# 629
# Chapter 629: The Twin Legends of the Host Industry
Three minutes earlier.
Amemiya Haruki, who had altered his appearance using disguise techniques, stopped in front of the entrance to the Black Wutong Club, holding a flyer that had been folded many times.
He glanced up at this deserted shop, then shifted his gaze to the flamboyant poster plastered by the door—a blonde young man in flashy clothes, smiling as he held up a glass of wine, as if about to make a toast.
Amemiya Haruki's expression stiffened.
When the noodle shop owner handed him this flyer, he mentioned having a friend who ran a shop in Dotonbori, though the place seemed short-staffed. He also said that if Amemiya Haruki could get hired by the shop's owner, he could earn quite a bit of money in a short time.
And so, Amemiya Haruki had followed this flyer all the way here.
At first, he thought it was just an ordinary restaurant. But it wasn't until he stood right outside, seeing the suggestive poster and the shop's interior decor, that he realized... this was a host club.
The closed glass door reflected Amemiya Haruki's silhouette, and in the reflection, there was a white-clad, white-haired figure holding an umbrella behind him.
"This is a host club." His voice echoed in Amemiya Haruki's ears.
"...I can see that."
"Are you really planning to work here?" The voice paused. "The wielder of the Nine Magatsu Blades, a 【Ogre】-class wanted criminal, a man determined to change this country... and now you're going to be a host?"
Amemiya Haruki's gaze flickered, as if wrestling with a decision.
After a long moment, he spoke slowly: "But I need money."
"Do wanted criminals really need to go this far to make money?"
"Others may see me as a wanted criminal, but I cannot see myself that way." Amemiya Haruki said calmly. "If I steal, if I rob, if I lose my moral boundaries—then what's the difference between me and those other 'evil' people?"
The white-clad, white-haired figure fell silent for a moment. "I think you don't need to go this far."
"Hoshimi Shota can make sacrifices for our goal, and so can I." Amemiya Haruki said coolly. "It's just being a host, not selling my body. I know my limits. Once I've earned enough money, I'll leave. No one will ever know I worked here.
Besides, host clubs are full of all kinds of people—it's a great place to gather intelligence. I might hear something about the Yamazaki Bridge."
"...Fine."
Seeing that his blade's spirit had made up his mind, the 【Rainfall Collapse】 spirit didn't argue further. The reflection in the glass faded, leaving Amemiya Haruki standing alone at the entrance.
Amemiya Haruki took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong—!
The crisp doorbell chimed, and after a moment, the closed door slowly opened.
Kyousuke-san opened the door and froze on the spot when he saw a handsome young man in a black kimono standing outside.
Even the black kimono couldn't hide this young man's well-proportioned, tall frame. On that youthful face, there was a faint scar along the jawline—beautiful yet commanding, with an air of authoritative boldness. Those eyes were cold and deep, like a Japanese sword gleaming with cold light.
This young man...
Kyousuke-san's mouth fell open slightly.
"Hello, I'm here to apply as a host." Amemiya Haruki looked at Kyousuke-san and said seriously.
After saying this, he shifted his gaze to the side. He had noticed a figure behind Kyousuke-san earlier, assuming it was a shop employee. But now that he could see the face clearly, his entire body jolted!
His eyes filled with disbelief.
Lin Qiye, dressed in a flashy red shirt and sequined jacket, stared at Amemiya Haruki with equal shock, standing frozen in place.
Although Amemiya Haruki had used disguise techniques to alter his appearance and conceal his identity, it couldn't fool Lin Qiye's spiritual perception. From the moment he saw the other person, he had already recognized him.
After their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.
"Sure, sure, sure! Come, come, let's go inside and talk it over!"
When Kyousuke-san heard this handsome young man was applying to be a host, his face lit up like a sunflower. He grabbed Amemiya Haruki's hand, seemingly afraid the young man would change his mind, and enthusiastically ushered him upstairs.
"Asaba, go get him a cup of water." Kyousuke-san said to Lin Qiye, who was still standing rigid.
"Huh? Oh... okay." Lin Qiye snapped back to reality and said glumly.
Lin Qiye, being the consummate professional, went to pour tea for Amemiya Haruki and Kyousuke-san. Meanwhile, the other two went directly into a private room, apparently discussing terms. From time to time, Kyousuke-san's passionate speech could be heard, and most of it sounded very familiar to Lin Qiye...
"You are a once-in-a-decade genius of the host industry... If you leave, it would be the greatest loss the host industry has suffered in the past ten years... You were born for the host business..."
Lin Qiye stood outside the private room holding two cups of tea and silently rolled his eyes.
So... he says that to everyone?
Tch, player!
Lin Qiye pushed open the door and walked in, setting the two cups of tea in front of each of them. Amemiya Haruki glanced at the sputtering Kyousuke-san in front of him, then looked at Lin Qiye's resentful expression, his lips twitching slightly.
A moment later, Kyousuke-san settled on Amemiya Haruki's terms—basically the same as Lin Qiye's, and also daily pay.
"Come, Asaba, let me introduce you." Kyousuke-san walked over to Lin Qiye, warmly draping one arm around his shoulder and the other around Amemiya Haruki, pressing their shoulders together. He beamed as he said:
"This is Amemiya Haruki, our new colleague. From now on, we're all companions—take care of each other!"
Amemiya Haruki?
Lin Qiye was puzzled for a moment, then quickly understood. Amemiya Haruki must have concealed his real name, after all, his current identity was a 【Ogre】-class wanted criminal...
"Amemiya, this is Asaba Shichiya, your senior—he arrived a day before you. Honestly, I never expected that in less than a day, I'd have acquired two legendary geniuses of the host industry!"
As Kyousuke-san prattled on happily, his proud expression made it seem as if he wanted to puff out his chest and let out a triumphant howl: "The twin legends of the host industry are now under my command!"
After prattling happily for a long while, Kyousuke-san finally pushed open the door and left to continue calculating the shop's yesterday's earnings. Only Lin Qiye and Amemiya Haruki remained in the private room, staring at each other in silence.
Lin Qiye looked him up and down and clicked his tongue.
"You said you'd see me in two weeks, that you had things to do... So this is what you were up to? Becoming a host?"