Chapter 351: One-Sentence Director

Only Kihara Noukan and Kihara Yuiitsu, the master and disciple, remained in the private room of the café.

The golden retriever and the youthful woman.

At first glance, this pairing seemed normal, the kind you could find anywhere. But adding the "master-disciple" dynamic made their relationship,subtly intriguing.

However, adding the label of **Kihara** made it feel reasonable again.

Kihara Yuiitsu took out a bowl and special dog food from her handbag. "Sorry, teacher. Today, you'll have to make do with dog food. I didn't have time to prepare a proper meal for you."

"Yuiitsu, don't you think that sounds a bit strange?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind. It's fine. As that young guy said, I'm just a dog. That's the truth, and there's no need to hide it," Kihara Noukan said.

"Teacher, does it suit your taste?"

"It's fine. Yuiitsu, if you have any questions, just ask. I'll answer if I can."

Kihara Noukan had watched Kihara Yuiitsu grow up. This girl had now become an outstanding researcher. Her talent was terrifying, even among the monsters of the Kihara family. The golden retriever knew everything about this young woman.

Kihara Yuiitsu said, "Teacher, why is the Chairman so lenient with that man? Unabara shouldn't have died at this time."

The young woman was one of the few who could directly oppose a Board member, largely because Kusuriya Kumiko, one of the twelve Board members, was completely under her control. Additionally, she had a good teacher.

"Do you remember how this city was built?" Kihara Noukan asked.

"The Chairman established this city to achieve a certain goal… I see. So, the Chairman is allowing this to happen, right?"

Kihara Yuiitsu picked up on the hint Kihara Noukan was giving her. Even as a Kihara monster, she didn't have the right to know the true nature of Aleister's goals. According to her teacher, only three people in Academy City knew the full extent of his plans.

Kihara Noukan said, "Yes. Of course, what I can tell you is that the young man, like me, probably knows what the Chairman's goal is. More importantly…

He doesn't seem to oppose the Chairman's plan."

Kihara Yuiitsu fell into thought. This city, occupying one-third of Tokyo's area, had undergone fifty years of history. During that time, the twelve Board members had changed countless times, but the Chairman had always remained the same.

Aleister Crowley. Whatever he wanted to do in this city, no one could stop him. Unless… your obstruction was also part of his plan.

As she pondered, Kihara Yuiitsu suddenly noticed her teacher becoming unusually serious. The previously relaxed atmosphere around him vanished.

"Yuiitsu, step out for a moment."

"Understood, teacher." Kihara Yuiitsu tidied up and left the room, heading to the restroom. Only Kihara Noukan remained in the room, communicating with his superior.

Her teacher only asked her to leave when speaking with the Chairman. The content of their conversation… was it about Li Mo?

Standing in front of the sink, Kihara Yuiitsu looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was a youthful face. Even though her attire was plain—a cheap suit paired with a white lab coat—it somehow looked good on her, thanks to her natural beauty.

Her teacher's earlier suggestion seemed… not bad. Having children?

Hmm…

Why was I even considering her teacher's offhand remark? Am I someone who judges by appearance?

Kihara Yuiitsu lowered her head, letting her hair cover her eyes.

She began to think. She was involved in every aspect of Academy City—urban legends, organizational structures, disaster prevention plans. She knew this city inside and out. If she wanted, she could easily destroy it.

Having achieved so much at such a young age, Kihara Yuiitsu had poured all her attention into her work. Romantic feelings? Emotions were a luxury for the Kiharas, and Yuiitsu already had one luxury. Why would she need a second?

What was affecting her?

In her mind, the figure of that man seemed to linger. His appearance was etched in her memory, and more importantly… it was so clear, like a photograph.

Interesting.

Kihara Yuiitsu washed her hands and returned to the private room, where her teacher was sitting upright.

"What happened?"

"The terms of your deal with Li Mo need to change."

"Huh? Did… the Chairman agree?"

Kihara Yuiitsu knew that for the Chairman, appointing a Board member was as simple as saying a word. Her deal with Li Mo was a horizontal and vertical alliance. With the backing of several Board members, Li Mo could easily become a Board member through some maneuvering.

—Especially at this critical juncture. World War III had already broken out. In the eyes of the Board members, Russia was nothing. Academy City was technologically decades ahead of the outside world. What the Board members feared was magic. The events of September 30th had a seismic impact on them.

Based on this, Kihara Yuiitsu felt Li Mo had a good chance of securing a Board seat. But now, everything had to be reconsidered.

"Yes, as you guessed, Aleister agreed," Kihara Noukan said.

"Teacher, I'm starting to get curious about Li Mo." Kihara Yuiitsu then told Kihara Noukan about the confusion she had felt in the restroom.

The golden retriever said, "That's normal. That guy is a fox."

"A fox? Is he a youkai?" Kihara Yuiitsu's eyes lit up.

Kihara Noukan said, "Who knows? I've only seen him grow a fox tail."

It didn't say more, knowing its disciple's curiosity had already been piqued.

...

Li Mo didn't particularly like the night. It always reminded him of the demons from *Demon Slayer*, the months of relentless running around etched into his bones.

His conversation with Kihara Noukan and Kihara Yuiitsu had taken a long time, allowing him to see the moon and sparse stars in the sky.

The city's lights seemed dimmer than usual, even though such a massive metropolis was usually a city that never slept.

How interesting.

"I hope Fremea won't complain when I get back."

He twisted his neck.

Everything that had happened today was outside his plans. Who could have guessed that his original goal upon arriving in Academy City was simply to obtain the **Index Librorum Prohibitorum**? Yet, he had gotten involved in the dark side's conflicts, and on his own initiative, he had even triggered **Angel Fall**.

And now… he was about to seize a Board member's position.

—This was fun, wasn't it?

Next, he needed to meet with Oyafune Monaka, the elderly Board member. He wondered what advice the old-timer could offer him.

Suddenly…

Li Mo saw Kumokawa Seria appear before him. Her sudden appearance was familiar—it was the hallmark of spatial movement.

Kumokawa Seria, a Level 4 esper, **Move Point**. As one of the few Level 4 spatial espers in Academy City, she looked flustered.

"What's wrong?"

"Sir, or perhaps I should call you… Board Member. The Chairman wants to see you."

"Huh?"

Li Mo tilted his head and blinked.