I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

But that doesn't mean they're willing to be taken advantage of.

If possible, the hot spring development department would prefer to avoid any losses.

Amamiya chimed in, "Kasumi. I have a brand new contract here..."

He then displayed the land title deed of the Federal Student Association, along with photocopies of other related documents.

"There's a great opportunity to develop hot springs here. Kasumi, would you like to take a look?"

Chapter 96 Shizuko: Are all of Gehenna's students so chaotic in their conduct?

"As long as I sign this new contract... the hot spring development department can join Xia Lai as a 'franchise'..."

"And Sensei will also teach me... special tips on hot spring development?"

In the temporary 'resort' camp on the resort islands to which Gehenna belongs, a black-haired girl wearing a white, extra-long-sleeved coat has shining eyes.

What Xia cared about more was not actually minor issues like the 'hot spring development rights'.

What she cared about was the deeper relationship within it—

'Sensei must be very familiar with that disciplinary committee chairman…'

'And if I can get on good terms with Sensei... even if the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee doesn't show any leniency when arresting me and the members of the hot spring development department...'

'At least they'll go a little easier on me, right?'

With her long, white sleeves fluttering like a little ghost, Xia pondered seriously for a moment.

'Um……'

'I'm also very curious about the "tips and tricks for hot spring development" that Sensei mentioned...'

"Okay, I'll sign!"

After grabbing the pen handed to her by Amamiya, the girl boldly and decisively signed her name, symbolizing the hot spring development department, on the contract.

Such a 'decisive' action made the girls of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons feel uneasy.

Especially Shizuko—seeing Kasumi sign the contract so readily and generously, she couldn't help but recall her painful experience of being sold the 'resort operating rights' and repeatedly checking the contract only to fall into a trap in the end.

'In the future, when signing contracts... investigating the creditworthiness of partners will also be an important part of what Baiyetang needs to consider...'

With a flourish of her pen, Kasumi signed her name on the contract, then looked at Amamiya with anticipation and longing: "Sensei... what exactly is this tip you gave me about developing hot springs...?"

Amamiya stood up, waved to the group of girls participating in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, and then walked out of the tent with Kasumi, who was following closely behind him.

"I have a very special, super technique that allows me to find hot spring sources without any exploration..."

As she spoke, Amamiya narrowed her eyes slightly and began to survey her surroundings from the perspective of a "third eye".

If it were merely a "third eye," it might not possess such "miraculous" abilities.

However, since Amamiya came to Giwatos, she has met many special assistants. Among the bond skills they gave her, many of them can enhance the [Third Eye], allowing it to see more information.

Izuna's [Secret Technique of Information Gathering]; Himari's [Charm of a High-Class Flower]; Koyuki's [Eyes of Destiny]; Ako's [Intelligence Analysis]...

With numerous bond skills taking effect simultaneously, the world observed by Amamiya's [Third Eye] is filled with all sorts of detailed information, no longer as monotonous as the world that used to be like a 'gray sketch'.

With the help of her many bond skills, Amamiya easily identified the weakest point where a hot spring could be easily dug out.

With Kasumi by his side, Amamiya pointed to a clearing in a nearby dense forest and confidently assured her, "If you dig here, you'll definitely find a hot spring in less than an hour."

Kasumi did not show any doubt or other suspicion. Instead, her eyes shone, and she calmly examined the open space marked out by Amamiya.

Then, she waved her hand and called out, "Hui?"

"Here I am~!" The voice of a girl, whose madness and energy were no less than that of Kasumi, but who was more mature and gentle, rang out immediately, "Chairman, is there anything you want to say?"

Amamiya and the group of girls in the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) then seemed to see a flash of pink flame before their eyes.

"Want to level or burn down somewhere... eh?"

A striking red bob, gradient blue eyes, a refreshing summer sports vest and skirt combination, and the standard 'sexy' style created by tying the shirt around her waist...

Even when she stood there dumbfounded after seeing Amamiya and her group, she exuded an adorably stunned aura...

Amamiya didn't even need to look at the tarot cards above her head to guess that she was an absolutely pure, 'silly and energetic girl'.

With this personality... if the Arcana it possesses isn't the 'mostly idiots' Chariot, it's probably the 'Sun', right?

Amamiya looked with his third eye—and sure enough.

[Assisted by: Shimokura Megumi / The Fire-Breathing Dragon of the Onsen Club]

【Arcana: Light/Sun (LA LUMIERE)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

During Amamiya's observation, the red-haired girl finished her daze and then began to circle around Amamiya with a 'novel' look in her eyes.

“Eh… Xia Lai’s Sensei…”

"I had only seen it in pictures online before... and I had also learned about it from promotional materials for fan-made content... I never expected that the person in person would be so... charismatic."

Amamiya: ...?

Secondary creation?

Could it be another weird thing created by those two second-rate creators from Red Winter's side?

After her own reflections, the girl smiled brightly at Amamiya: "Nice to meet you, Sensei! I'm Shimokura Megumi from the hot spring club. If you need anything done, like leveling, burning... or any other similar tasks, feel free to contact me anytime!"

Amamiya Tsutomu, 35 years old: "...Hmm."

Amamiya felt a little embarrassed.

The girls in the area where the Hundred Demons Parade had different expressions.

Shizuko: 'She seems a bit like Fina... but not quite the same...'

Hai Xiang: 'Indeed…'

Hai Xiang: 'So, being "straightforward" is Gehenna's standard style?!'

Qian Shi: 'I've learned something new.'

Izuna: 'Oh...it's like a scene from a period drama! Everyone's talking so directly!'

After exchanging greetings, Hui immediately began asking Xia, "Minister Xia... what did you call me here for?"

Kasumi pointed to a clearing fenced off by Amamiya: "Sensei said there are hot springs here. Bring the prisoners over and let them dig them."

Amamiya thought that Megumi might ask more questions or have some doubts—but she nodded without any apparent doubt and ran off in a hurry.

……captive?

The girls participating in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons exchanged glances.

Finally, Shizuko couldn't help herself and, after a moment of hesitation, asked curiously, "What do you mean by 'prisoners'?"

“It means exactly what it says.” Xiawo Yinchan (5) Qijiu Liuchan Er slapped his tail and looked at Shizuko with a matter-of-fact expression. “During the development of the hot springs here, many small fry who coveted the contract and the resort kept harassing us…”

"They were always defeated by our hot spring development department. Looking back now, it was quite an eventful experience."

"By the way, the guys we're using now... are the 'spoils of war' we got back then."

Looking back on her not-so-distant 'glorious days', Xia laughed out loud.

Jingzi: "...?!"

She listened, somewhat bewildered, and was starting to lose track of what her student, Gehenna, was thinking.

No...aren't you going to consider treating the prisoners of war better?

Surprise, unexpectedness, confusion... Amidst a mix of complex emotions, Shizuko looked again at the group of girls in overalls working hard at the construction site in the distance.

"that……"

Shizuko felt she still had to speak up.

Even if they were provoked and the thugs who provoked them were caught... at most, they would only be 'semi-forced' to pay a fine.

Compared to Baiyetang's approach, Gehena's approach...

That's so inhumane!

"I think we should consider their feelings...?"

After holding it in for a while, Shizuko finally said it in a very 'tactful' way.

"Hmm? Consider their feelings?"

Xia glanced in the direction of the construction site, somewhat confused about what Jingzi was talking about: "Aren't they working very hard?"

Hai Xiang: "...I think they're working so hard because they're being coerced into it..."

"Huh? No, not really?" Xia scratched her head. "When we asked them, they all said they were 'very happy' here."

Jingzi:......

She really didn't know what to say.

How could I not be happy...?

Do they dare say they're unhappy?

During the conversation, Hui had already led dozens of people from the hot spring development department, as well as a construction team made up of a temporary "gang of delinquent girls," back in a grand procession.

The girls from the hot spring development department supervised from the sidelines. The group of delinquent girls, sweating profusely, gritted their teeth and began digging under the scorching sun, preparing for the subsequent drilling.

The girls in the hot spring development department didn't work for long.

Not long after the drilling rig started, a jet of clear water gushed out from the ground and then splashed out in all directions.

The water column shot several meters high, then spread out in mid-air like raindrops.

After leaving a streak of rainbow in mid-air, it struck Amemiya, the hot spring development department, and the girls participating in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

"Ah... water's coming out, water's coming out!"

Xia didn't care at all about her soaking wet clothes and cheered and jumped for joy while being 'irrigated' by the hot spring.

"There really are hot springs here!"

"Sensei, how did you do that?! How could you be so accurate?!"

Amamiya sighed softly.

Fortunately, it wasn't some deep-sea heavy water volcanic hot spring—

Otherwise, even if the island wasn't sunk, it would still create a highly toxic brine pool... the so-called 'hot spring'.

After a brief moment of exhilaration, Kasumi raised her hands and shouted as if praising the sun, "—It's a hot spring!"

"Hey...Minister Xia, don't steal my lines!"

Overjoyed, Kasumi ignored Megumi's complaints: "Anything is fine... Hurry up and get the members ready!"

"This is one of the most memorable hot springs that our hot spring development department has developed to date... Let's get started on the construction of the hot spring town!"

The girls in the hot spring development department threw themselves into the construction of the 'hot spring town' with great enthusiasm, and began building at an astonishing speed.

They didn't even bother with Amamiya anymore, let alone pay attention to the group of girls in the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons).

After being 'neglected', Shizuko watched for a while before withdrawing her 'incredulous' gaze and quietly moving closer to Amamiya.

“Sensei…they…”

"Isn't this a little abnormal?"

"To risk one's life to develop hot springs or something..."

Shizuko's 'as tactful a complaint as possible' earned the unanimous approval of Kaika, Izuna, and Mimori.

"Izuna also thinks...they're so persistent...even more persistent than Izuna's dream of becoming the strongest ninja!"

"No matter what... it's really... unbelievable that someone would risk their life for the development of hot springs."

Amamiya withdrew his gaze and shook his head deeply at Shizuko.

"Perhaps this is the hot spring development department."

【~???~】(from Qian Shi)

Jingzi: "..."