Long Live Money in Anime Crossover

Karen quickly returned to Luoyang, the place where she had lived for five years.

Karen hadn't initially felt that Luoyang held any special meaning for her, since she was just living there. Karen still considered Japan her home, the place where her mother and brother lived.

But this trip to Japan gave her a different feeling.

The brother she used to know so well suddenly seemed so unfamiliar. It turned out that the familiarity and warmth between the siblings every time they came home was mostly a tacit understanding achieved through the brother, Akatsuki Naoto's, deliberate pretense.

Karen's mother loved her most, and her love for Naoto Akatsuki was no less than her love for her daughter. In fact, Karen's mother valued Naoto Akatsuki, who was of pure Japanese descent, even more than her daughter, who was of Britannian descent.

Karen's mother may not have realized this herself, but the ideas of national identity and ethnicity, as well as the growing distance from Karen's Britannian father, had determined that Karen's mother had a stronger sense of identification with Japan and valued Naoto Akatsuki more.

In Japan, Karen controlled herself from thinking about all of this, and she didn't show it to her mother and Naoto Akatsuki at all, but Karen could clearly feel a sense of estrangement from that family.

Even the strongest family ties, though not easily severed by time, can become distant after the test of time.

It was as if she were superfluous in that house, just like her father, who had almost never returned.

This made Karen feel extremely depressed.

Now, Karen has arrived in Luoyang. After getting off the plane, the familiar environment of Luoyang instantly made Karen feel relieved, and her mood became relaxed.

Because Karen knew very well that her friends, her partners, people she knew, and people who knew her were all here.

There was even a Momo.

The five years she spent in Luoyang were five years of great significance in her life. Those five years in Luoyang had instilled in her a strong sense of belonging; compared to her unfamiliar brother there, and the completely unfamiliar Japan, or rather, Area 11, this place felt more like Karen's home.

"It's...there's no going back."

The country is changing, the environment is changing, the relationships between people are changing, everything is changing.

This time in Japan, Kallen did more than just beat up Naoto Akatsuki and take care of her mother who was hospitalized due to excessive grief. She also used Momo's influence in Japan to gain a deeper understanding of the current situation in Japan.

The current situation in Area 11.

I learned about Britannians in Japan, honorary Britannians, Area 11 people, and Japanese in resistance organizations.

Thus, Karen was confronted with the enslavement and atrocities perpetrated by Britannia against the people of Area 11 by Japan, the treasonous betrayal of the people of honor by Britannia in their struggle for survival, the last struggles of resistance organizations that identified themselves as Japanese, like her brother, and the various dark and ugly aspects of the four groups of people.

If Karen were really just an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl, she would probably have been terrified and then, through emotional manipulation or other reasons, lured into the clutches of some faction.

They're probably either proud to be Britannian or crazy because they think they're Japanese.

But now, looking at all that darkness and ugliness, Karen only felt human anger and sympathy, but not a sense of belonging.

Karen was furious because the Britannians enslaved the Japanese, but she was also furious because the Japanese resistance launched terrorist attacks that killed Britannian civilians. She did not side with Britannia because of her Britannian blood, nor did she feel any sense of Japanese Bushido because of her Japanese blood.

At first, Karen was puzzled, but she soon understood why.

She was observing all of this from the perspective of an outsider.

Britannia is on one side, and Japan is on the other, but she feels like an observer. So what exactly is her identity as an observer?

It's obviously the EU!

Just kidding.

Clearly, Karen had subconsciously viewed everything from the perspective of the Chinese Empire, considering herself one of its members. She had forgotten about blood ties, viewing these issues solely through the lens of her own sense of belonging to the Chinese Empire and to the land of Luoyang.

Upon discovering this, Karen felt neither panic nor hesitation, but rather a sense of relief.

In fact, besides not understanding Naoto Akatsuki's changes, Kallen's anger at Naoto Akatsuki's behavior was also a major reason for her outburst during this trip to Japan.

Naoto Akatsuki has truly betrayed Britannia, abandoning his identity as a Britannian and identifying himself as Japanese to rebel against Britannia. In that case, what should she, Karen, a Britannian and Japanese mixed-race, and Naoto Akatsuki's sister, do?

Karen was furious and went berserk, beating up several people to vent her anger, but it also made Karen realize something.

The imagined difficulties and dilemmas never materialized, because Karen believed herself to be an outsider to both Britannia and Japan.

This made Karen finally understand the answer she had already accepted in her heart.

She raised her hand, looked at the sparkling ring on her finger, and gave a bright smile.

"Should we consider Sisi's suggestion... but is it really appropriate to be so direct for the first time?"

"But since it's the first time... I feel a little unsatisfied that I'll just be like other girls, so ordinary. Besides... Mo Mo has probably tried everything, can't she come up with a way to make a more lasting impression..."

Karen blushed and muttered to herself unconsciously as she got off the plane. However, a clear female voice rang out, instantly pulling Karen back to reality from her reverie and startling her.

After all, she had just been thinking about something rather unhealthy.

"Karen, what are you doing? Come here right now!"

Karen looked up and was taken aback. The newcomer had white hair, a distinctive hairstyle, and a large entourage behind her. Who was this person but the princess of the Chinese Empire, the thirteen-year-old first heir to the throne?

"Lihua, what's wrong with you..."

Karen immediately put aside her ulterior motives and quickly ran to Jiang Lihua's side. However, with so many people around, Karen naturally wouldn't call Jiang Lihua by her real name so casually.

However, compared to Karen's caution, Jiang Lihua seemed completely unconcerned. She took Karen's hand and said, "It must have been tough half a month in Japan. I know that Japan is a very chaotic place right now. Karen, you didn't encounter any danger, did you?"

How could Karen possibly encounter danger? On the contrary, she created danger for Japanese terrorists.

"Don't worry, how could anything happen to me? Although I missed the war in Liaodong, I still have the title of Red Lotus!"

As she spoke, Karen bent her arm and showed off her not-so-obvious muscles.

Jiang Lihua smiled broadly, her face beaming with joy, and said, "Alright, let's go to the Mo residence together today. Our teacher will be there too. It's been so long since the three of us have been together."

Compared to Jiang Lihua, who had been emperor for six years in the original novel, the current Jiang Lihua is almost a completely different person. Her face shows none of the loneliness and solitude depicted in the original novel, and even her figure is much better than that of the emperor Jiang Lihua in the original novel, who never left the Forbidden City.

With Mo Mo around, Jiang Lihua, while not able to travel freely all over China, could still freely roam the mountains and rivers of Luoyang. Mo Mo even frequently took Jiang Lihua and Karen on trips throughout the entire Chinese Empire, partly to teach practical classes to students and partly to accompany the two little girls on trips to relax.

As for trying to gain favor with her, Mo Mo has absolutely no intention of doing so. Mo Mo is definitely not a lolicon!

The current Chinese Empire is powerful enough to protect Jiang Lihua's safety, and no one dares to lay a finger on her. Britannia remains calm, while the EU is already overwhelmed by its war with Britannia.

Those small countries that originally seceded from the Chinese Federation have become very quiet in recent years, watching the Chinese Empire grow stronger and even stronger than before, as if they are quietly waiting for their fate.

Therefore, at this moment, Jiang Lihua is a free princess, a happy white-haired little loli, and her knowledge and abilities are also no weaker than Karen's under Mo Mo's tutelage... cough cough, teaching, and guidance. In fact, she is much stronger than Karen in terms of thinking.

Karen was completely convinced of this.

However, a loli is still a loli. Thirteen-year-old Jiang Lihua is obviously still within her shelf life. Her head only reaches Karen's chest. Compared to when the two first met and were about the same height, it's a world of difference.

However, there are advantages to being a loli, namely that a single innocent remark from her can have a devastating effect on someone with ulterior motives.

For example, right now, Jiang Lihua feels that Karen's whole body is stiff.

"Karen, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

Karen managed to open her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, and said, "Well... as for Mo Mo, he should be busy directing the situation in Liaodong right now. Even if he's a hands-off manager, he can't possibly be idle today, can he?"

Jiang Lihua blinked and said, "Ah, you mean this? It seems that things have stabilized in Liaodong. Miss Qianqian heard that you were coming back, so she took over the teacher's work and sent the teacher back."

“Miss CC is really understanding. She probably heard about what happened to you in Japan, Karen, so she sent your teacher to comfort you.”

"Come on, Karen, let's hurry to the teacher's house. Maybe the teacher is waiting for us!"

Karen was stiff as Jiang Lihua pulled her away. Mo Mo was actually at home at this time?

CC orchestrated all of this!

CC isn't being understanding, she's just being fussy about what's right in front of you!

Author's Note:

This is the second update, so I'll stop here with two updates for now... That makes thirteen updates owed...

172 This situation is quite awkward.

Karen, who was already feeling uneasy, suddenly sensed CC's thoughts and the wicked sense of humor that CC was revealing because of CC's strange behavior.

Karen believed she already knew CC's character quite well.

There's almost nothing in this world that she'd do on her own initiative. Aside from Momo being able to get CC to do certain things, she mostly adopts an indifferent attitude towards anyone or anything.

This is how Karen sees CC: lazy, even lying on the bed, not moving, just waiting to die. That's the real CC, not the Miss Sisi who Jiang Lihua just described, who actively helps Mo Mo with his tasks.

The kind of understanding, gentle and considerate woman that Jiang Lihua sees as a good woman, CC, must only exist in Jiang Lihua's current eyes. Even in another year, this miraculous woman will disappear from Jiang Lihua's sight.

There must be something fishy about what CC is doing right now!

Of course, if CC had only done that one thing, Karen wouldn't have been so dazed and confused as to be pulled along by Jiang Lihua like a doll.

After all, no matter what CC wants to do or what schemes she plots, Karen doesn't need to worry too much.

Anyway, CC is one of us. At most, she'll only play pranks. Could she really do something to Karen that could cause some strange or extraordinary development between her and Momo?

That kind of thing is definitely... impossible, right?

Karen originally had a basic level of trust in CC, which was the most basic level of trust between people. But now, Karen suddenly felt that... should she underestimate CC's integrity?

Well, it seems that Karen's trust in C.C. has hit rock bottom, but that's not the worst part. The worst part is that Karen has thought of a possibility.

For CC, which is more important to her: Karen, her partner, or her current man, Momo? Which one would CC be willing to give up everything for?

Karen had no doubt about the answer to this.

Although Karen didn't know what exactly happened between Momo and CC five years ago, she could sense that CC had completely devoted her heart to Momo since then.

Aside from the fact that CC often pressed his body against Momo without any restraint, and sometimes even deliberately chose the time and place for Karen to witness these things in order to show off to Karen, Karen still admired and respected the relationship between the two.

After all, Karen has matured quite a bit now. Although she still has a strong girlish heart, she also understands that the so-called undying love is mostly just an ideal.

Look, isn't that how it's always portrayed in TV dramas? Men and women break up and get back together all the time, sometimes they're inseparable one minute, making vows of eternal love, and the next minute they're bitter enemies, wishing they could kill each other.

If it's like that in TV dramas, it should be pretty much the same in real life, right?

Karen has never seen a relationship like Momo and C.C., or even Argoyasna, that has lasted for so many years without fading in the slightest.

This is why Karen suddenly had an extremely terrifying, yet highly probable, thought. This conjecture, in fact, suggests that these things might actually become reality.

what is that?

To put it simply, Karen and CC's relationship can be described as that of best friends, or even the closest of partners. They can talk about anything, and Karen seems to have almost no reservations about CC, sharing all her thoughts and feelings with her as if these things have become the most normal thing in the world.

But now, Karen suddenly realized something very dangerous...

Does CC have any integrity?

If a normal person's moral integrity is 100, then CC would probably hover between 1 and 0.01.

So, given that CC is basically shameless, can Karen trust CC to keep the secrets between her and Karen, the conversations between best friends, completely to herself and not reveal them to anyone else?

Karen believed that CC wouldn't go around telling everyone about Karen's little schemes, but the question was, was Momo an outsider to CC?