"Mmm~~ Little Lisa, you're so cute~~"
On the way, Jessica and Franka were petting Lisa's fluffy ears, her golden hair, and her incredibly rare nine fluffy golden fox tails.
Also a Vulpo, the difference between Franka and Lisa was like heaven and earth.
Franka was just an ordinary fox girl. Her ears were pointed and long, slightly resembling a Perro's, and she only had one orange tail.
But Lisa was different.
The ears on the sides of her head were large, each half the size of her face, and the nine tails behind her were incredibly fluffy and adorable. Was this the noble and rare nine-tailed fox?
Franka's girlish heart was overflowing.
However, the only possible downside was.
Wouldn't it be hot in the summer?
Franka wished she could shave her fluffy tail in the summer; it was unbearably hot. Lisa had nine of them, and each one was fluffier than Franka's.
Lisa's jade-like skin flushed red. She lowered her head in embarrassment, silent, wanting to cover her burning face.
Being surrounded and having her tail petted...
It was the first time she had experienced something so embarrassing.
But she was very happy. At least...
These beautiful big sisters were all very friendly. They were truly worthy of being Mr. Reeve's 'friends'.
"So, you guys really came here for a vacation?"
Lucas Reeve was still not quite convinced.
What was there to do in Siracusa?
In Lucas Reeve's impression, Siracusa's main local product was the Mafia. You couldn't possibly bring a Mafia member back to Columbia as a souvenir, right?
Other people returning from vacation: "Mom, Dad, I brought back some sugar figures, clay sculptures, and hot pot from Yan."
Jessica returning from vacation: "Mom, Dad, I brought you two a local specialty—a Mafia member."
"What else?"
Franka laughed and patted Lucas Reeve on the shoulder.
Jessica explained, "Mr. Reeve, actually, we didn't originally plan to come. Didn't you say you were going to watch the Raythean Industries ribbon-cutting? We thought it had been a while since we all went out together, so we decided to come secretly and give you a surprise. Plus, my father wanted me to observe the whole process of the negotiations for opening a branch office."
However, Franka cut in, teasingly.
"In the end, we wanted to give you a surprise, but who knew, you weren't surprised, we were. Aren't you supposed to be floating in the air? How did you suddenly get a physical body in Siracusa? Or is it...."
Franka suddenly smiled charmingly. "Or is it that you don't want to leave our Jessica's petite and cute body, so even with a physical body, you don't want to live inside our dear Jessica anymore?"
Jessica: "!!!"
In a flash, her face turned red again, like a ripe apple dripping with juice.
Lucas Reeve quickly slapped Franka on the head.
"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."
"Who told you I have a physical body?"
"Tsk... isn't this it?"
Franka poked Lucas Reeve's face. The full and elastic feel was definitely that of real flesh.
"Sigh.... it's called a Shikigami contract..."
Lucas Reeve explained in detail how he became Lisa's Shikigami. Even the well-traveled Magallan had never heard of such a miraculous Art.
The little penguin waddled over to Lucas Reeve, wanting to hear more details. In her mind, she was already planning her next expedition to Higashi.
It wasn't just Magallan.
Jessica, Franka, and Liskarm were also too shocked to speak.
They had never heard of such an Art either.
Summoning a spirit? And then it becomes your partner, fighting alongside you, and you can even grant this Shikigami a physical body to manifest in the material world with your own power.
After a brief silence.
A flash of joy crossed Jessica's mind.
There were things she wanted to say, but she was too embarrassed to say them out loud.
If Mr. Reeve became her Shikigami, wouldn't he... be able to have a physical body permanently? In that case, she could introduce him to her parents, and then they could discuss engagement and marriage....
Mmm!!
So embarrassing!!!
Franka seemed to know what Jessica wanted to ask and immediately provided an assist.
"Lisa-chan! Can we learn this Shikigami Art?"
Lisa shook her head regretfully and said timidly, "I'm very sorry, big sisters, but you can't. This special Art can only be performed by people with the purest Higashi bloodline. Even in Higashi, very few people have this qualification. Your bloodline has to be incredibly pure. So... I'm very sorry...."
Phew...
Jessica and Franka let out a sigh.
A little disappointed.
Magallan was also a little disappointed. Although she had no interest in Lucas Reeve, she wanted to summon her own Shikigami to accompany her on her travels. Having a companion was better than nothing.
As for Ceobe, she tilted her head.
The cute, silly dog had no idea what they were talking about.
Shikigami?
What's that?
Is it food?
Can you eat it?
In Ceobe's mind, a Shikigami contract was something that could summon an endless variety of delicious food.
"Ceobe wants to learn too!!"
Ceobe suddenly raised her hand, her cute dog tail wagging like a propeller.
Everyone: "???"
Since Jessica had come with the Raythean Industries project head.
The Sicily family had naturally prepared the most luxurious hotel in the entire mobile city for their esteemed guests. Fearing that these guests from a superpower might not be comfortable, they even had the hotel redecorate its best rooms.
It was incredibly lavish.
At least the appearance was top-notch.
Lady Sicily could be proud in Siracusa, but she couldn't be proud in front of a superpower. Only by being adaptable could one achieve great things.
Lisa didn't know Jessica's specific identity; she only knew she was a 'close friend' of Mr. Reeve's.
"Mr. Reeve, little Lisa, have you two had lunch yet?"
Jessica asked gently.
"Not yet..."
"Then let's eat together. There's a dedicated restaurant on the first floor of the hotel. I happen to want to try some of Siracusa's specialty dishes."
Lucas Reeve didn't mind.
It was Lisa who was a little nervous.
This was Sicily's territory. She was a little worried about what would happen if she were discovered. After all, she was her mother's daughter. What if these people tried to capture her to threaten her mother? Just like before.
Although Mr. Reeve was here.
But Mr. Reeve's friends were also here. What if she caused trouble for them...
Although Lisa had never met anyone from Sicily, she had a uniformly bad impression of the Mafia. After all, she had killed twelve minor Mafia bosses these past few days, all of them heinous villains. The more of them she killed, the more disgusted she became with the Mafia.
"By the way, did Zumama and the High Priest not come?"
Lucas Reeve asked as they walked.
Jessica said, "Miss Zumama is studying at Columbia University. She was originally going to come, but... she failed her classes and has to take make-up exams. Mr. High Priest is on a date with Miss Medical Cart, so he's busy."
Lucas Reeve: "Failed... failed... failed her classes!!!"
"She failed fifteen subjects in one go. Any theory course she took, Miss Zumama failed. The only thing she didn't fail was the practical assessment. In fact, Zumama's fifteen failed subjects have broken Columbia's all-time record. Before her, the record holder failed four classes at once and was then advised to withdraw."
*Hiss....*
Lucas Reeve asked, "So, will Zumama be expelled?"
Jessica shook her head with a smile. "How could she be? But a university is a university. No matter how rich you are, you have to follow the rules. Miss Zumama has to pass all her subjects before she can move on to the next semester's courses."
"Damn!!"
Lucas Reeve remembered the fear of being dominated by failed classes during his university days in his previous life.
Had he brought Zumama from a carefree paradise into 'hell'?
At least, although the Sargon rainforest was primitive, there were no exams. As a Chieftain and the future Great Chief, she was free.
"What about Ifrit?"
"Ifrit wanted to come, but Miss Silence gave her a simple first-grade test paper. The total score was 120, and she only needed to get 50 to come out and play. But little Ifrit was just a little bit short and didn't reach fifty."
Jessica sighed.
Lucas Reeve was stunned. "Miss Silence is a bit rigid, isn't she? A little short is a little short. Why be so strict? How many points was she short by? One? Or two?"
Jessica was silent for a few seconds. "She was short... a five."
Lucas Reeve didn't react at first. "Oh~ just five points short. Miss Silence is a bit inflexible."
Wait?!
Lucas Reeve realized something was wrong.
Short... a five?!!
50 to pass, short a 5....
That's a zero!!
Never mind, it's better for Ifrit to study hard.
When the group arrived at the most luxurious hotel in the city.
The huge hotel had no other guests. It was likely that Sicily had booked the entire hotel with a grand gesture. Along the way, there were only waiters or Sicily Mafia bodyguards.
The first floor of this hotel was incredibly luxurious.
The deluxe chandelier on the ceiling cast a faint golden glow, instantly making the entire lobby seem grander. There was a small fountain in the center of the lobby, with a statue in the middle of it. The corners of the surrounding walls were inlaid with many reflective materials.
Did this look better?
No, it just looked more expensive.
This was Lisa's first time in a hotel of this level. Moreover, there were Sicily's thugs everywhere. Lisa felt like a little fox in a wolf's den, fearfully grabbing Lucas Reeve's hand. Seeing this, Jessica on the other side also smiled and took Lisa's other hand.
The restaurant was inside on the first floor, a separate space from the lobby, noble and elegant. Even before entering, they could hear the sound of a violin from inside.
This was what you call high society.
The shirt on your back mysteriously becomes a tuxedo, and the coke in your hand instantly becomes a 1982 Lafite.
These Mafia members didn't recognize Jessica. After all, Jessica had left on her own after getting off the plane; they hadn't seen her. They were about to stop them but were forced back by an incredibly sharp glare from the elite Raythean Industries troops guarding the door. Then, these fully-armed Raythean troops, whose presence was a whole level above the Mafia bodyguards, saluted in unison.
"Young Miss!"
"Hello~ Thank you for your hard work this time."
Jessica replied sweetly.
Just that simple sentence made these elite soldiers feel incredibly gratified.
The Young Miss was just like the Master and Madam, completely without airs, and considerate of her subordinates.
Lisa was speechless at this moment. Her cute eyes widened as she looked at Jessica beside her. "Big sister Jessica, those people.... how did they.... with you...."
Franka laughed and comforted Lisa in her ear. "Don't be afraid, little cutie. Your big sister Jessica is the heiress of Raythean Industries, a true heiress. With her protecting you..."
Franka had heard about Lisa's situation from Lucas Reeve.
She also felt immense sympathy for this adorable little girl and knew what she was afraid of.
There were only two people in the restaurant; the rest were waiters and bodyguards.
The Raythean Industries project head, who had just finished the ceremony, was having lunch with the noble and elegant Lady Sicily. Hearing someone enter, Lady Sicily was stunned, turned her head, and was about to ask.
After all, this restaurant had been booked. Only she and this project head were qualified to enter; other Raythean Industries employees were not.
However.
The project head, who had been chatting and laughing with her just a moment ago, immediately ran over like a subordinate.
"Young Miss!! You're here!!!"
This project head was quite happy. Although she knew her Young Miss would be coming, they hadn't been on the same aircraft, so she hadn't had a chance to 'suck up' on the way. After getting off the aircraft, the Young Miss had disappeared, and she had to meet with Lady Sicily, so she missed her chance again.
She had heard recently.
That this Young Miss was gradually making a name for herself.
Moreover, the Master and Madam only had this one daughter, so there was no question of a second heir. In other words, barring any accidents, when the Master retired, this Young Miss would be the next chairman.
And while she seemed to have a good position, being sent to Siracusa as a branch manager, she knew in her heart that the true core upper management of Raythean Industries were all at the headquarters. A branch manager like her was at most an ordinary high-level executive. Barring any accidents, this was as far as she would go in her career.
These days.
Who would want to be at a branch office if they could be at the headquarters? And branch offices were also divided into different tiers. The branch in Victoria and the branch in Siracusa were on completely different levels—one a superpower, the other a third-world country...
After hearing this, Lady Sicily immediately stood up and walked over as well.
She had no idea that the heiress of Raythean Industries had come in person. She was completely unaware.
"Young Miss, hello."
"Hello, Lady Sicily...."
Lady Sicily discreetly sized up Jessica. Petite, cute... she didn't seem as domineering as the rumors suggested, but rather gave off the impression of a little princess. Lady Sicily didn't look at the others; they were probably friends. However, when her gaze fell on Lisa, she was stunned for a moment.
A nine-tailed fox?!!
Wait....
That face~~
Lady Sicily seemed to have thought of something.
The daughter of the legendary assassin, [Vulpisfoglia]!!
In fact.
Every Mafia family had spies in the others.
Naturally, the events within [Famiglia Venezia] could not be hidden from Lady Sicily.
A photo of Vulpisfoglia's daughter had long been circulated among all the high-level members of the five major Mafia families. She was too easy to identify. After all, a nine-tailed fox was so rare in Siracusa that she might be the only one.
Why was the assassin Vulpisfoglia's daughter with the heiress of Raythean Industries!