With a casual snap of his fingers, the next second, a cluster of pale blue flame appeared at his fingertips.
Before Sakiko could even be surprised, the flame suddenly shot up like it had a life of its own and merged with her.
The girl only felt her whole body lighten.
She had just been caught in heavy rain and was feeling a bit chilled, her nose a bit stuffy.
But now, that trace of illness vanished without a trace.
'So so magical'
As the former young lady of the Togawa family, Sakiko wasn't someone with little exposure, but she had never heard of supernatural powers truly existing in the world.
Regardless of the complexity in the girl's heart, Kaito stood up and gave instructions, "Go take a shower first. I picked up a few changes of clothes for you while I was out earlier. They're in the bathroom."
"I'm not sure if they'll fit you perfectly, but make do for now."
"I'll transfer you some money later, consider it the startup capital for the agency."
"As for the agency's paperwork, I'll leave it all to you to handle. That includes how to promote the business, how to contact clients, how much to charge, everything will be your responsibility."
'It sounds like I have full authority, but isn't this just treating me like a total workhorse?'
'No wonder he offered a high salary of 300,000 yen'
Sakiko had never managed something like this before. Just doing customer service normally left her completely exhausted, and dealing with difficult callers who yelled at her was a daily routine.
Now she suddenly had to shoulder the development of an entire agency. Suddenly, that 300,000 yen monthly salary didn't seem so "hot to the touch" anymore.
Kaito even patted her shoulder, with an expression like he was watching a show, "Good luck, little Sakiko."
"I believe in your abilities. You definitely won't let me down."
Work is clearly the best cure for emotional problems.
Not long ago, Sakiko was utterly hopeless, had lost the will to live, and just wanted to leap into the air and be free forever.
But now, all she could think about was the complicated paperwork needed to start the agency, leaving her head spinning. She didn't even have the mood to think about Togawa Satoru, that man, let alone sigh sentimentally over the past.
'Whatever,' After thinking for a long while, the girl sighed, 'Things have come to this point, I might as well go take a bath first.'
There's no trouble in the world that a comfortable bath can't fix.
If there is, just get a massage afterward.
By the time Sakiko came out of the bathroom, the wall clock had just completed a full circle.
The clothes Kaito bought for her surprisingly fit very well, even the bra was just right, like it had been tailored to her measurements.
This made Sakiko both shy and a little suspicious.
'Isn't this too much of a coincidence?'
An innocent, naive girl obviously couldn't imagine the methods of a shameless cultivator.
With one sweep of divine sense, not to mention measurements, he could see clearly how many legs a female mosquito had even a hundred meters away.
But there was no need to tell Sakiko such things. Looking at the girl still drying her hair with a towel, Kaito leaned on the sofa, casually stroking the fat cat in his arms, and said, "We're out of ingredients at home. I didn't have time to restock. Let's just have some egg fried rice to make do tonight."
Since she had already sold herself to him, Sakiko didn't bother being polite. She sat beside him and softly said, "Mm."
Kaito got up, originally intending to go cook, but after weighing the fat cat in his arms, he couldn't help frowning, "Kirara, have you gotten fatter again lately?"
Maybe all females are sensitive about their weight.
Even little female cats were no exception.
Kirara meowed in protest and lightly brushed the back of his hand with her soft tail.
'Where am I fat? Don't say things like that, okay? Being a cat is hard enough already. I've been the same weight all these years, it's just my fur's a little fluffy, has nothing to do with being fat.'
'Come to think of it, it isn't surprising.'
Since coming to his house, this fat cat had been feasting on high-end cat food every day, happy and carefree.
If she wasn't eating, she was sleeping. After a while, it'd be strange if she didn't put on weight.
Not to mention, sometimes when Kaito was cultivating, she'd actively rub against him to absorb the spiritual energy around him. At night, she also loved burrowing into his bed.
Her strength had increased quite a bit, and at this rate, the day she turned into a catgirl wasn't far off. [T/N: Man with a mission]
"What a cute kitty", Sakiko couldn't help asking, "Can I pet her?"
Girls, in general, had no resistance to fluffy little animals. Even if Sakiko wasn't a cat-lover, who could say no to a sleek, shiny, lazy fat cat lying in front of them?
"I'll leave dinner to you," Kaito tossed Kirara into her arms. The cat had no objections.
To her, it was just napping in a different place.
Though dinner was just simple egg fried rice, it all depended on who made it.
Egg fried rice cooked by a national banquet chef versus one made by a street vendor, obviously, they couldn't compare.
Kaito's cooking might not be divine-level, but after decades of practice, if he wanted to earn the title of 'God of Cooking' in this world, it wouldn't be a problem.
Golden in color, each grain separated and distinct, the appearance alone was top-notch.
Sakiko contentedly patted her belly and suddenly thought, 'Even without the salary, even if I am not swayed by my boss's good looks, just this unique meal alone might be worth working for free.'
Just as she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly pinged with a crisp notification.
["Your account 114514XXXXX has received a transfer of 5,000,000 yen. Please check."]
'How much?'
Sakiko didn't hold her phone steady, and it slipped, landing right on Kirara's head, who was napping on her lap.
The cat looked utterly confused, 'What the heck is your problem!'
"Sorry, sorry", Sakiko awkwardly scratched its chin, then looked at Kaito and said with a bitter smile, "Kaito-kun, isn't this amount a bit too much?"
'He really isn't afraid I will take the money and run?'
"Too much?"
Kaito was opening an agency for the first time too, and didn't really have a concept of money. Making money was just too easy for him, it wasn't even worth worrying about, "It's already transferred, so just accept it. Let me know if you need more."
" I'm convinced," Sakiko hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse, "As for promoting the agency, I already have a general plan in mind. I'll get it done as soon as possible."
"Go for it," Kaito patted her shoulder, "I believe in your ability."
'Being a hands-off boss is fun for a while. Being one all the time is always fun.'
'Having a capable assistant really puts the mind at ease.'
Sakiko had to run around tirelessly every day for business, but Kaito, sitting in the boss's chair enjoying the AC, had a lot to think about.
Not only did he have to drink tea, pet the cat, read manga, he also had to go on the occasional date with Yumiko.
'All in all, today was another hard day for me.'
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Chapter 46: A New Commission
Sunday, nearing the end of April, cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The morning sunlight was warm and golden. Young girls in sailor uniforms walked in groups of two or three, their long legs beneath their skirts pale and dazzling. Even the air was filled with the scent of youth.
Kaito stood at the intersection, replying to messages while waiting for the red light to change.
[Togawa Sakiko: This commission is a bit complicated. The client works in finance. Some time ago, one of her subordinates jumped off a building due to a relationship issue. Since then, many strange things have happened in the company.]
[Togawa Sakiko: She tried seeking out priests and monks from nearby temples to perform rituals to appease the spirit, but in the end, it didn't work. Instead, the priests and monks were so terrified that they fled the company in a panic and refused to go back no matter what.]
[Togawa Sakiko: On top of the original reward, the client added another several million. She's willing to offer 15 million yen to thank the exorcist.]
[Togawa Sakiko: Boss, do you have confidence in handling it?]
Sakiko-chan really was a capable assistant.
She had just started the job not long ago and had already brought in the first commission, with a very fitting reward too.
Of course, Kaito wouldn't refuse. He asked Sakiko to set up a time to meet with the client.
Perhaps it was really urgent.
Not long after Sakiko contacted the client, the other party immediately said they could meet today.
So, two hours later, a taxi stopped in front of a caf. Kaito got out and easily spotted Sakiko.
The girl wasn't in her uniform but had changed into a relatively formal lady's dress. A black satin ribbon formed a beautiful bow on her chest. Even among the comings and goings of customers, she was the most eye-catching.
After meeting, the two entered the reserved private room and quickly met with today's client.
She was a capable-looking middle-aged woman, with long black hair. Even with age, she retained a touch of charm.
But she didn't look in good spirits. There were faint dark circles around her eyes, as if she had stayed up too late.
Well, it was understandable. Anyone dealing with such unlucky matters would struggle to stay in a good mental state.
When the pair, both young, entered the private room, the client was visibly stunned.
Especially after meeting eyes with Kaito, her daze turned into a blank stare.
Fortunately, Sakiko quickly reached out her hand to break the awkwardness, "Nice to meet you, Miss Nagasaki."
Nagasaki Asuna came back to her senses and, while shaking hands, looked a little embarrassed.
'Already at my age, with a daughter in college, and I am still crushing on a young handsome guy? How shameless!'
But she was, after all, a strong woman who had built her career from scratch. Her mental fortitude was exceptional, and she quickly hid her momentary lapse, smiling and making small talk.
Once the atmosphere had warmed up, she got straight to the point, "You've already heard the details before, so I won't repeat myself."
"I'll just say this, if this incident can be resolved, I'm willing to add another five million as a bonus, making it twenty million in total, as my thanks to the two of you."
"Of course, even if it can't be resolved, you'll still receive a ten-thousand-yen hardship fee. I won't let you come for nothing."
Miss Nagasaki was indeed very generous.
Her surname also reminded Sakiko of someone from the past.
But Nagasaki was a very common surname in Japan, just like Yamamoto or Kato, you could grab a handful at random, 'It is probably just a coincidence?'
Shaking her head, Sakiko brushed away these trivial thoughts and also went straight to the point, "In any case, please take us to the scene, Miss Nagasaki."
Miss Nagasaki's company was located in the busiest part of Roppongi, occupying a floor of an office building.
They took the elevator up, but didn't see a single employee. It was completely empty.
Noticing Sakiko's puzzled expression, Miss Nagasaki smiled wryly, "Because of the recent haunting, the employees are all on edge and can't concentrate on work. I had no choice but to give them two days off."
'So that's how it is.'
Sakiko understood and then turned to the tall boy beside her, asking with her eyes, "Have you found anything?"
Kaito nodded, his gaze fixed tightly on an inconspicuous corner where a window had been sealed shut.
Following his gaze, Miss Nagasaki explained, "That's the place where Nakamura jumped."
Nakamura Shinnathat was the deceased's name.
Thinking back to the scene at the time, the strong woman still felt a bit shaken.
She had only argued with her boyfriend over the phone and threatened to jump if he dared to break up with her. When he refused, she really did jump without hesitation from the 34th floor, scaring her coworkers into shock. They forgot to even try to stop her.
If she had that kind of resolve, couldn't she have done something better with it? Why throw her life away for a man?
And her family wasn't easy to deal with either. After learning their daughter died at the company, they came and made a scene, blaming the company for her death and demanding a huge compensation.
It took great effort to settle things with the grieving family, and then the company started experiencing hauntings. This series of upsetting events left Nagasaki Asuna exhausted both physically and mentally.
She didn't even dare go home, afraid of bringing the bad luck with her and infecting her loved ones.
"There really is something dirty here," Hearing Kaito's words, Nagasaki Asuna tensed.
She used to not believe in ghosts. But this time, the events were just too strange.
Even the two professionals she invited, a well-known priest and a respected monk, were so terrified during the exorcism that they wet themselves and ran away screaming, completely losing the aura of spiritual masters. They cried for their mothers and crawled away, swearing never to come back.
Their fear definitely wasn't an act. As charlatans, even when acting, they'd only try to portray themselves as powerful. There's no reason to show such cowardice.
Not to mention, even Nagasaki herself sometimes felt like she was being secretly watched.
She was sure, there was definitely something unclean in this building.
Now that Kaito had confirmed her suspicions, the woman suppressed her inner anxiety and pleaded earnestly, "Master, could you please deal with it? Money is not an issue!"
Before she finished speaking, Nagasaki Asuna suddenly felt her heart skip a beat. A chill crept up her back. It felt like someone was glaring at her with hatred from the shadows.
In the unseen world of darkness, a female ghost with messy hair and bloodstains all over her body, her face twisted, her pupils nothing but whites filled with malice, was staring at her intently.
Nagasaki Asuna swallowed nervously, feeling a coldness over her entire body. She couldn't help but rub her arms, only to find them covered in goosebumps.
"Ma-master, you see", She was just about to say something when she noticed a faint warm glow radiating from the back of the boy next to her. The coldness lingering on her body met this light and melted away in an instant, like spring sunlight melting snow.
