Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

"I wasn't referring to the drinks. If I had to say, the soup you made yourself, class monitor, tastes much better than these canned drinks..."

After a pause, Kuroba Akira continued.

"I mean, investment... Class monitor, are you really going to join us?"

Hearing Kuroba Akira question her resolve, Anri Hitomi pouted unhappily and retorted.

"Wise ruler, do you think I was joking just now?"

"That's not what I meant... It's just that, class monitor, you probably don't know exactly what I want to do, so you might not have a clear idea of ​​how much money you'll need to invest. This is different from our literature club's light novel project; we can't start with zero costs. Even the initial investment can't be covered by just 'pocket money'..."

Even though Anri Hitomi is a rich young lady, her allowance is definitely not enough.

Moreover, Kuroba knew that although Hitomi Anri was the eldest daughter of the Anri family, her spending was not extravagant.

Because Anri's family is a well-established and respected family rather than a nouveau riche family, they had already received education on money and values. As a result, Anri Hitomi doesn't spend money extravagantly, and she is not the type to live for the moment. Therefore, she has a very limited allowance.

You can tell from the fact that she didn't try to bribe me with money before; the money she has isn't even as valuable as her used underwear.

However, Kuroba Akira did not know that the money Anri Hitomi was preparing to take out this time was not pocket money, but the total amount of money she could receive from the Anri family in the future.

So at this moment, Anri Hitomi confidently put her hands on her hips and said with great self-assurance.

"Of course I know that, Mingjun. Don't underestimate me. As a 'rich girl,' I know exactly how much money it takes to start a business!"

Hitomi Anri humorously refers to herself as a rich girl, because this is indeed the first time she has felt like a "daughter of a wealthy family" who can use a lot of money.

And now, she's going to use that money to buy Kuroba Akira... and his future.

Having received a clear reply from the class monitor, and knowing that she hadn't acted on impulse and had only said those things to help him, Kuroba Akira was overjoyed. This meant that the startup funding was truly secured.

However, this feeling of great joy was immediately followed by a sense of guilt, which grew stronger and stronger until Kuroba Akira could hardly lift his head.

Normally, Akira Kuroba is fed homemade bento boxes by the class president and can enjoy lap pillows. If these can be considered as rewards for helping the class president complete her requests and benefits as a friend, then a large sum of money is definitely beyond the bounds of friendship.

Actually, Kuroba Akira already felt a little sorry for the class president, because so far, many opportunities had been obtained because of the class president, such as the two members of the literature club, and the fact that he was able to continue negotiating with Nishimura Ryuya was also thanks to the class president.

Furthermore, Kuroba Akira usually takes advantage of the class president's talent, which has helped him a lot on many occasions, but Kuroba Akira has been hiding these things... including Shion's matter.

It's like having an affair outside, but when you get home you find your wife has given you a large sum of money to support your career.

Guilt made Kuroba Akira ask guiltily.

"So... what do you want to get out of this, class monitor?"

Kuroba Akira wasn't without suspicion, but he still asked the question and wanted a definite answer.

The Anri family is a large family, and Anri Hitomi, who will inherit the family business in the future, is definitely not short of money, so she is definitely not helping me because she wants more money.

But as a friend, this amount of money feels like a heavy burden.

"What I want..."

Actually not.

Anri Hitomi wanted to make Kuroba Akira feel indebted to her, thus establishing a new layer of creditor-debtor relationship.

However, if he said he didn't want anything, Kuroba Akira would find it incomprehensible, or even become suspicious and refuse.

Even providing financial assistance in the name of a friend is not a valid reason, because starting a business with a friend is the most unwise decision.

If the business fails, it won't just be a breakup; it might turn into a bitter feud.

Although Anri Hitomi didn't care whether the investment would result in a loss, or even if it failed.

In her opinion, it was already a win to have Kuroba Akira owe her a favor, but she knew that Kuroba Akira, who cared most about money, would definitely think it was unreasonable.

We must give him a clear answer about what he wants beyond money.

With her hands behind her back, Anri Hitomi gave Kuroba Akira the most appropriate answer she could think of.

“My wise ruler, what I want has never changed: friends, true friends, friends who are completely open with each other.”

Or perhaps it's some other kind of relationship... it doesn't matter.

"Friend" is just a label.

What Hitomi Anri pursues is the 'pure emotion' that she learned from her mother.

"Squad leader, aren't we friends now?"

"Yes, but that's not enough. I don't yet know the true nature of you, my wise ruler."

"My...most authentic self?"

"Yeah, we're clearly friends, but you've never shown me your true feelings, and I've always been bothered by that."

Kuroba Akira was stunned for a moment, wondering if the class monitor had discovered that he was a time traveler.

Is she questioning my identity?

So, should we tell her?

However, before Kuroba Akira could arrive at a suitable answer from his chaotic thoughts, Anri Hitomi continued.

"Perhaps even you, the wise ruler, don't know what your true feelings are like."

"what?"

Kuroba Akira's brain completely shut down.

Class monitor, why have you become such a riddle teller? I don't even know my own true feelings! What are you talking about?

Let's speak Japanese, shall we?

Anri Hitomi gave a faint smile that resembled a bitter smile.

Then, just as Akira Kuroba asked Tatsuya Nishimura 'What is your real purpose?', Hitomi Anri also asked Akira Kuroba this question.

"I want to know, is this what you, wise ruler, truly want to do?"

The class monitor was probably referring to the creation of the video website, and Kuroba Akira understood that.

All I can say is that this is indeed something that can make you 'a lot of money'.

As for whether it's something I really want to do... what I really want is to live off a woman and relax!

Since transmigrating, almost everything Kuroba Akira has done has been for the purpose of making money, and making money is for the purpose of slacking off. So, creating a bullet screen video website is just another step towards slacking off.

What I really want to do... is definitely not making money.

Anri Hitomi said as if she could see right through Kuroba Akira's thoughts.

"Or is this merely a basic guarantee that allows a wise ruler to truly do what he wants to do?"

"Uh……"

“My wise ruler, I know that there are many people in this world who are forced to give up what they want to do and become a small cog in the machine of society, doing things they don’t really like… because living requires consuming resources, and under the rules established by humankind, resources can only be obtained through money.”

Just as my mother said, money can buy most things in this world, including people.

Therefore, Hitomi Anri does not dislike Akira Kuroba's pursuit of money.

Because she knew that although she was not struggling to make a living, the vast majority of people in this world were still struggling in the mire.

Kuroba Akira is an example of this.

So she wanted to know what kind of person Kuroba Akira would become after 'achieving her goal'.

When Kuroba Akira stops focusing on money and his eyes, which used to only see the value of talent, begin to notice things beyond talent, what kind of changes will occur in him?

But will the talents that were originally appreciated in pursuit of money become worthless...?

For example, Shion Murasaki, when you've accumulated so much money that you no longer need to rely on her talent and beauty... how will you treat her then?

Abandon her? Or treat her as your plaything? Or perhaps a large-scale action figure for your collection?

To you, what value does someone without talent have? Is their only remaining value physical?

So I'll help you find the answer to this question.

It helps you achieve your goal of accumulating wealth ahead of schedule.

Then, you'll be forced to reveal your true feelings.

As long as you stay by his side and help him accumulate wealth, you'll eventually see through Kuroba Akira's true nature.

Perhaps only then... can you and I become 'close friends', wise ruler.

I'm really looking forward to that day...

Let me get to know the real you more deeply.

Chapter 228 The Shura Field Never Stops Once It Begins

Standing in front of the familiar vending machine, Hitomi Anri bought the same milk drink once again, and this time she opened a bottle for herself, which had the same meaning as opening champagne to celebrate.

Because she knew that Kuroba Akira would not be able to refuse her investment.

The reasons I presented had completely intimidated him, and the most worrying stage of suspicion had passed. The next step was to dispel any remaining wariness he might have.

Anri Hitomi drank half a bottle of milk in one gulp, licked her upper lip with her tongue, and then said with an even more composed smile.

"My wise ruler, I've actually started taking extra lessons..."

This sudden topic brought Kuroba Akira back to his senses, but after his brain processed the meaning of these words, he felt even more confused.

"Tutoring? Class monitor, do you still need tutoring?"

The class monitor is an A in academic ability, and she has never slacked off in her studies, consistently ranking first in her class. Does someone like her really need extra tutoring?

Anri Hitomi noticed Kuroba Akira's confusion and explained further.

"I'm not lying to you, I really am getting tutoring, but it's not for school material, it's for economics."

"Economics...private lessons?"

It's probably an elite education course unique to large families, so it's not surprising that they learn economics knowledge in advance, because if the class monitor doesn't have any older brothers or sisters, she will be the first in line to inherit the family business in the future.

Anri Hitomi nodded and said.

"Yes, it was my mother who taught me personally."

These words startled Kuroba Akira again, because he knew that the class monitor and his mother had a very bad relationship and were still in a cold war.

But now it seems that the relationship between Anri and her daughter has improved... Did it happen last week?