If there was any department in the Empire that the great clans detested but were utterly helpless against...
The Investigation Bureau's Fourth Execution Division would claim the top spot, and no other department would dare challenge it.
Not for profit.
Not for power.
Not tied to any financial or political groups.
The entire Fourth Execution Division, from top to bottom, has only ever had one goal.
To hunt Aberrants.
Simply suspecting someone of being connected to Aberrants was enough to have them 'invited' to the Fourth Execution Division to assist with an investigation.
For as little as 24 hours.
Or for as long as a week, ten days, or even half a month.
In the midst of the great clans' internal power struggles and covert conflicts, losing control for such a long time was almost fatal.
It was highly likely that by the time he was finally released from the Fourth Execution Division, he would find his influence and territory had long since been devoured.
Such a department—impossible to bribe or restrain, one that could only be pressured by a show of force, and would even 'retaliate' if pushed too far, all while possessing extreme authority—was truly impossible for the great clans to like.
Su Yuzu could perfectly imagine... the look on her uncles' faces when she brought Kujou Katora back to the Soga family.
Compared to that, Kujou Katora's threat seemed temporarily negligible.
All she had to do was keep a safe distance from Kujou Katora—
Her relationship with Kujou Katora was purely one of mutual exploitation.
Forget raising Kujou Katora's favorability. She wouldn't earn a single Combat Record from her.
This time... there was no way this could backfire. Right.
Su Yuzu couldn't even think of a single reason why it would.
It's not like she was some kind of 'ultimate lady-killer'.
If Kujou Katora's favorability still shot up even with her being this careful...
Then Su Yuzu would just have to accept it.
Su Yuzu and Kujou Katora reached a mutual assistance agreement.
The only difference from the original terms... was that after the little rabbit argued her case forcefully and offered to pay for the accommodation herself, Kujou Katora would not be staying in Su Yuzu's dorm room.
Instead, she moved in next door to Su Yuzu.
Aside from making Su Yuzu feel just a little bit... like she was being kept by a girl...
There were no problems at all.
"So... where is the other survivor?" After reaching the agreement, the smile on Kujou Katora's face became gentle and amiable again.
She looked like a cheerful girl from next door.
But... only by gazing into the girl's crimson eyes could one see the cruelty and madness hidden beneath that gentle exterior.
"She's in the school hospital," Unohana Chiyo said, her brow furrowed.
To be honest... she didn't really approve of the deal between Su Yuzu and Kujou Katora.
She was very worried that little Yuzu had been deceived by Kujou Katora's sexy and alluring appearance.
Kujou Katora... was far more dangerous than she looked.
In Unohana Chiyo's view, even without a deal with the Fourth Execution Division, Keigunen Private Academy had the means to protect little Yuzu.
But... since little Yuzu had already made the deal with Kujou Katora...
She wouldn't say anything more.
She just had to find an opportunity... to warn little Yuzu.
Be careful of Kujou Katora.
"Miss Sakai's condition has only just stabilized." Watching Kujou Katora warily, Unohana Chiyo explained, "Her Aberration was very unusual.
Even though it was reversed in time, her body is still very weak.
She can't handle any agitation.
What are you planning to do?"
Unohana Chiyo's subtext was clear... she didn't want Kujou Katora to see Mihou Sakai.
"Relax—"
"Ms. Unohana." In the sunlight, the girl in the alluring combat suit smiled.
But no matter how she smiled, how softly she smiled...
those crimson, inorganic eyes, seemingly wiped clean of all emotion, made her smile look so cold and perfunctory, even... frighteningly ruthless.
"I understand Keigunen's rules~~~"
Keigunen Private Academy would never hand over a student.
"I just want to see her.
To get some clues."
The girl raised her hand, and in that instant, both Su Yuzu and Unohana Chiyo felt a chill run down their spines.
As if... something terrifying was watching them from the darkness.
Only the somewhat oblivious little rabbit felt nothing at all.
Su Yuzu knew.
That was Kujou Katora's Inherent Ability.
"Hound of Blood".
A hound lurking in the shadows, a terrifying assassin almost impossible to guard against.
Prey targeted by them rarely escaped with their lives.
Su Yuzu had seen Kujou Katora's hounds in the game.
Aside from being on all fours like a dog, having a mouth full of fangs, and being very loyal, Su Yuzu found it really difficult to associate those hideous monsters with the word 'hound'.
She opened her palm towards Su Yuzu, and a crimson crystal needle fell into Kujou Katora's hand.
"I just need one drop of her blood.
If Ms. Unohana doesn't trust me...
you can have Su Yuzu do it."
"Me?" Su Yuzu was taken aback.
Aside from their basic cooperation, she really didn't want to get involved with Kujou Katora in any way.
"Alright." Unohana Chiyo nodded.
After all... Mihou Sakai was the one who had undergone the Aberration.
According to standard procedure... Kujou Katora could actually take Mihou Sakai away for questioning.
But... a trip through the Fourth Execution Division...
could ruin a girl's entire life.
Unohana Chiyo didn't want to completely burn bridges with Kujou Katora either.
"Then please follow me." She turned to lead the way.
Holding the little rabbit's hand, Su Yuzu followed closely behind Unohana Chiyo.
And Kujou Katora ambled along leisurely behind the girls.
She sized up Su Yuzu's back.
The girl's fit... toned back, without a single trace of excess fat, was something she rather admired.
But it was only admiration.
Walking through Keigunen Private Academy.
It was class time, so the campus was rather quiet.
Su Yuzu held Saotome Yukina's hand while checking Kujou Katora's stats.
[Operator: Kujou Katora]
[☆☆☆☆☆☆]
[Level.32 - Blood Esper]
[Talent: Edge of Aberration]
[Talent: Sadist]
[Inherent Ability: Intimidation]
[Inherent Ability: Hound of Blood]
[Senior Superintendent of the Empire's Investigation Bureau, Fourth Execution Division. Hatred for Aberrants has long since filled the girl's heart. Beneath the hollow interior, perhaps what awaits is...]
[Initial Favorability: 14 (Acquainted)]
"Excellent—"
Su Yuzu cheered herself on.
Ever since recruiting Kujou Katora, her favorability had remained stubbornly fixed at 14.
This was ample proof of Kujou Katora's 'special tastes'.
To raise Kujou Katora's favorability...
aside from taking her to the movies like in the game...
the only other way was probably to become the 'prey' under her whip to please her.
But... as if!
Su Yuzu now wished Kujou Katora's favorability would drop a little more.
Dropping to the same level as Yamabuki Nanako's would be best.
Seeing the familiar crêpe shop, Su Yuzu suddenly had an idea.
"Ms. Unohana, wait for me a moment..."
Su Yuzu jogged over to the crêpe shop and bought two strawberry cream crêpes.
She handed them to Unohana Chiyo and the little rabbit respectively.
"Please try one, Ms. Unohana..."
"The strawberry cream crêpe from this shop is their specialty; it's probably one of the best in the entire Guanzheng District."
"Miss Saotome, you probably haven't had breakfast yet..."
"Even if you want to lose weight, skipping meals isn't good."
[Ding—]
[Feed: Unohana Chiyo Favorability +1]
[Ding—]
[Feed: Saotome Yukina Favorability +1]
[...]
Listening to the familiar voice of the mechanical woman in her ear.
And then—
facing Kujou Katora, Su Yuzu suddenly changed her tune. "Kujou-senpai..."
"Would you like me to buy one for you?"
"No need." Kujou Katora was still smiling.
Unohana Chiyo watched this, her heart racing with anxiety.
She couldn't understand why little Yuzu would deliberately provoke that woman, dancing back and forth on Kujou Katora's last nerve.
Especially when... Saotome Yukina, seeing that Su Yuzu had only bought two...
the little rabbit stood on her tiptoes.
She insisted that Su Yuzu take the first bite before she would eat.
Su Yuzu and Saotome Yukina's heads were almost touching.
Su Yuzu could even feel... the astonishing heat radiating from the girl's ear tips.
But even so, Kujou Katora's favorability remained anchored at 14.
It didn't budge.
In contrast... it was Ms. Unohana's favorability heart that started to flutter wildly.
Soon, the school hospital came into view.
Su Yuzu had specially bought a fruit basket and even handwritten a gift card.
Kujou Katora glanced at the words Su Yuzu had written.
"Wishing... a speedy recovery..."
Kujou Katora suddenly scoffed, "Recovery?"
"Can someone who has undergone Aberration once truly recover?"
"Her abilities will be forever stuck before the First Sequence; she'll never be able to step into it in her lifetime."
Su Yuzu's heart suddenly sank.
Having once been shackled at Level 0 Psychokinesis, she could understand... what it felt like to discover that your abilities could not advance no matter what.
Without even needing a "ding—" in her head...
Su Yuzu looked at her resource inventory, then looked at Kujou Katora.
A bold idea suddenly formed in her mind.
"She can never step into the First Sequence?"
"Then..."
"Kujou-senpai, do you dare to make a bet with me?"
"Hm?" Kujou Katora tilted her head with interest. "Bet on what?"
"Let's bet on whether Mihou Sakai can break through to the First Sequence." Su Yuzu looked at Kujou Katora.
"Fine!" A wild smile spread across Kujou Katora's lips. "But I get to decide the punishment for the loser."
"The loser..."
"will get on all fours in front of the winner and act like a puppy."
Kujou Katora looked at Su Yuzu's beautiful crimson eyes.
To be honest... she was starting to wonder if the girl had some masochistic tendencies, or perhaps a crush on her.
Otherwise... why would she go out of her way to gift-wrap herself and deliver herself to her doorstep?
She was rather looking forward to seeing Su Yuzu on all fours in front of her, raising a paw and letting out a milky 'woof'.
She... loved dogs most of all.
As for... losing?
Kujou Katora had never even considered the possibility of losing.
How could she lose with such an overwhelming advantage?
Someone who has undergone Aberration?
How could they possibly break through?
This time... oh, this time, it wasn't even a matter of a guaranteed win; she simply couldn't see how she could possibly lose.
note: I apologize for the delay. I will be posting eight additional chapters as compensation for my delay.
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