Chapter 155: If You Can’t Resist, Just Lie Down and Enjoy

“Not that I know of.”

Kanzaki Rin answered Fang Cheng’s question. “The Aoki family could run this business because of the government’s conflict with the Uka family. Both sides needed a middleman.”

Monsters required human corpses, while the government didn’t want monsters attacking living people and disrupting order. This mutual need led to their silent approval of such intermediaries.

Fang Cheng understood now—the Aoki family’s role stemmed from practical necessity rather than personal connections. Still, this shady business couldn’t be handled by just anyone. The Aokis must’ve had powerful backers, possibly even monsters themselves.

Compared to the Morishita family, the Aokis clearly held more influence.

“Who’s the Uka family?”

Fang Cheng remembered Uka Mirai, the girl he’d rejected earlier—the one even Kanzaki Rin couldn’t trace.

“They’re the strongest monster faction in Tokyo,” Kanzaki Rin explained. “Essentially spokespeople for all the monsters lurking in the city’s outskirts.”

Since becoming a full member of the Countermeasures Department, she’d gained access to more classified documents.

“That girl you asked about? She’s probably from the Uka family. No wonder we couldn’t find her background.”

Kanzaki Rin gave Fang Cheng a rare nod of approval. “Cutting ties was smart. Even if our department hadn’t noticed you, those monsters would’ve.”

“But if she’s so important,” Fang Cheng frowned, “how did Heishi Youto kidnap her so easily?”

The second vampire he’d eliminated had seemed threatening back then, but Heishi Youto was only Hazard level C. How could someone from the mighty Uka family fall prey to such small fry?

Kanzaki Rin sipped her tea. “There’s probably more to that story. Not our problem.”

True enough—their current target remained Aoki Yusuke.

The guy hadn’t left his house since Fang Cheng broke his arms, even taking six months’ medical leave. Modern medicine could’ve fixed his injuries weeks ago. His lockdown reeked of paranoia about Fang Cheng’s retaliation.

“What about those seniors promising me answers? Did they investigate?”

“No direct investigation needed. His misdeeds exposed themselves.”

News of that night’s events had spread through the Countermeasures Department like wildfire—especially how Aoki Yusuke had hypnotically manipulated colleagues.

The instigator was obvious. Kanzaki Rin topped the suspect list, though Kujou Arata (still nursing bruised pride) might’ve helped.

Aoki Yusuke’s reputation crashed when interns rushed for mental cleansing—all discovering subtle hypnosis boosting their liking for him while suppressing criticism. Disgusting, but thankfully weak. A stronger ability might’ve caused a full-blown mind-control scandal.

After finalizing their operational plan, Kanzaki Rin took Asaka Akihime and Sato Mai to scout locations. Proper assistants needed hands-on experience.

Sato Hayato headed to the training ground alone, drilling basic skills as usual.

Fang Cheng was alone at home. He went to his bedroom and retrieved the dark Bible that hadn’t been touched in ages.

Since Aoki Yusuke never went out, the only way to eliminate him would be to visit his residence.

The real challenge wasn’t reaching him, but concealing his identity. Even with a female disguise, Fang Cheng couldn’t risk using the highly recognizable Tide of Blood or Steel Blood abilities.

After discussing with Kanzaki Rin, they settled on using the Word Spirit Technique from the dark Bible.

This technique’s practicality made it ideal – it could trip up opponents through simple carelessness while conveniently framing the Blissful faith.

If their plan sparked conflict between the Aoki family and the Blissful faith, it’d achieve two goals at once.

Though using the technique would deepen one’s devotion to the evil god and drain life force, Fang Cheng had few alternatives. Among his many abilities, only a handful proved truly useful.

To minimize risks, he decided to limit himself to one or two Word Spirit Techniques.

He flipped through the dark Bible until locating the chapter on Word Spirit Techniques, identifying Binding and Imbalance as suitable choices.

From personal experience, these two techniques showed the most practical value. Though Paradise offered greater power, its cost of years from one’s lifespan seemed too risky without knowing if such loss could be reversed.

Mastering the evil god’s language posed the main challenge.

Smoother recitations meant clearer communication with the deity, allowing better understanding of the caster’s desires.

Fang Cheng’s reading proficiency had reached sufficient levels – as long as he recited fluently and paid the price, the techniques would activate.

Yet without any actual faith in the evil god, he remained unsure if the spells would hold proper power.

Choosing caution, Fang Cheng headed to the apartment rooftop to avoid damaging his home.

The deserted rooftop held several forgotten flower pots in one corner, their contents long withered.

He faced the pots and cast his first technique.

“Binding!”

Several faint pops sounded as dozens of black tendrils erupted from the clay containers, constricting them with crushing force.

The pressure proved so intense that thick pottery shattered, scattering soil across the ground.

Fang Cheng’s brow furrowed.

Why did cultists summon black ropes with this technique, while he produced tentacles?

Moreover, he detected no drain on his life force or lifespan – as if the technique came without consequences.

Was this another aspect of the evil god’s gift?

The realization brought no joy. Deities enjoyed playing games – their “gifts” often served as preludes to greater torments, with no regard for their human tools’ survival.

Closer inspection revealed the tendrils resembled octopus limbs complete with suckers, their smooth surface feeling flesh-like yet not quite organic.

Finding no answers, Fang Cheng reopened the dark Bible and aimed at a nearby sparrow.

“Imbalance!”

The bird dropped instantly, chirping frantically as its wings beat uselessly against the ground.

Again, no side effects manifested.

As he absently flipped pages, an illustration of the Goddess of Compassion radiating holy light caught his eye.

The painting suddenly spoke: “Resistance is unnecessary.”

Snap!

Fang Cheng slammed the book shut and hurled it toward the street below.

After watching the black Bible land in a trash bin, he returned home and locked his door.

He froze upon entering the living room.

There on the coffee table lay the dark Bible he’d just discarded.

After a long exhale, Fang Cheng picked it up and wiped the cover with his sleeve.

“Fine,” he muttered. “Do what you want. If I can’t fight it, I’ll just lie back and take it. Go ahead – hit eighty mph if you dare.”

But first, Aoki Yusuke needed dealing with.