"Given the extraordinary demeanor Mr. Kanjuro displays, it is truly hard to overlook. May I ask what brings you and Aoi to my humble abode today?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi elegantly pushed a glass of poured red wine towards Kanjuro, his tone gentle, but his gaze was scrutinizing.
Upon hearing this, Kanjuro calmly picked up the wine glass and took a small sip. "Aoi is my friend,"
He put down the glass, his gaze open. "I heard she found a good match, and as a friend, I wanted to see Aoi's fiancé. My visit today is an impromptu one, nothing more, with no other intentions."
"Hmm, if that's the case, I'll take it as such."
Tohsaka Tokiomi nodded slightly, without much suspicion.
Before deciding to get engaged to Tohsaka Aoi, he had thoroughly investigated his fiancée's character and social circle, and everything seemed normal.
His gaze turned to the quiet, black-haired woman sitting beside him, a hint of appreciation for her gentle demeanor and excellent bloodline in his eyes.
"Did Mr. Kanjuro only recently get to know Aoi?" Tohsaka Tokiomi asked with a touch of curiosity.
"Yes," Kanjuro smiled slightly, responding with ease, "Miss Aoi and I met by chance at a school event and had a pleasant conversation. Is there anything else Brother Shichen would like to know?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi's expression became focused: "Forgive my directness, but there is a peculiar 'aura' lingering around Mr. Kanjuro, neither pure Magic nor without profound depth. Are you... a Magician?"
Kanjuro didn't answer directly, extending his right index finger.
The next moment, a cluster of ethereal blue flames silently danced on his fingertip. The core of the flame exhibited a profound darkness, as if capable of devouring light.
Even more astonishing, the entire process involved no incantations or magical tools, as if this power was merely an extension of his will.
Tohsaka Tokiomi's face instantly filled with shock.
The aura emanating from this flame was cold and blasphemous, carrying the pure characteristics of Black Magic.
If this were at the Clock Tower, the headquarters of the Mage's Association, Mr. Kanjuro's mastery of dark power alone would be enough for him to be designated as a "Sealed Designation" target, his very existence regarded as an anomaly requiring control.
"Mr. Kanjuro, this... what kind of Magecraft is this?"
"Just some crude applications of Black Magic, nothing worth mentioning." Mr. Kanjuro said calmly, casually taking a cigarette from his pocket and putting it in his mouth. The faint blue flame on his fingertip lit the cigarette.
He lazily exhaled a puff of smoke, and the faint white smoke rings drifted towards Tohsaka Tokiomi.
Tohsaka Tokiomi instinctively waved his hand, dispelling the smoke in front of him.
In this brief moment, a faint, imperceptible light flashed in Mr. Kanjuro's eyes—the Eye of Truth had been activated.
[Tohsaka Tokiomi: Skilled in strategy, meticulous, and adept at calculations. Emotionally detached, unconcerned with minor details, but suffers from severe mental潔癖. Places Magecraft research in the highest regard, is extremely narcissistic, and pursuing the Root is his ultimate goal.]
"Black Magic?" Tohsaka Tokiomi murmured the words, his heart churning with shock.
In this world's power system, "Magic" is an existence far superior to "Magecraft".
Magecraft requires incantations, rituals, or Mystic Codes, relying on individual Magecraft Circuits and ley lines, its power limited by the development of modern technology.
Magic, however, can be directly driven by will, twisting common sense, and even touching upon the forbidden domain of energy conservation.
Any knowledge related to "Magic" is the ultimate mystery countless Magicians pursue throughout their lives!
Mr. Kanjuro looked at his shocked expression and smiled leisurely.
He used the authority of the "Gospel of Matthew" from the dark bible to materialize Magic power and illusions.
With a faint glow swirling on his fingertips, an ancient-looking Eastern longsword with subtle dark patterns on its blade appeared out of thin air in his hand, surrounded by a thin wisp of black mist.
"This sword is crafted in the style of ancient Eastern swords." Mr. Kanjuro casually presented the sword, "Brother Tokiomi, if you don't mind, I'll gift this sword to you as a 见面礼."
"This... how can I accept?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi verbally declined, but his gaze was already firmly drawn to the longsword radiating strange fluctuations. A hint of unconcealed joy flashed in his eyes, and he eventually reached out and took it.
Mr. Kanjuro's fingertips lightly brushed the sword's body, and the faint blue flame flowed over it again. He lowered his voice, as if chanting an ancient spell:
"This sword is no ordinary iron; it is the crystallization of obsession and delusion from ancient times. Its name is—"
He paused, his gaze seemingly inadvertently sweeping over Tohsaka Tokiomi's hand tightly gripping the hilt.
"—heart bewitchment."
The moment the words fell, Tohsaka Tokiomi suddenly felt a faint tremor in his palm, as if something inside the hilt had been activated, creating a strange resonance with his pulse.
His desire and curiosity for Black Magic and the Root in his mind were involuntarily amplified several times, becoming extraordinarily clear and fervent.
Holding the heart bewitchment sword, Tohsaka Tokiomi felt an indescribable sense of euphoria sweep through his body. His will seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, developing an unprecedented fascination for this demonic sword and the power it represented.
Mr. Kanjuro secretly shook his head. He had merely used the power of the "Gospel of Matthew" to materialize Black Magic and illusions, casually creating a sword with a faint mental suggestion.
Tohsaka Tokiomi was so easily swayed. The Magicians of this world, in terms of their mental fortitude, were indeed too "inferior."
"What a sword! Truly a fine sword!" Tohsaka Tokiomi stroked the cold blade, his voice filled with excitement. "Brother Kanjuro, this treasure sword is extremely precious! Why don't you stay at my place tonight? Aoi, go tell the butler to arrange the best guest room for Mr. Kanjuro."
He was almost impatient to study this mysterious demonic sword alone.
Tohsaka Aoi nodded obediently, glancing at Mr. Kanjuro with a hint of worry as she stood up. She couldn't fathom what this man was plotting.
She silently led Mr. Kanjuro towards the guest rooms on the second floor.
Mr. Kanjuro was content to relax and followed her.
Meanwhile, Tohsaka Tokiomi, who remained, was completely engrossed in his research of the "heart bewitchment sword." He
carefully placed it on the special alchemical table in his Magecraft workshop, using various detection rituals to try and analyze its structure, seeking to uncover the Black Magic's origin and principles contained within.
He didn't know that he was stepping, one by one, into the trap Mr. Kanjuro had meticulously set.
As a zealous Magician, his obsession with Magecraft and his craving for higher-level "Magic" had already become his greatest weakness.
He was infatuated with pursuing power that could directly drive the world's laws without cost, yet he overlooked the most fundamental warning—power always comes with risk, especially when it originates from the abyss.
Late at night, the Tohsaka Family Mansion fell into silence.
Mr. Kanjuro was settled in the room next to Tohsaka Tokiomi's bedroom. Tohsaka Aoi stood in the center of the room, her back to Mr. Kanjuro, her body appearing somewhat rigid.
"Kanjuro! What exactly do you want to do?!" She finally couldn't help but turn around, questioning him in a low voice, her face filled with anxiety and unease.
"What do I want to do?" Mr. Kanjuro chuckled softly, his steps not faltering, and he directly approached Tohsaka Aoi, pulling her into his embrace without a word.
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