47. Man of Greed
02-17-2024
A/N: This is the chapter you've all been waiting for (;; ￣â½ï¿£).
Q: How was your Valentine's day?
-----
"We're going to get a captain, right? Does any modern-day sailor know how to control a sailing ship instead of the modern models?" Nikki questioned Minami as your group of excavators road a boat to one of the nearby islands. Other than those two, the group consisted of you, Senku, Kohaku, Magma, and Taiju.
The reporter replied, "Well, they would've learned a bit for training. But as you'd expect, no matter how much you searched across the world, you wouldn't find someone that knows how to normally captain a sailing ve--"
Suddenly, she stopped, causing you to tilt your head in confusion. You froze up when you heard the girl mention a name.
"Ryusui--" the girl shut her mouth with her hands.
You stood up from the boat with wide eyes as your group reached the shore. "Minami, don't tell me--"
"Ahh, it's nothing, nothing! I'd better be on my way!" She cried as she ran off after scrambling out of the boat.
"Wait, Minami!" You called out, but she was out of earshot. You bit your lip in disbelief as you watched her go off on her own before deciding to go after the woman.
"You look tense, slowpoke. Better let it out now before we reach her," Senku told you as you walked side-by-side with him.
"I've got a bad feeling about this..." you told him softly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Is it because of the reporter? Other than trying to ask you ten billion questions, you don't like that she's hiding information?"
Your gaze drifted toward his own. "So, you noticed too?"
"Of course, I did! She's all up in arms in the dramatics. Not that hard to tell with her, compared to you," he said with a smirk. You lightly nudged his arm with your fist as he jested with you.
The two of you had met up with Minami as she was on the ground, clearing some of the statues that stuck out. Meanwhile, Senku had pulled his sextant out from his bag to examine the area.
"What's around here?" You asked the reporter.
"Nanami Academy. This ocean-based school included sailing in its core curriculum. If we revive one of the instructors, we can operate a sailing vessel," she informed you.
I hope he's not here... you silently told yourself as you heard the academy name.
"Statue excavation time! Time for you guys to dig, Gorilla Team!" Senku exclaimed with a smirk on his face.
You, Kohaku, Taiju, Nikki, and Magma got to work, digging every stone body out of the ground. It took a bit, but each of you carried a statue to the beach, one by one so that Minami could choose who to revive. Sooner or later, you'd have to take a break.
"Since we don't have much revival formula left, we gotta pick one of these guys," said Senku as he looked at all the statues that the others were bringing in.
You walked to the end of the line of statues and stopped in recognition of the very last one. Squinting your eyes with your lips curled down as you stared at the figure, you were hoping that you wouldn't see that face in person again. Minami came up from behind you and yelped as she saw the statue of the man before you.
"Ryusui!" She cried as she gripped your shoulders. "You're not gonna choose him, are you, (Y/N)?"
You shook your head. "I don't want to. Just by your reaction, I'm guessing you know how he is, too..."
"So, you really do know him personally! Did that dance you did with him turn you off?" She wondered.
"Trying to get into the details of my personal life, huh? I'll just say that his greed is a turn-off..." you awkwardly muttered with hooded eyelids.
Minami mirrored your expression. "That's not surprising..."
"Well, he isn't exactly a normal person."
Senku and the rest of your friends came up to the both of you. Kohaku spoke up and turned her head toward Minami, "Ryusui is the name you mentioned earlier, right?"
With her hands out wide and you standing behind her, she frantically turned them and begged, "Yes, but we shouldn't revive him! Anyone but him!"
"Senku, maybe you should listen to her," you added with sweat dripping down your temples, hoping he'd listen.
"What's most important is skill. That's what matters most. So quit the dramatics and spit it out," the scientist demanded.
The girl sighed and stated, "The owner of the Nanami Academy is the shipping industry's king, Nanami Conglomerate. From the Nanami family is the son of debauchery--a party playboy! And that status is him: Nanami Ryu--"
You blurted out, making an "X" symbol with your arms, "Wait! I explained this, like, twenty-ish chapters ago!"
They just looked at you like you were crazy. With a sigh, you pinched the bridge of your nose.
"Never mind," you said, then told them what his deal was, "Look, his skill in sailing is high because he's been using ships since middle school. However, he's got the worst personality--greedy and snobby to fault! I highly recommend you revive somebody else, Senku."
"He was a captain since middle school? That's crazy!" Taiju exclaimed with interest.
"But with that amount of skill, he should be revived!" Kohaku told you.
"Absolutely not! He'll less than likely work with us unless he settles it with his own conditions," you argued sternly, Minami nodding in agreement.
The scientist looked down at you with brows furrowed. "I knew you lied to me yesterday; you know more than you let on. But judging by how nuts you're acting, I'm sure you had good reason to. What's up with this guy you don't want to revive?"
"I'm sorry for lying, Senku, really. I'll explain everything another time. But you don't remember this guy? Taiju, what about you?" You turned to the brute, who looked extremely confused.
With a nervous smile, the brute replied, "Sorry, (Y/N), I don't..."
You groaned in a disheartened way, then started, "Let me repeat this just once. 'He's an extremely arrogant and greedy playboy. Not once have I seen him without a woman around his arms. He's a bit flashy... he has a habit of snapping his fingers and going'--SENKU! Put that bottle down right now!"
You scolded the boy before he could pour the contents of the bottle onto the statue. His eyes lidded with annoyance, and he placed the cap back on to cover it up.
"OH, I REMEMBER NOW!" Taiju cried out as he pointed straight at you. "He's the guy who danced with you first on your birthday!"
"He is?!" Kohaku widened her eyes. "The annoying man in the story?"
You announced loudly, "Yes, he is! He's the rich man I danced with on my fifteenth birthday! At the Nanami Conglomerate Country Club!"
Minami blurted out, "So, you really are the heir to the (L/N) Trading Syndicate!"
"Okay, I admit that I am! But Senku, if you revive him, you're gonna have to deal with the man of greed--the guy who won't stop pestering until he gets what he wants!" You explained as you pointed at the statue. He could tell that you were trying so hard to convince him not to go through with the revival process.
"Senku, do you really want to revive a rival of love?!" Taiju loudly questioned him.
This caused the scientist to stop. He placed a finger under his chin as he began to think. You could see the gears in his brain turning as though he was working overtime.
"Oh, he actually stopped," Kohaku said as your entire group stared at him.
"Even I'm surprised he did," you muttered loud enough for your friends to hear.
"But it just comes down to whether he decides to get a normal person with a normal amount of skill, or an absolute psycho with top-class skill..." Nikki added.
The six of you watched as Senku was deep in thought. Even your group was split on the decision. Minami, Nikki, and Taiju were on your side, while Magma and, surprisingly, Kohaku were on Senku's. A few seconds later, you saw the boy sigh as he directed his eyes toward you.
"I'm gonna revive him. However, I need you to listen to me," he said strongly. Your heart dropped, but you listened to his claim against you. "Skill is what matters most. If he doesn't cooperate, we'll convince him in some way using science. Besides, even if he was revived, who's to say that he'll recognize you and cause a commotion between us? He hasn't seen your face, has he?"
"Yeah, and we'll protect you, (Y/N)!" Kohaku blurted out. "I'll beat him up if he tries anything!"
"If you beat him up, he'll be less likely to work with us. You know that, right?" Nikki told her with arms crossed, sweat dripping down her temples.
You widened your eyes at their responses, then looked away. He made a compelling argument. With a long exhale, you replied as you closed your eyes, "No, he hasn't. But I hope that everything goes well in the end the moment you--"
You didn't even finish your sentence for Senku to immediately pour the fluid onto the statue. The others were dumbfounded by his actions, and all you did was shake your head in annoyance.
When the stone cracked open, you heard fingers snap. A loud, confident voice boomed throughout the bay, "HAHAH! I'm finally back! The world, once again, is mine!"
You and your friends were immediately not impressed with his attitude. You got behind the green-haired boy and whispered to him, "I told you."
The man turned to your group, and you saw that he looked the same as when you first met him--only naked. His blonde hair flew in the wind as his golden eyes inspected every person before him. You swiftly went behind Senku to hide from the man's gaze, but to also not look at his extremely toned body and "sword." The most noticeable thing, however, was the stone markings on his right hand.
"Were you all the ones that saved me?" The man asked, then snapped his fingers to continue, "In that case, allow me to thank you, inelegant as it may be! My butler, Francois, will write you a check. You can just fill in whatever you like, whether it be ten or twenty billion yen, it matters not! Francois!"
As he noticed nobody moving, he was a bit confused by the lack of reaction. But then he realized that the world and surroundings have changed, thus changing his answer. "It seems like that's no longer the situation I'm working with. Let's see if my sailor's instinct is on... Civilization has been destroyed, and the Nanami Conglomerate and I have lost all of our funds. Am I wrong?"
Senku responded with a satisfied smirk, "Yeah. I'm glad you're quick to understand."
Suddenly, the man clenched his fists with ambitious desire. "HAHAAAAH! That's perfect! You've all done well to awaken me! If all ownership across the entire world has disappeared, then I'll be able to acquire it all for myself!"
Your group was immensely bewildered by his outburst, but you were not surprised. Minami walked up to him hesitantly and gave him some clothes and a hat. "How about first acquiring some clothing...?
"Oh, I apologize! How inelegant of me to look indecent in front of four beauties before me."
Magma then blurted out as he pointed at all the women except Nikki, "Four beauties? Maybe he just woke up, so he still can't count, right? There's only three here."
Nikki then kicked him in the groin and responded with an angered smile, "You don't have to go correcting every little thing! Even if it is the truth!"
The captain quickly put his clothes on as Magma held his manhood together. With a confident grin, he replied to Nikki's response, "What are you saying? Although everyone may have their own type, every woman is a beauty. Am I wrong?!"
"Honestly, Magma, this is why no woman wants you. That attitude of yours is a massive turn-off. Nikki is a beautiful woman--you're just as blind as you are stupid," you scolded him without thinking about it. Both Kohaku and Minami nodded in agreement with you. Nikki was touched by your words of compliment to her.
"Hey!" The blonde brute growled as he looked at you.
The blonde man perked his head up as soon as he heard your voice, then glossed over the three women in the group. He had stopped when he laid his intense glare on your figure, which was still behind Senku. Vigorously approaching you with a hand under his visage, you took a couple of steps back with an uncomfortable smile as he inspected you. The moment you expressed your discomfort before him, his gold eyes widened in recognition, and a smirk spread across his face.
With a snap, he exclaimed as he pointed at you, "HAHAH! I thought it was you, my dear (Y/N)! You've changed since the last time I saw you!"
You replied curtly as you crossed your arms, sweat beginning to drip down your temples, "I...I certainly don't think we have met."
"Of course we have! We had a wonderful dance together on your birthday," he told you with a grin. He leaned down to gently place his callused fingers under your chin, and a chill ran down your spine filled with unease. He started tilting your head upward to get a better look at you--much to your dismay. You immediately swatted his hand away but instantly regretted in fear that he wouldn't cooperate with Senku.
"...I don't like it when men touch my neck freely," you hastily informed him as you looked up to see his slight look of surprise.
A smile reappeared on his face. "I don't blame you. It was inelegant of me to touch you without your consent. I apologize, (Y/N)."
Meanwhile, Senku was getting a wee bit provoked and was about to step in, but Taiju immediately got in between you and Ryusui. His large and bold presence made the man back up a bit, which the scientist was thankful for. With the brute's arms out, he spoke, "Sorry, but you're making her uncomfortable!"
Ryusui, a bit taken aback, just grinned. "I see! But the way you're handling it, I suppose you're not together! You seem like a respectful man!"
Taiju was flabbergasted. The man walked past the brute as he was distracted just to reach you once again. He spoke as he turned his head side-to-side to inspect your every feature, "May I say your beauty still resides, even without the mask; a distinguished woman. I'm certain it is you."
You lightly sighed and spoke calmly, "I guess I can't convince you, Ryusui-san."
"I recognize that attitude anywhere, my dear (Y/N). But you've grown into a beautiful woman! You look older! And have you grown taller, or am I imagining it?" he chuckled, a smirk curled up on his face.
"You're flattering me. But no, you're just being delusional." Your eyes only looked up at him.
"But I'm not lying about you looking older. You've been awake longer than I have, I assume. How old are you now?"
"Sixteen. I'll be seventeen soon."
"Awake for a year and more...meaning you're almost two years younger than I am now. Have you given a thought about our agreement from before?" The look on his face had shown interest and desire.
You turned away from him and replied, "I have thought about it, and I'm not interested."
Off to the side, your friends were watching your exchange with the sailor they had just revived.
"Senku, are you okay with him being like... this? Toward (Y/N) especially?" Kohaku queried in a hushed tone.
He replied as quick as the snap of a finger, "It's fine. I'm aware of (Y/N)'s loyalty. With her tenacity, he should be able to back off. He did it once, he'll do it again."
"There's (Y/N)'s loyalty for you, but there's also Ryusui's greed. You're gonna have to keep an eye on him," Minami warned him. "This is coming from a woman who's interviewed many greedy men."
Taiju stepped in with clenched fists as he added, "But (Y/N) would never let anything happen to her as long as she has Senku!"
The sailor then grabbed your left hand and brought it up to his lips as he gazed into your (E/C) eyes, surprising the everyone in your group. Even Kohaku, whose anger was flaring, had to be held back by Nikki. In a sweet, calm tone, he asked, "Are you sure? I can provide you with anything you want in this new world! After all, you were the one who saved me."
Before you could say anything out of discontent, Senku spoke up, "I don't think it's a good idea to touch another man's woman like that. Especially when she has explicitly stated that she doesn't like being touched without consent."
"'Another man's woman,' I hear?" Ryusui turned to Senku, who came up next to you and wrapped his arm around your neck to let it hang from your shoulder. You quickly snapped your hand back from the blonde man and kept it close to you. From there, the captain took a step back--he stared at the both of you before he noticed the rings on your fingers, reflecting its sheen sparkle in the sunlight.
The man was slightly furrowing his thick eyebrows as his lips curled up into a determined appearance. "Ah, so you were the one who had stolen away the woman of the hour back then! Her final partner."
The scientist snickered, "You catch on quickly! Is that also sailor's instinct, I assume?"
"Of course! And let me also guess... You're not married! Those rings are for show--a display of possibility and promise. Am I right again?" Ryusui questioned with his fingers under his chin.
"Who's to say we're not?" Senku shot at him with a smirk.
This caused your group to widen their eyes in shock. You didn't say anything in hopes of Ryusui backing down on Senku's false claims.
"Senku, (Y/N), you guys are--" Taiju began, but Minami quickly shut his mouth with her hands, hoping he wouldn't finish. She knew what Senku was doing but was also assisting him in the process. Unfortunately...
"When the hell did you two get hitched?" Magma was puzzled with no thought behind his words. Kohaku and Nikki had to kick him in the groin to keep his mouth closed.
The man looked at the men, with sharp eyes. With the snap of his fingers, he replied, "By the reactions of these people here, it's evidence you're not. By law, you legally need at least two witnesses to get married since we're in Japan, after all. None of these people have witnessed it."
You noticed a tick mark on Senku's temple, but he kept up his self-assured attitude. "Huh? This is a new world! The old laws don't work here unless you're a foolish, old crone stuck on tradition! Kukuku, you're not one of those people, are you?"
The new rival let out a chuckle, then looked directly at you, "HAH, I suppose you're right. But there is no definitive proof of marriage! That means what I want can happen! All it takes is a matter of convincing and charm."
Your face curved downward uncomfortably. "I'm not so sure about that..."
"Now, let us be on our way! Certainly, you've revived me for my skill, haven't you? I want what you have in store for me!"
-To be Continued-
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I've heavily established the MC's stance on the sailor himself and where their relationship stands. I have a reason for doing so! What do you think?