Chapter 455: I Think Your Sister-in-law Owes Me an Apology
Chapter 455: I Think Your Sister-in-law Owes Me an Apology
The four entered the small car Fang Cheng created using Steel Blood. Its power system matched the Blood Combat Suit, but beyond that, it had no real components—just a moving toy vehicle.
As they drove toward the city, they passed numerous dismantled checkpoints and active construction sites. Kamikawa Takumi had anonymously traveled to Southeast Asia to import outdated automated production lines, replacing antiquated methods.
Freed factory workers now flooded into fields or the city itself. Kanzaki Rin hadn’t yet allowed them to leave Mechanical City. Without jobs, they’d risk starvation or forming slums.
To address this, Kanzaki Rin launched a policy nicknamed the “Kanzaki Rin New Deal” by Fang Cheng’s team. Its core included liberating slaves and funding infrastructure projects to employ newcomers.
Mechanical City now thrived in a construction boom—roads, bridges, and homes demolished and rebuilt. After the city, the entire Monster Kingdom awaited renovation.
Inside the city, dust clouds rose from countless work sites. These laborers weren’t slaves anymore: they earned wages, had freedom, and faced no whips or bullets.
The city’s rapid changes proved Kanzaki Rin’s plans were working, though its future direction remained unclear.
They reached the apartment smoothly. Fang Cheng unlocked the door. Today, Sato Mai and Takeda Masumi should’ve been home resting.
True enough, Sato Mai emerged from the kitchen holding milk tea. Hearing the door, she turned and beamed, nearly darting over.
“Cheng-brother—”
She froze mid-step, spotting Fang Cheng, the cat sisters, and the hooded nine-tailed fox. Even half-hidden, the fox’s face screamed stunning beauty, her figure straining against her clothes.
Sato Mai’s smile vanished. After a stare, she spun and bolted to the living room. “Rin! Cheng-brother brought another woman home!”
Fang Cheng: “…”
He’d forgotten this risk. At least he’d brought the fox to handle the Killing Stone, not to add another dinner guest. But why was Kanzaki Rin home during work hours?
As he stepped inside, cold steel flashed toward him. He retreated. A fruit knife thudded into the wall beside him.
“Sorry! Did I hurt you?” Uka Mirai rushed over, face flushed with nervousness. “I was practicing peeling—my hand slipped.”
Fang Cheng glanced at the banana in her grip. Why practice peeling on a banana?
Uka Mirai yanked the knife from the wall. Her eyes locked onto the nine-tailed fox.
Whoosh!
She stared blankly at the nine-tailed fox, mindlessly slicing through a banana with her fruit knife.
Fang Cheng felt a chill creep down his spine.
“Cheng-brother.”
Uka Mirai turned to him, dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Who’s this woman?”
“No relationship with me.”
Fang Cheng replied absently, glancing toward the living room. To his surprise, everyone had gathered—even the couples Kamikawa Takumi and Sato Hayato.
They all stared at Fang Cheng and the three newcomers. The unfamiliar nine-tailed fox froze the atmosphere; no one rose to greet them.
Their gazes spoke volumes—this guy returned in under a month with yet another stunning beauty. Was he collecting Pokémon?
Kamikawa Takumi watched with amused envy while Sato Hayato tugged his girlfriend aside, avoiding potential crossfire.
“Why’re you back early?”
Kanzaki Rin broke the silence first, her tone flat as her eyes fixed on the fox. “Who’s this?”
Ye Yuqing and Nangong Saye stayed guarded, recalling the Qingxue incident. Better to wait and see.
As Fang Cheng opened his mouth to explain, the nine-tailed fox suddenly clutched his sleeve, cowering behind him under the hostile stares.
*This fox is scheming.*
Fang Cheng instantly guessed her ploy. The fox had nursed grievances since he’d pummeled her with the Thunder Hammer during their journey. Unable to fight back physically, she’d resorted to tricks.
The room’s mood shifted violently.
Daggers glared from every direction, as if wanting to chop him up. Only Kamikawa and Sato looked ready to clap—this guy kept adding dishes to his overflowing plate.
*Typical Fang Cheng,* they thought. *Our leader does the impossible.*
Ye Yuqing rolled up her sleeves, rising to shout—
*Bam!*
Before a word escaped her, Fang Cheng’s punch sent the nine-tailed fox sprawling.
“Yowch!”
The fox crashed backward, leaving the room speechless.
Fang Cheng snorted. “Stir trouble again, and I’ll hit more than your face.”
“Understood,” the fox whimpered, though her heart seethed as she logged this debt.
“You better not fall into my hands later, or I’ll find a hundred sows to work you to death.”
Kamikawa Takumi and Sato Hayato nearly dropped to their knees in awe.
How insane! Where’d he dig up these stunning beauties so loyal they won’t even whine after being smacked around?
“She’s my prisoner. Brought her back for labor.”
Fang Cheng explained to Kanzaki Rin, avoiding mention of the nine-tailed fox’s true identity to prevent panic.
The nine-tailed fox had already spotted the two men in the living room.
Her attempt to stir trouble between Fang Cheng and the women failed, so she tugged down her hood, revealing a face of legendary beauty. “Greetings.”
Everyone froze—men and women alike. Kamikawa Takumi and Sato Hayato, being male, felt the Enchantment hit harder.
Kamikawa Takumi, seasoned as an ace, shook it off quickly. Sato Hayato stared like a statue.
Fang Cheng knew what the fox was doing but didn’t interfere. Not his problem if others got burned.
He molded blood into a mask and slapped it onto the fox’s face. “You two—come with me,” he told Kanzaki Rin and Kamikawa Takumi.
Kanzaki Rin snapped to her senses, glaring warily at the fox. A single glance had bewitched everyone, regardless of gender.
Once Fang Cheng led the siblings and fox into the room, Qingxue roused the dazed crowd in the living room. Tsukikage Chuxia had already slipped off to nap.
Sato Hayato remained entranced, the fox’s image burned into his mind.
A sudden pinch at his waist jolted him awake.
Sato Mai dug her fingers into her brother’s side. “Done staring? Shouldn’t you feel guilty toward your girlfriend?”
Hayato nearly apologized, thinking it was Kujo Yuri—only to find his sister glaring.
He whipped his head toward his actual girlfriend, who was now gazing dreamily at the closed door, drool nearly dripping.
Sato Hayato: “…”
Mai, I think your future sister-in-law’s the one betraying me here.
In the room, the nine-tailed fox sat meekly on a chair—Fang Cheng’s Thunder Hammer resting nearby.
“Wait, this is Tamamo-no-Mae?!”
Kamikawa Takumi gaped after Fang Cheng’s explanation. He’d been planning to hunt for the legendary figure himself, yet Fang Cheng had casually dragged home a version.
Kanzaki Rin studied the fox, understanding dawned. No wonder the enchantment worked on everyone—this was Area 11’s fabled beauty.
“Not the real deal. Just a doppelganger with one Tail,” the fox purred, honeyed voice dripping with false sweetness. Best to distance herself from her notorious true self.
This 16-year-old little fox wanted no part of that ancient baggage.
Kamikawa Takumi turned to Fang Cheng. “You brought her to extract the Killing Stone from Rin-chan?”
Fang Cheng nodded. “Worth testing, even if she’s just a fragment.”
“Then start now!”
Despite his usual laidback act, Kamikawa Takumi had been desperate to solve the Killing Stone problem.
Kanzaki Rin met Fang Cheng’s glance and nodded. Her past-life memories warned the Stone’s awakening was near—it would poison everything around her, even prevent touching Fang Cheng.
No need for ceremony. The dim room would suffice.
As Kanzaki Rin sat facing the fox, Fang Cheng hefted the Thunder Hammer—one malicious twitch and he’d redecorate the walls.
The nine-tailed fox hesitated. Legends spoke of absorbed Killing Stones, but she’d never dealt with this as its owner. No choice now—that hammer looked hungry.
*Ugh, why’s a young fox like me stuck cleaning up ancient messes?*
With theatrical slowness, she placed a delicate hand on Kanzaki Rin’s chest.
Kanzaki Rin steadied her breathing. “Just do it. Failure’s not your concern.”
The fox studied her—no bluff here. “No wonder the Killing Stone picked you,” she smirked.