Little Garden 146-150

Title: Natsuki Wants to Curse

Natsuki sighed, looking at Kojou, who was panting, and Nagisa, who had clearly lost too much body heat.

She frowned and said, “Hey, Mr. Matrix, stop looking around. Hurry up and clear the ice here. Can’t you see these kids can’t handle it?”

Gozo Island was a tropical region, and everyone’s clothing was thin. However, Alrescha-Glacies’s freezing ability had turned the place into the North Pole. This wasn’t an environment where two kids could linger.

Aslan glanced at Kojou and Nagisa, then smiled, “You’re right, this isn’t a suitable environment for kids.”

As he spoke, the layers of ice and snow melted. The melting ice turned into a flood, flowing into the vase held by Alrescha-Glacies. Instantly, the temperature in the underground tomb returned to a comfortable normal level, neither too cold nor too hot.

Seeing this, Natsuki suddenly fell silent, staring at Aslan seriously. So, it wasn’t an illusion earlier?

The Fourth Primogenitor’s matrix truly had this level of intelligence. No, Natsuki scrutinized Aslan and the pillar where the ice coffin had been. His physique didn’t match, and the other matrices were all female.

“This level of intelligence… so, he’s not a matrix?”

Natsuki had seen other Fourth Primogenitor matrices, split into twelve parts. Before coming here, she’d seen two matrices in the Warlord’s Empire, but they were mere puppets restricting the Beast Vassals in their bodies, with very low intelligence.

A matrix with full intelligence, able to communicate like a normal person and show emotions, was no longer a matrix.

“Fourth Primogenitor—Lord of the Night of Flame Light, rumors say your soul was sealed in the twelfth matrix’s body. So, is this rumor true?”

This also explained why the Fourth Primogenitor appeared as a male. Aslan, having cleared the cold air, glanced at Natsuki.

“You seem to misunderstand. I’m not an idiot who doesn’t even know the real situation and tries to seize someone’s body.”

At this point, Aslan looked at her with amusement.

“Hey, Witch of the Void, interested in joining me? I’m actually quite interested in you.”

People who played with space were rare, even in Little Garden. Especially a cute, petite girl like her. Most importantly, Natsuki was legal, with beauty surpassing a doll and a maturity that didn’t match her appearance. This contrast brought a subtle majesty, incredibly appealing.

If possible, Aslan really wanted to adopt Natsuki like this—as a subordinate or maybe a secretary?

Natsuki gripped her umbrella handle, looked at him, paused, and took a step back. That step showed her stance.

“Sorry, I don’t want to be someone’s subordinate.”

(And being by your side, I feel like I’d be the victim of a bad prank at any moment. Plus, the name of the Fourth Primogenitor, the world’s strongest vampire, is too big, with too much impact. Who knows how many ambitious people in this world covet the Fourth Primogenitor’s terrifying power and want to pledge loyalty to him? They want to control the Fourth Primogenitor and help him build the fourth Night Empire.)

Natsuki could imagine the bloody storm behind this just by thinking about it. Though she was one of the world’s great witches, if she got involved, she’d be crushed to pieces.

Seeing her step back, the corner of Aslan’s mouth curled slightly, and he said with amusement, “But I refuse. Natsuki-chan rejecting my offer isn’t a wise choice.”

He then gently flicked a card into Natsuki’s body. It was a small thing he made when bored, using Spatial Divinity to create a Gift that granted teleportation abilities to others.

Unlike Natsuki’s Spatial Manipulation magic, which wasn’t true teleportation but magic that reduced movement time to zero, Aslan’s teleportation directly reduced distance to zero, allowing free position swapping within a short range.

In appearance, it was roughly similar to Shirai Kuroko’s teleportation ability.

“…”

Natsuki closed her eyes resignedly, feeling the ability just granted to her. Though it was powerful, arguably elevating her combat strength to the next level, her face showed no joy, only wariness. If she could, she wished she’d never come here today.

But clearly, the domineering Fourth Primogenitor gave her no room to refuse. He’d even given her a reward upfront—did she have any other choice?

Meanwhile, Gajo, silently watching, could only mourn for Natsuki and be grateful that he and his daughter weren’t targeted.

Who knew what he thought when he saw this fully intelligent Fourth Primogenitor?

His daughter was a high-level Miko, a Spiritual Medium, and a high-quality Hybrid. How valuable she was and how attractive to vampires—he knew well.

Now he worried that if Nagisa became the Fourth Primogenitor’s target and was forcibly “sold” like Natsuki, what then? But reassuringly, Aslan didn’t even glance at Nagisa, as if she were just an ordinary little girl.

Then Aslan prepared to leave with Natsuki. At that moment, seeing Aslan about to go, Liana couldn’t hold back and hurriedly stood, calling out to him.

“Please wait a moment!”

Hearing this, Gajo’s face turned green.

(Is this foolish woman going to offer Nagisa to show her loyalty?)

But Gajo was overthinking. Aslan paused, turned, glanced at Liana, and said calmly, “Anything else?”

That glance instantly terrified Liana. Her raised foot couldn’t land. She stood on one leg, sweating coldly.

After struggling with fear for a long time, she thought of her ruined family and Natsuki, who made her envious and jealous, having received Aslan’s gift. Liana gritted her teeth.

“Your Excellency, modern society’s rules are very different from your era. There are also villains out there coveting your power.”

“Though you already have the Witch of the Void, she alone is too weak to deal with those pests.” Liana lowered her head humbly. “With this in mind, the Caruana family is willing to offer our meager strength to eliminate those who defy you.”

In short, she was asking to be Aslan’s lapdog. Even for free, she was willing. This was an extreme level of “bootlicking.”

Aslan looked at Liana, rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm, forget offering meager strength. But I need some test subjects, depending on your willingness.”

Though he’d come to the Strike the Blood world, Aslan had no intention of abandoning his research on the Blacklight Virus and developing the Kali Yuga Spirit Status.

If Absolute Evil’s direction was a zombie apocalypse caused by an uncontrollable virus destroying humanity, Kali Yuga’s direction was a perfectly analyzed and controlled Blacklight Virus, leading the world to human evolution.

Humans would no longer need gods. Everyone would have god-like power in the new era.

Vampires currently seemed to best fulfill humanity’s fantasy of evolved future humans. Plus, Aslan was eager to research the differences between Little Garden vampires and those in this world.

Could he help Leticia’s Little Garden vampires overcome their sunlight weakness through modifications?

If he recalled correctly, Deva in this world also seemed highly sensitive to sunlight, like Little Garden vampires. Or were Deva the original vampires, with modern vampires created to overcome the sunlight weakness?

Aslan didn’t remember clearly; in the original story, it was just speculation. Specifics would have to wait until he gathered enough information.

But that didn’t matter. He could research the racial differences between vampires of the two worlds, right?

“…”

Hearing this, Liana’s face suddenly showed immense excitement. She hurriedly knelt on one knee and said sincerely, “Yes, Your Excellency.”

Her attitude was so earnest, her tone so resolute, as if she weren’t talking about being a test subject but pledging loyalty and becoming a knight. Even Aslan couldn’t help but twitch his mouth.

He’d never heard of someone willingly becoming a test subject. Even he couldn’t fully guarantee no accidents during the experiments and research. He could only ensure Liana probably wouldn’t die on the operating table and might gain significant benefits.

But as for the process in between, he couldn’t guarantee anything. After all, he wasn’t a professional. How well could he do?

Still, seeing Liana so… pure and foolish, Aslan ensured she wouldn’t lose out.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“So… how did things end up like this?”

In a special car heading to Gozo Island’s airport, Natsuki looked at Aslan, sitting beside her playing with Aurora, and sighed.

She’d only gone to complete a mission, but now she’d surrendered her freedom, becoming the Fourth Primogenitor’s slave. Though no contract was signed, Natsuki didn’t feel she had the power to resist someone who could casually grant such terrifying abilities. The effect was far faster and more terrifying than the demon contract she’d signed.

“By the way, where are the other matrices?”

Aslan, holding Aurora, looked at the rapidly changing scenery outside the window and asked calmly.

Natsuki felt a strange sense of foreboding. It was natural for Aslan, as the Fourth Primogenitor, to want to reclaim his twelve Beast Vassals. But why did she feel this bad premonition?

Before she could answer, Liana, acting as the first test-subject driver, seized the chance to curry favor and quickly reported.

“Currently, the eleven matrices are scattered across the three Night Empires and in the hands of some individuals. The confirmed ones are matrices three, four, and five held by Dimitrie Vatler, and matrix one held by an arms dealer.”

“And now, No. 12… ah, no, Your Excellency has appeared. The Fourth Primogenitor has fully emerged in the world. The Blazing Banquet will be held on Itogami Island in Eastern Japan by the Lion King Agency.”

The Fourth Primogenitor’s awakening ritual was called the Blazing Banquet. Whenever the Fourth Primogenitor awoke, those holding matrices would participate, trying to awaken him and gain his immense power through their matrices.

“Then, the next stop is Itogami Island.” Aslan said calmly.

The best way to gather all matrices was to wait leisurely at the event’s location. And Itogami Island, as Kaine’s altar, was also very useful to him.

But Natsuki, hearing Aslan’s voice, froze.

Itogami Island, wasn’t that where she lived? The Blazing Banquet, the battle of the Fourth Primogenitor’s matrices, would happen at her home?

Instantly, Natsuki felt the urge to curse.

-

Title: The True Fourth Primogenitor Arrives at Itogami Island, Loyal to Him

Itogami Island, an artificial island constructed with every possible means by the Itogami family. A massive artificial island built atop an underwater dragon vein, blending cutting-edge scientific technology, Feng Shui arts, and magic.

Located in the northwest Pacific Ocean, approximately 330 kilometers south of Tokyo, it was a city entirely made of carbon fiber, resin, metal, and magic, connected by a colossal floating structure called the Giga Float.

The island’s temperature remained above twenty degrees Celsius year-round. Its population was around 560,000. Though administratively classified as Itogami City in Tokyo Prefecture, it was actually a special administrative region with an independent political system, and the world’s most unique Demon Sanctuary.

A Demon Sanctuary referred to a place where humans and demons coexisted. On this Earth, humans and demons were fundamentally hostile. Demon nations led by the three main Night Empires and human-led nations were wary of each other, with minimal interaction. However, under the Sanctuary Treaty led by the First Primogenitor, they maintained a strange surface-level balance.

A Demon Sanctuary was a city where humans and demons could live together. Most of the island’s residents were researchers, their families, and specially gifted individuals recognized by the city, including demons who were research subjects. In return, these demons were granted corresponding citizenship rights, allowing them to study, work, and live like humans. However, demons wore bracelets that restricted their abilities or served as tracking alarms for easy identification.

As an academic city, Itogami Island was filled with major corporations in precision machinery, high-tech materials, and renowned university research institutions. For this reason, Itogami Island was a highly special area infiltrated by various organizations and forces, a chaotic mix. Yet, this very blend of global organizations made the city’s technological development the world’s most advanced.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At Itogami Island Airport, Immigration Counter.

Through bulletproof glass, Natsuki looked at the staff inside, her face slightly furrowed. Of course, it was because the irresponsible Fourth Primogenitor had left a single sentence in her ear before vanishing.

“Natsuki-chan, I’ll leave these troublesome immigration procedures to you. Aurora and I will wait for you at your place.”

Thinking of Aslan’s words, Natsuki felt deeply annoyed.

Didn’t he know how troublesome the procedures were for demons entering Itogami Island?

As a hub for researching special demon existences, Itogami Island’s immigration management was extremely strict. Blood tests, fingerprints, iris scans, DNA scans, magical power verification, and mandatory bracelets signifying demon status and serving as surveillance devices were required. Even privileged classes needed sufficient guarantees and a series of procedures.

At least show up yourself!

But now, because Aslan found it bothersome, he’d gone to Natsuki’s villa, leaving her with a furrowed face and Liana, who looked at her hopefully.

Beside her, an Attack Mage holding a scanner, dressed in combat gear, looked at Natsuki helplessly. “Sorry, Instructor Minamiya, this really… can’t be done…”

As a native of Itogami Island, Natsuki served as an instructor for the island’s security team. The two staff members handling security and immigration management in front of her were naturally her students.

Natsuki sighed inwardly in resignation.

(I’ve been teaching them to uphold the law fairly for so long…)

But complaints were just complaints. Natsuki painfully rubbed her temples and pleaded again. “Can’t it really be simplified? They’ve already entered.”

As soon as she spoke, Natsuki felt her face heat up, her dignity nearly gone.

She no longer had the face to meet these students. The head instructor leading the way in pulling strings—rumors like that might spread across the island by tomorrow, right?

“It really can’t be done, Instructor Minamiya. At least we need a photo, don’t we?”

“How can we issue an ID without a photo?”

The two Attack Mages were also helpless. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to pull strings, but how could they? There was no information, let alone a photo. When asked for an identity, Natsuki couldn’t say.

Natsuki grew even more despairing.

Seeing her like that, the two Attack Mages exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and handed her two blank immigration forms.

“Please, Instructor, fill these out and submit them to the special district security team tomorrow.”

Natsuki sighed, then with a dark expression, used teleportation and left. She was going to find the culprit who’d ruined her hard-earned reputation and teach him a lesson.

Only Liana remained, watching Natsuki leave while her blood was drawn, feeling like crying. She didn’t want to go through these complicated procedures either. She was once privileged too, but now she’d fallen.

At that moment, the Attack Mage beside her approached arrogantly, raising a magic gun seriously. “Please cooperate, we’ll start drawing blood.”

“Alright.” Liana showed a complex, indescribable expression.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other side, Natsuki hadn’t yet found Aslan to teach him a lesson when she received information from Itogami Island’s top management. They asked her to go to the island’s center to discuss matters regarding the Fourth Primogenitor.

After all, the events on Gozo Island weren’t exactly top secret but were widely known. The archaeology team excavating the twelfth matrix, Fairy’s Coffin, was funded by multiple parties, making it like a sieve.

Naturally, news of the Fourth Primogenitor’s appearance had leaked, along with his current power. He possessed strong spatial abilities, and his Beast Vassal didn’t seem merely at the Primogenitor level—its magical power fluctuations were far more terrifying than those of the First Primogenitor’s Beast Vassal.

If the other three Primogenitors were like mobile nuclear warheads, equivalent to standard warheads stronger than Little Boy, capable of destroying a city in one strike, then the Fourth Primogenitor’s Beast Vassal was on the level of the Tsar Bomba.

Now, the Fourth Primogenitor, considered the strongest, had awakened and wanted to reclaim his power. This was both a challenge and an opportunity. It might help them advance further in awakening Cain. And perhaps, they could control this immensely powerful Fourth Primogenitor through Cain?

Though rumors said Cain was killed by the Fourth Primogenitor, as those determined to awaken Cain, they knew secrets even the other three main Night Empires didn’t.

In fact, Cain wasn’t killed by the Fourth Primogenitor—or rather, the Fourth Primogenitor was controlled by the Deva and the other three Primogenitors. Even Cain’s death was part of his own plan.

The Fourth Primogenitor and Cain had a deep connection. Especially seeing the Fourth Primogenitor’s gender, they were even more convinced. After all, the original Fourth Primogenitor, Zero, was a young man and had been Cain’s assistant for a very long time.

Wasn’t this a coincidence? They could work together to awaken Cain.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In the Itogami Island General Corporation Meeting Room.

Natsuki sat on a leather chair, legs crossed, her right hand holding a folding fan and propping up her face, looking impatiently at the people across the table.

“Though I don’t know what you’re thinking or what plans you have, I must warn you that the Fourth Primogenitor isn’t someone easy to get along with.”

As she spoke, Natsuki recalled her recent experience and couldn’t help gritting her teeth. “Of course. But we’re confident that once he hears our grand plan, he’ll be easy to work with.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Seeing the group of executives ignoring her words, Natsuki wore a mask of suffering. Right now, she could only hope these executives didn’t have overly reckless ideas, as she was both Aslan’s subordinate and an Itogami Island executive.

If she didn’t genuinely care about Itogami Island, she’d have run away. Following Aslan wouldn’t be bad. At least he was generous, casually granting such powerful abilities.

Now, Natsuki only needed a thought to swap the air inside the executives’ bodies, easily wiping out all of Itogami Island’s top brass.

“So, how do we get close to the Fourth Primogenitor now? And what if he doesn’t want to awaken Cain?”

“Maybe we can use the Hiina family’s daughter to get close. Cain’s Miko—I think the Fourth Primogenitor will understand our intentions, right?”

“If he doesn’t want to awaken Cain, let him die in the Blazing Banquet. I doubt the other three Primogenitors will let the Fourth Primogenitor fully awaken.”

Over thousands of years, the Blazing Banquet had been held several times. The Fourth Primogenitor might have awakened before and was now awakening again.

“Alright, let’s do it.” Hearing the man in the center, the others agreed. “Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I’ll arrange it immediately, finding a way for them to meet.”

And Natsuki, sitting nearby, looked sadly at the group, their bodies gradually filled with an unknown black gel-like substance.

“By the way, make it natural. We need to make His Excellency enjoy himself.”

“Almost forgot, we also need to clean up some cases. We must let His Excellency see our integrity and loyalty.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Yawn~~” Aslan yawned boredly, then hugged Natsuki, pressing her head.

“Let go!” Natsuki said, extremely displeased. She wasn’t a kid anymore; she didn’t want to be held like a doll.

“No way. Natsuki-chan, with a body like this, you’re perfect for hugging like this.”

“What about that matrix?”

“She’s tired and sleeping, so I came to find Natsuki-chan.” Aslan said irresponsibly.

Natsuki was so angry she couldn’t help snorting. If she could beat this guy, she’d definitely teach him a lesson.

“By the way, Natsuki-chan, what do you think? Interested in being Itogami’s mayor?”

Natsuki struggled but couldn’t break free. She couldn’t help puffing her cheeks and saying, “Not interested. The mayor has too many things to handle; I don’t want that.”

“Alright then, Natsuki-chan, just stay quietly by my side.” Aslan wasn’t upset by the rejection.

After all, these controlled executives couldn’t keep managing everything. Having forces under his command would also reduce many hassles.

And so, the Fourth Primogenitor arrived at Itogami Island, loyal to him.

-

Title: Aiba Asagi, Worthy of Inheriting the King’s Appetite

Itogami Island, a cafeteria in the faculty area where Natsuki’s villa was located.

“So, aren’t you my subordinate? Why aren’t you cooking for me and instead brought me here for a buffet?”

The petite girl with long black hair and snow-white skin, wearing an ornate doll-like dress and exuding an inexplicable air of authority—Minamiya Natsuki, who was buying tickets at the counter—rolled her eyes at Aslan.

“If you want to eat, I can cook.”

“Forget it. I’m worried Natsuki-chan is a kitchen slayer.”

Aslan waved his hand dismissively, then calmly cut the steak in front of him. He took a piece of the sliced steak and fed it to Aurora.

Aurora chewed the steak, her eyes widening as she exclaimed, “Aslan, Aslan, what kind of meat is this? It’s so delicious!”

“Just ordinary beef. Seems like it tastes pretty good.” Aslan took a piece for himself and ate happily.

“Kitchen slayer?” Natsuki blinked in confusion, glaring at him fiercely. “Tonight, I’ll show you whether I’m a kitchen slayer or not!”

But Natsuki wasn’t too confident in her own words. Honestly, she hadn’t had much cooking experience since childhood. The little she had came from home economics classes, long forgotten. Since graduating college and becoming an Attack Mage and teacher at Saikai Academy, she always ate at this cafeteria.

This cafeteria wasn’t cheap. The head chefs were all Michelin-starred. Otherwise, she wouldn’t keep eating here. As for cooking herself? As a busy adult, who had time to waste on cooking?

Buying ingredients, washing them, cooking, and washing dishes afterward were all too troublesome. Natsuki could brew black tea, but cooking? Not so much.

“Then I’ll look forward to it.”

Aslan casually wiped sauce from Aurora’s face with a tissue and said with a smile.

“By the way, Aurora, anything else you want to eat?”

Aurora touched her cheek, looking around the cafeteria curiously as if seeking inspiration from others.

“Aslan, Aslan, I want that! The colorful one—it looks so delicious!”

Suddenly, Aurora tugged at Aslan’s hand, excitedly pointing at a black-haired girl holding several ice cream cones, each with five or six scoops, and said.

“Ice cream?” Aslan nodded, then glanced at Natsuki, who was eating spaghetti.

Natsuki couldn’t help but grumble. “Tch, so troublesome.”

She wiped her mouth, hopped off her chair, walked to the ice cream machine, and got three ice creams. However, she didn’t take as many scoops as the girl, just two regular scoops each. Deep down, she couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed at that girl.

Wasn’t she worried about getting a stomachache eating that much?

Natsuki placed the ice cream in front of Aurora. The little vampire was instantly captivated by it.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other side, the girl who had taken two large ice cream servings returned to her seat and fiercely bit into the steak in front of her.

“My dad too! Why did he make me do something like this!”

The girl cursed while chewing the steak, as if it weren’t steak but the flesh and blood of someone she despised.

Soon, with her big bites, the steak was gone, but she seemed unsatisfied. She shouted to the waiter nearby.

“Bring five more steaks!”

Her voice was a bit loud, instantly drawing Aurora and Aslan’s attention. Seeing the empty plates beside her, Aurora couldn’t help tugging at Aslan’s jacket and exclaiming.

“Aslan, that girl’s amazing! She’s one, two, three… seven times better than you!”

Aslan gently patted Aurora’s head and said with a smile.

“Aurora, don’t just judge by appearances. If I really ate, this cafeteria’s owner would cry.”

Did she know what a “king’s appetite” was?

But honestly, the girl intrigued Aslan. Even Natsuki couldn’t help glancing at her.

Feeling several pairs of eyes on her, the girl realized something was off. Turning, she saw Aurora’s excitement and Aslan’s curiosity.

Being stared at like that, her face flushed, and she said irritably.

“What are you looking at? Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood?”

Bad mood? Aslan tilted his head, eyeing the empty plates on her table and the waiter bringing more steaks. He understood instantly. So this was the appetite of someone in a bad mood? Impressive. With a bit of training, she might inherit the king’s appetite.

As if sensing Aslan’s thoughts, the girl’s face grew redder, reaching a level of embarrassment.

“What’s wrong with eating a bit more when I’m in a bad mood?”

But as she said it, she lost confidence. The steak portions here were huge, enough to fill a grown man.

Two portions? Even a man doing heavy labor couldn’t finish that. Normally, only demons like Beastmen could eat this much.

Where was this “a bit more”? And having her appetite exposed in front of others, she was embarrassed. She was a girl with pride, after all.

Aslan just smiled and didn’t speak. At this moment, he even felt a bit of admiration for the girl.

“Blonde hair, plus this extraordinary appetite. You’re truly worthy of inheriting the king’s appetite!”

The king’s appetite was a legacy of the King of Knights’ family. Whether Arthur Proto, Artoria, or Mordred, their appetites weren’t small.

“Inheriting the king’s appetite? Does my family have some hidden lineage?” The girl muttered in confusion. But before she finished, she looked at Natsuki in surprise.

“Natsuki-chan?”

“How many times have I told you not to add ‘-chan’ to your teacher’s name!”

Natsuki reacted reflexively, then raised her eyebrow slightly, looking at the girl with long hair tied in a ponytail, wearing round glasses but still captivating.

“Oh? Aiba from middle school, you’re eating here too.” If she hadn’t taught Asagi’s class a few times, Natsuki wouldn’t have recognized her.

Asagi was also a bit surprised to see Natsuki. “I didn’t expect Natsuki-chan to eat here. But then, only Natsuki-chan would wear a Gothic dress and not fear the heat.”

“Enough chatter. Be careful, or I’ll assign you extra homework next time I teach.” Natsuki glared at her irritably.

But she also asked curiously.

“But Aiba, what’s wrong? Why do you look unwell? You’re even overeating here. Be careful of a stomachache.”

Natsuki asked with some concern, especially after seeing Asagi take those huge ice cream servings. She knew Asagi was an ordinary person. A stomachache would be trouble.

Asagi lowered her head awkwardly, her voice like a mosquito’s buzz. “Actually, this isn’t even half my usual portion…”

“Ahem, what?” Natsuki stared wide-eyed, incredulous.

Even a regular Beastman wouldn’t have such an appetite, right? Unless it was a Beastman using Divine Bestialization, which consumed massive energy and vitality.

Asagi grew even more embarrassed. The blush on her cheeks was uncontrollable. She lowered her head silently and ate her ice cream.

Natsuki realized she’d misspoken and quickly changed the topic.

“But Aiba, what happened to put you in such a bad mood?”

“Don’t worry, your teacher will help you.”

But Natsuki was also a bit puzzled. As Aiba Sensai’s daughter, shouldn’t Asagi be well-protected? Unless her mother was gravely ill, nothing bad should happen to her. If it was a family issue, Natsuki’s help would be limited.

Asagi sighed, looked at Natsuki, and reluctantly handed over her phone. On the screen was a message from her father that morning, saying he wanted her to dress up and meet an important person. The words were full of implications of selling his daughter and telling her to obey. If not for the video call to confirm, she’d suspect it was a prank.

That’s why she was so upset now. She and her father hadn’t spoken in ages, but who’d have thought his first message would be like this? Telling his daughter to entertain an important person?

Where did he get the nerve?

Was this how a father acted?

“…”

Aslan and Natsuki exchanged slightly awkward glances. They seemed to guess who the “important person” Asagi meant was. It was likely Aslan himself.

Earlier, Aslan had used the Blacklight Virus to control Itogami Island’s executives. Coincidentally, Aiba Sensai, the current mayor, was among them.

As for magic, spells, or Gifts to control people, Aslan hadn’t studied them. So, his method was infecting them with the Blacklight Virus first.

It was like creating zombie puppets, but the downside was that infected beings retained past memories but were fundamentally no longer the same individuals. Especially since Aslan made them loyal and obedient to him.

But because their life form was entirely different, even with inherited memories, they couldn’t act exactly as they did before infection. Hence, this situation arose.

Natsuki also felt a bit awkward. She despised those executives—always stalling, obstructing, and annoying her. Seeing them controlled by Aslan was satisfying.

But who’d have thought one of them was her student’s parent? Sensai had given her many conveniences and asked her to look after his daughter. Otherwise, Natsuki wouldn’t remember Asagi, whom she’d only taught a few times.

It seemed she’d accidentally harmed an ally.

Thinking this, Natsuki hurriedly tugged at Aslan’s jacket, pulling him aside, and asked with concern.

“By the way, can they be saved?”

Natsuki didn’t care about those old executives, but Sensai’s situation seemed similar to hers. After all, the Aiba family had long fallen. Sensai becoming mayor showed his ability.

Besides, the real controllers of Itogami Island were the Itogami family, not Sensai. Otherwise, in the meeting, others wouldn’t have used Asagi as a tool to approach the Fourth Primogenitor.

Cain’s Miko—Aiba Asagi. Those old executives knew this well. Otherwise, Sensai couldn’t have become mayor.

But even so, in front of other executives, Sensai had no real power to refuse. He was one of the few in a similar position to her: high status, considerable power, but restricted everywhere.

At the time, who cared if it was a mistake?

Out of ten people in that meeting, killing all might include a mistake, but killing nine would surely miss one. As the Prison Barrier’s manager, no one knew these dirty dealings better than Natsuki. Even she couldn’t claim to be entirely clean.

“Of course they can be saved.” Aslan said confidently, arms crossed.

The Blacklight Virus was under his control—how could there be accidents?

Not to mention, Sensai and the others were directly infected, and to preserve their memories, Aslan deliberately avoided their brains.

“Natsuki-chan, you need to have some faith in my technology.”

“Good then.” Natsuki sighed in relief, then glared at him fiercely.

As expected, she had to keep a close eye on him. His abilities were too dangerous. Precisely, this man was a threat to the world just by standing there.

Natsuki then explained the reason and truth to Asagi. As a competent and responsible teacher, she couldn’t lie to her student. This was her mistake, and hiding it wasn’t her intention. Now, she had to make amends.

After hearing her explanation, Asagi couldn’t help widening her eyes at Aslan and Natsuki.

“No way? So the person that foolish dad wanted me to entertain is you?”

As for her controlled father, Asagi wasn’t too shocked. After all, his condition was too different from usual. She’d heard of things like controlling high officials for gain—common magical crimes. This time, the culprit was right in front of her, even involving the Witch of the Void, and her father was an accidental casualty.

Now that the other party was willing to release the control, that was enough.

As for the other executives?

Who cared about them?

Did they think she hadn’t used her electronic tech to investigate their crimes? She knew exactly how her father’s rivals were eliminated.

-

Title: Where Did This Big Capitalist Come From?

Asagi looked at Aslan and Natsuki. After a moment of thought, she flashed a sly smile.

“Natsuki-chan, you wouldn’t want me to announce that you’re involved in magical crimes, would you?”

Her face showed a mischievous grin, as if she’d succeeded in her prank, staring at Natsuki’s doll-like, delicate features. For some reason, having caught Natsuki’s weakness, she felt an urge to pinch her cheeks.

“Hmm? I kindly told you the truth, and this is how you repay me?”

Natsuki glared at her with authority. Of course, she knew Asagi was just teasing. Otherwise, she wouldn’t just glare—she’d summon her Chain Projection.

“Seriously, Natsuki-chan, can’t you let me finish talking?” Asagi pouted unhappily, retracting her hand that was itching to pinch.

In truth, Asagi didn’t have any strong opinions about Natsuki’s involvement in magical crimes controlling Itogami Island’s executives. To her, Natsuki surely had her reasons, and she trusted Natsuki’s character deeply.

Aslan and Natsuki only controlled the executives, not engaging in illegal human experiments, crimes, or the despised human trafficking. They didn’t harm innocent ordinary people below, so she didn’t mind.

As for her father being affected… she didn’t care about a man who was eager to date his secretary while his wife lay in the ICU.

Of course, Natsuki’s character was a big reason too. Asagi believed Natsuki wouldn’t do despicable things like that.

If the other party truly did something bad, she’d use every means to stop them. Don’t underestimate the power of the Cyber Empress.

“Let you finish talking? Don’t think I don’t know your plans.” Natsuki snorted, speaking with authority.

Failing to maintain her dignity in front of Aslan didn’t mean she couldn’t uphold her teacherly authority in front of Asagi.

“Fine.” Asagi sighed, forced to abandon her highly disrespectful intentions toward Natsuki’s authority.

“But, Natsuki-chan…”

“Call me Sensei!” Natsuki couldn’t help but smack Asagi’s head with her folding fan, correcting her.

“Okay, Natsuki-sensei.” Asagi clutched her sore head. Under Natsuki’s terror, she reluctantly called her teacher.

“So, can I ask one thing of Natsuki-sensei?” Asagi clasped her hands, slightly bowing to Natsuki, speaking in a pleading tone.

Hearing Asagi correct herself, Natsuki’s attitude naturally softened. She crossed her arms and nodded slightly.

“Go ahead, what is it? If I can help, I definitely will.”

“I want Natsuki-sensei to pretend I’ve been offered to that ‘important person’ and then release my dad’s control.”

“I want him to feel anxious for a bit and see his reaction.” Asagi puffed her cheeks angrily.

She was furious at Sensai, her irresponsible father. At home, she lived alone. Besides sending money, he didn’t even say a word. She could understand if it was due to his busy work.

But with her mother gravely ill in the hospital, she never saw Sensai visit once. And he dared to date his secretary while her mother was in critical condition needing emergency care? She wanted to see if her father still had the face to confront her mother and herself.

Natsuki looked at Asagi silently. She knew how sensitive Sensai was about his daughter. Asagi might just be misunderstanding things from a child’s perspective. As a responsible teacher, she didn’t want to agree to this request. Nor did she want to get too involved in someone else’s family issues.

But before she could refuse, Aslan, who’d been watching the drama with interest, agreed.

“I’ll take this request. But what are you willing to pay, Miko of Cain?”

Aslan grabbed Natsuki’s hand, which was about to pinch him to stop her, while his other hand held a cola can, shaking it gently.

Natsuki, beside him, puffed her cheeks angrily. A little girl’s family dispute didn’t need their involvement, did it? This Fourth Primogenitor was too bored.

“The payment is myself.” Asagi said defiantly, not caring at all about what she’d pay. After all, though known as the Cyber Empress, she was just a rebellious teenage girl.

“Alright. Then sign this lifetime contract.”

Aslan snapped his fingers. A contract with black text on white paper appeared in his hand, and he handed it to Asagi.

“A free lifetime labor contract? Having to pay to work? Unlimited free overtime? No insurance, not even food or transportation allowances?”

“Where did this big capitalist come from!” Asagi stared at the contract Aslan gave her, shocked.

(No way? Are you serious? You’re truly a capitalist deserving to be strung up. Why not throw in a voluntary organ donation form too?)

Aslan seemed to read Asagi’s thoughts. He rubbed his chin, thought for a moment. “Something’s missing. Right, a voluntary organ donation form, pledging to donate useful organs and tissues to the company if anything happens.”

“No, you’re actually giving me a voluntary donation form too?” Asagi gaped at him. She’d only said it in jest out of frustration.

“So, little girl, don’t speak carelessly.” Aslan shrugged, taking back both joke contracts.

“But this time, I’ll be charitable. I’ll help you once.”

“Thank you, then.” Asagi bowed slightly to Aslan in gratitude. For such an important person to play along with her little rebellious game, she did need to thank him.

“Asagi, come here.”

Aslan suddenly took Asagi’s phone, then put his arm around her.

“What are you doing?” Asagi instinctively struggled, then saw him take her phone as if to snap a photo. She stopped resisting, letting Aslan put his arm around her neck, adjusting her pose to face the camera.

*CLICK!*

A photo of Aslan and Asagi was sent to Sensai, whom Aslan had just released from control. He didn’t forget to add a line.

[Cain’s Miko’s blood tastes good 👍🏻]

And he added a thumbs-up emoji at the end.

“How’s this?” Aslan let go of Asagi, returned her phone, and told her to check the message.

“Perfect. This is how you deal with that foolish dad.” Asagi nodded approvingly.

That foolish dad must be panicking now, right? Once he messaged to ask, she’d explain everything clearly.

After all, Asagi only wanted a little rebellion. She didn’t want to cause a big issue, just like running away from home. Though now, even if she really ran away, with Sensai coming home every ten days or half a month, he might not notice.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Meanwhile, at the artificial island’s management center, Sensai trembled, looking at the message from his daughter, Asagi. He didn’t dare reply.

Though he didn’t know how he’d been freed from the Fourth Primogenitor’s control, his daughter was now under his influence. What if his message angered the Fourth Primogenitor?

He didn’t even dare show the slightest irregularity during the entire meeting. If anything seemed off, he was terrified of those monsters.

Yes, monsters—emotionless monsters. Monsters born from the original executives’ bodies. He was even more afraid they’d attack and tear him apart, and even his two daughters wouldn’t escape.

“In a crisis like this, it’s better to seek help from the Lion King Agency.” Sensai quietly handled his affairs, then left silently, as if still controlled by the Blacklight Virus, and found his driver.

“Kime, go to Rhine’s antique shop. Hurry.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

An obscure antique shop on Itogami Island, or rather, only an antique shop on the surface. Ordinary people didn’t even know it existed.

But unknown to most, this antique shop was a branch of the Lion King Agency established on Itogami Island. Though Itogami Island’s official forces and secretive organizations like the Lion King Agency didn’t get along, with nearly all of Itogami Island’s executives controlled, the only ones Sensai could turn to were the Lion King Agency. Only they, who often dealt with magical crimes, had the ability to handle the Fourth Primogenitor issue. Even the fact that Itogami Island was the venue for the Blazing Banquet was due to cooperation between the island and the Lion King Agency.

Whether for the smooth execution of the Blazing Banquet, magical crimes, Itogami Island’s sake, or to prevent the Fourth Primogenitor from doing as he pleased, the Lion King Agency had to step in.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Meanwhile, back at the cafeteria, Asagi grew angrier, seeing her message marked as read but unanswered. She looked at Aslan suspiciously. He shrugged.

“I’m sure I released his control.”

-

Title: Bet You Didn’t Expect This? I Made the Lion King Agency Surrender!

Inside the dimly lit antique shop, Sensai stepped in, his eyes narrowing slightly. He pulled a talisman from his pocket, activated it, and dispelled the magic around him.

In a place like this, where magical crimes ran rampant and demons and humans coexisted, as an Itogami Island executive, he had several means of self-protection.

Or rather, without such protective measures, he might not have reached such a high position. He could have been killed or controlled by other demonic or magical criminals from who-knows-where, like Aslan.

Of course, Aslan was an exception. Even their talismans, using the most advanced magical and scientific technology, couldn’t resist him in the slightest. There wasn’t even a chance to fight back.

Almost the next second after the magic was activated, a black cat casually strolled toward Sensai.

“I’m curious—what brings the esteemed Mayor to have the free time to visit the Lion King Agency?”

Seeing Sensai’s face, unable to hide his panic, even Endou Yukari—who had lived for thousands of years and competed with Sensai for years on Itogami Island—had never seen this man show such a panicked and terrified expression.

On Itogami Island, fully controlled by the Itogami and Yaze families, this man had a critically ill wife and a daughter who was a Miko of Cain. He wouldn’t have become the mayor of Itogami City without a strong mentality.

Though Itogami Island was nominally a city in Japan, it was more like an independent kingdom, with Japan’s control over it minimal. The executives in Japan’s parliament surely coveted retaking control of this goldmine, Itogami Island.

Sensai took a moment to compose himself, organizing his words. Then he spoke gravely.

“Endou Yukari, I don’t have time to waste with you. I’ll get to the point.”

“Itogami Island needs the Lion King Agency’s help. I’m here to ask for assistance.”

Hearing the word “help” even the usually nonchalant Yukari was stunned. She recalled her black cat Familiar, and a green-haired, curvaceous elf stepped out from behind the door. She looked at Sensai seriously and asked.

“Mayor Aiba, do you realize what you’re saying?”

Asking for help wasn’t something to be said lightly. If Itogami Island sought help from Japan, it gave Japan a reason to meddle in its affairs. It could even be seen as Itogami Island unilaterally surrendering all its interests.

So, what kind of issue made the mayor of Itogami City come begging for help? No one knew better than Yukari that the so-called mayor was just a surface-level target. The real power holders of Itogami Island were the Itogami and Yaze families, hiding in the shadows.

Appearing in public in a world where magical crime groups emerged endlessly meant being exposed to their sights and vulnerable to attack at any time.

The noble Caruana family of the Warlord’s Empire was attacked by an arms dealer, losing all status and wealth, leaving only a pair of sisters. A mere small-time mayor was nothing. Even major figures like the three Primogenitors rarely appeared in public.

Sensai was just a shield, and now this shield was out asking for help? Yukari’s heart tightened. The situation was beyond her control.

“I know, but I had to come for help.” Sensai paused, glancing around warily, and stopped speaking.

Yukari immediately understood his meaning. Sensai feared someone was watching. The matter was so critical that he had to hide it like this.

Yukari extended her hand, drawing several runes in the air. A barrier rose, enveloping the dim antique shop.

“Alright, speak. Inside this barrier, no information will leak.” Yukari asked curiously, what was the issue?

“All of Itogami Island’s executives are mentally controlled by the Fourth Primogenitor.”

“What did you say? Mind control? Not a threat?” Yukari stared at him in shock, wondering if she’d misheard.

“The Fourth Primogenitor’s Tenth Beast Vassal—Dabih-Crystallus—isn’t it still in the Chaos Empire? That’s the Third Primogenitor’s territory.”

Dabih-Crystallus had mind-control abilities. But the corresponding No. 10 matrix was still in the Chaos Empire. The Third Primogenitor, Chaos Bride, wasn’t someone easy to deal with.

The Fourth Primogenitor had just awakened; he shouldn’t be able to reclaim his Beast Vassals so quickly, right? The Blazing Banquet hadn’t even started.

Though rumors said the true Fourth Primogenitor had awakened, and the Tenth Beast Vassal was extraordinarily powerful, it didn’t have mind-control abilities.

This also sent a more disturbing signal. Why was the Fourth Primogenitor controlling Itogami Island’s executives? Did he no longer trust human executives?

If so, what should “loyal subordinates” like them, who wanted to offer “loyalty” to the Fourth Primogenitor and help him build the fourth Night Empire, do? They offered “loyalty” for greater benefits, not to sacrifice everything.

Now the situation was extremely awkward.

“Yes. And it seems he’s using some unknown black Beast Vassal to control them.” Sensai recalled the scene, his body trembling slightly. He knew exactly what he’d done while controlled, even remembering every thought clearly.

Those were inhuman thoughts, wanting to bring the entire world under the Fourth Primogenitor’s control. All for a single word of “loyalty” from him, and to earn his praise.

It was terrifying.

His daughter had fallen into the hands of such a being. He didn’t dare imagine what would happen, but even so, he had to do everything to save Asagi.

However, after Sensai finished speaking, he didn’t hear a response from Yukari for a long time. Even Yukari herself had vanished, leaving only her black cat Familiar listening to him.

“Wait, Endou Yukari, where are you?” Sensai anxiously pulled back the curtain and walked into the inner part of the antique shop.

He saw someone packing items, stuffing various valuable materials and books into a snake’s belly behind them.

No way? She was just running away?

Sensai panicked instantly. The Lion King Agency was the only savior he could turn to now.

Though there was still the Astrology Bureau, they were too extreme. If they knew, their first thought would be to blow up Itogami Island, letting the Fourth Primogenitor and the island destroy each other.

As for his daughter? The Miko of Cain was already on the Astrology Bureau’s top surveillance list.

The Astrology Bureau would never miss a chance to kill his daughter.

Yukari was his long-time rival, so he knew her better and might have a chance to negotiate.

“Endou Yukari, I beg you. Please help the 560,000 residents of Itogami Island just this once.”

Sensai knelt before Yukari, hoping she’d act. For his daughter, he was willing to sacrifice everything.

Yukari was stunned for a moment. She sighed and leaned against the wall. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but the Fourth Primogenitor with such immense magical power—how can we help you? A regular Primogenitor-level Beast Vassal requires three Saints to act together.”

“Let alone one whose magical power rivals a continent’s Dragon Vein.”

“So, my advice is there’s no hope. Just give up; maybe you can still get an intact corpse.”

“…” Sensai fell silent.

But before Yukari could finish packing and leave, a black crow flew in, dropped a letter, and left.

After reading it, Yukari couldn’t help cursing. “Damn it! How dare those old fools think like that? They’re ordering the Lion King Agency to eliminate the Fourth Primogenitor and reclaim the twelfth matrix?”

Realizing the Fourth Primogenitor couldn’t be controlled, they decided to eliminate him? Take advantage while he only had one Beast Vassal? Then extract his power to create a more controllable Fourth Primogenitor?

Hah? They were ordering the Lion King Agency to deal with the Fourth Primogenitor? To face a monster whose Beast Vassal’s magical power rivaled a Dragon Vein?

The Blazing Banquet wasn’t the first of its kind. Even extracting the Fourth Primogenitor’s power wasn’t new. After all, the Fourth Primogenitor always had a Logic Bomb in his body that destroyed each previous Fourth Primogenitor.

The Logic Bomb was a safety mechanism that annihilated the Fourth Primogenitor to turn him fully into a magical resource, entering a frozen mode.

That’s why the Blazing Banquet could be held multiple times, and the Fourth Primogenitor never lasted forever in the world.

Now, Japan’s executives wanted the Lion King Agency to find a way to activate the Logic Bomb in the Fourth Primogenitor’s body, then create a Fourth Primogenitor more aligned with their ideas. They’d even chosen a candidate.

But activating the Logic Bomb wasn’t easy. Wasn’t this just sending the Lion King Agency to their deaths, to fight with all their strength for a slim chance? After activation, how many Lion King Agency members would survive?

Yet Sensai couldn’t help feeling a bit hopeful. Maybe this way, his daughter would be safe, right?

Then he heard Yukari’s phone ring.

“Hello? Have you figured out what kind of girls the Fourth Primogenitor likes? Petite ones? Then pick a few from the cadets.”

“Hah?” Sensai stared as she raised her eyebrows smugly.

Yukari waved her phone, displaying a photo of Aslan, Aurora, Natsuki, and Asagi.

“Bet you didn’t expect this? I made the Lion King Agency surrender!”