650 I want to play cards with somebody (1/2)

Ishihashi agreed with his partner Hanai's guess.

Both of them had plenty of interaction with ninjas before in the past, either as enemies or allies. But no matter if ninjas were their enemies or allies, Ishihashi didn't like dealing with ninjas, because it was very difficult to see them clearly for whom they truly were.

After some mutual observation, the assassin duo and the teenager duo stopped looking at each other at almost the exact same time.

As if the Ishihana assassin duo's appearance was a signal, many more participants arrived all at once.

There was a large suit-wearing man with a friendly expression who arrived together with a short girl who wore a one-piece dress and had an icy expression.

There was a middle-aged man who wore a normal shirt and pants and held a black cat in his hands. He arrived together with a young woman who wore a jacket on top of a skirt. This young woman had a leashed gray dog.

There was a beautiful short-haired girl who wore a jacket and long pants and had a sharp expression. She came together with a middle-aged woman who wore a camisole and a miniskirt, along with round-rimmed eyeglasses.

When time finally came for the ship to leave for Momozu Island, an additional twenty-two participants had arrived in the originally empty dining hall of the ship. After adding in Seiji and Shika, there were now twenty-four people for twelve teams.

According to Seiji's careful observation, seven others had utilized disguise magic like himself and Shika, while fifteen individuals chose not to use any.

He was able to recognize all twenty-two individuals that boarded the ship. They all matched the information that Hana had provided to him.

All of these individuals were in the third category of tournament participants: those participating without a powerful faction to back them up. There wasn't a single participant from the first or second category… unless he tried to count himself somehow.

Every team took a table for themselves. They all ordered some food and drink. Some chatted with their partners while waiting, while some remained quiet.

Not a single person tried to greet anyone from another team, nor were there any taunts or any scenes like mortal enemies meeting here.

Peace was good, although this felt a little boring.

Seiji wondered if he should recommend that everyone play some card games together?

Just joking.

Just as Seiji was bored to the point of joking like that with himself, someone stood up at this moment.

The person who stood up was a man who wore a bright and colorful t-shirt and shorts. His hair was slightly curly and messy, and he had bushy eyebrows but small eyes. He appeared like a beach-going tourist.

Everyone was rendered speechless.

Someone really did stand up and offer to play cards! Seiji's cheek twitched at the coincidence.

”What the hell are you doing, Saitou?” the youth next to the man who wanted to play cards spoke up in an angry tone.

This youth was wearing a jacket and long pants. He had silvery-black hair and a vicious expression in his eyes. He looked just like a hoodlum.

”I just want to find someone to play cards with.”

”Don't go looking for trouble!”

”I'm not looking for trouble, I'm looking for a friend to play cards with.” The curly-haired man named Saitou looked all around the dining hall. ”Please~ Does anyone want to play cards with me?”

”Hey!”

”It's just playing cards. You don't have to play if you think it's troublesome. It's not like I'm forcing you.”

The silvery-black haired youth seemed like he was about to explode in anger, but he managed to restrain himself. He harrumphed coldly and stopped talking.

It would seem that this man named Saitou really wanted to play cards. Seiji smiled.

”Shika-chan, do you want to join in?”

”…If Brother wants to join, then I will join together with you,” she stated calmly.

And so, Seiji raised his hand.

”The two of us will play cards with you.”

Saitou smiled happily upon seeing that someone finally agreed to play cards with him.

”Thank you. Anyone else?”

The middle-aged man with the cat slowly raised his hand, followed by a curly-haired woman wearing a leather jacket and the suit-wearing man with the kind expression.