Half an hourter, everyone triumphantly returned.


    On the way back, they had gone to great lengths to hide signs of binding. They''d nearly been questioned by the police, but thankfully, with arge group, they formed a wall that hid everything from view.


    When they reached the school, they unexpectedly encountered Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami at the bottom of the old school building, who still hadn''t left.


    "What are you doing here?" Kagura Hikaru asked.


    "We were waiting for you guys toe back."


    Ai Cheng Hua Lian and the two of them hurried over when they saw the third-year students who had ckmailed Ruzaki Mami being escorted by the Disciplinary Committee members into the old school building, and their faces lit up with joy.


    "You really caught them, that''s great!"


    "The interrogation is about to begin." Ayakoji Chiyoko walked over, giving Ruzaki Mami a deep look, ".... You two shoulde along as well, there are some things you''re better off hearing."


    Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami exchanged puzzled nces, not understanding why.


    Kagura Hikaru knew what she was referring to and fell silent.


    For Ruzaki Mami, the truth that was about to be revealed might be too cruel.


    But to turn away from reality is the real tragedy.


    People are bound to face tragedies, sooner orter.


    It''s just that Ruzaki Mami''s love had shattered a little earlier than others.


    The group returned to the third floor of the old school building, the Disciplinary Committee''s room.


    The three ckmailers were locked in a ssroom previously used for detaining students who had broken the rules, their hands and feet bound to chairs with zip ties, merged with the chairs as if they were one, able to maintain only a seated position, instilling in them an intense feeling of confinement.


    Takayama Kenta had alsoe to his senses from his fainted state by now and looked fearfully at the Gori Vice President, who was staring intently at them, before turning his gaze to Ayakoji Chiyoko, Kagura Hikaru, and the others.


    "Whatever the President asks you, you answer. Spit out everything you know! If you don''t talk, we''ll beat it out of you! Lying, withholding, we beat you all the same!!"


    The Gori Vice President suddenly roared without warning, his voice echoing through the old ssroom, buzzing in everyone''s heads.


    The three of them hurriedly nodded, fearful of getting hit again for being slow.


    Just imagine, a hulking man as big and strong as Zhang Fei staring you down in a room, who wouldn''t be intimidated?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "How did Sato Seiji coborate with you?" Ayakoji Chiyoko asked them.


    This question made Ruzaki Mami''s eyes widen suddenly.


    Just as she was about to say something, Kagura Hikaru put a hand on her shoulder, and Ai Cheng Hua Lian also grabbed her hand.


    Ruzaki Mami looked at her dear friend with a confused expression: "Karen-chan?"


    "I''m sorry, Zhen Chun, I''ve been hiding it from you...." Ai Cheng Hua Lian said with a look of guilt.


    In fact, she had learned of Teacher Sato''s suspicions from Ayakoji Chiyoko a few days ago and had prepared herself for the possibility that he was one of the ckmailers. But back then, without evidence to expose him, she hadn''t told Zhen Chun.


    Firstly, she was afraid Zhen Chun wouldn''t believe it, which could damage their friendship. Secondly, she was concerned that it might alert Sato Seiji, allowing him to escape or do something even more dangerous.


    Ruzaki Mami looked into Ai Cheng Hua Lian''s eyes, where she saw not a trace of mischief, only remorse.


    The looks from others were also full of sympathy, some even avoiding eye contact with her.


    This shook her firm stance, and she turned to Takayama Kenta and the others with hope that they would rify things, to clear her boyfriend of suspicion.


    Regrettably, she would be disappointed.


    How could those who had already been terrified by the fearless Discipline Committee members dare to lie in their territory?


    "I, I''ll talk!" Takayama Kenta gritted his teeth and said, "About a month ago, Teacher Sato approached us, wanting to hire us to take photos of him and his girlfriend, to use them to ckmail his girlfriend for money. He said his girlfriend was rich, and we''d split the money we got from her. We agreed."


    Ruzaki Mami''s legs gave way, and she clung to Ai Cheng Hua Lian''s waist for support, "This isn''t true, it''s not like that, Teacher Sato he....."


    Ruzaki Mami, this is reality," Ayakoji Chiyoko said without turning her head back, "You can only choose to ept it."


    Ruzaki Mami began to tremble even more violently, her hands gripping Ai Cheng Hua Lian''s waist painfully as tears streamed down onto the floor.


    Ai Cheng Hua Lian hugged her best friend, warming her with her body temperature to offer constion.


    Kagura Hikaru silently watched this scene.


    When hope is shattered, this is the expression people have.


    He had seen that expression three times before.


    The first was when his father learned of his mother''s betrayal, a pain and rage that burst forth in silence, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    The second time was with Kiryu Hina, who learned that he had done something as a boyfriend that one should never do, at the worst possible time, in the worst possible ce—the kind of scar that would never be forgotten, engraved deep into the marrow, the moment true love was crushed.


    The third time was now, urring to Ruzaki Mami, stirring the worst of his memories.


    Indeed, Kagura Hikaru, like his father, his mother, and Sato Seiji, had also experienced betrayal and concealment.


    His life ovepped with theirs in parts, a most heinous twist of fate.


    "When I saw Sato Seiji at the scene of the arrest of Takayama Kenta and the others, I knew he was likely involved in this extortion case, so I had my men look into his background."


    Ayakoji Chiyoko, as if she were exining to Ruzaki Mami, folded her arms and talked unhurriedly about the Disciplinary Committee''s findings from their investigation into Sato Seiji in recent days.


    The realityid bare was startling.


    "Sato Seiji, 26 years old, from Osaka, came to Tokyo''s Haneoka Private High School two years ago, where he was popr and highly regarded by students.


    But who would have known that behind the scenes, he was actually a regr client haunting Kabukicho, and six months ago, he got hooked on gambling, losing his entire fortune at an underground casino, eventually owing the local gang a high-interest loan of 1.7 million yen."


    Ruzaki Mami dropped her head even lower.


    The time she had confirmed her rtionship with Sato Seiji was half a year ago.


    His purpose had always been money.


    "Recently, the debt-collectors have been knocking on his door every day, but even after draining his finances, Sato Seiji could only pay the interest. Probably feeling that this would never end, he started to entertain crooked thoughts and conspired with Takayama Kenta and the other two to extort Ruzaki Mami.


    After the matter came to light, he changed ns, hoping to pull off a big heist in one go, to clear his debts once and for all and make a small fortune on the side. Unfortunately, that idea haspletely failed."


    Ayakoji Chiyoko looked at Takayama Kenta, whose expression was nonchnt, "I''m very curious to know, if Ruzaki Mami had ultimately refused to pay, what would you have done?"


    Takayama Kenta clicked his tongue but, upon seeing the Gori Vice President ring fiercely at him, he shivered and confessed sheepishly with a shamefaced grin, "If we couldn''t get the money in the end, we nned to kidnap her and demand a ransom from her family."


    The room fell into silence.


    Nobody expected that a small school extortion would nearly escte into a kidnapping case.


    Gambling and high-interest loans indeed wreak serious harm...


    Ayakoji Chiyoko pulled out a voice recorder, gave them a deep look, and said, "We''ve recorded your words, extortion and attempted kidnapping, enough to teach you a lesson when it gets to the police."


    Upon hearing this, Takayama Kenta and the others immediately showed rm, but unable to resist, they could only slump weakly into their chairs.


    "The evidence of their crimes conspiring with Sato Seiji can be found in this mobile phone."


    Ayakoji Chiyoko crouched down and showed Ruzaki Mami, who was sitting on the ground with her head lowered like a duck, the photo stealthily taken on Takayama Kenta''s phone and the multiple calls with Sato Seiji, "I hope you can go to the police and let them receive the punishment they deserve."


    Ruzaki Mami stared at the phone, in pain and disbelief.


    She had never doubted her lover, yet he had betrayed her so thoroughly.


    After a long silence, she slowly reached out her hand, took the phone, and dialed the police.