Saiyonji could clearly sense the strange tension in the air.
Everyone present understood the meaning of that photo, yet they tacitly avoided mentioning it—a silent act of consideration for him.
He was not the type to be sensitive or irritable over others sparing his dignity, nor did he possess any lofty pride.
If he truly held such arrogance, he wouldn’t have entered that line of work in the first place, let alone risen to the top.
Everyone is so kind.
…Except for Jiang Jian.
To navigate the world of pleasure, Saiyonji relied on his keen insight into guests—or perhaps, a near-instinctive intuition, far surpassing ordinary people’s ability to read others.
Of course, there was also a bit of (between the fingers) natural charm.
He always felt that Jiang Jian Yue suddenly throwing out this photo was purely for some malicious amusement.
What a terrifying girl.
“Let’s get back to the matter.”
Yuki Asahi quickly steered the conversation back on track.
“This time, thanks to Senior Jiang, the Metropolitan Police agreed to release him.”
Although he had just concluded “terrifying” in his heart, Saiyonji still felt immense gratitude toward her, a debt of kindness he could never repay.
“Lord Jiang Jian.”
Saiyonji took a deep breath.
“Words cannot express my true feelings. My life is yours! No matter what, I am willing to do anything for you.”
“What’s that? A confession?”
Kaori Onishi teased with a wicked smile—her dark side showing once again.
A perfect “Syrup Beat”.
Such exaggerated gratitude made Jiang Jian Yue feel a wave of uncomfortable awkwardness.
As everyone knew, she was least adept at handling passionate emotional exchanges—in such situations, she just wanted to flee far away.
Kaori Onishi’s quip made Jiang Jian Yue relax her curled toes a bit, and she instinctively glanced at Yuki Asahi beside her.
He was gripping the rattan chair’s armrest tightly, staring at Saiyonji with a blank face—why did it feel like jealousy?
Such strong possessiveness.
Yamanoi Yayoi, quick to sense subtle atmospheres, shifted her gaze back and forth among them.
Recalling Yuki’s jealousy toward Uncle Hattori during the GPRI Hunter Incident that night, she could easily conclude: Yuki likes Senior Jiang.
“It’s not! Don’t say weird things.”
Saiyonji hurriedly denied, fearing misunderstanding.
“I already have someone I like.”
Jiang Jian Yue’s mental radar beeped—could it be Yuki Asahi again?
How did our Supernatural Club end up like this (crying tone)?
“Don’t get too happy yet.”
Jiang Jian Yue cleared her throat, suppressing her thoughts.
She felt the need to remind Saiyonji of his current situation.
“Trouble still exists.”
She had only temporarily pulled Saiyonji out from Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu’s hands—she could trust him, but could she trust the capital (Curtain Cluster) behind him?
On the internet, Jiang Jian Yue dispatched her personal Water Army to clean up, but it was only a temporary fix.
In the current tense relationship between supernaturals and ordinary people, as long as the short video existed, negative online sentiment would persist.
Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu, pressured by the Dawn Resources Group, released him, but tomorrow they might arrest him again for other reasons.
Saiyonji nodded heavily, then began recounting the afternoon’s ordeal.
Sensing that no one looked at him differently because of his past profession, he didn’t hide the matter of the photo threat either.
“Eh, I see.”
Kaori Onishi finished listening, then sharply commented without hesitation.
“Those scumbags deserved to die anyway.”
“In the end, it’s the police’s negligence, right? Letting those criminals run rampant.”
Jiang Jian Yue quickly sorted through the event, her fingers typing rapidly on her phone as she issued orders to Morita Ao.
Instructing him to prepare press releases for major media.
Those yakuza members had prior records and attempted mind control using illegal drugs—not the first or second time.
That made things easier.
Jiang Jian Yue couldn’t find any reason to support the backlash, and the rampant online criticism felt ridiculous to her.
Saiyonji was clearly a victim, and the out-of-control killing happened because he was forcibly injected with illegal drugs—the ones who died were irredeemable scum, undeserving of any sympathy.
As long as this information reached the public, public opinion would reverse.
So these were just minor troubles.
Jiang Jian Yue told Saiyonji to rest assured.
Everything was in the warm hands of DRG.
With that, the topic ended, and the meeting moved to its second agenda, still Saiyonji’s intel.
“The Society of Truth is just an outer extension of a much larger entity. The true core organization will move soon…it seems related to ‘Sacrifice’.”
“Eh? Sa…Sacrifice? How scary!”
Kaori Onishi exclaimed, hugging Yamanoi Yayoi tightly.
“I don’t know the details either.”
Saiyonji shook his head helplessly.
“It will take more time to infiltrate that core group.”
Jiang Jian Yue, however, shook her head decisively.
“It’s too late.”
After Saiyonji’s arrest, Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu had surely searched him.
His secret collaboration with the Supernatural Club to infiltrate the Society of Truth had likely already fallen into Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu’s hands.
Letting Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu handle the Saints…meant it was no longer a matter for the Supernatural Club’s small fry.
And her hope of gaining new powers vanished as well.
It was likely they would soon start dealing with the Saints…assuming nothing else went wrong.
Like, say, the Mind Bug System information being leaked.
The final decision was to let Saiyonji stay quiet for a few days, observe Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu’s reaction, and lay low.
And, have Saiyonji live at Jiang Jian Apartment for the time being.
***
After the after-dinner chat, Yamanoi Yayoi left first—her family’s curfew was early.
Kaori Onishi lingered a bit longer, trying to pull Yuki Asahi away before she left, but Yuki Asahi refused, saying he still had things to discuss.
In the end, Kaori Onishi departed with a suspicious look in her eyes.
After the two girls left, the remaining three (?) boys were unusually quiet.
Saiyonji realized he was a third wheel and felt a bit uneasy.
Until the head maid, Akimoto Miki, led Saiyonji to the guest room on the fourth floor, leaving only two people on the fifth floor…
“Speak.”
Seeing that Yuki Asahi had been holding back, Jiang Jian Yue signaled that he could talk.
“That rumor…is it true?”
Yuki Asahi hesitated, then asked.
Rumor? What rumor…oh, the one about her liking Yuki Asahi.
“It’s false.”
With no one else present, Jiang Jian Yue decisively debunked it.
She judged that this little, tiny blow wouldn’t be a problem for the now more confident Yuki Asahi.
So it was.
Yuki Asahi was disappointed, but he hadn’t held much hope to begin with.
After a shy smile, he spoke.
“Um…does senpai have any plans for the holiday?”
Next week, the second semester would end and Japanese high schools would begin winter break.
Was this guy trying to invite her out again?
“Um. I have some savings now, so I wanted to invite senpai on a trip…”
Huh? Skipping straight to a trip?
(Syrup Beat: A script technique that uses comic relief during emotionally heavy scenes for adjustment.)
Oh that had a name? Neat