Chapter 93: Pledge of Allegiance

For the next hour, Kirigaya Nuo was taken to an elegantly furnished lounge.

A kimono-clad woman had long been kneeling in wait to the side, silently drying her body, and changing her into prepared, brand-new underwear and casual clothes with a soft and comfortable texture.

Gekka-ki's phrase "first lesson," and that unfathomable smile, shrouded her heart like a dark cloud.

What could it be?

Physical test? Loyalty test? Or... something more direct and bloodier?

She couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

Kirigaya Nuo suddenly noticed Xu Yunzhou wiping his nose and couldn't help but ask:

"Teacher... why are you holding a tissue?"

Xu Yunzhou's illusory figure seemed to cough lightly, his tone deadpan:

"Um, it's nothing, over here... the water vapor is too heavy, nasal mucosa is a bit uncomfortable. Might be... catching a cold?"

Kirigaya Nuo stared at him suspiciously:

"...Ghosts can catch colds too?"

Xu Yunzhou decisively changed this dangerous topic, his voice returning to seriousness:

"What's wrong? You look restless. Worried about what's coming next?"

Kirigaya Nuo bit her lower lip, hesitating slightly, and said in a low voice:

"Teacher... tell me, what exactly does she want me to do?"

Xu Yunzhou fell silent for a moment, his gaze seemingly penetrating the wall, looking in a certain direction, and then slowly spat out a word:

"Pledge of allegiance."

"Since ancient times, to truly step into this kind of organization wandering in gray and black areas, this hurdle cannot be avoided."

"Technology, talent, oaths of hatred... these can all be stepping stones to knock on the door, but none of them are chains."

"Only by jointly bearing sins that cannot be washed away, and holding each other's unpardonable leverage, can interests and destinies be truly bound together, weaving a net that no one can easily break free from."

"Even in Nihon, where the underworld is legalized to some extent and pays attention to surface order..."

"This hurdle still exists. It's just that the form might be more exquisite, more civilized."

"But the essence has never changed."

Soon, Kirigaya Nuo was led by a woman in black. Taking a hidden elevator, they descended and arrived at the door of a dimly lit basement.

From inside the door came suppressed "wu wu" sounds of someone being gagged, as well as the rustling noise of ropes rubbing against the floor during a struggle.

The woman leading the way stepped aside and pushed the door open for her.

"Please."

Her voice was calm without ripples.

Kirigaya Nuo took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The lighting in the basement was pale white, carrying a faint musty smell and a vague scent of blood.

Her pupils abruptly contracted.

Right in the center, tied to an isolated metal chair, was a figure she couldn't be more familiar with.

The landlord, Kobayashi Ba.

His mouth was stuffed with a wad of cloth, fresh bruises and scars on his face, his hair messy, and his pajamas wrinkled and dirty.

Seeing Kirigaya Nuo walk in, Kobayashi Ba's eyes first widened in extreme terror. Immediately after, that terror was rapidly replaced by a violent, resentful toxicity.

Even though he was gagged, low roars of "wu wu" came from his throat, his body twisting and struggling crazily like a maggot.

His eyes were nailed firmly on Kirigaya Nuo, almost spitting fire, written full of the most vicious curses—Stinking bitch! You dared to scheme against me! Wait until I get out, I'll kill you!

The woman who led the way retreated silently like a shadow.

And another figure elegantly paced out from the shadows by the door.

It was Gekka-ki.

At some unknown time, she had changed into a tight-fitting black leather outfit, outlining breathtaking curves.

Her long hair was loosely tied up, a few strands hanging by her neck, making that section of neck appear even whiter like snow.

She was playing with something in her hand—a Walther P99 pistol, the gun body flowing with a faint blue metallic luster under the cold white light.

"Click... clack..."

She checked the firearm absentmindedly, her actions as skillful as breathing.

Pushing the magazine, loading the chamber, the sound of metal components meshing was heart-palpitatingly clear in the deathly silent basement.

Then she gently placed this cold weapon into Kirigaya Nuo's slightly trembling hands.

"Nuo,"

Gekka-ki's voice was as gentle as coaxing a child,

"The first thing you need to do is very simple..."

She leaned over slightly to help her adjust her grip, her full chest line pressing against Kirigaya Nuo's stiff arm, her warm breath carrying fragrance:

"Look into his eyes."

"And then..."

"Pull the trigger, and that's it."

She paused, her red lips hooking into a bewitching arc, adding:

"Once it's done, Sister will give you a reward oh."

Before her words fell, she actually turned her face sideways and printed a soft kiss on Kirigaya Nuo's cold, pale cheek.

Moist, slightly cool, carrying the sweet and cloying aroma of lipstick.

Yet it made the hairs all over Kirigaya Nuo's body stand on end!

Gekka-ki straightened up, turned around elegantly, and left the basement, as if just leaving two children to play a game.

"Click."

The heavy metal door closed behind her.

Kobayashi Ba realized that things far exceeded his imagination. His struggling weakened, replaced by complete despair.

In the gaze he directed at Kirigaya Nuo, the resentful toxicity was gradually replaced by pleading and humble begging for pity.

He shook his head desperately, airy sounds coming from his throat, as if crying, and also as if begging for mercy.

Kirigaya Nuo's breathing became heavy.

She could feel the coldness and heaviness of the metal in her palm, could smell that unique faint odor of gun oil carrying the breath of death.

She slowly, extremely stiffly turned her head, looking at Xu Yunzhou's illusory figure beside her.

Her lips moved a few times before emitting a dry, hoarse voice:

"Teacher..."

"Do you... have anything... you want to say to me?"

Xu Yunzhou's illusory figure fell silent for a moment.

He looked at that gun, then looked at that man on the chair who once bullied and squeezed Xu Nuo. Finally, his gaze landed on the young girl's pale yet hard-working, straight side profile:

"Nuo-nuo, this path... was chosen by yourself."

"From the moment you sent that message, from the moment you got into that car, there has been no way back."

Kirigaya Nuo closed her eyes.

In the darkness, countless memory fragments surged up—

It was the musty smell that never dispersed in the attic of "Happiness Manor," mixed with the scent of instant noodles and dust;

It was Kobayashi Ba drunkenly kicking open the door, slamming her viciously onto the floor, cursing her as a "money-losing commodity" and a "jinx who caused her parents' death";

It was the cane whipping her back when he forced her to go work at the izakaya;

It was the undisguised greed and calculation in his eyes as he weighed the banknotes when she tremblingly handed over her meager salary;

It was that sticky, nauseating line of sight in the dark, as if it could strip her clothes off, when she returned dragging her exhausted body late in countless nights...

And the deeper, more distant darkness.

Her mother's face, on the seaside at midnight, illuminated pale white by the moonlight.

She hugged the young Xu Nuo tightly, large teardrops rolling down, dripping onto Xu Nuo's neck, scarily hot.

"Nuo-nuo... remember, Uncle Kobayashi Ba... he used to be your father's subordinate... it was because he committed a crime that your father sent him to Nihon to settle down..."

"Your father helped him a lot in the past, gave his family a lot of money... Uncle Kobayashi guaranteed to me on the phone that he would take good care of you..."

Her mother's voice choked with sobs, carrying her final entrustment and despair, repeatedly murmuring in her ear:

"When you get there, you must be obedient... you must listen to Uncle Kobayashi... he will protect you... treat you like his own daughter!"