The Demon City, bathed in the night, remained a city that never slept.
But for some, the world had already been turned upside down.
When Ruzuki Rin's figure silently vanished beyond the Lu Family Manor's perimeter,
her entire mental state was in a strange equilibrium, on the verge of collapse yet forcibly reshaped.
Returning to the safe house, she immediately removed the mask from her face, revealing a pale, sweat-soaked, yet breathtakingly beautiful face.
She rushed into the bathroom, turning the faucet to full, letting the icy water fiercely wash over her face, attempting to extinguish the burning brand deep within her soul.
It was no use.
That man's voice, that man's gaze, and the final brand imprinted on her soul, like an unshakable divine mountain, suppressed her every being.
Resist?
As soon as the thought arose, a pang of pain shot through her soul.
"Ugh... ah..."
A painful groan escaped her throat, making her realize.
Her life, her will, even her every thought, no longer belonged to her.
She had become that man's private possession... Three days later, Tokyo, Ginza.
The air here was permeated with an aura of extravagance.
Lu Cheng walked ahead, his pace unhurried, as if he wasn't a tourist sightseeing, but a monarch inspecting his own territory.
Behind him, half a step back, followed a figure.
Ruzuki Rin.
The former ace of the Amaterasu Group.
Now, she was dressed in a black and white maid outfit, the skirt perfectly accentuating her astonishing waist-to-hip ratio, white stockings encasing her long, straight legs, and tiny black leather shoes that made no sound as she walked.
There was no longer a mask on her face; her exquisitely beautiful face was now lightly made up, her purple eyes downcast.
She was like a meticulously polished work of art, perfect, yet devoid of a soul.
No, her soul had already been branded with another's name.
Lu Cheng's trip to Tokyo did not involve many followers.
He chose to first take this newly subdued Eastern wildcat for a stroll.
On one hand, it was to test the control of the God Kingdom's brand.
On the other hand, it was also a declaration.
He wanted to plant his own flag on this farm that he was about to harvest.
"What are you thinking?"
Lu Cheng's voice suddenly rang out, calm, yet Ruzuki Rin's body instantly tensed.
"N-nothing, Master."
She replied hurriedly, her voice barely a whisper.
Lu Cheng stopped, turned around, and looked at her with interest.
"Thinking about why I made you dress like this to go shopping with me?"
Ruzuki Rin buried her head even lower, not daring to answer.
"Because a qualified servant must first learn to abandon her ridiculous self-respect."
"Everything about you is worthless to me."
"What I need is merely an obedient tool, a pleasing plaything."
"Do you understand? My... Rin."
That final "Rin," with an intimate call, made Ruzuki Rin's soul tremble, yet it also made her... uncontrollably, feel a hint of morbid reassurance.
"...Yes, Master."
She responded humbly.
"Very good."
Lu Cheng was satisfied with her reaction, his gaze sweeping over a luxuriously decorated jewelry store on the street.
The store was called "Tsukuyomi's Tears," bearing the colors of Eastern mythology.
"Let's go, it's time to pick a suitable collar for you."
Collar... Ruzuki Rin bowed slightly, stepping forward to open the glass door for Lu Cheng.
Inside the store, the dazzling jewels made it hard to open one's eyes.
There weren't many customers, but each was impeccably dressed and elegantly behaved.
Lu Cheng's appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.
No other reason: this man's aura was too unique.
He was as handsome as a deity, yet his temperament was as domineering as a demon king; two diametrically opposed feelings perfectly blended in him, forming a fatal attraction.
And the stunning woman dressed as a maid behind him added a touch of forbidden allure to this attraction.
And just a short distance away, in front of a counter, stood a young man and woman who seemed a bit out of place with the atmosphere.
The boy wore a somewhat faded school uniform, his face clean-cut, his eyes clear, carrying a hint of youthful nervousness.
His name was Kamiya Makoto.
An ordinary high school student.
The girl also wore a school uniform, but her demeanor was completely opposite to the boy's.
She had long, lustrous black hair, features as delicate as a doll's, skin as fair as snow, and in her eyes, a detachment and... weariness unbefitting her age.
Yukino Shita Chizuru.
"Makoto-kun, are you sure you want to buy it here?"
The girl yawned softly, showing no interest in the display cases full of jewelry.
"O-of course!"
Kamiya Makoto puffed out his chest, seemingly trying to appear more confident.
"Chizuru, your birthday is coming soon, and I said I'd give you the best gift!"
He pointed to an exquisitely crafted necklace in the glass counter.
It was a platinum chain, with a small, delicate cherry blossom pendant, its pistil inlaid with a pink crushed diamond, sparkling with a dreamlike luster under the lights.
It was neither exaggerated nor vulgar, possessing a delicate and romantic aesthetic that suited a young girl.
Kamiya Makoto's eyes were filled with longing and affection.
To buy this necklace, which he had secretly admired several times, he had used almost all of his savings.
He fantasized about the moment he would personally put the necklace on Yukino Shita Chizuru, hoping that a genuine smile might appear on her face.
If he could see that, everything would be worth it.
Yukino Shita Chizuru looked at his foolish expression, a flicker of imperceptible disdain and... playfulness in her eyes.
A gift?
Why would she care about such a thing?
What she enjoyed was simply this man's desperate efforts and complete devotion for her.
The more he tried, the more humble he was, the more it satisfied the twisted desires deep within her heart.
Like a cat playing with a mouse in its paw.
"Excuse me, Miss, please... may I see that necklace?"
Kamiya Makoto took a deep breath, mustering his courage to speak to the attendant nearby.
The attendant wore a professional smile, but a hint of disdain was hidden deep in her eyes.
From the boy's attire, she could tell that he most likely couldn't afford it.
However, her good professional etiquette still made her nod, and she was about to put on gloves to retrieve the necklace.
Just then.
A lazy yet absolutely authoritative voice came from behind them.
"I'll buy that necklace."
The voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention.
Kamiya Makoto and Chizuru both turned to look.
They saw a man slowly approaching, followed by a beautiful girl in a maid outfit.
Kamiya Makoto's brows furrowed instantly.
He inherently believed in first-come, first-served, fairness and justice, especially when it benefited him... "Excuse me, sir, I saw this necklace first."
His tone was still polite, but it already carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
Lu Cheng's steps did not falter in the slightest, he didn't even spare Kamiya Makoto a glance from the corner of his eye.
His gaze passed over Kamiya Makoto, directly landing on the cherry blossom necklace, then turned to Ruzuki Rin beside him.
He smiled.
That smile carried a hint of playfulness, a hint of appreciation.
"Saw it first?"
Lu Cheng chuckled softly, as if he had heard the biggest joke.
"Kid, you need to understand one thing."
He walked to the counter and casually tossed a pure black card onto the velvet tablecloth.
"In this world, there is no such thing as first-come, first-served."
"There is only... the distinction between strong and weak."
"Anything I set my eyes on, it's mine."
His words were utterly arrogant!
Kamiya Makoto's face instantly flushed red, a surge of blood rushing to his head.
"You... how can you be so unreasonable! Everything must have rules!"
His internal system, at this moment, even emitted a faint warning, as if sensing some extreme "malice."
However, Lu Cheng still ignored him.
He merely said to the attendant, who was already stunned by the black card, in a calm voice:
"Open it."
"Y-yes! Sir!"
The attendant dared not delay, quickly opened the counter, and presented the cherry blossom necklace with the utmost reverence.
"You!"
Kamiya Makoto trembled with anger, about to step forward and argue.
But a cold small hand pulled on his sleeve.
It was Yukino Shita Chizuru.
Kamiya Makoto turned back, looking at her in confusion.
But Yukino Shita Chizuru was not looking at him at this moment.
Her entire mind, her eyes, were fixed intently on Lu Cheng!
Her gaze was still devoid of emotion, yet a cluster of flames named "excitement" and "fanaticism" was burning wildly!
So strong... so domineering... This is... a true "Dominator"!
Compared to this man, Kamiya Makoto's pathetic gentleness and justice were as childishly ridiculous as playing house!
She saw Lu Cheng pick up the necklace.
Then, he crooked a finger at the maid.
"Rin, come here."
Ruzuki Rin's body trembled, and she obediently walked to Lu Cheng, bowing slightly, presenting her fair and graceful neck defenselessly before him.
Lu Cheng held the delicate cherry blossom pendant, gently placing the necklace around her neck.
The cold platinum chain touched her warm skin.
Ruzuki Rin's body trembled slightly.
It wasn't a necklace.
It was more like shackles.
It was a collar... declaring her belonging!
Beneath the endless humiliation, a hint of... satisfaction actually arose from the depths of her soul.
"Thank you... Master."
She uttered this sentence humbly, in a voice only she and Lu Cheng could hear.
This scene completely ignited Kamiya Makoto's rage!
"You've gone too far!"
He finally couldn't hold back, shouting out loud.
"How can you treat a lady like that! Are you treating her as your possession?! Apologize to her now!"
Hearing his roar, Lu Cheng finally deigned to shift his gaze from his "new creation," looking directly at the noisy young man for the first time.
His gaze was indifferent, like a god looking down on a noisy ant.
"Possession?"
Lu Cheng reached out, gently lifting Ruzuki Rin's chin, forcing her to look up and meet everyone's gaze.
Then, he leaned down and whispered in her ear:
"You're wrong."
"She is not my possession."
"She is the first spoils of war I've taken... on this land."
[Ding! Detected a new Son of Destiny!]
[Name: Kamiya Makoto]
[Identity: Protagonist of "Tokyo Elegy: My S-Class Girlfriend is a Yandere"]
[Main Abilities: Shikigami Record System, Ancient Onmyoji Bloodline, Gentle Aura]
[Combat Power: 1000 (Yokai-level)]
[Charm Value: 75 (Clean-cut youth + Aura buff)]
[Destiny Rating: Brilliance of the Moon]
Supernatural Rank Classification (low to high): Ghost-level, Yokai-level, Monster-level, God-level
Destiny Rating: Brilliance of the Moon, Wheel of the Scorching Sun, Mandate of Amaterasu