"Your driver's license says your name is Ayaki Yuriko. Is it true or false?"

"Well... it's true."

The woman's response was not firm, but given her current situation, it would be difficult for anyone to believe a definite and loud "Yes!" even if she had answered that way.

Although this woman had been trained by Hayamizu, it was only on the surface. Deep down, she still held on to her strong sense of self and unwavering beliefs. Otherwise, Chongzong and the others wouldn't be struggling so much.

"From now on, I'll call you Ayaki Yuriko."

Chongzong took a deliberate step closer to her.

"Ayaki Yuriko, is your address at 459 Shimokawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, at the foot of Yasaka Shrine in the Higashiyama district?"

As if reporting her own address, Chongzong fluently stated the address on Ayaki Yuriko's driver's license.

Hayamizu listened beside them, his jaw almost dropping. Having only seen the place once and been there once, it was truly impressive that Chongzong could recall it so effortlessly.

"Um... no."

With the same uncertain attitude as before, the woman claiming to be Ayaki Yuriko hesitated and denied the address.

The address that Chongzong had already determined to be a lie.

"Why would you forge this address?"

"Well... for convenience and... my own safety."

"For your own safety? Do you have a special reason why others can't know your address?"

"Well... it's not exactly like that."

The conversation moved swiftly and arrived at a critical point.

"What do you do for a living? How do you support yourself?"

"I... don't really have a proper job. I just work part-time at convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart."

"Can such a job support yourself?"

Chongzong unconsciously raised his voice.

"Yes..."

"What's unsafe about that kind of work that made you fabricate a false address on your driver's license?"

"Uh, did you take my license from my bag?"

"I'm the one asking the questions!"

For a moment, Chongzong couldn't control his emotions and shouted almost rudely. But he quickly regained his composure and transitioned by stomping his foot on the floor.

"Understand your position. Don't ask me questions, just answer mine."

"...Oh."

"Why did you fabricate a false address on your driver's license?"

"...Because I don't have a stable job and no fixed abode, so I just borrowed one randomly."

"Alright, then let me ask you again. Why would someone like you, who only works at convenience stores, carry a knife with the intention of attacking Koga Mizuo that night?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chongzong heard the sound of a pen falling outside the door.

This incident was too shocking for Yuki.

Just hearing that Mizuo had been attacked with a knife would make anyone freeze up.

Moreover, it was a real event that had actually happened.

"That was just... a misunderstanding. I am not that kind of person."

Ayaki Yuriko spoke very calmly.

As if it was truly just a misunderstanding.

Angry Chongzong felt as if there was a raging fire raging inside him, causing him to clench his fists involuntarily, wanting to beat this woman without a word.

Chongzong glanced at Hayami beside him, well aware that his eyes were burning with anger.

While Hayami looked as if she didn't mind at all.

This attitude of not intending to intervene at all, instead, calmed Chongzong down.

Walking forward, Chongzong took the drink from the woman's hand, and threw it back at her, directly pouring the remaining water over her head.

The sudden and swift action caught the woman and Hayami off guard for a moment.

And Chongzong had already thrown the bottle to the ground and stepped back.

Immediately following were merciless words that were hard to believe came from a middle school student.

"Hey, trash, maybe you're used to living a life as garbage."

"But our time is different, it's precious, we don't have time to waste life with you here."

"To be open and frank, we don't intend to, and won't kill you."

"At most, we'll just keep you locked up."

"For a lifetime."

"Or maybe, one day in the future, when we figure it out, do some experiments on you."

"An experiment called 'How much damage can a person withstand before they die'."

"But keeping you locked up for a lifetime or killing you, it's not beneficial to us."

"You're a smart person, you know what we want, just tell us what you want."

"We'll judge if the deal is suitable."

"I'll give you five seconds to decide."

Chongzong said expressionlessly, raising five fingers.

"Five."

The countdown began.