Chapter 240: Joining

“So, your name is Yagami Iori, correct? Deacon Daimon has already briefed me about your situation. I hear you used to be a mercenary?” Master Messias asked, his gaze fixed on Yagami Iori.

“Y-Yes,” Yagami stammered. Despite having spent over a decade abroad, surviving countless life-and-death situations on the battlefield, and typically fearing nothing, sitting in front of Mesias made him feel as though he were facing a being far beyond human comprehension. Sweat poured from his palms, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Everyone in the room noticed his excessive nervousness. Daimon Nagatomo spoke up, “Master Messias, I propose Yagami-san take over Sada-san’s position and contribute to the prosperity of our faith. What do you think?”

Master Messias nodded and turned back to Yagami Iori. “What about you? Are you willing to work for us?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Yagami replied hastily. “But I have one small request. I humbly ask for your approval.”

“Oh? And what is your request?” Mesias inquired.

“I wish to join the Andes Church and become a member,” Yagami Iori said, his face flushed with determination.

Master Messias smiled and explained, “Becoming a follower of the Andes Church is not a simple matter. To ensure every member genuinely believes in the true God, we conduct long-term assessments for each applicant. Only those who meet our standards may join. However, since you will be working for the church, we will grant you leniency. Moreover, every follower is assigned a guide. Since you were brought here by Deacon Daimon, it is only fitting that he becomes your guide. As long as you devote yourself fully to the church’s work, and when Deacon Daimon believes you are ready, we will approve your membership.”

“I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the church,” Yagami Iori declared with excitement.

Both Master Messias and Daimon Nagatomo nodded in satisfaction.

After leaving Master Messias’s private room, Yagami Iori was still in a state of exhilaration, his strides unusually bold. Daimon Nagatomo watched him silently, a smile on his face.

※※※

“Kazumi, can we skip the beef tonight? We’ve had it the past two days. How about curry rice instead?” The kendo girl suggested as she watched Kazumi place a pack of sealed beef sirloin into the shopping cart.

Kazumi, inspecting the expiration date on a can of tomato paste, replied, “Anything is fine, but we must have plenty of meat. You’re a student preparing for exams, so you need protein. Oh, and I think we’re running out of fruit at home. Remind me to grab some later.”

“Okay. By the way, Kazumi, did you buy beer? Senpai always drinks it after his bath, and Uncle Maeda loves it too,” Rumi asked, glancing back.

“The beer is near the entrance; we’ll grab it on the way out. Is there anything else you want? How about some shrimp crackers tonight?” Kazumi suggested.

“Sure!” Rumi, who loved shrimp, immediately beamed with joy.

Kazumi chuckled and continued pushing the cart forward, mentally reviewing their shopping list. After a while, she noticed Rumi wasn’t following. Turning back, she saw her standing motionless in a corner, staring at a mirror mounted on a pillar.

Curious, Kazumi approached. She found Rumi gazing into the mirror’s reflection.

Seeing Kazumi in the mirror, Rumi asked, “Kazumi, have I gained a lot of weight lately?”

“Not at all. I don’t see it,” Kazumi reassured her.

“But I’ve been eating so much lately. Sometimes I feel like I’m a pregnant woman about to give birth,” Rumi said, her face scrunched in worry.

Kazumi couldn’t help but laugh. She stepped closer and comforted her. “Silly girl, you’re not fat at all. To me, you’re always the cutest. And not just to me—your Senpai thinks so too.”

Rumi blushed and lowered her head. “R-Really? Does Senpai truly think so?”

“Of course he does. I’m his sister; I know his thoughts best. Now, stop overthinking. Your main focus should be on preparing for your exams and entrance tests. Proper nutrition is crucial.”

“Mm, I’ll work hard,” Rumi nodded firmly, then affectionately held Kazumi’s hand.

Kazumi sighed softly in her heart.

This silly girl had never cared about such trivial matters before. But because of her feelings for her brother, she had started paying more attention to his thoughts and opinions.

As the two exited the supermarket, each carrying a bag, a bright red sports car stopped in front of them. A strikingly handsome man stepped out of the driver’s seat, instantly drawing attention.

“Hey, Kazumi! Long time no see. I didn’t expect to run into you here. I almost thought I’d mistaken you for someone else,” Ashiro Hideyuki greeted her with his usual charming smile.

Kazumi glanced at Ashiro Hideyuki with an indifferent expression and said, “Is that so? I have things to do. Excuse me.” She then continued walking with Rumi.

“You’re carrying so much. Why don’t I give you a ride home?” Ashiro Hideyuki offered, his gaze subtly shifting toward Rumi.

“No need. The subway entrance is just ahead. We wouldn’t want to trouble you,” Kazumi replied curtly.

“Kazumi, you always keep people at a distance. That’s not a good habit,” Ashiro Hideyuki said, squinting slightly.

“Maybe you’ve misunderstood. I only act this way toward certain self-important, boring men. Excuse me.”

As she walked away, Ashiro Hideyuki’s eyes briefly flashed with anger.

On the subway, Rumi, seated beside Kazumi, asked curiously, “Kazumi, who was that man earlier?”

“Don’t mind him. Just a dull guy,” Kazumi replied nonchalantly.

Rumi nodded, half-understanding. Then she asked, “Kazumi, can I help you cook tonight?”

Kazumi smiled. “Sure. Your cooking has improved a lot lately. Have you been learning from Mom?”

Pleased, the kendo girl replied, “Yes! Whenever Auntie cooks, I help her and learn new things. But Senpai still doesn’t believe in my skills. So annoying!”

Kazumi chuckled. “Well, you used to make dishes even I was afraid to eat.”

“Ugh, why do you always bring up my embarrassing past?” Rumi’s face turned slightly red.

The following afternoon, after finishing their usual grocery shopping, Kazumi and Rumi found Ashiro Hideyuki waiting for them outside.

Seeing him block her path again, Kazumi smirked coldly. “Yesterday was a coincidence. What’s your excuse today, Ashiro-san?”

Ashiro Hideyuki got straight to the point. “I’m here specifically to see you. Since I don’t know your address, I had no choice but to wait here. Could we talk somewhere?”

Kazumi was about to refuse but reconsidered. If he kept bothering her tomorrow, it would be more troublesome. She decided it was better to clear things up now. “Fine, but keep it brief.”

Ashiro Hideyuki originally intended to take them to an upscale restaurant, but Kazumi declined, unwilling to waste time. He settled for a nearby café instead.

Once inside, Kazumi suddenly turned to Rumi. “Rumi, could you wait here for a bit? I have something to discuss with him.”

“Sure,” Rumi agreed, taking Kazumi’s bags as well and sitting at a table near the entrance.

Kazumi patted Rumi’s hand lightly before following Ashiro Hideyuki to a table further inside. After sitting down, Ashiro Hideyuki asked what she’d like to drink, but Kazumi didn’t respond. Instead, she directly ordered a Shimizu from the server.

When the server left, Kazumi looked up at the man across from her. “What do you want?”

Ashiro Hideyuki met her gaze, then placed a velvet jewelry box on the table and pushed it toward her. “This is for you.”

Glancing at the box, Kazumi asked, “Why are you giving me something?”

Ashiro Hideyuki smiled. “Isn’t it normal to give gifts to the girl you like? Open it—you might like it.”

Kazumi remained silent, simply staring at him.

After a moment, she suddenly said, “Go back and tell that woman I find her little tricks incredibly boring—just like she is.”

Ashiro Hideyuki’s eyes widened in surprise.

Before he could speak, Kazumi cut him off. “There’s no point pretending anymore. Just tell me—what does that woman want in exchange for leaving me alone? Honestly, you must know I have zero interest in Ogata Yasuda. If you can ensure he stops pestering me, I might even consider working with you.”

Ashiro Hideyuki gave her a complex look. After a long pause, he finally asked, “How did you know?”

Kazumi raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled. “Right when you said that.”

Ashiro Hideyuki’s expression darkened. He realized he had fallen into her trap, revealing the truth.

Kazumi spoke calmly. “Ever since you suddenly reappeared in my life, I suspected that woman was behind it. Someone as proud and arrogant as her wouldn’t simply let things go quietly.”

Kazumi looked at Ashiro Hideyuki calmly and said, “For someone like you—a playboy I’ve never met before—to suddenly act so interested in a regular woman like me, that’s already a glaring flaw in your plan. Don’t tell me some nonsense about love at first sight, because I don’t believe in that. Since it’s impossible for you to genuinely be interested in me, the only remaining explanation is Miyu Himeko, that arrogant woman.

“However, I must say, the way you rich people think is often beyond comprehension. So, while I suspected her involvement, it was only a hunch. Judging by your reaction now, it seems I guessed right.”

Watching her composed demeanor, Ashiro Hideyuki finally realized he had underestimated this woman.

The truth was, he had agreed to Miyu Himeko’s request to play this game—to make Kazumi fall hopelessly in love with him, thereby ensuring Ogata Yasuda would give up on her entirely. Miyu Himeko’s offer had been too enticing to refuse, and Ashiro Hideyuki himself had always found Ogata Yasuda insufferable.

In his experience, most women wanted material things—luxury jewelry, designer clothes, handbags, or access to high-end restaurants. Satisfying their vanity made winning them over easy. But with Kazumi, he found himself facing an entirely different challenge. She seemed utterly uninterested in such things and displayed a level of rationality that was anything but typical. It was only now he began to understand why someone like Ogata Yasuda had failed to win her over despite his advantages.

Kazumi spoke again. “Please don’t bother me anymore. After all, clinging on like this is quite unbecoming.” With that, she stood and walked out.

Ashiro Hideyuki’s eyes darkened with anger as he watched her and the girl leave the café.

※※※

Around midnight, a man wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his face stepped out of a taxi.

Under the dim streetlights, the man walked quietly until he reached a high-end residential area. He paused briefly to glance at a towering church, then slipped silently into the greenery nearby.

This church, built six months ago, wasn’t affiliated with Christianity or Catholicism but instead belonged to a new religious movement called Andes.

Founded five years earlier in France by a group of wealthy entrepreneurs, the Andes faith had grown rapidly. In just a few years, it had amassed tens of thousands of followers of various nationalities and ethnicities. While its numbers were still small compared to major religions like Christianity or Buddhism, many of its followers were prominent businesspeople and political figures worldwide. With the support of such influential believers, the Andes faith had expanded quickly, establishing churches and extensive networks across many countries in recent years.

The religion’s core belief was that its leader was the embodiment of a true deity. Numerous individuals claimed to have witnessed the leader and other high-ranking members performing miraculous feats. These tangible demonstrations of divine power, compared to the abstract doctrines and ancient, unverifiable histories of other religions, had drawn many to the Andes faith.

However, joining the faith wasn’t easy. Prospective members underwent lengthy evaluations and needed a sponsor, referred to as a “guide,” to introduce them. The stringent entry requirements only enhanced the perception of the faith’s legitimacy and power.

At the back of the church, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared, climbing up to the second-floor balcony. Though the door was locked, the figure produced a piece of wire and deftly picked the lock.

Once inside, the intruder wasted no time, moving swiftly down the corridor. The church was mostly empty at this hour, with only a few rooms still lit, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.

The figure moved confidently, as if familiar with the layout. Upon reaching the staircase, instead of using it, he mounted the handrail and climbed toward the third floor.

The second floor housed quarters for the church staff, while the third floor was reserved for high-ranking members. At the far end of the third floor was a large room belonging to a senior leader, Messias. The light from Messias’s room indicated he was still awake.

The intruder didn’t step onto the corridor but instead pulled out glove- and shoe-like gear from his clothing. Once equipped, he tested the wall with his gloved hand, confirming the tiny hooks on the gloves could securely grip the surface.

With the agility of a gecko, the intruder climbed the wall toward the high ceiling and moved rapidly. Before long, he reached the ceiling above Messias’s room.

Positioning himself carefully, he leaned his ear against the door crack, listening intently for any sounds coming from within.