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."