Riko Amanai

"Still not awake? Should we take her to the hospital?"

Suguru Geto suggested, looking at the unconscious Riko Amanai.

"If only I could use Reverse Cursed Technique like Shoko!"

"No way, Shoko's explanations are completely incomprehensible!"

"Forget it, let's just go to the hospital. If she hit her head and it affects the assimilation, the fault's on us!"

Satoru Gojo stepped forward to pick up Riko Amanai, but just as he moved, she opened her eyes.

"Huh, she's awake?"

Riko Amanai froze for two seconds, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped him.

"Take that!"

Smack!

At that moment, unable to keep Limitless active around the clock, Satoru Gojo was caught off guard and took a full slap to the face.

"Huh?!"

Prepared in advance, Gojo Sawa whipped out a magenta camera and, unnoticed by everyone in the corner, snapped a few shots of Gojo's embarrassing expression.

Riko Amanai stood up, hands on her hips, and shouted at Gojo, "How dare you, you scoundrel, lay a hand on this young lady!"

Gojo growled in frustration, "You brat! We're not with the group that attacked you!"

Suguru Geto also explained, "We're here to protect you on orders!"

Riko Amanai eyed them warily, "With faces like con artists, and that weird fringe and topknot—super suspicious! And those two white-haired guys look like delinquents!"

Gojo Sawa, caught in the crossfire, looked baffled. "Natural hair color, my fault?"

"What natural white hair? Sure it's not premature graying? None of you three look like good people!"

The trio's faces darkened.

Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto stepped forward, each grabbing one of Riko Amanai's arms and legs, lifting her off the ground.

Then, in sync, they twisted her in opposite directions like wringing a towel.

Gojo Sawa, meanwhile, grabbed a feather duster and mercilessly poked at Riko Amanai's armpits.

"Hahaha... you bastards... hahaha... stop it..."

Ding!

The elevator doors opened, and Misato Kuroi appeared riding the cursed spirit "Heavenly Ox."

Seeing the scene in the room, Misato gasped, "P-please stop!"

Riko Amanai spotted Misato Kuroi and teared up, "Misato, save me!"

At that, the trio let go, and Riko Amanai hit the floor, rubbing her sore rear as she pitifully got up.

Misato Kuroi explained, "Miss, these three are companions sent by the higher-ups to protect you!"

"Huh? Why would they assign me such scumbag bodyguards!"

Riko Amanai protested, then her eyes lit up as she pointed at the cursed spirit beneath Misato Kuroi and asked:

"What's this ugly-cute little thing?"

Misato Kuroi smiled. "You'll have to ask... uh... Mr. Fringe!"

Suguru Geto's mouth twitched, but he held back his irritation and patiently explained, "This is my technique, 'Cursed Spirit Manipulation'!"

"Can you summon Angewomon?"

"That's a Digimon, not a cursed spirit!"

"What about the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox?"

"No!"

"Then Yamata no Orochi?"

"No!"

"What a useless ability!"

Suguru Geto smiled with narrowed eyes, but a vein on his forehead was already twitching.

As if to prove himself, Geto waved his hand, and a cute little cat emerged from the shadows.

Riko Amanai's eyes sparkled, and she scooped the cat into her arms, starting to pet it.

"What's that?"

Gojo Sawa asked quietly, not believing Geto would collect such a flashy, useless cursed spirit.

"A Shapeshifter. Its original form... let's not talk about it."

"...Nice."

Satoru Gojo watched Riko Amanai petting the cat and remarked, "Hard to believe she's this lively. I thought she'd be depressed knowing she's going to assimilate with Tengen."

Hearing this, Riko Amanai stood up with a snort. "As expected, that's the thinking of a scumbag! Listen up!"

Riko Amanai puffed out her chest, her face full of pride.

"After this girl's [assimilation], my consciousness, heart, and soul will be one with Lord Tengen. In other words, I am Lord Tengen, and Lord Tengen is me!"

"Hey! You changed your wallpaper?"

"Yeah, it's Waka Inoue!"

"Little bro, your taste isn't bad, but I think Akina Nakamori is the most perfect!"

"Hey! Are you three even listening to me, you bastards!"

Riko Amanai bristled and roared, but the three just rolled their eyes at her.

"Listening to the way she talks, she probably can't make friends."

"Agreed."

"Bastards! I talk normally at school too... School! Oh no, I'm going to be late!"

Misato Kuroi urged, "Miss, it's dangerous outside right now. Isn't it better to skip school?"

The three nodded as well, since school could easily lead to complications.

But no one could talk Riko Amanai out of it, so they had no choice but to let her go to school.

After all, the additional condition of the mission was to fulfill all requests of the Star Plasma Vessel within their ability.

Gojo Sawa suddenly said to Misato Kuroi, "Miss Kuroi, how about you just stick with us from now on?"

"Huh? Why?"

Gojo Sawa explained, "Judging by your relationship with Riko, you must be like family to her, right?"

Misato Kuroi nodded, her eyes reddening.

Her family was specifically responsible for raising the Star Plasma Vessel.

Ever since Riko Amanai's parents died when she was young, she had lived with Riko day and night as her caretaker.

The two were closer than family, even if not by blood.

Now knowing that Riko Amanai was about to assimilate with Lord Tengen, Misato Kuroi's heart was also filled with reluctance and pain.

Seeing this, Gojo Sawa sighed. "Since you and Riko share such deep bonds, I'm worried those guys in the shadows will take you hostage!"

"Even if they fail, they could use you to distract us, so it's best you stay with us!"

Misato Kuroi nodded. "Okay, I understand."

At the horse racing track.

"Shiu Kong has already contacted us. Are you satisfied with this price?"

An icy voice came from the other end of the phone, making Toji's brow furrow.

"Two Six Eyes and one rare Cursed Spirit Manipulation user, total three billion!"

Toji chuckled. "As far as I know, those two Six Eyes each had a bounty of one billion when they were kids. After all these years, the reward hasn't gone up?"

"What are you implying..."

"Add more money."

"..."

Silence on the other end of the line.

Toji popped a takoyaki into his mouth and mumbled, "Don't think I don't know. Your Star Religious Group may not have dedicated fighters like the Q Organization."

"But you guys are rich!"

"Hehehe, fine. As long as you succeed, we're willing to raise the price to five billion."

"Deal."

"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Zenin!"

"Not Zenin. It's Fushiguro. I married into the family. My name is now Toji Fushiguro."

Toji sneered. "I killed quite a few Zenin clan members back in the day. It'd be a miracle if they still let me use the name Zenin!"

"And besides, I don't want it."