Chapter 35 Three-in-One 0815
On the morning of the day they were supposed to meet, Takanashi Chika went to Gin's safe house on her own.
Besides the Kinomoto family's affairs, Takanashi Chinatsu also wanted to ask about Hagiwara Kenji. Yato said that Eriol was very knowledgeable and might be able to free Hagiwara Kenji from the earthbound spirit's bondage and regain his freedom.
As I took out my key, opened the door, and went inside, the first thing I smelled was the milky aroma of cloud cake.
Chinatsu looked towards the kitchen in surprise. Was Gin making dessert?
She ran a few steps and saw Vodka forging the baked cake.
"It's you? Where's Gin?"
"My brother is upstairs." Vodka smiled憨厚ly, picked up a piece of cake, put it on a plate, and handed it to her.
"Thank you." Takanashi Chinatsu carried the cake upstairs and gently knocked on the study door.
"Enter."
Gin wasn't reading; instead, he stood in front of the bookshelf, taking out his weapon to maintain it. His green eyes glanced at Takanashi Chinatsu as she entered, then quickly looked away, putting away the maintained gun.
“You’re here early today. Only the Kinomoto family’s affairs would you care so much about.” Gin took out another box of bullets and stuffed them one by one into his Beretta.
"What is it?" Takanashi Chinatsu asked.
"Anti-magic bullets, bullets specifically designed to deal with mages."
Chika took a deep breath. Judging from Gin's performance, today might be a tough battle.
“You don’t need to worry, there’s no danger. But even if we’re going to negotiate, we at least need to keep the initiative in our hands.” Gin has always believed in the law of the jungle; this world is inherently a place where the strong prey on the weak.
Takanashi Chika nodded, handed him the cake, and asked, "Want some?" Gin didn't like sweets, so she was just being polite.
But Gin glanced at her, and then actually picked up a fork and forked the entire cake away.
Seeing Gin take a bite out of her beloved cake, Chinatsu Takanashi's eyes widened, and she instinctively shouted, "Mine!"
Having gotten the desired response, Gin smiled with pleasure and took another big bite.
"As a man, you have absolutely no class!" Takanashi Chinatsu was extremely displeased.
Gin, however, felt as if he had received a massage, feeling refreshed both physically and mentally, and even desserts, which he rarely ate, tasted exceptionally delicious.
Chika Takanashi stormed downstairs in a huff, then asked for a piece of vodka before she was satisfied. Turning around, she saw Gin following her downstairs, with only half of the cake left on his fork.
"I'll get angry if you take it again!" Takanashi Chinatsu glared at Gin like a cat with its fur standing on end.
Gin chuckled and placed the remaining half of the bread into the empty plate; the sweetness was still too much for him.
"Vodka, you go back first," Gin ordered.
Vodka nodded, not daring to ask any more questions, and left after arranging all the bread.
As Takanashi Chinatsu watched Vodka leave and the door close, she ate her dessert and muttered, "You're such a jerk, using someone and then dumping them."
“He shouldn’t be involved in what happens next,” Gin said calmly.
A magic circle lit up on the empty floor of the living room. Tong Ze Elio was still wearing his oversized mage robe, holding a magic wand, with a black doll quietly perched on his shoulder.
"Gentlemen, we meet again." Elio smiled and sincerely put away his wand.
The tense atmosphere did not ease; Gin stared sharply at him, and Takanashi Chinatsu also looked hostile.
"Don't be like that. I have no ill intentions toward either of you or the Kinomoto family." Tongze Elio raised his hand, and an image unfolded out of thin air, showing Kinomoto Sakura at school.
"Your target is Sakura?" Takanashi Chinatsu questioned.
“Sakura is a very powerful magician. She has a strong magical talent and untapped power within her.” Tong Ze Erio waved his hand, and a deck of cards unfolded with his movement, revealing the phantoms of the Clow Cards: “She is the current owner of the Clow Cards, while my past life was the creator of the Clow Cards.”
Chinatsu's eyes narrowed dangerously. Did she want to snatch the deck of cards from Sakura's hands?
She always sides with her own people, regardless of right or wrong. Besides, even if he created the Clow Cards, that was something that happened in his past life. Now that Sakura has become the owner of the cards, how can he, as a reincarnation, take them back?
Just as Takanashi Chinatsu was about to make her move, Eriol said, "I don't want to take back the Clow Cards, but to truly control them, I need to develop their power. I'm here to help her develop their power and give them complete control over the Clow Cards."
Takanashi Chika's expression was strange. "Is it really that good?"
"Once she has fully mastered the power within her, I hope she will lend a hand and give half of my current magical power to her father."
Elio always had a smile on his face, but the things he said became stranger and stranger.
Whether it's money, weapons, or power, humans are greedy; everyone wants as much of those things as possible.
For a magician, magic power is obviously very important, so how could anyone want to divide magic power in half with someone else?
“You may not understand, but having too much magic is sometimes a misfortune. When magic is too strong, every move you make will affect the world, making it inconvenient to do anything. Giving away half of it would be a great thing for both me and Fujitaka.”
Takanashi Chinatsu immediately retorted, "If you think something is bad, then it must not be good. What good could it do for Uncle Fujitaka?"
“I can see ghosts,” Elio said.
One sentence touched upon a secret deep within Takanashi Chinatsu's heart. She stared intently at Eriol. So, was the reason she could see ghosts because someone had cast a spell on her?
“Some people are born with the ability to see ghosts, while others need a little help from external forces. If Fujitaka could possess magic, he would be able to see his deceased wife.” This hit the nail on the head, clearly striking a chord with Takanashi Chinatsu.
But this is a huge matter. Can she really make a decision for the Kinomoto family?
“You don’t need to make decisions for them. This is a matter for the magical world, and I will explain it to Sakura sooner or later.” Eriol showed her goodwill: “Chika, I’m not a bad person. You just need to get Chuuya Nakahara away from the vicinity of the Kinomoto family, and we can discuss the rest ourselves.”
"But what if you lied to her..."
“Sakura has a strong talent for magic; she’ll have to stand on her own sooner or later, and you can’t stop her.” Eriol looked at Gin and said, “You should know more about the Kinomoto family’s situation than she does, right?”
Gin's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze darkened.
Chinatsuka Takanashi looked at Gin in astonishment. Did he know better? He sent people to keep an eye on the Kinomoto family? Could it be that the people he sent could even keep an eye on magicians and see through their magical talents?
"Listen to him." Gin remained silent for a while before giving Takanashi Chinatsu's reply.
Chinatsu had no doubts. Although her relationship with Gin was complicated, everything Gin said was believable.
But there's one more thing: Takanashi Chinatsu needs to talk to Eriol alone.
Seeing that Takanashi Chinatsu looked hesitant, Eriol smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay."
Chizuru Kotori was slightly taken aback.
"Whatever you desire, it can come true." Elio took a book out of the void and handed it to Takanashi Chinatsu.
Ghostly Secrets.
Upon seeing the book's title, Takanashi Chinatsu immediately hugged it to her chest, trying to keep Gin from noticing.
"So, the deal's done?" Elio asked with a smile.
Chinatsu nods, then warns him, "If I find out you've hurt the Kinomoto family, no matter how powerful you are, I will never let you get away with it!"
"The Raven's Lair, the organization's little princess, how could I dare offend her?" Elio smiled, exceptionally friendly.
The magician came and went in a hurry, and the negotiations went more smoothly than expected. After all, Elio had no ill intentions and did not bargain with any of Takanashi Chinatsu's demands.
In the living room, only Gin and Takanashi Chinatsu remained.
"What is it?" Gin reached out his hand to Takanashi Chinatsu.
Takanashi Chika immediately hugged the book in her arms even tighter, not wanting to reveal a single bit of it.
"Magicians' things are always dangerous. Aren't you afraid they might have hidden some curse on them?"
Takanashi Chika's hand trembled, but she resolutely refused to let go, her tone stubborn: "Even if there is a curse, it's my business. I don't want to tell you, so don't ask."
Are you sure you don't want to give it to me?
Takanashi Chika held on tightly, refusing to give up!
Gin snorted and went straight for it. How could Takanashi Chinatsu's strength compare to his? He snatched the book away from her.
“Ghostly Secrets.” Gin glanced at her indifferently as he read the book’s title.
Chinatsu Takanashi was taken aback at first, but quickly regained her composure and said, "So what if I like reading books about the supernatural? Don't you have any hobbies?"
Gin wasn't fooled and asked casually, "For the ghost in your room?"
Chinatsu Takanashi was immediately shocked, her eyes widening in surprise. How did Gin know? Could he see ghosts too?
“I can’t see ghosts, but I can see your reaction.” Gin stuck out his index finger and poked Takanashi Chinatsu’s forehead hard, his tone helpless: “Do you know who the ghost in your room is? He was a cop in his previous life. How come you always have things to do with cops?”
Takanashi Chinatsu lied through her teeth: "There are no ghosts, there's nothing at all!" Although her voice was loud, she was still feeling uneasy. Gin hadn't mentioned it for two years, so did he already know? How come it felt like Gin knew everything?
After casually flipping through a couple of pages, Gin closed the book and tucked it under his arm.
Chinatsu Kotaro: ? ? ?
“That’s mine!” she shouted immediately.
"The book says that if ordinary people want to see, talk to, or contact ghosts, they can burn rhinoceros horn incense. I'll buy a batch for you."
Gin's words relieved Takanashi Chinatsu's immediate worry, but she was still anxious: "That book..."
"Don't even think about it!" Gin was cold and ruthless. What nonsense was written on it? It looked dangerous. He wouldn't let Chika get hurt for the sake of a cop ghost.
Takanashi Chinatsu said anxiously, "Even if you won't give it to me, at least let me see it, Gin! You can't be unreasonable!"
Gin looked at her coldly, then suddenly grabbed her arm and dragged her out the door.
"Gin, you bastard!" Takanashi Chika tried to open the door with her key, but Gin pressed the door shut from the inside, and she couldn't open it even after unlocking it.
Helpless, Takanashi Chika squatted down forlornly in front of the door, cursing Gin in her heart.
"Click," the door opened again.
Chinatsu Takanashi stood up excitedly, only to have a bag of bread stuffed into her hand.
"Take this and eat it. Ask me if you need anything. I won't give you the book." Gin said, then closed the door again, making no attempt to invite her in.
Chika Takanashi, carrying bread, kicked the door twice in anger, but in the end, she had no choice but to leave, feeling dejected.
Raw rhinoceros horn must not be burned, for when burned it emits a strange fragrance, and if it touches clothing, one can communicate with ghosts.
This is a line from the novel "Strange Garden".
When Chika Takanashi returned home, she told Kenji Hagiwara about the results of her search and confirmed the truth of the statement from Gin's words.
"You and Matsuda-san can meet now." Takanashi Chinatsu smiled at Hagiwara Kenji.
However, Kenji Hagiwara was not as happy as expected; instead, he looked miserable.
"Duke, why aren't you happy?" Takanashi Chika poked him with her finger, but even though she only poked at air, she still enjoyed it.
Kenji Hagiwara sighed deeply, his tone listless: "Chinatsu-chan, do you know how expensive rhinoceros horn is right now?"
How expensive?
Kenji Hagiwara sighed, "When I was alive, rhinoceros horn was already worth over 50,000 yuan per gram, not a pound!"
"It is a bit expensive." Takanashi Chinatsu nodded, but quickly said nonchalantly, "It's okay, Gin has plenty of money."
Kenji Hagiwara tugged at his hair. No! He really didn't want to use Gin's money!
If he really needs something, he can use the money in his own account; the pension he received back then should be quite substantial, and Kojinpei would definitely be willing to pay him a salary to support him. But using Chinatsu or Gin's money is... very...
They don't need to spend so much money on him!
“I’m spending Gin’s money too. If you think about it carefully, Gin is a criminal. Spending his money is like doing a good deed for the people. Doesn’t that make you feel better?” Takanashi Chinatsu comforted him.
Kenji Hagiwara gave her a speechless look.
"Don't worry about it, it's just a small amount of money!"
Kenji Hagiwara sighed heavily again, his face full of distress.
This amount of money... it seems that he and Xiaozhenping really can't afford it.
A day later, Kenji Hagiwara removed the word "seems"—he definitely couldn't afford to pay that amount!
Gin didn't even visit in person; instead, he had a courier deliver a rhinoceros horn weighing over ten kilograms. The two of them were stunned to see the entire horn.
ah……
That must be worth several hundred million!
This debt is so huge that he could never repay it, not even if he were to be reincarnated several times!
"I'll contact Matsuda-nii to come over; he must have been waiting for a long time." Takanashi Chinatsu didn't seem to think anything of it. She picked up her phone to make a call, but a call came in first.
“Bacardi?” Takanashi Chika frowned. Why did he contact her?
As soon as she answered the call, Bacardi's anxious voice came from the other end.
"Black Cherry, whatever you do, don't come to the research institute! Don't come if anyone calls you!"
"Why?"
"Don't ask, pretend you don't know, and you'd better go abroad immediately."
"Bacardi, why are you saying this all of a sudden..." Before Takanashi Chinatsu could finish expressing her confusion, Bacardi hung up the phone.
Why are you in such a hurry, and why haven't you finished explaining? What do you mean by this?
Chizuru Takanashi was annoyed, but she also knew that Bacardi's situation must not be good, so she did not call to ask.
The phone rang again; this time it was Gin.
"Come to the research institute immediately." Gin's tone was neither warm nor cold, as if he were handling a business matter.
Something's happened!
Almost immediately, Chinatsu Takanashi realized what was happening.
Bacardi told her not to go, but Gin insisted that she go; something must have happened at the research institute.
"Chinatsu-chan, do you want to go abroad for a few days to escape this?" Kenji Hagiwara looked at her with a mixture of nervousness and worry.
Takanashi Chinatsu didn't answer. She was also conflicted. The two men's attitudes were too strange. Neither of them should have harmed her, so why were they saying completely different things?
"Knock knock," someone is knocking on the door.
Chinatsu Takanashi pulled a gun from her desk drawer, quietly walked to the door, and, with her back to the wall, asked, "Who's there?"
Kenji Hagiwara had already poked his head back in and immediately told Chinatsu Takanashi, "It's security guard!"
"It's me, China." It was indeed the security guard's voice.
Takanashi Chika put away her pistol, opened the door, but still looked around warily; there was indeed no one else outside.
Mr. Morino is in his thirties. He started working as a security guard here not long after Chinatsu Takanashi moved in. He looks honest and kind, and he always greets her warmly whenever she comes in or out.
He looks like an ordinary middle-aged man.
But in reality...
"I am Sutern, Black Cherry. Lord Gin sent me to pick you up for the research institute."
Kenji Hagiwara immediately sensed something was wrong. He circled around outside and reminded her, "There's no one else here. Let's run!"
But Chika Takanashi didn't run away. Sutton's words didn't make her nervous; instead, they gave her a sense of peace that felt like the dust had settled.
Since she moved here, the apartment's residents have all been replaced, which is obviously Gin's doing. So it's not surprising that the security guards have code names and are Gin's subordinates.
Her hesitation just now wasn't because she didn't trust Gin, but because based on just one phone call, Gin might have been listening in on her, and she didn't know anything about his situation.
Things are different now. Sutton's personal visit must be on Gin's orders.
Since Gin genuinely wants her to go to the research institute, it means that the institute must pose no danger to her.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.” Without any hesitation, Takanashi Chinatsu grabbed a beige coat and followed Sutton out the door.
"Wait, Chinatsu-chan!" Kenji Hagiwara instinctively reached out, but only grabbed at air. He anxiously followed for a few steps, but ultimately could not go any further because he was a bound spirit and could only watch helplessly as the two left.
Sutton was driving, while Takanashi Chika was sitting in the car playing on her phone.
"Don't worry, Lord Gin won't hurt you."
“I understand, Uncle Morino.” Takanashi Chinatsu didn’t even look up.
Sutern was speechless. The familiar address did not put him at ease; instead, a sense of guilt appeared on his face.
"Of course you can't refuse Gin's orders, so there's no need to feel guilty about it." Takanashi Chinatsu put away her phone, gave Sutton in the front row a bright, sunny smile, and seemed completely unconcerned about what was happening.
Sutern felt even more ashamed and lowered his voice to remind her, "Black Cherry, you need to be careful."
Chizuru Takanashi raised an eyebrow.
"Rum is here too. Although I don't know what he's up to, Lord Gin must have been forced to ask me to bring you there."
It turned out to be rum.
Chika Takanashi knew what was going on, and Bacardi sensed the danger, so he contacted her urgently.
Since Gin let her go, it means everything is still under control and Rum can't touch her.
What could be the reason? Takanashi Chika nervously fiddled with the ruby beads hanging from her earring, pondering the question.
Last time, when she led Scotland to kick someone into the water, wasn't that already resolved with a written apology? Even if we bring up old grievances, the master is unlikely to punish her for it.
The fact that Rum's actions this time were enough to prompt Bacardi to send a warning suggests that things are not simple.
Upon arriving at the research institute, Chinatsu Takanashi got out of the car, her eyes filled with a smile as she reassured Sutton, and then swiped her pass to enter by herself.
The stark white walls and the perpetually cold atmosphere evoked a sense of both familiarity and repulsion in Takanashi Chika.
Suppressing her physical nausea, Takanashi Chinatsu walked to the laboratory at the far end and pushed open the door.
Inside the lab, besides Gin and Rum, Bourbon was also there, and even gave her a provocative look.
Chinatsuka Takanashi ignored him completely, only exchanging a brief glance with Gin, completely oblivious to his meaning, before smiling and looking at the camera in front of the lab table.
A gender-neutral electronic voice immediately came from the loudspeaker: "Black Cherry, my dear adopted daughter."
Gin and Rum remained expressionless, but Bourbon almost lost his composure and quickly lowered his head to hide it.
"Father, I miss you." Takanashi Chinatsu smiled broadly at the camera, her voice sweet and dependent.
"Good boy/girl."
"Father hasn't called me in a long time. Does he not like me anymore?" Takanashi Chinatsu said coquettishly, oblivious to everyone else.
Bourbon kept his head down, but secretly glanced at Gin and Rum out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that they both looked normal, he suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
After Bacardi fell out of favor, he became Rum's favorite newcomer and was about to take the next step, but he ended up getting involved in this matter.
When Rum sent him to steal Black Cherry's hair, he never mentioned that Black Cherry was the boss's adopted daughter!
Now things have gotten even better. He's become even more favored by Rum, and he's even heard the boss's voice, albeit an electronic one.
But he felt like he was about to die!
Takanashi Chinatsu chatted with Karasuma Renya for a while, and feeling that the other party's attitude seemed no different than before, her tense mood gradually relaxed.
Have you heard of 0815?
It's here!
Upon hearing anything outside of casual conversation, Takanashi Chinatsu immediately picked up on the key point.
But she was still confused. What was 0815? She had absolutely no recollection of it.
"Gin." Karasuma Renya called out the name with a smile.
Gin glanced coldly at Rum, his tone still respectful: "0815 is the organization's experimental subject, and also my sister."
Takanashi Chika looked at Gin in surprise. Gin has a sister? I've never heard of that!
"Why haven't I heard you mention this before?" Takanashi Chinatsu, who always spoke her mind to Gin, asked almost without thinking.
"Because she died." Gin remained calm, seemingly unaffected by the grief.
Karasuma Renya said with regret, "0815 was a promising candidate back then, and even passed two rounds of experiments in the Resurrection Project. Unfortunately, after the third round of experiments began, the negative reaction to the drug was too severe, and he unfortunately did not survive."
Takanashi Chika looked at Gin in even greater shock. His sister had been killed by the organization?
This is unbelievable...
She had never known, or even considered, that this was possible, given that Gin had always appeared to be extremely loyal to the organization.
"She's not dead!" Rum shouted, his voice still powerful even with only one eye remaining. He pointed at Takanashi Chinatsu and said menacingly, "Black Cherry, you're 0815!"
"She is not."
What nonsense are you talking about?
Gin and Chinatsu Takanashi refuted the claim almost simultaneously.
“Bourbon, you speak,” Karasuma Renya commanded.
Bourbon was startled. Everyone here was extraordinary. He thought he wouldn't have a chance to speak, but when he was called upon, he immediately answered respectfully, "Lord Rum asked me to collect Black Cherry's hair for genetic comparison, and I did as he asked."
"And then what happened?"
“It doesn’t match up.” Rum’s voice was gloomy.
Gin sneered and retorted to Rum, "The matter is quite clear, sir. This is nothing more than someone suffering from paranoia, always feeling that someone wants to harm him, or perhaps trying to use this to slander me. Sir, 0815 has been dead for many years. I personally disposed of her body back then, and I do not want anyone to disturb her peace again."
Rum snorted coldly, like a ruthless mountain serpent, once it set its sights on its prey, it wouldn't let go: "You burned the body back then, who knows if it was 0815?"
Is there a second method for processing corpses from failed experiments?
"Even so, you weren't in charge of disposing of the body at the time, yet you personally disposed of it. That's very suspicious. It's hard to guarantee that you didn't tamper with it."
Gin's face was ashen. Although he was usually cold, this time he was clearly furious with Rum because of his sister's situation. He stared at Rum as if he were looking at a corpse.
But in front of Karasuma Renya, he could only suppress his anger and respectfully explain to the camera: "The innocent are innocent, sir. After all, she was my sister. You should be able to understand the grief I felt at the time. I don't understand what Rum meant. Did I do something wrong by cremating my sister myself? She made sacrifices for the organization when she was alive, but after she died, I don't want anyone else to touch her."
In the end, even Gin couldn't help but feel a bit resentful in his words.
Karasuma Renya was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Gin pursed his lips, for the first time not taking the initiative to express his loyalty to Karasuma Renya, because he did indeed harbor resentment.
“Rum, even if you have doubts, since the genetic comparison doesn’t match, the matter is over.” Karasuma Renya’s voice carried a hint of threat.
Rum gritted his teeth and said, forcing a smile, "I don't believe it, sir!"
Bourbon abruptly turned to look at Rum, finding it hard to believe how stubborn he was.
His superior's mask was wrinkled from the ferocity of his expression, yet he still resolutely made his demands: "Gin must have tampered with the results, sir. Right here today, I want them to conduct the genetic comparison in front of you."
"Rum, why did you do this?" Karasuma Renya sighed heavily.
Takanashi Chika glanced at Rum's ferocious face and then at Gin's ashen one. Although Karasuma Renya was sighing, she vaguely realized that she could not escape this genetic test.
If Karasuma Renya hadn't become suspicious, she wouldn't have been summoned in the first place.
And she, perhaps, really...
Takanashi Chika felt uneasy and secretly cast a pleading look at Gin.
Think of something, Gin, think of something!
Takanashi Chika pleaded inwardly. Since Gin was willing to let her come over, it meant he must have a way to control the situation. So why hadn't he spoken yet?
No, refuse now!
If she really is Gin's younger sister, then this test absolutely cannot be done.
My palms were sweaty, and my nose was wet.
However, Chizuru Takanashi never got to see Gin's help; instead, she heard a cold sneer.
“Okay, let’s do it.” Gin looked at Rum with a mocking expression.
Chinatsu's blood almost turned cold.
Two researchers immediately came in and drew their blood.
While Takanashi Chika was still in a daze, she shrank back when she saw someone lift her sleeve. She even forgot to control her expression and looked at Gin in disbelief.
Do it? Do whatever it takes!
Shouldn't Gin have refused? Shouldn't he have stopped him?
Should we let her refuse herself? That would be normal, after all, she is Karasuma Renya's adopted daughter. If she throws a tantrum and refuses, it wouldn't arouse too much suspicion given her personality.
Just as Takanashi Chika was about to throw a tantrum, Rum forcefully pressed down on her shoulders.
Rum gripped her shoulder so hard that it hurt, and she immediately lost all strength.
"Rum, let me go!"
"You'd better not move. Do you think you can still escape?" Rum glared at her fiercely, as if he wanted to get back at her for all the past grievances.
"Father, I don't want to..."
"Black Cherry, be good."
Despite its gentle and kind voice, it made Takanashi Chika's heart sink heavily.
Chika looked to Gin for help again, only to see that Gin had already drawn blood and was standing silently to the side, showing no intention of helping her at all.
A sharp pain shot through my arm; the needle had already pierced my skin, and the blood draw was completed quickly.
The researcher worked with practiced ease, placing the two individuals' blood samples into the instrument before bowing respectfully and turning to leave.
The instrument was working, and Chizuru, the little bird, felt uneasy and had a strong urge to escape from this place.
"Black Cherry, do you still remember the twenty-seven-game winning streak?" Karasuma Renya took the initiative to start the conversation, seemingly trying to ease the tension.
Chinatsu glanced at the camera in a daze.
"How about we do it again?"
Someone came in, placed a deck of cards on the table, and then left.
Gin was about to step forward when Rum deliberately shoved him aside, stood on the other side of the table, drew a card, and waited for Takanashi Chinatsu to draw hers.
Chika Takanashi paused for a moment, then quickly drew a card as well.
Both players revealed their cards simultaneously.
Rum, 9 of hearts.
Chizuru, Hearts 10.
When comparing sizes, only one end should be pressed down.
Rum's expression changed, and without saying a word, he drew another card.
Chika Takanashi also drew a card.
Rum, 7 of Clubs.
Chizuru, plum blossom 8.
It also maintains a firm grip on one side.
A smile flickered in Gin's eyes.
Bourbon was seeing this for the first time and even wanted to go up and check the deck of cards. Had he been cheated? Although he had heard that Takanashi Chinatsu was very lucky, what he was seeing was just too illogical.
The third time.
Rum Square J.
Chizuru Takanashi, the Q-card Poker Master.
Two pairs of plum blossoms and three plum blossoms.
Five of spades against six of spades.
Queen of Clubs pairs with King of Clubs.
...
For twelve consecutive times, each time Chinatsu Takanashi drew a size that beat Rum by one, and only by one.
Rum's face turned slightly pale as he glared fiercely at Takanashi Chinatsu, but he did not continue drawing cards.
"Looks like Rum has given up. Black Cherry really is the epitome of luck. You're even better than before. You could win before, but you never won with such precision. Is your luck increasing with age?" Karasuma Renya joked.
Chinatsu Takanashi shook her head and answered honestly, "It's because I hate Rum. The more I hate someone, the more unlucky I am in making that person."
As she spoke, she glared at Rum resentfully.
Rum's face turned pale and then red. He seemed to want to explode, but he had to suppress his anger because Karasuma Renya was watching him. His hands were trembling with anger.
Although she won the game, Takanashi Chinatsu didn't relax and kept glancing at the instrument every now and then.
"Chika." Karasuma Renya called her name, and even though it was an electronic voice, you could still hear the gentleness in his tone: "Don't worry, as long as you are lucky, you will always be my good daughter, no matter what the outcome is."
"Sir!" Before Takanashi Chinatsu could react, Rum, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, screamed in shock first.
Gin glanced at Rum with even more mockery, as if looking at a loser.
Rum, no longer caring about Gin, anxiously advised the gentleman, "Sir, if she really is 0815, then it means she and Gin have been lying to you all along. You can't tolerate a liar!"
"Why are you in such a hurry? Rum, the results aren't out yet," Karasuma Renya said with a smile.
Rum could no longer contain himself and pointed at Chinatsu Takanashi and Gin, saying, "Sir, they betrayed you! She was only four years old back then, there's no way she could have escaped on her own. Gin must have orchestrated her fake death to help her escape! Gin even put 0815 under the care of an undercover agent, he clearly wanted to betray the organization!"
Takanashi Chinatsu immediately looked at Gin. Was it him? But if it really was him, why did he hand her over to her adoptive father and then kill him?
"If it was really Gin who handed China over to Smino, then he is indeed despicable and should be punished severely."
"What about black cherries?" Rum asked instinctively.
Karasuma Renya immediately objected, "What are you talking about, Rum? You yourself said she's only a four-year-old child, she couldn't possibly have escaped on her own, so what punishment are you going to give her?"
Rum's eyes widened immediately. Even so, was the master not going to punish Black Cherry?
Chinatsuka Takanashi glanced at Gin instinctively. Was Gin so brazen because he knew she wouldn't be punished? But what about him? This was betrayal, and could very well mean death.
die……
Takanashi Chinatsu has indeed always wanted to kill Gin to avenge her adoptive father, but now she wants to know more about what really happened back then. If Gin really is her biological brother, then everything might have been a mistake.
"Beep," the instrument stopped.
The researcher came in again, took out the results to examine them closely, and then pointed the results at the camera.
Takanashi Chinatsu glanced instinctively at the door. She wondered if she could cover Gin's escape later...
"Sir, the results show that Gin and Black Cherry are not related by blood." The researcher's report stunned Chinatsu Kotori.
Rum was stunned. He rushed forward in disbelief and snatched the report away.
"Impossible, it can't be!" The result was already laid bare before Rum, but he still refused to accept it. Instead, his face was filled with the rage of being tricked, and he roared at Gin, "What exactly did you do? You never leave anyone alive in your past actions, so why did you spare her? She must be 0815!"
"Enough, Rum!" Karasuma Renya shouted sternly.
“Sir, I don’t believe it. There must be something wrong with this result. There must be Gin’s people in the research institute!” Rum looked at the researcher with suspicion.
The researcher broke out in a cold sweat and immediately declared his loyalty: "Sir, I have been diligent and loyal to the organization since I joined. Rum is framing me!"
"Are you sure the result is correct?"
“The result is correct! Everything was done in front of you. Do you think I could switch the sample in front of everyone? Or break the equipment?” The researcher retorted to Rum, though he didn’t want to offend the organization’s second-in-command. But he didn’t want to be seen as disloyal to his boss.
Takanashi Chinatsu finally came to her senses and immediately joined in the attack on Rum: "Father, Rum framed me! He can't stand to see me doing well!"
“Of course I believe you, Chika.” Karasuma Renya made the final decision.
Rum was so angry that his face was trembling, but he couldn't find any evidence to prove that Gin and Black Cherry were siblings. All the data did not support him.
How could this be? He stared at Gin with a sinister look in his eyes. It must be him, it must be him who did it!
"Don't you understand? Rum, you're mistaken. No matter how many times it's verified, no blood relation is no blood relation. 0815 is dead." Gin suddenly pulled out his gun, aimed it at Rum, and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
Three gunshots rang out in succession.
One shot to the shoulder, one shot to the abdomen, and one shot to the thigh.
As blood splattered, Rum collapsed to the ground, his face, which had been ashen with anger, turning deathly pale in an instant.
"It was my impulsiveness that offended you in front of the master. I accept any punishment you may give me." Gin put away his gun and faced the camera respectfully.
Bourbon felt a chill run down his spine. Gin actually dared to… Was he insane? Shooting Rum in front of the organization's boss, he was a complete madman!
Gin wasn't finished yet. After apologizing, he added, "But sir, regarding 0815, I hope this is the last time. Otherwise, next time, I will take Rum's life."
Rum's wailing stopped abruptly.
In the laboratory, everyone, including the researchers who hadn't left yet, was staring at Gin with incredulous expressions.
Is this... threatening Rum in front of Mr.?
Or perhaps... a threat to Mr.? This does sound suspiciously like a threat to Mr.!
No one in the organization would dare to say such a thing, but Gin did it today, and he didn't back down at all.
Standing next to Gin, Takanashi Chika saw more than the others. She noticed the taut crease of Gin's pants, the bulging veins in his neck, and the slight trembling in his hand holding the gun.
Would someone who holds a gun all the time and is even a master sniper have shaky hands?
Is he angry? Takanashi Chinatsu wondered. Gin was angry because a younger sister she had never met and who had died young had been offended.
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Author's Note: Hey, who's that little sister?
Red envelopes will be dropping in the comments section! See you all at midnight tomorrow!
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