Chapter 400: Continued Cooperation |
"Akizuki Youka" laughed. A layer of blood-red flames suddenly ignited across the surface of her body. The crimson fire flickered, and her appearance burned away into nothingness in an instant, like a highly flammable cloak.
In the brief moment it took her to stand up from the sofa, her appearance had completely transformed once again.
Her blonde hair flowed like the morning glow, her skin was as pale as snow, and her features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll.
Akizuki Youka's original appearance was already breathtakingly beautiful, but compared to the girl standing there now, the difference was like a flickering firefly beside the radiant full moon.
Her beauty defied description. With golden eyes that outshone her hair and faintly visible, delicate pink ear tips that peeked through as she moved... she looked less human and more like an elf who had stepped straight out of an epic fantasy tale.
Monica recognized her immediately. It was the very same girl from that fateful night when she and Bula had secretly followed her older cousin Jane and this blonde stranger—the night that had ultimately exposed the hidden side of the world to their eyes.
"You're the one from that night..."
Monica gasped. As Irine Vancaloga walked toward Hoshino Gen, the blonde girl glanced back at her. A faint smile danced in those dreamy golden eyes, but she quickly looked away.
Her silhouette dissolved into a mist of blood, instantly reappearing behind Hoshino Gen. Hovering in mid-air, she rested her hands lightly on his shoulders. Her burning gaze locked onto the boy's pale neck as she suggestively licked her crimson lips. "Why can't it simply be that I missed you?"
Irine drifted backward, moving smoothly out of the cursed blade's striking range. Although they had only crossed paths once before, that single encounter was more than enough for her to understand his temper. He was not the type to make empty threats; he was a ruthless killer who would genuinely strike to kill at the slightest provocation.
She chuckled, dropping her facade of feigned intimacy. Crossing her legs in mid-air, she propped her cheek on one hand, sitting as comfortably as if an invisible chair rested beneath her.
Looking down at Hoshino Gen behind the desk, she offered a smile of helpless resignation. "Alright, you caught me. Things have been rather difficult in Europe lately, especially for a creature of the dark like myself."
"But to be completely honest, I have you to thank for that."
Despite her words, Irine's tone was completely nonchalant. "Thanks to your little stunt in the UK, the high and mighty Holy See was utterly humiliated. You got to wash your hands of the situation and leave, but the chaos you unleashed upon the Hidden World didn't pack its bags and go with you."
"There are always fools who misread a situation. With your actions setting a precedent, those who despise the Holy See naturally couldn't hold themselves back. Guided by those with ulterior motives, the underground factions and the Holy See have engaged in several large-scale conflicts."
"Then, three days ago, an S-Rank bishop of the Holy See was assassinated. They are trying desperately to keep a lid on the news, but you can imagine how vicious their retaliation will be. At the very least, London's entire underground world is likely going to face a massive purge."
Irine smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched for a reaction from Hoshino Gen. Much to her regret, his expression remained perfectly still.
Hoshino Gen's demeanor was calm. While he found Irine's tale mildly interesting, he truly did not care. "So," he stated, "you fled to Tokyo to avoid getting caught in the crossfire."
"That is part of it," Irine admitted frankly.
The cursed blade in Hoshino Gen's hand dispersed into a stream of light, flowing back into his arm. "Then why go through so much trouble to find me?"
"Do not make me sound like some scheming villain," Irine teased. "Wasn't our cooperation in the UK quite pleasant?"
Hoshino Gen recalled how she had returned just to mock him right to his face after he consumed the Alchemical Ruby. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Irine, seemingly completely oblivious to his irritation, grinned playfully at him. "I can feel that the contamination in your body is still severe. I think we can continue our cooperation. Your blood in exchange for mine."
In all fairness, if he ignored Irine's twisted sense of humor, their previous transaction had not been a loss for him at all. In fact, trading a bit of his blood for the Alchemical Ruby was a highly profitable exchange.
He knew the drug's effects intimately. Even setting aside its ability to purge his contamination, its incredibly potent healing properties alone made it invaluable.
During his battle with the Cardinal at the church, he had been trapped by magic suppression. If he hadn't consumed the Ruby beforehand to temporarily grant his body the traits of the Bloodkin, there was a high chance that both he and Rin would have been blown to pieces by the bomb.
Because of this, Hoshino Gen remained noncommittal to Irine's proposed cooperation.
That silence alone meant he wasn't opposed to the idea.
Irine smiled in satisfaction. She floated back down to the floor, her form shifting until she once again assumed the appearance of Akizuki Youka. "As for going through so much trouble... I didn't do all this just to see you."
She returned to the sofa and sat down, flashing a wide grin. "This will be my new identity in Tokyo. The Holy See's reach does not extend this far. After hiding in the shadows for so long, a girl has to come out and catch some rays of sunlight."
Hoshino Gen paused, a sudden thought crossing his mind. "The Bloodkin... if someone consumes a Ruby and temporarily becomes one of the Bloodkin, would their congenital illnesses be cured?"
Irine looked at him and blinked. A slow smile spread across her face, as if she had just stumbled upon a fascinating secret. "Oh my."
"Unfortunately, no. Healing injuries and curing illnesses are two entirely different things, especially when it comes to congenital conditions."
"Even among the Bloodkin, congenital diseases and deformed physical traits still exist. Why would it be any different for a human relying on a Ruby for a temporary transformation?"
Hoshino Gen nodded, choosing not to press the matter further.
Irine gave him a long, meaningful look before finally standing up. "Alright, that will be all for today. I've officially introduced myself. I'll seek you out again when we will not be interrupted. If I stay any longer, my manager will start getting anxious. I will sign your contract. As your people like to say—"
"I look forward to working with you."
Without waiting for a response, she strode directly toward the office door. Just before stepping out, she paused and glanced back at Sasaki Ayane, who hadn't spoken a single word since her arrival. Irine's gaze lingered on the ring adorning the girl's left middle finger for a brief moment. She licked her lips and giggled. "Your lovely fiancée... she looks like she would taste absolutely delicious."
Although she was staring at Sasaki Ayane, her words were unmistakably aimed at Hoshino Gen.
Hoshino Gen quietly watched her slender back, completely silent.
Irine left the room, still wearing the guise of Akizuki Youka.
A heavy silence fell over the office.