~ Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters on My !
Makihisa Tohno narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Haru. Plain black t-shirt, gray slacks—clearly not someone of means.
Then, he looked at Aoi, her Yamato Nadeshiko aura captivating him. Seeing her gaze fixed on Haru, who had just made such an outrageous claim, Makihisa smirked.
'Trying to impress a woman with empty boasts—typical of a lovestruck fool. And what a waste of such a beauty. But did he really think he could use me as a stepping stone to win her affection? Not a chance.'
Makihisa scoffed, then turned to Akira Fujou, his eyes filled with annoyance. "Couldn't you find a more convincing—plant?"
Akira, seeing Makihisa's displeasure, his face hardened. He couldn't afford to lose this 'golden goose'.
"Kasugano-san," he said coldly, "I'm afraid I've already decided to entrust Kohaku and Hisui to Tohno-san's care."
"You're selling children! That's illegal!" Aoi's voice was sharp, her face a mask of anger.
"Oh, it's nothing like that. I'm their uncle, after all. It's just that Tohno-san is in a better position to provide for their future." Akira grinned, his expression a perfect image of avuncular concern.
Aoi's eyes narrowed. She hugged the twins tightly.
Haru looked at Akira, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Ravel, come in."
The reception room door opened, and Ravel Phoenix entered, dressed in a pink and white, Western-style princess dress, white gloves on her hands, a delicate fan fluttering before her face.
"You called, Haru-sama?" she asked, her voice sweet.
Akira, his eyes widening as he took in Ravel's elegant attire and aristocratic aura, quickly revised his assessment of the Kasuganos. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, his expression shifting back to its usual ingratiating smile.
"It seems Kasugano-san is also—well-positioned—to provide for the children's future. In that case..."
"Give him ten million dollars," Haru said, his attention focused on Kohaku, his fingers gently poking her cheek.
Makihisa's face twitched. He realized he'd underestimated Haru. "..."
"Give the Tohno family some face—"
Ravel closed her fan, her voice laced with disdain. "Tohno family? I've never heard of them. Some backwater clan, I presume? Such insignificant beings have no—face to give."
Ignoring Makihisa's darkening expression, Ravel turned to Haru, a playful smile on her face. "Haru-sama, why not make it a hundred million? I'm not very good at haggling."
"Whatever you say," Haru replied with a shrug, his hands now pinching Hisui's cheeks, much to Aoi's annoyance.
"Here you are~" Ravel pulled out a checkbook from her purse, signed it, and handed it to Akira.
Akira, his eyes gleaming at the sight of the check, quickly produced the custody transfer documents. "Here, here! Take a look."
Makihisa, his face ashen, stood up and walked out. It wasn't that he couldn't afford a higher price, but he didn't have access to that much liquid cash. Most of his assets were tied up in real estate.
Unable to prevent the transfer of custody, he had two options—leave or—take them by force.
Makihisa's eyes narrowed.
"Safe travels! Come visit again soon~" Akira called out, his voice dripping with false cheer, as he waved goodbye to Haru and his group.
Haru, carrying a sleeping Hisui, Aoi, holding a sleeping Kohaku, and Ravel walked along the mountain path.
Ravel giggled. "Haru-sama, giving that man a check for the Underworld—that was a bit—cruel, wasn't it?"
"Cruel? It's a valid check, for a hundred million dollars. It's just—he'll have to go to the Lucifer Bank in the Underworld to cash it. It's real money. What's cruel about that?" Haru grinned, adjusting Hisui's head on his shoulder.
Aoi's brow furrowed. "The Underworld? Cash a check—in the Underworld?"
"Aoi-neesama, you didn't know? That check is only valid in the Underworld, in Lilith, the Devil capital," Ravel explained, her fan fluttering before her face to hide her amusement.
"To get to Lilith from here—well, you'd have to get past Azazel, then through a black hole, and then—through the Dimensional Gap."
Aoi stared at her, dumbfounded. Black holes and Dimensional Gaps aside, she'd been brushing up on her Biblical knowledge lately, having mistakenly believed Haru was the God of the Bible.
She knew who Azazel was—the twelve-winged Fallen Angel, the one who first rebelled against God. She doubted Akira Fujou, an ordinary human, could get past him.
She looked at Haru, a smile playing on her lips. "You're quite the trickster, Haru. It seems Fujou-san has lost—everything."
"It's worse than that." Ravel pointed towards the dilapidated shrine, now shrouded in a dark aura.
"What—what's that?" Aoi's voice was filled with fear.
"Those are Youkai and Devils, drawn by the death energy clinging to the check. I imagine—Fujou-san is no longer—among the living."
Aoi's mouth dropped open as she stared at Haru, no longer sure if he was the Biblical God or—Lucifer. His methods were—disturbingly familiar.
"Aren't you going to come out, Tohno-san?" Haru called out, turning towards a nearby grove of trees.
A middle-aged man with black hair, dressed in a suit, his eyes glowing red, emerged from the trees, his gaze fixed on Haru and the others.
"You're all—too weak to be of any interest. I'll leave them to you," Haru said, shifting Hisui in his arms and taking Aoi's hand, leading her away.
"ROAR!" Makihisa Tohno lunged towards them.
A wall of golden flames erupted, blocking his path.
Makihisa glared at Ravel, his red eyes narrowed. "I thought you were just a child. A Magician? Judging by your age, you're just a beginner."
"Three minutes. I'll tear you apart and take the Fujou twins."
Ravel's eyes narrowed slightly. She lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied, her voice calm. "It seems I've been underestimated. How—disappointing. Very well. As is customary before a duel, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ravel."
Golden Phoenix wings spread from her back.
Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters. Ahead of the rest!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available on my !