Chapter 402: A Secretary Outfit, I Really Like It!
The next day.
A political earthquake of magnitude ten struck Japan.
Politicians led by Toudou Aoba, along with a female prime minister, suddenly died gruesome deaths in their homes, their appearances so distorted they were barely recognizable as human.
Yet the news claimed they had committed suicide.
Because there were no signs of intrusion in the rooms, and no fingerprints were left behind.
Even on the murder weapons, only their own fingerprints were found.
However, everyone knew very well that this was retaliation from a Mage, retaliation from the Yotsuba Family!
Yet no one could say anything about it, nor did anyone dare to use this incident to target the Yotsuba Family.
After all, the Yotsuba Family was currently at the peak of its power, holding significant international influence. Coupled with their superficially cooperative yet inwardly distant attitude toward the Japanese government, they were already fearsome enough.
There were even rumors that on the Yotsuba Family's private island, there were anywhere from two to three-digit numbers of Strategic Class Magicians, and they were even more powerful than the Thirteen Apostles!
Add to that the Stellar Core technology and the exclusive Knightmare technology.
This further solidified the Yotsuba Family's position internationally, so no one dared to provoke them...
"Boring."
Mahiro expressionlessly turned off the news broadcast.
Ignoring everyone else sharing breakfast at the table, he stood up alone and left the Yotsuba mansion.
During this time, he didn't acknowledge anyone, nor did he speak to anyone.
He looked exactly like a child throwing a tantrum.
Even his mother, Yotsuba Maya, could only watch Mahiro's retreating back without saying a word.
After all, this time, they had indeed taken their joke too far.
Mahiro hated troublesome matters the most, and he hated threats the most, yet they had joked about such things...
He was already tired enough as it was.
After leaving home.
Mahiro didn't go to the bustling commercial streets, nor did he join the excited children and girls for fun on Itogami Island.
Instead, he wandered alone along the undeveloped coastline, barefoot on the soft golden sand, letting the rising tide wash over his feet, bringing a touch of coolness.
"This season isn't suitable for swimming, you know~ Mahiro-kun."
A familiar voice came from behind. Turning around, he saw a beautiful girl in a white floral dress looking at him with a smile in her eyes. She wore a sun hat, which she held tightly with her hand as if afraid it would be blown away by the sea breeze.
"Mayumi-senpai, did they send you to find me?"
"Of course not, I just happened to run into you here."
Mayumi walked up and gently linked arms with him, strolling together along the beach.
Looking at this girl who had remained silent at the tea table yesterday, Mahiro forced a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.
It could be said that only this clever girl and Miyuki hadn't participated in that joke aimed at him.
In fact, both of them were completely unaware of what had even happened.
"Still angry about yesterday?" Mayumi suddenly asked.
"Not really. Just throwing a bit of a tantrum, a little fit of pique. I wouldn't call it anger."
Mahiro said with a hint of emotion, "Although I can let them do whatever they want, and no matter what happens, I can always cover for them, that doesn't mean they can pull something like this on me. You know, I hate trouble, I hate being played with, and I hate threats the most."
"Unfortunately, they've managed to hit all three this time."
"So, I plan to teach them a lesson."
Mahiro shrugged, speaking as if it were nothing.
However, there was one thing he truly hadn't expected.
He could understand Seitenshi's involvement—aside from being overly kind and surprisingly naive, she does have a bit of a scheming and mischievous side.
But he never expected Aurora and that naive, sweet vampire queen Elisabeth to join in.
They even managed to drag Natsuki Minamiya and the Lion King Organization, which had just participated in the Mishima Island activities, into it!
Natsuki Minamiya was understandable.
That girl had been thoroughly taught a lesson by him in bed, so she's been looking for ways to get back at him in other areas.
But the Lion King Organization and Hinado…
Could it be that they were tricked into focusing on the wrong thing?
After all, he is the master of Mishima Island. Apart from Mishima Island as his foundation, all his other ventures were built by him. Shouldn't they be pledging their loyalty to him instead?
They really were led astray.
"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on those unpleasant things. Why don't you tell me what good things you brought back from your world travels this time? It couldn't just be an island, could it?"
Mayumi deliberately asked to change the subject.
"Of course not, I also brought back a bunch of girls!"
Mahiro puffed out his chest, looking quite proud.
But the next second, he received a light punch from Mayumi, who puffed her cheeks and pouted:
"Ugh, that's not what I meant."
She was still so adorable.
But since Mayumi asked, he naturally recounted everything that happened in the Strike the Blood world in great detail, leaving nothing out.
Mayumi listened very attentively, her wine-red eyes occasionally showing envy and longing, and at other times, worry when Mahiro faced danger.
Especially when she heard about him single-handedly fighting the Ancient Weapons Group: Nalakuvera and beating up the Third Progenitor Giada, her fists clenched slightly in tension.
What surprised her even more was that Mahiro had actually brought Nalakuvera back, planning to hand it over to the research institute for study.
Should she say, that's just like his style?
Never taking a loss, no matter the situation…
As for that Third Progenitor Giada.
She had naturally met her, not just at yesterday's tea table, but also when Itogami Island had stabilized the day before.
Her personality was somewhat similar to Esdeath's—she loved challenges.
So they had a bit of a sparring match.
The result was that she, Miyuki, Lina, and Erika all lost.
Miss Tendo Kisara also narrowly lost to Giada.
Then, even martial arts masters like Cornelia, Poney, and Taeko met the same fate.
But surprisingly, Miss Akame actually won!
Although it wasn't exactly honorable, she had only managed to gain the upper hand by borrowing the cursed poison of the Teigu "One-Cut Killer: Murasame," which enhanced her speed and strength by eroding her own body.
Originally, this was a desperate technique developed by Akame. Even though her body had long since adapted to it, she would still experience a period of weakness afterward.
Yet, because of Giada's provocative words—"Use your full strength, or none of you will be worth watching"—she resorted to the cursed poison.
What was most surprising, however, was that this newcomer, Miss Giada, had actually fought to a draw with the Vampire progenitor Elisabeth and Esdeath.
Especially during her battle with Elisabeth, their speed nearly surpassed the enhanced dynamic vision of those watching.
But according to her, if she were to fully unleash her Beast Vassals, these two would quickly be defeated.
Whether that was true or not remained to be seen.
As she pondered this, Mayumi suddenly felt a scorching gaze fixed upon her.
"Hmm? What is it? Has Mahiro-kun been captivated by me, his senior?"
A mischievous smile, long absent, appeared on Mayumi's lovely face.
But to her surprise, Mahiro nodded very sincerely.
"Yes, I'm captivated. I remember the last time I saw you wearing this outfit was during the Nine Schools Competition in my first year of school, right?"
"Mhm, that's right~"
Mayumi still remembered that time clearly.
Back then, they were still young and inexperienced, and she had appeared before Mahiro in the role of an older sister.
However, both Mahiro and Shiba Tatsuya had repeatedly surprised her with one unexpected event after another.
From their initial enrollment, to the terrorist attack, to the Nine Schools Competition, and all the events that followed...
"It's just a shame that back then, Mahiro-kun's attention was completely captured by Sayaka-chan. No matter how much I tried to seduce you, you never seemed to notice~"
Mayumi let out a faint sigh.
Her tone carried a mix of nostalgia, reproach, and a hint of resentment.
It was as if she was blaming him for making her wait so long back then, even though she had been so proactive!
She had even lent her CAD to this foolish junior to use.
Didn't he know that a CAD could only be used by someone closest and most trusted?
Because it recorded the user's magic habits, which could be fatal for a Mage!
At the time, she had even begun to doubt herself—was her charm really no match for Ooue Sayaka's?
If she hadn't taken the initiative and pushed him down during that outing later on, she probably still wouldn't have gotten her hands on him, would she?
The more she thought about it, the more resentful she became.
But in truth, this matter really couldn't be blamed on Mahiro.
After all, Ooue Sayaka and Saegusa Mayumi were completely different types.
One was a kendo beauty—tall, with long black hair tied in a single ponytail—which directly and perfectly matched his preferences.
As for Mayumi...
Although she was extremely beautiful and had been recognized as the school's top beauty before Miyuki arrived, she leaned more toward a cute style, which was slightly off the mark.
Cuteness was worthless in the face of sexiness, though Sayaka wasn't particularly sexy either.
Moreover, the Yotsuba Family's standing among the Ten Master Clans at the time was also problematic.
Especially with the Saegusa Family, with whom there was once an engagement, it's a case of seeming harmony but actual discord, like a tightly drawn string that could snap at any moment.
"So what about now?"
Mayumi suddenly quickened her pace and stopped in front of him, her hands behind her back, leaning slightly forward as she playfully approached him.
A fragrant breeze accompanied her movement.
"Now, does Mahiro-kun feel a little flutter for me?"
"Of course, one hundred percent."
Mayumi, who had intended to tease her junior, found herself being teased instead and instantly blushed. Especially when Mahiro took a step forward, she almost shyly retreated two steps.
"After all this time together, still so shy?"
Mahiro wrapped his arm around Mayumi's slender waist, bringing them so close that her face flushed bright red, and she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
This shy demeanor was utterly captivating.
Mahiro didn't bother waiting any longer and directly pressed his lips against her soft cherry-colored ones.
Mayumi, starting off shy, gradually grew bolder and more unrestrained. Slowly, she rose on her tiptoes on the sand, her hands climbing up his shoulders and wrapping around his neck.
However, just as she felt a chill beneath her skirt, Mayumi suddenly let go of him, nestling into his embrace and whispering softly:
"No! Don't... not here."
"I don't care. You started this fire, so you have to put it out!"
"Woo..."
Three hours later.
"Ugh, really, Mahiro-kun, you're too bold. You've wrinkled my skirt."
Behind a rocky outcrop on the shore.
Mayumi slowly straightened her skirt.
Though her words were complaints, the happiness in her eyes remained undiminished.
This life of being apart more than together, these occasional moments of novelty and excitement, didn't drive them apart but instead brought them even closer.
In this regard, it wasn't just her—the others were the same.
Especially those like the Yotsuba sisters, whose relationship with him was already complicated, they wanted to stir up some trouble to catch his attention.
That's why yesterday's situation had occurred.
"Hey, Mahiro-kun... I heard you can bring people along when you travel between worlds, right?"
"Hmm? What's up? Do you want to come too?"
"Can I?"
Hearing the pleading tone in Mayumi's voice, Mahiro fell into thought.
After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"It's not impossible, but the worlds I travel to are random. It might be an ordinary, safe world, or it could be a very dangerous one where even I struggle to protect myself. Are you sure you still want to come?"
He wasn't trying to scare her.
It really was like that.
Just like before, one world was as intense as Eminence in Shadow, and the very next was as low-tech and low-mystery as Lelouch.
This time it was Strike the Blood, but where it would be next, he wasn't sure either.
However, hearing him say this, Mayumi also fell into hesitation.
Seeing her hesitant, wanting to speak but holding back, Mahiro couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright, I can take you there. The ring is safe anyway, and at worst I can use a summoning method to bring you along. If it comes to it, I can just have you teleport back."
"Really? Is that possible?"
"Of course."
Mahiro nodded firmly.
He had even prepared himself to receive a sweet kiss from Mayumi.
However, what awaited him was not a sweet kiss, but a pink fist.
Mayumi said angrily:
"Hmph, you just love scaring me!"
Mahiro: ??
Wait, sis, aren't you reading the wrong script?
Shouldn't you be giving me a hug or a kiss at this point?
Why are you punching me instead?
But I have to admit, Mayumi's tsundere look is quite charming.
Just as he was thinking this, Mayumi moved again, suddenly hooking her arm around his neck, standing on her tiptoes once more, and giving him a deep kiss.
This time, they didn't break apart until they were out of breath.
Panting heavily, Mayumi leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as she spoke:
"Alright, this kiss is to make it up to you, and as a thank you, I'll have Mahiro-kun accompany me to a cocktail party tomorrow. I'm sure Mahiro-kun won't refuse, right?"
As she finished speaking, Mayumi playfully winked at him.
Wow, so this is where the real intention comes out!
"Mayumi, be honest. That last part is your real goal, isn't it?"
"Why don't you guess, Mahiro-senpai?"
The next day.
A private jet carrying Mayumi and Mahiro took off from Mishima Island and arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in the evening.
Even though the Yotsuba Family had just carried out a major purge of Japan's top officials the day before yesterday, today they dared to set foot on Japanese soil again.
This surprised the remaining surviving officials, but more than that, it angered them.
Yet they dared not do anything to the two on the private jet, leaving them with nothing but silent fury.
They feared that the sword of Damocles, which could take their lives at any moment, might fall from above the next second, piercing them like a hedgehog.
Once the plane came to a stop, Mayumi, holding his arm, walked down from the aircraft.
Today, he wore a custom-made silver suit, a bold style and color.
Paired with a black inner shirt and no tie.
He looked less like a so-called successful businessman and more like a wealthy, idle playboy.
As his companion, Mayumi wore a gray professional suit dress. Her fair face was lightly made up, her hair slightly pinned up to reveal her slender neck, adorned with a small heart-shaped pendant that rested against her snow-white chest.
The tight pencil skirt perfectly outlined her breathtaking curves.
Her long, slender legs were accentuated by black stockings, paired with black high-heeled shoes with red soles.
Over the years, Mayumi's height hadn't changed much, but when she wore this outfit, she appeared unexpectedly sharp and tall.
She looked as refined as could be.
With each step she took, the platinum pendant hanging from her delicate earlobes swayed slightly, adding an extra touch of elegance to her demeanor.
"I thought you'd wear an evening gown with a coat, but you're dressed in a secretary outfit?"
"Don't you like it when your sister dresses like this, Mahiro-kun?"
"Of course I like it. No man can resist the allure of a secretary outfit unless he's blind or impotent."
Mahiro stated with conviction before shifting the topic.
"What makes me more curious, though, is what tonight's banquet is about that made you wear this outfit."
Currently, Mayumi is attending university and has gradually begun taking over the family business.
Although all the numbered families and the Ten Master Clans are now fully under the jurisdiction of the Yotsuba Family, Mahiro has not consolidated the industries of all the families under unified management.
Instead, he has left them with some autonomy.
Among them, Chiba of the Hundred Families and the Saegusa Family of the Ten Master Clans retain the most autonomy.
Yet today, Mayumi prepared this outfit and even brought him along.
Could it be related to the business of the Saegusa Family's company?
"How about you take another guess, Mahiro-kun?"
The same words, the same playful expression.
And once again, she leaned close to his ear and whispered softly.
"If Mahiro-kun guesses correctly, your sister might just wear this outfit for you tonight~"
Tsk, what a little temptress!
Mahiro grumbled inwardly but still rolled his eyes at Mayumi.
"Are you a child? Still playing guessing games."
But as for the secretary outfit... that's something worth considering!
I like it!