[~2000 Words]
At New York International Airport, a passenger plane gracefully descended.
Mouri Ran hurriedly gathered her belongings. "Shinichi," she urged, "please find my mother quickly. I really want to say sorry to her and have a genuine conversation about my mistake."
"We need to hurry," Kudo Shinichi replied, picking up his luggage swiftly. "They are in first class and will enter the airport first."
The two of them navigated through the bustling crowd and located Inspector Fujiwara Takuya and Kisaki Eri.
"Mom, I'm truly sorry about what happened today. I shouldn't have doubted you," Ran apologized sincerely, teary eyed.
"It's alright, I'm not angry," Eri responded, though her heart was secretly troubled.
Despite her outward calm, she couldn't help but feel hurt by her daughter's lack of trust. However, she understood that it stemmed from genuine concern and care for her.
"Lawyer Eri, let's go," Takuya said, carrying his luggage, a statement that sparked confusion in Mouri Ran's mind.
`Let's go where?´ she wondered. `Why are they together? What is their relationship? Could there be something inappropriate going on?´
Mouri Ran's thoughts raced, fueled by suspicion and anxiety. She tried to dismiss her doubts, convincing herself it was just a coincidence, but the seeds of uncertainty had been planted.
Both Ran and Shinichi shared similar doubts. They were hesitant to question the situation directly, fearing they might be wrong again and upset Eri Kisaki further.
Ran found herself in a tug-of-war with her emotions, divided between her longing for clarity and her urge to keep from adding to her mom´s distress.
"I'm going to Manhattan," Takuya explained. "I have a room booked there. It's a safe and convenient place for me to learn new legal knowledge."
"As for your Uncle Fujiwara, he has a second uncle who owns a famous trust fund. He came to visit them this time. It's also in Manhattan," Eri added, aware that Ran was now suspicious.
She decided to use a believable cover story, one that would hopefully dispel any remaining doubts.
And indeed, Takuya did have a second uncle who owned a trust fund.
Even if the connection was fabricated for this situation, it wouldn't raise any red flags.
Furthermore, the trust fund was actually located in Manhattan, making her explanation plausible.
"I remember now," Shinichi suddenly realized. "The news mentioned Officer Fujiwara's fame and this trust fund being in Manhattan." He recalled a news report he had dismissed earlier but now found relevant.
Mouri Ran also let out a sigh of relief, reminding herself to be more cautious in the future. She vowed to avoid jumping to conclusions without solid evidence.
"Eri, why are you here?" A voice called out from afar.
Takuya turned and recognized the woman approaching: Kudo Yukiko, the mother of Kudo Shinichi.
[Kudo Yukiko Image]
He stood in awe of her beauty, her figure emanating a lively youthfulness that seemed to defy the very essence of time.
Her long legs were irresistibly captivating, even when dressed in everyday pants.
"Yukiko," Eri greeted with a smile, understanding why Kudo Yukiko might be there. "You're here to pick up Shinichi and the others?" she guessed.
"Yes," Kudo Yukiko confirmed, her face alight with happiness. "I haven't seen you in years, Eri. It's wonderful to run into you." She had always admired Eri and cherished their past friendship.
" I'm her to study for the Master of Laws," Kisaki Eri explained, "and happened to be on the same plane as my daughter and your son."
"That's wonderful!" Yukiko exclaimed. "Why don't we go together? I can drive you and we can catch up properly." She was eager to spend more time with her old friend.
Eri hesitated, torn between wanting to join Kudo Yukiko and her desire to be with Takuya. She glanced at him, uncertain of how to navigate this unexpected situation.
"Okay, let's go," she finally agreed.
Yukiko turned to Mouri Ran. "Ran-kun, would you like to come too?"
Ran, missing her mother dearly, eagerly accepted the invitation. "That would be great! It would be lovely to spend time with both of you."
Takuya saw this as an opportunity. He had a system prepared for Kudo Yukiko and planned to use it to manipulate her into being his woman.
As they walked towards the car, Yukiko turned around, unaware that Fujiwara Takuya was watching her intently. She seemed oblivious to his gaze, lost in thought.
"This is my car," Yukiko announced as they approached the vehicle. "Please, get in." She motioned for them all to enter.
Kisaki Eri, Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi took seats in the back. Takuya found himself in the passenger seat beside Yukiko.
While he couldn't sit with Kisaki Eri and Ran Mouri, he was content with this arrangement.
He would give the system to Yukiko later and guide her towards completing tasks that aligned with his desires.
Takuya dreamed of a reality where both Yukiko and Eri would be under his influence, their fates connected by his manipulation, both side by side on his bed.
As they settled into the car, Takuya quickly transmitted Kudo Yukiko with a sub - system.
[Ding, the system for pilgrims has been successfully downloaded. Would you like to accept it?]
The electronic voice startled Kudo Yukiko.
`What was that noise?´ she asked, confused and slightly alarmed.
[Ding, the system for the pilgrim has been successfully downloaded. Would you like to accept it?]
The voice repeated itself, making it clear this was no ordinary occurrence.
Yukiko's eyes widened in recognition. "System?" she breathed, recalling the concept from countless novels she had read during her free time.
A system meant power, the potential for extraordinary achievements and a unique path through life.
Moreover, as long as you have the system, it means you can achieve great things in this life.
She was already a top star at the peak of her career, just like Chris Vineyard, Now, if she is armed with this new system, she anticipated she can have even more fascinating life.
Her thoughts were consumed by the system: `Activate the system,´ she urged eagerly. Son, best friend, potential daughter-in-law – none of these mattered in comparison to the power of the system.
A sense of anticipation washed over her as she pondered its nature, its capabilities, and the rewards it promised.
[The Journey to the West System is now officially activated. Your quest is to journey to the West and seek Buddhist scriptures.]
[T/N: I seriously couldn't translate it any better, so gonna leave it like that.]
With a surge of excitement, Yukiko understood the system's purpose immediately upon activation. "Journey to the West," she whispered, her face darkening as a smile faded from her lips.
At first, she imagined a system similar to the famous Journey to the West stories that are well-loved in their culture.
The grand narrative, much like the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, had captivated generations.
She'd imagined a quest for Buddhist scriptures similar to that of Tang Sanzang, a journey filled with adventure and meaning.
But this was not the familiar tale she had anticipated. This "Journey to the West" was something entirely different, unorthodox and demanding.
She was required to embark on a scripture-seeking mission twice a week [Likely Sex]. Success would bring rewards; failure, consequences.
[Ding! First time binding target: complete the quest for Buddhist scriptures from the West with S-Level talent Fujiwara Takuya as soon as possible.]
[Upon successful completion, you will gain one charm point. Failure results in a loss of twenty charm points and a weight gain of twenty kilograms.]
Yukiko was aghast. This system was outrageous! To be penalized for failure, losing charm points that were undoubtedly crucial to her attractiveness and increasing her weight by twenty kilograms?
She couldn't bear the thought of becoming a "fat girl." Her image as a beautiful woman was paramount for her future, and this system threatened it.
Determined to succeed, she reasoned that gaining more charm would eventually make her the most desirable woman in the world.
She had to complete the mission quickly. As soon as she was stronger, her charm would increase, leading to countless admirers.
Yukiko decided to find Yusaku and discuss the situation with him. It had been a few days since their last encounter, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity for a reunion.
But then a realization struck her. The system hadn't mentioned Kudo Yusaku; it spoke of Fujiwara Takuya. She knew Fujiwara Takuya as Kisaki Eri's friend, an exceptional police officer who had risen to the rank of captain at a young age.
He was also rumored to be involved with Eri romantically, but that was just speculation.
Why was Fujiwara Takuya chosen? Sending her on this journey with him felt like a betrayal of her family.
Calmly settling into her car, she glanced at Fujiwara Takuya beside her. He was undeniably handsome; perhaps this partnership wouldn't be so terrible after all.
However, Kudo Yusaku was also attractive and possessed remarkable talents in writing and reasoning. What made Fujiwara Takuya so extraordinary?
[Fujiwara Takuya possesses exceptional skills: first-class reasoning ability, culinary mastery as a 5-Star chef, expert marksmanship, martial arts Master, and transcendent abilities – he is truly an S-level talent.]
Yukiko couldn't help but reconsider her perception of him. His qualities were undeniably impressive, surpassing Kudo Yusaku in several significant ways.
But could she truly betray Kudo Yusaku? Even for a system-issued task, this felt wrong.
[Ding! The Journey to the West is the ultimate mission. This is your first journey. You have one month to consider your decision.]
[Ding! The first welfare task is now available: simple, easy to complete, and offers substantial rewards.]
Yukiko harbored a sense of unease. Were these "welfare tasks" truly as straightforward as they seemed? Something felt off.
[Scheduled release of the first system task: While driving, take advantage of the other four passengers' Sleep; seize Fujiwara Takuya's hand and place it upon your xxx.]
[Upon successful completion, you will receive a body upgrade, becoming stronger and more graceful than before.]
[Mission failure? Congratulations! You will become wealthier than before and gain ownership of a private airport.[FLAT]]
Yukiko was appalled. This system was beyond ridiculous! To be punished with a private airport? That wasn't a reward, it was an insult! If she failed the task, her figure would be compromised.
She couldn't bear the thought of becoming the subject of ridicule; it would devastate her carefully cultivated image. Her breasts and figure was something she took immense pride in.
This mission seemed impossible. Why should she involve Fujiwara Takuya in a personal matter that involved? How could she justify betraying Yusaku, even for a seemingly minor task?
The car sped forward as Yukiko wrestled with her decision. Perhaps the system wasn't real; maybe there were no real consequences.
She couldn't bring herself to betray Kudo Yusaku or jeopardize her image. For now, she decided to wait and see how things unfolded.
Nonetheless, before she truly accepted the system's punishment, Yukiko was unconvinced, and it felt like a fantasy for her to take Takuya to a place where her husband hadn't visited in ages.
[That´s all for now]