CHAPTER 79: 72. SWITCH FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE

With his back to Fujiwara Reya, Kawashima Miki picked up a glass of wine and slightly parted her lips.

From between her moist lips, a wisp of smoke drifted out, falling slowly into the drink as if it had weight.

The smoke gradually melded with the liquid, like ice melting into water, leaving no visible trace.

As a male assassin, this was Luo Xinfu’s unique talent, a smoke with hypnotic effects.

Usually stored in the lungs, it can be released directly without demonic power when needed, to directly hypnotize and enchant the opponent, making them obediently follow commands.

Gently swirling the glass to mix the smoke evenly with the drink, Kawashima Miki turned back, leisurely handing it to Fujiwara Reya.

"No, no..." Fujiwara Reya quickly shook his head in refusal.

"The little wizard doesn’t dare to drink?" Kawashima Miki murmured dreamily.

Her pink tongue inadvertently licked her lips a few times, as if signaling something that could easily captivate the heart.

"What’s this drink called?" Fujiwara Reya’s heart raced as he took the glass.

"Same as the bar’s name, called Empress." Kawashima Miki’s face lit up with a coquettish smile, "It’s extremely spicy at first, with thorns, and only after slowly taming it can you feel its long-lasting and sentimental charm. It’s easy to get tipsy."

"I don’t really get it." Fujiwara Reya took a small sip.

After savoring it for a while, he could taste nothing but the spiciness burning his throat.

"You have to drink it like I do."

Kawashima Miki picked up another glass without any issues, swirled it a few times, then sipped lightly, closing her eyes to let the flavor seep through her body,

"The taste is very subtle," she said with her eyes closed, as if evaluating, "It’s spicy enough, harsh enough on the throat. The initial experience is very aggressive, but afterward comes a profound sense of depth. It’s disappointing that you can’t sense it."

"I’m really quite clumsy," Fujiwara Reya rubbed his slightly dizzy head, "I can’t even stick stamps straight, I frequently dial the wrong numbers, and often forget to buy ingredients to fill the fridge — overall, just quite clumsy."

"I don’t think so, you’re just being modest, aren’t you?" Kawashima Miki raised her glass, with the pink and blue chandelier light gently shimmering in the liquid in the glass.

"Haha, you saw through me." Fujiwara Reya took a small sip from his doctored cocktail, reiterating, "It’s really late, we should head to the site."

Kawashima Miki’s eyes flickered slightly but soon calmed down.

This little guy is so stubborn, does he really want ’big sister’ to start something before he’ll quiet down... To continue stalling, she pretended to be tired, leaning back against the chair, relaxing her body, and closing her eyes, with her lashes occasionally fluttering.

"Madam?" Fujiwara Reya asked in confusion.

Kawashima Miki slowly opened her eyes and glanced at her watch.

Fujiwara Reya also checked his watch; it was almost eight in the evening.

"Sorry, I wanted to chat a bit more," Kawashima Miki said, with a mischievous smile, and asked him, "Shall we order something to eat now, or enjoy some exercise first before eating?"

"Exercise?"

Fujiwara Reya was taken aback.

"It’s not often you come by, little wizard, surely you won’t just take a look?" Kawashima Miki gritted her teeth, hesitating briefly, then as if making a decision, she slightly brushed her shoulder against his, "Let’s cultivate the mood first, then proceed to the next step."

"..." Fujiwara Reya quietly gazed at her face.

Staring at such a beautiful face at close range felt as if he was being drawn by something intense, a very strange feeling. He could feel the plumpness of her body, her skin warm and refreshing, like lying on a spring meadow on a sunny afternoon.

The longer he looked,

the dizzier his head became, and his vision grew blurrier.

After a while, Fujiwara Reya, trying to relieve the awkward feeling, casually chatted, "Madam, your coiffed updo is very beautiful."

"Thank you."

Kawashima Miki replied through gritted teeth.

It was her first time sacrificing so much, and both mentally and physically she felt awkward. She could only continuously remind herself not to mind being taken advantage of by someone who is about to die, to calm herself down.

After calming her nerves, Kawashima Miki tilted her head to look into his eyes, "You’re complimenting my hair, but that’s not all. My hair has created a scene full of implications in your mind, like the couple at the next table, right?"

"No, no," Fujiwara Reya quickly shook his head, "I was just talking about your hair."

"..."

Kawashima Miki was so angry she clenched her fists.

She was a hundred percent sure that this infuriating little priest wasn’t clueless, he was just pretending to play dumb.

"Alright, madam," Fujiwara Reya reluctantly pushed her away, "Time to head to the next spot, or I’ll be heading home."

Kawashima Miki pointed at the drinks and raw oysters on the table, "How about finishing everything before leaving?"

She needed to stall a bit longer.

The dose applied earlier was enough to knock out a higher-level demon, needing only three to five minutes to take effect.

Fujiwara Reya, following her suggestion, buried his head to eat a bit.

He had to admit, these oysters tasted really good, as if freshly fished out from the sea, carrying the scent of the ocean.

"By the way, there are some questions I haven’t yet asked the little wizard," Kawashima Miki said while using a fork to pry an oyster from its shell, "Why did you decide to reopen the Asakusa Shrine?"

"I like the environment there," Fujiwara Reya wiped his lips with a napkin, "Though everything is in ruins, it has the feel of nature."

"Haven’t you thought of selling it?" Kawashima Miki asked, her voice soft and clear, without the previous pretentiousness.

"No!" Fujiwara Reya shook his head firmly.

"But aren’t you afraid of others coveting it, little wizard?" Kawashima Miki lifted an oyster to him with the fork, "You know, in the Asakusa District, a land as large as two football fields would be a huge fortune if developed."