Chapter 81 Fate has chosen them to die!
It felt like a huge rock was lodged in her chest. Takanashi Chika opened her mouth twice, then closed it twice. Three quiet and long minutes passed.
"If you don't belong to me, why should I be nice to you? You should understand that all of this comes at a price." As if enraged by her silence, Karasuma Renya tore apart his shallow hypocrisy, his eyes more like those of a man-eating tiger. He finally revealed his sharp claws to Chika.
But Qian Nai didn't care.
The moment she refused, China already knew the outcome.
She might be able to appease Karasuma Renya, or perhaps make her life easier and more fulfilling.
But was that really a perfect life?
If she herself is numb to accepting it, then what about those outside trying to save her?
Matsuda-kun...
The earrings were getting slightly warm, a constant reminder of who she truly loved.
Even if he dies, even if his soul is scattered, Takanashi Chika will never recognize a thief as her father.
"Dance." Karasuma Renya roughly pulled her arm.
Chinatsu Takanashi staggered. The music started, but she couldn't get into the mood. She just staggered and moved with each rough tug from Karasuma Renya.
Anyone could see that she didn't want to dance, but Karasuma Renya "couldn't see" it. He pulled at Chika again and again, trying to get her to keep up with the rhythm, but each time he hurt her more deeply.
He can choose not to care, of course he can.
Just like raising ravens, he didn't need to care about China's own wishes at all.
Karasuma Renya is using this method to destroy China's will.
Stop struggling, you can't win.
Stop resisting. Do you think your resistance will succeed?
Every step she took eroded China's fragile confidence, plunging her into an abyss of utter defeat.
"If you behave well, I might consider letting you meet Gin."
With a big stick in one hand and a red date in the other, Karasuma Renya has mastered the art of controlling people very well.
Chika Takanashi's eyes indeed lit up slightly.
But soon, the light went out, and she looked at Takanashi Yuki, who was standing in the corner waiting for orders.
"What are you upset about now?" Karasuma Renya angrily grabbed her chin, forcibly pulling her by the chin and dragging her by the arm to Takanashi Yuki.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, and Takanashi Chinatsu fell to the ground, the scraping and scraping making her legs ache.
She struggled desperately, but was no match for Karasuma Renya's strength. She had clearly taken out the dagger, but Karasuma Renya easily countered it, and she couldn't hurt him at all.
"Look carefully, this is your adoptive father!" Karasuma Renya forcefully turned her head to look directly at Takanashi Yuki.
The next second, with a whip kick, Karasuma Renya sent Takanashi Yuuki flying.
"Father!"
Her exclamation did not awaken Karasuma Renya's conscience; instead, he began to crush Takanashi Yuuki's right hand, which was pressed to the ground, with even greater force, grinding Yuuki's fingers until they were bloody and mangled.
"Stop, Karasuma Renya, stop!"
"Why did I stop?" Karasuma Renya did indeed pause.
Two seconds, two seconds of silence.
Karasuma Renya sneered and began to crush Kisei's hand again.
Takanashi Chinatsu seemed to finally break down and shouted, "I'm willing to dance with you, Karasuma Renya, I'm willing to dance with you!"
This time, Karasuma Renya really stopped.
He moved his foot away, but did not command the little bird to stand up.
Looking down at him with disdain.
“This is your adoptive father. Every time you call him ‘father,’ you are calling him.”
Worried that her adoptive father would suffer further torment, Takanashi Chinatsu immediately said, "I can call you father too."
"No need, my goal right now is not to be your father."
Takanashi Chika looked up at him, but was frightened by the sinister and domineering look in Karasuma Renya's eyes, and quickly looked away.
"Chika, I really don't understand, what's so good about this old geezer?" Karasuma Renya belittled him wantonly: "If he were capable enough, he wouldn't have been exposed back then. If he were capable enough, he could have rebelled now. But did you see? He couldn't even withstand the organization's hypnosis. What right does this piece of trash have to be your father?"
Chinatsu Takanashi didn't dare to utter a single word in rebuttal, fearing that Renya Karasuma might have a relapse at any moment.
Have you ever heard the saying, "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on"?
She had certainly heard that, but some things weren't calculated that way.
“If you’re with me, even though I think he’s useless, he’s still your adopted father, so I can respect him a bit. For example… I could break his hypnosis.”
Temptation, immense temptation.
The moment Karasuma Renya spoke, Takanashi Chika looked at him, her eyes eagerly seeking an answer.
“There’s no need for me to lie to you,” Karasuma Renya smiled.
"Thump" "Thump"
Chizuru's heart pounded like a drum.
The drumbeats grew more rapid and louder with each beat.
Her eyes lit up again; she missed her real adoptive father terribly.
But she quickly became wary: "How do I know if you're lying to me? After all, people who have been hypnotized by the organization are indistinguishable to the average person."
“Didn’t I already say? There’s no need. Do you think Smino is useful? He does have some abilities, but they’re not outstanding among the Ravens. His only outstanding quality is his closeness to you. But if you’re willing to be with me, I naturally won’t continue to use him.” Karasuma Renya’s eyes were sincere, and his voice was earnest.
He wasn't lying.
Takanashi Chinatsu is smitten, realizing that Karasuma Renya's words were true.
For China, the deal that could bring her father back to his senses was incredibly profitable.
"I need you to bring him back to his senses first."
Upon hearing this request, Karasuma Renya smiled but shook his head in refusal.
"It would be great if you could agree, but China, your fickleness is a bit frustrating, so I can't grant your request. But don't worry, as long as you marry me and take APTX4869, I will immediately help him break the hypnosis."
APTX4869? That's a drug that the Miyano couple researched.
Takanashi Chinatsu frowned deeply and asked, "Is it your elixir of immortality?"
"I suppose so. After I took APTX4869, I regained my youth. APTX4869 has the power to reverse time, so it can be called an elixir of immortality. Of course, after meeting you, I have had the research institute develop a version that fixes age. If you take it, you will not become young again, but your appearance will be forever frozen in your current youthful and beautiful state."
"You're willing to give me such precious medicine?" Takanashi Chinatsu asked with a look of suspicion.
Karasuma Renya's gaze softened suddenly, and her voice became tender and affectionate: "Did you think I've been lying to you all along? When I said I was willing to share power with you, I meant I was willing to share all power with you. When I said I was willing to share wealth with you, then that wealth would belong to both of us. I want to keep you by my side for a long, long time, so of course I want to share this endless life with you."
He seemed genuinely affectionate, except for ignoring her wishes.
But Qiannai still didn't understand: "You already have something that 99% of people in this world can't have. I don't understand why you insist on finding me, and even want to share everything with me. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy it all by yourself?"
Karasuma Renya's eyes were dim and weary.
At this moment, his eyes were filled with complex emotions, as if he were an old man who had truly lived through a hundred years, having gained everything yet feeling as if he had lost everything.
“Loneliness,” he said slowly.
When the word was uttered, Chinatsu Takanashi even began to doubt her own ears.
Did she hear wrong? Karasuma Renya, who seemed omniscient, omnipotent, and blessed by fate with a smooth and successful life, was actually being pretentious about "loneliness"?
Chinatsu Takanashi was so angry she almost laughed.
"Can't you go out and have fun when you're lonely? Go on a trip, go to the movies, eat hot pot. With so much money, are you afraid no one will like you? If all else fails, go to a brothel!" She spoke recklessly, her head throbbing with anger.
Even prostitution is better than forcibly taking women here, at least that's consensual!
What is she now? Is she considered a vengeful spirit?
"Before I was born, my family was only considered middle class in Japan," Karasuma Renya suddenly began to recount the past.
Takanashi Chika rolled her eyes and started again. Although she looked young, it couldn't be denied that inside her youthful body was the soul of an old man, and she brought out some classic memories of her glorious years.
“But after I was born, the family kept going uphill, climbing higher and higher, no matter what I did or didn’t do, the family’s wealth grew larger and larger, and soon they became the richest family in Japan.” Although she said this, there was no joy in Karasuma Renya’s eyes, but rather more numbness.
"I always won the lottery, and the stocks I randomly picked would have explosive positive news and hit the daily limit. My parents said I was the lucky star of the family, and they even wanted to worship me. That period was the happiest time for my family."
Karasuma Renya was referring to "family members," not him.
"Schools? What's the use of schools? They can only teach knowledge, but they can't teach people how to make money."
"Making friends? What if it takes away all my good luck? No way, I can't have contact with outsiders!"
"I feed you, I spend money on you, I provide you with food, drink and entertainment, how can you still not be satisfied?"
"Why didn't the stocks you pointed out hit their daily limit this time? Did you secretly curse them? The economy is going to be in trouble, Renya, you have to pray for our family. Just do seven days and seven nights of chanting and praying. Didn't I say your uncle is going to become a high-ranking official? Can't you help him? How can you be so selfish!" Karasuma Renya said, her smile growing increasingly bitter.
Chika Takanashi seemed to realize something as well, and listened silently without interrupting.
"Since I'm the luckiest, since I bring good fortune to my family, since I'm the one favored by fate, then why am I the only one in the family living a life worse than a pig or a dog?" Karasuma Renya's expression was ferocious, like a madman, and he almost gritted his teeth as he uttered each word: "I! Want! The! To! Die!"
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Author's Note: Aww, the story is almost over!
Three more chapters to go until the end. The next story will be titled "Did Bluecurrant Cause Trouble Today?"
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