Chapter 230: Kurumi Tokisaki's Resolution
Easily dodging Kotori's embarrassed and angry punch, Franklin stood up with a smile. As he snapped his fingers again, the positions of the four instantly shifted to that abandoned park.
With a casual wave of his hand, the once run-down park rapidly came back to life. Dim streetlights lit up one by one, and the stars in the sky shone with exceptional brilliance.
The small wooden table grew slightly larger, and two more small wooden chairs appeared beside it.
"Now that dinner time is over, let's talk about proper business first."
As Franklin pulled out a chair and gestured for the three girls to sit, the girls—still shocked by the sudden change in location—quickly snapped out of it.
After everyone sat down, Franklin poured each of them a cup of specially prepared milk.
"It's night already. You'll all be resting soon, so milk will do."
"Tch, I thought it was Lin's—"
Franklin moved fast, directly covering Origami's mouth as she sat to his left. Noticing the strange looks from Kotori and Kurumi, Franklin coughed lightly.
"I brought you here for two things. The first concerns Kurumi. Our home will always welcome you, but there's one requirement you need to remember…"
Feeling Kotori's furious glare beside him, Franklin pressed his hand downward, signaling her to calm down.
"No killing people at will to absorb their spiritual power and time. It feels kind of disgusting."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Kurumi Tokisaki's ever-present smile froze. After her expression shifted between light and dark for a moment, she finally restored that smile.
"Well, you're not wrong. It is indeed disgusting. I'll be more careful in the future. With your cooking replenishing spiritual energy, it really is enough."
Hearing this, Kotori's expression changed slightly. The anger she had been holding onto was temporarily suppressed.
"The second thing is to ask your clones to help me locate the other Spirits. I mentioned it to you this afternoon—you still remember, right? The plan to make ten Spirits fall in love."
Origami, who had been expressionless until now, immediately glared at Franklin and slapped away the hand covering her mouth.
"No, I don't agree. I'm the one who'll be your future wife, Lin—"
"Mm, got it. That doesn't affect anything."
Origami froze on the spot. The corner of Kurumi's eye twitched slightly as well.
"What a truly scummy thing to say, Mr. Franklin."
"I think so too," Franklin said calmly. "But you should understand what kind of result this will bring. Once the power of all ten Spirits is sealed and obtained by me, the Phantom that spreads Spirit Crystals will appear. Perhaps even the Origin Spirit will show up. When that happens, you can try seeing who your opponent really is, and then decide whether you still want to return to thirty years ago to end everything—or change your approach and rely on me to accomplish it."
Looking at Franklin's confident expression, Kurumi said nothing more. She picked up the milk in front of her and drank it all in one go, her pink tongue lightly licking the white trace left on her lips.
"That Longevity Fruit deal will be postponed. When it starts again, I'll personally come find you and tell you.
The deal for tonight is also postponed. After I finish what I want to do, we'll begin the formal transaction.
At that time, I'll truly try to open my heart and let myself attempt to like you. For now, thank you for the meal and the milk."
As her words fell, Kurumi Tokisaki sank directly into the shadows and disappeared completely.
With the dangerous individual gone, Kotori let out a breath, her whole body relaxing at once.
"So what now? Nightmare doesn't seem very interested in you. She even seems to dislike you a bit."
Franklin shrugged helplessly. "Can't be helped. Hearing scummy remarks like that the moment we meet—anyone would dislike me."
Kotori's lips twitched slightly.
"You're way too blunt. I should've given you a love coaching lesson this afternoon. And you really are a scumbag—so shameless you don't even spare your own sister."
After letting out a helpless sigh, Kotori continued, "So what exactly was that Longevity Fruit deal you mentioned?"
Franklin smiled, then reached out and rubbed Kotori's head. Under her furious glare, he awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"It's exactly what it sounds like—a fruit that increases lifespan by five hundred years. A Spirit's lifespan isn't infinite, and Kurumi is the Spirit of Time.
She can absorb time and use time, but there must be plenty of restrictions. This Longevity Fruit has no side effects and directly adds five hundred years of life.
It's very tempting to her."
Kotori was stunned. Origami also stared blankly at Franklin.
"How could something like that even exist? Were you lying to her?"
Franklin didn't bother explaining. He directly summoned the Longevity Fruit from the Dimensional Tome. In that instant, both girls keenly sensed how extraordinary the fruit was.
"How could I be lying? I always tell the truth."
Putting the Longevity Fruit away again, Franklin looked at the two dazed girls.
"Finish your milk. We're heading back. From now on, Origami will be living with us. If you have any mutual rules or forbidden lines you want to set, now's the time to say them."
Those words instantly reignited the confrontation between the two girls. Kotori looked at Origami with full alertness, while Origami remained expressionless, though a trace of vigilance flickered deep in her eyes.
"Big brother is mine. You sneaky cat, stay away from him. Otherwise, I'll kick you out."
"Short, flat-chested, and underdeveloped. If you're that small, you won't be able to interest Lin."
Every sentence landed like a critical hit. Kotori's anger meter skyrocketed. Seeing that she was about to explode, Franklin quickly wrapped an arm around her waist and retreated two steps.
"Calm down. Deep breaths. As long as it's you, Kotori, I like you no matter what. And you're still growing—you'll get taller, and you'll grow more."
"Bastard big brother. Pervert."
Even though he took a punch, at least Kotori finally calmed down. The restless spiritual power within her settled once again.
With a snap of Franklin's fingers, the three instantly returned home.
"Let go of me. You disappeared for days and didn't even take a bath—you're filthy. Go clean yourself up. I have something to discuss with this white-haired woman."
Looking at Origami, then at Kotori, Franklin felt that the moment he left, the two of them would start fighting.
"I'm not dirty. I'm very clean. How about you two go wash first?"
Seeing through Franklin's concern, Kotori directly shoved him out of the living room.
"Relax. It's just a normal family talk. We won't fight."
With the door closing, Franklin was left outside. With no other choice, he headed to the bathroom.
Peaceful—no bathroom ambush scene occurred. When Franklin came out and saw the two girls again, both were perfectly calm, as if nothing at all had happened.
The night passed without further incident. Everyone returned to their own rooms. Until dawn, when Franklin opened his eyes and stared quietly at the door handle that turned, just a tiny bit at a time.