Long Live Money in Anime Crossover

"My lord, I shall take my leave now."

Kiritsugu Emiya completely ignored Haruhi Suzumiya's astonishment and immediately withdrew. This action effectively silenced Haruhi, depriving her of her last chance to reason with Momo.

The only party involved and witness had been vanished into thin air by Momo, much to the satisfaction of the party's father. How could Haruhi Suzumiya possibly argue with Momo now? She had long forgotten about childish tactics like making a scene. As the leader of the SOS Brigade, was she really going to throw a tantrum and refuse to admit anything in front of Momo?

Obviously it is impossible.

"Why the long face? And everyone in the SOS Brigade, don't look so hostile. It makes it seem like we have some deep-seated, irreconcilable hatred between us, like we have to be at each other's throats."

Seeing this, Mo Mo knew the time had come. He walked step by step toward the SOS Brigade members, facing their hostile gazes, and leaned forward with a smile.

Their cheeks were very close, only about twenty centimeters apart. This distance gave the impression of confrontation, but only the two of them knew that their faces had been much closer before, their lips even touching.

Haruhi Suzumiya's pupils contracted slightly, clearly recalling the day she was forcibly kissed by Momo in Academy City. The muscles on her pale face began to twitch with anger, a sign that she was about to unleash her fury.

Ryoko Asakura's lips began to move, and a mysterious power began to operate through her silent words. The information integration entities supporting her had been awakened and established a connection. As long as Haruhi Suzumiya activated the authority of the Supreme God's power, she would assist Haruhi in using the Supreme God's power.

Deliver a fatal blow to Momo!

As long as Haruhi Suzumiya issues the order!

However, Ryoko Asakura was also well aware that if Haruhi Suzumiya really made a move, it would mean that a bloody battle was about to begin. Perhaps Ryoko Asakura was confident that she could help Haruhi Suzumiya escape, but looking at the massive floating warships and tens of thousands of soldiers behind Momo, Ryoko Asakura didn't think that their SOS Brigade could escape unscathed.

This is truly... the worst possible situation.

"Are you angry? Are you furious? Do you want to kill us?"

Mo Mo's lips parted slightly, silently speaking in sign language to Haruhi Suzumiya. All of this was blocked by Haruhi Suzumiya's own head; none of the SOS Brigade members behind her, except for Ryoko Asakura, saw it.

"It's a pity you can't get angry. You have to suppress your anger. Not only will you not try to kill me, you will also cooperate with me amicably. You can only obediently take the steps I give you, one by one. You have no other choice."

Mo Mo's eyes were full of mocking sarcasm as he spoke loudly, "Even if we had misunderstandings and were hostile in the past, it doesn't mean we will definitely be hostile in the future. I've said it before, I believe that your SOS Brigade is not the kind of organization that traffics little girls. I believe in your character, Haruhi Suzumiya, and I also believe in the integrity of the members of the SOS Brigade."

Mo Mo extended his hand to Haruhi Suzumiya and said, "Am I right? This is all a misunderstanding."

"At least for now, we shouldn't start a war because of this misunderstanding. This is for our own benefit, for the benefit of the SOS Brigade, and even more so for everyone's safety and well-being."

"Isn't that so?"

After Mo Mo finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi Suzumiya could almost feel the gazes of the SOS Brigade members behind her.

This gaze still contained trust, but now it held a hint of surprise and curiosity. What Haruhi Suzumiya couldn't ignore was the added element of anticipation.

I long for peace.

075 +1%↑

No one, except a madman, would refuse peace.

In particular, the SOS Brigade, led by Haruhi Suzumiya, was dedicated to maintaining order and rescuing those who had been ravaged. While there were many brave and fearless warriors among them, the desire for peace was a common characteristic shared by the vast majority of them.

Even these greatswords are no exception. The reason they chose to give up becoming ordinary people and enjoying ordinary life is because they know that behind the seemingly ordinary life, there are warriors who have given up their ordinary lives to protect everything.

Now, Momo has seized this opportunity, which has subtly changed his image in front of the SOS Brigade members, silently eroding Haruhi Suzumiya's influence.

Why are the SOS Brigade members fighting against Momo?

It wasn't because they harbored any hatred towards Momo, but because they knew Momo had committed unforgivable acts. Aside from the smiling Denise, this was the first time anyone had truly seen Momo, or even the administrator, and the first time they had ever witnessed the administrator's appearance firsthand.

Even Teresa herself didn't directly confront Momo. Everyone's hostility and hatred towards Momo stemmed from Haruhi Suzumiya's influence. Haruhi Suzumiya hated Momo and the administrators, so all the SOS Brigade members responded to their leader's call to hate Momo and the administrators.

However, this is ultimately a false hatred. When Mo Mo, the manager, actually appears in front of them and shows them a completely different demeanor than they imagined, any rational person would ask themselves, is it really okay to hate Mo Mo like this?

At this point, the SOS Brigade's hatred for Momo had essentially evolved into a struggle for influence between Haruhi Suzumiya and Momo within the SOS Brigade. Momo naturally couldn't defeat Haruhi Suzumiya right away, given that Haruhi Suzumiya's influence over the SOS Brigade had previously been at its maximum.

However, faced with the undeniable facts and Mo Mo's irrefutable goodwill, regardless of whether Haruhi Suzumiya agrees or not, Mo Mo's words and actions will eventually diminish Haruhi Suzumiya's influence, even if it is only 1%.

Besides, now that Momo is making a proposal, can Haruhi Suzumiya really refuse?

After a long period of hesitation, Haruhi Suzumiya finally extended her hand. However, instead of taking Momo's hand, she rudely slapped it away, still wearing a sour expression. Nevertheless, this action could at least be interpreted as a high-five, a sign that the two had finally reached a slight agreement.

Yes, it's a misunderstanding.

Haruhi Suzumiya slapped Momo's hand away, suppressing the anger on her face. She knew she had to maintain a radiant image in front of everyone, and at the very least, she shouldn't act unreasonably when everyone's lives were at stake.

This little bit of patience, the great Haruhi Suzumiya could still bear—Haruhi Suzumiya comforted herself in this way.

She didn't realize that the moment she slapped Momo's hand away without hesitation, all the SOS Brigade members behind her, except for die-hards like Ryoko Asakura and Teresa, started to acknowledge Momo a little more.

Although this manager still needs to be hated, resisted, and guarded against, this manager doesn't seem to be someone who is completely impossible to communicate with!

SOS Brigade members will have their affinity with Mo increased by 5%.

A mere 5% is a small number, but it's just the beginning, the first anthill that breaks down Haruhi Suzumiya's influence on the SOS Brigade.

With 5%, how far away is 50%?

“Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up,” Haruhi Suzumiya said, feeling frustrated and not wanting to see Mo Mo anymore, “Can we leave now? I don’t trust you at all. I’m responsible for the safety of my team members.”

Haruhi Suzumiya once again bluntly questioned Momo, and the members of the SOS Brigade behind her had no doubts about Haruhi's words. After all, they still had a 95% approval rating for Haruhi, and they also believed in Haruhi's argument that the collapse of the two-dimensional world was caused by the existence of the administrators.

"Of course, I personally don't want to try to keep you here, and our relationship is certainly not harmonious at all. However, although it was a misunderstanding, your SOS Brigade still made a mistake, shouldn't you express your apologies a little?"

"Don't push your luck!"

Momo's words instantly provoked a fierce backlash from Haruhi Suzumiya, who considered it a blatant humiliation. She was already furious enough about being made to take the blame for kidnapping Illya; now, did Momo expect her to apologize and confess?

This is impossible!

However, at this moment, Haruhi Suzumiya seemed to sense something amiss as well. She turned to look at the members behind her, and many of them showed a hint of approval in their eyes.

Mo Mo's words were simple and direct, with an undeniable basic logic—a simple and correct logic: if you do something wrong, you should apologize. This is basic courtesy, and even if the person who was hurt committed a heinous crime, it is only natural for them to feel sorry for what they did wrong.

To condemn and harm someone without restraint simply because they are guilty—what difference is there between such a person and a criminal?

SOS Brigade members' approval rating of Momo increases by 1%.

Haruhi Suzumiya wasn't aware of what Momo was doing, but she instinctively sensed something was amiss. Momo had seized the moral high ground, and what he said was absolutely correct. This meant that whatever Haruhi Suzumiya did seemed to be covering up her mistakes. If this continued, it would inevitably damage her authority among the group members.

This must be stopped!

Just then, Retsu Unohana stepped forward.

As the oldest member of the current SOS Brigade, she vaguely realized the significance of Momo's actions. These actions could not be described with words like trickery, conspiracy, or spite, but should be attributed to power politics.

Although the Seireitei has always been maintained by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni as its pillar of stability, the power struggles within the Seireitei have never ceased. In particular, the struggles for interests among nobles often do not involve drawing Zanpakuto; everything is decided in an almost invisible confrontation.

Unohana Retsu smelled the scent. She disliked it, but felt obligated to remind the still young and naive Suzumiya Haruhi.

"Although this misunderstanding started because of us, a misunderstanding is a misunderstanding. We didn't do anything wrong, we didn't harm the girl, and there were no serious consequences. Is it really necessary for a high-ranking manager to be so petty about such a small matter?"

Unohana Retsu smiled gently, her tone soft, yet in an instant, she shattered the moral high ground that Momo had occupied. She minimized the entire incident, focusing on the word "misunderstanding" that Momo had mentioned, instead of admitting that it was a mistake.

Since it wasn't a mistake, there was no need to feel sorry or apologize. In fact, she even accused Mo Mo of being petty.

Is it not petty to hold onto a minor misunderstanding that doesn't even qualify as a mistake?

Why would a manager be so petty about such a trivial matter?

076 Miss, give me a hug!

Mo Mo looked at Unohana Retsu with some admiration. Was this the wisdom of an elder?

By grounding Momo's apology in the logic of reasonable morality, and then quickly transforming it into a powerful figure seizing a handle to nitpick at the weak—and doing so with ulterior motives—this is a tactic that only someone with profound political skills could employ.

Even if Retsu Unohana herself doesn't like these things, the long years of exposure to them have clearly made her, as a beast like Kenpachi, capable of handling this small crisis.

If Momo doesn't handle this well, and everyone in the SOS Brigade thinks she's just being petty and malicious by seizing on a small weakness, then the breach she made will be completely sealed off. It might even create a sense of disgust and hatred among everyone, which would be a complete disaster for Momo, who wants to diminish Haruhi Suzumiya's influence.

Fortunately, Momo didn't truly see Illya's situation as a lifeline to diminish Haruhi Suzumiya's influence; it was merely the beginning of Momo's plan. Now that Retsu Unohana had made her move, Momo needed a different approach.

"Okay, okay, I guess I was wrong."

Mo Mo waved his hand helplessly and smiled, his smile giving off an air of leniency towards a little kid. He grinned and said, "Just as Lord Unohana Retsu said, since it's all a misunderstanding, let's just let it go."

"Captain Haruhi Suzumiya, you can leave now. Let's pretend that nothing happened before, and that you did nothing wrong."

After saying that, Momo turned around and beckoned to the heroic spirits beside him and the army in the distance. He twirled his cane and hoisted it onto his shoulder, as if he intended to leave.

it's all over?

Hearing this, everyone in the SOS Brigade breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, today's events were finally over, and they could avoid a fight. This leader, far from giving them a sense of evil, was actually quite magnanimous. Unconsciously, Mo Mo's influence in their hearts grew slightly.

This was Momo's goal, and Unohana Retsu's face clearly showed astonishment upon seeing Momo's actions. Unohana Retsu had obviously sensed the political maneuvering in Momo's actions, but still didn't understand exactly what Momo was planning.

Is this really the end?

As long as Haruhi Suzumiya doesn't lose her temper, it's truly over.

Is it possible for Haruhi Suzumiya to endure this?

Momo did indeed magnanimously declare that everything was over and nothing mattered anymore. However, this magnanimity gave the impression of indulgence and concealment. Even ordinary SOS Brigade members felt an inexplicable unease, let alone the already hot-tempered Haruhi Suzumiya.

Yes, as long as Haruhi Suzumiya remained silent, the matter was indeed over. But the SOS Brigade didn't get rid of the blame; instead, it became even more firmly established!

It was only because Mo Mo was magnanimous and didn't hold a grudge that today's matter ended. The SOS Brigade took the blame and still had to thank Mo Mo for her magnanimity. How could Haruhi Suzumiya tolerate this?

"Stop right there!"

Haruhi Suzumiya couldn't hold back any longer and stopped Momo. She didn't understand Momo's motives, but that didn't stop her from knowing that this scapegoat had to be thrown out of the way no matter what. At the very least, she had to shatter this scapegoat and put an end to today's events completely!

Trying to smooth things over will only leave behind bigger hidden dangers.

Retsu Unohana realized this as well, for she too felt a sense of frustration. She stepped back, leaving the rest to Haruhi Suzumiya, knowing that her handling of the situation would clearly not satisfy Haruhi completely.

"What's wrong now, my great commander? What are you trying to do? Isn't today's business over? It looks like you're going back to your homes anyway, so let's go!"

Momo glanced back at Haruhi Suzumiya, appearing even more magnanimous, but to Haruhi Suzumiya, this magnanimity was nothing short of humiliation. Could it be that the mighty SOS Brigade couldn't even resolve such an embarrassing little matter, and had to leave behind a shameful stain?

How could Haruhi Suzumiya allow such a thing to happen!

"Tell me how you want to resolve this. Stop pretending. Yes, we were reckless today, and you can choose not to pursue anything or make any demands, but we won't just walk away like this."

"Let's settle this here today, right now!"

Haruhi Suzumiya pointed at Momo, and thanks to Retsu Unohana's earlier reminder, she had finally grasped the situation. On one hand, she refused to admit that Illya's situation was their mistake, but on the other hand, she wouldn't let Momo go unpunished, allowing him to retain the status of a benefactor in the SOS Brigade.

"I'm really impressed by you guys!"

Mo Mo sighed, turned around again, and said, "You are the ones who refuse to admit your mistakes, and you are the ones who want to apologize."

Mo Mo waved his hand to stop Haruhi Suzumiya from arguing, saying, "If this wrangling continues, you'll delay what I need to do. How about this, if you grant me one small request, today's matter will be over, completely over, how about it?"

"any request?"