Tohno Family residence.
Aozaki Touko was guided by a butler towards the reception room. Along the way, she could feel numerous subtle and wary gazes.
These gazes all came from the Tohno Family members, and as time passed, more and more gazes converged, just like countless venomous snakes slowly gathering from dark corners, ready to pounce and bite the ignorant prey at any moment.
"Please come in, guest."
Soon, they arrived at the reception room. The butler bowed politely and withdrew.
Aozaki Touko's gaze swept over some dark corners, revealing an ambiguous smile, then she calmly stepped into the living room.
Inside, a dignified middle-aged man was seated.
"What a rare guest, the next head of the Aozaki Family has graced us with her presence. I sincerely apologize for not being able to greet you further out."
Tohno Makihisa showed a warm yet somewhat apologetic expression, giving off a very friendly and reliable feeling. Even knowing it was a polite smile, it was still impeccable.
Overall, he gave the impression of a shrewd old fox, well-versed in human affairs.
"My uninvited visit is already an imposition. I hope the Tohno Family Head will not take offense."
Aozaki Touko showed a gentle smile, her demeanor as elegant as a true noblewoman, showing no trace of being a reclusive researcher of the arcane.
"How dare I! How dare I!"
Tohno Makihisa shook his head, then said with a smiling face: "May I ask, Miss Aozaki, what brings you to visit so suddenly?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it guidance. It's just that I've recently heard of the Tohno Family's thriving business. As neighbors, it would be impolite not to pay a visit."
Aozaki Touko's tone suddenly turned cold.
"Haha... It's just a temporary improvement!"
Tohno Makihisa showed a humble smile, as if he hadn't felt the coldness in Touko's tone at all.
"Under your leadership, the Tohno Family has made great strides. It's only natural that you will occupy Misaki City in the future. Having a family head like you is truly a blessing for the Tohno Family."
Aozaki Touko's tone grew colder and colder: "However, for an unstable mixed-blood family like yours, if you expand too much, it won't be a good thing for the residents of Misaki City!"
Although this family gained formidable power through mixing demonic blood, they also had a side effect called 'Reversal Conflict'. Once they underwent reversal, they would lose their sanity and become killing demons.
It would be fine if the number of members of such a bloodline was small.
But once they gained power and expanded their progeny...
It would not be a good thing for humanity.
"..."
Tohno Makihisa's expression turned stern. He knew that this young girl was ill-intentioned and likely knew quite a bit about his family's background.
"Miss Aozaki, what is the purpose of your visit?!"
As he asked this, a faint murderous intent emanated from outside the room.
There was no doubt that as soon as Tohno Makihisa gave the order, the family members ambushing outside would rush in and thoroughly kill this Magician, giving her no chance to resist.
"To assess your threat level."
Aozaki Touko chuckled: "If you are within acceptable limits, I will pretend nothing happened. If I determine you are a threat, then I will eradicate all of you!"
"..."
Hearing such cold words, Tohno Makihisa's face turned grim, and he suppressed his anger, saying: "How utterly arrogant! Do you think we will let you decide our lives and deaths so casually!"
"Attack and kill her!"
An angry roar echoed. But there was no response from anyone, as if the family members ambushing outside had all turned deaf. The conference room suddenly became eerily silent.
"Hmm... you don't seem to pose much of a threat, so I won't kill all of you."
Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then turned and left with a graceful stride.
Meanwhile, Tohno Makihisa, seeing this, instinctively tried to get up to stop her, but an incomparable force suddenly appeared, firmly pressing down on his body.
— His body couldn't move.
Realizing this, he turned his head to look at his own body.
He saw several slender, pale hands growing out of the floor, firmly locking his body. The powerful grip made him feel as if his bones were about to shatter.
However, he couldn't even cry out.
Because a pale hand grew out from behind him, covering his mouth, allowing him only to emit pained snorts, with no room for resistance whatsoever.
He could only watch helplessly as the girl calmly left.
"What exactly is she?!"
At some unknown point, the restraining arms disappeared.
However, Tohno Makihisa didn't even dare to harbor thoughts of revenge. Cold sweat continuously streamed down his face, his heart pounded rapidly, and the aura of death was too close, making even him tremble in fear.
In fact, if it were an equally matched enemy, even if he lost and died, he wouldn't be as discomposed as he was now. But that girl's power was strangely unsettling.
Her attack method was also incredibly bizarre, able to grow arms from anywhere, with an unimaginable terrifying grip. If she wanted to, she could probably crush his brain in an instant.
It was this utterly irresistible terrifying power that made him genuinely afraid.