After returning home, Yukio told Toji everything that happened at the cafe.
After hearing it, Toji let out a mocking laugh, “Most clans are like that.”
“Getting rid of the weak is how they keep growing stronger.”
“So-called family ties and blood relations mean nothing to them.”
He glanced at Yukio.
“Since you decided to help her, keep your guard up.”
“Her family might not be happy about you interfering.”
Yukio nodded, “I know.”
“If people don’t mess with me, I won’t mess with them.”
“I’ll make it clear to Mei Mei.
If her family comes after me, I won’t care about saving her face.”
Toji kept scrolling through his phone, sounding casual.
“As long as you know what you’re doing.”
[A Few Days Later]
The familiar cafe.
The familiar corner.
Mei Mei pushed her phone in front of Yukio and pointed at the mission details on the screen.
“What do you think about this mission?”
Yukio glanced at it and smacked his lips.
“Not great.”
“The reward’s too low.
Not worth it.”
Mei Mei got a little anxious.
“Then what do you think we should do?!”
“We can’t make money if we reject everything!”
“I’m graduating from middle school soon.
I don’t have much time left!”
Yukio understood her anxiety, but he still stayed calm.
“We don’t need to keep staring at small missions with average pay.”
“We need a sustainable development plan.”
Mei Mei tilted her head, “Like what?”
Yukio handed over his own phone.
Another mission page was displayed on the screen.
“For example…
taking over an industry.”
“Let the business make money for you.
Use money to make more money.”
Mei Mei took the phone and carefully read the mission details.
[Mission requirement: Kill someone]
[Target: Aijima Shinya (second grade sorcerer)]
[Reward: Five million yen]
[Note: This person has committed countless crimes, abuses men and women, and is involved in illegal businesses.]
Mei Mei’s fingers tightened slightly.
“I’ve never killed anyone.”
She looked up, her expression complicated.
“Wouldn’t this…
be bad?”
“Killing people for money…”
Yukio looked completely matter-of-fact.
“So what?”
“It’s not like he’s a good person.”
He pointed at the mission note.
“Look, it says it clearly.
This guy’s done every bad thing imaginable.”
“If we pull this off, we might get way more than one hundred million.”
Mei Mei still hesitated a little.
“But the information says he’s a second grade sorcerer…”
“And even if we kill him, we might not be able to take control of his businesses, right?”
Yukio shook his head.
“You can’t just look at the surface of things.”
“Besides, we don’t need full control.”
He patiently explained, “We just need some shares and part of the profits.”
“No need for us to personally manage everything.”
After hearing that, the way Mei Mei looked at Yukio practically softened.
“Wow…
you’re really smart.”
Yukio pretended not to notice and picked up his phone.
“Then it’s decided.”
“I’ll call the contact.”
Shirou arrived quickly.
The same black luxury car.
The same professional smile.
Inside the cafe, he explained the mission in detail.
The five million yen had actually been crowdfunded.
Many families had been destroyed by Aijima Shinya.
This was their remaining savings, gathered together only for revenge.
After hearing that, Mei Mei softened.
“How about…
we don’t take the five million?” Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Shirou looked at Yukio.
Yukio shrugged, “Five million isn’t a small amount.
If you don’t want it, I don’t care.”
Mei Mei nodded hard, “Then we won’t take it.”
Yukio pointed at Shirou.
“After we clean up Aijima Shinya and his people, Shirou will arrange for someone to take over the businesses.”
“Then we just wait to collect money.”
“Of course, we won’t become evil dragons ourselves.”
Shirou cooperatively nodded.
“I’ve worked with Mr.
Yukio for many years.
My reputation is reliable.”
Yukio looked at Mei Mei, sounding a little more serious.
“In this world, it’s impossible to avoid killing.”
“If you don’t kill others, others will kill you.”
“If you really can’t do it, then don’t come.”
“I can handle it alone.”
Mei Mei stared at him, her gaze complicated.
“I really want to know…”
“Why can someone your age already be this cold?”
“Were you naturally someone who likes killing?”
Yukio rolled his eyes.
“Because I don’t overthink things.”
Shirou sensed the strange atmosphere and wisely stood up.
“Then I’ll leave first.”
“Contact me after you’re done.”
After he left, the cafe stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Mei Mei grabbed her pants with both hands, lowered her head, and spoke softly, “I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll just…
imagine those bad people as cursed spirits when I kill them.”
Yukio glanced at her and spoke calmly.
“Then tomorrow night at ten.”
“That factory in the outskirts.”
[The Next Night, 9:55 PM.]
Outside the abandoned factory in the outskirts, two figures met in the darkness.
Mei Mei wore tight clothes suited for movement, her long hair tied into a high ponytail, making her look much sharper.
But Yukio could tell she was nervous.
Her fingers kept unconsciously rubbing the edge of her clothes.
“Summon your shikigami first.
Check the situation inside.”
Yukio pulled out Golden Scale, the blade reflecting cold light under the moon.
“Later, watch me through the crows and get used to it first.”
“After all, this is our first time working together, and you’ve never killed anyone before.”
Mei Mei took a deep breath and nodded.
Her hands formed seals as cursed energy surged.
Several black crows formed from the void and silently flew into the factory.
A moment later, Mei Mei closed her eyes and shared the shikigami’s vision.
“Behind the main entrance, four people are playing cards.”
“In a room on the right, five people are making something.”
“In the innermost office, one person is on the phone.”
She opened her eyes and looked at Yukio.
“According to the intel, there should be seven normal people, two third grade sorcerers, and one second grade sorcerer.”
“You…
be careful going in alone.”
The corner of Yukio’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Relax.”
The next second, he disappeared from where he stood.
Mei Mei’s pupils shrank.
‘So fast!’
[Outside The Factory Entrance]
Yukio pushed off with both legs, his whole body like a black bolt of lightning.
Bang!!!
The heavy iron door was kicked flying with one strike, crashing hard onto the ground with a deafening boom.
The four people behind the door hadn’t even reacted yet.
Their vision blurred.
A black shadow had already rushed in front of them.
Slash!
Two heads flew into the air at the same time.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
The remaining two finally snapped back to reality, cursed energy instantly exploding out.
They were third grade sorcerers.
Too bad…
In front of Yukio, that level of defense was no different from tofu.
He threw out a front kick, and one person’s chest caved in directly.
The whole body shot backward like a cannonball with a boom, embedding into the wall while blood sprayed wildly from his mouth.
Yukio was already right in front of him.
The blade pierced through his heart.
One smooth motion.
The whole process took less than three seconds.
The factory fell silent except for the sound of blood flowing.
Yukio flicked the blood off the blade and looked up at the crow circling overhead.
On the other side of the crow’s vision.
Mei Mei was already crouching in a corner outside the factory, vomiting violently.
“Ugh.”, Her stomach churned wildly.
Those scenes were too real.
Too bloody.
Completely different from the “battle” she had imagined.
No back and forth fighting.
No exchange of techniques.
Just one-sided, cold, efficient slaughter.
She wiped her mouth, her face pale…
But something in her eyes was changing.
[Inside The Factory]
Yukio had already arrived outside the office door.
He sensed the person inside opening the door.
Bang!
One kick shot out.
The door panel that had just opened a crack, along with the person behind it, flew backward together.
Aijima Shinya slammed heavily into the wall.
Sharp pain exploded in his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He looked at the boy walking in through the doorway in terror.
“You…
who sent you?!”
Yukio said nothing.
He simply tightened his grip on Golden Scale and pushed off with both legs.
Aijima Shinya’s pupils shrank sharply.
‘Too fast!’
He couldn’t see it at all.
His cursed energy surged crazily as he tried to form a defense in front of himself.
‘Too late.’
When his vision became clear again, he saw something strange.
His body was still standing three meters away, while his head was falling downward.
‘Why…
am I upside down…’
That final thought flashed through his mind.
Then everything went dark.
Yukio sheathed the blade.
Right then, he frowned.
From the hilt of Golden Scale, a strange energy was slowly flowing through his palm into his body.
After entering his body, the energy quickly scattered and disappeared without a trace.
But Yukio could feel it.
His body seemed to have become…
slightly heavier?
No, not heavier…
More solid?
A bold guess appeared in his mind.
But now wasn’t the time to think deeply about it.
He raised his head and looked at the crow circling overhead.
“The remaining five are yours.”
[Outside The Factory]
Mei Mei stood up and wiped the corner of her mouth dry.
She took a deep breath, her eyes becoming firmer than ever before.
Then she stepped into the darkness filled with the smell of blood.
Ten minutes later, Mei Mei walked out of the factory.
Her face was still pale, but her eyes had already calmed down.
She looked at the person leaning against the wall waiting for her and quietly asked, “Did I…
do the right thing?”
Yukio looked at her.
Under the moonlight, tears still hung at the corners of the girl’s eyes, but her back was perfectly straight.
He nodded, “You did well.”
“You passed your first time.”
The tension in Mei Mei’s body finally relaxed.
She leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
“I killed people…”, She muttered to herself.
“I really killed people…”
Yukio sat beside her.
He didn’t comfort her, just quietly stayed there with her.
After a long time, Mei Mei suddenly spoke, “Was your first time killing someone like this too?”
Yukio blinked innocently, “First time?”
“I forgot.”
“Anyway, I didn’t throw up.”
Mei Mei gave him a thumbs up, “Badass.”