Chapter 154: Chaos

“Are you Nepali?” Lei Yin was somewhat surprised by the language the boy used when cursing.

Upon hearing Lei Yin speak fluent Nepali, the boy clearly froze for a moment. But soon, he began to struggle again.

Lei Yin let go of him and stood up.

Freed, the boy immediately retreated to the corner he had just been in.

“Answer me, are those police outside here to catch you?” Lei Yin asked.

Lei Yin didn’t think the boy required someone like Tsumura Genjiro to take action. Perhaps there were other people who had infiltrated, but based on the conversation, it seemed that the person being pursued wasn’t in the plural.

The boy didn’t respond, just staring at him with wary and panicked eyes.

“I’m not here to catch you. Maybe I can help you get out of here, but you need to tell me why they’re after you.”

The boy’s gaze didn’t change, still filled with caution.

Lei Yin felt a headache coming on. He had originally thought this was an adult he could negotiate with, but instead, he found himself dealing with a clueless child.

On the other hand, because the other party was just an underage boy, Lei Yin couldn’t bring himself to abandon him.

This was the contradiction in Lei Yin’s character. He could be ruthless with adults who provoked him, making them disappear without a trace, but he couldn’t bear to treat minors the same way. Like the transfer student Nagasaki Meiichi, who he had burned his house as a warning, but Lei Yin didn’t take things to the extreme.

It was with the same mindset that he had saved Lei Li, who had been hunted down, and took him in as a disciple. The same went for Amy. Lei Li once said behind his back to Chang’an that his master was certainly qualified to be the president of the World Child Protection Association.

At this moment, this man, who was discussed behind the scenes as someone qualified to inherit the position of president of the World Child Protection Association, was struggling to figure out how to earn the trust of the boy in front of him.

If the boy hadn’t eaten yet, maybe Lei Yin could use food to get him to talk. However, knowing the boy had just finished off an entire plate of very expensive sushi, that option was no longer available.

With no other ideas, Lei Yin’s patience began to wear thin. Not suited for childcare, he walked over to the boy, picking him up by force.

“Hey, I’m asking you a question. If you don’t answer, at least fart or something.”

The frightened boy tried to break free from his grip, but soon realized that Lei Yin’s hand was like a vice, impossible to escape. So, he bit down on Lei Yin’s hand.

Lei Yin, not interested in becoming his dessert, quickly used his free hand to grab the boy’s chin, lifting his head to force him to look at him.

“I’m not in the mood to build a relationship with you. I’ll say it again: if you don’t speak up, I’ll act like I know nothing and leave. What happens to you after that is none of my business.”

The boy, now being firmly controlled, finally met Lei Yin’s eyes.

In the faint light, Lei Yin could clearly see the boy’s features.

He had typical South Asian dark skin, and his features weren’t remarkable, but his eyes were particularly sharp. A boy like this could be seen anywhere in Nepal. Lei Yin grew more curious about why Tsumura Genjiro was so fixated on him. He hoped it wasn’t because the man had some disgusting tendencies that caused him to send so many police after the boy.

After a while, perhaps thinking that Lei Yin was from the same homeland, the boy finally spoke.

“Are… are you really not one of them?”

Seeing the boy finally speak, Lei Yin let him down.

“If I were with them, I would have handed you over just now, and wouldn’t be wasting time talking to you,” Lei Yin said.

Though still not fully trusting him, the boy’s wary gaze softened significantly.

“Now, it’s your turn to answer my question. Were those police really here to catch you?” Lei Yin asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I… I don’t know.” The boy couldn’t bring himself to look at Lei Yin’s eyes.

“Good.” Lei Yin gave a cold smile and turned to walk toward the door.

“Y-You can’t go,” the boy hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“I don’t help people whose backgrounds I don’t know. If you don’t say anything, then sorry, I can’t help you,” Lei Yin said calmly, watching him.

The boy was now extremely distressed. After being chased for so long, he was exhausted. His instinct told him that this man might be able to help him escape. But…

After a long internal struggle, the boy finally made a decision.

“I escaped from them.”

“Them? You mean the police?”

“No. A group of people dressed in white,” the boy said, his voice trembling.

“Did you escape alone?”

“There were others who escaped with me, but we got separated. Now it’s just me. Yesterday, when I went out to look for food, they spotted me, and I’ve been running from them ever since.”

“What did those people in white do to you?” Lei Yin pressed.

Hearing this, the boy’s face twisted in terror. Suddenly, he retreated into the corner and began screaming loudly.

Lei Yin hadn’t expected such an intense reaction and quickly rushed to cover the boy’s mouth.

The boy struggled desperately, as if he’d lost his mind.

Lei Yin had no choice but to firmly grab his wrists with one hand while covering his mouth with the other.

“Hey, snap out of it. Everything’s fine now,” Lei Yin said, giving him a headbutt to the forehead.

The boy, dazed from the impact, stopped struggling after a moment.

“Please, don’t ask me about it anymore,” the boy begged tearfully as he gradually calmed down.

Fearing he might start screaming again, Lei Yin decided to drop the questioning.

“Fine, I won’t ask. But listen carefully: the police have surrounded this restaurant. Once the guests leave, they’ll come in to search.”

“What do we do?” The boy looked at Lei Yin helplessly.

Lei Yin cursed inwardly. Why are you looking at me? It was clear the boy was counting on him now.

Without responding, Lei Yin walked over to the storage cabinets and began rummaging through them as if searching for something. The boy watched him intently, afraid he might leave.

After a while, Lei Yin turned to the boy and said, “Stay here and wait for me. I’ll be right back.” He headed for the door as he spoke.

The boy immediately ran up and grabbed his clothes tightly. “Don’t leave me!”

“I said I’ll be back,” Lei Yin replied impatiently, giving him a sharp look.

Frightened, the boy let go of his grip.

Lei Yin waited until the hallway was clear before slipping out the door.

Once again, the storage room was plunged into darkness. The boy shrank back into the corner, torn by uncertainty. He feared the man might not return—or worse, might bring the people outside back to capture him. Brother Yebin said you can’t trust outsiders, he thought.

He wanted to leave, but at the same time, he worried that if the man truly intended to help him, leaving might mean losing his last chance.

Caught between staying and leaving, he struggled with indecision.

In the end, fear won out, and he decided to leave.

Just as he reached the door and was about to open it, it suddenly swung open.

Startled, the boy jumped back.

“Hey, it’s me,” came the man’s voice from the darkness.

Hearing his voice, the boy was overjoyed. It seemed the man really did intend to help him.

The boy stopped and turned to look at him.

“Quick, put this on,” Lei Yin said, tossing him a bundle.

The boy hesitated, staring at the clothes in his hands.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up,” Lei Yin said, growing impatient.

This man is so fierce, the boy thought as he began putting on the outfit.

Between putting on the clothes, Lei Yin couldn’t help but reflect that Amy, another child he had helped, was far cuter. If it weren’t for his soft heart, Lei Yin would’ve preferred to leave this troublesome boy behind.

Unaware of his blatant favoritism, the seemingly youthful Lei Yin—who often resorted to swift kicks at offending men—felt justified in his thoughts. Lei Li’s complaints about his master’s bias were not entirely without merit.

Once the boy had changed, Lei Yin examined him carefully.

It was a server’s uniform. Though Lei Yin had picked the smallest size available, it was still a bit too large for someone who appeared only fourteen or fifteen.

Lei Yin rolled up the oversized sleeves and pant legs before saying, “Stay here and don’t wander around. When the chaos outside starts, I’ll come get you so we can leave.”

“Chaos?” The boy repeated the word, confused.

“Listen carefully: there will only be one chance. Stay here and wait for me,” Lei Yin said seriously.

The boy stared at him for a moment before nodding.

After leaving the storage room, Lei Yin returned to the banquet hall, acting as if nothing had happened.

By now, the party had entered its latter half, and it was clear that some guests had already left.

“Masashi, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Takeda said, walking over.

“Where’s Kikkawa? Hasn’t he returned yet?” Lei Yin asked, changing the subject.

“That guy hasn’t come back since he went out with Haruko. Maybe he’s already gone home. By the way, how do you know Miyu Himeko?”

“You know that woman?”

“Come on, who at our school doesn’t know Miyu Himeko? She’s as famous as Haruko. She only lost the freshman beauty contest by a few votes. I heard she and Haruko are childhood friends.”

Friends? Those two don’t seem the least bit friendly toward each other. Calling them rivals would be more accurate. Lei Yin mused. It wasn’t hard to imagine that when two equally striking beauties were in the same place, any bad blood between them could easily escalate into open hostility.

“Come on, spill it! When did you meet Miyu Himeko? Don’t tell me you just met her. Seriously, what kind of luck do you have to have two gorgeous women treating you so well?” Takeda said, getting more excited as he spoke, nearly grabbing Lei Yin by the collar to interrogate him.

“You’re spot on. I literally just met that Himeko woman. Before this, I’d never even heard of her. Takeda, let me give you some advice: your taste in women is way too shallow. Don’t assume every pretty face hides a good person. If you keep thinking that way, you’ll regret it someday.”

“Idiot, don’t think you can act all smug just because two beauties are into you!” Takeda scoffed, taking Lei Yin’s warning as nothing more than a joke.

“Let me borrow your lighter.”

“What do you need a lighter for? I thought you didn’t smoke,” Takeda said, surprised.

“Who said I don’t? I just don’t smoke often. Stop wasting time and hand it over.”

“Man, your attitude sucks even when you’re borrowing stuff,” Takeda muttered, pulling a lighter from his pocket.

Taking the lighter, Lei Yin headed for the door.

“Hey, where are you going now?” Takeda called after him.

“This is a no-smoking zone. I’m going somewhere else to smoke,” Lei Yin replied without looking back.

“No-smoking zone?” Takeda muttered to himself, glancing at a portly man not far away puffing on a massive cigar.

Lei Yin quickened his steps, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. I wonder how chaotic this place will get soon. Can’t wait to see how these so-called refined elites react when everything goes south.

***

Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, and its people are accustomed to them. But how do they respond to fires?

When the fire alarm blared through the hotel, everyone in the banquet hall went pale.

“What’s going on?”

“Is there a fire?”

“What happened?” voices rang out.

Before they could process the situation, the automated sprinkler system activated, dousing the entire hall in a sudden downpour. Guests were instantly soaked.

The previously elegant socialites now screamed like frightened hens, while the impeccably dressed men abandoned all semblance of composure, their faces showing pure panic. Everyone looked utterly miserable.

Realizing it was a genuine fire alarm, the crowd in the hall descended into chaos, with people scrambling desperately toward the exits.

Simultaneously, guests staying in the hotel began pouring down from the upper floors.

Keio Plaza Hotel, a 47-story landmark popular among foreign tourists, often hosted over 1,600 guests during peak seasons, with more than half being international visitors. The sudden surge of people descending from above created an extraordinary scene.

Two massive streams of people converged at the exits, though those coming from upstairs far outnumbered the banquet hall guests.

The herd mentality of humans can be terrifying. Even though no one had actually seen flames or smoke, the sight of others fleeing was enough to spark a stampede. In such chaos, pushing, shoving, and trampling became inevitable.

The air was filled with screams, shouts, curses, and the shrill wail of the alarm, creating an overwhelming cacophony.

Like ants fleeing a disturbed nest, people surged toward the exits, oblivious to anything else.

Outside the hotel, the streets became gridlocked as the sudden flood of people spilled out, bringing traffic to a standstill. The line of cars grew longer and longer. Nearby pedestrians stopped in their tracks, captivated by the rare spectacle of chaos.

Amid the throng being pushed toward the exits, Takeda was thoroughly drenched. But he didn’t have time to lament his newly purchased Armani suit. Though he was worried about his friend’s safety, finding someone in this pandemonium was impossible.

Unbeknownst to Takeda, Lei Yin was less than 50 meters away from him. Close by Lei Yin’s side was a thin, short figure dressed as a waiter, sticking close to him.

The police stationed outside were also thrown into disarray by the flood of people rushing out. They had no idea what was happening inside, but one thing was clear: this was not the time to perform their duties. Anyone who tried to block the human tide would surely be trampled.

Seeing the chaos exceed even his expectations, Lei Yin was slightly surprised. Looks like I overdid it this time.

Wasting no time, he led the Nepalese boy down a different route.

The traffic congestion caused by the chaos grew worse, with nearly every vehicle in the vicinity forced to a standstill. In such a situation, the pair had no choice but to continue on foot.

The Nepalese boy was thrilled to be leaving the hotel, now more convinced than ever that Lei Yin wasn’t one of them.

***

At an intersection far from the Keio Plaza Hotel, the boy watched Lei Yin speak on the phone in fluent Japanese, a language he couldn’t understand.

After a while, Lei Yin hung up and turned to him, speaking in Nepali:

“We’ll wait here for a bit. Someone will come to pick us up soon.”

The mention of others made the boy instinctively tense.

“Don’t worry, they’re not coming to catch you. I can’t stay with you, so I asked them to help you find a place to stay,” Lei Yin explained, glancing at him.

Hearing this, the boy fell silent.

“By the way, I don’t think I caught your name.”

“My name is Kitaba,” the boy replied.

“You and your family snuck into Japan, didn’t you?” Lei Yin asked, noting the boy’s gaunt and malnourished appearance.

Kitaba nodded. “I came with my father by boat.”

“And where is your father now?”

“He… he’s dead. He was killed by them.” At this, a fierce hatred appeared in Kitaba’s eyes for the first time.

Lei Yin wanted to ask more about what those people had done, but he held back, fearing it might agitate the boy further. Better to save this conversation for a safer place.

“Since your father is gone, what do you plan to do now?” Lei Yin asked instead.

“I… I don’t know.” The boy’s expression became one of helpless confusion.

“Here’s the plan: I’ll find someone to send you back to Nepal. How does that sound?” Lei Yin hoped the boy still had family back home. If not, the worst-case scenario would be placing him in an orphanage there. He had no intention of taking on another disciple.

“Thank you,” Kitaba said, his eyes filled with gratitude.

“It’s nothing,” Lei Yin replied indifferently.

The two continued to wait at the intersection. As time passed, the boy began to calm down.

Suddenly, Lei Yin, who had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed as if resting, opened them sharply.

“Come with me,” he said, grabbing Kitaba’s hand and running toward another street.

“What’s going on?” the boy asked, running alongside him.

“Someone’s coming,” Lei Yin replied.

“Is it them?” Kitaba asked nervously.

“I don’t know. I want to see if they’ll follow us.”

When they reached the street corner, Lei Yin pulled Kitaba into a hidden alley.

Once concealed, Lei Yin focused intently on the sounds outside, while Kitaba strained to listen as well.

Five minutes later, the boy heard the rapid approach of two sets of footsteps, and his face turned pale with fear.

Lei Yin turned back, giving him a strange look.

“Let’s run!” Kitaba whispered anxiously.

“There’s no point. It seems they have a way of tracking your location,” Lei Yin said grimly.

“What should we do then?” Kitaba asked, sweating profusely.

“Stay here and don’t move. I’m going to ambush them nearby.”

“What? Don’t do that! Those people are very dangerous!” the boy pleaded.

“Of course they’re dangerous. Do you think I’d resort to this otherwise? Just stay put and don’t move, or you might get hurt by mistake,” Lei Yin warned.

The boy stared at him for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.

Lei Yin immediately slipped to the other side of the street corner to hide.

If they’re ordinary people, they won’t be a problem. But if they’re like Chiyama Genjirou, I’ll need to be careful.

As the footsteps drew closer, Kitaba’s heart pounded wildly.

Finally, the two figures stopped nearby.

“Come out. I know you’re here,” one of the men called out loudly.