You're Deliberately Trying to Make Things Difficult for Me, Aren't You?!

It is said that the city has abandoned the traditional path of magic and technology, and instead embarked on the path of exploring the human body.

To extend lifespan by achieving mechanical lift.

Many multinational companies have already begun to get involved and conduct research and development.

For some reason, his lips twitched involuntarily a few times when he heard the news.

Cyberpunk, Night City, Afterlife, and V immediately popped into my mind...

Well, if it really is Night City, I could go there to have some fun and relieve some boredom when I have some free time.

Unfortunately, the main antagonist Saburo Arasaka, is missing.

In addition, Europe, which had been relatively quiet, has also made some significant moves.

An international mutual aid organization called the "Magic Practitioners' Mutual Aid Association" was established. Compared to the original International Magic Association, the so-called Wizards' Association placed greater emphasis on human rights and the use of magic.

It was used for the benefit of the people, rather than as preparation for war, which can be seen as an alternative way to alleviate the status of magicians as weapons on the international stage.

Even this "Magic Practitioners' Mutual Aid Association" invited Shiba Tatsuya as its vice representative.

Originally, they planned to invite Yotsuba Mahiro, but unfortunately he wasn't in this world at the time, so they changed their mind and invited Shiba Tatsuya.

"Sigh, it's only been less than a year since I left, but it feels like I've been gone for over a decade. I can hardly keep up with the changing landscape."

Mahiro couldn't help but sigh softly.

But it's alright.

How the world's structure changes has almost nothing to do with him. If he wants to annex Sishao Island, if he has the ability, then give it a try.

As for the rest, he didn't care much.

After all, his goal is the stars and the sea!

"Oh, Mahiro, there's one last thing... but Miyuki thinks it's best if Aunt and you discuss it."

"Oh? Is there something the current head of the Yotsuba Family can't say?"

"Um... Brother Mahiro, don't tease Miyuki."

Miyuki looked at him with a resentful expression, but remained silent about what she wanted to say.

"Alright, alright, then I'll go talk to Maya and Yotsuba Miya about this later."

Mahiro verbally agreed.

What he needs to do right now is very simple: free Itogami Island from the ring!

Soon after, he arrived at the other side of the Mashima Island, a coastline that was not yet open to the public.

After confirming that there was sufficient distance between the sea surface and the island, Itogami Island was released.

Boom--

With a deafening roar, accompanied by towering waves, a massive artificial island, brimming with technological sophistication yet subtly imbued with feng shui principles, suddenly appeared near the Mashima Island.

In addition, there was that Prison Barrier that resembled a monastery.

This Itogami Island is like a magnificent wonder!

The island's inhabitants understood immediately upon witnessing the appearance of this strange, steel-like island.

Yotsuba Mahiro is back.

The following afternoon.

In the garden of the Yotsuba Estate.

Two beautiful women, each with a distinct style, sat on either side of the main seat: one dignified and intellectual, the other languid and alluring, yet their appearances were strikingly similar.

They are the Yotsuba Clan sisters, Yotsuba Miya and Maya Yotsuba.

Continuing down, you'll find Miyuki, and also Mayumi Saegusa.

Her long, smooth hair fell straight down to her waist, with two strands falling perfectly across her forehead and resting on her full breasts.

A pair of wine-red eyes were secretly watching the half-grown girl, Natsuki Minamiya, sitting opposite them, dressed in black gothic clothing.

Miyuki, meanwhile, gazed with a smile at the woman opposite her, Aya Sengakuji, who was dressed in a kimono.

Next up was CC, who had the same hair color as Gada. The two chatted quietly and happily, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Beside her stood Elizabeth, the "Red Queen," with her striking red hair, yet wearing a white sun hat askew, looking exceptionally serene and elegant.

Should this be considered an immortal trio?

And Alpha, seemingly indifferent to everything, quietly sipping its tea.

There's also Aurora, with a beauty mark at the corner of her eye, one eye hidden by her long purple hair, yet she surveys the entire situation alongside the snow-white Seitenshi.

They were already familiar with each other.

Everyone was gathered together, but each person held a cup of black tea in their hands.

Although the atmosphere was somewhat difficult to describe, it certainly felt like a tea party for conversation.

"Okay, can you tell me now? What is it that you, Mom, have to tell me in person?"

Mahiro was the first to speak.

He put down his empty teacup and turned his gaze to Maya Yotsuba beside him.

"Actually, it's not a big deal."

Maya Yotsuba put down her teacup, looked at the red lipstick mark imprinted on the cup, and smiled slightly:

"It's just that your actions were too big, little Mahiro, which made all the old guys upstairs unhappy. For example, the Yotsuba Family... well, that's not quite right, it should be one of the sponsors of the Fourth Laboratory, Toudou Aoba, expressed his dissatisfaction with your actions~"

"Sponsor? Didn't the Yotsuba Family abandon that thing a long time ago?" Mahiro asked, puzzled.

"No, that's not true."

This time, it was Yotsuba Clan Yotsuba Miya who spoke, as if she didn't want to fall behind.

However, when the two sisters opened their mouths, and their voices were so similar, it was as if one person was playing two roles.

But Yotsuba Clan ignored Mahiro's feelings and spoke to herself in the Yotsuba Miya:

"Our Yotsuba Family originally used the surname 'Sima' before changing it to the Yotsuba Clan. You should know this, right, Mahiro?"

"Yes, I know."

Miori Shiba mentioned this matter a long time ago, and he had also conducted a detailed investigation into the Yotsuba Family.

Although the Yotsuba Family has many branches, their ancestors were indeed surnamed "Sima," but they changed their surname after joining the Fourth Laboratory.

Upon hearing his answer, Maya Yotsuba nodded in satisfaction.

"In that case, you should also know about the unique position of the Yotsuba Family among the many research institutes, right?"

"Speciality?"

Yotsuba Mahiro didn't react for a moment, but after thinking for a while, she nodded in agreement:

"I know."

The most unique aspect of the Yotsuba Clan is that among the Ten Master Clans and ten research institutes, only the Yotsuba Family originated from the Fourth Laboratory. Other research institutes have more or less left behind multiple families.

For example, the Shippou Family and the Saegusa Family both came from the same research institute.

That's why Shippou Takuma was so hostile towards the Saegusa Family back then.

They're from the same research institute, so why is it that the Saegusa Family made it into the Ten Master Clans while the Shippou Family can only be a candidate for the Eighteenth Clans?

But the Yotsuba Family is different.

It is the only finished crystallized product from the Fourth Laboratory, and it is irreplaceable.

"It is precisely because of the Yotsuba Family's unique nature—their innate ability to perform powerful special magic calculations and their innate ability to interfere with mental energy—that the Yotsuba Family once had many [investors]. Although since Maya took over, she has used various means to eliminate many entities that attempted to influence the Yotsuba Family, there is still one almost forgotten benefactor."

"You mean that person is Toudou Aoba?"

"Yes, that's right."

Maya Yotsuba confirmed Yotsuba Mahiro's guess, but Yotsuba Mahiro found it somewhat laughable.

"So, all that long-winded explanation was just to introduce me to Toudou Aoba?"

Everyone present could hear the dissatisfaction in Yotsuba Mahiro's tone.

Those who can stop it, like Natsuki Minamiya, are unable to intervene because they don't understand the situation behind it.

As the head of the family, Miyuki knew some inside information, but she didn't want to persuade her brother Mahiro, so all the responsibility fell on the two Yotsuba Family sisters.

Finally, Maya Yotsuba took a sip of her black tea before speaking:

"No, it's just something to talk about at this tea party."

What he said was reasonable and well-founded, Mahiro had no way to refute it.

"Alright, let's talk about what Toudou Aoba's purpose is."

"He wants to reclaim Mashima Island and allow the Yotsuba Family to return to Japan politics with all their research findings, with all results belonging to the Japan government. In exchange, Toudou Aoba will adopt Lina as his goddaughter, giving her the Todo surname and a legitimate identity."

Maya Yotsuba spoke slowly and deliberately, her tone calm as if she weren't discussing matters concerning the Yotsuba Family.

The Yotsuba Family has now completely broken free from Japan control and is more like an independent nation.

With the strong support and cooperation of the Japan magical community, even the Japan political establishment couldn't interfere.

So, they started to explore alternative paths.

Unexpectedly, Yotsuba Mahiro's answer was even more decisive and surprising.

"No problem."

"Brother Mahiro?!"

Miyuki's eyes widened slightly, her hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, her face filled with disbelief.

She never expected that her brother, Mahiro, would agree to such a rude and outrageous request!

Even CC couldn't help but frown and look at him, asking:

"Hey! Are you serious?!"

Even Natsuki Minamiya, a newcomer who had just arrived in this world and was completely clueless about the intricacies of things, felt that this was neither something Yotsuba Mahiro agree to.

Could it be that the other party has some kind of leverage over you?

But what's the use of that?

Only two vampires, one a progenitor and the other a true progenitor, one naive and the other calmly spoke:

"I can help you kill them~"

"I can help too."

Hmm, they seem like a strangely good match.

However, Yotsuba Mahiro gave them a look that said, "Take it easy."

Then, looking again at one of her aunts and her biological mother, she asked:

"But before that, I have a few questions. First, I'd like to ask, does that Toudou Aoba have three heads and six arms?"

"No, just an ordinary head and two arms," Maya Yotsuba replied, mimicking his tone.

"Okay, so how many lives does he have?"

"One."

This time it's Maya Yotsuba.

"Okay, continue. Is he very durable?"

"No, just like ordinary people."

Maya Yotsuba picked up her teacup at just the right moment.

The next second, the teacup in Yotsuba Mahiro's hand slammed onto the tea table and shattered into powder!