Receiving reports from two operational teams, Kusanagi Ritsuko felt her head swelling.
Minami, who had hardly left her house in two months, was going out shopping, while Inomata Naoki, who should have stayed in Kumamoto, was coming to Tokyo. The likelihood of their eting was growing by the minute, and she had to ensure they didn't et — a trendous challenge indeed.
"Listen, I don't care what thods you use, they absolutely must not et! Do you understand?" she commanded the leaders of the two teams through her walkie-talkie, then she hurriedly made her way toward Chen Yu's office.
It was because of Kohinata Kaori that Minami decided to go out shopping, and Inomata Naoki was coming to Tokyo because Chen Yu had introduced him to a girlfriend. If soone said the movents of these two had nothing to do with a conspiracy and were just a coincidence, others might believe it, but Kusanagi Ritsuko would not!
"Mr. Chen Yu, did you arrange all of this?" Bursting into Chen Yu's office, Kusanagi Ritsuko slamd her hands on his desk and stared at him seriously, demanding an answer.
This left Doctor Higashiyama, who had been discussing sothing with Chen Yu, looking surprised. After hesitating, he glanced at Chen Yu and then at Kusanagi Ritsuko and said, "Professor, shall I co back later?"
"Hmm, close the door on your way out," Chen Yu nodded to indicate that Doctor Higashiyama could leave, and gestured to Shirai Reina at the door that it was okay.
It was only after Doctor Higashiyama closed the office door that Chen Yu's gaze sharpened, and he turned to Kusanagi Ritsuko: "Who gave you the audacity to barge into my office like this!"
A terrifying power instantly pressured Kusanagi Ritsuko, blowing her away from Chen Yu's desk. She was lifted into the air as if caught by an Unseen Hand, clutching at her own throat.
Kusanagi Ritsuko grabbed at her neck, trying to alleviate her pain, but tangible hands could not touch the intangible, and she dangled helplessly in the air, nearly suffocating.
Just as Kusanagi Ritsuko felt darkness creeping before her eyes and was about to pass out, Chen Yu released her, and she fell to the floor.
Clutching her chest, Kusanagi Ritsuko gasped for air. Though a Transcendent herself, she still needed oxygen to survive.
The lack of oxygen from her suffocation made her lungs work overti, and the sounds of heavy air passing through her throat were painful and intense.
It took quite so ti for Kusanagi Ritsuko to recover, and she climbed up from the floor, her eyes still defiant and sharp.
Seeing the look in Kusanagi Ritsuko's eyes, Chen Yu couldn't help but laugh: "Quite an impressive gaze. Your will is much stronger than the people I selected before. It seems you haven't lost the passion of a warrior, good!"
However, facing Chen Yu's praise, Kusanagi Ritsuko cald down and still questioned him, "Tomorrow Minami is going shopping in Shibuya with Kohinata Kaori, and Inomata Naoki is coming to Tokyo to et Tokairin Yuko. Did you plan all this?"
"What if I did, what if I didn't? Do I need to explain myself to you?" Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, elbows resting on the armrests, hands crossed in front of his chest, his smile teasing and aningful: "Don't forget, the Pri Minister has entrusted with full authority over this matter. So even if I arrange for them to et tomorrow and tell them everything, it's my decision, and you have no say in it."
"But..." Kusanagi Ritsuko started to speak, only to find she couldn't make a sound.
Chen Yu drew circles in the air with his finger, his smile fading, but his eyes grew more profound: "Young lady, I rember on your first visit to my office, you said you were a soldier. So tell , what is the first and foremost duty of a soldier?"
"It's following orders..." Kusanagi Ritsuko was very reluctant, but still answered Chen Yu truthfully.
"Following orders, huh!" Chen Yu feigned a sudden realization, exaggeratedly nodding his head, and then turned to Kusanagi Ritsuko, "Then tell , what are you doing right now? Soldier."
When Chen Yu asked her this, Kusanagi Ritsuko, despite all the reluctance and anger in her heart, still lowered her head to Chen Yu, "I am truly sorry!"
"Rember, you are just a soldier, carry out the orders you receive. As for the rest," Chen Yu put his hand on the desk and leaned forward, looking at Kusanagi Ritsuko, "when you are in a position to command , then you can question . For now, get out of my office."
"Yes!" Suppressing the urge to punch Chen Yu in the face, Kusanagi Ritsuko turned around and left his office.
Watching the unwilling departure of Kusanagi Ritsuko, Chen Yu actually started to smile, "A chess piece that voluntarily jumps onto the board is indeed an unexpected gain. Let's see if you have what it takes to be a chess piece."
As Chen Yu said this, a wisp of black smoke drifted in front of him, and a chessboard appeared before him.
It was still that bizarre chess ga, only this ti, the board had an additional white chariot, but its color had not turned to black.
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The departing Kusanagi Ritsuko was full of unwillingness and indignation, but she also knew that her actions had indeed been impulsive.
After splashing her face with cold water in the restroom, Kusanagi Ritsuko cald down, carefully considered everything once more, and took out her walkie-talkie to issue new commands to the leaders of the two action teams, "I need you to carefully plan to ensure that the two targets do not et tomorrow. If sothing unexpected happens, I need you to have contingency plans ready, understand?"
"But if the two targets really do et, what should we do? Are we allowed to use force on the targets?" One of the team leaders hesitantly asked through the walkie-talkie.
There are many ways to prevent two people from eting; he had to confirm if it truly was at any cost.
"This matter concerns the life safety of tens of millions of people in Tokyo, even the entire country! So do everything in your power! But be careful not to cause any casualties," Kusanagi Ritsuko laid down the line to the two action team leaders.
"Understood." "Roger that."
The leaders of the two action teams finally had a clear understanding after hearing what Kusanagi Ritsuko said.
After ending the conversation with the leaders of the two action teams, Kusanagi Ritsuko put down the walkie-talkie but took her cellphone out of her pocket, thought for a mont, and sent out a text ssage.
"Let's have dinner together tonight, bring a cake and candles."
After sending the text ssage, Kusanagi Ritsuko put away her cellphone and looked at herself in the restroom mirror, her gaze becoming ever more piercing.
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