Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 154

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 154

 

The loan shark and Inoue enter as the door closes.

 

Hamuro sits across from Johann and takes out a cigarette.

 

Thud!

 

“Don’t smoke.”

 

“…Tsk.”

 

Having seen countless types of people as a loan shark, he knows.

 

That guy is not someone to mess with.

 

He withdraws his gaze from Rick Bottom and looks at Johann.

 

‘…A rich family’s son.’

 

Even his sitting posture is different.

 

“Your name?”

 

“Johann Jefferson. I’m American.”

 

“Good, Mr. Jefferson. What should I trust to hand this guy over to you?”

 

“I didn’t say to hand him over though?”

 

What he wants is simply all rights to that house and land.

 

“Oh?”

 

Then the story becomes easier.

 

“May I ask why you want to buy the house?”

 

“Rick.”

 

Rick Bottom searches for Johann on his mobile phone and shows it to Hamuro.

 

“…You’re an American movie actor.”

 

“As you can see, I’ll probably be coming to Japan frequently from now on. So I need a building to use as accommodation?”

 

Japan, where foreigners can also acquire real estate.

 

And this situation happened to unfold right before his eyes.

 

“I can’t help but think it’s fate, don’t you think?”

 

Since the land is spacious, he’s thinking of building hot springs and a swimming pool, and renovating the house solidly.

 

“If it doesn’t seem right, I could just tear it down completely and rebuild it.”

 

“…Even if you’re an actor, do you have that kind of money?”

 

“My father is quite wealthy.”

 

He’ll find out if he investigates.

 

“Hmm….”

 

Hamuro stares intently into Johann’s eyes.

 

“1 billion yen.”

 

It’s a massive estate with a total area of 3,000 pyeong and a mansion with 200 pyeong of floor space. Built about 200 years ago, it’s a traditional Japanese house with high historical value.

 

Johann smiles coldly.

 

“Wasn’t the debt amount 300 million yen?”

 

“That mansion’s value exceeds 1 billion yen.”

 

So it’s 1 billion yen.

 

‘He’s being unreasonable.’

 

I think I know why he’s doing this.

 

Johann looks at Inoue.

 

“500 million yen. How about it?”

 

“I’ll sell it! I’ll sell!”

 

With 500 million yen, he could pay off the debt and still have 200 million yen left.

 

As Hamuro said, it’s a mansion that might never sell. If he could keep even 200 million yen, it would be profitable enough.

 

Bang!

 

“Hey, Inoue.”

 

“Why, why! I’m paying back the money!”

 

“Johann.”

 

Rick Bottom gets Johann up and takes him outside.

 

“Why are you doing this?”

 

“Why are you suddenly…?”

 

Remembering how Johann had been collecting rumors and materials about treasures worldwide after discovering Norton I’s gold coins, no, the gold mine, he closes his mouth.

 

Johann nods and speaks in Spanish.

 

“Inoue’s secret is passed down by word of mouth. That secret is hidden in the room.”

 

This is a phrase written on a note presumed to be from the diary of the master carpenter who built the current Inoue mansion about 200 years ago.

 

“If there were hidden spaces like that, they would have been discovered already.”

 

“What if that space is about 1 inch between the outer and inner walls?”

 

A small space where each side’s length is less than 3cm in width, height, and depth.

 

Even so, could he discover small records indicating the location of storage rooms where treasures collected over the years were kept?

 

“It would be… difficult.”

 

It would be hard to find even by tapping with hands or using X-ray penetration.

 

‘They’d probably think it’s just a gap twisted by the passage of time.’

 

“I understand.”

 

Johann, who smiled gratefully, goes back into the room.

 

“200 million as down payment, remaining 300 million paid immediately upon transferring rights. Will you accept?”

 

Inoue glances at Hamuro.

 

“…Tsk.”

 

“I’ll accept! I’ll take it!”

 

If the mansion didn’t sell, he could have quietly collected hundreds of millions more yen in interest, but perhaps because that opportunity was flying away before his eyes.

 

Hamuro, with a sullen expression, raises an objection.

 

“If you came to Japan for promotion, you’ll have to return soon. Can we trust this guy?”

 

Johann chuckles and looks at Hamuro.

 

“If you can transfer the rights to the mansion and land to the person I designate by tomorrow, 20 million yen. Contract money is 10 million yen. Will you do it?”

 

Since they can’t trust each other, the contract money should be small.

 

“…Fine.”

 

Johann took out his checkbook, wrote down numbers and handed it over, and Hamuro extended his hand.

 

Johann shook that hand.

 

“See you tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“Tsk.”

 

“Rick.”

 

After Hamuro and his subordinates exchanged phone numbers and dragged Inoue away, Johann smiled warmly at Manager Murata who was trembling in a corner.

 

“Then let’s finish eating our food.”

 

‘In, in this situation…?’

 

Manager Murata’s eyes shook mercilessly.

 

“Ah, why me?”

 

“You haven’t paid back all the money yet!”

 

Thump!

 

The bald man who shoved Inoue into the car looks at Hamuro.

 

“Boss, why that house….”

 

The reason Hamuro lent the huge sum of 100 million yen to Inoue, who was known as a notorious scoundrel, was all to take over that mansion.

 

It was a widely known fact that the Inoue family had been collecting numerous fine art pieces with massive assets for almost 200 years.

 

But the fine art pieces that came out of the Inoue main house amounted to only 800 million yen in total.

 

Even if the appraiser undervalued them, it doesn’t match the rumors.

 

So Hamuro thought there must definitely be treasure hidden somewhere inside the house.

 

“But nothing came out.”

 

Even though not only himself but countless powerful people coveting Inoue’s treasure, or ruffians like yakuza, had thoroughly searched the mansion, nothing came out.

 

“If there’s a basement, there should be an entrance.”

 

They had conducted ground-penetrating radar surveys down to 10 meters below, but nothing came up.

 

Even after investigating not just the front yard, but various parts of the house.

 

Since antiques require maintaining temperature and humidity, they even checked the electricity bills, but they were ordinary.

 

“There was nothing.”

 

During the two years that bastard Inoue was indulging in gambling and entertainment, countless people had come and gone from Inoue’s family home, yet they found absolutely nothing.

 

Not only the antiques, but also the real estate and bonds that were supposedly owned in enormous quantities up until 80 years ago – not a trace remained.

 

‘Even if they had been squandering their fortune continuously since 80 years ago… this is strange.’

 

Even if their wealth had been leaking out like a hole in a granary for about eighty years due to business failures, failed investments in children, and other reasons, this was the Inoue family that once possessed assets worth 1 trillion yen in current value.

 

Especially Inoue’s grandfather, Inoue Ryoma, was known as a collector fanatic and the person who amassed the most treasures in the family’s history.

 

“Then there’s only one answer.”

 

Somewhere among the artworks and household items that Inoue sold, there must be a map recording the location where treasures and wealth are hidden.

 

“Such families always create mechanisms to ensure their wealth and family business can continue if something happens to the head of the family.”

 

Hamuro burst with frustration after realizing this too late.

 

The items inside had already been sold off by Inoue or swept away by creditors.

 

So he decided to target the mansion.

 

Hoping to discover a treasure map inside.

 

“Don’t you think that kid was thinking the same thing?”

 

“A 16-year-old American kid knows about the Inoue family? A family that even we Japanese don’t know well?”

 

There didn’t seem to be any other ulterior motives in his eyes either.

 

Except for showing great excitement when mentioning hot springs, no other particular emotions could be felt.

 

‘He probably liked it after soaking in the hot spring once.’

 

That’s probably why he wants to build hot springs.

 

Like a rich person shopping at a department store, it felt like he was just buying it because it looked pretty.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“Tsk.”

 

Hamuro clicked his tongue and looked at the building they had just exited.

 

“So from now on, we watch.”

 

Just in case, really just in case, a map hiding treasures emerges from inside the mansion, they would intercept it.

 

Even if Johann was working with knowledge about Inoue as his subordinate worried, what did it matter.

 

“No matter how much of a Hollywood star he is, this is Japan.”

 

If they buried him without anyone knowing, who would find out.

 

He’s just a foreigner anyway, so it would get a bit noisy and then die down.

 

“Still, just in case, investigate everything about him thoroughly, and that security guard kid looks dangerous too, so prepare well.”

 

“Haha. Yes!”

 

As expected, big brother had it all planned out.

 

The bald man smiled brightly.

 

* * *

 

“Hello!”

 

The next day, the Tokyo tour began as a female reporter in her twenties approached with a bright smile.

 

“Wow.”

 

“How do you feel about climbing Tokyo Tower, Tokyo’s greatest landmark?”

 

“It’s wonderful?”

 

The view of Tokyo from approximately 1,029 feet (333 meters) had a different flavor from the view from Griffith Observatory.

 

“Japanese signboards and tall buildings with Japanese aesthetics… It feels very exotic and sophisticated.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

After giving lip service to fill the footage, Johann then toured a place called Sensoji Temple, praying for the health of Larry, Ada, Melanie, and Emily, and diligently sightseeing Tokyo while eating dishes called soba and monjayaki.

 

“It’s a shame. Yasukuni Shrine has more historical value than Asakusa Shrine.”

 

“…Are you talking about that Yasukuni where the memorial tablets of war criminals who started wars against America and the world are enshrined?”

 

Was she really telling an American, who suffered great damage from the Japanese, to visit Yasukuni Shrine?

 

“What? That can’t be! Why would our Japan do that to America…! Rather, America!”

 

“Dropped nuclear bombs. Do you think America went crazy and did such a thing?”

 

If that were true, how insane must Japan have been to like America, which dropped two nuclear bombs despite Japan doing nothing wrong?

 

“…”

 

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that nonsense.”

 

Johann cut her off coldly and looked at Rick Bottom.

 

“Next, I think we can have tea at a place called a maid cafe.”

 

“Maid…?”

 

“Yes. It’s a place where servers dressed like maids of old European nobles serve tea.”

 

This was a place he had checked by asking Nishihara Kumiko, who was a fan of Johann.

 

With that, the Tokyo sightseeing would end, and all schedules in Japan would be completed.

 

“Oh?”

 

That sounds interesting.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

After drinking black tea there, he could go meet the loan shark Hamuro.

 

Johann headed to a place called Akihabara, ignoring the reporter and cameraman who seemed to have something to say, their lips twitching.

 

And then…

 

“Welcome, Master!”

 

Flinch!

 

Johann looked at Rick Bottom as if asking whether this was right, and he quietly turned his head away.

 

Following Korea, this was the second failure.

 

* * *

 

That afternoon, Hamuro stiffened as he entered the rice bowl restaurant.

 

“Are you tired from jet lag?”

 

“…Let’s say that.”

 

His head and chest felt dizzy.

 

The shock was stronger than the cosmetics store he had once followed Ada to, stronger than the cute interior cafe he went to with Emily.

 

He wanted to forget, but it seemed like it would remain in his memory forever.

 

“What about the contract?”

 

Swoosh!

 

“Just sign here and it’ll be done.”

 

Then all rights including registration would be transferred within an hour.

 

As Johann reached out his hand, Hamuro grabbed the contract.

 

“Money first.”

 

“That’s after the transfer.”

 

“…Tsk.”

 

“Rick.”

 

When Hamuro let go, Rick Bottom signed.

 

They were buying Inoue’s family home under Rick Bottom’s name.

 

When he took out documents containing personal information and placed them on the contract, this time Johann grabbed them.

 

“It would be best not to try any tricks. No matter how much of an Inagawa-kai loan shark you are, it doesn’t mean bullets can’t lodge in your head.”

 

Inagawa-kai. One of Japan’s three major yakuza organizations, and Hamuro was a mid-level executive there.

 

This information was what Rick Bottom had discovered last night.

 

“Ah, you have 1 son and 2 daughters, plus 1 son and 3 daughters including illegitimate children, was it?”

 

Even this information.

 

Chills!

 

‘This little brat?!’

 

Murderous intent seeping through an indifferent gaze.

 

Definitely the eyes of someone who has killed countless times.

 

‘Was Rocky Management a company created by the mafia?!’

 

Rocky Management, the company of Larry Jefferson, Johann’s adoptive father.

 

The phenomenal growth of Rocky Management over the past 5 years, which he discovered while investigating the reliability of the check, would make sense if it was a company the mafia created in the legitimate world.

 

‘So that’s why they can make deals worth hundreds of millions of yen so easily!’

 

It wasn’t the reckless spending of a spoiled rich upper-class brat, but the boldness of a mafia heir.

 

The boldness that comes from knowing things can be fixed even if they go wrong.

 

‘He must have experience living as a savage in the Rocky Mountains too!’

 

The murderous intent of someone who lived like a beast wouldn’t be this controlled.

 

This was murderous intent refined through training.

 

Through blood, sweat, and the lives of others.

 

“…Haha. That can’t be.”

 

‘How many people has he killed at that age?’

 

Hamuro suppressed the rising doubt and handed the contract to his bald subordinate.

 

The bald man took it and left the shop.

 

“You just said with your own mouth that it would take about an hour… Would you like to have some rice bowl in the meantime? This place is quite delicious.”

 

A shop he entered following the smell while looking for a quiet place. It was an amazing restaurant.

 

Hamuro chuckled seeing the rice bowls piled up next to Johann.

 

‘To think I’d end up doing business in a rice bowl shop.’

 

“One katsudon here.”

 

“Yes! Katsudon!”

 

“…Wow.”

 

3,000 pyeong. It was much larger than he had thought.

 

High walls stretching out on both sides of the large gate.

 

‘Even the shape of the roof tiles is different from Korea.’

 

The walls of this mansion were very different from the walls he saw at Gwanghwamun and Bukchon Hanok Village.

 

“The clothing was different too.”

 

‘And the mindset too.’

 

In Korea, he only saw hanbok near Gwanghwamun, but in Japan, wherever he went, there were people wearing kimono, the traditional Japanese clothing.

 

This means that the perception of it being part of formal wear, or clothing to wear when showing respect, still exists in Japanese minds.

 

‘Is America like that too?’

 

Johann stopped his thoughts as he crossed the gate, wondering if America had anything that could be called traditional clothing.

 

“Uhaha! How is it?”

 

“…It’s quiet.”

 

The garden made of sand, strange rocks, and trees. Even the sound of the bamboo water wheel echoing from afar wraps that magnificent mansion in silence.

 

If Korean hanok gave a warm yet majestic feeling, this place gives a cold yet quiet majesty like morning fog.

 

“Huh! I could even be a poet?”

 

“Th, this mansion is…”

 

Hamuro clicked his tongue in amazement, while Inoue glanced at the loan sharks and tried to say something.

 

Johann wrote numbers on two checks and held them out.

 

“Don’t disturb my appreciation and get lost. This place is mine now.”

 

“…Uhaha! Contact us anytime if you want to borrow money! Let’s go, Inoue! Hand over that check.”

 

“Huk! N, no, th, this is…”

 

Creak! Bang!

 

As the door closed, Rick Bottom whispered.

 

“There’s a high probability that listening devices are hidden.”

 

Hamuro seemed to already know about the Inoue family.

 

If the Inoue family was famous as collectors as Johann explained at the dormitory yesterday, other powerful people would have hidden listening devices and such.

 

‘They’re hidden.’

 

He had already confirmed through the library that listening devices were hidden throughout the house.

 

Johann nodded and slowly looked around the garden before entering the mansion.

 

“Wow! Wa! Ooh!”

 

Even though it was an empty mansion with nothing except relatively modern furniture and appliances, Johann kept exclaiming in admiration at the uniquely Japanese atmosphere, and finally headed to the master bedroom.

 

“It’s spacious… Hmm. It would be better to decorate this place in Japanese style, right? Ah, can tatami support the weight of a bed?”

 

“According to what I found out, tatami is an extremely sturdy flooring.”

 

“I see… Still, we’ll have to tear down this wall and redo it.”

 

As Johann touched various parts of the wall at the front end of the sliding door, where traces of hanging scrolls or frames remained heavily, Rick Bottom spoke up.

 

“Or how about buying paintings or calligraphy the exact same size as these traces? This wall itself has great value…”

 

Tap tap! Knock!

 

‘Here it is.’

 

The place where the map leading to Inoue’s treasure vault is located.

 

When he pressed and released the part where the wall meets the floor, a piece about 1 inch long, no, a drawer popped out.

 

‘Bin-go!’

 

A round piece of wood wrapped in paper.

 

Johann trembled with the same thrilling pleasure that penetrated his entire body as when he discovered Norton I’s treasure, and his eyes lit up as he looked at Rick Bottom approaching.

 

* * *

 

-Are you saying we should overturn that sand garden?

 

-It’s just sand anyway. Wouldn’t it be perfect to build a hot spring there? Aesthetically too.

 

‘Tsk. Such an American who doesn’t understand Japanese traditional art.’

 

Creak!

 

“Duck down!”

 

Inside a car parked where the front gate of the Inoue mansion could be seen from afar.

 

As Johann and Rick Bottom, who had locked the gate, walked toward the main road, the bald man caught his breath.

 

“It doesn’t seem like they discovered anything, does it, boss?”

 

“…Let’s follow them for now.”

 

“Yes.”

 

There were no tremors or strange sounds from the wiretap, but you never know.

 

They followed Johann who got in a taxi, but stopped their car when Narita Airport appeared.

 

Johann entering the airport with officials from Warner Brothers Japan.

 

Hamuro got out of the car and lit a cigarette.

 

“Damn it. Is the Inoue treasure map really not in the mansion?”

 

‘No, he might just not have found it yet.’

 

Who knows what might happen during remodeling.

 

‘Maybe the treasure map is hidden in the items that bastard sold, not inside the mansion.’

 

“So you’ll have to stay with us until then, Inoue.”

 

If only Inoue, the sole survivor of the Inoue family, was qualified to enter the treasure vault, they’d have to keep this guy with them until they found it to claim their share.

 

Inoue’s face turned deathly pale, having been relieved at the thought of being released.

 

Meanwhile, inside the airport.

 

“I’m really taking back only good memories. I hope we can meet again next time.”

 

“Haha! Then we’ll wait with joy until your next visit!”

 

“We’ll be waiting!”

 

Johann’s expression hardened slightly as he passed through the departure gate, leaving Manager Murata and his subordinate employees behind.

 

‘Quite a lot came.’

 

The gazes that had been following him since the Inoue mansion could still be felt inside the departure gate.

 

Rick Bottom whispers.

 

“It seems we’ll have to change our plan.”

 

The plan to pretend to leave the country and then sneak back out of the airport.

 

Rick Bottom sensed at least five gazes watching them.

 

“…They must really want this badly.”

 

He couldn’t blame them.

 

Johann himself was the same way.

 

“If I book a plane ticket under my name, we’d be caught immediately, right?”

 

If he took a plane or ship to Japan under the name Johann Jefferson, they’d be discovered right away.

 

“…I can’t say that’s not true.”

 

“This won’t work.”

 

It seemed he’d have to call in a Helper.

 

‘Hmm. How much should I pay…’

 

Johann scratched his head as he headed toward the duty-free shop.

 

And so Johann’s Japan schedule came to an end.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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