In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 48

This little guy is quite wary, so let's settle for second best and establish more private and frequent contact first, so that we can continue to observe and guide him.

"Once a month." Higashino countered without changing his expression, widening the time gap between each transaction.

"How heartless~" Laura pouted, a childlike gesture that made her look especially adorable. "Then... it's a deal."

She suddenly stood up from the water, her soaked gauze dress clinging to her body, outlining her perfect curves, water droplets dripping down her long golden hair, making her look exceptionally alluring.

"But since you've come to my hot spring today, you have to do me a small favor first."

Beneath the surface, Higashino clearly felt something cold and powerful wrap around his calf—Lola's smooth ankle, which possessed inhuman strength.

Is he really a demon? But you're supposed to be the Supreme Archbishop right now! Don't you need to put on an act for me? Your persona has crumbled!

Although he was inwardly complaining, he didn't intend to let it run rampant. A man shouldn't consider the consequences when it's time to be tough.

Without making a sound, Higashino activated his ability, causing the pool water temperature to rise subtly in a localized area, precisely targeting the parts that were binding him.

Laura suddenly trembled slightly, and the neckline of her yukata slipped down a little further because of the movement. A genuine surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by a deeper interest.

"what have you done?"

She squinted and lightly scraped her toes against Dongye's calf, this time with a distinctly magical probing quality, as if analyzing the composition of his abilities.

"I just adjusted the water temperature."

Higashino answered casually, while a thin layer of ice quietly condensed at Laura's ankle, where she was trying to move underwater. This ice was not ordinary ice, but rather contained his understanding of "rules," possessing a property that hindered the flow of energy.

A flicker of surprise crossed Laura's eyes, followed by an even more alluring smile, a smile tinged with the delight of discovering a new toy: "It seems your abilities are more...practical than I imagined~"

Suddenly, she sank into the water, her long golden hair spreading out like seaweed, and she disappeared in an instant.

Higashino immediately became alert and erected an invisible barrier underwater. "Malicious contact is prohibited here."

Sure enough, the next second he felt something slippery and swift brush against the outside of his thigh!

When her face resurfaced with a sly smile, she was only inches away from Dongye. Water droplets dripped down her delicate chin, her red lips parted slightly, and she breathed out a fragrant whisper: "Got you..."

"Yu! Kanzaki said we can go for a bath together now!"

Index's pitiful scream and the splashing of water promptly interrupted this dangerous ambiguity.

A silver-haired girl wrapped in a bath towel rushed in, followed by a blushing, flustered Kanzaki.

"... yes."

Laura's smile remained unchanged as she naturally continued what she had been interrupted, but a fleeting hint of impatience flashed across her eyes.

Index buried her face in Higashino's arms, rubbing her wet head against his chest for comfort.

Kanzaki stood awkwardly by the pool, her black yukata wrapped tightly around her neck, but it couldn't hide her bright red earlobes and the apology in her eyes: "High Archbishop, you've overstepped your bounds..."

Her gaze toward Laura was filled with determination.

Laura's smile widened even more, as if she had discovered a new continent: "What does it matter?"

She deliberately moved closer to Dongye, her ample breasts almost touching his arm. "Look, Mr. Dongye doesn't mind at all."

Beneath the water's surface, Higashino felt Laura's toes furtively approaching.

This time, he didn't hold back. With a slight thought, his ability activated instantly. An intricate ice shackle formed in the water, directly locking the unruly ankle to the smooth stone at the bottom of the pool, rendering it immobile.

Laura's expression instantly became incredibly complex. Her perfect smile froze for the first time, and a hint of cold anger and... a hint of doubt flashed deep in her eyes.

The moment she was restrained, she was unable to use any power? Although it was partly because she hadn't used much power, it was still quite absurd.

"Higashino, you're so good to Index~"

She tried to remain calm and break free of the shackles, but her ankles, locked underwater, were powerless to move.

Higashino felt his forehead starting to throb, and it was quite difficult to restrain Laura for even a moment. However, in order not to let anyone see his struggle, Higashino ignored Laura and began to focus on tidying up Index's slipped towel: "In that case, let's do it together."

While Higashino was helping Index tidy up, a wisp of Laura's fine golden hair, as if alive, dipped into the water, its tip glowing with a faint light, silently melting the core node of the ice shackles.

She finally broke free of her restraints and quietly withdrew her foot, but a faint red mark, as if burned, was clearly left on her ankle.

An unusual cognitive anchor has been set, and Higashino is looking forward to their next meeting.

"Mr. Higashino".

Laura suddenly splashed a handful of water at him, the water droplets hitting Dongye's face as if the previous underhanded struggle had never happened.

"Could you get me a bath towel over there?"

She pointed to a white bath towel by the pool.

Higashino calmly wiped the water droplets from his face, but as he reached for the towel, Laura grabbed his wrist.

As she used the momentum to stand up, her soaked gauze dress clung to her body, revealing her graceful curves, and she fell head over heels into Dongye's arms.

Her cold, damp skin clung to him, and a violet fragrance wafted towards him.

"Supreme Bishop!"

Kanzaki's voice suddenly rose, his face was extremely ugly, and his tone was filled with shock and anger.

Oops, my foot slipped!

Laura offered a half-hearted apology, but her body did not immediately leave.

As she stood up, her warm, strangely sweet scent brushed against Dongye's ear, and she whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "See you in my 'bedroom' at midnight on the 15th of next month~"

After saying that, she chuckled and stepped back.

By the time everyone left the hot spring, the sun was already setting. Index, tired from playing, was fast asleep on Higashino's back, her little face peaceful. Kanzaki walked silently beside them, watching Higashino thoughtfully.

"What...did the High Bishop say to you?"

Kanzaki finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice. She had clearly seen the scene of her falling into his arms and whispering.

Higashino adjusted the girl's position on his back to make sure she was sleeping soundly, then looked into the distance and said softly, "It's nothing, just some... polite talk about where we'll meet next time."

Kanzaki clearly didn't believe it, her lips pressed tightly together, but looking at Higashino's calm profile and Index sleeping soundly on his back, she ultimately didn't ask any more questions, only her brows furrowed even deeper.

Behind them, at the highest point of the spa hotel, Laura Stuart was elegantly swirling the red wine in her glass by the glass window.

She looked down at the faint, not-yet-completely-faded burn marks on her ankle and smiled slightly.

"The reconstructor of rules...the distorter of cognition...interesting, very interesting."

She whispered to the empty room, her voice no longer sweet.

"Your power, your essence... seems far more interesting than those boring spells. Perhaps... it could become an unexpected weapon against Aleister? Or... a new toy worth taking apart?"

Her interest was completely ignited, and whether to use or destroy, Higashino Yu had become an important variable in her eyes.

She downed the glass of red wine in one gulp, then licked her red lips with her tongue.

"Next time we meet, Higashino Yu... I won't let you escape my 'game' so easily."

Chapter 62 A Date in London

Early in the morning, Higashino Yu stood outside the hotel that Kanzaki had arranged for him the day before.

He glanced at his watch; it was 7:31, nine minutes before the agreed time.

"Sorry, I'm late."

A cool female voice came from behind him, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of panic. Higashino turned around and saw Kanzaki Kaori walking towards him from a distance.

"Kanzaki," Higashino approached with a smile, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Kanzaki's voice sounded somewhat unnatural: "Um, Higashino! Didn't we agree not to mention it..."

Her voice was lower than usual, and she avoided looking at Higashino. "If it's about the hot springs..."

"Don't be so formal." Higashino suddenly took a step forward, getting so close that he could smell her faint fragrance. "We're already in that kind of relationship, just call me Yu."

Kanzaki's face flushed crimson instantly: "Forget...forget about all that!" Her voice was practically squeezed out through clenched teeth, "It was just...a bet..."

Last time it was a bet, what about last night?

Higashino saw through her act but didn't say anything, enjoying her flustered appearance. The usually imposing female saint now looked like a student who had done something wrong, even the tips of her ears were red enough to bleed.

"It's a rare treat to be in London, and I'm leaving again tomorrow." Higashino casually changed the subject. "Let's go on a date today."

"A... date?" Kanzaki looked up abruptly, her eyes wide. "No! I have things to do..."

“If they refuse,” Higashino waved his phone, the screen displaying a pre-edited mass message, “I’m going to tell everyone in the Puritan Church before I board the plane tomorrow, ‘Kaori Kanzaki is my wife.’”

Kanzaki's body stiffened instantly: "How dare you!" Her voice was filled with an unusual panic.

Higashino had already pressed the send button's hover position: "Three seconds to consider. Three, two..."

"Wait!" Kanzaki grabbed his wrist with such force that she almost crushed his bones. "I...I'll go..." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a mosquito's hum.

Higashino put away his phone with satisfaction: "That's more like it." He naturally took Kanzaki's hand. "First stop, the London Eye."

Kanzaki tried to pull her hand away as if she'd been electrocuted, but Higashino held it firmly: "Let go...someone will see..."

"What are you afraid of?" Dongye deliberately leaned close to her ear. "Just say we're a legally married couple."

"Who's talking to you..." Kanzaki's protest was interrupted by Higashino's sudden tug, and she staggered as he pulled her away.

There was a long queue at the London Eye ticket counter. Just as Higashino was about to take out his wallet, Kanzaki handed him two fast passes: "They're from the Supreme Archbishop..." she explained softly, "He said...you might need them."

The glass cabin of the Ferris wheel slowly rose, and the entire Thames River gradually came into view. Kanzaki sat upright on the edge of the seat, her back ramrod straight, her hands neatly placed on her knees, like a student waiting to be reprimanded.

"Relax," Higashino said, amused by her tense expression. "I'm not going to eat you."

Kanzaki seemed to have thought of something, and glared fiercely at Higashino: "A man like a hungry wolf saying such things..."

"A hungry wolf? Since you've said that, then I'll have no choice but to do something." Higashino suddenly sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"You, you shouldn't do this..." Kanzaki's body trembled slightly.

"Oh, don't be so shy," Higashino interrupted her. "We're on a date, of course we should be a little intimate."

If Higashino hadn't been so close, he wouldn't have noticed that Kanzaki had actually nodded slightly.

Higashino chuckled and pointed out the window: "Look, Big Ben."

Kanzaki's attention was indeed diverted. She leaned forward slightly, her forehead almost touching the glass: "This is the first time I've seen it from this angle..."

Her voice held a childlike curiosity, but she quickly realized her lapse in composure and straightened her posture.

Higashino magically produced two ice creams from behind his back: "Want to try some? These are the latest flavors from Academy City."

Kanzaki hesitated for a moment, then carefully took it. Under Higashino's gaze, she licked it, her eyes instantly lighting up: "...Delicious."

She never normally buys or eats this kind of thing.

"I'm glad you like it." Dongye smiled as he watched her savor the food in small bites, and his nervousness finally disappeared.

When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, Higashino secretly used his ability.

Kanzaki was surprised to find herself floating, her black hair cascading down the cabin like a waterfall. She tumbled over due to the sudden weightlessness and crashed into Higashino's arms.

"You...!" Her face instantly turned red to her ears, and she frantically tried to break free, but the weightlessness only made her more and more tightly entangled.

Higashino casually put his arm around her waist: "Don't move around, you'll get hurt." His voice was filled with undisguised laughter.

Kanzaki finally gave up struggling and froze in his arms like a frightened cat: "Put me down..." Her voice was muffled against Higashino's chest, and his warm breath came through his shirt.

Thirty seconds later, gravity returned to normal. Kanzaki practically leaped to the other end of the capsule, her lips slightly red, her shirt collar slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone. She frantically straightened her clothes, even the tips of her ears turning bright red.

"Where...where to next?" she abruptly changed the subject, her eyes fixed on the floor.

Higashino admired her rare disheveled appearance: "Tower Bridge, then we'll go to Chinatown for breakfast. I can't get used to the local food."

Kanzaki visibly relaxed; at least she was back in a stable place. If she had gone to a hotel to rest, she would have had to consider sneaking away.

As Kanzaki stepped off the Ferris wheel, she deliberately kept two steps away from Higashino, fearing that he might do something outrageous in public.

Even if Higashino gets close, she will keep her distance. She seems to be frightened by her actions just now, to which Higashino can only sigh helplessly.

The pedestrian walkway on Tower Bridge was crowded with tourists. Kanzaki was walking beside Higashino again, seemingly out of nowhere. Higashino seized the opportunity and took her hand.

Kanzaki tensed up, like a startled deer.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything bad," Higashino asked.

Kanzaki turned her head away: "Your words are completely unreliable..."

Her words were interrupted by a group of playful children, and a little girl nearly bumped into her leg. Kanzaki instinctively reached out to steady her.