Tokyo Heart Thief's Daily Life

They are either strong enough to face the darkness in their hearts.

Or after completely breaking the ice and being stimulated, choose to reconcile with yourself.

But no matter which of the two, Luo Zhen doesn't think that Futaba can do it now.

This girl is strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

She doesn't feel any strong psychological stimulation towards Madarame, a bad guy who has nothing to do with her.

Luo Zhen could, with the mindset of a wild beast, throw her into a dangerous environment and force her to awaken her desire to survive...

But this is too cruel, Luo Zhen would definitely not do that.

Fortunately, there are enough people in the Phantom Thieves now, so it is not a problem to assign a few people to take turns protecting Futaba.

So Luo Zhen stopped thinking about this matter for the time being:

"This palace doesn't seem to be in any danger right now. This suggests the palace master has a lot of wiggle room in his subconscious and isn't afraid of others entering."

"But the temple can't remain open forever. If we find the secret treasure's storage, then surely... huh?"

From a distance, Luo Zhen spotted a [figure] deep in the exhibition hall.

Of course, that was not a living person, but a being surrounded by black energy like a shadow.

When Luo Zhen stopped everyone, the figure also turned around:

"'Are you here to see the art exhibition? Unfortunately, the exhibition hall is still under preparation. Please wait until it officially opens.'"

"Are you...Kitagawa Yusuke?"

Luo Zhen recognized the tall and thin boy.

He was the man he had run into at the subway station last time, with the daughter of the Lion Boy Zhengyi.

From what the civil servant said before, we learned that he was Madarame's first and last disciple and adopted son.

Xing, who was meeting an outsider in the palace for the first time, unexpectedly grabbed Luo Zhen's sleeve:

"Hey, Captain, why is he entering the temple?... Could it be that he has also awakened his Persona?!"

Luo Zhen: "No. You can also feel it, he is not a living person, but the him that Madarame knows."

This kind of person is called a [cognitive being], which is equivalent to an NPC in the temple.

In fact, this kind of person also exists in the halls of Kamoshida and the principal.

But those people were much rougher, and you could tell at first glance that they were weird puppets.

The Kitagawa Yusuke in Madarame's hall is almost as lifelike as a real person.

Luo Zhen also judged:

"This shows that Madarame's understanding of his own disciple is very complete. He can subconsciously portray a real person whose words and actions are consistent, which shows that he has a certain level of ability to judge people."

Cognitive Existence: "Of course. Madarame-sensei's aesthetic taste is the best in the world, so it's easy for him to see through me."

Kitagawa Yusuke smiled with honor, looking full of admiration for his teacher.

There isn't much to say about this kind of cognition.

But since the other party is not hostile right now, Luo Zhen wants to ask a few more questions:

"Kitagawa Yusuke. Even though you're Madarame's cognitive being... or perhaps it's precisely because you're Madarame's figment of his imagination that you'll definitely understand."

"You are Madarame's [work], a tool that he has been exploiting. So don't you hate him? Doesn't Madarame think you will hate him?"

Kitagawa: "'Hate? Hate my teacher who has been so kind to me, who has been like a teacher and a father to me? Haha, how is that possible~!'"

Madarame's imaginary disciple laughed heartily and replied to Luo Zhen in a very refreshing manner:

"'Everything I have was given by my teacher. My talent for painting was also taught by him! All my inspiration, talent, and works should naturally be dedicated to him! I can never repay my teacher's kindness, so how could I possibly hate him?'"

"Ugh...so disgusting!"

Even Nina was disgusted by Kitagawa Yusuke's fanatical remarks.

The human subconscious mind does not lie.

So what this person said now really reflects the true thoughts of Madarame’s own disciples, which can be said to be extremely perverted.

However, it is only those with such twisted desires that own palaces. It is not surprising.

"Excuse me, we are here to punish your teacher... No, we are here to punish you."

Luo Zhen took off his mask and summoned the shining god "Eros".

He looked at the shadow in front of him coldly: "I just hope that you in real life are not as stubborn as your teacher imagined."

"'—I see. You're thieves who came here to covet the teacher's treasure, right?'"

Kitagawa Yusuke's face was hideous as he recognized the existence, and his body quickly expanded into a twisted shadow:

"'I will protect the teacher and devote myself to him! Anyone who wishes to harm him will have to step over my body first!'"

Momoka: "...A teacher who believes in her students to be willing to sacrifice everything for her. Honestly, she's quite self-conscious."

Nina: "I hate this kind of daddy-like guy the most! Kill him right now! (〃＞目＜)"

The rebellious girls in Luo Zhen's family were very disgusted by this and immediately started a Manchester!

-------------------------------------

In the end, the group explored to the middle of the hall that day and disbanded and went home at the appropriate time.

At the beginning, Kitagawa Yusuke's cognitive existence did not cause any obstacles to them.

After all, there are so many people in the Phantom Thieves, and with Luo Zhen in charge, ordinary shadows and palace masters are no match for them.

But as they continued to investigate the palace, they were soon blocked by an ornate locked gate.

This gate was so strong that even Luo Zhen couldn't destroy it. It guarded the passage to the back half of the hall.

Luo Zhen therefore concluded that this was the hall master's own psychological defense line.

The secret treasure is in the space behind this door, but it is perfectly locked.

This shows that the person involved (Madame) believed that it was impossible for anyone to know his secret and he kept it very well.

In connection with the previous civil servant disciple, this door is probably the door in Madarame's house that no students are allowed to enter.

Xing asked as a matter of course: "Then can't we just break into his house and break down the door?"

"It is possible, but the effect is not good." Luo Zhen explained.

In fact, whether this door in reality is good or bad is not the point.

Because this is ultimately a problem of psychological cognition of the parties involved.

The key point is that the person feels a sense of crisis, such as "My secret is exposed" or "Someone knows what's inside the door", which will cause a flaw in the subconscious mind and open the door in the palace.

Therefore, rather than tearing down this door in reality, it would be more effective to "let Madarame see his secret exposed."

But there is no rush.

Luo Zhen continued, "Let's stop here for today. The Palace strategy doesn't need to be completed all at once. I also want to gather more information about Madarame before we discuss it."

Indeed, everyone nodded in agreement.

To make people repent means using external forces to change a person's psychology.

It is certainly good to let bad guys turn themselves in, but we cannot ignore the impact it will cause. It is never too much to be prepared.

With this purpose, everyone dispersed at the temple gate that day and went back to their homes...

...No way.

Less than ten minutes after the group was dismissed, An and Shiho started a video call in the girls' group:

"'Momoka-san, Nina-chan! We're going to your house right now~. We'll also bring our overnight gear, so please be kind!'"

Futaba: "'Ah, cunning! I want to go too!... Mom, what did you say? Minors are not allowed to stay overnight at other people's homes?... You old stubborn man! So you are the single mother who can never get married! (〃＞目＜)'"

Yoshizawa Kasumi: "I'm so envious! I want to spend the night at Luo Zhen's house too!... Why is Dad always home every night? Can't he just stay up late to work overtime and stay at the courthouse?"

Yoshizawa Sumire: "'Honestly, can't we change Dad's mind quickly? Wouldn't it be better to make him agree to Senior having a harem and then let him live directly in our house?'"

Momoka: "Don't worry, don't worry~. I'll live stream the whole thing for you guys, just enjoy watching Luo Zhen being used by us =ω="

......Luo Zhen, who couldn't see the content of the girls' group chat, still had a little fantasy of pure love for his own girls.

The girls were divided into two distinct groups: those with poor upbringing and those with good upbringing. There was also a clear distinction between whether or not they could sleep over freely.

Luo Zhen, who still has no idea that he has been destined to be eaten up, is actually chatting on the phone for a long time.

And the person who called him was none other than his good brother, Ryuji.

"'Honestly, Boss. I'm a little hesitant about whether we should change Madarame's heart.'"

Long Si, who took the initiative to call Luo Zhen, spoke vaguely in a rare way:

"'Of course I know Madarame is a bad man, and my desire to punish him remains unchanged.'"

"'But how should I put it... Kitagawa Yusuke did consider Madarame his benefactor and adoptive father, right? Although that was just Madarame's self-righteousness in the palace, and he completely treated him as a tool... but perhaps, there is some truth to it, right?'"

"That's true, Ryuji, you're very perceptive."

Luo Zhen agreed with Long Si's words.

The Kitagawa Yusuke in the hall is indeed fake, but not completely fake.

Madarame's perception was indeed wishful thinking.

But to be able to create such lifelike disciples, there must be some objective truth in it.

In fact, all of Madarame's disciples have fled, and he only has Kitagawa Yusuke as his student now.

Moreover, Kitagawa was his godson who was adopted by him when he was three years old, so he should be the closest to him.

So why didn't Kitagawa run away? Was it really because there was nowhere else to run to?

This is something that only he himself would know, but it does not prevent others from guessing.

Ryuji: "'Boss, you know I come from a single-parent family. My dad is an alcoholic and used to abuse us... So, honestly, I think I understand how despairing it can be for a child if their parents become awful.'"

"'And that Kitagawa, he was adopted by Madarame since he was a child, right? He has no real family, only a godfather who exploits him... How did he get through his childhood? I find it hard to imagine.'"

Yes, Luo Zhen thinks so too.

For Kitagawa Yusuke, who has no relatives, his only relative is Madarame, who treats him as a tool.

It is hard to imagine how deeply he will be PUA.

Although the sentence "The teacher's kindness can never be repaid" is Madarame's wishful thinking, it is hard to say whether it has any meaning at all.

That's why Long Si said this:

"'If we make Madarame repent, wouldn't that be like taking away his family? ...Even if he himself is being exploited.'"

"That's not the case."

This was the only thing Luo Zhen had to answer firmly:

“Even if it’s governed by a favor, a wrong thing is still wrong.”

"Even if Kitagawa Yusuke himself was bound by the kindness of his adoptive father and was somewhat willing to sacrifice, what about the other students ruined by Madarame? The civil servant we saw, and the students he mentioned committing suicide out of despair. Madarame's evil deeds have already caused so many sacrifices. We can't let him off the hook just because Kitagawa is the only one left, right?"

“‘—Yeah, that’s what I meant! This isn’t fair, is it?’”

This is exactly what Long Si wanted to hear.

He received Luo Zhen's insistent response, and his mood immediately became lively:

"'Good deeds are rewarded, evil deeds are punished! Those who do bad things should be punished, right? It's our job to make these adults who are at large confess their crimes!'"

"'That Kitagawa guy might be a bit pitiful, but right now, it's all just speculation. It would be great if we could talk to him directly... He's also a victim himself. Maybe he's been wanting to sacrifice his own family for the sake of justice for a long time, but just hasn't had the chance? Damn, I'm even more motivated now!'"

Haha... Luo Zhen was amused by this simple-minded boy.

This straightforward idea is good, but Luo Zhen still reminds:

"Don't contact Kitagawa Yusuke without permission. The Phantom Thief's affairs must not be exposed. I will take care of the intelligence gathering."

"'Well! I'll leave it to you, Boss! I, the special forces captain, will be waiting for the next operation. Bye!"

Long Si hangs up as soon as he says so.

The last thing heard from the other end of the phone was a call of "Mom, I'm hungry~".