Chapter 580

PS: Today the temperature suddenly dropped sharply, and Tenshi couldn't hold up, coughing a bit, so today I'll give you everyone's favorite combined 4500-character lively, stable, and improving big chapter!

By the time Uesugi Muneyuki and Mai Xuejie finished chatting, the three girls had already picked out their clothes and come out.

Momoko Ono chose a sweet and refreshing jam fruit maple dan bai lu noble vintage dress, sweet and tasty, her face showing a purity belonging to a country girl not yet polluted by the big city's red wine and green lights and copper stench, when she again shyly yet desiring approval looked at Mai Xuejie with bright, sparkling eyes, wanting to ask if it looked good but lacking the courage to say it out loud, this cute appearance truly was just like her name, like one juicy peach after another, making people really unable to resist wanting to take a bite.

Eisa Ikeda, on the other hand, chose a set of Heathrow flower-pattern porcelain white layered gauze dress; her temperament differed from Momoko Ono's, with a sense of transparency mixed with the refined spirit of a small family's beautiful jade and a pair of big eyes that could speak; compared to Momoko Ono, she would be more outgoing, but she didn't have much to say; seeing Uesugi Muneyuki and Bai Chuan Mai look over, her pair of round-toed little leather shoes and feet with white lace-edged short socks silently retreated without a sound, lowering her head, a bit embarrassed.

As for Asuka Saito, the girl chose a set of Alice in Wonderland-style soft, fluffy camel wool sweet dress; matching her invincibly cute little face, in short, she was super cute; and having been in the habit of crouching low and making herself small on Sakata Bridge, and not fitting in well at school, now meeting Mai-sama's two little disciples, Asuka really became awesome, base attack power +180%—cough, cough, anyway, her temperament instantly shifted from "little flybird" to "big boss bird."

Mai Xuejie paid the bill; the three girls' outfits altogether cost! I've already booked a nearby famous horse farm experience.

This suggestion was immediately met with the girls' response.

Especially Asuka Saito, hearing they were going horseback riding, her eyes instantly lit up. More importantly, right now in front of Momoko Ono and Eisa Ikeda, who are clearly more "new" juniors, she felt she was finally no longer that ignorant, passively arranged little sister, but could now put on airs as a "senior figure."

On the way to the horse farm, Asuka straightened her small frame and began to "earnestly instruct" Momoko and Eisa: "Momoko-chan (Momoko), when we get to the horse farm later, don't shout loudly, be steady, got it? Horses are very sensitive animals."

"Eisa-chan, when leading the horse, your movements should be gentle, like me—" she said while gesturing, her small face full of seriousness and a strained effort to appear mature.

Momoko Ono stared with her round, glistening eyes, listening admiringly, nodding repeatedly: "Yes! Asuka-senpai! I got it!"

Eisa Ikeda also softly echoed: "Thank you, Asuka-senpai, for the guidance."

Seeing the two juniors so "obedient and well-behaved," Asuka's vanity was greatly satisfied, she felt wonderful inside, even her chin slightly lifted a bit, that spoiled yet cute little senior appearance made Bai Chuan Mai and Uesugi Muneyuki sitting in the front row, seeing it in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but smile knowingly.

The horse farm in Karuizawa is located at the edge of a vast meadow, behind it stretch continuous verdant green mountains. The air mixes the scent of grass, soil, and the unique smell of horses, fresh and full of wild charm. Row after row of neat stables are orderly, several shiny-coated steeds stroll leisurely in the paddocks, or lower their heads to nibble grass. In the distance, some tourists, under a coach's guidance, ride horses along forest paths slowly, forming a picture of leisurely vacation scenery.

Their group completed the procedures and waited in the resting area for arrangements.

Asuka was still enthusiastically telling Momoko and Eisa (actually she herself only half-understood) horseback riding precautions, the two juniors remained in a humble, teachable state. Uesugi Muneyuki and Bai Chuan Mai then sat on the nearby white wicker chairs, leisurely drinking iced lemon water, enjoying this rare leisure.

Just then, a woman wearing standard riding attire, tall and upright, with outstanding temperament, walked over from the other side of the horse farm, she took off her riding hat, revealing a delicate yet heroic face, her face bearing a surprised smile.

"Mr. Uesugi? Mai-sama? And——is this that Saito-san? What a coincidence!"

The visitor was precisely the captain of Red Slope 46, acclaimed as the "Young Lady," Sugai Yuuka.

She obviously had just finished riding, fine beads of sweat on her forehead, but her bearing remained composed and elegant.

"Sugai-san?" Uesugi Muneyuki also seemed a bit surprised, then stood up, smiling and greeting: "Yeah, really a coincidence, you also came to Karuizawa for vacation?"

Among Red Slope 46, two girls are recognized as coming from privileged backgrounds; one of them, called the "Young Lady," is this Sugai Yuuka; her family has a seat at Kasumigaseki Kasumikaikan, just like Uesugi Muneyuki, both are of the peerage, only compared to Uesugi Muneyuki's ancestors, the famous Uesugi Kenshin and Uesugi Kagekatsu, her family is less renowned.

But even so, she attends Gakushuin, that kind of noble-exclusive school; she once unintentionally said on a variety show that she spends summers in Karuizawa (a noble summer retreat), likes horseback riding (a noble sport), and her horse behind was later dug out to have once been a horse of an imperial princess, hence she also earned the name "Young Lady."

"Yes, coming with family to relax a bit." Sugai Yuuka politely replied, then nodded to Bai Chuan Mai and Asuka Saito, her gaze also kindly sweeping over the curious Momoko Ono and Eisa Ikeda.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at this noble-minded Red Slope 46 captain before him, recalling her group's recent explosive popularity, couldn't help but tease a bit, also like an elder caring for a younger, smiling and saying: "Speaking of which, Sugai-san, your slope lately has been really hot, as captain, you must have deeply felt what it means to go viral" these days, right? Walking the streets, won't you already be surrounded?"

48 collapsed, 46 ate full, these past months Red Slope 46 really went viral, golden variety shows on major TV stations took turns featuring them, especially Hirate, this year media acclaimed her as "Hirate Year," the idol era also acclaimed as "Hirate Era."

Times have changed, adults, the old nobles gradually discovered the entertainment and idol industries also make good money, naturally someone would get involved.

Sugai Yuuka hearing this, her face showed a very standard, proper smile, yet with a hint of undisguisable pride in a "Young Lady"-style smile.

She slightly nodded, tone both humble and carrying a natural confidence: "Mr. Uesugi is right. Thanks to fans' love, our group recently indeed——super hot." She used the term "super hot," slightly variety-show-ish but full of power, matching her serious elegant expression, forming a wonderful contrastive cuteness.

Sugai Yuuka's words contained no exaggerated boasting, only a calm statement of facts and pride in team achievements, that inner-to-outer poise and confidence perfectly interpreted what the "peerage young lady" bearing is.

This conversation made everyone laugh, the atmosphere became even more relaxed.

Bai Chuan Mai had no interest in saying more to Sugai Yuuka, just nodded.

Asuka also temporarily put away her little senior airs, curiously looking at this famous "Red Slope" captain.

Sunshine sprinkled on the horse farm's grass, distant horses let out soft snorts, different groups, different identities of entertainers in this vacation spot happened to meet, chatting about recent situations, forming a picture full of Karuizawa's characteristics, leisurely and interesting summer scenery.

After chatting a few sentences, several girls, under the guidance of the horse master and groom, went to inspect the stables, leaving Bai Chuan Mai and Uesugi Muneyuki behind to enjoy iced lemon water together; she fixed her gaze on Uesugi Muneyuki for a while, smiled without speaking, her flower-like jade-like radiant lovely face showing a hint of playfulness: "Really speaking, junior student, if you weren't with Watanabe Minami, would Sugai Yuuka also be someone your family considered?"

"This is an unthought-of path, possible, if I were still my old self——that is, the you saw at Tokiwa High School, it really could be." Uesugi Muneyuki pursed his lips, looking at Sugai Yuuka wearing white riding pants and brown riding boots, galloping on the horse farm, smiled: "Senior should still remember what I was like back then?"

However, Uesugi Muneyuki's question left Bai Chuan Mai speechless.

"Uh——this——I——" although she is a student at Tokiwa High School, but she goes to school less than ten times a year, who knows what Uesugi Muneyuki was like back then? She's always been monitoring him as she made up!

Indeed, Uesugi Muneyuki also noticed Bai Chuan Mai's awkwardness, he felt a bit strange: "Senior, do you have anything to say?"

"No more words, junior student, please act quickly!" Bai Chuan Mai immediately put on a sorrowful expression: "Past times, do you still remember?"

"Past times——past times?" Uesugi Muneyuki didn't quite understand, actually his impression of high school life is deepest with Mikoto-nee.

"Ah, anyway, whether it's Watanabe Minami or Sugai Yuuka, junior student definitely can't marry me, because I'm after all from another world, we can only secretly become underground lovers without name or status, a pair of ill-fated mandarin ducks, that's all."

Bai Chuan Mai feigned sorrow, but her eyes were still smiling.

"Don't, actually if our relationship had started earlier, the old man would probably not hesitate to sell me off to let me marry into your Shrine Alliance." Uesugi Muneyuki complained: "Then it would be Bai Chuan Sōsetsu."

"Hahaha, actually I and the Watanabe family thought the same, Uesugi Mai would sound better, from now on our descendants would be called Uesugi Erui Ri ba!"

Bai Chuan Mai lightly changed the topic, the two chatted a few more sentences, observed the surroundings' atmosphere, their expressions gradually turned solemn, the two activated their invisibility ability.

"An Masao, he should be over 80 this year, he was among Japan's first batch of postwar university students, earlier than your grandfather, studied at Kansai's Kyoto University dormitory and comparative religion." Bai Chuan Mai silently recited her investigation findings.

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded slowly.

Bai Chuan Mai continued.

As one of the first postwar university students, An Masao should have been the pride of his era. However, he lost both parents young, barely got by with distant relatives' help, forming a reclusive, introverted personality, said to be a "weirdo," because whether it's classmates' gatherings, neighborhood folks, or corporate units, everyone is quite willing to accept him, but An Masao on one hand really wants to integrate into the group, but on the other hand finds it hard to truly integrate, his emotional channel doesn't match others'.

"Do you remember what we said before about the Kansai relics excavation? The incident where US military planes and artillery bombed it." Bai Chuan Mai whispered: "I investigated, at that time the relics excavation, this person An Masao participated as an assistant professor, the whole expedition team only he survived, those who went with him in the archaeological team, upon contacting these indescribable entities, immediately fell into madness, mutation, or were torn apart directly. Wails, splattering blood, twisted limbs formed a hellish scene."

"And the excavation of the relics also drew my master's group into contention, very likely they were contending for a chance to become a new god, but in the end almost everyone died.

No one knows what happened, but after that, An Masao established the 'Unification Church' using his personal experience of 'loneliness' as an entry point, attracting souls as painful as his past."

The Unification Church's doctrine cleverly exploits modern people's existential anxiety. It defines "loneliness" as a pathological condition, defines "self" as a defect needing healing, promises to eliminate all pain through "return to wholeness."

With the establishment of the Unification Church, An Masao began infiltrating universities and political circles, using believers' offerings and resources to excavate many ancient tombs in Kansai, the unearthed new god remains became his tools to bestow "favors."

"It's said the former former former prime minister and his whole family are related to the Unification Church." Bai Chuan Mai frowned: "But it seems because that US military dispatch of planes and artillery was too deeply shocking, making him fearful, also perhaps because this An Masao person had no intention of ruling from politics, he and many inner world beings are alike, treating the outer world merely as a means to obtain resources and a place, and trying to keep a low profile."

"Even the prime minister?!" Uesugi Muneyuki's pupils slightly dilated: "No wonder, according to our previous investigation, at least a few National Diet members also have ties with this Unification Church lord, Suo Masao, and also that Yuasa Secretary General——what exactly does he want to do?"

"I don't know, but without doubt, these years he should have achieved some results." Bai Chuan Mai said softly: "By the way, you should know, whether it's 48 or 46, behind them are Suo Yuasa, and even Kansai Yoshimoto Kogyo, finally linking to this An Masao appearance side?"

"So, I have a hypothesis." The senior gestured toward distant Momoko Ono trying to horseback ride: "I mean, could it be, like me——An Masao's purpose is through Yoshimoto Kogyo and 4846 this kind of idol and entertainment selection, casting a wide net to find suitable inheritance" experimental subjects" cauldrons"?

"!!!" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes rolled around, thinking it very possible: "Mai, you found the blind spot!"

"But it's a shame that my understanding only goes this far, though I do have an idea—" Mai Xuejie lifted one leg, as translucent and beautiful as snow jade, her five toes like silkworm babies, her snow-white feet painted with crimson nail polish, lightly hooking the tip of her sandal, swaying slightly: "Perhaps, to uncover the secret of 4846, we still need to find a breakthrough point from a person."

"Who?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment, then realized: "You mean, Sakura?"

"Yes, it's her!" Mai Xuejie nodded seriously: "After all these events, especially the earlier Yamaguchi Maho incident and the Financial Services Agency storm, she has not only earned the trust of YKC operations but also gained more opportunities to participate in operational affairs. If we could have her assist the investigation, we should be able to uncover something—just—"

"Perhaps you'll have to sacrifice your charm again, Junior Student." Mai Xuejie spoke meaningfully: "Without leverage, it simply won't do!"

Uesugi Muneyuki: "???"

No leverage, what does that mean???

Senior Student's meaning, is she asking me to leave leverage on Sakura???

What does this mean???

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