“I’m sorry, Gao-kun. I wasn’t able to find the person who tried to kill you today.”
On the way back, Tsukiyuki Rio felt deeply ashamed.
She had hoped to find some useful clues at the Shokaku Society, but ultimately, they were returning empty-handed.
“Rio, don’t be too disheartened. Being protected by you makes me feel content and happy.”
In Gao Sijin’s hands was a sharpened katana.
It was a gift from Masaki Toshihisa, the Boss of the Shokaku Society.
Just as the Shokaku Society had said, if they had truly been the perpetrators, they would never have left so many loose ends.
They were true professionals.
An assassin like Toyama Jun was practically a joke. His draw speed was absurdly slow, and besides that, would a real assassin really shout things like “You are not worthy of marrying Young Lady Tsukiyuki!”—words that could so easily become incriminating evidence—right before making a move?
It was almost as if someone was deliberately steering suspicion in a certain direction.
Initially, Gao Sijin had indeed harbored some doubt about the Shokaku Society, but today’s visit had completely dispelled his concerns.
Just as they were heading toward the parking lot, a man in a black suit, wielding a submachine gun, suddenly leaped out from a corner. He was clearly a gang member, the dark muzzle of his gun aimed directly at Gao Sijin.
“Die, you lowlife scum! Long live the Tsukiyuki Family!”
—Bang!
Before Gao Sijin even realized what was happening, Yu Qingxue had already drawn her pistol and shot the suited man directly between the eyes. Blood splattered everywhere in an instant.
Tsukiyuki Rio and Gao Sijin, standing behind her, were completely unharmed.
It was the same pattern again.
How could a real assassin come rushing out with such fanatical excitement?
The most effective method would obviously be to hide in the shadows and fire a quiet shot.
“What exactly is the identity of this attacker?”
Tsukiyuki Rio’s expression was somewhat icy.
Yu Qingxue stepped forward and saw the badge pinned to the corpse’s chest. Just as the Shokaku Society had mentioned, he was a gang member of the Taoka Group. Even in death, the man who had been killed with a single shot still maintained that fervent posture, his eyes emanating a fanatical light.
Her geta-clad feet gracefully skirted around the corpse, and Tsukiyuki Rio took Gao Sijin’s hand as they got into the car.
“Gao-kun, from now on, let’s not return to Kabukicho. Although the apartment in Kabukicho is very safe, it’s still not as secure as our home in the forest. Besides, once we’re back home, Gao-kun can ride horses again after so long. Won’t that be nice?”
“I’ll follow your arrangements.”
Gao Sijin said softly.
Compliance was the only path to eventually escaping Tsukiyuki Rio. He needed to gain her trust as much as possible to prepare for his eventual flight.
Feng Na had rented an apartment near Kabukicho. With her slender, pale fingers, she touched the APP on her phone screen.
This APP, developed in 2090, could easily manipulate a monkey’s brain.
When she first crossed over to this world line, Feng Na used this APP to make a female student who had been bullying her at school jump off a building to her death.
Now, to investigate the security system surrounding Tsukiyuki Rio, Feng Na used the same method to manipulate people she deemed sufficiently “evil.”
They were all scum anyway. Living was just a waste of air. Why couldn’t they be of use to her?
“Feng Na, I think what you’re doing goes completely against human ethics…” Qu Xiqian, pressing her lips together, was chopping vegetables in the apartment kitchen. Curry was simmering in a pot on the stove.
“Xiqian, I’ve never been a good girl. To bring Brother Sijin back in the end, I’m willing to do anything.”
“Is this salvation you speak of really salvation?”
“Of course it’s salvation. Brother Sijin and Sister Xiaohe love each other. Once I rescue Brother, they can be together, as lovers destined to be.”
Qu Xiqian, dressed in a long maid’s uniform, entered the living room and met Feng Na’s gaze.
Beneath Feng Na’s golden long hair was a face of delicate and beautiful features.
Yet the brow of this seemingly lively and radiant girl held a profound darkness that ordinary people could scarcely fathom.
“I feel that this salvation you speak of is just moving him from one cage to another.” Qu Xiqian stared at Feng Na’s soft, beautiful face and asked, “If the Master doesn’t want to live with you and Xiaohe, what will you do?”
“Is there even a need to ask? I’d lock Brother Sijin up, of course. But I think Brother Sijin wouldn’t be so ungrateful.”
She treated human lives as a game. While putting pressure on Tsukiyuki Rio, she also tried to sow discord between the Main Family and the Branch Family.
To ultimately rescue Gao Sijin, Qu Xiqian had actually already made the resolve to stain her hands with a Necessary Evil. But compared to Feng Na’s brand of evil, which was willing to drag innocent people into the mess, it was something Qu Xiqian didn’t possess—and something she found repulsive.
“Xiqian, I was momentarily blinded once in the past. I stabbed Brother Sijin through the chest and killed him. Perhaps from that very moment, I was already completely broken.”
Truthfully, Feng Na also knew there might be no real difference between herself and Tsukiyuki Rio.
Rescuing Gao Sijin would just be a new cage.
But she needed love. She wanted to live a happy life with her sister and Brother Sijin.
She even wanted to marry Brother Sijin alongside her sister, endlessly sinking into that happiness.
“Xiqian, your cooking is getting better and better.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Feng Na ate her dinner, closing her eyes.
At this very moment, her other self in the Magic City was shopping with her sister, having bought several beautiful outfits.
Feng Na and Feng Xiaona were merely two bodies controlled by a single consciousness. Even if she died in the end, there was nothing to fear—though the best outcome was naturally to live.
If a single consciousness controlled two bodies doing that kind of thing with Brother Sijin… would the pleasure be doubled?
The love she had hidden away in childhood had long since sprouted, growing into the shape of a man-eating flower.
When she opened her phone, she saw that the group chat Pseudo Deep Sea World was currently brimming with a joyful atmosphere.
Military Uniform Princess: Little Ai’s work has been published in J-Country, even a physical book.
Military Uniform Princess: [Link].
I Am Trash: Nice, so the Bishop went overseas to write.
Eternal I Pray: Little Ai is still writing, that’s really wonderful.
Person in the Tomb: There’s even a Painter now. Nao is the absolute best.
Feng He: Lewd Pic 1, Lewd Pic 2, Lewd Pic 3, Lewd Pic 4…
Turning off her phone, Feng Na left the rented apartment and wandered the streets, simultaneously searching for suitable prey to manipulate.
This APP had conditions for controlling other people’s brains. Those with weak wills were extremely easy to manipulate, and the best way to weaken someone’s will was to beat them up with your fists first.
“Hey, chick, hold up.”
An arrogant, swaggering voice came from a small-time thug in the dark street.
Feng Na stopped in her tracks. She looked back, glancing at them, the corners of her lips curling up slightly.
Most of the time, Feng Na never needed to go out of her way to hunt for prey. The prey would always walk right into the trap.
