was so nonchalant, as if she were talking about picking up groceries. Gen Chime gave a well-meaning reminder, "The King of Games is very powerful."

"Oh, that’s perfect. We’ll go kill him later," Tang Xi said. "Any more questions? If not, why don't you believe in me now? I really am quite short on believers."

Gen Chime: "..."

Gen Chime was silent for a long time before finally nodding with difficulty. Almost the moment he nodded, Tang Xi saw a line of small text appear on her interface.

[Lord skill triggered. Subordinate "Hybrid" recruited. Experience +15. Gun-wielder bloodline slightly improved. Durability +2.]

The good news: Gen Chime’s bloodline was stronger than all of Tang Wei's seven people combined, and the reward was greater.

The bad news: The Nigh-Ghost Clan didn't seem to listen to Gen Chime, meaning she couldn't automatically count his subordinates as her own like she did with Tang Wei.

But that wasn't a major issue. Tang Xi felt that with her eloquence, convincing them to follow a better master would be easy. With that thought, she stood up and said to Gen Chime, "Let's go. Take me to the Nigh-Ghost Clan; I’ll go convince them all."

Gen Chime: "...Is it really that urgent?"

"Yes, I already told you, I'm very short on believers," Tang Xi said righteously. "Don't worry, since you believe in me, I will definitely fulfill your wishes. Those who believe in me shall attain eternal life."

Gen Chime suddenly felt that this whole thing might not be as reliable as he thought. He had the distinct sensation of having joined a pyramid scheme—the feeling of being scammed, yet finding no evidence to prove it.

It took him a long while to reluctantly accept the facts, comforting himself with the thought that he was just joining a cult and hadn't lost anything... right?

"By the way, what is our cult called, and which god do we worship?"

"Our cult is called the World Tree, and the god we worship is..." Tang Xi said offhandedly, "Also the World Tree."