Chapter 21: I Might as Well Just Support You Directly
Chapter 21: I Might as Well Just Support You Directly
“So you’re just obsessed with status.”
Fang Cheng didn’t fully trust Kanzaki Rin’s answer but avoided pressing further, not wanting to ruin their necessary partnership.
“I’ll agree to cooperate in principle, but I have conditions.”
“You…”
Kanzaki Rin inhaled sharply. “Don’t push your luck.”
Fang Cheng leaned back with a grin. “This isn’t greed—negotiations need back-and-forth. Should I just nod without stating my terms? I’m not your father, spoiling you endlessly. Hear my demands first, then decide.”
The choice now fell to Kanzaki Rin.
Annoyed by his stubbornness, she narrowed her eyes. “Go on.”
“First, I want detailed documents on all monsters, especially vampires. Second, I want your flame-controlling ability.”
Fang Cheng had considered demanding her promise not to target him after eliminating the vampires but dismissed it as pointless. Strength, not empty words, would deter her. Weakness would render any pact useless. Power was his only guarantee.
Kanzaki Rin paused, then replied, “The first condition is fine. The second isn’t possible.”
“Why?”
Fang Cheng had always wondered how she’d gained such powers—a mystery the public also craved to solve. Yet the Disaster Countermeasures Department kept it tightly under wraps, leaving only rumors.
“My ability requires innate talent and years of training,” she explained. “You’d need to join the department and prove your worth first.”
Unconvinced but pragmatic, Fang Cheng countered, “Then give me all documents on acquiring abilities and training methods. Plus, train me in combat techniques to boost my fighting power.”
This time, Kanzaki Rin deliberated longer.
Fang Cheng waited patiently. Her desperation to eradicate vampires—even using him as bait—proved she needed him as much as he needed her. No other strange being would cooperate so readily.
After a tense silence, she nodded. “Agreed.”
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Fang Cheng extended his hand. “To cooperation.”
They shook firmly.
He added, “Oh, you mentioned compensating my losses earlier?”
Kanzaki Rin clenched her jaw, recalling her hollow bargaining chip.
However, just as the two made their decision to cooperate, Kanzaki Rin couldn’t bring herself to retract her words. “State your demands,” she said stiffly, “but don’t get too greedy.”
Fang Cheng grinned. “Relax, they’re all reasonable requests.”
He glanced around the typhoon-ravaged living space. “Replace my furniture. That’s acceptable, right?”
The aftermath of his battle with Yagawa Ryouka had left his home looking like a typhoon disaster zone. Kanzaki Rin nodded curtly. “Done. New furniture arrives tomorrow.”
Just as she assumed that concluded negotiations, Fang Cheng gave her a look saying ‘how naïve’.
“All expenses during our cooperation fall to you. Makes sense since I’m just a broke high school student.”
Kanzaki Rin’s eye twitched. She wanted to snap about his organ-selling side hustle, but bit her tongue.
“Also nutritional supplements post-battle, equipment maintenance, transportation costs, three meals daily…”
Her grip tightened on his wrist as he listed demands. “Should I just directly sponsor your entire life?”
“Tempting, but I’d need to consider what twisted hobbies a wealthy lady like you might have…”
When Kanzaki Rin’s expression turned stormy, Fang Cheng wisely changed tactics. Pushing further might make her quit.
“That all?” she asked through clenched teeth.
“One more thing-”
“What now?!” Her voice spiked like an aggravated feline.
Fang Cheng wiggled his trapped hand. “How long are you planning to grope me? Didn’t peg you as the handsy type.”
Kanzaki Rin flung his hand away as if scalded. After steadying her breathing, she regained composure. “We begin tomorrow. I’ll handle preparations.”
“School?” Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow.
“Take leave.”
“Handle that too then.”
The mention of school reminded him. “Morishita Yamato’s harassment – your doing?”
“Unrelated.”
“You knew though.” Fang Cheng glared. “Why not stop them?”
Kanzaki Rin crossed her arms, smirk returning. “Why should I? You survived. Heard they got worse anyway.”
“My delicate psyche’s traumatized! No guilt, you heartless woman?”
“Pfft.” She cut off his dramatics. “Morishita won’t interfere with our work now.”
Fang Cheng pondered. So her behind-the-scenes meddling explained the bully’s silence. Or maybe the punk was biding time for grander schemes. Either way, trouble brewed.
Kanzaki Rin abruptly changed subjects. “Does regular food curb your blood cravings?”
Fang Cheng hid his tension. His fake vampire identity masked true immortality – a secret riskier than any bloodsucker. “Mostly,” he hedged.
“Need me to procure blood?” Her casual tone didn’t mask the test.
“Sure.” He let her sweat before adding, “Pig’s blood’s fine.”
Kanzaki Rin blinked. “Pig’s… blood?”
Visions of vampires raiding pigsties played in her mind. So undignified.
Fang Cheng smirked at her bewildered expression. Let her waste money on swine blood – it maintained his cover and drained her wallet. Two birds, one stone.