Chapter 92: Xu Nuo is No More in This World

Xu Nuo began to take off her old clothes, stepped down the warm pebble steps barefoot, entered the pool water, and swam toward that figure in the pool.

Gekka-ki turned around, the water ripples spreading across her chest in an arc that invited daydreaming.

She looked at the young girl gradually approaching. In those amorous phoenix eyes, an undisguised trace of... flashed through.

Interest?

Even... appreciation?

Like a connoisseur seeing an uncarved piece of unpolished jade.

"Finally meet you, Xu Nuo-san."

She reached out and held Xu Nuo's wrist, which was slightly cold due to nervousness,

"Even more... lovable than I imagined."

She paused, the arc hooked up by her red lips deepening,

"Sister, on behalf of the organization, welcomes you, officially stepping into the domain of Crescent."

Xu Nuo instead felt shy, her line of sight having nowhere to rest.

She could only lower her eyes and stare at the blurry reflection of the two in the water, responding lowly:

"Mhm."

Gekka-ki seemed very satisfied with this green yet forcibly calm appearance of hers, and finally let go of her hand.

She elegantly turned sideways, taking a slender-necked porcelain bottle and two light cyan sake cups from the wooden tray by the pool.

Poured the wine.

The clear liquor fell into the cups, emitting a pleasing tinkling sound.

One cup was handed in front of Xu Nuo.

One cup she picked up herself.

"Then, to a new beginning..."

Gekka-ki raised her cup. The porcelain cups touched gently, emitting a crisp clink,

"Kanpai(Cheers)."

The sake entered her throat, the warm liquid sliding across the tip of her tongue, immediately followed by a spicy sensation abruptly darting up.

Xu Nuo frowned her beautiful brows slightly, unaccustomed. The physiological rejection made her eye rims slightly wet, but she still forced herself to swallow it down.

A warm current spread from her stomach, strangely soothing a bit of nervousness.

"From today on,"

Gekka-ki put down the empty cup, the lazy charm on her face reined in a bit, her tone becoming formal,

"Your name is Kirigaya Nuo."

She spoke eloquently, telling a story prepared long ago:

"Your father, Kirigaya Kenichi, was the late sociology professor at Kyoto University, his interpersonal relationships simple and clean.

Mother, Xu Yawen, a piano teacher from Taiwan, gentle and elegant.

They both passed away in an unfortunate traffic accident when you were eight years old, leaving behind the young you."

"You grew up in Kyoto since childhood, raised by your grandmother Kirigaya Kazuko. Grandmother was a traditional kimono tailor, and passed away due to illness last autumn. Thus far, you have no direct blood relatives left in the world.

Your personality is introverted, somewhat withdrawn, but naturally intelligent, especially loving Go and computers.

Your studies have always been among the best, it's just that you rarely interact deeply with people. In the eyes of classmates and teachers, you are a quiet, somewhat mysterious genius young girl."

"This background is clean, the context clear, and the characters at key nodes have been properly handled, able to withstand routine and even a certain degree of in-depth investigation.

The relevant certification documents, academic records, neighborhood memories... the organization will arrange them properly for you."

Gekka-ki looked at her,

"Do you like this name and story, Nuo?"

Xu Nuo—no, from this moment on, in both the official world and the dark world's files, she is Kirigaya Nuo.

She took a deep breath, the hot spring steam rushing into her lungs, carrying a scorching sensation of the dust settling:

"I like it. Thank you... Sister."

She complied with the intimate address hinted at by the other party.

Gekka-ki gladly accepted, her smile deepening a bit:

"Then, back to the main topic. Nuo, the materials show you insist on personally dealing with Takemiya Susumu.

Although from the perspective of concealment and success rate, you are indeed the most perfect candidate we can currently think of, some high-ups in the organization believe that with the astonishing talent you display in computer networks, it's best not to risk yourself. Of course, we respect your choice."

She looked into Kirigaya Nuo's eyes:

"Are you truly wanting to end him personally? Not hesitating to possibly be exposed, possibly pay a price you cannot imagine?"

Almost subconsciously, Kirigaya Nuo quickly glanced at Xu Yunzhou beside her who was absent-minded...

Damn old geezer! Isn't she just a bit bigger? Is there a need to look like that!

She spat viciously in her heart.

The inexplicably surging sourness and shame-anger instead diluted a bit of the nervousness facing Gekka-ki's pressing questions.

"Mhm, I must kill him personally. He is my... irreconcilable enemy. This is one of the most important reasons I joined Crescent. If I cannot end it personally, I cannot feel at ease serving the organization."

Kirigaya Nuo repeated this lie that had already taken root at the bottom of her heart.

As if every time she said it, this lie seemed to take root a bit deeper in her heart, bizarrely intertwining with her hatred toward Song Jiaru, indistinguishable from each other.

Gekka-ki nodded thoughtfully, seemingly accepting this sufficiently strong motivation colored with personal grievances.

In the yakuza world, this kind of paranoid hatred is often more reliable than any calculation of interests, and more able to drive a person to go to the very end.

"Very good. Only with a clear goal is there driving power. Based on your willingness and conditions, we have tailor-made a route for you."

Her voice was clear and methodical,

"First, you need to accept O Rissei 9-dan's proposal. In the identity of the genius Go girl Kirigaya Nuo, participate in the Special Adoption Examination for Outstanding Talents and become a professional Go player.

This will become your best protective coloring and social business card."

"At the same time, the organization will immediately begin comprehensive, high-intensity training for you. Not just killing techniques, but also including advanced disguise, close-quarters sure-kill moves, use and maintenance of various weapons, crisis response, psychological warfare... You will be very busy, Kirigaya Nuo."

"When you start participating in various Go tournaments, as Takemiya Susumu is a regular customer or special guest at certain events, you will naturally have many chance encounters, and even opportunities to sit at the same table and play Go."

A cold light belonging to a hunter flashed through her eyes:

"When the time comes, then based on the specific situation, such as his security level and your training progress, formulate the most precise action plan."

"Just like playing Go."

Gekka-ki picked up a decorative pebble by the pool and gently dropped it into the water.

Plop.

Ripples spread out circle by circle.

"Layout, placing stones, calculation, waiting..."

"Then, at a moment everyone least expects—"

Her five fingers abruptly closed, gripping into a fist in the air:

"One strike, sure kill."

She looked at Kirigaya Nuo:

"Understand?"

Kirigaya Nuo nodded.

Water drops dripped from the tips of her wet hair, sliding across her cheeks, like silent tears, and also like the baptism of a new life.

"Understood, Sister."

The voice was very light, yet carried a certain decisiveness of cutting off retreat.

From then on in life, the direction has been set, the gears begin to mesh.

Everything has completely lost control.

However...

In the bottom of her heart, she said softly to that illusory figure beside her who had finally moved his "gaze" back a bit:

Teacher, in order to make you continue to believe in me, in order to make you stay by my side...

This play, I am willing to continue acting.

Even if the destination is hell.

Gekka-ki nodded in satisfaction. Immediately after, changing the subject, her smile gained a trace of unfathomable meaning:

"However, before beginning this long road, you still have one small matter that needs to be completed. This is... the first lesson of initiation."

Kirigaya Nuo's heart jumped:

"What matter?"

Gekka-ki, however, didn't say more.

She extended her index finger and gently pressed it against her own rosy lips.

Made a playful gesture of "keep it a secret."

Her brows and eyes curving, amorous and graceful:

"In a little while, you will know."

Her red lips parted slightly, spitting out a few words:

"The first lesson of initiation can wait."

"Now, properly enjoy this rare, final relaxation first."

"My dear little Nuo."