Chapter 225: Kurumi Tokisaki's Target of Conquest — Franklin
Kurumi Tokisaki withdrew her gaze from the fruit and met Franklin's eyes directly. Seeing the subtle expression on his face, she gave a faint smile.
"So even you have things that trouble you, little brother? Don't worry. Since I already know you don't harbor any ill intent, I won't act so impulsively.
After all, just as you said, cooperating with you might actually be a rather good choice.
However, there's something I must make clear in advance—when it comes to liking you, please allow me to refuse.
Especially that scumbag behavior of being in a relationship with ten spirits at the same time. That's something I absolutely cannot tolerate."
Franklin smiled but said nothing. He then raised two fingers and gently tapped Kurumi Tokisaki's forehead. The seal on her Spirit Crystal began to slowly release.
Spiritual energy surged through her entire body, and Kurumi Tokisaki instantly returned to her original state.
The two guns reappeared in her hands, and her clothing transformed once more into a gothic long dress woven of black and blood-red.
Black shadows instantly spread outward. Kurumi's main body sank directly into the ground, and dozens of Kurumis flew out in an instant, completely surrounding Franklin at the center.
Although he could stop it, Franklin chose to tacitly allow Kurumi Tokisaki's act of self-protection.
"You don't trust me that much? I don't think I've done anything too excessive, right?"
One of the Kurumis closest to him made her twin guns vanish. She smiled lightly and sat directly opposite Franklin.
"Since our first meeting until now, I haven't properly introduced myself.
My name is Kurumi Tokisaki. And may I ask what your name is, little brother?"
Elegantly lifting the teacup, she took a light sip of Franklin's specially prepared spiritual-energy black tea. In an instant, an extremely dense and warm spiritual energy spread throughout Kurumi Tokisaki's body.
Her complexion immediately turned rosy, and her body trembled slightly, uncontrollably.
Seeing this abnormal reaction, countless long and short guns instantly pointed straight at Franklin.
"I really didn't expect you to be this kind of person. You look sunny and handsome, yet your methods are so despicable."
"N-no… it's not like that… I'm fine… It's just that this tea feels a bit wasted on me. It's better if you drink it."
Seeing the Kurumi clone with flushed cheeks, the other clones all wore different expressions, though curiosity was evident among them.
A hand reached out from the shadows and took the teacup. Half a body floated out of the shadow space along with it.
After taking a light sip, even Kurumi Tokisaki's main body immediately flushed red, and the half of her body submerged in the shadows fully emerged.
"Mm… it seems I misunderstood you earlier. My apologies.
After talking for so long, I still don't know your name, little brother."
Franklin smiled and introduced himself.
"My surname is Franklin, my given name is Lin. You can call me Franklin.
What do you think of the cooperation proposal I mentioned earlier?"
The Kurumi clone stood up and yielded her seat. The other clones also sheathed their guns at the right moment and silently retreated back into the shadow space.
The clone who had been drinking the tea gave Franklin a long, deep look before also entering the shadow space.
Once again, only Kurumi Tokisaki's main body and Franklin remained.
"Franklin… little brother. Once again, please allow me to apologize for my earlier discourtesy."
After placing the teacup down and giving a light bow, Kurumi Tokisaki looked up to see Franklin smiling as he picked up the teapot and refilled her cup.
At Franklin's gesture, Kurumi Tokisaki sat back down in front of him. She gently lifted the teacup and took a small sip, her cheeks once again flushing red.
Her gaze then returned to the mysterious fruit in Franklin's hand.
As she focused all her attention on it, a strange sense of attraction gradually arose.
Only now, as she breathed in its fragrance, did Kurumi Tokisaki realize that the time in her eye was slowly increasing.
It was very slow—but it was undeniably increasing.
"What exactly is that fruit of yours?"
Having successfully drawn Kurumi Tokisaki's attention, Franklin placed the fruit on the table and wrapped it in spiritual energy to slow the loss of its essence.
"A Longevity Fruit. After consuming it, one's lifespan increases by five hundred years.
That should be enough to meet your needs, right?"
Hearing Franklin's explanation, Kurumi Tokisaki's eyes instantly lit up.
"You're planning to give this fruit to me?!"
Franklin shook his head, then nodded.
"Although it's shameless of me, I still have to say this—obtaining this fruit is actually very simple.
Give up your prejudice against me. Try to conquer me. Try to fall in love with me.
After one year, no matter the outcome, this fruit will be yours."
After hearing Franklin's condition, Kurumi Tokisaki's expression shifted rapidly.
The demand was absurd—but compared to that fruit, it was practically insignificant.
Even if the request were more excessive, she might still agree.
After all, five hundred years of added lifespan was more than enough for her purposes.
The time she stole from ordinary people through City of Devouring Time dissipated heavily—less than one in a thousand remained usable.
"Are you certain that your description of this fruit is true?"
Franklin smiled helplessly.
"If you don't believe me, you don't have to agree to the deal. Honestly, I'd feel the pain too.
This isn't the only way to make you like me.
Slowly getting closer to you, gradually conquering your heart, relying on the accumulation of time—that's also feasible.
I currently have over two thousand years of lifespan, and it will increase again in the future.
I don't think there's another human in this world who can say the same."
Kurumi Tokisaki stared straight into Franklin's eyes. After a long while, she finally nodded.
"I believe you. I accept this deal.
One year—I can manage that. I hope you won't go back on your word."
Franklin smiled and directly stored the Longevity Fruit back into the Dimensional Tome.
"Then the deal is settled.
And I hope you remember the requirement—it's you who must conquer me, try to fall in love with me.
If I don't feel like I'm being conquered, it doesn't count."
Kurumi Tokisaki's expression changed once again. She looked deeply at Franklin, then revealed a sweet smile.
"I will.
But I hope you don't end up being the one drawn in by me instead.
I'm very confident in my charm.
If you're fooled by my little tricks, then once I get the fruit, I won't hesitate to turn on you.
When that happens, don't go seeking death over me—I won't care."
In an instant, Franklin flashed directly in front of Kurumi Tokisaki. He gently lifted her chin, locking eyes with her.
"Of course I understand your charm.
In some worlds, you're the dream girl of countless anime fans. Decades ago, I was one of them.
Now that I can meet and know the real you, I'm genuinely excited.
You're the one who should be careful.
Don't get caught up in my little tricks either—otherwise, you might be completely devoured by me, without even a scrap left."