After this lengthy analysis, Rio Futaba composed herself before adding a final remark.
"Of course, I'm only responsible for situational analysis. Whether to recruit new members, and who to recruit - that's your decision. I won't interfere."
"Noted."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally.
Rio's analysis wasn't wrong.
With Yukino's family background, she could indeed become the Society's intelligence channel outside Kyoto—if she were willing to leverage those connections.
The problem was...
Leaving aside whether Yukino would even join...
Even if she did, someone of her character would never use family money or connections for club activities.
After all, those were precisely the "fakes" she despised most.
Not that it mattered.
He'd already established a mutually beneficial relationship with Haruno. As the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, coupled with the sensational airship campaign across Japan, it was clear that Haruno wielded considerable influence within the company, nearly on par with that of her mother.
Having such an ally was sufficient.
At this thought, Ye Xing posed an unexpected question to Rio Futaba.
"Do you think Yukino Yukinoshita could awaken Soul Materialisation and become a psychic?"
"Unknown."
Rio didn't mince words, simply shaking her head.
"I don't know her, never interacted with her. Can't determine if she meets the awakening conditions - whether her heart contains that intense, reality-altering power of cognition."
"Besides, psychological and emotional analysis isn't my forte."
"However..."
She adjusted her glasses, shifting gears.
"Mai Sakurajima-senpai likely possesses such potential. The power of 'cognition' within her has already affected reality."
Ye Xing thought Rio's conclusion was probably correct.
Soul Materialisation stemmed from one's inner and spiritual power.
In Futaba-brand quantum mechanics terms, "cognition".
Coincidentally, Adolescence Syndrome also operated on "cognition" affecting reality.
Thus, those who've experienced Adolescence Syndrome might equal those with the potential to awaken spiritual powers.
This pointed Ye Xing toward a method to identify suitable candidates and quickly recruit them as allies.
Here's the problem.
Aside from Rio Futaba and Mai Sakurajima, who are currently present, who else has suffered from Adolescence Syndrome?
Sakuta Azusagawa and his younger sister Kaede Azusagawa.
However, when Ye Xing checked the first-year student roster at Sobu High School, he didn't find Sakuta Azusagawa's name on the list.
Beyond that...
There was the frail Shoko Makinohara with congenital heart disease, Tomoe Koga, who was only a first-year when Mai was in her third year, and Mai's younger sister, Nodoka Toyohama, a member of the idol group Sweet Bullet.
On the surface, there appeared to be three options.
In reality, Ye Xing only had legitimate reasons to approach one of them.
As a first-year student at Sobu High School, it wouldn't be strange for him to know Mai Sakurajima, the famous second-year beauty. Through that connection with Mai, he could naturally meet her younger sister, the active idol Nodoka Toyohama.
That made perfect sense.
But attempting to contact Shoko Makinohara, who was still in third or fourth grade and frequently hospitalised, or Tomoe Koga, currently attending some remote middle school in the countryside, would appear far too deliberate.
Even if the individuals themselves didn't suspect anything, what about the Metropolitan Police Department?
Caution was still necessary.
Ye Xing wasn't certain whether the famous detective L existed in this world, but since he couldn't be sure, it was safer to assume he did.
"Ye Xing, Rio-chan, dinner's ready!"
Hearing Yui Yuigahama's call, Rio Futaba responded before suddenly remembering something and speaking softly to Ye Xing.
"I'm sorry, you've just returned from a mission and must be exhausted. I shouldn't have chosen this moment to discuss these matters with you. Let's eat first and rest afterwards - spring break is still long."
"It's fine, I'm not tired at all."
Ye Xing smiled and waved dismissively.
Watching his retreating back, Rio Futaba felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow.
The eerie phenomena affecting the entire city, the other Kyoto teeming with evil spirits...
Faced with this increasingly distorted world, could their small group truly persevere?
Even now, with companions like Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya by her side, Rio still occasionally found herself plagued by such hesitant thoughts.
She couldn't imagine.
How had Ye Xing managed to persevere when he first awakened his abilities and fought evil spirits and Gates alone?
Perhaps this was part of why she, Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya had gathered around him and joined the Supernatural Society.
Upon entering the dining room, Rio detected a strangely ominous smell.
Her gaze fell on the seemingly normal bowl of miso soup on the table, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rising within her.
"Rio-chan, come sit down."
Yui Yuigahama smiled sweetly as she took Rio's hand and guided her to the table, gesturing at the soup bowl before her.
"I simmered this miso soup for nearly an hour - it should taste wonderful. Please try it."
Rio Futaba narrowed her eyes slightly, noticing the gleeful expression in Ye Xing's gaze as he sat opposite her.
She frowned slightly, thinking that judging by appearances alone, this bowl of miso soup might not be delicious, but it certainly shouldn't taste bad.
Moreover.
Miso soup was a remarkably simple dish - add the ingredients and simmer gently. Any normal person couldn't possibly mess it up.
With this thought, under Yui Yuigahama's expectant gaze, Rio Futaba reached out with her right hand, picked up the spoon, scooped some miso soup, parted her pink lips, and brought the spoonful to her mouth.
"How does it taste?"
Yui Yuigahama looked utterly confident.
"I feel like this is my best work yet!"
Rio Futaba didn't hear Yuigahama's words.
Or rather.
The moment that spoonful of miso soup entered her mouth, she couldn't hear anything at all.
The steam from the bowl fogged up her glasses.
Two clear tears involuntarily streamed from the corners of Rio Futaba's eyes.
This...
What on earth was this?!!!
From just one simple mouthful, Rio Futaba could feel multiple flavours exploding in her mouth.
Yes, only the explosive impact of such vivid vocabulary could describe her current experience.
Why?
Why did this miso soup contain the flavours of star anise, coptis root, pickles, fish mint, and chilli peppers all at once?
This miso soup's taste couldn't simply be described as bad.
Within this small bowl existed such complex, hallucination-inducing, bizarre flavours.
Yuigahama, how on earth did you create something like this?!!!
That wasn't even the worst part.
The true horror was that despite containing such terrifying flavours, it looked completely normal - just like ordinary miso soup.
What kind of culinary skill was this?
"So, Rio-chan? Is it good?"
Facing Yuigahama, who remained completely oblivious to her cooking's effects, Rio Futaba looked up, removed her glasses, stared directly into Yuigahama's eyes and said with grave sincerity:
"Yui, you might... have a future as an assassin."
"An assassin?"
"Yes..."
Rio Futaba's eyes burned as she gritted her pearly teeth.
"A culinary assassin."
...
At 8 pm that evening, in the rooftop bar of a Kyoto hotel.
"Sir, please come in."
Though Ye Xing was only wearing casual clothes, the reception staff showed no trace of snobbery, maintaining perfectly polite smiles throughout.
Truly befitting a five-star establishment.
Ye Xing gave a slight nod and entered the bar, taking a seat at the counter.
Being Tuesday, the rooftop bar wasn't particularly busy - only two or three occupied tables.
From the bar counter, one could see Kyoto's dazzling nightscape through floor-to-ceiling windows.
This was actually Ye Xing's first time seeing such a scene.
Normally at this hour, he wouldn't be leisurely strolling through bustling districts, but rather prowling Kyoto's uninhabited, shadowy corners for his own particular feasts.
Come to think of it...
It had been a while since he'd indulged himself in the Reverse World.
"Good evening, what would you like to dr..."
The girl with smooth, long hair, dressed in a bartender's uniform, turned around from behind the counter and froze mid-sentence.
"Uh..."
Saki Kawasaki was stunned to see Ye Xing sitting there as a customer.
"Soda water, please."
Ye Xing's gaze didn't linger on Saki's face for even a moment, as if he didn't know her at all, smiling as he made his request.
"Oh... right."
Saki snapped out of it and responded, turning back to pour soda water into a glass while wrestling with her thoughts.
'This is bad, this is really bad... What should I do?'
Running into a classmate during her part-time job would normally be awkward enough.
But she never expected to encounter someone who knew her at this five-star hotel's rooftop bar.
Saki didn't particularly care what her classmates thought of her.
But if word got out that she was working at a bar... Even though she was just a bartender, who knew how the rumour mill might twist it?
After all, a first-year high school girl working at a bar would be juicy gossip for those idle students.
Compounded by Saki's already poor reputation at school, where she was seen as a delinquent...
If Sobu High School administration found out about this...
Would they expel her?
By the time Saki turned back, her expression had returned to its usual aloof demeanour.
She gently placed a glass of soda water with ice cubes in front of Ye Xing, saying flatly,
"That'll be 3360."
Ye Xing frowned slightly, thinking, 'This damn place charges 3360 just for soda water with ice?'
But he understood.
The exorbitant price wasn't just for the drink.
It included the privilege of enjoying Kyoto's night scenery from this rooftop bar.
'So expensive...'
Ye Xing took banknotes from his wallet and handed them to Saki.
She accepted the money into the register, then began wiping glasses and bottles without another word.
Just then.
"Good evening."
Haruno Yukinoshita nodded to the doorman and entered the bar. Her eyes swept the room before landing on Ye Xing at the counter, her lips curling into a smile as she approached.
She first placed her small handbag on the counter, then rested her cheek on one hand, studying Ye Xing's profile and the soda water before him.
"Such wonderful scenery, such a fine place... Isn't it a shame to drink just water?" she said playfully.
"I'm underage."
Haruno shook her head with an amused chuckle at Ye Xing's response.
"I'd never have taken you for someone who follows the rules."
Then her slender, pale index finger tapped lightly on the counter as she smiled at Saki behind the bar.
"A whisky and a brandy, both neat, thank you."
Hearing Haruno's order, Saki frowned slightly.
As Ye Xing's classmate, she knew he wasn't of legal drinking age.
Technically, she should be asking for ID.
But the words died on her lips as she changed her mind, silently pouring two glasses and placing them before Haruno.
"Thank you."
Saki Kawasaki nodded, but unlike how she'd treated Ye Xing earlier, she didn't immediately announce the price for two drinks.
Ye Xing instantly understood.
What's this?
Looking down on me?
Thinking I can't afford it, so you only charge for one drink at a time?
Just you wait.
There's no way I'm letting this 3360 yuan slide today!
Haruno Yukinoshita pushed the whisky glass towards Ye Xing, raised her own glass with the rim tilted forward, and smiled.
"Cheers."
"Alright."
To Haruno's surprise, Ye Xing - who'd only ordered a soda water upon arriving at the bar - unhesitatingly raised his glass, lightly clinked it against hers mid-air, then downed the entire whisky in one go.
"Wait..."
Haruno was stunned.
Her "cheers" had just been a polite formality.
Wasn't it customary to just take a small sip after clinking glasses?
Did you really have to finish it all in one go?
Gritting her teeth, Haruno reminded herself she needed something from him today.
Whether for social etiquette, the upcoming negotiation, or that inexplicable competitive streak flaring up inside her - refusing to lose in drinking capacity to a high schooler - there was only one choice.
Haruno downed her entire brandy in one gulp, set the glass down with a slight frown, and addressed Saki Kawasaki behind the counter.
"Same again, please."
"Right away."
When Saki had refilled both glasses, Haruno's cheeks flushed slightly from alcohol as she smiled and spoke softly.
"There's something I need your help with this time."
"Go ahead."
"Have you heard... of Kengan fighters?"
"I know a little."
"Eh? You actually know about them?"
Haruno seemed surprised, but reconsidered - given he was an exorcist with special abilities, it wasn't strange he'd heard about Kengan fighters through some channel.
"Since you know, I'll be direct."
Haruno's smile faded as she spoke in a slow tone.
"I want you to fight in a Kengan match on behalf of Yukinoshita Construction."
Ye Xing's expression remained unchanged as he noncommittally replied.
"I'm not a Kengan fighter."
"Represent Yukinoshita Construction, and you will be."
"Opponent?"
"Kyoto Municipal Bank."
"Payment?"
"Mother and the company are considering ten million."
At this point, Haruno paused, then smiled faintly.
"But I don't want to hide anything from you, so I'll be direct."
"Thirty million. That's the highest price I can convince the board and mother to agree to."
Then, her tone shifted abruptly, her pretty face turning serious.
"But I have one condition."
Ye Xing responded dismissively.
"I have to guarantee a win?"
"No."
Surprisingly, Haruno shook her head, pursed her lips, and spoke with a complicated look in her eyes.
"You must guarantee that you possess the strength to utterly crush your opponent, that you won't suffer overly severe injuries in the fight—ones that could leave you permanently disabled, or even dead."
"Otherwise, I'd rather find someone else and watch Yukinoshita Construction lose."
Ye Xing chuckled, entirely unconcerned.
"As long as we win, isn't that enough? Worrying about whether I might end up disabled—that kind of hesitation doesn't seem like your style."
"I also think it's not like me."
Haruno Yukinoshita picked up her wine glass, swirling it as she watched the dark red liquid slosh inside. She sighed softly, her face once again wearing that seemingly sincere yet eerily placid smile, her eyes as calm as still water.
"But doing something out of character occasionally can be quite interesting."
"Is that so..."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally.
It's all connected now.
Everything fell into place.
He had already guessed who the Kengan fighter from Kyoto Municipal Bank was.
Wu Hei.
The Wu Clan, a lineage of assassins, wouldn't have come to Kyoto City unless they'd received a contract.
Only a behemoth like Kyoto Municipal Bank would have the means to hire someone from the Wu Clan as their representative fighter.
As for whether this wager against Yukinoshita Construction was premeditated or a spur-of-the-moment idea, that remained unclear.
"Crush them."
Ye Xing raised his glass with a grin.
"No problem."
Haruno visibly relaxed at his words and raised her own glass to clink against his.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
After downing his whiskey in one go, Ye Xing set the glass down and suddenly added,
"Oh, one more thing."
"What is it?"
Ye Xing spread his right hand open and extended it toward Haruno, who looked utterly bewildered, stating matter-of-factly,
"I just ordered a soda. 3360 yen. You know what I mean, right?"