Sumiko Kobayashi stood where she was, as if all the strength had been drained from her body. Akemi Miyano's cold and realistic "rebuttal" was like a heavy hammer, fiercely smashing the idealistic world she had built over many years. The justice, police, and order she had always believed in seemed so fragile and... ridiculous in the face of the absolute power displayed by Kanjuro and the cruel reality revealed by Akemi Miyano.
She looked at Kanjuro, the fiend described by the outside world as utterly evil, who was now just standing quietly, an elusive calmness on his incomparably handsome face. When he looked at Akemi Miyano, his deep eyes even revealed an expression that could be called "gentle." This was completely different from the ferocious demon image she had envisioned.
The huge cognitive conflict left her mind in chaos. Anger and accusations dissipated like waves crashing against a reef, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness and... self-doubt.
Could it be... that I was really too naive?
Does this world truly lack absolute justice?
Are the police... really just yielding to superior power?
If justice cannot be upheld, if order is so easily defeated, then what was the point of my persistence all this time?
These thoughts gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes. And Kanjuro's powerful aura, as if he could control everything, along with his extraordinary handsomeness, surprisingly generated a strange, twisted attraction at this moment of psychological breakdown. It was like a moth, knowing the danger of the flame, yet still being mesmerized by the light.
Under the influence of this extreme psychological impact and the invisible charm Kanjuro exuded, Sumiko Kobayashi's emotions plummeted from the peak of anger into a dazed repentance. She felt that her previous reprimands had been so ignorant and offensive.
She slowly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, her voice losing its former sharpness, becoming weak and choked:
"I... I'm sorry... Mr. Kanjuro..."
"I... I shouldn't have... shouldn't have spoken to you that way..."
"I was too naive... too ignorant of the truth of this world..."
"I... I just... couldn't accept it..."
Her words were broken, filled with the confusion and self-denial that followed the collapse of her beliefs. She didn't even dare to look up at Kanjuro, as if another glance would be sacrilege.
Akemi Miyano looked at Sumiko Kobayashi's appearance, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worship for Kanjuro. See, even the teacher who once dreamed of becoming a police officer had to face reality in front of Brother Kanjuro.
Kanjuro looked at Sumiko Kobayashi, seeing her beliefs shattered and her actively repenting, and a satisfied look flashed in his eyes. This kind of spiritual conquest pleased him far more than physical destruction. He did not offer comfort or continue to apply pressure, maintaining only his aloof composure.
This silence, conversely, gave Sumiko Kobayashi greater psychological pressure, making her feel as humble as dust.
After a moment, Kanjuro spoke indifferently, his voice betraying no emotion: "Recognizing reality is the first step toward growth. Teacher Kobayashi, you are still young."
This sentence was like the final seal, completely nailing Sumiko Kobayashi to the pillar of "wrongdoing" and shame. She felt cold all over, yet also experienced an unspeakable, twisted warmth—as if she had received the forgiveness and "guidance" of a divine being.
She kept her head down, responding in a voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "Yes... Thank you... Mr. Kanjuro..."
At this moment, her dream of justice was shattered, and the seeds of fear, awe, and a hint of pathological submission—which she hadn't even realized—toward Kanjuro, the dark sovereign, had quietly been sown. Kanjuro didn't even need to use any supernatural power; merely by his presence and a few words, he had completed a thorough psychological domestication.
Kanjuro looked at Sumiko Kobayashi, who was bowing in repentance and slightly trembling, and instead of continuing to apply pressure, he made an unexpected move. He stepped forward, reached out, and gently pulled Sumiko Kobayashi into his embrace.
This embrace was not lustful; it was more like a sovereign's "forgiveness" and "acceptance" of a subordinate. Sumiko Kobayashi's body stiffened abruptly. Feeling the cold aura and indescribably powerful presence emanating from Kanjuro, her mind went blank. Amidst her fear and repentance, a slight, overwhelming thrill of being favored mixed in. She even forgot to resist, or rather, she dared not resist.
"It's good that you realize your mistake and can change," Kanjuro's voice sounded above her head, peaceful yet unquestionable. His gaze swept over the hand still tightly clutching her phone. "Who did you... just call?"
Sumiko Kobayashi suddenly woke up as if from a dream, remembering the number she had frantically dialed just now. Her face paled again, and she hastily explained: "It was... it was Officer Shiratori, Ninzaburo Shiratori. He... he is my friend." She paused, as if trying to find a reasonable explanation for her actions, or perhaps to show some value in front of Kanjuro. "When we were children... we were neighbors. I... I encouraged him once, telling him about the courage and belief needed to become a police officer... Although I didn't end up taking that path myself, he always remembered it, saying it was one of the motivations that supported him..."
Her words carried a hint of recollection and complexity. The boy whose path she had once guided was now an elite member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, yet here she was, embraced by a fiend whom even the entire police force had to bow to, speaking words of repentance. This massive contrast left her heart in turmoil.
Hearing this, a trace of subtle amusement flashed in Kanjuro's eyes. Ninzaburo Shiratori? An officer from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department? And someone who had been "guided" by Sumiko Kobayashi? That was an interesting angle.
He released Sumiko Kobayashi, but one hand remained lightly resting on her shoulder, exerting invisible control. He looked into her panicked eyes and commanded her in a gentle yet irresistible tone:
"Now, call Officer Shiratori."
"Tell him you have something very important you want to discuss with him privately, regarding... some confusion you have, which perhaps only he can resolve."
"Ask him to come to the school to find you, right now. Find a quiet place, like... the warehouse behind the Old School Building? No one should disturb you there."
Sumiko Kobayashi's heart sank abruptly. She instantly understood Kanjuro's intention—he was using her as bait to lure Officer Shiratori over! She wanted to refuse, wanted to warn Shiratori not to come, but under the gaze of Kanjuro's deep eyes, and the hand resting on her shoulder that felt capable of crushing her bones at any moment, all thoughts of resistance vanished. Fear and a twisted gratitude for "forgiveness" overwhelmed her concern for her friend.
Trembling, she picked up her phone, looked at the recently dialed, unanswered number, took a deep breath, and tried hard to make her voice sound normal.
"Ninzaburo... it's me, Sumiko." Her voice still held a faint, almost imperceptible tremble. "I... I'm at school right now, something happened, and my mind is very confused... There are some things I only want to tell you. Could you... come to the school now? Let's meet at the warehouse behind the Old School Building, it's quieter there..."
Ninzaburo Shiratori on the other end of the line seemed surprised, but hearing the distress and pleading in Sumiko Kobayashi's voice, he didn't hesitate and immediately agreed: "Sumiko? What's wrong? Don't worry, I'll be right there! Wait for me, and be careful!"
Hanging up the phone, Sumiko Kobayashi looked exhausted, her face pale as she looked at Kanjuro.
Kanjuro smiled contentedly, reaching out to stroke her cheek, the movement gentle but carrying a chilling implication.
"You did very well, Teacher Sumiko." He used such an intimate address for the first time. "See, sometimes, recognizing reality and making the right choice isn't difficult."
Akemi Miyano watched silently from the side, her adoration for Kanjuro deepening. He could always control the situation so easily, making everyone act according to his will.
Kanjuro's gaze turned toward the Old School Building, the corner of his mouth curving into a cold arc. Another police officer, one who embodied this woman's former "dream of justice," was willingly walking into the trap he had set. This game was becoming increasingly interesting. As for Sumiko Kobayashi, after making that call, she was completely bound to Kanjuro's war chariot, with no path left for retreat. Her guilt toward Officer Shiratori was now drowned out by her fear and twisted obedience toward Kanjuro.
After hanging up the phone, Ninzaburo Shiratori held his cell phone, his brows tightly furrowed. Something was wrong, very wrong. Although Sumiko was gentle, she was resilient at heart, and she rarely spoke with such a panicked and helpless tone, nor would she ever proactively ask to meet at such a remote time and place. Especially somewhere like "the warehouse behind the Old School Building"... This completely contradicted her usual habits.
An ominous premonition hung over his heart like a dark cloud. He thought of the terrifying shadow that had recently covered Tokyo—Kanjuro. Could it be... that Sumiko was involved? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
But worry outweighed everything else. Whether it was his duty as a police officer or his concern for his childhood friend, he couldn't stand by. He took a deep breath, gripped his service pistol, and decided to go investigate alone. He didn't notify the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, partly because he was unsure of the situation and feared alerting the enemy, and partly because deep down, he held a sliver of hope that he was just overthinking things.
He drove to Teitan Elementary School. The campus was quiet, and the lingering glow of the setting sun stretched the shadows of the buildings long, adding a touch of eeriness. Following the agreement, he walked toward the Old School Building, but the alarm bells in his heart grew louder. Instead of going directly to the warehouse, he used his familiarity with the school to circle around to the side of the Old Teaching Building.
Peering through a window, he saw a scene that nearly froze his blood—
In that empty classroom, a man so handsome he was almost demonic was sitting languidly on the podium. Who could it be but Kanjuro?! And kneeling at his feet was none other than Sumiko Kobayashi! She was looking up, her eyes filled with fanaticism, adoration, and an almost religious piety toward Kanjuro. She seemed to be muttering something, her posture utterly humble, a complete stranger compared to the independent, kind, and idealistic Sumiko he remembered!
Officer Shiratori's mind buzzed, nearly exploding. His worst premonition had come true! Not only had Sumiko fallen into Kanjuro's hands, but... she seemed to have been completely brainwashed and controlled!
He violently pushed the door open and rushed in, pulling out his pistol and aiming it at Kanjuro, his voice trembling with anger and fear: "Kanjuro! What did you do to Sumiko?! Let her go!"
However, upon hearing his voice, Sumiko Kobayashi, who was kneeling on the floor, showed no joy at being rescued. Instead, she sharply turned her head, her face showing annoyance at the interruption and an eagerness to protect Kanjuro, and she sternly rebuked him: "Ninzaburo! You must not point that gun at Lord Kanjuro! Put it down immediately!"
"Sumiko! You..." Officer Shiratori looked at this unfamiliar Sumiko Kobayashi before him, his heart twisting painfully.
Only then did Kanjuro slowly raise his head and look at Ninzaburo Shiratori, who had burst in. There was no surprise on his face; it was as if he had known Shiratori would be there all along. He even leisurely shifted into a more comfortable sitting position, a playful smirk curving his lips.
"Officer Shiratori, you are very punctual." Kanjuro's voice was calm but carried an invisible pressure. "It seems your friendship with Teacher Sumiko is indeed deep. However, it looks like she now has a new... faith."
"What dark magic did you use on her?!" Officer Shiratori roared, his finger tight on the trigger, yet he dared not fire easily, afraid of accidentally injuring Sumiko, and even more aware that a gun might be completely ineffective against Kanjuro.
"Evil magic?" Kanjuro chuckled softly, reaching out to gently stroke Sumiko Kobayashi's hair, treating her like a docile pet. "I merely allowed her to see the truth of this world, to understand what true 'Power' and'Shelter' are. She chose to submit to reality herself, didn't she, Sumiko?"
Sumiko Kobayashi immediately nodded vigorously, her gaze toward Kanjuro becoming even more infatuated. "Yes, Lord Kanjuro! You freed me from false illusions and showed me the real world! Ninzaburo, don't you understand yet? Everything you hold onto is utterly worthless before Lord Kanjuro!"
Officer Shiratori watched his completely lost childhood friend, listening to her twisted rhetoric, as a huge wave of helplessness and indignation surged in his heart. He knew that the Sumiko standing before him was beyond saving. His gun, his identity as a police officer, seemed utterly ridiculous in the face of Kanjuro's mysterious and unpredictable power.
Kanjuro admired the expression of despair, anger, and powerlessness on Officer Shiratori's face, and slowly stood up.
"Since you've come, Officer Shiratori, then... don't leave."
"Perhaps you, too, will have the opportunity to'see clearly,' just like Teacher Kobayashi."
Before his voice faded, an invisible force instantly shackled Ninzaburo Shiratori. The gun in his hand dropped to the ground, and he stood frozen in place, unable to move even a single finger. He could only watch helplessly as Kanjuro walked toward him step by step, his eyes filled with desperate terror. Meanwhile, Sumiko Kobayashi remained kneeling, following Kanjuro's figure with worshipful eyes, viewing Shiratori's fate only as the justified "punishment" for an "offender," devoid of any past affection.
The setting sun completely sank below the horizon, and the classroom was enveloped in twilight, leaving behind only endless darkness and despair.
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