Long Live Money in Anime Crossover

This time, she didn't drink anymore, but silently stared at the calm wine, in which Mo Mo's face was reflected.

“I can act as your go-between. Since you are so familiar with Gensokyo, you should also know the reputation of our Oni Clan. As long as you promise not to harm Gensokyo, I can act as your go-between and let you have a good talk with Yakumo Yukari.”

"It's better for Gensokyo to have less fighting right now."

After speaking, Hoshiguma Yuugi slowly began to sip her drink, seemingly feeling somewhat downcast because of what she had just said. Unfortunately, Momo rejected Hoshiguma Yuugi's suggestion.

Seeing Mo Mo shake his head, Hoshiguma Yuugi was a little puzzled and said, "You probably don't want to have a conflict with Yakumo Yukari either, so why are you refusing? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, but unfortunately, Yukari Yakumo doesn't trust me. Or rather, who can Yukari Yakumo trust right now?"

Hoshiguma Yuugi paused slightly, her fingers tracing the rim of her sake cup, choosing to remain silent. She couldn't deny this, because all she wanted was to keep the peace and prevent this clueless Momo from clashing with Yakumo Yukari.

As for changing Yakumo Yukari's mind and making her trust Momo... even she, as a member of the Oni clan, doesn't trust Yakumo Yukari, so why should Momo trust Yakumo Yukari?

That's right, Hoshiguma Yuugi doesn't trust Yakumo Yukari.

Although Ibuki Suika and Yakumo Yukari are considered good friends, and Hoshiguma Yuugi and Ibuki Suika are even closer friends from the same clan, this doesn't mean that Hoshiguma Yuugi and Yakumo Yukari get along. After all, cunning is an undeniable aspect of Yakumo Yukari's personality. Therefore, no matter how sincere the cunning Yakumo Yukari appears in front of Hoshiguma Yuugi, Hoshiguma Yuugi cannot fully trust her.

In contrast, Hoshiguma Yuugi and Kirisame Marisa were actually friends who had met only once. Their friendship blossomed from a misunderstanding, and they even had a brief collaboration. And Kirisame Marisa's personality was something Hoshiguma Yuugi undoubtedly liked very much.

Marisa Kirisame is practically the epitome of sincerity. Even when she enters someone's home, she can find something useful without batting an eye, without the slightest bit of psychological pressure. Her boldness is something even Yuugi Hoshiguma would envy.

This is also why Hoshiguma Yuugi is here now. On one hand, he wants to prevent Momo from doing anything to fulfill Yakumo Yukari's request, and on the other hand, he wants to check on Kirisame Marisa's condition.

The situation of a friend who had been dead but was resurrected and reappeared—a friend they had met once before.

What reassured and pleased Hoshiguma Yuugi was that Kirisame Marisa was still alive and doing very well. Although Hoshiguma Yuugi didn't know what had happened, she didn't care about the details, as long as Kirisame Marisa was alive and well. It was precisely because of this that Hoshiguma Yuugi's tacit approval of Momo increased significantly.

"You guys are all scheming types... You always make things so complicated! I know Yukari Yakumo's personality. She will never trust you again. Even if you declare that you won't do anything, she will still worry that this is your conspiracy and revenge. That's what you sages are like, always thinking too much."

Hoshiguma Yuugi started drinking heavily again, but unlike before, she was now drinking in silence. She knew it was unrealistic to try and persuade Mo Mo through her. However, Hoshiguma Yuugi hadn't held out much hope anyway, because she wasn't cut out for this kind of thing; she'd let the others handle Mo Mo.

What's more, the people she's trying to persuade are people like Yakumo Yukari and Momo.

All she needed was alcohol; she couldn't be bothered with the rest of the complicated stuff.

"Cheers!"

Momo smiled and clinked glasses with Hoshiguma Yuugi again. However, this time, Momo did not withdraw his glass. Instead, he said as the glasses clinked, "You failed to persuade me, so now it's my turn to persuade you."

"Persuade me?"

Hoshiguma Yuugi looked at Mo Mo in surprise and laughed, "What do I have to say to him? Wait, could it be that you..."

Hoshiguma Yuugi is straightforward and hates cunning and deception, but that doesn't mean she lacks wisdom or doesn't understand intrigue and scheming. It's just that as a demon, she disdains using them and hates such things.

She frowned, looking at Mo Mo, who was much thinner and even frail than herself, and said, "You... are you plotting something? Are you still eyeing Gensokyo?"

Momo took a small sip of the drink, savoring the spiciness as it flowed down her throat, and said, "Yugi, I trust you, so it's fine for me to tell you my thoughts. But before that, tell me, what do you think Gensokyo is?"

Hoshiguma Yuugi seemed to sense that the question was becoming increasingly serious. She maintained her toasting posture and said, "Gensokyo... is just this land. We live here. This is our... home. That's all."

After saying that, she looked at Mo Mo. Hoshiguma Yuugi wanted to see what Mo Mo was up to.

However, to Hoshiguma Yuugi's surprise, Momo nodded in agreement with Yuugi's straightforward statement, saying, "Yes, Yuugi, you're absolutely right. Gensokyo is just the home of everyone in Gensokyo. Everyone lives here and will continue to live here, so we must protect this place."

"It's not that complicated, it's that simple."

"what do you want to say?"

Hoshiguma Yuugi stared at Momo, sensing that his next words would shake her resolve. Sure enough, Yuugi's intuition was correct. Momo then asked, "So, Yuugi, whose Gensokyo is it now?"

Hoshiguma Yuugi's heart tightened, and she felt her breathing become somewhat erratic. As the Heavenly King of the Oni Clan, she had seen all kinds of situations and faced all kinds of enemies, but Mo Mo's words had made her somewhat uneasy.

She had a vague feeling... that Mo Mo's hand was reaching into a vulnerable spot deep within her heart that she didn't want to think about.

"Just say what you have to say!"

"Then I'll just be frank."

Momo put down her glass and said, "Gensokyo belongs to everyone, not just one person. Although she has done a lot for Gensokyo as a leader, it doesn't mean she can decide everything in Gensokyo, or the present, future, or even the lives and fates of everyone living in Gensokyo."

"I came here not for revenge, nor to make a big splash. I even came with excitement to reunite with Reimu and to use my own strength to bring new life to Gensokyo."

But what awaits me?

Mo Mo smiled coldly and said, "I don't know what happened in Gensokyo, I don't know what pressure you are facing, or what made Gensokyo become like this."

"All I know is that Marisa, Sakuya, and Mokou are dead, and Kaguya and Sanae have been exiled. Despite all this, Gensokyo appears to be normal on the surface."

"But this kind of normality is the biggest abnormality."

"You faced the enemy, you fled, you used your last strength to whitewash the situation, you ignored the past sacrifices and the suffering of others, leaving Gensokyo still the same Gensokyo as before."

"Is all of this truly as you wished, Heavenly King of the Demon Clan?!"

"boom!"

As Mo Mo finished speaking, Hoshiguma Yuugi's fist slammed onto the wooden table in front of her. Wood chips flew everywhere, plates shattered into pieces, and the delicious food became a jumbled mess, sticking to Hoshiguma Yuugi's fist, which was as big as a sandbag.

As for Hoshiguma Yuugi himself, his face turned ashen.

"Enough! Put away your clever tricks and don't try to provoke me. What exactly is your purpose? If you have the guts, just say it!"

I will take over the position of 159 Yakumo Yukari.

Hoshiguma Yuugi was enraged; smashing the table was perhaps the most extreme expression of her anger. Anyone facing the furious Hoshiguma Yuugi should be prepared to be smashed to pieces, but Momo's smile only grew brighter.

Hoshiguma Yuugi is indeed angry, but what is she angry about?

Because she discovered that Mo Mo was actually a cunning and despicable person?

No, that's not the case.

Hoshiguma Yuugi probably heard a lot of good and bad things about Momo from Yakumo Yukari from the beginning, and Momo never hid the fact that he was a clever person who liked to use his mind.

The reason Momo and Hoshiguma Yuugi got along so well was because Momo had promised to be honest. Now, Momo will continue to maintain this honesty, so there is only one reason for Hoshiguma Yuugi's anger: Momo has exposed her secret.

"Then I'll just say what I have to say."

Mo Mo looked directly at the enraged Hoshiguma Yuugi and said, "I just want to ask you a question. Yakumo Yukari decides the choice and future of Gensokyo, and decides your life and death. For the Gensokyo in her heart, she can use the original residents of Gensokyo as bargaining chips for sacrifice."

"Is all of this something you approve of, Oni King Hoshiguma Yuugi?"

Mo Mo finished speaking in a calm tone, but that calm tone was like fingers brushing sand off a sword's edge, causing a violent light to flash in Hoshiguma Yuugi's eyes.

That was the original color of the Oni race. As powerful youkai, the Oni race was not a benevolent group. Before the Oni race entered Gensokyo, even the Tengu race was enslaved and oppressed by them, which shows the power and strength of the Oni race.

However, Mo Mo ignored the red glint in Hoshiguma Yuugi's eyes. Instead, he raised his own glass and gently touched Hoshiguma Yuugi's still-held glass, saying, "Cheers."

This action seemed to be the key to unlocking Hoshiguma Yuugi's violent emotions, and her emotions visibly and quickly calmed down. After all, the Hoshiguma Yuugi of this time was no longer the domineering and tyrannical demon of the past, and the demons of the present were no longer the demons of the past.

Currently, apart from Hoshiguma Yuugi and Ibuki Suika, the entire Oni clan is reduced to only a handful of individuals, facing the danger of extinction. Meanwhile, the Tengu, once enslaved by them, have thrived and are living quite comfortably. In the original story, the Oni clan sought refuge in Gensokyo, where they learned to survive in different ways during their peaceful years.

Hoshiguma Yuugi silently downed the sake in his cup, setting it down for the first time without refilling it. Meanwhile, Momo slowly poured himself a drink, seemingly performing the art of drinking for Hoshiguma Yuugi.

"Survive."

Hoshiguma Yuugi slowly uttered two words, then continued, "Since you know everything about Gensokyo, you must also know the predicament the youkai are facing. Our oni race has gradually declined, and Gensokyo is our last home. Even if Suika and I can disregard our own lives, the oni race... without Gensokyo, they truly have no place to stand."

"It was like this before, and it's even more so now."

"As for why we obey Yukari Yakumo in everything, it's simply because she has the ability and insight to handle all of this. Without her leadership, Gensokyo would probably have become a wasteland by now. Only she, only Yukari Yakumo, is irreplaceable."

"It's that simple."

Having confided her innermost thoughts, which she had never revealed to anyone, Hoshiguma Yuugi seemed much more relaxed and, like Momo, began to drink alone. If it were up to her nature as an oni, she wouldn't want to concern herself with these things. But as the Oni King, when responsibility fell on her shoulders, a sliver of her sense of duty prevented her from completely abandoning these matters.

Hoshiguma Yuugi's words were not unexpected to Mo Mo. In Mo Mo's view, the reason why Yakumo Yukari was able to do this, even if it meant sacrificing some people, and still maintain the balance and stability of Gensokyo, was inseparable from the fact that she held the most core power.

Previously, the power she wielded was a transcendent status granted to her by the Great Barrier; without her, there would be no Gensokyo as we know it today. Now, although Mo Mo doesn't know what Yakumo Yukari's most crucial trump card is, this trump card is even more important than the Great Barrier, directly concerning the survival of all living beings in Gensokyo.

Faced with one's own life and death, the lives and deaths of others become less important—this is human nature, and the same principle applies to other intelligent beings. It may seem cold and ruthless, but it is an unshakeable and unquestionable reason.

What's even more hateful is that the Oni clan doesn't lie, so what Hoshiguma Yuugi said must be what she thinks, knows, and is familiar with.

"Kid, I'm sure you understand now. Don't do anything unnecessary. Even if I think you're right, I'll still stop you. This isn't the time for reasoning, it's the time for fists. Of course, if you think you're stronger than me, then go ahead and fight."

Hoshiguma Yuugi tilted his head back and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. Then he stood up and said, "Thank you for the wine. Consider my advice a gift. Now, are you going to retreat, or do you choose to fight me?"

"Just so you know, my power is enough to flatten even a monster mountain, hahaha!"

As she spoke, Hoshiguma Yuugi, seemingly showing off, rolled up her sleeves to display her impressive biceps to Momo. Looking at those muscle balls, almost as big as her own head, Momo felt a pain in her eyes. This kind of tomboyish woman was definitely not Momo's type!

It's much more fun to play with a tomboy like Fujiwara no Mokou, who's all tough and manly.

Mo Mo didn't immediately answer Hoshiguma Yuugi; instead, he quietly pondered something. He was making a final judgment, deciding whether he should launch the most ruthless offensive—an offensive against Yakumo Yukari—as he had initially envisioned.

If he really did that, Gensokyo would truly be destroyed by him, in another sense.

At that moment, Mo Mo's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly, as if every muscle in his body was tense with anger.

The reason can be summed up in just one sentence.

“Momo,” Marisa Kirisame said to Momo via quantum communication, “Although I am also shocked, I think I should tell you immediately that I have gotten the cause of my death from Alice.”

Marisa Kirisame is no longer the same Marisa Kirisame she used to be. Her emotional intelligence and IQ have both increased by a huge margin. With this, she can take advantage of the situation when Alice is not paying attention. In addition, Alice is extremely excited to see Marisa Kirisame come back to life. It is really not difficult for Marisa Kirisame to get some information from Alice.

In fact, the amount of time that Marisa Kirisame had spent had already made Momo shake his head.

However, Momo no longer had the mind to care why Kirisame Marisa had wasted so much time. His brain, his immense computing power, and the seven Momos in Gensokyo all seemed to have crashed for a moment because of Kirisame Marisa's words.

"I actually..."

"...He was killed by Reimu."

An invisible force gripped Mo Mo's heart, making him feel as if he had been frozen in an instant. The unease that had been lingering in his heart rapidly amplified. What on earth had happened to Reimu Hakurei?

Mo Mo gritted his teeth. He had an impulse to use his abilities to summon countless nuclear bombs and pile them in front of Yukari Yakumo's face to force her to hand over Reimu Hakurei.

However, Mo Mo held back.

Is that all?

"For now, yes. Alice didn't participate in that war, and she only learned about me because of her identity. As for what exactly happened, I guess only Reimu and Yukari Yakumo's closest people know."

Momo nodded and ended the call with Kirisame Marisa. Kirisame Marisa had already reached her limit, and Momo probably wouldn't be able to obtain any more valuable information from the Forest of Magic.

However, although Momo forcibly suppressed the destructive urge within him, the changing circumstances strengthened his resolve. It was time to let the enemy enjoy the treatment they deserved.

Yukari Yakumo has been constantly scheming against and hindering Momo, treating him as a thorn in her side. And now, Momo is about to begin weaving a cage that will drive Yukari Yakumo to despair.

"Hoshiguma Yuugi, I suddenly had an idea. How about we have a pleasant deal where everyone's happy except for one person?"

"A trade? What trade?"