GPRI prison, located in the Nakajima underground bunker, was left with only one guard after the Crimson Plan was activated.
This person, upon receiving the “End Has Come” message automatically sent by Headquarters after the scheduled time expired, committed suicide like the old Japanese military upon hearing the Emperor’s Surrender Speech.
Jiang Jian Yue thought it was best if the GPRI members left in Japan were not Japanese.
After this person’s death, only the automatic defense system and six hundred Superpower prisoners remained.
One day, when these prisoners didn’t receive new food and water, they launched a massive riot—of course, with the Jamming Shackles on, they couldn’t use their full abilities and became nothing more than lambs waiting to be slaughtered by the Automatic Mechanism.
When the Dark Crow Unit members broke through the layers of Automatic Mechanism defenses under the cover of their battle armor, they found over a hundred survivors left in the prison.
There were more corpses, torn apart by the Automatic Mechanism.
These bodies would be transformed into light insects and packed in batches by the Dark Crow Unit members to be sent back to Tokyo.
***
Five days after the 10003 Unit infiltrated Lake Toya, the tour group landed at Narita Airport.
The children who had finished their trip to Hokkaido felt a bit melancholic, as if they had just woken from a dream.
In a few days, it would be Christmas, and the airport was already fully decorated in preparation.
“Goodbye! Senpai!”
Jiang Jian Yue had a private car waiting, and left first together with Koji Hattori.
Watching from the backseat window as the crowd who had specially come to the private car entrance faded into the distance, Jiang Jian Yue let out a sigh of relief.
She actually didn’t really like traveling—not out of tsundere pride, but simply because being at home felt more cost-effective.
But if asked about the trip, Jiang Jian Yue would admit she was pretty happy.
“Miss, shouldn’t you have taken the train?”
Koji Hattori asked softly.
Jiang Jian Yue knew what he meant.
After she got in the car, Kaori Onishi had been glued to Yuki Asahi’s side, showing a sly smile.
That kind of thing didn’t matter.
If Yuki Asahi’s soul could be lured away by Kaori Onishi just by riding a train together, then such a man wasn’t worth wanting.
Besides, computers ＞ men.
Has the eleventh volume been updated yet?
She still didn’t know what had happened in Osaka.
While traveling in Hokkaido, she was either with Yuki Asahi or busy taking photos and videos.
There was only one chance to ask Yamanoi Yayoi, but the other party was too shy to answer.
But thinking about it, would the Hokkaido travel arc really stretch for another three or four volumes!?
Her account hadn’t moved for months, was it doomed to be abandoned!?
With a sense of vague loss, the S-class Benz slowly drove through a high-walled gate—
Jiang Jian Yue suddenly realized.
Were all the surrounding houses already demolished?
What kind of landlord’s mansion still had a wall like this?
Most of the residences around the Jiang Family apartment had been demolished, but some remnants still hadn’t been cleared.
As Jiang Jian Yue got out of the car in a daze and looked up, she saw Morita Ao, with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
She was a little surprised.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Qualification Recognition Tournament… has kept me busy, not much time to sleep.”
Morita Ao straightened his back, trying to appear more energetic.
“Lord Nine-Tails is already waiting for you on the Fifth Floor.”
Who allowed him to go up to the Fifth Floor?
Right now, the only ones allowed to go up to the Fifth Floor in the Jiang Family without reason were Morita Ao, Akimoto Miki, and Koji Hattori.
Perhaps noticing the lady’s annoyance, Morita Ao bowed slightly.
“Sorry, Miss. Lord Nine-Tails holds even higher authority than I do in Japan. I had no right to stop him.”
You didn’t stop Yuki Asahi from going upstairs before, either!
With a gloomy face, Jiang Jian Yue took the elevator to the Fifth Floor, like a lion patrolling its territory, only to find Nine-Tails Seiji sitting on the terrace.
As Jiang Jian Yue expected, Nine-Tails Seiji sat on her rattan chair, relaxed yet upright, as if he owned the place.
He faced away from the entrance, quietly admiring Tokyo’s dusk city skyline.
When the terrace’s glass door opened, he turned calmly.
The man before her looked exactly like his file photo.
Short, pale lilac-white hair was meticulously groomed, and his light gray eyes appeared especially deep and calm in the fading daylight.
He wore a tailored dark gray cashmere turtleneck and matching trousers, with a black overcoat casually draped over the chairback.
There was no oppressive aura, no scrutinizing gaze, nor a trace of “intruder” arrogance.
“Forgive the intrusion, Miss Jiang.”
Nine-Tails Seiji stood up, inclining his head slightly in greeting, his voice clear and calm.
“I am Nine-Tails Seiji. My apologies for visiting unexpectedly after your tiring journey.”
His opening was unexpectedly proper.
“. This is my home.”
Jiang Jian Yue replied coldly, a hint of irony in her tone.
Because this was so completely unlike the “arrogant fiancé” script in her mind, for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
“Of course.”
Nine-Tails Seiji nodded readily, his smile unchanged, even showing a hint of understanding in his eyes.
“I have no intention of offending your personal space.”
“Mr. Morita is busy, and I happened to have some preliminary ideas about the Qualification Recognition Tournament that required urgent discussion. Given the time constraints, I took the liberty of waiting here.”
“If you need rest, we can postpone the discussion to another day.”
What’s this, are you here for business?
“Qualification Recognition Tournament?”
Jiang Jian Yue frowned slightly, her attention indeed diverted.
“Yes.”
Nine-Tails Seiji took a document from a briefcase on the nearby small round table—not hurrying to hand it over, but displaying the cover.
“Mr. Morita and I designed the overall framework and process of the tournament. Especially considering the current… delicate and complex external environment, ensuring the event’s fairness, efficiency, and security is crucial.”
“I compiled some organizational experience from International Grand Events and combined it with the local realities of Japan and the Jiang Family to make an initial plan.”
“The promotional work has already started, but the specific process still needs your approval and final decision.”
He reported like a subordinate to a superior, making Jiang Jian Yue feel dizzy.
So…businesslike.
Jiang Jian Yue’s internal frustration unconsciously faded.
She walked to the terrace edge, picked up the document, and flipped through it quickly.
The content was detailed, the structure clear, and much effort had been put in—even the complex Superpower ecosystem and political factors of Tokyo were considered.
But Jiang Jian Yue wasn’t entirely satisfied—it was too conventional.
“Morita…made you do this?”
She asked without looking up.
“It’s a commission from the family head, and also something I hope to contribute to the Jiang Family.”
His humility and sense of proportion were almost flawless.
Jiang Jian Yue closed the document and looked at him.
“You came back just to…do this?”
She finally got to the main question, though her tone was no longer as cold as at first.
A faint smile seemed to flicker in the depths of Nine-Tails Seiji’s pale gray eyes—so quick it was hard to catch.
He did not avoid her gaze, answering openly.
“This is the primary purpose, Miss Jiang.”
“As for other matters…”
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance.
“They’re just secondary personal affairs—not to interfere with more important work.”
“You’ve just been on a long journey; I’m sure you need to rest. This document will stay here, so you can review or suggest changes at any time.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s manner left Jiang Jian Yue feeling as if she’d punched a pillow.
He didn’t even seem intent on lingering, giving a slight bow.
“Sorry to disturb your peace. I wish you a pleasant evening.”
With that, he picked up the overcoat from the chair and prepared to leave.
As he turned, Jiang Jian Yue’s gaze swept the corner of the small round table that had been hidden by the chairback—there lay two elegantly wrapped paper bags.
Nine-Tails Seiji followed her gaze and seemed to recall something, speaking with a hint of apology.
“A small token from Chicago—local cheesecake and chocolate. I’ve heard the taste is decent.”
“Consider it a little apology for my abrupt visit. Please, do accept it.”
His attentiveness and thoughtfulness were more like those of a meticulous subordinate or business partner than an “engagement” fiancé burdened by romantic expectations.
Jiang Jian Yue opened her mouth, but in the end only managed a single word.
“. Oh.”
It wasn’t until the elevator doors closed that Jiang Jian Yue slowly exhaled.
She glanced down at the document in her hand, then at the delicate dessert gift boxes, her brow furrowing slightly.
This man…was completely different from what she’d imagined.
No persistent pursuit, no declaration of ownership, not a hint of forcefulness.
He quietly buried the “engagement” bomb without mentioning the “childhood friend” trope.
Instead, he established himself as a “reliable, competent, and sensible business-type assistant” with a practical attitude.
He’d even prepared a gift in advance but downplayed it as an “apology.”
Deep-thinking…and hard to find fault with.
This was a bit troublesome.
If he were the “arrogant fiancé” type from a typical power fantasy novel, it would be simple—just wait for Yuki Asahi to put him in his place.
But these two personalities didn’t seem likely to clash.
Jiang Jian Yue took out her phone from storage, wanting to talk to Yuki Asahi, but instead saw a death threat just sent by Morita Ao.
“The family head asks the young lady to call him.”
Every time she called Otoosan, it was torture—but she couldn’t not call.
“I heard…there was another battle while you were in Hokkaido?”
After the call connected, the man didn’t mention the engagement, but questioned her with a faintly reproachful tone.
“Yes…”
Thinking of her previous promise that she’d “absolutely not put herself in danger,” Jiang Jian Yue replied with a straight face, but tried to sound sincerely aggrieved, her voice tinged with a sob.
This time, her “grievance tactic” had only average effect.
“…Yue, how many times have you promised already?”
Wasn’t it just once?
“I’m not against you having a free love life, but if being around Yuki Asahi is always this dangerous…then you might as well marry someone more stable.”
“But!”
Jiang Jian Yue’s voice held an urgency she herself didn’t notice.
“This time…it wasn’t…because of Yuki!”
“I…asked for it…myself…”
Unexpectedly, Otoosan didn’t give her a chance to explain, but asked instead.
“You’ve met Nine-Tails Seiji, haven’t you?”
“What do you think?”