The images synchronized by the Information Bug slowly beca clear in Zhou Huai's mind.
The mont he saw the content of the images, Zhou Huai couldn't help but be stunned.
"How could it be her?"
The image showed the living room of an extrely luxurious villa.
Crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow, and expensive carpets were covered with the fur of unknown exotic beasts.
And on the wide leather sofa, a blonde, blue-eyed woman lay quietly.
Her face had a sickly pallor, and her lips were bloodless.
Her golden hair fanned out like a waterfall across the dark sofa, making her paleness even more striking.
On her exposed arms and thighs, there were deep, bone-visible wounds.
The flesh around the edges of the wounds had turned black, curled back, and refused to heal.
A faint, almost imperceptible black power, like maggots clinging to bone, Entanglent around the wounds.
That power seed to have a life of its own, transforming into countless fine black threads, stitching the wounds tightly and preventing any form of healing energy.
A handso man in a suit knelt beside the sofa.
He wore gold-rimd glasses, and his eyes were full of heartache.
He carefully used a cotton swab to apply a soft, white-glowing ointnt little by little to the woman's wounds.
The mont the ointnt touched the black power, it emitted a faint "sizzle," like ice eting a hot iron.
White light and black Qi eroded and canceled each other out.
The man's movents were light and slow.
The woman's eyes were tightly closed, and she frowned slightly.
The reason for Zhou Huai's surprise was simple.
He knew this woman.
It was Polina, the SS-Class Professional from Great Bear Country, the Desire Dominator.
Besides her, he also saw a familiar face on another sofa.
The person was tall, with bronze skin and a face as chiseled as an Ancient Egypt pharaoh's sculpture.
It was none other than the Prince of Ancient Egypt, the SS-Class Professional Pharaoh's Guardian, Kalen.
He hadn't expected that the other party would also co to Tokyo.
Looking at the grueso injuries on Polina, Zhou Huai instantly understood everything.
It was probably her who broke into the Ise Grand Shrine three days ago.
Zhou Huai had truly underestimated this woman's obsession with the pendulum of life.
However, he couldn't understand why Prince Kalen had also followed.
Moreover, it seed he was still with Polina.
Had he forgotten how Polina had toyed with him like a stray dog in the Caslantis Ruins?
One could only say that a simp gets no house.
But then again, this Polina was indeed bold and skilled.
The Professionals searching for her all over Tokyo, she hadn't run at all.
Instead, she was hiding in the luxurious villa area of the Kujo Family.
This 'hiding in plain sight' trick was indeed well played.
However, she could hide from others.
But she couldn't hide from Caesar's Information Bug.
Zhou Huai sneered in his heart.
As long as Polina was still in Tokyo, his Information Bug could find her.
Thinking of this, Zhou Huai controlled Caesar to quietly leave this bustling underground square.
Like a drop of water rging into the ocean, he silently blended into the crowd on the street.
Given the current situation, he could find an opportunity to actively communicate with that cunning woman.
To exchange information about the situation inside the Ise Grand Shrine.
He could even cooperate with them.
After all, Zhou Huai and their goals were the sa.
Getting help from two SS-Class Professionals would make the plan to contend for the pendulum of life more assured...
The Kujo Family's estate was located on a secluded mountainside in Takamagahara.
Tall black wrought iron gates, adorned with ferocious demon-face reliefs, guarded the entrance.
Behind the gates was a ticulously manicured garden, every pine and cypress tree standing like a silent sentinel.
An air of solemnity perated the atmosphere.
A pitch-black sedan, like a ghost, slowly drove out from the depths of the estate.
The car body reflected a cold gleam in the afternoon sun.
Upon reaching the main gate, the vehicle smoothly ca to a stop.
The rear window emitted a faint electrical hum and slowly slid down.
The several guards standing at the gate imdiately straightened their backs and bowed in unison.
"Mr. Matsutake!"
Inside the car, a stern-faced middle-aged man poked his head out. He was wearing an exquisite kimono and had an arrogant expression.
He scanned the guards outside the gate with a critical gaze, letting out a soft snort from his nose.
"All of you, pay more attention."
"Takamagahara hasn't been peaceful lately. Intensify patrols. Don't let any Tom, Dick, or Harry sneak in."
The captain of the patrol team, at the front, quickly bowed his head, his posture humble.
"Yes, sir! Please rest assured!"
The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction, and the car window slowly rose, cutting off the view of the outside.
The vehicle drove out of the gate, its engine letting out a low growl, and sped away.
Not until the black rear of the car completely disappeared around the bend in the mountain road.
Did the patrol captain slowly straighten his back.
The humility on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an unconcealed look of disdain.
"Pah! What a piece of trash!"
He spat fiercely in the direction of the car's tail.
A young guard next to him leaned over and whispered, "Captain, why bother getting angry with him?"
The patrol captain sneered, his eyes full of contempt.
"A flower arranger who got his position by serving won, dares to boss us ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ around?"
"If it weren't for Lady Kaori's favor, what is he even worth?!"
"Does he really think he's part of the Kujo Family? He's nothing but a dog!"
...The car had just rounded the mountainside.
"Screech—!"
A harsh screech of brakes pierced the tranquility of the mountain.
In the back seat, the man nad Matsutake suddenly lurched forward, almost hitting the front seat.
He frowned unhappily, his tone cold.
"Hayata, what's going on? Why the sudden brake?"
In the driver's seat, the driver nad Hayata's face was pale, and his voice trembled.
"So...sorry, Mr. Matsutake!"
"Just...just now I was driving fine, and suddenly...suddenly a lot of bugs appeared in front of the car!"
"They scared !"
"Bugs?"
Matsutake's face showed a mocking sneer.
"You're at least a C-Class Professional, and you're still afraid of bugs?"
"How embarrassing."
"Hurry up and drive, don't delay my business. I still need to prepare a gift for Lady Kaori."
Driver Hayata dared not retort and quickly nodded in agreent.
He pressed the accelerator again, but the car had barely started and hadn't driven two ters before it suddenly stopped again.
This ti, Matsutake was genuinely a bit angry.
He was about to curse at Hayata when he saw the driver extend a trembling finger, pointing to the front of the car.
Matsutake impatiently looked in the direction he pointed.
He saw a young man with blonde hair, wearing a cheap jacket, standing silently less than five ters in front of their car.
He was slightly overweight, with a faint smile on his face.
Matsutake's brows furrowed into a knot.
He pressed down the car window, stuck his head out, and roared without ceremony.
"Baka!"
"Where did you co from, you brat, standing in the middle of the road, are you looking to die?!"
Upon hearing this, the blonde young man's smile widened.
He grinned, revealing teeth that weren't exactly white.
"Excuse , gentlen."
"I'd like to rob you."
Matsutake seed to have heard the funniest joke, bursting into loud laughter.
His laughter echoed on the empty mountain road, sounding particularly harsh.
A mont later, the laughter abruptly stopped.
He turned his head, staring coldly at the blonde young man with eyes that looked at a dead man.
"Do you know who I am?"
"I am from the Kujo Family!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "Kujo Family," expecting to see a look of fear on the other's face.
However, the blonde young man rely picked his ear, his movents as casual as if he were dusting off his clothes.
"Kujo Family?"
He repeated, then smiled.
"So what?"
"Now, imdiately, get out of the car."
Matsutake's cold smile froze.
A chill, without warning, rose from his tailbone, instantly spreading throughout his body.
He was just a life-skill Professional, a flower arranger.
He had no combat ability whatsoever.
The blonde young man in front of him, though his Rank couldn't be discerned, his confident deanor was definitely not sothing an ordinary person could feign.
He felt a bit weak inside.
But his mouth, however, remained defiant.
"You tell to get out of the car and I'll get out? What are you?!"
"I think you're just tired of living!! I'm calling the Kujo Family's guards right now!"
...A mont later.
A mutilated corpse lay silently in the grass by the roadside.
Countless pitch-black beetles, like a tide, covered it, gnawing furiously.
Sharp mouthparts tore at the flesh, making a teeth-grating "rustling" sound.
In just a short dozen seconds, the corpse was completely devoured, not even a bone shard left.
The blonde young man opened the car door and got in.
The mont his body disappeared into the car's shadow, his bones emitted a faint crackling sound.
His figure lengthened, and his facial features reshaped.
When he looked up again, the slightly plump blonde face was gone, replaced by Matsutake's arrogant and stern middle-aged face.
In the driver's seat, driver Hayata's body trembled like a sieve, his teeth chattering, making a soft "clack" sound.
Through the rearview mirror, he saw that familiar face, but those eyes... those weren't Mr. Matsutake's eyes.
They were cold, emotionless, as if looking at an ant.
Fear, like countless cold hands, gripped his throat, preventing him from making any sound.
In the back seat, the "Matsutake" calmly patted his shoulder.
"Don't be afraid."
The voice was still Mr. Matsutake's unique tone, but in its delivery, there was a hint of irresistible authority.
"As long as you are obedient, nothing will happen."
"Now, turn around."
"We're going back to the Kujo Family's villa area."
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