Chapter 165: The Invitation
The exam was over. Some were crying, some were laughing, but regardless, everyone was looking forward to the upcoming forest training camp.
"Hiring for summer jobs in Syria. Guns will be distributed on-site, Quirk use is permitted. $600 USD per day, paid daily. Students and the elderly are welcome. Priority will be given to those with FPS game experience." Kira stared at the email he had received in the inbox registered to his "Joseph Joestar" identity and, with a speechless expression, dragged the message to the trash. "What is this supposed to mean? Do they want me to show up with a Thompson and a Hamon Overdrive, going 'rat-tat-tat'? It's 2099. Who still falls for this kind of email? They can't even afford to pay their mercenaries, let alone feed their people."
The conflict in Syria had been going on since the 21st century. In the era before Kira was reborn, the war had been almost over. The Syrian government had already reclaimed 80% of the land from the rebels, and peace was on the horizon.
But from what Kira had read in the history books, at that exact, unlucky moment, "Quirks" had appeared. Even people with no strength at all could suddenly gain power. The populace, which had been unarmed and displaced, had finally erupted. They had attacked not only the government forces but the rebels as well. Both sides were too busy with their own internal problems to even think about fighting a war.
And so, they had temporarily signed a peace treaty, deciding to pacify their own citizens first. To this day, while a temporary peace was being maintained, localized wars were still constantly breaking out. All it would take was a single spark, like the Sarajevo incident, for the whole thing to explode again.
But none of this had anything to do with Kira.
However, there was one point that Kira was very interested in. It was said that those who had manifested Quirks had all "self-awakened" on a certain day, and that the majority of them were adolescents. Furthermore, their Quirks all had, to a greater or lesser extent, certain flaws.
Perhaps it was because this was a different world-line, but Kira had found no information about any "Stone Masks," nor was there a "Speedwagon Foundation." Therefore, this world couldn't be the JoJo world. Even deciding that DIO had come to this world was a conclusion Kira had only reached after a great deal of deliberation.
But, once he had accepted that premise, many other facts could be deduced.
For example, the ability known as "Quirks" in this world could have been triggered by the "Arrows" that DIO had brought with him. The timeline also matched up perfectly. All For One was recorded as being among the first generation of people to possess a Quirk.
The flaws in the Quirks were also easy to explain. It was possible that DIO had found a way to replicate the Arrows, allowing him to screen for suitable individuals on a massive scale. Although they had lost their "Stands," he had caused this thing called "Quirks" to be born into the world.
Adolescents were the group with the most active minds, making them the most likely to awaken abilities. It was possible that DIO was using the Syrian war as a pretext to mass-produce Quirk users.
This theory was logically self-consistent and was very likely the truth. But there was one question Kira still couldn't figure out. DIO's goal was to rule the world. He would never just go around stabbing random people with an Arrow. With his cautious personality, he would definitely have implanted "flesh buds" in those with abilities, just like he had with Kakyoin, to ensure he could control them.
So why had Quirks spread all over the world at the same time?
This was the one point Kira couldn't understand.
But there was no need to think about it too much. Kira rubbed his temples, which were aching from overthinking. Just as he was about to close his computer, a new email came in.
Don't tell me it's more spam.
Kira opened the email. A video popped up—a short, custom animation.
After a brief black screen, an exquisite 3D room appeared. The entire room was filled with a fairy-tale-like, pink, romantic atmosphere. The owner was likely a young, pampered princess.
The camera panned over, and on a pink bed, sure enough, a little girl with golden hair, wearing a hooded cape, was fast asleep. It gave him a sense of déjà vu.
A few seconds later, a bipedal, two-heads-tall werewolf in a gentleman's suit jumped up from the bottom of the screen. He took off his top hat and bowed. "Mr. JoJo! It's been a long time! How have you been!?"
This is an email from Shadow? And they even made a short animation for it?
Kira was surprised, but he continued to watch.
"Do you remember me? I'm the owner of Shadow, just a model-maker by hobby!" The werewolf carefully put his hat back on and said excitedly, "A few months ago, you expressed interest in a new model we were conceptualizing, didn't you? I am now formally notifying you that after nearly 100 days of hard work, we have finally submitted a product that I am satisfied with! As one of our most valued customers, we sincerely invite you to our new product launch event!"
After he finished speaking, the screen went dark, leaving only two options: YES or NO.
A new product launch? Kira remembered. A few months ago, the cover of the Shadow website had been advertising a product that was "guaranteed to be realistic." Kira had been interested at the time and had asked the owner about it, but he had been told that the product was not yet finished, and they had stubbornly refused to reveal any more information.
Kira had wanted to buy it, but the astronomical price had made him hesitate. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it; he just hadn't seen the necessity of spending several times the normal amount on something he knew nothing about.
But now, with the payment he had received from Camie after the concert, Kira had more than enough money to buy it. And he was, in fact, quite interested.
Although he had blown someone up on the night after the Sports Festival, which had made the "obsession" for his other desire that had been building up for days disappear, Kira knew that such emotions would return with time. And when they did, he couldn't be sure if he would be able to control himself.
Kira looked at his fingernails, which had grown long again, and sighed. He clicked "YES" on the screen and then picked up his nail clippers.
In the days to come, he would likely have to face DIO and his League of Villains. Therefore, if he could find satisfaction from this new product and get this unpredictable emotion under control, he would be much safer.
"Mr. JoJo! I knew you would choose to come to our launch event!" The werewolf on the screen jumped for joy. He scooped up the sleeping girl from the bed, threw her over his shoulder, and said excitedly, "Your invitation has been sent out with the item you most recently ordered! Please be on the lookout for it!"
"Well then, see you later!" The werewolf waved and ran out of the frame. The empty princess room folded in on itself like a piece of origami, becoming a rectangular, gold-inlaid card.
The address written on it was...
"'The Wayward'?" Kira said aloud, surprised.
Before he could think about it, his phone suddenly rang.
"Hey, Kira-kun! Don't you dare forget! We're all going shopping tomorrow!" Toru Hagakure's excited voice came through the phone. "If you're late, we'll never forgive you!"
Shopping together?
Oh, right. He remembered. For the upcoming forest training camp, many of them had said they needed to buy supplies. Hagakure had suggested that everyone who was free should go to the mall together tomorrow to buy what they needed.
At the time, Kira had also thought that he didn't have a swimsuit or other such items and would need to buy them, so he had casually agreed.
Thinking of this, Kira sighed. The training camp wasn't until right before school started again, and summer vacation had only just begun. They're all just a little too eager...
Still, The Wayward, huh? It seems I really do need to go shopping.
(End of Chapter)
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