In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 192

Standing slightly to her side was a blond boy wearing sunglasses and a flashy shirt, who looked frivolous.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu!

"Kanzaki Kaori..."

Higashino Yu looked at that familiar figure, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"And... Tsuchimikado Motoharu. What a... coincidental encounter."

Kanzaki Kaori stared intently at Higashino Yu with hostile eyes, her reaction completely unlike that of someone she should be seeing close to. With a flick of her wrist, the tip of her knife pointed directly at Higashino Yu:

"You're the culprit behind this whole thing! Put Misha down and break the spell!"

She clearly recognized Sasha, whom Higashino was holding, or rather, she had been in contact with Sasha when the divine power possessed her before, since "Misha" was just a pseudonym that the divine power casually mentioned.

Higashino Yu looked at Kanzaki, who seemed ready to kill him, and felt speechless.

This guy……

His eye twitched slightly, and he quickly figured out why Kanzaki was behaving this way towards him.

Although the Angel Fall has been lifted, judging from Kanzaki's words just now, she probably hasn't realized this fact yet. Instead, she probably still thinks I'm someone who was affected by the Angel Fall and just happened to take Higashino Yu's place.

However, she didn't know that the person who initiated the Angel Fall wouldn't change his appearance, or that she judged it to be a group crime and that she was just one of them?

But it's true that Kanzaki didn't recognize me. What an incompetent day maid! You've called me master so many times!

He held Sasha in his arms, his gaze passing over Kanzaki and landing on Tsuchimikado Motoharu behind her. The Academy City double agent stood with his hands in his pockets, sunglasses obscuring his eyes, silent and detached, like a bystander, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

Is Tsuchimikado just watching the show? Or... has he already sensed something?

As Higashino Yu's mind raced, an extremely interesting idea instantly took shape, and a playful smile curved his lips.

He suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter unrestrained and loud, making him sound like someone who wasn't a respectable person.

"Hahaha! Dispel the spell? You think you can do this? A mere saint and a blond-haired guy?"

He deliberately raised his voice, full of contempt and provocation, and his face showed an expression of looking down on them, looking absolutely deserving of a beating.

"You want to save her? You want me to break the spell? If you're so capable, beat me up before you talk! Otherwise, why should I break the spell? Just because you outnumber me!"

Higashino Yu gently loosened his grip, and a soft force carried the unconscious Sasha Chloejef steadily to a flat rock beside her, allowing her to lie down against it.

His own hands were clenched in mid-air! A soft light flowed, condensed, and shaped in his palms! In an instant, two long, slender swords with a chilling gleam appeared in his hands.

"Come on! Let me see the methods of the Anglican 'Amakusa-style' female pope! If you can defeat me, then this spell will naturally be broken."

Higashino Yu crossed his two swords in front of him, striking a provocative starting stance.

Kanzaki Kaori was already extremely displeased by the other party's arrogance, and to make matters worse, the other party was wearing the face of the person she cared about most and showing that kind of expression. Now, being mocked to her face, she was instantly enraged!

"Insanity!"

She gave a low shout, and her figure vanished instantly!

"Seven flashes!"

Several silver lines, almost invisible to the naked eye, appeared out of thin air and instantly twisted towards Higashino Yu from all directions!

However, at the same moment, Higashino Yu's figure also became blurred.

"Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!"

Higashino Yu wielded his twin swords, parrying and deflecting every incoming steel wire! Sparks flew everywhere!

The two of them started fighting in an instant!

Kanzaki Kaori's attacks were like a storm, showcasing her combat skills to the fullest. Her movements were as agile as a dragon, and the flashes of her blades and steel wires intertwined to form a net of death.

Despite the fierce attack, Higashino Yu seemed completely at ease. In order not to reveal that he was actually Higashino himself, he did not intend to use any other abilities. He relied solely on the two swords constructed from his own perception and his powerful physical reflexes to weave through the gaps in the steel wire, dodging, parrying, and counterattacking.

He imbued this sword with special insights, allowing the user to push their skills to the limits of their physical capabilities. Combined with his constantly optimized physique, he was in no way inferior to Kanzaki in close combat.

Sand and stones flew everywhere, and energy radiated in all directions! The battle between the two was extremely fierce, with swords flashing and leaving deep marks on the beach.

Kanzaki grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. Her opponent's strength far exceeded her expectations; his moves were fierce, and he managed to deflect each of her attacks. The calm, even mocking smile on Higashino Yu's face was even more unbearable for her; she simply couldn't stand a stranger with that face.

"Only Flash!"

Kanzaki Kaori's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she finally decided to use her killing move! She took a deep breath, and superhuman power surged within her! She gripped the Seven Heavens Seven Blades tightly with both hands, staring intently at Higashino, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

Just as this thunderous strike was about to erupt—

"Stop! Boss Kanzaki! Wait a minute..."

Tsuchimikado Motoharu, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke, his voice urgent, as if he had finally confirmed something.

However, he hadn't finished speaking!

Higashino Yu's figure disappeared from Kanzaki's sight and then appeared behind Tsuchimikado without warning!

He didn't want Tsuchimikado to ruin his performance, and this time he deliberately used his spatial teleportation ability to see if Kanzaki would notice.

"Tsuchimikado, you've watched the show long enough, it's time for a break."

Higashino Yu's voice carried a hint of teasing as he lightly placed his hand on the back of Tsuchimikado's neck.

"Uh……"

Tsuchimikado felt an irresistible force instantly invade his brain, his vision went black, and his body went limp. His sunglasses slipped to the ground, revealing eyes filled with astonishment and a knowing look, before he completely lost consciousness.

"Tsuchimikado!"

Seeing her companion instantly knocked down, Kanzaki Kaori, anxious, abandoned using "Only Flash" and charged towards Higashino Yu once again!

"Tsk, what a clingy girl."

Higashino Yu watched Kanzaki rush towards him, chuckled, and turned to run! He knew that Kanzaki definitely hadn't realized he was using spatial teleportation, otherwise she should have reacted by now.

"stop!"

Kanzaki Kaori gave chase, and the two began a high-speed pursuit, one after the other.

Under Higashino's deliberate guidance, they soon arrived at the beach. Higashino Yu stopped and turned to face Kanzaki, who had caught up with him.

Kanzaki Kaori stopped in her tracks, breathing heavily, her chest heaving. She gripped her sword hilt tightly, glaring angrily at Higashino Yu: "You...why did you do such a thing?! Activating that world-disrupting technique, do you know how serious the consequences will be?!"

Looking at her pretty face flushed from running and anger, Higashino Yu's smile suddenly became meaningful. He spread his hands, his tone flippant: "Why? Of course, it's to lure you here, my High Priestess."

"what?!"

Kanzaki Kaori's pupils constricted sharply, completely unprepared for this answer. Attract her? What kind of reason was that?! Was it an insult?!

"You bastard, you actually..."

Just as she was about to continue questioning, she suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over her. Her magical energy, and even every joint in her body, seemed to be bound by invisible shackles, rendering her powerless. Even attempting to use the power of a saint was futile; she felt as if she were just an ordinary person, unable to sense the power that should rightfully belong to her.

Higashino Yu's figure appeared in front of Kanzaki in an instant! He reached out and grabbed Kanzaki's wrist, which was holding the sword, causing her hand to go numb and lose strength instantly! The sword slipped from her hand and clattered into the sand!

At the same time, his other hand slipped through Kanzaki's instinctively blocking arm and gently pressed against the soft flesh of her exposed waist! A superb grappling move instantly shattered all of the Saint's resistance, firmly controlling her in front of him!

Kanzaki Kaori froze completely! Her eyes were filled with disbelief and shock! She had been so easily and thoroughly subdued in a single exchange?! How could this be?! Although the opponent's strength was impressive, it shouldn't have been this overwhelming!

"What... what exactly is going on..."

She spoke with difficulty, her voice tinged with doubt. This power… that familiar feeling of powerlessness… it seemed strangely familiar…

However, before she could figure it out, Higashino Yu had already raised his hand and delivered a chop to Kanzaki's forehead.

"hiss……"

Kanzaki Kaori cried out in pain, completely stunned! What... what kind of attack was this?! She was a little dizzy from the blow, but more so, her mind went blank from this sudden, almost humiliating "attack".

Higashino Yu released his grip on her, crossed his arms, and looked at Kanzaki Kaori, who was covering her forehead, looking bewildered, and with slightly red eyes. A look of utter helplessness and amusement appeared on his face:

"I'm talking about you..."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"Is your head just for decoration? After fighting for so long and chasing you this far, you still haven't realized that I'm the real person?"

"I...me?"

Kanzaki Kaori rubbed her forehead, looking up blankly at Higashino Yu's handsome face with a teasing smile. Those familiar features, that irritating smile…

Her pupils dilated suddenly, her red lips parted slightly, and she stammered in surprise, "You...you are...Higashino himself?!"

"nonsense!"

Higashino Yu rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Of course I am the real person! Even Tsuchimikado noticed, but you, a saint, didn't realize it at all. The angelic fall has been lifted for quite a while now!"

"But...but! How was I supposed to know it had been deactivated! And you were holding that girl..."

Kanzaki Kaori instinctively tried to explain, her voice trailing off as two red blushes quickly rose on her face, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. She finally understood! She understood why Tsuchimikado had tried to stop her! She understood why his power felt so familiar!

"Is this your reason for attacking without even knowing what happened? If I hadn't reacted quickly, you would have chopped my hand off!"

Higashino Yu pointed to the direction the two had come from.

"Your bespectacled companion probably realized something was wrong not long after we started fighting, which is why he tried to stop you. Too bad..."

He grinned mischievously, "Who told him to enjoy the show so much? That's why I knocked him out, so he wouldn't tell you the truth beforehand! This is punishment, punishment for not recognizing me!"

"You...you idiot!"

Kanzaki Kaori finally came to her senses. Shame and anger at being mocked overwhelmed her; she wished she could disappear into the ground. The thought that she had so fiercely questioned and attacked the man she was closest to filled her with utter humiliation!

She bit her lower lip, about to say something, when Higashino Yu stepped forward and raised his hand.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound rang out, accompanied by the wonderfully elastic feel of her full, rounded buttocks. Higashino Yu's palm landed lightly on Kanzaki Kaori's firm, round buttocks. The feel was as good as ever, which was why Higashino Yu liked to tease her from behind when they were together—it just felt so good.

"Woo!"

Kanzaki Kaori froze, her snow-white neck and cheeks instantly flushing crimson! She clutched the spot where she had been hit, glaring at Higashino Yu with shame and indignation: "What...what are you doing?!"

"What?"

Higashino Yu raised an eyebrow, revealing a smile that would appear to outsiders as absolutely villainous.

"Of course, the punishment should continue! You think mistaking someone for someone else is something that can be resolved with a flick on the forehead and a slap? Dream on!"

He leaned close to Kanzaki Kaori's bright red ear and deliberately licked her sensitive earlobe, causing her body to tremble involuntarily.

"It's been quite a while since we last met, hasn't it? This is a rare opportunity, come with me on a date this afternoon, my dear Firefire. As for the remaining punishment... we'll settle that later."

Punishment? A date?

That bastard... He's always like this, he's probably thinking about those indecent things again!

Chapter 227 Four people sharing three rooms, that makes perfect sense!

Higashino Yu looked at Kanzaki Kaori beside him, whose cheeks were still flushed, whose eyes were darting around, and who would occasionally steal a glare at him. He smiled with a good mood.

He's decided to change his mind!

Let's put dating aside for now. It's not that he lacks self-control, it's just that Kanzaki Kaori is just too attractive!

Seeing her so vulnerable, it would take incredible willpower for a normal person to refrain from having sex on the spot.

He naturally placed his hand on Kanzaki's slender and supple waist, which was exposed because the hem of her T-shirt was tied around her waist, and felt delicate and warm to the touch.

Kanzaki stiffened slightly and twisted her body symbolically, but she couldn't break free from Higashino Yu's strong embrace. In the end, she gave up resisting, but her ears turned even redder, and she muttered in a low voice, "Higashino... go check on Tsuchimikado and the others first... no, we can't stay here!"

She was all too familiar with Higashino's gaze. Aside from the first time she offered herself as a maid, Higashino had the same look in his eyes that night in London, as if he wanted to "devour" her alive.

"Yeah, that's true. It would be hilarious if a passerby picked it up."

Higashino Yu chuckled, put his arm around her, and slowly walked back the way they had come.

He knew that Kanzaki's words were a tacit agreement with his thoughts; otherwise, she wouldn't have said "we can't do it here." Fortunately, he didn't intend to do anything further here anyway. Although the environment was nice, this shy woman was actually quite conservative, completely opposite to her revealing attire.

If it weren't for the fact that I used cognitive manipulation to make her willingly accept defeat in our first bet, and she voluntarily came to be my maid that night, the conquest might not have been so smooth.

It was that time that made Higashino realize that the cognitive effect was much stronger than he had expected, since he hadn't actually considered that aspect at the time.

Therefore, this woman is extremely wicked, having fallen so quickly from being an outstanding Young Pioneer, a top student in the city, and an outstanding member of the Communist Youth League. She is undoubtedly the culprit!

The fall of innocent young men began with her... Okay, although it's an undeniable fact that she was lustful, putting aside the facts, was she completely innocent?

So you have to be tough on her later, make her realize her mistake!