"Because you control your men by buying them off or exploiting their weaknesses, your defenses are much easier to breach than your brothers'."

Surrounded by gun barrels, Un'yo showed no fear. Calmly, he took another cigar from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He had just picked up his lighter when Rinji blew out the flame.

Putting the lighter down, Un'yo looked at his "sister."

"When did this plan start?"

"Who knows? When I feel like it, I stir things up. Watching you kill each other is entertaining. But small fry like you, if caught up in the inheritance struggle, will die without a trace," Rinji said with a grin. "This is just a game between the eldest and second sons. With your current power, you're nothing but cannon fodder."

"Hmph, I underestimated you before."

Un'yo had always thought Kaguya was a weak, marginal figure in the family, lacking courage and cunning. But now she seemed far more ruthless than he had imagined. From luring him to the back mountain to turning his men, this was clearly a carefully crafted setup.

"That frail act of yours was all just a disguise. To think you could endure for over ten years…"

He guessed wrong. Although Kaguya could put on an act, she couldn't pull off something like this. The real reason was that this wasn't Kaguya at all—it was Rinji.

"I know why you sought us out. After learning Hayasaka was an undercover agent placed by Oko, you tried to get information from her. When Gan'an collapsed, you assumed she and Oko were behind it. If you could prove Oko ordered his little sister to kill their father, you could gain the upper hand in the power struggle."

Rinji smiled. "That's the misjudgment caused by an information gap. In your eyes, that weak little sister couldn't possibly kill her own father, so you came here alone."

"As expected, you saw through me," Un'yo said, glaring at the traitorous men. "Didn't think I'd fall to these rats again."

"No, you have traitors because your rule relies only on high-pressure tactics. That's your weakness—one that can be exploited at any time."

Rinji tapped the end of Un'yo's cigar. With a faint sizzle, it lit.

"In my eyes, you're full of openings. Stripping you of everything is too easy."

"…So what now? Have them shoot me? Kill me?"

"I could kill you anytime. The reason I'm sparing you is because you're useful."

"Do you know the poison in Gan'an's body is a new virus? From the moment he reached the hospital, he was destined to be quarantined. And… he only has three days to live."

"What are you getting at?"

"When you go back, tell the Shinomiya Group's top executives and key officers there's a drug that can treat Gan'an's virus. It's not a cure or a vaccine, but a suppressant."

"A suppressant?"

"Yes. Each injection will give him ten more days."

"Where is it?"

"In Tokyo, at a company called Amano Pharmaceuticals. Only they can make it."

"…What's your goal?"

"You already know, don't you?"

Of course Un'yo knew. The heirs of the Shinomiya family wanted Gan'an dead, but not too soon. They needed to keep him alive until the right time.

"If your brothers want Gan'an dead to grab power, the top brass will think they're unfit to inherit. So even if it's just for show, they'll need the drug. That way, whoever tries to seize the suppressant will be under my control."

"So your goal is the head of the family?"

"Don't make me sound so shallow. If I wanted that, I could take it anytime," Rinji sneered. "So, what's your answer?"

"Besides telling them about Amano Pharmaceuticals, what else?"

"Do your best to compete with your brothers. I'll give you resources."

"You want me to be your pawn?"

"Yes. Do you think someone like you has any other use?"

"…." His darkened expression made his mood clear.

"Relax. Your brothers are pawns too. The difference is they have no player behind them, but you have me. So, do you want to be the winning side's pawn, or one doomed to be abandoned?" Rinji asked.

"You're not afraid I'll expose you when I get back?"

"You can, if you like."

Rinji smiled and raised his hand slightly.

Bang!

A light crack sounded from the distance. The cigar in Un'yo's mouth was cut in half, the burning end falling to the ground and leaving a tiny bullet hole.

There was a sniper in the back mountain's forest.

"As I said, I can take your life anytime."

"…."

"Now, your answer?"

"It seems I have no choice."

"No, you can choose to die, but a smart person like you wouldn't choose that path."

"Say whatever you want."

Un'yo tossed the remainder of his cigar to the ground and walked toward the main family estate.

Rinji didn't stop him.

Un'yo knew that the current "Kaguya" was without a doubt the most dangerous person in the entire Shinomiya family. Whether in depth of mind, cunning, or methods, she surpassed not only himself but even his two elder brothers by far.

The reason she was letting him take part in the struggle against his brothers was simply to provoke a fight. If he actively competed for the position of family head, he'd be forcing his two brothers—who for now intended to keep the peace—to also make a move, thereby escalating the Shinomiya family's internal conflict.

"Once the infighting begins, with so many external enemies, others will seize the opportunity to infiltrate, leading to huge losses in the family's assets. Even if she inherits the Shinomiya family, it will just be an empty shell… Could it be that she wants to destroy the Shinomiya family?"