"No, Master, I absolutely have no malice toward you."
Curacao explained painfully, her entire body already trembling from the soul-tearing pain.
Alex: "..."
It didn't look like she was lying.
But what was the situation now?
"Actually, I can guess some of it."
Vermouth explained, "We discovered before that even if you harbor malice toward a fellow Dependent, the contract will impose punishment."
"There is actually such a thing?"
A look of realization appeared on Alex's face.
Anyway, he wasn't the one being punished.
Therefore, he really wasn't as clear about the contract's punishment mechanism as his Dependents were.
Thinking about it carefully.
This setting is actually quite reasonable.
After all, women are best at palace intrigue.
Sometimes.
Even among his Dependents, there are undercurrents of conflict.
He is not unaware of this.
But as long as they don't cross the line, he doesn't mind.
And this mechanism of the contract can save him a lot of worry.
Poke, poke!
Vermouth poked Alex on the shoulder and said, "Master, you should help Curacao relieve her pain."
"I know."
Alex nodded and looked down at Curacao from above: "If you don't want to continue suffering, you'd better put away your malice towards Vermouth."
"Otherwise, even if the punishment is lifted with my help, the contract will still be triggered."
But Curacao could no longer listen.
The pain originating from the depths of her soul made her wish she were dead.
Seeing this, Vermouth had no choice but to step forward and help Curacao kneel before Alex.
Her jade-like legs, wrapped in black, revealed even more perfect curves due to her kneeling posture.
The white shirt, dampened by sweat, outlined her perfect silhouette.
Alex watched all this with a straight face.
Next.
It was his turn to save his Dependent.
A small tavern.
Yukinoshita Haruno looked at the delicious appetizers in front of her, but she had absolutely no appetite.
She looked out the window, her eyes somewhat dazed.
What happened to Yukino last night was really weighing on her mind.
If the worst-case scenario had truly occurred, she wouldn't know what to do.
Creak—
The door was pushed open, and Shizuka Hiratsuka, wearing a trench coat, had already arrived.
"Haha, this is rare. You actually took the initiative to ask me to come to a place like this for a drink."
Looking at Yukinoshita Haruno, Shizuka Hiratsuka sat down opposite her without ceremony and ordered drinks from the waiter.
"Let's talk about business first."
Seeing Shizuka Hiratsuka, Yukinoshita Haruno hurriedly spoke up.
"Oh?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka glanced at Yukinoshita Haruno in surprise, her tone becoming serious.
"To make you lose your composure like this, it seems like something truly important has happened."
"Er..."
Yukinoshita Haruno was stunned for a moment, then immediately calmed down.
"Sorry, this matter concerns Yukino."
"I see."
Shizuka Hiratsuka nodded in understanding: "Then what do you want to know?"
"Has Yukino been close to any male classmates recently?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka: "..."
It turned out to be this kind of question.
Could it be related to that kid Alex?
If that were really the case, it would be troublesome.
She knew deeply that this good friend of hers could definitely be described as ruthless when it came to her sister.
"So there really is such a person."
Seeing Shizuka Hiratsuka's reaction, Yukinoshita Haruno's gaze sharpened.
"Shizuka, please tell me who that person is."
"You know, even if you don't tell me, I can still find out; it would just be a waste of more time."
Shizuka Hiratsuka was silent for a moment, then said: "Although I don't know why you want to find him, you must promise that you won't do anything harmful to him."
"Why?"
"Because he is my student."
Yukinoshita Haruno narrowed her eyes.
In that case.
It would indeed be difficult to use force.
She still valued her friendship with Shizuka Hiratsuka quite highly.
"Fine, I promise you."
"That student's name is Alex."
Shizuka Hiratsuka took the beer handed to her by the waiter, opened it gently, took a sip, and then said: "He is a transfer student who joined the Service Club on my recommendation."
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Stare—"
Very well.
So you were the culprit all along.
"Don't look at me like that."
Shizuka Hiratsuka rolled her eyes: "Actually, I was also worried about something happening between the two of them."
"I even deliberately went to the Service Club a few times during that period, but I didn't find anything unusual."
"Hmph, it better be."
Yukinoshita Haruno looked full of resentment.
Her cute sister had actually been sent to the wolf's mouth by her best friend.
It really is...
A complicated feeling.
"I've already said all that, and you're still planning to investigate him, right?"
"Of course."
Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed: "But I advise you to be cautious."
"I know, he's your student, I won't use any unscrupulous methods."
"That's not what I mean."
Shizuka Hiratsuka pondered for a moment, then said seriously: "He is very likely related to the board of directors of Kuoh Academy."
"???"
Yukinoshita Haruno's pupils contracted.
Although the Yukinoshita family is considered a large family.
But compared to the mysterious board of directors of Kuoh Academy, they are nothing.
When Kuoh Academy was first established, countless forces wanted a piece of the pie.
But in the end, all of them had their claws chopped off.
It can only be said that the background of this academy is unfathomable.
"Shizuka, you aren't lying to me just to protect him, are you?"
"Of course not."
Shizuka Hiratsuka shook her head: "Actually, I don't know much either."
"I only saw from his transfer documents that his transfer was handled entirely by the board of directors."
Yukinoshita Haruno fell silent.
If this is the case.
It certainly explains a lot.
She muttered to herself: "If that's the case, it seems I really can't act rashly."
"It seems I can only investigate in secret."
"Alright, today you're drinking with me. I've done you such a big favor, you can't leave without getting drunk."
Shizuka Hiratsuka opened a can of beer and shoved it over.
"Wait... I still have... gulp..."
"Drink, drink, it's not easy for us to get together."
On the other side!
Under the effect of the antidote, Curacao's pain was alleviated.
In order to be completely cured, she had to take the initiative to ask for it.
But!
Seeing Vermouth nearby, her eyes changed again.
The next moment.
The pain from the depths of her soul came rushing back like a tidal wave.
Slap!
Alex didn't hesitate to slap her, leaving a bright red palm print on her body.
It was just that on her pink skin, this palm print wasn't very obvious.
"Don't forget your lesson; Dependents must get along peacefully with each other."
"Ugh..."
Curacao's eyes widened, and tears streamed from her eyes due to the pain.
As for Alex, he sighed softly.
Although the antidote is not easy to make.
But who told him to be the master?
However, no matter what, he must teach her a lesson.
Dependents absolutely must not hate each other.
He took a deep breath and began to stir his magic power.
Curacao's hatred for Vermouth was extraordinary, and she was still putting up a desperate resistance.
Hoping to overcome the contract's punishment with her own willpower.
But it was a pity.
The pain and emotions from the depths of her soul were not something she could resist.
Gradually!
Her mind was overwhelmed by unprecedented emotional shocks.
She forgot her hatred, and even forgot who she was.
Now, she only knew that she was the Master's Dependent.
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