I'm in a crossover anime world, and I've been transported to Hogwarts twice.

"Are you still interested in making her your possession?"

Upon hearing Alice's account, Genichi Hanyu paused for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on his face.

He didn't immediately answer whether he was interested or not. Instead, he looked at Alice with a scrutinizing gaze and asked, "So, Alice, do you think I should still be interested in Kobayashi Rindou?"

His question was clever, passing the buck back to Alice.

Alice Nakiri seemed surprised by Gen Hanyu's question. She blinked, then flashed a bright, slightly ingratiating smile and answered without hesitation, "I think it's possible!"

0Request flowers

Seeing her enthusiastic recommendation, Genichi Hanyu immediately understood. He smiled, a knowing glimpse of his understanding, and asked directly:

"So, tell me honestly, what benefits did Kobayashi Rindou give you to make you work so hard as her advocate?"

"Eh?"

Alice's smile froze instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her eyes darted around, avoiding Yuzuru's gaze, and she stammered, "What benefit is there? I just think Kobayashi-senpai is a nice person and very capable, so I was just helping out..."

Her guilty look practically screamed that I'd been bribed.

Seeing this, Genichi Hanyu did not press for further details.

He couldn't be bothered to investigate the transactions between these little girls.

He pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the countertop.

Rindou Kobayashi initially refused, but now regrets it.

This kind of change is actually in line with human nature.

After all, as his power expands and his influence spreads, those opportunities that once seemed elusive are now gradually revealing real and undeniable value.

It's perfectly normal for Rindou Kobayashi, being an intelligent person, to regret his actions and try to make amends.

For Genichi Hanyu, Rindou Kobayashi's value was not irreplaceable, but her culinary talent and wild intuition were a good complement.

More importantly, this is a matter of attitude—voluntary surrender and passive recruitment are two different things.

After thinking for a moment, Genichi Hanyu made a decision. He said to Alice, who was still looking around, "How about this, you arrange for me to meet with Rindou Kobayashi."

He paused, then added, "I'll make a decision after we meet."

He didn't make any definitive statements, giving both sides room to maneuver.

After all, he also wanted to see how the girl who had turned pale with fear at his threat to silence her and who had refused his invitation would face him now, after so long.

369. Would you use my money to support another man?

The meeting was arranged in a relatively private reception room within the mansion.

This place doesn't feel as powerful as a study, nor as relaxing as a tea room; it's more like a space specifically designed for negotiations that require a quiet atmosphere.

Soft light spills from the magical crystals on the ceiling, the walls are made of a warm-toned, sound-absorbing material, and several comfortable but not overly relaxing sofas surround a low coffee table with tea and a few delicate wagashi (Japanese sweets).

Genichi Hanyu sat on the main sofa, his posture still exuding his usual languidness and sense of control.

When he saw the two people following behind Alice Nakiri, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

It wasn't just Kobayashi Rindou who came.

Beside her was a girl with a completely different temperament, "800".

She has long, light blue hair braided into plaits, wears her signature round-framed glasses, and has a serious expression and sharp eyes, giving off a meticulous, rigorous, and rational impression.

It was none other than Kinokunori Nene, one of the original Ten Elite Ten, who was skilled in making soba noodles.

Rindou Kobayashi was clearly dressed up carefully today. His long, deep red hair was neatly combed, and he wore a well-tailored casual dress, trying to hide his nervousness. However, his eyes, which always carried a wildness and curiosity, were now somewhat daring, and he dared not look at Genichi Hanyu for long.

Meanwhile, Nene Kinokoku remained calm, but her tightly pursed lips and slightly tense body betrayed that she was not as composed as she appeared.

After leading the person to the back, Alice Nakiri winked at Genichi Hanyu, then tactfully withdrew and gently closed the door behind her.

Inside the reception room, only Genichi Hanyu and two girls who had come to surrender remained.

Genichi Hanyu's gaze lingered on Nene Kinokuni for a moment, as if pondering why she was there, before settling on his main target for the day—Rindou Kobayashi.

He didn't exchange pleasantries or beat around the bush; he went straight to the point, his voice steady yet carrying an invisible pressure: "Alice has already roughly told me your wishes, but..."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Kobayashi Rindou's face as if it were a physical object.

"I still want to hear you say it to me again in person."

He wanted to hear her own clear and explicit statement.

This is not just a formality, but also a form of psychological affirmation and pressure.

Under Genichi Hanyu's gaze, Rindou Kobayashi trembled almost imperceptibly.

She subconsciously pursed her slightly dry lips, clasped her hands tightly together in front of her, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

She could feel her heart pounding like a drum, and the scene of being threatened with murder by the man in front of her flashed uncontrollably through her mind, as well as the immense regret and fear she felt after learning only bits and pieces about him.

She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and forced herself to raise her head to meet Genichi Hanyu's unfathomable eyes. Her voice trembled slightly, but she still said clearly, "I want to be yours."

After saying this, she seemed completely exhausted, but she also felt a strange sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Upon hearing this, Gen Hanyu showed no surprise whatsoever, not even a flicker of emotion, as if it were all perfectly natural and entirely within his expectations.

He showed neither satisfaction nor disdain, but simply looked at her calmly, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

This silent reaction only made Kobayashi Rindou more uneasy.

Then, Genichi Hanyu turned his gaze to Nene Kinokuni, who had been silent since entering, and spoke in the same flat tone:

"And you, Ji Zhiguo Ningning, what brings you here today?"

He didn't believe that Kinoko Nene was simply accompanying Kobayashi Rindou.

Ji Zhiguo Ningning pushed up her glasses, her gaze behind the lenses calm and firm. Without the slightest hesitation, she answered concisely, her voice clear and steady: "Me too."

"The same goal."

"I hope to become one of Master Yuzuru's subordinates."

Her words were more concise, rational, and restrained than those of Kobayashi Rindou, but the determination within them was undeniable.

Today, Kinokunori Nene and Kobayashi Rindou came together for the same purpose—to seize this potentially fleeting opportunity, board the giant ship of Hanyu Genichi, which has already shown terrifying potential, and become one of their own.

Genichi Hanyu remained noncommittal about Nene Kinokuni's addition. His gaze returned to Rindou Kobayashi, as if he had suddenly remembered something interesting. A meaningful smile appeared on his lips as he brought up the past: "Rindou Kobayashi, I remember when you rejected me, you seemed to have said that you had someone you liked?"

This question, like a precise scalpel, instantly dissected the corners of Kobayashi Rindou's heart that he was trying to hide.

Her expression instantly became somewhat unnatural, and a hint of panic and embarrassment flashed in her eyes.

"Yes."

She reluctantly admitted it, but immediately added urgently, "But I was never with him. Never. It was just/just one-sided on my part..."

She seemed afraid that Genichi Yuzuru would misunderstand, so she quickly explained and clarified the situation to distance herself from the matter.

Genichi Hanyu remained noncommittal to her explanation, simply gazing at her with eyes that seemed to see through everything, his tone calm, yet posing a more pointed and realistic question:

"Then how can you guarantee that in the future you won't use the resources, power, or knowledge I give you to support, help, or even give money to the person you like?"

4.7 These words struck Kobayashi Rindou's heart like a heavy hammer, and also made Kinokunori Nene's expression even more solemn.

Genichi Hanyu's voice carried a cold, insightful quality: "Using my things to support other men. Do you think I would allow such a thing to happen? Or do you think I look like the kind of generous, selfless fool who's happy to let others have their love affairs?"

His gaze was meaningful, full of scrutiny and warning.

This is not only a test of loyalty, but also a demarcation of boundaries.

Becoming his person means having to make choices about all past emotional ties, or at least prioritize them, and never harming his interests.

Resources can only be used in the areas he permits.

A 370 million-foot abyss lies right before my eyes.

Genichi Hanyu's seemingly calm yet icy question seemed to instantly drain all the air from the meeting room.

The phrase "Use the resources I give you to support the person you like" was like an invisible blade, precisely striking Kobayashi Rindou's most sensitive and least reassuring nerve.

"Om-"

With a thud, Kobayashi Rindou felt his mind go blank, and the color drained from his face at a visible speed, turning him deathly pale.

Her delicate body swayed slightly; if she hadn't been holding on, she would have almost collapsed to the ground.

Genichi Hanyu's words were more than just a blow to her spirit; they laid bare her deepest fears and those hidden possibilities that she herself dared not even contemplate, exposing them to the light of day!

Using Genichi Hanyu's resources to support Eishi Tsukasa?

The mere thought of this sent a chill down Kobayashi Rindou's spine, making the hairs on his body stand on end!

She didn't even dare to imagine what terrible consequences she would face if she were actually suspected, or even if there was only the slightest indication that she had done so!

These 11 men before her were no soft-hearted fools; he could laugh and threaten to silence her back then, and now he could do the same to her…

She dared not think any further. An overwhelming fear, like an icy tide, instantly engulfed her, leaving her frozen in place, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single complete syllable.

Not only Kobayashi Rindou, but even Kinokuni Nene, who had been trying her best to remain calm, was so shocked by Hanyu Genichi's merciless and pointed question that her heart stopped for a moment, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out on her back.

She subconsciously pushed up her glasses, trying to hide her inner shock with this action.

They all knew very well that Genichi Hanyu was not joking, nor was he making baseless accusations.

He is drawing a red line; he is issuing the sternest warning.

If he truly becomes suspicious and believes that they have ulterior motives and would harm his interests to pursue their own private affairs, then the consequences would be unimaginable!

That's a thousand times worse than simply rejecting him back then!

Seeing that Kobayashi Rindou was so frightened that he was almost unable to cope, Kinokoku Nene took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She knew that someone had to step forward and make a statement at this moment, otherwise today's surrender would not only fail, but might even turn into a disaster.

She stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said in as calm and clear a tone as possible, "Lord Yuzuru, please rest assured!"

Her voice drew the attention of both people present, especially Kobayashi Rindou, who looked at her with pleading eyes as if she had grasped at a straw.

With a firm gaze, Kinoko Nene met Yuzuru Genichi's scrutinizing eyes and continued, "Rindou-senpai may have had immature thoughts and feelings in the past, but she is by no means someone who doesn't understand the bigger picture or what's important. Since we are standing here today and have chosen to pledge our loyalty to you, then we know very well what that means—absolute loyalty and putting your interests first in everything."

She paused, then emphasized, "The resources are the authority and trust you have bestowed upon us. They are not to be squandered at will, let alone used to satisfy personal desires. The thing you are worried about will absolutely not happen. I can vouch for her, and I am willing to take responsibility for our future actions."

Her words were both a defense of Kobayashi Rindou and a pledge made by the two of them.

She did not deny Kobayashi Rindou's past feelings, but emphasized her future choices and stance.

Genichi Hanyu listened quietly to Nene Kinokuni's statement, the meaningful smile on his face not fading, but the sharpness in his eyes seemed to have softened slightly.

He did not immediately comment on Kinokuni Nene's guarantee, but instead turned his gaze back to Kobayashi Rindou, whose face was still pale, as if waiting for her own response.

Encouraged by Nene Kinokuni's words and pressured by Genichi Hanyu's gaze, Rindou Kobayashi finally regained some strength from her immense fear. She swallowed hard to moisten her dry throat, her voice still trembling, but she tried her best to make her words sound firm.

"Yes! Ningning is right! I promise you! I would never do anything so stupid!"

"I was ignorant before, but now I understand. Since I have chosen to follow you, everything I have will belong to you, and I will never let you down!"

She spoke somewhat incoherently, but her determination to prove herself and draw a clear line was genuine.

As Genichi Hanyu looked at the two girls in front of him, one speaking calmly and the other making a flustered promise, the smile on his face finally spread. It was no longer the smile that was full of mockery and scrutiny, but became a kind of... indifferent acceptance that was somewhat sensible.

He leaned back against the sofa, his posture more relaxed, and said in a casual tone, "No, of course it would be best."

His fingers tapped lightly on the sofa armrest.

"I'm actually quite easy to talk to."

He said something in a boastful tone, but to Kobayashi Rindou and Kinokunori Nene, these words did not make them feel relieved at all; on the contrary, they made them even more nervous.

Because they know that what follows is the important part.

“Giving you resources, power, and even extraordinary strength is not difficult for me. As long as you demonstrate your due value and unwavering loyalty, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.”

He paused slightly, and the temperature in the entire meeting room 150 seemed to drop several degrees. A chilling glint flashed in his dark eyes.

"but……"

The "but" was drawn out, filled with an undeniable warning.

"If anyone crosses my bottom line, does something that harms my interests, or makes me feel that my trust has been betrayed..."

Genichi Hanyu didn't continue speaking; his last words turned into a meaningful chuckle and dissipated into the air.

However, these unspoken words are more terrifying than any concrete threat.

Kinokunori Nene and Kobayashi Rindou understood perfectly well that it meant utter destruction, an ending they could never bear, and dared not even imagine.