Chapter 51 Magic? Luck? Black Cherry Meets Its Nemesis...
The feigned death went very smoothly.
When Chika Takanashi stood at the airport, the sunlight streamed through the transparent glass of the terminal, making her feel warm and cozy.
She stood on tiptoe, watching from afar as Kenji Hagiwara and his ghostly friends said goodbye. They had deliberately chosen a spot where they wouldn't get in the way, so as not to freeze pedestrians.
"China, look up," said Lai beside her.
When Takanashi Chika looked up, she saw Akai Mary on the second floor, wearing a beige sun hat and stylish light red sunglasses, quietly looking down.
She didn't greet me, but quickly looked away.
Ultimately, she was too soft-hearted, and with Lai by her side to coax her, Takanashi Chinatsu finally agreed to cooperate with Akai Mary.
"Chika, we're leaving!" Kenji Hagiwara returned after saying goodbye to his friends.
"Let's board," said Chinatsu Takanashi.
Lai glanced again in the direction where Kenji Hagiwara had just been, nodded, and led Chinatsu Kotori to check the tickets.
This flight is bound for Canada. Acquavit's parents have passed away, but he still has a younger sister.
In fact, Takanashi Chinatsu felt it was unnecessary. Her younger sister, who was only in junior high school, couldn't do anything, and the organization wanted to silence her just to show off their authority. Takanashi Chinatsu really disagreed with this.
But she has never had a say in these kinds of things.
The plane flew for seven or eight hours. When it landed, it was a rainy day, and the dense clouds affected the landing. The plane circled around for a long time before finally finding an opportunity to land.
Just as I found a hotel with my luggage, the dark clouds seemed to have lost their hold and suddenly a torrential downpour began.
"Looks like I'll have to contact CSIS later." Leigh stood by the window, a hint of relief lingering in his eyes.
Compared to MI6, he was completely clueless about CSIS, having no connections whatsoever there.
Chinatsu Takanashi wasn't worried, because Kenji Hagiwara had already gone out socializing, and there were always ghosts who could strike up a conversation with CSIS.
Half an hour later, Kenji Hagiwara returned dejectedly, looking completely listless.
"What's wrong?"
“What?” Lei asked.
Takanashi Chika shook her head; she wasn't asking about Rai.
Ray's gaze immediately swept sharply towards Kenji Hagiwara. Although he couldn't see anything, he was certain that something was there.
"I can't find any ghosts here?" Despite having gathered friends and family in England, Kenji Hagiwara searched for a long time after arriving here, but he couldn't find even a single ghost.
Chika Takanashi also sighed, but it wasn't actually unexpected.
That's quite normal. I didn't see many ghosts when I was in Japan. It would be strange if the streets were full of weird things like in the UK.
"How do we contact CSIS now?" Kenji Hagiwara said, his eyes glancing at Ray.
Chika Takanashi also turned her gaze to Rai.
The combined gazes of the human and the ghost instantly put immense pressure on Lei, even though he couldn't see Kenji Hagiwara.
"I'll go down tonight. I should be able to find out some information in the underground market here. I don't know anyone in CSIS, so it's best not to arrange for someone to fake their death through official channels."
"Then I'll leave it to you. Is there anything I can do?"
“Stay quietly in the hotel,” Lei said with a smile.
Takanashi Chinatsu's expression turned cold. Was she implying that she couldn't do anything?
Klay then said, "China, you are the most important. If we are to fake our death, we need more luck than ability. As long as you are here, we will be invincible."
Everyone loves to hear nice things, but you can also say that candy bombs are corrupting.
Chinatsu Takanashi immediately became smug. She also believed that with her luck, she could succeed at anything she truly wanted to do.
Under the cover of night, Lai put on a black raincoat and rushed into the downpour.
Chinatsu Takanashi wasn't completely idle either. While sending messages to inquire about Matsuda Jinpei's recent situation, she also carefully wrote a report explaining her mission in England.
Karasuma Renya always reads her reports first.
Soon, Karasuma Renya replied: Well done. You have proven your ability to me. You can end the mission and return home.
Takanashi Chika looked completely bewildered. "Can I go back home now?"
Doesn't he care about Aquavit's sister anymore?
Karasuma Renya couldn't possibly have let the other party go on a whim. He was gloomy and cold-blooded, and never showed mercy to anyone.
The fact that she's ending the mission now means that someone else has been sent to carry it out!
The lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only the faint blue glow of the computer screen.
The power is out.
Takanashi Chika hugged her arms tightly, feeling a chill run down her spine just looking at the emotionless text on the email.
"Boom!"
A blindingly white thunderbolt struck.
A figure suddenly appeared in Takanashi Chinatsu's room, carrying a burnt smell.
"Ah!" Takanashi Chika exclaimed softly, only then realizing it was Rai.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" Lei's voice was devoid of emotion.
"You're back so soon?"
"Because the mission is over." Lei had obviously received the message as well.
Takanashi Chika immediately stood up, wanting to ask him what had happened and whether they were going to trick the people who came to carry out the mission, but suddenly she saw a bewildered figure behind Rai.
The figure was small and thin, with fiery red blonde hair, such a vibrant color that it made her already pale skin appear even more bloodless.
Those blue-green eyes were exceptionally empty, like a wandering soul.
She was indeed a wandering spirit.
It's Sophie, Aquavit's sister, and their target for this mission.
Upon closer inspection, the smoky smell actually wasn't coming from Ray, but from Sophie, whose body was constantly emitting smoke.
"It's a ghost!" Kenji Hagiwara exclaimed, but there was no joy in his eyes.
"What's behind me?" Ray asked keenly.
"Sophie is dead, isn't she?"
Ray nodded, but had no time to wallow in sorrow, saying, "We're going back home immediately; this mission is over."
Is it a big fire?
Lai paused for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at the empty air behind him, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He instinctively clenched his fist, then calmly said, "It's a fire. When I got there, her house was already on fire. Although it was pouring rain, the fire was too fierce to extinguish quickly, and there was also thick smoke..."
Lai didn't finish his sentence, but it seemed as if he had already said everything.
"Is no one going to put out the fire?"
"Many people are putting out the fire."
"Then why..." Takanashi Chinatsu started to say, but then shut her mouth weakly.
She understood that if it was a fierce fire, even torrential rain or high-pressure water jets would not be able to extinguish it completely in a short time.
Sophie is dead, and her ghost comes before her.
"Hey, are you alright?" Kenji Hagiwara tried to greet Sophie.
Sophie did not respond, but stared blankly ahead.
“When a person has just died, their soul goes through a period of confusion,” explained Kenji Hagiwara and Chika Asahi.
Chika Takanashi clenched her fists, her nails digging heavily into her palms.
Just died...
Sophie had only recently died.
If she had acted sooner, if she had contacted Sophie sooner, perhaps she wouldn't have died.
Why couldn't she have started earlier? Why did she always have to be just one step behind?
Because she is so lucky, there are few things in this world that she cannot achieve, and even if there are, they are never just one step away.
It was like a joke played on her by fate, not only not funny, but also incredibly ironic.
Just one step away...
But they were just one step away...
It wasn't just because of this mockery, it wasn't just because of Sophie; Takanashi Chinatsu also had a deeper fear.
Is the magic of luck fading?
If she is no longer lucky, does that mean her adoptive father is dead?
If... if...
The sudden ringing of her cell phone pulled Takanashi Chinatsu back to her shaky sanity.
She answered the call blankly, and Gin's deep voice came from the other end.
"The master has assigned the task of killing Sophie to Rum," Gin said bluntly.
Chinatsu Takanashi didn't say anything.
Although she felt apologetic and it seemed cold-blooded, China wasn't actually paying attention to Sophie at the moment. People have different degrees of closeness or distance, and she was more concerned about her adoptive father's situation.
“Come back to the country, Black Cherry.” Gin’s voice softened and warmed. “He and I are waiting for you.”
Like a shot of adrenaline, Takanashi Chinatsu immediately perked up, and even without regard for Rai's presence, she subconsciously asked, "Is he alright?"
"He's fine, we're all waiting for you to come back."
This was the first time Gin had admitted to Takanashi Chika that Takanashi Yuusei was still alive.
Chizuru's heart went from heaven to hell and back again, and after several rounds of this, it finally settled back into her chest.
"I will go back, I will go back as soon as possible," she emphasized, full of excitement.
Before Takanashi Chinatsu could even feel relieved after hanging up the phone, she immediately heard Hagiwara Kenji exclaim in surprise.
"Damn it, let her go!"
Chika immediately looked over and saw a large white, fleshy ball with a pair of wings. It threw out a white rope, holding one end of the rope in one hand and looping the other end around Sophie's neck, about to drag her away.
Kenji Hagiwara bravely stood in front of the monster. Although he was not very capable, he had plenty of firepower. He gripped a machine gun and started firing at the monster.
"Let her go, monster! Don't even think about taking her away!" Kenji Hagiwara shouted as he fired at the monster, bullet casings littering the ground.
The monster was clearly terrified; its round body was hidden by its pair of pure white wings, and it trembled in the hail of bullets.
Kenji Hagiwara quickly stepped forward, yanked the rope off Sophie's neck, and then used the rope to tightly wrap the fleshy ball around her neck three times.
"How dare you come up to me and arrest someone? Do you know I'm a police officer?" Kenji Hagiwara kicked the ball of flesh, his arrogant and domineering demeanor making him look less like a police officer and more like a robber.
Chizuru Takanashi gazed at the sky speechlessly, thinking, "Indeed, people turn bad when they have money, and they become robbers when they have weapons."
It is noon in Japan.
Takanashi Yuuki was already very familiar with Gin's house. She casually grabbed a can of beer from the refrigerator and drank it down without any hesitation, even under Gin's murderous gaze.
"On a hot summer day, you should drink something ice-cold," Takanashi Yuki remarked comfortably.
"If you don't explain yourself clearly, I'll rip a few holes in your stomach," Gin said menacingly, his eyes fixed on the banknotes on the coffee table.
Takanashi Yuki just found some money.
Finding money is nothing strange; Takanashi Chinatsu often goes out and finds money, but it's completely impossible for it to fall into Takanashi Yuki's hands.
He brought good fortune to China, but he took on her misfortune in return. He was more likely to trip and fall than to find money.
"Sigh, there is indeed a problem." Takanashi Yuki's expression was gloomy as he bent down and clutched the money in his hand.
The texture of real money is very obvious when you rub it between your fingers.
It's real money, no tricks, no bad luck.
After casting a luck spell on Takanashi Chinatsu, Takanashi Yuuki hadn't been this lucky in a long time.
"The effect has reversed?" Gin's fingers caressed Beretta; he didn't necessarily want to fire, it was just a habitual action.
"No, there is no reversal."
Gin sneered and glanced at the money in his hand.
"There was a brief reversal," Takanashi Yuki had to admit, but it only lasted a very short time, less than two hours.
He had examined the magical structure and sensed its effects; at least for now, it was functioning normally again.
"You're behind this?"
Takanashi Yuuki finished his beer, then slowly crushed the can. Suddenly, his finger stung, and bright red blood flowed out.
"Look, I got scratched." Takanashi Yuki held up her finger to show him.
The wound wasn't deep, and he quickly loosened his grip as the pain came, but this already proved that he was still plagued by misfortune.
As for that brief stroke of luck...
"More powerful magic or more powerful luck, which would you prefer?" Takanashi Yuuki asked him.
Gin didn't speak; he didn't understand any of this.
“Tongze Eriol possesses far greater magical power. If he wanted to, even without understanding the intricacies of magic, he could easily reverse the spell I cast on Qianna. Of course, he's not our enemy, so we haven't done that yet.” Takanashi Yuki greatly admired Eriol; the magic emanating from him was so powerful that even a novice mage like himself dared not look directly at him.
This time it certainly won't be Eriol either; if it's not Eriol, it could be some other powerful magician.
Takanashi Yuki knew very well that although he was talented and his magical power was not low, he had neglected his training for so many years, and there were probably many magicians in the magic world who were stronger than him.
If it were a magician, Takanashi Yuuki wouldn't be worried at all. After all, Chinatsu has such a good relationship with the Kinomoto family and knows Eriol, so she can't possibly suffer a big loss.
But what if her opponent is someone who is born lucky?
The curse of luck has its limits; it's impossible to make someone lucky indefinitely. When China encounters someone even luckier than her, and their goals are completely contrary to each other's, the curse of luck will naturally fail.
Chinatsu's plan will fail, and this failure will turn into good fortune for Takanashi Yuki.
Takanashi Yuuki scratched her head and said to Gin with a helpless expression, "I hope my opponent is a magician."
"Are you sir?" Gin suddenly asked.
The little bird swims and becomes silent.
Is it sir? It couldn't possibly be Rum.
Time and time again, Rum has never been a match for China, and he has no chance of defeating her this time either.
But what if the opponent is Mr.
Magic? Luck? Or some other powerful force?
"Will the master know?" Gin asked another question.
Takanashi Yuki remained silent; Gin kept asking these questions that he couldn't answer.
“He always knows everything.” Gin had an almost blind admiration for Karasuma Renya.
After a long while, Takanashi Yuki asked, "Was it because China was lucky that Karasuma Renya adopted her, or was it because she was lucky enough to be adopted by Karasuma Renya?"
The problems seem the same, but they are worlds apart.
Gin was speechless for a moment, only pursing his lips tightly.
“If Karasuma Renya is equally lucky, it would make perfect sense for him to adopt Chinatsu, who is just as lucky.” Takanashi Yuki’s face turned extremely gloomy. After a long while, he said, “No, I suspect that he has ulterior motives for adopting Chinatsu. I have to investigate.”
Takanashi Yuki started to walk outside.
"China will be back soon."
"I can't wait any longer. Karasuma Renya is no good." Takanashi Yuusei left the house.
Gin silently tossed a cigarette to his lips, lit it, and watched him walk away with a solemn expression.
Chika... If Karasuma Renya really has ulterior motives towards her, can they protect her?
A day later, Takanashi Chika returned to Japan, and Gin personally came to pick her up at the airport.
He was still wearing that fierce black overcoat, and when he stood in the crowd, he was like a natural freezer, with people automatically clearing a space around him.
He remained calm throughout, completely oblivious to everything around him, until he saw China appear.
Gin quickened his pace, raised his hand, and stroked her soft, long hair down to her waist.
"Did you have fun?"
"Not bad!" Takanashi Chinatsu forced a smile, but deep in her eyes was worry.
Lai, carrying his luggage, said, "Gin, since you drove here..."
“Give it to me.” Gin held out his hand to him.
Lei instinctively handed him the luggage that belonged to Takanashi Chika.
"Take a taxi back yourself." With one hand carrying his luggage and the other arm around Takanashi Chinatsu, Gin led her into his car.
Lai stood there stunned for a while, then finally shrugged helplessly and resignedly went to hail a taxi.
Kenji Hagiwara naturally followed Chika, holding the still dazed ghost Sophie with one hand and pulling the rope with the other, causing the white fleshy ball at the other end of the rope to bounce back and forth.
Takanashi Chinatsu rarely sits in the passenger seat, and after getting in the car, she couldn't wait to ask, "Where is he?"
"He's disguised and currently codenamed Liqueur."
Having received the answer she wanted, Takanashi Chinatsu slumped back in her seat with a relieved expression.
Do you remember the phone call I made to you? What happened then?
Upon hearing this, Chinatsu glanced at Sophie and said sadly, "Sophie has been killed."
"Foolish!" Gin deduced almost immediately what Takanashi Chinatsu was up to; she actually wanted to help Sophie escape.
Chizuru Takanashi pouted, too afraid to speak.
"Does Ray know?"
"I haven't had time to do anything yet." Takanashi Chika didn't want to reveal her intentions to Gin, even though he was her own brother, he truly hated undercover agents.
Gin glanced at Takanashi Chika indifferently and said, "At that time, he found the money."
Chinatsu Takanashi's eyes widened immediately.
"Although it was only a temporary reversal of the effect, according to his analysis, it's either because you encountered a more powerful magician or because you encountered a naturally lucky opponent. He has already started to investigate."
"So we won't see him today?" Takanashi Chinatsu looked disappointed.
"Distinguish between what's important and what's urgent. This is no small matter," Gin snapped.
Chizuru Takanashi pouted, but dared not argue, and only sullenly agreed.
"What else are you hiding from me?" Gin glanced at Takanashi Chinatsu, signaling her to confess.
Does Chizuru Takanashi look confused?
Do I need to remind you? What's missing from your house?
Takanashi Chika suddenly realized what was happening and became nervous as well.
Kenji Hagiwara was also very nervous, sensing that Gin was in a bad mood and was about to take it out on him.
"You went to ask Eriol, didn't you? There's a reason I didn't give you the book. When will you ever listen to me?" Gin's tone was stern. Using his magic to raise a ghost, couldn't he just stop doing something so selfish and harmful? He had clearly taken the book, but he still couldn't prevent his sister from sacrificing herself.
Chinatsuko Takanashi lowered her head and said in an even softer voice, "I'm not feeling unwell."
"If you feel uncomfortable because of him, I'll just kill him." Gin's tone was laced with murderous intent.
Kenji Hagiwara immediately hugged himself in terror. Gin was clearly just an ordinary person, yet he gave him a terrifying feeling of someone who truly meant what he said.
"Brother..." she said in a very soft voice, with a faint, weak ending.
Gin immediately shut his mouth.
So many years have passed.
He searched for Qiannai for so many years and raised her for so many years, thinking he would never hear "brother" again.
He almost thought he was going to lose her.
He could forgive anything as long as his younger sister called him in a sweet, soft voice.
"Don't shout like that..."
“There’s no one from the organization here, and the second-year student already knows about our relationship.” Takanashi Chinatsu hugged Gin’s arm.
"Don't move, I'm driving."
"But I just want to hold you like this." Takanashi Chinatsu refused to let go.
Gin didn't say anything more and acquiesced.
Holding Gin's arm like that, and snuggling close to him, Takanashi Chinatsu's heart seemed to find peace.
Despite his stiff muscles, Gin seemed a little nervous, perhaps because they hadn't recognized each other for many years. But when Takanashi Chika leaned against him, she still felt like she was leaning against soft cotton, her whole body sinking into a ball of white cotton.
She reached out and gently hooked Gin's hair; his amber-gold hair and her own golden hair complemented each other perfectly.
It's all the organization's fault!
After she left, her brother must have gone through a lot of experiments, which is why his hair turned this color.
Although platinum gold is also beautiful, the thought of the various hardships he has suffered makes China's nose tingle.
She doesn't actually remember much.
A slender back, long golden hair, and an incredibly reassuring feeling.
Although her hair color had changed, her slender, tall figure and the reassuring feeling remained the same, making her unable to resist her attachment.
"Brother, I hate the organization." Like an ordinary little girl, Takanashi Chinatsu leaned on Gin's shoulder, complaining in a spoiled manner.
Gin's hand gently stroked her hair.
“It would be better if the organization didn’t exist,” she suddenly said.
It is a beautiful wish, a wish that is difficult for others to fulfill, and even more so, it is the deepest expectation in Takanashi Chinatsu's heart.
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