Older Brother is Just Older Brother - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As everyone knows, to an ordinary person from the Middle Kingdom like Jiu Li, a fake temptation is Japanese banknotes. A real temptation is when, after traveling to another world, someone invites you to go kill “devils” (invaders) together.

How could anyone refuse the temptation of a First-Class Merit?

Jiu Li did indeed dislike Dazai Osamu before because of some prejudices, but things were different now! Now, Jiu Li had to perform a “on second thought” maneuver!

Thinking this, Jiu Li’s beautiful black eyes suddenly widened. He whipped his head around to look at Dazai Osamu, his eyes flashing for the first time with a mix of shock and joy—

Ding! The elevator doors opened.

“We’re here,” Dazai Osamu reminded him. “Jiu Li-kun, you should go in now.”

“We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t see you off.”

Jiu Li was given a nudge by Dazai Osamu, but he stood rooted to the spot, just staring at Dazai.

Jiu Li: Stare—

Jiu Li, half a minute later: Pounce!

Thus, when Verlaine arrived, this was the scene he witnessed:

One elevator, three people.

The “newly born kin” Mori Ougai had mentioned was outside the elevator, death-gripping the doors. That Dazai kid from the Port Mafia was frantically trying to pry the experimental subject’s fingers off.

Unfortunately, even though Dazai’s knuckles were turning white, it didn’t do much good; he clearly lacked the physical strength.

Hirotsu Ryuro, standing to the side, didn’t dare actually lay a hand on the subject. He only dared to use a prop to block the subject outside the elevator; he clearly lacked the guts.

However, the experimental subject wasn’t faring much better either. He could prevent the elevator from closing, but he couldn’t manage to get back inside; he clearly lacked the skill.

Verlaine: “…”

Verlaine felt he shouldn’t just stand there analyzing the situation, but the scene was so chaotic he didn’t know where to start.

In that brief moment of Verlaine’s hesitation, the experimental subject forced his head back in front of Dazai Osamu.

Dazai’s expression instantly filled with horror, as if worried the subject would snap and bite him in the next second, demonstrating a bite force comparable to a full-grown hyena.

But the subject only spoke with a resentful tone:

“Dazai, can I still wait for you? Will we meet again? Dazai, you must be happy when we meet again, okay? You must get promoted, okay? It’s okay if your world doesn’t have me… Dazai, how can I live without you? Dazai! Take me with you! Dazai—!”

By the end, the subject began wailing loudly. The crying sounded a bit fake; Verlaine didn’t even need a brain to know he was faking it.

Verlaine: “.”

For the first time, he felt like his own brain wasn’t enough.

Wasn’t it said that this new kin of his hated all Japanese people? Wasn’t it said that this new kin would rather throw away his own life to make Japan go down with him? Wasn’t it said that this new kin wouldn’t listen to anyone and had even attacked Nakahara Chuuya into the infirmary? Wasn’t it said that Mori Ougai had used every means at his disposal, yet his new kin still only wanted Mori Ougai dead?

It shouldn’t take that long to get from the boss’s office to the basement, right? What on earth happened?

…

Nothing happened; Jiu Li had simply experienced a sudden epiphany.

He had previously thought this organization was taking Japanese people out for a swing, but after Dazai’s reminder, Jiu Li suddenly realized the organization might be forcing Japanese people to hang themselves.

He, Jiu Li, liked this organization! Why didn’t they say so earlier? If they had, why would he have bothered performing “death before dishonor”?!

It was just that Dazai Osamu was too wicked. Even though Jiu Li had shown such weakness, the other party still refused to take him back to see Mori Ougai.

Jiu Li was in agony. He felt that the Japanese people killed by Dazai were looking down from heaven at him with disappointment—so why didn’t he ask more about the Port Mafia’s core business just now!

But you couldn’t entirely blame Jiu Li. After all, Jiu Li was just an ordinary person. How could an ordinary person expect that perfectly good Japanese people would suddenly turn “good”? It was just that Jiu Li’s mental inertia was too strong! Jiu Li had already apologized to Dazai!

Thinking this, Jiu Li opened his mouth, wanting to say something more to Dazai Osamu, but Dazai spoke first:

“Jiu Li-kun.”

Jiu Li subconsciously acted obedient: “Hmm?”

Dazai Osamu’s eyes were sincere and his speech was rapid: “The person behind you is your elder brother, your kin, and the [King of Assassins]. He has killed many people, probably more than I have.”

What what what? The other person’s Japanese was too fast, Jiu Li couldn’t understand!

But it sounded very lively. Was there enough room for so many people to stand here?

Thinking this, Jiu Li instinctively looked back.

Dazai Osamu let go immediately. His desire not to be clung to by a sticky Jiu Li made him start frantically mashing the [Close Door] button.

Hirotsu Ryuro: “.”

Hirotsu Ryuro hesitated to speak.

Fortunately, it was very effective. Jiu Li turned his head, and for a moment he didn’t use enough strength; the elevator doors actually managed to slide shut.

By the time Jiu Li realized something was wrong and turned back in a hurry—without even checking if anyone was behind him—the elevator doors were left with only a tiny crack.

Jiu Li: “!”

Dammit! He was already 16; why was he still being fooled by the “look behind you” trick?!

Jiu Li wanted to stop Dazai Osamu from leaving, but to do so now, he would have to use his ability.

Doing that would be crude and direct, but it would easily cause the elevator to malfunction and lead to an accident.

Jiu Li didn’t want Dazai Osamu to die in an elevator instead of at the hands of other Japanese people.

So, Jiu Li didn’t try to stop the elevator again.

He just stared into Dazai Osamu’s eyes inside and said seriously:

“Comrade, see you next time.”

Dazai Osamu, who almost tripped in the elevator: “…”

Having finally steadied himself, Dazai saw Jiu Li mouth a threat: ‘If you dare lie to me, I’ll make sure you meet those Japanese people in the underworld.’

Dazai Osamu: “.”

The elevator began to ascend.

Hirotsu Ryuro also retracted his gaze as quickly as possible—

He didn’t hear anything and saw nothing!

In the basement, Jiu Li let out long sighs at the closed elevator doors.

It was just a little chat; why did it act like it was taking Dazai Osamu’s life?

Whatever, sigh first Sigh, Dazai! Sigh, Port Mafia! Sigh, Japan! Sigh, the era! Sigh, da-ma da-ma da-ma…

Wait, how come this reflective elevator door was showing a blonde man staring at him?

Dazai Osamu didn’t lie to him?!

Noticing the other person suddenly take a step forward, Jiu Li was startled into a standing jump, performing a rabbit-like mid-air turn:

“Don’t come over here!”

But just as Jiu Li struck a combat pose, he fell into a brief daze of shock because he clearly saw the man’s overly exquisite—exquisite to the point of not seeming human—appearance.

Can a man be this beautiful? Jiu Li’s mouth felt like it was going to rain, he couldn’t control… wait! What was the other person doing?!

The other party took the opportunity to reach out. Using a hand much larger than Jiu Li’s, he pressed down on Jiu Li’s black head, which was now mostly dry and felt exceptionally fluffy.

Jiu Li didn’t dare move, but he instantly raised his guard to level twelve, his eyes wide and round as he stared fixedly at the man.

However, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed European didn’t do anything threatening. He just gently rubbed Jiu Li’s head twice, messing up the black hair that was usually very smooth.

Afterward, the man briefly smoothed Jiu Li’s hair back down.

Only when Jiu Li was back in a “smooth-furred” state did the man withdraw his gloved hand—the kind of hand that made Jiu Li wonder, the moment he saw it, “What is the point of patting my head like this?”

The man turned around with a satisfied expression and signaled for Jiu Li to follow: “Come here.”

Jiu Li: “…?”

If told to come, he comes? Is he a puppy?

Jiu Li grumbled, but the other person’s actions were very gentle, much like his grandmother’s. The other’s looks also perfectly suited Jiu Li’s preferences as a lover of money and beauty—golden and magnificent. Jiu Li couldn’t bring himself to be angry.

So, he only stood there tugging at his chest-length black hair for half a second before following without hesitation.

As Jiu Li moved forward, a spacious and luxurious basement unfolded before his eyes.

Jiu Li’s pupils unconsciously dilated.

Carpets with intricate patterns, expensive-looking ornaments everywhere, rooms and corridors that were ridiculously spacious… It was called a basement, but why did it look like a “Plus” version of the boss’s office?

This guy’s life is way too good!

Thinking this, Jiu Li couldn’t help himself. After being led into a space resembling a study by Verlaine, he asked cautiously: “Is… is this your home?”

Verlaine’s footsteps paused for a moment.

Because of Mori Ougai’s intel, his previous impression of this kin was simply “unyielding,” “insane,” and “disdainful of his own life.”

He had been contemplating how to handle these traits and how to make this kin regain the hope to live.

But now it seemed his kin didn’t truly care about nothing; the boy simply had nothing.

The fact that the boy looked at the basement cage where Mori Ougai had imprisoned him and made such an exclamation supported this point.

Originally, after sealing himself in the basement, Verlaine hadn’t wanted to bother with anything else.

His agreement with Mori Ougai was merely to provide simple guidance to this kin.

But at this moment, Verlaine suddenly changed his mind.

After all

On second thought, with such a pitiful, weak, and helpless kin appearing before him, it wasn’t as if he had to be a willful non-human elder brother.

Thinking this, Verlaine completely forgot about this “pitiful, weak, and helpless” kin’s feat of nearly sending everything on Japanese soil to the heavens. He first pulled out a chair for Jiu Li, gesturing for him to sit, before sitting down opposite him.

Then, Verlaine spoke, first answering Jiu Li’s question: “No, it doesn’t count as a ‘home,’ just a temporary place of residence.”

Without giving Jiu Li a chance to ask the next question, Verlaine went straight into a self-introduction in Mandarin: “Paul Verlaine, your elder brother, also a non-human. You can call me…”

Bewitched by Verlaine’s sky-blue eyes, Jiu Li subconsciously said: “Brother Verlaine?”

A lot of warmth and satisfaction instantly appeared in Verlaine’s eyes: “That’s right, you can call me Brother Verlaine.”

He actually preferred the name “Paul,” as it would make them seem closer, but “Brother” made up for it nicely.

So, Brother Verlaine it is.

Verlaine wished Jiu Li would call him that a few more times, but he had other things to say.

Weighing his words, Verlaine spoke again, recounting a polished version of his story.

In the story, Verlaine was a non-human Transcendental originally bound by the French authorities.

Later, Verlaine escaped France and lived freely for a while before coming to Yokohama for Nakahara Chuuya. After being unexpectedly injured and losing his Transcendental strength, he stayed with the Port Mafia as a nominal Executive.

In this story, Verlaine focused on introducing the similarity between his and Nakahara Chuuya’s gravity manipulation abilities, stating that non-human abilities were all of this simple and crude type. Jiu Li’s non-human identity could also be verified from this perspective.

Verlaine also said that both he and Nakahara Chuuya could activate a “second stage” of their abilities. Logically, Jiu Li’s ability should also have a second stage, but how to open it required exploration.

But even if the method were known, he wouldn’t recommend Jiu Li opening it.

Because Jiu Li’s “erasure” was more dangerous than “gravity manipulation.” With one mistake, Jiu Li would make himself completely vanish from this world—even [No Longer Human] wouldn’t be able to save him.

Verlaine also said…

Verlaine felt that the content he was narrating was absolutely easy to understand and logically clear, and it was all closely related to Jiu Li.

But as Verlaine talked, he noticed the black-haired, black-eyed youth gradually closing his eyes in exhaustion.

Jiu Li was truly very tired and sleepy.

Since his crossing, he had been using his brain at high intensity, his body was in a constant state of alert, and he was cold and exhausted, having long since overextended himself.

The only reason he hadn’t fainted earlier was purely because Jiu Li had been a “stayer” since childhood.

But now, knowing the place he was in wasn’t some Imperial Army concentration camp and the person in front of him wouldn’t say things like “the wise submit to circumstances,” it was hard for Jiu Li’s spirit to remain tense.

Even if the Mandarin coming out of Verlaine’s mouth was very “chewy” and had its own refreshing effect, it was the same.

“Brother,” Jiu Li murmured indistinctly as he felt the chewy voice abruptly vanish, “I’m so tired. Can this also be my home? I really want to sleep… Zzz.”

Jiu Li fell asleep.

Verlaine looked at the youth who had drifted off unconsciously and suddenly realized that after saying so much, the other party probably hadn’t understood a thing.

But the boy had indeed grasped the key point.

He was the boy’s elder brother, he was naturally on the boy’s side, and he had the obligation and willingness to provide shelter while the boy was weak.

Verlaine stood up, stepped forward, paused, and reached out.

Touching the experimental clothes on Jiu Li that weren’t yet fully dry, his expression remained unchanged. He simply picked the boy up naturally in a horizontal carry.

The first thing he felt was that Jiu Li was somewhat too thin—even because of the lack of muscle, despite being taller than Nakahara Chuuya, he was lighter.

The second thing was the water from the laboratory that seeped from Jiu Li’s body onto Verlaine’s suit.

Verlaine frowned.

Of course, it wasn’t because he felt Jiu Li had ruined his suit, but because the Port Mafia knew Jiu Li had reached his limit, yet they only pointed guns at him to coerce him.

He glanced at the surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling watching him coldly, pulled his young kin closer to his chest, and carried him away.