I stared at her young face from extremely close distance.
She'd powdered her face, applied elegant makeup... but in my eyes couldn't hide the slightly pale complexion and shadows under her eyes, indicating she often stayed up late working.
Her breathing and heartbeat were both slightly rapid. Pupils dilated with excitement. Cautiously and meticulously observing me. Yet didn't think that every movement was crystal clear in my eyes.
I was the world's most fearless person when it came to trouble. Because I could bear most dangers and costs.
Sometimes I wasn't unable to understand Muzan's arrogance and conceit. Being able to possess such a tolerant position viewing all things—indeed very easy to place oneself in a position comparable to gods.
So I should be even more cautious. Remind myself not to become him.
I smiled at this girl. Asked in a soft voice: "Did you guess something? Or see things you shouldn't have seen?"
Rama was slightly stunned. Restrained that strange excitement. Sat back properly again: "You jest, Madam."
"I'm not jesting," I said. "No matter how you got involved with that kind of thing, I hope you still have basic principles. This is also your qualification to seek help from others when encountering trouble."
Rama seemed to shift her body uneasily. Silently lowered her head. Only after organizing her emotions did she look up at me again: "Then, what exactly are you planning to do here? Perhaps I can provide some help."
Seeing her become more honest, I asked: "Have you heard of Lady Hanasaki, the matriarch of the Sengichi family?"
Rama's eyes flickered. Showed a strange smile: "If it's Lady Hanasaki, I do know her. This lady is Seiura's most famous socialite. Many high officials and wealthy people in the city associate with her. Thanks to this, the Sengichi family transformed from a declining kazoku clan into today's prestigious family."
I also looked at her somewhat strangely: "How do you seem to know so clearly?"
Rama pushed up the glasses on her nose: "Because the protagonist of one of my novels was based on Lady Hanasaki. I observed her for a long time. Collecting her information wasn't easy. However, you may not know—the Sengichi family has a secret gathering every month."
My eyebrow raised. Couldn't help staring at her eyes.
Even through a layer of black veil, Rama seemed to feel the pressure. Involuntarily turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.
"Aside from me, you probably can't find anyone who can inquire about these matters without alerting the Sengichi family."
Did she mean all people who could access this secret were Hanasaki's informants? If it was Upper Rank Six's Blood Demon Art, it indeed seemed achievable.
But if so, how did she come into contact with this secret?
Or was she bait deliberately released?
Rama seemed to also guess what I was thinking. Said with a smile: "My mother was also someone in this circle before. She told me ten years ago, Lady Hanasaki didn't have such formidable methods. Just so happens, my curiosity is particularly strong. So I like observing her."
She really had quite the courage. Luck wasn't bad either. Actually wasn't noticed by the demon.
This probably should be credited to Rama's caution no less than that Upper Rank Six's. She fundamentally didn't plan to get close to those wealthy young masters to gather information...
Simply under the banner of research, dealt with street vendors, servants in mansions, minor officials in government offices.
Those unintentional complaints about superiors or employers and occasionally glimpsed scenes—ordinary people wouldn't think much... Only she would collect and analyze them, connecting all clues.
Really couldn't tell—she was actually talent material for an intelligence broker.
But why would she tell me for nothing?
I asked calmly: "What are you planning to exchange with me?"
Rama blinked. That wonderful excitement emerged from her eyes again.
"Actually I'd noticed before that Miss Shabana was a very special person." She said with a cheerful tone. "But seeing you, I realized the story on Lady Hanasaki is utterly insignificant compared to yours."
"If you're willing to tell me, I can tell you everything I know." She looked at me with sincere eyes.
"Why should she!"
A voice exploded behind her. Rama instinctively trembled. Turned her head to discover Kyojuro and Ume had silently stood behind her. Looked at me in surprise, then at them.
I was too embarrassed to say—from when she suddenly walked over, those two had imperceptibly shaken off others, surrounded her from different directions.
Discovering an ordinary person had actually seen through her true identity, Ume looked extremely unhappy. Glared at her fiercely several times. Threatened ominously:
"Big Sister asks you something, you'd better answer honestly... Otherwise I'll hang you on the city's tallest rooftop and leave you hanging for three days!"
"Please rest assured, Miss. We won't do such discourteous things." Kyojuro said composedly. "But what you've investigated is far more dangerous than you imagine. Please cooperate with our actions. We'll guarantee your safety!"
Rama wasn't frightened at all. Instead became more excited. Eyes shining brightly looking at me: "You really aren't an ordinary person."
I rubbed my brow. Felt this bold girl had especially great courage. For the research she mentioned, probably would dare touch even a tiger's whiskers.
That bit of strangeness on her body—I'd now figured it out. Simply asked directly: "You—for your research, are you keeping a monster at home?"
Rama's eyes immediately became terrified.
Just as she was about to speak, Ume had already picked up an apple to plug her mouth. Snorted: "No wonder there's a stench on you. You'd better not move recklessly. Be careful I won't be polite with you!"
Ume spoke with genuine feeling. Obviously didn't mind breaking her bones to make her behave.
And right now Rama also had suspicion of harboring and helping a demon. Even if she really acted, Kyojuro probably wouldn't stop her either.
Perceiving this, Rama became very obedient. Didn't need Ume to threaten her again. Using the excuse of feeling unwell, obediently followed us and left first.
Kanae and Gyutaro guarding outside came over in confusion.
Because of outstanding sense of smell, Gyutaro glanced at Rama. His brain turned much faster than his sister's. Immediately said: "My lord, her residence isn't far from here."
Worried that demon might escape, Gyutaro and Ume simply went ahead first. Kyojuro drove to take us over.
Rama was squeezed between Kanae and me. Honestly confessed everything.
Talk about walking night roads often leading to encountering demons—she just loved attending these gatherings at night for research. That's how she picked up that half-dead demon by the roadside.
Rama brought it back, locked it in her home's basement. Using this demon as an observation subject, wrote her new novel.
This bold girl—she dared stick her hand into a tiger's mouth.
I suppressed the urge to hit her. Asked: "Didn't you discover this monster eats people? Did you feed it human flesh?"
Rama was stunned. Waved her hands repeatedly: "How could that be! Stealing corpses is illegal. How could I obtain those things?"
She muttered to herself: "No wonder it wouldn't eat the pork I bought back. Thought it was picky..."
I slapped the back of her head. She shut her mouth. Didn't dare make a sound.
According to Rama, she'd kept this demon for over a year. At first seeing it seemed about to die, bought pork several times to throw in. Result—it wouldn't eat.
Over time, seeing it half-dead yet seemingly unable to die, Rama simply stopped caring.
Every day happily went to the basement to observe. Then happily returned to her room to write her novel. Forcibly starved that already weak demon until it had no strength to attack her.
I felt my teeth ache a bit. This bold girl's ancestors must have been some peerless great benefactors. Did super incredibly many good deeds. Only then could they bless her to live safely until now!
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