Leaning back against her chair, the leather squeaked faintly. Haruno unconsciously tapped her fingertips on the desk. A building-materials supplier that had worked with the Yukinoshita family for years was behind all this. It was a malicious blow aimed at the Yukinoshita company. No wonder her mother was so stressed.
"Ka-chak!"
Lightning flashed outside, briefly lighting up the cold gleam in Haruno's eyes.
She had to do something.
But now that she was no longer managing the company and had passed on her work duties, the resources she could mobilize were limited.
Just as she pondered her options, a strange buzz sounded in her mind.
[Ding! Akiyama Mio has joined the Trade chat group!]
[Ding! Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld has joined!]
Haruno raised her brows. She was well used to the chat group by now, and often liked to "lurk" in it daily, enjoying the entertaining conversations.
She'd learned quite a bit about other worlds from it.
Of course, the members in the chat group always ended up mentioning that man of hersRei Aoseven or eight times out of ten. It made her proud, but also a bit jealous. Still, every time a new person joined, their reactions brought her unexpected amusement.
With a single thought, a transparent interface opened before her. She saw two flashing icons for the new members.
Fubuki: "Another late-night join, huh Lately all the newbies join at odd hours?"
Frieren: "Eh, you'll get used to it. I don't sleep much anymore anyway."
Bibi Dong: "Same here. Instead of sleeping, I'd rather spend each day longing for Rei Ao."
Thru: "Emmm, why do I sense a hint in your words? You want Rei Ao to visit you?"
Bibi Dong: "If Rei Ao did come, I'd be thrilled. I imagine they would be, too."
Akame: "Me too, that's how I feel."
Izawa Shizue: "I know everyone misses Rei Ao-kun, but we should focus on the newcomers!"
Sui: "Welcome, newbies!"
Busujima Saeko: "Welcome to the newbies, I'm Busujima Saeko."
Stella: "Two new folks again. I'm Stella Vermillion, nice to meet you!"
Marcille: "Uh, I'm Marcille"
Meanwhile, in another world's ordinary residential area
Akiyama Mio lay curled up asleep under a sky-blue blanket, hugging a guitar-shaped pillow. Moonlight peeked through the curtains, softly illuminating her peaceful sleeping face. Her long lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks.
[Ding! You have joined the Trade chat group!]
When the group's alert chimed deep in her consciousness, she only wrinkled her nose in her sleep, burying her face more deeply into the pillow. Completely unaware she'd become a new member of some inter-world organization
In Seidoukan Academy's girls' dorm, things were quite different.
[Ding! You have joined the Trade chat group!]
Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld jerked awake in an instant. As the "Witch of the Resplendent Flames," she had long trained herself to keep a certain level of alertness even while sleeping.
The moment that weird buzzing sounded, she flipped upright from her bed, a hot flame forming in her right hand.
"Who's there?"
She growled, scarlet irises contracting cat-like in the darkness. Quickly scanning the room for intruders, she discovered no one. Then she noticed a glowing translucent interface floating before her, rapidly scrolling with a series of welcoming messages.
Julis narrowed her eyes. Beneath her silk nightgown, her muscles stayed tense. She meticulously rechecked every corner of the room.
"Some new type of power user's trick?"
But right after, a flood of unfamiliar information flowed into her minddetails about the "Trade chat group," about "links to endless worlds," about an "omnipotent group owner."
"Ridiculous."
A chat group that connected multiple worlds? She found it incomprehensible. Yet her finger's flame somehow dissipated of its own accord. Warily, she touched the translucent interface. It wasn't a physical object, but it reacted to her touch.
Julis: "What is this new trick? Who are you people?"
Thru: "Oh my, another hasty onejust like Stella was at first!"
Marcille: "Every newbie says the same stuff. Can't someone be a bit more original?"
Frieren: "Hey, you're in no position to talk. You caused quite a stir when you joined not long ago!"
Marcille: "Cough, cough!"
Marcille was clearly embarrassed. She just wanted to act more composed
~~~
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Chapter 706: Julis Doubt! Both Princesses on the Group Chat!
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~~~
Bibi Dong: "Patience, young lady. This chat group really does connect different worlds."
Julis: "Different worlds? What kind of prank is this?!"
Julis's gaze flitted rapidly across the translucent screen, trying to find some loophole in this "practical joke." Her rose-colored hair slipped off her shoulder with her restless movements, looking like liquid flame under the moonlight.
A silk camisole nightgown highlighted her curvy figure, but at this moment, the princess was far from caring about appearances.
Then a message with a special border suddenly popped up, interrupting her questions:
Rei Ao: "Welcome, Julis, 'Witch of the Resplendent Flames.' I'm the group owner. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me."
Haruno, watching this, couldn't help but chuckle softly. She knew Rei Ao was probably "busy" in someone else's world right nowmost likely with Mikoto Misaka and the others he'd recently traded with.
Just imagining him dealing with various girls yet still able to manage the chat group amused her.
Frieren: "@Rei Ao Didn't you say you'd gone to Mikoto's world to help her solve that problem? Is it done?"
Tohru: "Rei Ao-sama didn't come home tonight~ (dragon tail wagging emoji)"
Rei Ao: "Ah, actually, Mikoto's on me right now."
Meaning, even while dealing with Mikoto and Miss Honeybee, he could spare the attention to greet the newbies.
He recalled "Akiyama Mio" should be from 'K-On!' and "Julis" sounded like the female protagonist from 'The Asterisk War.'
Stella: "?????"
Sui: "?????"
Busujima Saeko: "?????"
Marcille: "?????"
The chat erupted into question marks at Rei Ao's remark.
Fubuki: "Rei Ao-kun, please restrain yourself. We have new members here."
Busujima Saeko: "We did expect this, though"
Marcille: "T-this kinda thing no need to say it so openly!"
"?"
Julis frowned at these perplexing messages, not getting their weird riddles. She was about to press for more info when the group owner directly mentioned her:
Rei Ao: "Julis, I know you're full of doubts. Soon enough, you'll see this chat group can offer far more than you imagine. On a side note, your flame control is excellent, but there's still room to grow your Genestella power."
Julis's rose-red eyes narrowed.
Julis: "How do you know me?"
Rei Ao: "Of course I know you. Julis, first princess of the small country Lieseltania, has distinctive features: bright rose hair and cerulean eyes, a gorgeous beauty. Ranked fifth at Seidoukan Academypart of the 'Page One' folks. A Genestella with a unique ability to manipulate mana, labeled as a 'witch' who warps laws of matter. And thanks to your explosive star-power, you can freely control flameshence the nickname 'Witch of the Resplendent Flames.' Right?"
Julis: ""
She was stunned to find someone who knew so much about her.
Frieren: "Wait, guys, doesn't this newcomer, the 'Witch of the Resplendent Flames,' sound like someone we already have in the group?"
Marooshil: "Huh?"
Akame: "You mean Stella?"
Frieren: "Yes! I recall she has a similarly cool-sounding nickname, something like the 'Crimson Princess'?"
Stella: "Aaah! Don't say it out loud!"
She'd never minded people calling her that at her own academy, but hearing it in the chat group made Stella feel embarrassed.
Rei Ao: "Heh, and it's not just the nickname. Both are top geniuses at their academies, they're red-haired, they have great figures, both use flame powers, and both have that chilly-outside, warm-inside personality."
That was why he used to mix up 'Chivalry of a Failed Knight' with 'The Asterisk War' sometimesboth had very similar heroines.
Tohru: "Now that you mention it, they really do sound alike."
Stella: ""
Julis's fingers froze midair. One strap of her nightgown slid off her shoulder unnoticed. She stared at the chat screen, her chest rising and falling in agitation.
This info was beyond what any normal investigation could yieldespecially the part about her deeper ability details, which she'd never shown publicly.
Stella: "Really? @Julis, maybe we can spar sometime!"
Learning there was someone so similar to her piqued Stella's interest. Even though she'd become a deity, controlling her power to her old level wasn't too hard.
Julis: "I need more evidence proving this isn't some mental interference ability."
Rei Ao: "You'll see proof eventually. No need to rush. For now, you should rest."
He didn't have time to show anything at the momentMikoto was approaching her climax, after all
Meanwhile
Haruno closed her laptop. She stretched languidly. Rain began to fall outside, droplets tapping crisply on the window. She looked again at her mother's anxious photo. Her gaze grew resolute.
Maybe she could ask Rei Ao to help resolve the Yukinoshita family crisis. But not just a simple fix. She recalled certain hidden truths she'd discovered about her relationship with Yukino and their mother during her investigations, and a certain gleam lit her eyes.
Turning out the lights, alone in the darkness, she murmured softly:
"Mother perhaps we should remain a family our entire lives"
~~~
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Chapter 707: Saintess Taste...
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~~~
In a special room in the Talent Workshop.
Mikoto Misaka curled up under the covers, fine beads of sweat still clinging to her short brown hair. She stared at Shokuhou Misakiwho was lying against Rei Ao's other shoulderher pupils roiling with complicated emotions.
She never imagined she'd end up like this with her longtime rival
"What are you looking at?"
Shokuhou's cheeks flushed as she spoke, her voice hoarse. Yet her gaze still showed that familiar headstrong attitude.
"Let me make it clearI won this time!"
Zzt!
Sparks danced across Mikoto's bangs.
"Who'd even compare themselves with you, you starry-eyed freak? And I'm not comparing anythingthis kind of stuff! I'm thinking about my sisters!"
Her voice suddenly faltered. At her side, the thoroughly exhausted Misaka #00001 was already sound asleep, making soft, kitten-like snores.
Rei Ao slid his left hand beneath Mikoto's tense back, his iridescent pupils glimmering faintly in the darkness. He said nothing. Before either girl could speak further, the door suddenly slammed open with tremendous force.
"Rei Ao-san! Look at Dolly"
Kanzaki Kaori rushed in carrying a flushed-faced girl in her arms. Her white miniskirt barely covered her as she froze in place upon seeing the scene in front of her.
The still-sleeping Dolly in her arms let out a sweet moan, unconsciously squirming due to the Misaka Network's shared sensations.
Mikoto and Shokuhou's faces both turned bright red, and they scrambled to pull the sheet over themselves. Rei Ao, still groggy, propped himself up lazily. He glanced at the unconscious Dolly and instantly saw the problem.
"It's an overload of nerve signals from the high-level Misaka Network syncing. A bit of rest and she'll be fine."
His gaze shifted to Kanzaki, whose cheeks were burning red.
"And you, the female pope of the Amakusa-style, running around in such skimpy sleepwear"
"S-so sorry!"
In her fluster, Kanzaki nearly tripped over her own feet as she pivoted to leave. Just as she was about to exit, Rei Ao spoke without turning around:
"Don't worry about Laura. She'll no longer be coming for you."
Those words froze Kanzaki in her tracks. Slowly, she turned back.
"Youdid something to the archbishop?"
"Relax, I didn't kill her. Just put a collar on her."
Rei Ao smiled, making a tightening gesture. In the air, a translucent silhouette of a lacy leather collar shimmered.
"Like this."
Beneath that lacy faade lay the real collar.
"She's mine now. I've told her not to bother you any further."
"Clang!"
Kanzaki's Seven Heavens Seven Swords fell to the floor. Her expression was indescribably complex. He'd helped Index, neutralized future threats She hadn't realized how many times he'd come to their aid.
"I I truly don't know how how to thank you"
"Heh."
Rei Ao waved dismissively.
"It was nothing, but if you really want to thank me, offering your body wouldn't be too bad."
""
He was obviously joking. But recalling the chat group, as well as the fact Mikoto and Shokuhou were here paying their "debts," Kanzaki bit her lip. Abruptly, she used her foot to close the door, then walked to the couch and set Dolly down on it. Under the three pairs of eyes, she undid the ribbon in her hairher long, jet-black locks cascading like a waterfall.
The Saint's eyes flickered anxiously as she looked at him.
"Idon't know anything about things like thisso pleaseforgive me."
"You'reserious?"
Rei Ao asked, doubtful.
"This is my promise," she said resolutely.
Rei Aowho'd seen it allwasn't that surprised. His attitude shifted smoothly, and he crooked his finger with a mischievous grin.
"All right thenlet me teach this inexperienced Saint what human pleasure really is."
A sakura-filled morning in April.
At a certain crossroads under a cherry tree, a short-haired girl with a headband pulling back her bangs waited, occasionally glancing around for someone. Her name was Tainaka Ritsu. As usual, she waited for her good friend Akiyama Mio. She tapped her toes to some rhythm, anticipating the tall, straight-haired girl who was always so punctual.
