dmims Page 125
Page 125
"No way!" Nami, like the most meticulous and rational strategist, ruthlessly exposed her boast, which was full of exaggeration. "If I hadn't used my lightning gun to clear away those annoying spider webs beforehand, you would have been tied up like a dumpling long ago!"
"—You two, stop arguing!" Chelsea, like the most professional and dedicated "actress," proudly puffed out her not-so-impressive chest and said in a playful tone full of "taking credit," "If we're talking about the biggest contributor this time, it's definitely me, the perfect actress! If it weren't for me using my Oscar-worthy, superb acting skills to gain that stupid spider's trust, you two wouldn't even be able to touch her door!"
The girls chattered excitedly, arguing, showing off, and sharing their "fun" fruits of victory.
The living room was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
Gu Chuan, on the other hand, simply leaned back on the sofa quietly, smiling as he watched the warm and real "picture" before him, filled with the warmth of "family" and belonging solely to him.
He likes this feeling.
He likes to watch them laugh.
He enjoys watching them make a fuss.
He liked to look at them, at their vibrant, beautiful, and unique expressions, full of life.
This, perhaps, is what makes him, this capricious "collector," so unique and pure—
"—A twisted sense of humor."
at this time.
An urgent push notification from an official news app suddenly popped up.
—In this city, the high school girl who fell into a deep coma yesterday for unknown reasons miraculously awoke this morning. According to her attending physician, all her vital signs have returned to normal; however, she is slightly disoriented. She recalls having a very long, warm, and beautiful dream. At the end of the dream, she saw countless golden butterflies carrying her to a warm, light-filled ocean…
Gu Chuan, looking at the news article filled with the color of "miracle," softened the previously playful, kingly smile on his face.
222 Zashiki-warashi and the Disasters of Businesses
After resolving the trouble with the "spider," Gu Chuanna's leisurely "hunting game," filled with "surprises" and "unexpected events," ushered in a short, three-day "off-season."
Meanwhile, the apartment, which was filled with the warmth and noise of "family" in its daily life, became increasingly chaotic over these three days.
For example, that - Moon Chair Imprint Qi ET Billion Two (Eight) Feeder Dad position is, diligently, learning how to be a "qualified maid", a naive "otherworldly village girl", after experiencing several painful failures of turning the "kitchen" into a "battlefield", finally, completely gave up, to challenge those modern appliances full of "futuristic sense" that are even more incomprehensible to her than "forbidden spells".
She began to try to use her still-unskilled, "natural" "housekeeping magic" to carry out daily cleaning.
Then, on a sunny afternoon, as she tried to clean the living room carpet with a poetic incantation, "Wind, please take away all the dust," she accidentally used too much force and summoned a small, destructive tornado in the apartment's living room. It nearly blew the cool "Black Knight King," who was peacefully lying on the sofa watching "Tom and Jerry," along with the sofa, out the window.
For example, that "genius magician," who was always full of authority, dignity, and meticulous calculations, after calculating the "family financial statements" for three days and three nights, finally came to a conclusion that made people feel desperate: a "deficit."
With a lamenting tone that seemed to say, "If we don't find a way to make some money, we'll really have no choice but to file for bankruptcy as a group," she issued the harshest, final ultimatum to Gu Chuan, the hands-off manager, a tactic fraught with "financial crisis."
Looking at the scene before him, a picture full of "life," though somewhat chaotic, it was incredibly real and heartwarming. Once again, a "king's" smile, full of "mischievousness" and a love of watching the drama unfold, appeared on Gu Chuan's face.
He was about to speak up and tease the "housekeeper" who was already driven to the brink of madness.
However, at this moment.
A familiar, signature ringtone, full of "business coming in," rang at just the right moment.
Yes, that "health teacher," full of "fox-like" cunning and beauty.
"——Gu Chuanjun, good day."
On the other end of the phone came Yura Chitose's voice, which was always full of intellect and gentleness, mature and pleasant, and seemed to carry a hint of laughter.
But this time, the background noise wasn't the quiet infirmary filled with the smell of disinfectant.
Rather, it is a melodious, tranquil, and serene sound of the shamisen, full of classical charm.
"Teacher, you seem to be in a good mood today." Gu Chuan said casually, in a tone as if chatting with an old friend, "Aren't you dealing with those troublesome students full of adolescent worries at school?"
"Hehe, sometimes you need to give yourself a break, right?" Yura Chitose chuckled.
"Right now, I am enjoying a rare and leisurely afternoon tea in my small, insignificant teahouse."
“However…” she changed the subject, and that sly smile, full of a businesswoman's shrewdness, once again appeared without any attempt to hide it.
"The reason I'm bothering you at this time, our best and most capable cleaner, is because I've just received a very interesting and quite well-paid new job."
"This trouble is not some kind of malicious, filthy monster."
"But it was a child who wasn't very obedient, a bit mischievous, and had run away from home..."
She paused, then spoke slowly in a tone filled with helplessness, as if she were talking about a troublesome, one-sided child.
"——Zashiki Warashi."
"It seems that it grew tired of that ancient, rule-bound, and cold shrine, and secretly ran away to our city's most modern, prosperous, and wealth-filled financial center, and made its home in the headquarters building of a Fortune 500 multinational corporation."
"Then, its not-so-stable, and not-so-obedient, power belonging to the God of Fortune seems to have caused a little, not-so-harmonious disturbance."
"For example, let that company's stock rise and fall in a single day without warning, like the most thrilling roller coaster."
"For example, imagine that company's servers suddenly and collectively get infected during the most important business negotiations, and all the trade secrets are turned into a bunch of meaningless, childlike, cute emoticons."
"The CEO of that company is also one of my old clients who knows a little about the underworld. He's having a real headache right now. He hopes that we can get it out of his company without harming that esteemed little ancestor."
"And he was willing to pay a huge sum of money for this, enough to tempt any housekeeper who was worried about the family's financial deficit."
Listen to that "quote," so full of "temptation," as if it were specifically meant for you.
Rin Tohsaka's jewel-like red eyes, which had long since become somewhat dim due to the "deficit," instantly rekindled at this moment, shining with a "money"-like light, full of "hope"!
"We'll take this job!"
She didn't even consult Gu Chuan, the "head of the family," before making the decision on the spot with an absolute and unquestionable attitude, full of the air of a "housekeeper"!
…、栮十〧鸠妻琉玖翼叁〣刘…
This "hunt," or rather, "persuasion" mission, is clearly unsuitable for those professional "thugs" who are full of "violent aesthetics."
It needs new "players" who are more professional and know how to deal with "spirits".
Ultimately, under Gu Chuan's "mischievous" and autocratic decision, a brand-new "corporate elite team" filled with "incongruity" was officially established.
—Tu Shan Honghong, as a powerful "Demon Emperor" from the "spirit" side, is undoubtedly the best candidate to "communicate" with that willful "little ancestor" this time.
—Rin Tohsaka, with her brilliant mind full of "genius" and her innate powerful aura as a "young lady", perfectly played the role of a decisive "female executive" from the head office who came to conduct a "business investigation".
—And the gentle, always "healing" Matou Sakura became the last "secret weapon" to comfort the runaway "brat" this time.
When Rin Tohsaka, with her most professional and "fashionable" eye, styled top-notch "professional suits" for this brand-new "corporate elite team"—suits worthy of gracing the cover of any "financial magazine," exuding an aura of "asceticism" and "intellectualism"—
A brand new "game" full of "fun" officially began at this moment.
The apartment's living room had long since been transformed into a temporary "catwalk."
"—No...no way! These things called high heels are just too hard to wear!"
(Wang's) Tu Shan Honghong looked at the sharp "weapon" at her feet, which was more than ten centimeters long and could be used as a "murder weapon." For the first time, her usually expressionless pretty face revealed an emotion called "resistance."
Meanwhile, Matou Sakura, blushing, seemed somewhat at a loss as she tugged at the tight-fitting black office lady suit that perfectly accentuated her stunningly alluring figure. Her gentle eyes, exuding a "married woman" aura, appeared even more seductive at this moment.
Gu Chuan, on the other hand, was like the most leisurely and competent "spectator," enjoying the beautiful "scenery" in front of him, which was full of "benefits" and belonged only to him, with a contented expression.
Finally, under Rinna Tohsaka's "professional" and unquestionable "power," this beautiful "corporate elite team," filled with a sense of "incongruity," finally completed their "taboo" and perfect "transformation."
They rode in the company's top-of-the-line, luxurious black stretch Lincoln, slowly driving towards that enormous building that, under the warm sunlight, appeared even more imposing, exuding both coldness and modernity—
"—A steel cage."
223 The Steel Cage and the Heart of a Child
A black, luxurious Lincoln silently pulled up in front of the massive "steel cage" of the financial center. This was a marketplace of desire and ambition, a place of fame and fortune.
The car door opened, and three powerful "female executives" stepped out.
Leading the group was Rin Tohsaka, dressed in a top-of-the-line black business suit and high heels over ten centimeters tall, her every step exuding queenly authority. Her face wore a cold, business-like mask, making the surrounding social elites feel inferior.
Following closely behind was Tu Shan Honghong, her expressionless face, accentuated by her gold-rimmed glasses, possessing a unique and captivating charm. Although unaccustomed to high heels, her imposing presence as the Demon Queen commanded respect and made her seem unapproachable.
Finally, there was the gentle Matou Sakura, whose tight-fitting office lady suit perfectly accentuated her mature figure. Like the most perfect secretary, she quietly followed behind Rin, a warm and welcoming smile on her face.
This beautiful "team of corporate elites" walked into this huge steel cage amidst countless admiring gazes.
……
In the CEO's office on the top floor of the building, Kenji Sato, a middle-aged man with gray hair and a tired face, had been waiting for a long time. He was the CEO of this Fortune 500 company and also Yura Chitose's "long-time customer 070".
"The three of you have come from afar; you must be tired." Kenji Sato looked at the three overly young "professionals" before him, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes, but he still maintained a polite smile. "Lord Yura should have already explained the trouble our company is facing."
He rubbed his temples and said with a wry smile, "That little devil we can't afford to offend is now treating our company's multi-billion dollar quantum servers as his playground and stock charts as his canvas, making the whole company a mess."
He led the three men on a tour of the office area. The normally impeccably dressed professionals now sported dark circles under their eyes, their faces etched with despair and numbness. Confidential documents were covered in cute little turtle drawings, the coffee machine spewed out colorful candies, and people frequently slipped and fell unexpectedly in the corridors. The entire office area was permeated with an atmosphere of chaos and absurdity.
“And the source of all this…” Kenji Sato led them to a heavy alloy door that required triple verification, “is right inside.”
……
The alloy doors swung open, releasing a chilling aura characteristic of server rooms. This was the heart of this business empire, and also the lair of that capricious "little tyrant." Rows of massive quantum servers stood like silent steel behemoths, the air thick with a jarring blend of technology and spiritual energy.
“It’s right here,” Kenji Sato said in a low voice, “but we can’t see it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tu Shan Honghong's golden vertical pupils flickered slightly. Her "spiritual vision" had already pierced through physical barriers, and she saw a cute little girl in a red kimono with a high ponytail peeking out from behind the server, looking at them with pure, curious eyes. She seemed to have no ill intentions, just loneliness and a longing for new playmates.
"—Are you here to play with me, huh?
A tender and adorable voice resounded directly in the minds of the three.
The next second, the alloy floor beneath Rin Tohsaka's feet suddenly became incredibly slippery! Her body, clad in high heels, stumbled violently, but fortunately, she had an excellent sense of balance and managed to land steadily after tracing a dangerous arc in mid-air.
“Interesting.” Rin looked at the empty air and a competitive smile appeared on her face. “It seems that our little darling wants to play a greeting game first.”
She spoke as if conducting a business negotiation: "Listen, you unknown little spirit, your actions have caused our company billions in economic losses! I am formally informing you on behalf of the company's board of directors..."
However, her logical business negotiation was interrupted by a piercing alarm. Indicator lights throughout the server room flashed wildly, and the server screens were covered with huge ghost face emoticons.
Clearly, this "little tyrant" has no interest in the boring games of adults.
“It seems that negotiations are not going to work.” Tu Shan Hong Hong slowly stepped forward, without saying much, but released a trace of her absolute demon power as the “Tu Shan Demon Emperor”.
A warm yet undeniably authoritative aura instantly enveloped the server room. The frantically flashing alarm lights abruptly stopped, and the ghost face emoticons on the screen vanished instantly.
Although this willful "little princess" didn't understand logic, her instincts as a spirit allowed her to clearly sense that the woman in red before her was a powerful figure she absolutely couldn't afford to offend. Seemingly frightened, she silently retreated behind the server, too afraid to emerge again.
Just as Rin and Hong Hong were racking their brains about how to get this timid "little tyrant" out, a gentle voice rang out.
"that……"
It was Matou Sakura. She had acted like an invisible secretary from beginning to end. She looked at the corner of the server, a warm, maternal smile on her face capable of melting even the hardest heart.
She slowly squatted down, like the most patient kindergarten teacher coaxing a shy child. She opened the exquisite food box she had been carrying.
A sweet aroma, brimming with love and warmth, instantly filled the cold server room. It contained the most ordinary ingredients, transformed by skillful hands into adorable "love-filled bento boxes." There were rice balls shaped like little rabbits, sausages like little octopuses, and carrots and broccoli carved into tiny flowers.
Everything seemed like a gift carefully prepared by the gentlest mother for her beloved child.
"Are you hungry?" Matou Sakura asked softly in a gentle voice. "I made all of this myself. Would you like to come out and try some? It's delicious."
234. A Gentle "Capture" and a Generous Reward
That sweet fragrance, full of love and warmth, was like the gentlest and most irresistible tentacle, silently permeating the entire cold server room filled with data and electricity.
Hiding behind that huge, cold server, the timid and willful "little ancestor" twitched its tiny, cute nose slightly, like a puppy's.
Her large, innocent, and curious eyes, like the purest obsidian, were fixed on the exquisitely crafted snack box, radiating a deadly, alluring aroma. At that moment, her unruly little stomach rumbled with a heartfelt, eager cry.
She seemed hesitant and somewhat afraid. She could clearly sense the powerful aura emanating from the two seemingly intimidating "older sisters" beside her, an aura that instinctively filled her with awe and fear.
But her innocent, childlike gaze finally settled on the "big sister" who was looking at her with tenderness. Her beautiful eyes were filled with the purest, unadulterated kindness and love, as if they were glowing. And there was the delicious-looking bento box in her hand.
Ultimately, the child's most primal and pure desire for food and warmth triumphed over the spirit's instinctive fear of the strong.
A little girl, dressed in a classic red kimono and with adorable pigtails, emerged from behind the massive server, her figure as delicate and beautiful as a Fuwa mascot. She walked cautiously, step by step, towards the "big sister" who was giving her the gentlest and most loving smile.
Rin Tohsaka and Honghong Tushan took a step back in unison, handing over the healing stage to their gentlest and most special final "secret weapon".
"Good boy." Matou Sakura looked at the cute little guy who had finally come out of his "shell," and her loving maternal smile became even gentler.
She gently placed the food box, filled with love and warmth, onto the cold alloy floor, and then, like the most patient mother, took out the adorable "little animal" rice balls and "little flower" side dishes, arranging them neatly.
"Here, have a taste." With a pair of clean chopsticks, she picked up a bright red sausage cut into the shape of an adorable little octopus and gently offered it to the little guy who was already drooling with envy.
Zashiki-warashi hesitated for a moment, but finally opened its small mouth and swallowed the small octopus that was emitting an enticing aroma.
The next second, her obsidian-like eyes were instantly filled with the dazzling stars of "happiness"!
good to eat!too delicious!