The Boss also often says that I look like a child.
Wood agreed with a laugh, his heart racing with apprehension.
(The name Special Events Investigation Department sounds like an agency stationed at Area 51..)
(What do they want from me? Is it because I posted online that there are mysterious items in Boss's museum, that strange anomalies frequently occur there.. Are they looking for me to verify the situation, or..)
Urban legends about the Black Man began to swirl through his mind.
Wood's legs went weak with fright. He forced himself to exchange pleasantries with Jason, while his eyes constantly sent signals for help to Master from the corner of his eye.
(Boss! I know I was wrong! I'll never talk nonsense online ever again! Save me! Save me! I swear that from now on I will work honestly, work hard, behave..)
—Jason.
Master stepped forward, interrupting their conversation.
Now that you've met Wood, can you give him back to me?
(Boss!)
Wood let out a long breath of emotion, wishing he could throw himself at Boss's legs and cling to him right then and there.
(You really are the best person in this world to me!)
No problem.
Jason calmly returned Wood to Master, his voice tinged with obvious disappointment: "To be honest, I thought he would be special, but I didn't expect.."
(Special? What does he mean?)
Wood pricked up his ears.
I didn't expect him to be just an ordinary, good-looking boy?
Master smiled, put his arm around Wood's shoulder, kissed him in public.
(Boss—)
Wood was greatly shocked.
Jason and the two subordinates behind him both showed expressions of shock at the same time.
“You guys—"
As a senior Agent of the Special Events Investigation Department who deals with paranormal phenomena every day, you actually can't tolerate homosexual behavior?
We are devout believers! God taught us that we must not—
But you also admit that there are powerful forces in this world other than your gods, you call them demons and heretics.
Normally, we refer to such phenomena as superstition and mass hysteria.
Jason explained helplessly, while the look in Wood's eyes remained one of deep-seated disgust.
Fine—
Master released Wood and announced to Jason and the others, "I accept your terms, but I will not provide you with any direct support—I am lending Wood to you temporarily. You must respect him, ensure his safety, fulfill your promises once the incident has concluded."
“——!”
Jason's expression was so grim it could rain.
You won't accept it?
I..
If you don't accept, then go back.
Master said with a smile, "Remember, once you walk out of this door, you can never come back!"
—Why?
Because I don't like haggling.
Having said that, Master put his arm around Wood's shoulder again. "Did you rest well last night?"
It was good.
How about I treat you to Japanese Cuisine tonight?
Really?
Wood was overjoyed.
Because of his extreme poverty, he had been living on fried chicken and hamburgers as his staples for the past week, eating only one meal a day.
I am a person who values ritual, so you must wear a Kimono and accompany me to a Japanese Cuisine Restaurant.
Kimono?
Wood looked confused.
Master had a subtle smile on his face and emphasized, "Yes, the Kimono—the staff from the Kimono shop will deliver the Kimono I selected for you within two hours and help you put it on. You only need to cooperate with them."
I will cooperate perfectly!
Wood nodded repeatedly, his eyes as innocent and pure as a puppy's.
On the other side—
Jason finally made up his mind.
Mister Master, we accept your terms. May I ask when Mister Wood will be able to join us?
Well..
Master looked at Wood and said meaningfully, "It will be no sooner than tomorrow afternoon."
..
..
After putting on the Kimono, Wood finally understood why the Boss had suddenly requested him to wear a Kimono to eat Sushi with him. It turned out—
Boss, I'm the plate of Sushi you're going to eat tonight, aren't I?
To be able to realize that so quickly—it shows you are becoming smarter.
Master walked up to Wood with a beaming smile. Wood, having put on the Kimono, was now afraid to even breathe too loudly. Master wrapped his arms around him through the clothing and said, "The Kimono, especially this kind of Kimono, exists solely to please one's master.."
But—
Because the hem is very narrow, I have to take small steps when walking. If my strides are even slightly larger, it might—
The overly close movement allowed Wood to clearly feel Master's body heat and breath, not to mention the man's hand was currently—
Boss! You, you, you said it would be in the evening, in the evening..
(Don't start now!)
—Hmm, I almost forgot the sense of ritual.
Master released Wood, whose heart was racing from the stimulation of his aura, looking at the other man's cheeks, which were prone to flushing due to his light complexion, he asked with a smile, "What are your thoughts on what just happened?"
Putting on a Kimono is too much effort, I'm worried—
Wood adjusted his belt and said with extreme embarrassment, "Once the clothes are taken off, they can't be put back on, they'll, they'll be.."
What I'm asking is what you think of Jason and the others, not your worries about what happened tonight.
—Ah?!
Wood was greatly embarrassed, his ears flushing red.
.. The truck driver who hit you and fled the scene nine days ago has been found; he is dead.
Master's tone was incredibly calm.
Wood, however—
“Dead?”
Yes, the cause of death is suicide—at least, it looks like suicide.
.. Looks like suicide?
Wood was puzzled.
Jason is currently in charge of investigating this matter, because in the truck belonging to Mike—the name of the truck driver involved in the accident—they discovered large chunks of a black, tar-like substance. Testing revealed that it contained human tissue fragments, DNA comparison showed that these fragments belong to an Egyptian Antiquities Scholar named Andy, who died in a plane crash ten days ago—the plane crash news you saw before coming downstairs to buy coffee was about his crash.
“!!”
Wood was stunned.
I—I.. I swear! These things have nothing to do with me! Nothing at all! I'm just an ordinary person! An ordinary person who couldn't be more ordinary if I tried!
I know of course that you are just an ordinary person and that these bizarre occurrences have nothing to do with you, but Jason and the others clearly do not think so.
Master embraced Wood again, pulling him—who was a full head shorter than himself—completely into his arms. "They are convinced that I, a man obsessed with collecting mystical objects, could never take in an ordinary homeless person for no reason. Since the intersection surveillance captured footage of you being sent flying by Mike's truck and remaining unscathed, they have concluded that you certainly are not an ordinary person."
W-what do I do now! I'm an ordinary person! I was just lucky to be fine after being sent flying by that truck. How could they, that Jason.. that Jason seems to hate gay people..
Wood was trembling all over with anxiety.
Well, he is a devout Catholic.
Master said nonchalantly.
Wood was shocked—
It's over! They will definitely, they will..
It's okay, I will help you.
Master lowered his head and lightly bit Wood's earlobe: "The manager of this Japanese Cuisine Restaurant we are going to is an illegitimate son of the Japanese Tsuchimikado family. Deep within the restaurant, there is a secret room used for performing Yin-Yang Secret Arts. With the help of the Yin-Yang Formation in that room, I can inject mysterious power into your body, granting you extraordinary strength for a certain period of time to get you through this crisis—wearing a Kimono is also to ensure the ritual is completed smoothly."
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
Wood nodded repeatedly.
Author's Note:
----------------------
Note: The protagonist actually vaguely sensed that he was not an ordinary person, but he was unwilling to face his own extraordinariness, preferring to believe that the Boss's ritual had miraculous effects rather than believing that he himself was not an ordinary person.
Thanks to readers "Kind Big Woman (Scamming Version) Rating: -2", "Raise a Feifei ing.", "If You Don't Study Hard, You'll Work in a Factory" for providing nutrient solution.