Chapter 27: Organized Crime and Organized Dating

【Elizabeth PoV】

The limousine smelled like leather and expensive coffee.

I sat in the back seat reviewing my tablet, scrolling through financial reports and surveillance footage. The morning traffic crawled past outside, students walking toward campus in their usual clusters. Predictable patterns. Comfortable routines.

Tanaka-san sat across from me, hands folded in his lap. He’d been silent for the past ten minutes. Unusual for him. Usually he reported updates immediately.

“Speak.”

He shifted his weight. The leather creaked beneath him.

“Ashford-sama, regarding the Kanzaki boy. He called your property a commoner.”

Property. I liked that Tanaka-san understood the situation so clearly.

“He did.”

“Permission to handle this matter permanently. We have a construction site near the docks. Very deep foundations.”

I looked up from my tablet. Tanaka-san’s expression stayed perfectly neutral. Professional. He wasn’t joking. The Kanzaki family would simply vanish if I gave the word.

Tempting.

Very tempting.

But ultimately wasteful.

“Denied.”

Tanaka-san blinked. Surprise flickered across his weathered features.

“Ashford-sama?”

I set my tablet down and met his eyes directly. He looked away after two seconds. Good instincts as always.

“The puppy needs to learn to bite on his own.”

“The puppy, Ashford-sama?”

“Alfred-kun. He’s been running from confrontation his entire life. Time to see if he can actually fight.”

Understanding dawned on Tanaka-san’s face. He nodded slowly, processing the implications.

“You wish to use Kanzaki-san as a training tool.”

“Precisely. Though if Alfred fails to perform adequately, you have permission to dispose of the Kanzaki boy afterward.”

“Understood, Ashford-sama.”

I pulled my laptop from my bag and opened the app’s admin interface. Lines of code scrolled across the screen, familiar and comforting. My territory. My domain. The digital architecture I’d built to control everything.

New scenario required. Something dramatic enough to force Alfred’s hand. Something that would make him choose between running or fighting.

My fingers flew across the keyboard, building the framework. Emergency quest parameters. GPS trigger zones. Notification timing. Reward structure designed to be irresistible.

The limousine pulled up to the school gates. Students parted automatically as we approached. Some looked envious. Some looked curious. Most looked appropriately intimidated.

Tanaka-san opened my door. I stepped out into the morning sunlight, laptop tucked under my arm.

“Alert the others. I want eyes on Alfred-kun and Kanzaki-san at all times. Nobody interferes unless I signal directly.”

“As you command, Ashford-sama.”

He melted into the crowd, disappearing with practiced ease. My security detail operated in the shadows. Always watching. Always ready. Completely invisible to everyone except me.

The shoe lockers sat near the main entrance. Prime territory for social interactions. I’d done my research on Ryuuji’s schedule. Transfer students always arrived early on their second day, trying to establish dominance through territorial claim.

Right on schedule, I spotted his designer blazer near the northeast entrance. Gold watch catching the light. Hair perfectly styled. Everything about him screamed wealth and arrogance.

Perfect target.

I approached the lockers with measured steps. Unhurried. Confident. Queen surveying her domain.

Ryuuji noticed immediately. His expression brightened like I’d just made his entire morning.

“Elizabeth-san. Good morning.”

Too familiar. Too comfortable. He really thought yesterday’s interaction gave him privileges.

“Kanzaki-san.”

I kept my tone neutral while opening my locker. Professional distance. Polite but cold.

He moved closer. Too close. Invading my personal space with that practiced confidence rich boys learned from expensive etiquette classes.

“I wanted to continue our conversation from yesterday. About dinner.”

“I’m quite busy with student council duties.”

“Surely you can make time. Our families have important matters to discuss.”

There it was. The marriage arrangement Tanaka-san mentioned. Ryuuji actually thought he could claim me through business politics.

Adorable.

Absolutely delusional, but adorable.

“Those matters are between our parents. Not us.”

His smile faltered slightly. Cracks appearing in that confident facade. Good. Let him see this wouldn’t be easy.

“Elizabeth-san, let me be direct. That boy yesterday—Alfred—he’s clearly beneath you. Common background. No connections. No future prospects.”

Rage flashed through my chest like lightning. Hot and immediate and dangerous.

Nobody insulted my property. Nobody.

My hand itched to grab his wrist. Twist it backward. Break three fingers and his thumb. Demonstrate exactly how dangerous I actually was.

But that would be wasteful. Inefficient. Revealing my cards too early.

I needed Alfred to handle this. Needed him to actually step up for once in his pathetic life.

My phone sat in my blazer pocket. One tap activated the scenario I’d coded in the limousine.

Alfred’s phone would be buzzing right now. Emergency quest notification. GPS marker showing my exact location. Danger indicators flashing red across his screen.

I pulled up the tracking app on my own phone, checking his location discreetly. Still in the classroom. Two buildings away. The GPS dot suddenly started moving. Fast.

He was running.

Good boy.

Ryuuji continued his pitch, completely unaware of what was coming.

“I can offer you everything. Status, wealth, security. My family’s connections span all of Japan. Your father would benefit significantly from this arrangement.”

“Would he.”

My tone stayed flat. Disinterested. I was watching Alfred’s GPS dot sprint across campus. He’d taken the fastest route. Smart.

Ryuuji’s confidence was building again. He mistook my distraction for consideration.

“Ditch that loser. Date me instead. I’ll show you what real luxury looks like.”

He reached for my wrist. Grabbed it firmly. Not quite painful but definitely aggressive.

My bodyguards moved in the shadows. Matsuda-san appeared behind a nearby pillar. Kojima-san materialized near the entrance. Both waiting for my signal. Both ready to make Ryuuji disappear permanently.

I held up my other hand slightly. Palm down. Stand down signal. They froze immediately.

Not yet. Let Alfred arrive first.

Ryuuji’s grip tightened on my wrist. He was leaning closer, trying to use physical dominance to force compliance. Classic alpha male nonsense.

I could break his arm in three places before he even registered pain. Could disable him completely in under two seconds. Could call my bodyguards and have him buried in concrete by sunset.

But that wasn’t the point.

The point was seeing if Alfred would actually fight for what was his.

Footsteps pounded down the hallway. Running at full sprint. Other students jumped out of the way, confused and alarmed.

Alfred burst around the corner like a disaster on legs. His tie flew over his shoulder. His blazer hung crooked. Sweat dripped down his face. He looked absolutely panicked and completely determined.

Perfect entrance.

Ryuuji turned, annoyed by the interruption. His grip on my wrist didn’t loosen.

“You again? Don’t you have classes to attend, commoner?”

Alfred stopped three feet away, gasping for breath. His chest heaved. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

I waited. This was the moment. Either he’d use the app and issue some command, or he’d run away like always.

The seconds stretched. Ryuuji’s smile turned condescending. He was already dismissing Alfred as irrelevant.

Then Alfred did something completely unexpected.

He didn’t pull out his phone. Didn’t activate any command. Didn’t hide behind the app’s power.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you!”

His voice cracked slightly on the last word. Raw. Genuine. Absolutely cringe-worthy in its earnest delivery.

But real.

Actually, legitimately real.

Something shifted in my chest. Surprise. Actual surprise. I hadn’t coded this. Hadn’t planned for genuine courage.

Alfred took a step forward, positioning himself between Ryuuji and me. His whole body trembled. Fear radiated off him in waves. But he didn’t back down.

“Let go of her wrist.”

Ryuuji laughed. Sharp, mocking sound. But he released my wrist anyway, more from shock than compliance.

“Are you serious right now? You think you can challenge me?”

“I think you need to learn what no means.”

Alfred’s voice steadied slightly. He was committing fully. Actually standing his ground despite obvious terror.

I felt something warm bloom behind my ribs. Satisfaction mixed with genuine affection. My investment was finally showing returns.

Time to reward proper behavior.

I shifted my expression. The cold mask dropped. Fear replaced calculation. My eyes widened. My shoulders hunched slightly inward.

Classic damsel in distress. Academy Award performance.

“Alfred-kun.”

I moved behind him, grabbing his blazer with both hands. Hiding. Seeking protection. Playing the scared girl perfectly.

Ryuuji’s confusion deepened. He looked between us, trying to process this dynamic. The confident Elizabeth Ashford was hiding behind some nobody?

Alfred’s back straightened. My grip on his blazer seemed to inject courage directly into his spine. He was eating this up. The hero role. The protector position.

Let him have it. Let him feel powerful for once.

“Leave. Now.”

Alfred’s voice carried more authority than I’d ever heard from him. Surprising. Genuinely surprising.

Ryuuji’s expression darkened. His hand moved toward his pocket. Probably reaching for his phone. Probably planning to call his own security.

I caught Matsuda-san’s eye in my peripheral vision. Made the smallest gesture with my finger. He moved silently, positioning himself directly behind Ryuuji.

Kojima-san mirrored the movement on the other side. Ryuuji was surrounded. Trapped. Completely outmaneuvered.

But he didn’t know that.

“This isn’t over, Alfred-kun. My family doesn’t lose.”

“Your family isn’t here. I am.”

Decent comeback. Almost cool. Alfred was on a roll.

Ryuuji backed away slowly. His eyes darted around, finally registering the hostile territory. Other students watched with clear judgment. He was losing face rapidly.

“We’ll see how long this lasts.”

He turned and left. Expensive shoes clicking on linoleum. Dignity maintained but victory lost.

My bodyguards melted back into the shadows. Invisible again. The show was over.

Alfred stood frozen, clearly processing what just happened. His hands still trembled. Adrenaline dump hitting him hard.

I maintained my grip on his blazer, pressed against his back. Let him feel my warmth. Let him think he’d actually saved me.

“Alfred-kun, you came for me.”

I kept my voice soft, grateful, sweet. The scared girl act continued even though my internal monologue was already planning Ryuuji’s complete social and financial destruction.

The Kanzaki family would find their business permits mysteriously delayed. Their restaurant licenses would face sudden inspections. Their supply chains would experience unfortunate complications.

Nothing traceable to me, of course. Just terrible luck.

Alfred turned around. Our faces ended up inches apart. His eyes met mine, searching for something. Validation maybe. Confirmation that this was real.

“Are you okay?”

His concern seemed genuine. Sweet boy. He actually cared.

“I’m okay now. You protected me.”

Lies. Beautiful lies. But necessary for proper conditioning.

His chest puffed up slightly. Pride. Male pride at having fulfilled the protector role. Exactly the response I needed.

My phone buzzed. Notification from the app’s backend. The emergency quest had completed automatically. Reward distributed.

Alfred’s debt would’ve decreased by twenty CP. Enough to give him hope. Enough to keep him hooked.

But my fingers were already adjusting the parameters remotely. Adding new fees. Service charges. Quest completion taxes.

His final balance would be negative thirty CP by tonight.

The debt would never end. The control would only deepen.

“Thank you, Alfred-kun. My hero.”

I stretched up on my toes and kissed his cheek. Quick. Innocent. Devastating.

His face turned nuclear red. His brain short-circuited. Complete system failure.

I pulled away and walked toward my classroom, leaving him standing there looking absolutely destroyed in the best possible way.

Behind me, Tanaka-san emerged from the shadows. I didn’t need to look to know he was there.

“Ashford-sama, regarding the Kanzaki boy—”

“Destroy his family’s holdings systematically. Start with their Osaka properties. Make it look like market forces.”

“As you command.”

“But leave Ryuuji himself untouched. He’s still useful as a rival. Alfred needs ongoing motivation.”

“Understood. Shall I eliminate the other suitors as well?”

I paused, considering. Several boys had shown interest in me over the years. Minor threats. Irrelevant players.

“No. Let them try. The puppy needs practice biting.”

Tanaka-san bowed and disappeared again. My phone displayed Alfred’s profile. His heart rate was still elevated. Stress hormones flooding his system. The fitness tracker provided excellent data.

He’d actually stood up to someone. Actually fought for me. Didn’t run away or panic or invent dying goldfish.

Progress. Real, measurable progress.

My investment was finally maturing.

I smiled to myself, already planning the next scenario. The next test. The next opportunity to push him further.

Alfred-kun had no idea how thoroughly owned he actually was.

And that ignorance made everything so much sweeter.