Kaguya Shinomiya didn't know how to describe her mood at this moment.
Nervous? Agitated? Sad? Excited? Expectant?
It seemed there was a bit of everything, more or less.
Family.
For children of ordinary families, family meant people you could trust and rely on, partners with whom you walked hand in hand to face difficulties. Family members were elders who taught you how to grow, significant others who supported you, and juniors whom you guided step by step in their growth.
But for Kaguya Shinomiya, the word "family" only evoked a sense of incomparable disgust.
Control, oppression, the trampling of human nature, the unscrupulous violation of laws and moral baselines—everything was driven by pure profit.
This extended family brought Kaguya only a darkness that sickened her; it had never made her happy for even a single day.
There were four children in Kaguya Shinomiya's generation. Arranged by age, they were Huangguang Shinomiya, Qinglong Shinomiya, Yunying Shinomiya, and Kaguya Shinomiya.
Among them, Huangguang Shinomiya, as the eldest son, now managed a portion of the Shinomiya family business and was basically regarded as Gan'an Shinomiya's successor. The second brother, Qinglong Shinomiya, was an incompetent fool who only knew how to covet women; no matter what he did, he followed the lead of his eldest brother Huangguang, purely a tagalong.
In comparison, although Yunying Shinomiya was also a rotten person, he at least had a shred of conscience. As a child born to a later wife, Yunying Shinomiya had practically no power to speak of in the conservative and traditional Shinomiya household. Thus, he developed a diplomatic strategy based mainly on intimidation and terror. Yet even so, because he wasn't taken seriously, he didn't have much opportunity to dirty his hands, to the point that, looking at it comprehensively, this person could actually be counted as a good guy.
As for the youngest daughter, Kaguya Shinomiya, she was born to a hostess her father, Gan'an Shinomiya, had found outside. Let's not mention the melodramatic story involved for now; just treat it as that old thief Akasaka having a serious illness. In short, she was even less valued, and many in the Shinomiya family simply treated her as if she didn't exist. During this time, it was her third brother, Yunying Shinomiya, who took over caring for her as she grew up, teaching Kaguya how to survive in the dark and cold environment of the Shinomiya family.
In a sense, it could be said that the pathological side of Kaguya Shinomiya all came from her brother, Yunying Shinomiya.
But from another perspective, if not for this third brother's teachings, Kaguya Shinomiya would have only become someone even worse and more rotten than she was now, perhaps someone completely beyond saving.
If this wealthy family's melodramatic story were to be expanded in detail, it could probably drag on for a long time. However, Gao Hai really didn't want to pay attention to such things. He didn't have the time to understand the domestic trifles of others.
Rather than agonizing over such boring issues, he would be better off memorizing the various rules and intelligence in [Campus Horror Stories]. In case he was unlucky enough to be thrown in there one day, he would at least be prepared. In fact, Gao Hai already planned to find Koikawa-san and Aoyama Nanami in two days to investigate the situation of the Red Moon-level instances and the max-difficulty Dim Night-level instances known in the player circle, making full preparations to deal with possible situations.
Therefore, for Gao Hai, the only reason left for him to continue paying attention to the Shinomiya family was Kaguya Shinomiya herself.
This teammate who had shared life and death with him in the instance. Her hesitation, her conflict, and her wavering were the only reasons he was standing here now.
"Have you really decided? You want to go with me?"
Gao Hai raised his head, glancing at the sky which had already dimmed, then turned to look at Kaguya Shinomiya beside him.
"Mhm, I've already decided..."
Kaguya Shinomiya nodded gently. Although she was trying hard to maintain a calm surface, Gao Hai still spotted that trace of wavering in the young girl's gaze.
"The current you no longer needs to be restricted by these people. But to understand that the shackles on your body no longer exist—such a thing takes time and energy to slowly comprehend. You don't need to force yourself to break free. After all, you still have us. With me, Maki, and Chika here, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Think it over carefully; do you truly have this resolve?"
Knowing that Kaguya was actually following him here by forcing herself, Gao Hai thought about it and decided to advise her. In case this girl lost her nerve after going upstairs, it might leave a deep psychological shadow later, so it was better to think it through more prudently.
He could already feel the changes in Kaguya.
The girl who was as cold as frost when they first met at Shirakawa Apartments had now undergone a considerable degree of change. Under the terror game of rules-based horror stories, Kaguya had gradually begun to learn to consider the interests of Gao Hai, Maki, and Chika. She no longer centered everything completely on herself, and that cold side had more or less begun to weaken.
If she continued to change, perhaps she couldn't become the carefree girl in love from the original work, but at least she wouldn't be like the initial Ice Kaguya who didn't listen to human speech anymore. This was actually a very good thing.
It was just that right now, Kaguya was forcing herself to undergo further change, and Gao Hai wasn't sure if this was good or bad. Thus, cautious by nature, he tried to persuade her.
"...No. If I retreat here, it will be very difficult for me to muster up courage again in the future."
But in response, Kaguya simply took a deep breath, the expression on her face becoming even more determined instead.
The self of today was already different from the past.
So, there was no reason to continue retreating. It was time to make a change.
"Let's go, Gao-kun."
The young girl said seriously to Gao Hai beside her.
"Alright."
Seeing that the other party's mindset had stabilized and her conviction was firm, Gao Hai didn't say anything more. He nodded and moved directly forward, entering the luxury hotel called Dongming Building.
Attendants were already waiting for Gao Hai's arrival at the hotel entrance. These people weren't surprised by Kaguya's appearance; they simply split off a few people to politely ask Kaguya to leave, while the rest continued to guide Gao Hai upstairs.
"Miss Kaguya, this session was booked by Young Master Huangguang. Please return."
The attendant spoke to Kaguya with a stiff attitude, blocking her way coldly.
"Do you underlings get to decide where I go?"
In the next moment, amidst Kaguya's voice that was as cold as frost, these underlings couldn't help but retreat, actually unable to muster the courage to stop her.
W-What is going on?!
These strictly trained servants couldn't help but feel terrified.
At this moment, the aura radiating from Kaguya was like a formidable spirit honed through countless life-and-death crises.
But how could a princess raised in a cage, who rarely went out, possibly have such an aura?
The attendants facing Kaguya Shinomiya felt a chill in both body and mind.
But even so, as underlings, they couldn't retreat here.
"Miss, forgive us..."
Therefore, these servants ultimately took a step forward, deciding to temporarily restrain Kaguya.
And then there was no 'then'. Kaguya Shinomiya walked expressionlessly past the servants who had fainted on the ground. With strength and speed enhanced to the limits of the human body, her beating these servants flat was even easier than beating up ten little roosters raised for two and a half years. At least the latter wouldn't rush up to get beaten but would run, jump, and scurry all over the ground.
Gao Hai stood in the elevator, propping the elevator door open with one hand. He waited until Kaguya arrived before letting go, allowing her to enter the elevator, and then signaled the attendant inside that they could continue.
"Mr. Gao, this is somewhat against the rules..."
The attendant appeared very troubled.
"Screw your rules. If you don't want to press it, get lost."
Gao Hai had absolutely no intention of wasting words with him, speaking directly with utter disgust.
Thus, the attendant immediately behaved himself, dutifully pressing the number on the elevator button, then stood aside against the wall.
Very quickly, the elevator reached the floor they needed to go to. Unsurprisingly, as soon as the elevator door opened, Gao Hai saw more than ten thugs in black suits standing in the corridor, looking at him and Kaguya in full battle array.
"I suddenly have the feeling that a supernatural movie set has turned into a martial arts movie set."
Gao Hai roasted as he walked out of the elevator.
"In fact, these people are all here to stop me. Presumably, because I beat his subordinates, my eldest brother feels he lost face."
Walking out beside Gao Hai, Kaguya followed up with a faint tone.
"Then do you need my help?"
Gao Hai asked with great interest.
"No need. It's just some trash; I am enough on my own."
Kaguya's voice was full of contempt. She didn't even carefully look at the thugs standing in front of her.
Unsurprisingly, an attendant stepped forward to lead the way for Gao Hai, taking him to continue forward.
Meanwhile, Kaguya at the rear was intercepted by the thugs. Then, in less than ten seconds, she caught up with Gao Hai again, the clothes on her body neither dirty nor messy.
Opening the door to a luxury private room.
Gao Hai stepped inside and saw a huge screen on one side of the room. At this moment, on the other side of the screen sat a bald man with a mustache. He looked like he was brewing tea, and there was also a tea set laid out in this private room. It seemed this man intended to drink tea with Gao Hai remotely through this projector.
However, after Kaguya followed in, that man completely lost any interest in drinking tea.
"What are you doing, Kaguya? I don't recall you being such an uneducated and rude child, right? Could it be you think that just because your kung fu skills have improved, you can get cross with me? With you acting like this, which man will you be able to marry in the future? Are you planning to completely disgrace our Shinomiya family?"
The man named Huangguang Shinomiya placed his teacup on the table and asked with irritable emotions.
"...Ambition must match ability. Then correspondingly, after possessing the corresponding ability, ambition should also advance with the times. Is what I said incorrect, Big Brother?"
Upon hearing Huangguang's indifferent voice, Kaguya instinctively showed a slight sign of retreating. But very quickly, she composed herself, raising her head to stare expressionlessly at Huangguang on the screen, her voice cold as she spoke slowly.
"Is that so? Then why don't you tell me, what abilities do you have? Are there enough subordinates who trust you? Are there enough assets you can dispose of at will? Or is there some corporation or high official backing you? Was your brain kicked by a donkey? Do you think that just because you can knock down a dozen thugs with your bare hands, you can threaten me?!"
Huangguang's expression became increasingly irritable. He completely disregarded Gao Hai's presence and flared up directly at Kaguya.
He simply couldn't believe that Kaguya, a caged bird who had merely submitted to adversity for seventeen years, would suddenly rebel against him—and with such childish and stupid means of resistance at that.
Born into the traditional and closed Shinomiya family, Huangguang had always treated Kaguya merely as a chess piece. He had originally planned to marry her off to win over some faction once she came of age. As for Kaguya's own thoughts, that wasn't important; Kaguya Shinomiya, completely under the Shinomiya family's control, had no right to refuse his arrangements as her eldest brother.
But now, this fledgling bird had darted out of the cage and pecked him.
Although this peck was completely painless and couldn't be called a threat at all, for Huangguang Shinomiya, who had always had everything under control, this was already something he could not tolerate no matter what.
"Yes, I don't have many close aides who follow me, I don't have many people I trust or forces I can utilize. Even now, the people I can wholeheartedly trust are few enough to be counted on one hand."
Standing motionless in place, Kaguya gave a light smile. The expression with which she looked at Huangguang, however, was like looking at an ant.
"So, what exactly is the foundation of your confidence to threaten me here?"
Huangguang frowned tight. He sensed something amiss from Kaguya's expression.
"It's simple. The support I've obtained is of only one kind, and that is power. Absolute power that makes you unable to resist. Therefore, you no longer have the possibility of restraining me. Because in the face of this power, you simply don't have any means to threaten me. And if I want to eliminate your followers and kill you, my eldest brother, it is merely a small matter I can accomplish casually."
After finishing this sentence, Kaguya didn't even bother to look at that man jumping with rage again. She turned her head directly to look at the floor-to-ceiling window on the side, gazing at the brightly lit city under the night curtain.
"Gao-kun, can you help me?"
She turned her head to look at Gao Hai again, requesting him very seriously.
"What do you need me to do?"
Gao Hai answered very casually, having more or less guessed this girl's plan in his heart.
"My eldest brother really doesn't understand hospitality; he can't even manage a face-to-face interaction. He needs to be properly punished. I know where he is right now. Can you take me there?"
Kaguya lowered her head, her tone extremely sincere.
"No need to be so polite; we shouldn't be estranged to this extent yet. In that case, you don't mind if I use a rather flashy method of travel, right?"
Gao Hai reached out to brace Kaguya's shoulder so she wouldn't bow down completely, then smiled and spoke.
Then, amidst Kaguya's gentle nod, Gao Hai's eyes turned into a blood-red color.
In an instant, everyone in the room except for Gao Hai and Kaguya fell directly to the floor due to intense terror.
This was the Blessing belonging to Hedal, which significantly strengthened physical fitness within a short period. It was a terrifying power remaining from the composite obsession formed by the resentment of countless people killed by the Research Base.
He didn't even need to use it; just by activating the Blessing, Gao Hai could easily make ordinary people lose the courage to fight him.
"We're setting off."
Gao Hai spoke in a low voice.
Boom!!!
A loud explosion rang out as Gao Hai leaped forward. His feet directly crushed the floor as he flew out the window, instantly jumping to a height of dozens of meters.
This single leap of his covered a distance of nearly a hundred meters. He landed heavily on the roof of an office building, directly stomping through the surface amidst a violent tremor and landing in the top floor of the office building, which had not yet been rented out.
"I was careless. The power of this Blessing is too strong. I originally thought it strengthened me into Colossus, but now it looks like it directly strengthened me into a little Hulk."
Gao Hai, who hadn't anticipated this Blessing would be so violent at all, was a bit dumbfounded.
"Don't mind it. As long as no one was hurt, it doesn't matter. At worst, just have the Shinomiya Group's people come over to pay for damages tomorrow. The usage time of this Blessing is limited, so it's better to move a bit faster."
Kaguya, whose arms were circled around Gao Hai's neck as she was carried on his back, had a completely indifferent attitude, merely urging Gao Hai on.
"Don't rush, there's still plenty of time."
Gao Hai gave a low laugh. With a light jump, he leaped from the collapsed area below onto the roof. Then, striding out once more, he swept swiftly across the rooftops at a speed of over 70 kilometers per hour.
At the same time, located in a mansion in the Tokyo suburbs, Huangguang Shinomiya, after seeing Gao Hai carry Kaguya and jump out the window with movements impossible for a normal person—disappearing from view—had already realized the situation was wrong. Therefore, after a moment of silent hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
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