"You did great, Yuki," Chongzong said, pulling Yuki closer and gently patting her head. Her performance far exceeded Chongzong's expectations. Simply recording everything accurately was already very difficult, but Yuki not only completed it but also completed the task of judging lies. For convenience, Chongzong used the label A for himself and B for AyakiYuriko.
If it were someone else, they might not even be able to complete the recording properly, like the person named Hayato Hayami standing next to them. "Let's take a break and have some water," Chongzong said, picking up Yuki's notes and carefully examining each item. He trusted Yuki's judgment completely.
According to Yuki's judgment, there were a few points worth reconsidering. First, AyakiYuriko claimed that two conditions were false. Second, AyakiYuriko claimed that choosing to believe in them now was also false. Chongzong had thought that AyakiYuriko's conditions were genuine. If both the conditions and the belief were false, it would be unexpected but not surprising. AyakiYuriko was considering something other than escaping. Something Chongzong hadn't considered.
He couldn't guess what AyakiYuriko was thinking, and she wouldn't say anything if questioned. So it was best not to guess and pretend it didn't matter. The more one tried to guess what others were thinking, the easier it was to be led astray. It was best to focus on what one wanted and how to achieve it, Chongzong reminded himself.
The biggest issue at the moment was how to deal with AyakiYuriko. Although they had recorded her voice, it couldn't be considered decisive evidence. Therefore, AyakiYuriko still had value as a potential asset. But there were two specific problems with keeping her confined. First, if she was released, it would be difficult to catch her again. Second, if she continued to be imprisoned, trust would be lost, and it would be hard to uncover any further usefulness she had. It was a dilemma.
Chongzong sighed as he held Yuki's notebook. It was so difficult, every step was a struggle. When he left the welfare institution and came to Kyoto, he thought it would be a simple and happy student life. But it was filled with conspiracies and deceit. Was studying just a side note in his life? If he hadn't met Mizuo back then, maybe his life would be different now? No, Mizuo and Yuki were good friends, and they would have reached this point sooner or later. Unless he didn't come to Kyoto, these things were inevitable.
This was the reality, and thinking about all the what-ifs was just escapism. Going back to the main issue, if AyakiYuriko was set free, it would be difficult to catch her again, and if she continued to be imprisoned, it would be troublesome. To put it bluntly, AyakiYuriko's value to Chongzong lay in her value as evidence.
Her existence is evidence, or rather, a clue to decisive evidence, a key figure to trip up Bai Yaxin.
At present, only recorded conversations are difficult to serve as decisive evidence.
Chongzong needs her help to provide evidence or help find evidence.
Although they are two separate issues, they are interconnected.
All in all, what needs to be done is to make Ayaki willingly cooperate and retain a certain control over her.
Ayaki Yuriko, what is her weakness?
Chongzong pondered.
A person's weaknesses are only a few.
Family;
Material possessions;
Life;
None of these seem to affect Ayaki Yuriko.
She has no family;
Doesn't care about material possessions;
Is indifferent to her own life;
Getting Ayaki to cooperate might not be a good approach and could likely lead to more unnecessary trouble.
It's safer to keep her locked up here.
Chongzong sighed, feeling like he had worked hard and ended up back where he started.
Although still at the starting point, it was different from the starting point a moment ago.
To keep her here in a way that doesn't significantly affect the trust between them and to make her help find decisive evidence to bring down Bai Yaxin.
By now, Chongzong's train of thought gradually became clear, and he quickly devised a plan.
