In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 47

"Yu is the best!"

Kanzaki looked at them, a slight smile playing on her lips: "There's a hot spring retreat planned later, specially arranged by the Supreme Archbishop."

She paused and continued.

"It is said to be very helpful for physical recovery."

Before Higashino could answer, Index jumped up excitedly: "Hot spring! I want to soak in the hot spring with Yu!"

"Wait, men and women are separated..."

Higashino's words were drowned out by Index's protests.

Laura appeared behind them unnoticed, her long golden hair swaying gently in the evening breeze: "If it's a private hot spring..."

She smiled meaningfully.

"It's not that we can't make an exception."

As expected of a devil, he can spout seductive words so easily. Higashino has already imagined bathing with Kanzaki.

Chapter 61 Clash in the Hot Spring

The next day, Higashino Yu woke up earlier than usual, pondering the true purpose of the seemingly elegant but actually wicked archbishop.

Laura Stuart, in the eyes of the world, was the leader of the English Puritan Church, the embodiment of elegance and piety.

But having read the original work, he knew that she was actually the demon Kronzon. Its goal was never faith or balance, but destruction, especially the complete annihilation of Aleister Crowley.

Index was just a key piece in its long game, and now it seems it wants to include me in its game plan.

"Yu! Open the door quickly!"

Index's knocking, accompanied by her silvery laughter, interrupted Higashino's thoughts.

Higashino temporarily suppressed his thoughts about Kronzun, his face returning to its gentle expression. Just as he turned around, the door was carefully pushed open a crack.

Index peeked in: "May I come in?"

She was wearing a light pink yukata that was clearly a size too big, with the belt tied crookedly, revealing half of her snow-white shoulder.

"come in."

Higashino smiled and waved, casually picking up a comb. "Your hair's all messed up from sleeping."

Index ran up to him and obediently turned around. Higashino's fingers ran through her silky silver hair.

"Kanzaki gave it to me!"

The girl noticed his gaze, twirled excitedly, and the hem of her yukata unfurled like a flower petal. "She said she's taking us to a really amazing hot spring today!"

Although she had never been to a hot spring before, she had seen it on TV and was really looking forward to something that looked so comfortable.

Higashino's fingers deftly moved through her hair, quickly braiding a delicate braid.

"Alright." He gently patted Index's head. "But remember, the men's and women's hot springs are separate."

"Eh..." The girl immediately puffed out her cheeks, like a disgruntled kitten, "But I want to go for a bath with Yu!"

At breakfast, Kanzaki was dressed casually, a rare sight. Her black hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling beside her ears, making her look like a virtuous wife.

She was frying an egg, her movements as swift as wielding a katana, and she placed the perfectly poached egg onto a plate.

“The High Bishop specially arranged a private hot spring.” She handed the plate to Index, her voice softer than usual, but Higashino caught a hint of worry deep in her eyes. “He said it was to celebrate Index officially becoming part of your family.”

She was clearly uneasy about Laura's arrangement; such an excuse didn't seem to fit the woman's usual style at all.

After breakfast, the group arrived at the hot spring hotel that Laura had arranged.

"This way, please." The maid respectfully opened the wooden door. "The Supreme Archbishop has been waiting for you for quite some time."

In the steamy hot spring pool, Laura Stuart leaned lazily against the white marble. Today she wore a semi-transparent gauze bathrobe, her long golden hair spreading across the water's surface, completely concealing her genitals.

Her eyes lit up immediately when she saw the three of them enter. "You've come at the perfect time, the water temperature is just right," she said with a smile, like a hospitable hostess.

Index cheered and was about to jump into the pool when Kanzaki grabbed her arm: "Let's go to the women's bath first; they need to talk to each other alone about something."

Kanzaki's voice was firm. She gave Laura a deep look before dragging the struggling little nun away, not giving her the right to refuse.

After the two left, Higashino calmly stepped into the pool and sat down in a spot just right from Laura, close enough to talk without being impolite, and at a safe distance.

Under the water, his knee accidentally touched something soft, and he immediately and subtly stepped back half a foot.

"So reserved?" Laura chuckled, her smile still sweet, but giving Higashino a dangerous feeling. "I thought people from the science side would be more...open."

Her words were provocative, and her gaze was fixed intently on Higashino.

"When in Rome, do as the host does," Higashino replied calmly.

It wasn't that he was reserved; if he were truly confident in defeating her, Higashino wouldn't mind incorporating a bathroom scene. The problem was, he lacked confidence and wasn't well-prepared, so he had to be a little reserved. Next time, when he was better prepared, sending the devil to heaven wouldn't be out of the question.

Higashino was confident he would give this guy a big surprise at their next meeting. Wouldn't a corrupted demon be interesting?

"The Supreme Archbishop personally accompanied them, surely it wasn't just for soaking in the hot springs?"

Laura suddenly leaned closer, close enough to smell the violet scent in her hair, a fragrance that triggered an instinctive reaction in Higashino's body.

She drew circles underwater with her finger: "I want to invite you to join the Puritan Church." Her voice was low and seductive, "With your strength, and with my secret help, it's not impossible for you to bring down Aleister and become the next chairman."

It wasn't just simple persuasion; Higashino sensed a strange power in her words. An ordinary person would have been unable to resist and would have agreed to her invitation.

"I'm sorry." Higashino's voice was gentle yet as firm as a rock, directly rejecting the devil's invitation. "I have no plans to switch sides for the time being, and I have no interest in becoming the chairman."

Laura's expression froze for a moment, her flawless smile stiffening. She hadn't expected her magic to have no effect, or rather, to have had absolutely no impact.

However, her annoyed expression only lasted a moment, quickly replaced by an even sweeter smile: "What a pity~"

She deliberately let the neckline of her yukata slip down a bit, revealing more of her snow-white skin, attempting to exert influence in another way.

"Then at least tell me why you refused so decisively?" Her toes lightly brushed against Higashino's calf underwater, seemingly noticing his reaction, and deliberately brushed past him.

Higashino's gaze remained unwavering, ignoring the deliberate temptation. Since nothing was likely to happen anyway, he naturally had to maintain a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor: "My stance will not change."

He gently raised his hand, and the teapot by the pool defied gravity, flying over automatically to fill his teacup, calmly demonstrating its power.

"However, there is no problem if it is normal private communication."

Laura suddenly burst out laughing. As the water rippled, her curves beneath her bathrobe were faintly visible. Her laughter was crisp yet tinged with a twisted quality: "You're even more interesting than the report described."

She took the teacup from Higashino, her fingers deliberately brushing against the back of his hand, leaving a warm, smooth sensation.

"Personal exchanges are actually quite nice. I remember you're from Xia, right? I happen to be quite interested in their culture. Come to London every week to have afternoon tea with me and discuss some... 'interesting' topics."

This little guy is quite wary, so let's settle for second best and establish more private and frequent contact first, so that we can continue to observe and guide him.

"Once a month." Higashino countered without changing his expression, widening the time gap between each transaction.

"How heartless~" Laura pouted, a childlike gesture that made her look especially adorable. "Then... it's a deal."

She suddenly stood up from the water, her soaked gauze dress clinging to her body, outlining her perfect curves, water droplets dripping down her long golden hair, making her look exceptionally alluring.

"But since you've come to my hot spring today, you have to do me a small favor first."

Beneath the surface, Higashino clearly felt something cold and powerful wrap around his calf—Lola's smooth ankle, which possessed inhuman strength.

The next day, Higashino Yu woke up earlier than usual, pondering the true purpose of the seemingly elegant but actually wicked archbishop.

Laura Stuart, in the eyes of the world, was the leader of the English Puritan Church, the embodiment of elegance and piety.

But having read the original work, he knew that she was actually the demon Kronzon. Its goal was never faith or balance, but destruction, especially the complete annihilation of Aleister Crowley.

Index was just a key piece in its long game, and now it seems it wants to include me in its game plan.

"Yu! Open the door quickly!"

Index's knocking, accompanied by her silvery laughter, interrupted Higashino's thoughts.

Higashino temporarily suppressed his thoughts about Kronzun, his face returning to its gentle expression. Just as he turned around, the door was carefully pushed open a crack.

Index peeked in: "May I come in?"

She was wearing a light pink yukata that was clearly a size too big, with the belt tied crookedly, revealing half of her snow-white shoulder.

"come in."

Higashino smiled and waved, casually picking up a comb. "Your hair's all messed up from sleeping."

Index ran up to him and obediently turned around. Higashino's fingers ran through her silky silver hair.

"Kanzaki gave it to me!"

The girl noticed his gaze, twirled excitedly, and the hem of her yukata unfurled like a flower petal. "She said she's taking us to a really amazing hot spring today!"

Although she had never been to a hot spring before, she had seen it on TV and was really looking forward to something that looked so comfortable.

Higashino's fingers deftly moved through her hair, quickly braiding a delicate braid.

"Alright." He gently patted Index's head. "But remember, the men's and women's hot springs are separate."

"Eh..." The girl immediately puffed out her cheeks, like a disgruntled kitten, "But I want to go for a bath with Yu!"

At breakfast, Kanzaki was dressed casually, a rare sight. Her black hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling beside her ears, making her look like a virtuous wife.

She was frying an egg, her movements as swift as wielding a katana, and she placed the perfectly poached egg onto a plate.

“The High Bishop specially arranged a private hot spring.” She handed the plate to Index, her voice softer than usual, but Higashino caught a hint of worry deep in her eyes. “He said it was to celebrate Index officially becoming part of your family.”

She was clearly uneasy about Laura's arrangement; such an excuse didn't seem to fit the woman's usual style at all.

After breakfast, the group arrived at the hot spring hotel that Laura had arranged.

"This way, please." The maid respectfully opened the wooden door. "The Supreme Archbishop has been waiting for you for quite some time."

In the steamy hot spring pool, Laura Stuart leaned lazily against the white marble. Today she wore a semi-transparent gauze bathrobe, her long golden hair spreading across the water's surface, completely concealing her genitals.

Her eyes lit up immediately when she saw the three of them enter. "You've come at the perfect time, the water temperature is just right," she said with a smile, like a hospitable hostess.

Index cheered and was about to jump into the pool when Kanzaki grabbed her arm: "Let's go to the women's bath first; they need to talk to each other alone about something."

Kanzaki's voice was firm. She gave Laura a deep look before dragging the struggling little nun away, not giving her the right to refuse.

After the two left, Higashino calmly stepped into the pool and sat down in a spot just right from Laura, close enough to talk without being impolite, and at a safe distance.

Under the water, his knee accidentally touched something soft, and he immediately and subtly stepped back half a foot.

"So reserved?" Laura chuckled, her smile still sweet, but giving Higashino a dangerous feeling. "I thought people from the science side would be more...open."

Her words were provocative, and her gaze was fixed intently on Higashino.

"When in Rome, do as the host does," Higashino replied calmly.

It wasn't that he was reserved; if he were truly confident in defeating her, Higashino wouldn't mind incorporating a bathroom scene. The problem was, he lacked confidence and wasn't well-prepared, so he had to be a little reserved. Next time, when he was better prepared, sending the devil to heaven wouldn't be out of the question.

Higashino was confident he would give this guy a big surprise at their next meeting. Wouldn't a corrupted demon be interesting?

"The Supreme Archbishop personally accompanied them, surely it wasn't just for soaking in the hot springs?"

Laura suddenly leaned closer, close enough to smell the violet scent in her hair, a fragrance that triggered an instinctive reaction in Higashino's body.

She drew circles underwater with her finger: "I want to invite you to join the Puritan Church." Her voice was low and seductive, "With your strength, and with my secret help, it's not impossible for you to bring down Aleister and become the next chairman."

It wasn't just simple persuasion; Higashino sensed a strange power in her words. An ordinary person would have been unable to resist and would have agreed to her invitation.

"I'm sorry." Higashino's voice was gentle yet as firm as a rock, directly rejecting the devil's invitation. "I have no plans to switch sides for the time being, and I have no interest in becoming the chairman."

Laura's expression froze for a moment, her flawless smile stiffening. She hadn't expected her magic to have no effect, or rather, to have had absolutely no impact.

However, her annoyed expression only lasted a moment, quickly replaced by an even sweeter smile: "What a pity~"

She deliberately let the neckline of her yukata slip down a bit, revealing more of her snow-white skin, attempting to exert influence in another way.

"Then at least tell me why you refused so decisively?" Her toes lightly brushed against Higashino's calf underwater, seemingly noticing his reaction, and deliberately brushed past him.

Higashino's gaze remained unwavering, ignoring the deliberate temptation. Since nothing was likely to happen anyway, he naturally had to maintain a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor: "My stance will not change."

He gently raised his hand, and the teapot by the pool defied gravity, flying over automatically to fill his teacup, calmly demonstrating its power.

"However, there is no problem if it is normal private communication."

Laura suddenly burst out laughing. As the water rippled, her curves beneath her bathrobe were faintly visible. Her laughter was crisp yet tinged with a twisted quality: "You're even more interesting than the report described."

She took the teacup from Higashino, her fingers deliberately brushing against the back of his hand, leaving a warm, smooth sensation.

"Personal exchanges are actually quite nice. I remember you're from Xia, right? I happen to be quite interested in their culture. Come to London every week to have afternoon tea with me and discuss some... 'interesting' topics."