Clang! The crystal wine glass fell to the floor and shattered, red wine splattering across the hem of the red-dressed lady's gown.
"T-That machine must be malfunctioning! It has to be!" she stammered, her voice trembling. But no one echoed her words. The entire hall was dead silent.
Beep! The password-free card was ejected. Inori, wide-eyed, held it up before her chest, while the crowd's collective gaze turned crimson with greed, their breaths rough and heavy.
"Who... who are you?" the red-dressed woman demanded, her face twisting with venom.
"Heh. Someone who can casually pull out a card with 5.7 trillion yen... and you think you have the right to ask?" came a calm, aged voice from the second-floor balcony.
Everyone turned to see a white-haired old man leaning on a cane, smiling warmly down at the scene. Yet behind that smile was a suffocating, murderous intent. If this foolish woman had offended these two guests, he would personally see her torn apart and dumped into the sea.
No one doubted his ability to do so—for he was none other than the head of the Kuhouin Group, Arisa Kuhouin's grandfather.
"M-my apologies! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" The red-dressed woman screamed in terror, fleeing the hall like a madwoman.
"Well, well... to think an old man's modest banquet would draw such a divine guest." The old man chuckled. "My lady, would you grant me the honor of a private word?"
"You're Arisa's grandfather, aren't you? Then I can hardly refuse," Kurumi replied pleasantly, ascending the grand staircase with graceful poise. Inori followed close behind, still clutching the card, her expression adorably blank.
Everyone's hungry gazes followed them, eyes glinting with envy and greed. They're all trying to steal Kurumi away, Inori thought determinedly. I have to stay close. I won't let anyone near her.
Feeling that the card in her hand was an unnecessary distraction, Inori casually tossed it into the air.
Thud! Dozens of people instantly dove to the floor, scrambling like wild animals to catch it. Hands, feet, and elbows flew everywhere as they clawed toward the falling card.
"Fyu-Neru!" A silver-white robot suddenly zipped through the air, snatching the card mid-fall before anyone else could reach it. It tucked the card into its body and crawled obediently up the stairs, trailing behind Inori with soft mechanical chirps.
"I... I..." The crowd's hands froze midair, trembling with despair as they pointed at the little robot, their eyes filled with wordless agony.
"Gai?" Inori tilted her head, blinking in surprise. There he was—Gai Tsutsugami—in a crisp white suit, posing as a waiter. Why is he here? Don't tell me he's after Kurumi too!
"So you know each other?" asked the white-haired patriarch, his keen gaze shifting between Gai and Kurumi. His sharp intuition told him both of them carried the air of leaders—dangerous ones.
"You could call it... a fated enmity," Kurumi said lightly as she took her seat of honor, her lips curving in an amused smile as her crimson eyes found Gai's.
"Funeral Parlor's running out of funds, aren't they? You're here to secure Kuhouin backing," she said—half question, half statement. Both of them knew it was true.
"I heard GHQ was tipped off by a 'concerned citizen' that anti-GHQ forces were gathering on this ship," Kurumi continued, resting her chin on her hand, eyes glimmering with quiet mischief. "They've already decided to sink it. That 'concerned citizen' was you, wasn't it, Gai? To show off your strength—to prove you're worth investing in."
Gai's lips curved into a proud smirk. "Shu Ouma didn't come with you."
"Indeed," Kurumi replied smoothly, waiting for his next move.
"You said last time we met that you'd punish me." His smirk turned into a mocking grin. "Yet here you are, walking straight into my stage."
"I did say that," Kurumi answered with a serene smile.
"Then you've already lost," Gai declared confidently. "Coming here without Shu was your biggest mistake."
He spread his arms wide, exuding supreme confidence. "Without Shu, only I can repel GHQ's assault. I've achieved my goal—demonstrating my power. And if you truly have the authority to call off GHQ's strike, that would make you a GHQ high-ranking officer, wouldn't it? Killing you would be the ultimate victory. Either way, tonight—I win."
"How long have you stood atop your little pedestal, Gai Tsutsugami? To think your mind remains so limited," Kurumi said softly, twirling a lock of her silky black hair between her fingers. Her crimson gaze shimmered with something between pity and mockery.
"Oh, I remember now," Gai replied with a cold smile. "GHQ's research produced only three complete Void genomes—one in me, one in Shu Ouma, and I'd wager... the last one is in you, isn't it?"
He had suspected as much ever since the day Kurumi had floored him with a single punch—an impossible feat for any ordinary person. And the way Inori treated her only confirmed it. Gai was almost certain now: Kurumi Tokisaki was the third Void Genome bearer.
"You really should try seeing the world from a different perspective," Kurumi murmured, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair. "Staying too long above the clouds makes you blind to what lies beneath." Her smile was serene, yet sharp.
Beep-beep. Her communicator vibrated. A transmission from Tsugumi—GHQ was preparing to fire missiles at the ship.
"Now then, the time for choices has come," Gai said, spreading his arms wide, his voice dripping with confidence. "Use your Void Genome to block the attack—or reveal your command authority and stop GHQ's strike. What will it be?"
Kurumi set down her black folding fan and calmly lifted her communicator. Within moments, her special signal was detected. In the GHQ command center, alarms blared—then abruptly went silent as orders came through. Missile strike canceled.
"Gai! GHQ's stopped the attack!" Tsugumi's voice crackled over his earpiece.
"So, you've chosen to expose yourself," Gai said, sneering. "In that case, why don't you enlighten us—tell me your true identity yourself."
"Gai Tsutsugami," Kurumi said sweetly, raising her fan again, "if I told you who I really was, you wouldn't dare to lift a hand against me. Do you believe that?"
Gai chuckled darkly, dismissing her words with a flick of his hand. Turning instead toward Inori, he extended his arm. "Inori, come back to me. You've seen it for yourself—Kurumi's with GHQ. She's your enemy. I'm the one on your side."
He waited for her answer, confident she would come. Ten seconds passed. Then twenty. Then thirty. His smile slowly faded as he realized—Inori hadn't even looked at him once. Her eyes were fixed only on Kurumi.
Kurumi-chan is playing with her hair... I want to play with it too, Inori thought, her pink eyes dreamy and adoring.
"My lady," the Kuhouin patriarch interjected, his tone as smooth as ever. "Forgive my curiosity, but one who commands such wealth and authority over GHQ... surely you can reveal your identity? If only as a courtesy, for Arisa's sake." Despite the icy tension filling the room, the old fox was smiling as if this were afternoon tea.
"Oh my, the little kitten's done her homework," Kurumi said playfully as a new voice came through Gai's communicator—Tsugumi's.
"Gai, I found it. I've confirmed Kurumi Tokisaki's true identity," Tsugumi said, her expression unreadable.
"Perfect timing," Gai replied with a smirk. "Then go on—tell everyone who she really is."
"Wait, Gai," Tsugumi said, a flicker of concern on her face. "You haven't... confronted her, have you?"
"Not yet," Gai frowned.
"Good. That's... good," Tsugumi said with a shaky breath of relief.
"Tsugumi, stop stalling. Say it—out loud. Everyone here wants to know who she really is."
Kurumi rose gracefully from her seat and turned to Inori, brushing her fingertips through the girl's hair. "Inori, do you want to know who I am?"
Tilting her head, Inori blinked innocently. "Kurumi-chan is... Kurumi-chan."
Kurumi chuckled softly. "My little angel—ever so sweet. You deserve a reward." She leaned in and gently nuzzled her cheek against Inori's, causing the pink-haired girl's face to flush scarlet and her body to tremble like jelly.
Watching Inori's dazed reaction, Kurumi laughed quietly, clearly entertained.
"Gai... are you sure you want me to say it?" Tsugumi asked nervously.
"Say it," he ordered flatly.
Taking a deep breath, Tsugumi straightened her posture and shouted into the communicator: "Kurumi Tokisaki—Chairwoman of the International Aid Alliance of Japan, Joint Representative of the Seven Nations, and de facto controller of Japan's economy. Her status surpasses even that of GHQ's Commander-in-Chief!"
Clatter. The communicator slipped from Gai's hand and hit the floor. His entire body froze. His mind went blank. He had anticipated countless possibilities—but nothing like this.
Kurumi smiled, linking her fingers with Inori's. "Come, my angel. Let's go home. Beating up a man who's already fallen isn't nearly as fun as spending time with you."
She turned at the door, her eyes meeting those of the Kuhouin patriarch. "By the way, I find your granddaughter Arisa quite charming. Would you mind if I invited her to stay at my home for a while?"
The old man smiled knowingly. "Why, of course. It would be Arisa's honor."
Kurumi nodded gracefully, taking Arisa by the hand as she prepared to leave. As she did, her crimson eyes flicked one last time toward Gai—filled with pity and playful scorn.
"Ah, my apologies," she said with a soft laugh. "I must have accidentally knocked you down from the clouds."