186: Chapter 186 A Clumsy Junior? Then She'll Be My Tutoring Partner

A few days later, Ashford Academy.

Yu Feng was dragged around the campus by Euphemia.

The princess had changed into a simple dress and wore a baseball cap, looking just like an ordinary female student.

She excitedly tugged on Yu Feng's sleeve, pointing out various teaching buildings and landmarks.

"That is the first teaching building; we usually have our classes there..."

"Over there is the swimming pool, though I rarely go there..."

She chattered away, her small face flushed with excitement.

Being able to walk side-by-side with Yu Feng under the sunlight like this, without worrying about royal status or etiquette, was a happiness she had never experienced before.

Yu Feng let her pull him along, his gaze sweeping casually across the surroundings.

Several passing children of Imperial nobles cast curious or jealous glances, but no one dared to approach.

Although Euphemia was keeping a low profile, the aura of the Third Princess was still there.

Just as Euphemia was excitedly pointing toward the library—

"Ah—! Watch out!"

A girl carrying a thick stack of books rushed out from around a corner, not looking where she was going at all, and headed straight toward Yu Feng.

Euphemia let out a startled cry.

Yu Feng raised his hand and gently steadied the girl's shoulder.

The books clattered to the ground in a heap.

"I, I'm sorry! I'm in a rush to return these books..." The girl hurriedly squatted down to pick up the books, her long brown hair falling down and obscuring her profile.

She scrambled to gather the books and looked up, intending to apologize again—

Her gaze locked into Yu Feng's eyes.

Those were very deep eyes, as if hiding something unfathomable.

The girl's apology stuck in her throat, her cheeks flushed bright red, and even the tips of her ears turned pink.

Euphemia tightened her grip on Yu Feng's arm, watching this girl who had suddenly appeared with wariness.

Only then did the girl notice Euphemia, and after seeing their intimate posture, the light in her eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly cheered herself up.

Clutching her books, she gathered her courage and bowed to Yu Feng.

"I, my name is Shirley Fenette!"

"Are, are you a transfer student? I haven't seen you before..."

She lifted her face, trying hard to squeeze out a bright smile: "What... what is your name?"

Euphemia's arm tightened even more.

Yu Feng looked down at the young girl in front of him, whose face was flushed and whose eyes were sparkling.

The collar of her school uniform shirt was slightly open due to her previous fluster.

He suddenly felt that the "daily life" of this Lelouch world was much more interesting than fighting and killing.

"Yu Feng."

"Yu... Yu Feng!"

Shirley's eyes brightened even more, "Do, do you have any free time this afternoon? The library just received a new batch of books, and I, I could take you there..."

"He is going to accompany me this afternoon."

Euphemia cut in, her tone clearly unhappy.

Shirley's face turned even redder, and she stood there at a loss.

Yu Feng smiled.

"Maybe another day."

He said to Shirley, "I'm busy today."

Shirley's shoulders slumped, but she still forced herself to nod: "O-okay... then another day!"

She picked up her books and left, looking back every few steps.

Euphemia finally let go of his arm, but she pouted.

"She likes you."

The princess said sulkily.

"I could tell."

Yu Feng ruffled her hair, "Let's go, didn't you say you wanted to go to the swimming pool?"

"I don't want to go anymore."

Euphemia buried her face in his arm, her voice muffled, "I hate you."

A few days later, in a cafe in the Settlement.

Shirley sat by the window, nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.

She had specially worn a newly bought dress and had restyled her hair.

Opposite her, Yu Feng sat with his legs crossed, a cigarette in his mouth that he hadn't lit, watching her.

"So," Shirley held her coffee cup, her fingers trembling slightly, "are you really from... another world?"

"Yeah."

Yu Feng made up a story on the spot, "I was traveling and accidentally ended up here."

"Traveling to another world..." Shirley's eyes widened, her adoration almost overflowing, "Then, do you have magic? Just like... just like what was seen at the Narita Mountains?"

She lowered her voice and leaned forward.

"Those people from The Black Knights said there was a man like a god... is it you?"

Yu Feng raised an eyebrow.

This girl was quite well-informed.

"I suppose... there's some connection."

He said vaguely.

Shirley's breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling slightly.

She looked at Yu Feng, and in her eyes, besides adoration, there was something deeper—curiosity, reliance, and the most straightforward affection of a young girl.

"Then..." she bit her lip, "can you teach me?"

"Teach you what?"

"Teach me... magic."

Shirley gathered her courage, "Or... something else. As long as I can become stronger."

She clenched her fists: "My dad... he was taken by the Empire. I want to save him, but I can't do anything..."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Yu Feng looked at her.

This girl had quite a bit of determination.

Unfortunately, in this world, determination doesn't put food on the table.

"Become stronger?"

He chuckled, "Do you know what price you have to pay?"

Shirley nodded vigorously: "I'm not afraid!"

"Is that so."

Yu Feng put down his coffee cup and leaned forward slightly.

"Then," he lowered his voice, his tone laced with a sense of temptation, "come with me. I'll teach you something... truly interesting."

Shirley's face turned bright red, but she still stood up and followed Yu Feng out of the cafe.

A high-end clothing store in the Settlement, VIP dressing room.

The spacious room was filled with all kinds of gorgeous attire.

The air was filled with the scent of leather and perfume.

Shirley stood in front of a clothing rack, her fingers nervously twisted together.

She didn't know why Yu Feng brought her here, but her heart was beating rapidly.

"Do you like it?"

Yu Feng leaned against the door, picking up a black lace shirt.

"It's, it's okay..." Shirley's voice trembled.

"Go try it on."

Yu Feng threw the shirt to her, "Put it on and let me see."

Shirley hugged the shirt and walked into the changing room.

A few minutes later, she pulled open the curtain.

The black lace shirt accentuated the girl's slender waist, and the neckline was somewhat low, revealing her fair collarbone.

Paired with a short skirt, it revealed two straight legs.

She lowered her head, her face flushed red enough to bleed.

"Is... is it suitable?"

Yu Feng walked over and gently lifted her chin.

"It is."

"Very suitable."

Shirley's breath hitched.

She could feel the faint scent of tobacco on Yu Feng as he approached, along with a stronger, more oppressive aura.

"However—"

Yu Feng's fingers slid to the side of her neck, gently caressing it.

"Disobedient students," his voice lowered, "need special tutoring."

"Wh-what..."

Shirley didn't get to finish her sentence.

Yu Feng kissed her.

The young girl's body stiffened instantly, her mind going blank.

She responded passively, her fingers clutching tightly onto the corner of Yu Feng's clothes.

This kiss carried a certain intensity that could not be refused.

Shirley felt as if she had been swept into a storm, her breath stolen away, her thoughts scattered.

It wasn't until who knows how long later that Yu Feng released her.

Shirley's legs went weak, and she leaned against the clothing rack, panting heavily.

Her face was flushed deep red, her lips slightly swollen, and her eyes glazed with a layer of mist.

"You..." she said with a trembling voice.

"This is the first lesson."

Yu Feng pinched her cheek, "Remember this feeling."

He turned around and pulled open the door of the dressing room.

"That's it for today. Go back."

Shirley stood frozen in place, watching Yu Feng's retreating figure, her fingers gently touching her own lips.

His warmth still lingered there.

The Black Knights base, the atmosphere was tense.

Lelouch stood before the command console, his face ashen.

On the tactical screen, several red dots were blinking around the perimeter of the base.

"People from the Red Snake Society," Ohgi said with a grave tone, "they detonated several high-explosive bombs on the perimeter, threatening us to hand over thirty percent of our protection fees, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"

Lelouch said coldly.

"Otherwise they'll raze this place to the ground."

The command room was silent.

The Red Snake Society, the largest underground mafia organization in the Tokyo Settlement.

They had been entrenched for years, ruthless and vicious, to the point that even the Imperial police gave them a wide berth.

The Black Knights' influence was expanding too quickly, which had clearly touched upon their interests.

"We cannot fight them head-on."

Ohgi whispered, "They have many people, and they are familiar with the terrain..."

Before he could finish, the base's main control alarm suddenly blared sharply.

"Report! The Red Snake Society leader 'Red Oni' has led his men to break through the outer defense line! They are moving toward the main building!"

Lelouch's hand tightened around the control lever.

Just then, a lazy voice drifted in from the doorway.

"So noisy."

Yu Feng walked slowly into the command room with a cigarette in his mouth.

He still carried the cold air from outside, and his hair was slightly messy.

"Are those people outside here for money?"

Lelouch nodded: "People from the Red Snake Society. They're not easy to deal with."

"Is that so."

Yu Feng walked up to the main console and glanced at the distribution of red dots on the screen.

"I'll go handle it."

He turned and walked out.

"Yu Feng!"

Lelouch called out to him, "Do you need to take anyone with you?"

"No need."

Yu Feng waved his hand without looking back.

"Troublesome."

Around the perimeter of the base, dozens of thugs in leather jackets, armed with weapons, were approaching the main building.

Leading them was a burly bald man with a red snake tattooed on his neck, a ferocious smile on his face.

"ZERO!"

He shouted into a megaphone, "I'll give you thirty seconds! Either pay up, or..."

Before he could finish.

The megaphone in his hand suddenly bent silently and twisted into a pretzel.

An invisible, immense force pressed down hard on his shoulder.

Crack!

The sound of his kneecaps shattering was clearly audible.

The burly bald man let out a miserable shriek as his entire body was forced to his knees by that power, the concrete ground cracking instantly.

"Who... who are you?!"

He looked up in terror at the person who had arrived.

Yu Feng stood before him, his hands in his pockets.

He looked down at the bald man kneeling on the ground, trembling from pain.

"From now on," Yu Feng said, his tone flat, "The Black Knights are your bosses."

"Do you understand?"

Red Oni widened his eyes, his lips trembling, unable to say a word.

Yu Feng squatted down and patted his trembling cheek.

"Speak."

"U-understand..." Red Oni's voice sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Good."

Yu Feng stood up, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

He took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and turned to walk back to the base.

Behind him, dozens of Red Snake Society thugs were all kneeling on the ground, silent as the grave.

In the command room, Lelouch watched the surveillance screen.

On the screen, Red Oni and his men were being controlled by members of The Black Knights and escorted to the underground prison.

"He agreed."

Ohgi walked in, his tone complex, "The entire Red Snake Society... has agreed to submit."

Lelouch didn't speak.

He walked to the tactical screen and swiped his fingers across it rapidly.

The Red Snake Society's stronghold distribution, personnel networks, logistics channels... a larger underground intelligence network was forming in his mind.

"Intelligence capability," he whispered to himself, "grassroots tentacles... finally complete."

He turned his head to look at the doorway.

Yu Feng was leaning against the doorframe, smoking, saying something to Euphemia.

Lelouch shook his head.

This man's way of solving problems was always so simple and direct.

So simple... it made one a little envious.

He turned back to the screen, his eyes sharp.

The foundation had been laid.

Next, it was time to aim the blade at the heart of the Empire.