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nJohn reappeared in his office at Myth Inc. HQ, carrying Asako in his arms.

nThe Seiryuu Heiress was still unconscious, and probably would be for a while judging from how bad she was wounded.

n“Mm…” John glanced at Asako and said, “I patched her up, but it might be better for Betty to take a look.”

nIt wasn’t a matter of not being able to heal the young woman, but a matter of not knowing the degree to heal her.

nIt was a bit embarrassing for John to admit, but most of the times he didn’t know how to restrain himself.

nAnd not in terms of handling women. No, he quickly learned that particular lesson back in the Three Realms.

nRather, he didn’t know what wounds would be naturally healing and what wounds to patch up.

nFurthermore… he had already goofed by directly intervening with a girl’s fate again, so it was better to hand Asako off to Beta who was immune to getting wrapped up in karma like that.

nAlso, probably less creepy for someone like Beta to change and dress Asako’s wounds than himself. Especially considering John intended to hire her and he definitely didn’t want to get sexual harassment complaints filed on the first day.

nSo with that decided, John warped back to the top floor and-

n“How are you this incapable? It is a simple matter of adjusting your vocal- Ah, Father.” Beta turned around, smiling.

nBehind her, Alpha was crouched down, lowering her head in shame.

nJohn blinked and said, “Is there something I should be concerned about here?”

nAlpha stood up and shook her head. “N-No. It’s nothing, Father. Beta was just… helping me with something. A personal project.”

n“…Riiight.” John felt that something was up. And he was also concerned considering that it was usually Alphy who bossed Betty around… but the two didn’t seem to be arguing with each other, so he let it slide.

nBeta glanced at the woman in John’s arms and said, “Is that the new hire you spoke of, Father?”

n“Hm?” Alpha stood up and said, “New hire- E-Eh?!” Alpha’s eyes widened and then they narrowed in anger. “Father! Why did you choose her?! Did you forget what she did?”

nJohn glanced at Alpha and said, “Don’t forget that you’re the one who fell for her provocation, Alphy… But I don’t think you need to worry about that happening again.”

n“What? Are you going to bind her soul to you or something?” Alpha’s crimson eyes gleamed, staring at Asako. “If so, I can do it for you.”

n“Alphy, no.”

nAlpha flinched and then sighed. “…Fine. I’m going to sleep then.” Saying that, she spun on her heel and stomped off, warping away to the lounge.

nJohn didn’t follow her, but he saw her flop on the spare futon there and stubbornly throw a blanket over her head. After that, she pulled out her usual Mintendo Switch and started playing a game, the faint light from the screen shining on her delicate face.

nIt was childish. Just like a petulant kid.

nBut John let it go. After all, that was definitely healthier coping behavior than bottling it all up like before.

nWell, not completely, but baby steps.

n“Father?” Beta called out, still staring at Asako. “That woman?”

nJohn walked over to the bed, planning to set her down there. But then he remembered that Alphy claimed that bed and would probably get even more upset if he let Asako sleep on it.

nInstead, John walked over to the opposite corner and made another bed before setting Asako down. When he did, John looked to Beta and said, “Betty. Could you examine her and make sure that she’s healed, but not enough to be unexplainable?”

nBeta sighed, walking over. “Always with the tasks, Father. What if I want a break as well?”

nJohn winced.

nBeta smiled. “I jest. After all, someone has to ensure that you do not get wrapped up in too much trouble until Mistress arrives.” She knelt down on the bed beside Asako and then grabbed the Seiryuu Heiress’s wrist, examining her body with spiritual sense.

nJohn sighed. “I can’t imagine life without you, Betty. You know that?”

n“Tell that to Mistress when she arrives, Father. But I appreciate the sentiment.” Beta’s orange eyes shimmered, shining in the seven colors of the rainbow before settling on green. But a softer shade than John’s harsh green eyes, more like the emerald forests than imperial jade.

nJohn waited, letting his daughter do her work.

nShe was silent, her now green eyes carefully scanning Asako’s body in utmost concentration.

nSeeing that, John went over his upcoming week’s battle plan.

nFirst off, the issue with the Seiryuu Alliance.

nJohn was tempted to go ahead and assassinate the head and install Asako.

nIt wasn’t anything new. He’d done it more than a few times in the past with a few uppity clans… and an entire realm in one instance.

nBut he had the feeling that would end poorly. Force and violence would solve the issue, but he also didn’t want to get into the habit of doing that.

nAfter all, that would set a bad example for Alphy and Betty as well as stir up all sorts of trouble.

nNo, no. The best option there was to hire Asako and help her slowly build her forces to settle things. Maybe also enlist the help of the Torabu clan… That grandfather and granddaughter pair seemed to have some connections with them.

nJohn also had his Yakuza replicas to play with… though apparently those guys were real people in this world. Well, if not that then there were some guys who were similar enough to spook Kai.

nIn any case, that should be settled. And for good measure, John would head out the first thing tomorrow to lay down restrictions to purposefully repel Seiryuu clan members from his friends and their families… Which currently consisted of Kai, Sakura, and their two daughters.

nSome defensive talismans would be good too. Unlike his issues that weren’t bad karma per se, this situation definitely was.

nWhich meant he could stop it from happening without negative consequences to the parties involved.

n…Well, not completely. The Seiryuu would definitely feel the brunt of it-

nAn idea popped into John’s head. A way to weaponize the events that had been happening to him.

n“Mm.” Beta’s soft voice echoed and she stood up. As she did, her eyes changed colors to crimson and she waved her hand. Like how John created things from thin air, Beta did the same, forming a sterile steel table with medical tools. “It should be straightforward procedures. Of course.” She glanced back at John and said, “I will have to ask Father to go elsewhere for the time being.”

nJohn nodded. “I’ll leave it to you then.”

nBeta nodded, her eyes flickering back to the soft green hue before turning to Asako. “It should be finished by morning… I will handle this affair so as to not have you entangle yourself with yet another young woman. In the meantime, please arrange the plans for when Mistress arrives.”

nJohn blinked. “Right. I should definitely do that…”

n“Ah.” Beta picked up a scalpel and some gauze and then said, “In addition, for the next week, no matter what, remain in your office or renovate one of the basement floors for your private use until I come and retrieve you.”

nJohn paused and frowned. “Why?”

nBeta pointed at Asako. Then she pointed at John. And then she pointed out at the city that was still blacked out. “Every time you leave these doors, events continue to escalate. It is to the extent that I doubt it is simply karma at play… so Father. Please enter closed door cultivation to begin comprehending the laws of this world and act accordingly to prevent such events from occurring in the future.”

n“…Hah. I suppose my lovely intelligent daughter knows best.”

nBeta nodded. “I do. That is what you created me for, is it not?”

nJohn flinched, remembering Alphy’s breakdown. “Betty-“

n“Worry not. I am fully aware of your affection and sentiments, Father. But I am also completely aware of my design and functionalities.” She reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ears and smiled. “Ars Nova Beta will do her best to ensure that her troublesome father does not ruin the peace he so desperately sought.”

nSeeing that, John chuckled. “You really are my saving grace, Betty.”

nBeta’s ears flushed red and then she shooed John away. “Hurry up and leave, Father.”

n“Yes, yes. I’m going.” Saying that, John took his daughter’s advice and warped down to the second basement floor.

nCold, dark and dusty storage. A musty air which clearly hadn’t seen the light of day for at least a year… probably more.

nIn short, only a step up from the barren immortal caves back in the Three Realms.

nIt was simply an empty concrete foundation with a wide open space.

nJohn shrugged and then sat down to get himself comfortable.

nNow. Direct interference against the Seiryuu Alliance would be messy, but indirect interference should be fair play.

nJohn waved his hand, causing a wide screen tv, a controller, and a comfy gaming chair he once owned that cost $399 to emerge. Plopping himself down on the chair, John picked up the controller and waved his hand again. When he did, the screen rippled, revealing a man in a gray blazer facing off against a horde of enemies.

n“Alright, Kiry- I mean, Kiri. It’s you and me against the world, just like old times.”

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