Chapter 928

Leos: "You mean to say, Mr. Wanwei's status within the family is high?"

"Yes, it's also quite possible that he's one of the high-ranking members of the Oak family. But thinking about it, it's not strange either—how could Xingqiri alone possibly escape from the family's prison? Without some inside help from other high-ups, even Lady Jade alone would find it difficult."

——

""I see, my apologies." The person from the Hound family explained, "Getting back to the park, in short, some 'absolutely forbidden things' have appeared nearby."

"Wanwei felt even more curious: 'What happens if you violate it?'"

""It's quite unbelievable; you'll be corrected. It's hard to describe in words—would you like to go see for yourself?"

""Sure. Then could you keep an eye on the entrance? Let's both go in and take a look."

"The Hound member pulled a thin notebook from his pocket and handed it to Wanwei: 'Please take this notebook; I hope it helps you.'"

"After leaving those two, Xingqiri calmly reminded: 'You don't need to say that; it would make us look very suspicious.'"

""Which one?"

""Workday Mister."

""Hmph, just stating the facts—I've always thought this name suits you better." Wanwei looked at the empty park before him. "So why did we come here? Have you ever been the groundskeeper here?"

""That can also be put that way." Xingqiri did not object, "Back then I was still a child, studying under Mr. Ge Feimu to become the Oak family's 【Bell Tone】. During an ordinary walk, he spontaneously granted me the authority to govern this place; within the area he demarcated, each of my words would carry the weight of law."

""Now that I think about it, that might have been my first time putting 【Order】 into practice."

"Wanwei grew even more curious: 'You've risen step by step afterwards; looks like you've done well, huh?'"

"Xingqiri calmly shook his head: 'Quite the opposite, it was a complete mess. Fortunately, the visitors just thought it was a revelry and paid no heed.'"

""What is this, some training for you?"

""Perhaps Mr. Ge Feimu was showing me his life experience in a low‑cost way: rules have no perfect model. If the maintainers cannot keep self‑reflection, even formerly noble decisions will gradually become base. Just like here and now, the lingering echo of the distorted 【Order】… will only add to the chaos."

""Let's see what's written in the notebook…" Wanwei flipped open the notebook, and there, plain as day, were six listed rules.

—— No food other than hamburgers may be eaten, especially ice cream.

—— Non‑performers please do not step onto the stage.

—— Do not have a bad attitude toward birds.

—— Dumping trash into the trash bin is prohibited.

—— When experiencing the amusement facilities, please do not use the bottle caps sold by the Jingmeng Theater Troupe.

—— Please do not walk forward while doing a handstand near the flower beds.

——

Silver Soul

""Huh? 'Please do not walk forward while doing a handstand near the flower beds?' Gintoki looked bewildered. 'Who would deliberately go to the flower beds to walk upside down? What's the point? And to think this is actually a rule‑based weird tale.'"

""And this… 'Dumping trash into the trash bin is prohibited.' Hey hey… would the trash bin know if it would cry? Its sole reason for being is just stripped away!"

"Before, he had only heard of similar works in Shonen Jump, and had never actually witnessed a rule‑based weird tale. If the rule 'throwing trash into the trash bin' were corrected, wouldn't the trash thrown in have to fly out of the bin?"

""Order has been thrown into chaos, and this is merely the downfall of the 'Philosophical Fetus.' I can't even imagine what would have happened if, initially, Order had not been swallowed by Harmony but instead been struck down and killed by other astral deities."

""Mm… probably the whole universe would descend into rule‑induced chaos, Aru!" Kagura peeked her head out from behind Sadaharu.

""Rule‑induced chaos? What does that mean?"

"Kagura rubbed her face: 'Just like strawberry‑flavored milk must be sweet‑and‑sour, not melon or pineapple flavor—that's the flavor rule set at the factory. But if the astral deities fall, then Gin‑san, all the strawberry milk you drink in the future could be any flavor, except strawberry.'"

""Wait…?! What kind of hell on earth is that?!"

""Or perhaps our Odd Jobs gang's wallets would forever contain no money; if anyone had over one thousand yen, it would be considered a rule violation, and all that money would turn into pickled kelp."

""Hey hey! Over one thousand yen—you must have secretly taken it to buy pickled kelp, right? What kind of rule change driven by strong personal subjective intent is this?" Shinpachi couldn't help but retort, "And when have our wallets ever had over one thousand yen? Kagura, you don't really think our Odd Jobs gang's poverty is some kind of rule‑based weird tale, do you?!"

——

""Please do not walk forward while doing a handstand near the flower beds." Wanwei came to the edge of the flower bed, carefully examining these few flower beds that looked no different from usual. "Leaving aside how the Hound discovered this fact, the consequence would at most be being flipped back upright—why don't you give it a try? I want to see what you look like doing a handstand."

"Xingqiri's face was expressionless: 'Please allow me to refuse.'"

"The two approached the ice cream cart, and Wanwei glanced at the booklet in his hand: '"No food other than hamburgers may be eaten, especially ice cream…' Could it be that you set this rule?"

"Xingqiri shook his head: 'I have no bias against sweets; the rule I originally set was merely to prevent people from scrambling and to have them take turns.'"

""What happens if you violate it?"

""Just as that Hound member said, you'll be corrected."

"Wanwei, arms crossed on his hips in defiance, said: 'I'll give it a try then.'"

""Wait……!"

"Before Xingqiri's words had even finished, in the blink of an eye the ice cream before him went straight into Wanwei's stomach."

"Wanwei lowered his head, glanced at his own belly, and wondered: 'Didn't nothing happen at all?'"

"Xingqiri was also quite surprised: '…It shouldn't be like this.'"

""What did I say again? It's not your turn to act; the family can settle the matter on its own. Next, let's go check the edge of the stage."

"The stage's rule is 'Non‑performers please do not step onto the stage'; this rule is fairly normal and easy to verify. Both Xingqiri and Wanwei are non‑performers, and the moment they stepped toward the stage, an unfathomable force automatically transported them outside the stage."

""…Huh?"