"Rinji, did you really send someone to kidnap Oko's wife?"

"How could I? That guy's extremely cautious, it's nearly impossible to infiltrate his circle. I only said that to give him the illusion that 'Shinomiya Kaguya's influence has spread into every corner of the Shinomiya family.'"

In the end, Oko didn't answer the call. He simply hung up.

Rinji had expected this. Except for Kaguya, everyone in the Shinomiya family lived for profit alone. He didn't believe Oko would sacrifice his interests for his wife's sake.

Regardless, facing "Kaguya" (Rinji), the man with the most power and best chance of inheriting the family had already lost the upper hand.

Even if Rinji hadn't actually laid hands on his wife, the threat to his life was real enough.

"That phone call…"

"Who knows, maybe she really had something to say, but he hung up."

Walking ahead, Rinji suddenly stopped, prompting Hayasaka behind him to stop as well.

"Ai, I think this is the second time you've seen me hurt someone in front of you."

"Yes."

"You…"

"I know what you're trying to say," Hayasaka smiled. "I won't hate you for this. When I made my decision, I was prepared to accept everything about you. Besides, you held back a lot today, didn't you?"

Indeed, it was because he knew Hayasaka was still in the estate that Rinji ordered the sniper to shoot a shoulder instead of going for a headshot.

"Actually, I wanted to tell you this four years ago. No matter what kind of person you are, I'll always love you. Because you're Rinji."

"… …"

Rinji's lips parted slightly. After a moment of silence, he smiled with relief.

"As expected of you, Ai."

Poke.

Hayasaka reached out and poked "Kaguya's" cheek.

"You should've said 'as expected of my girlfriend,' not just 'as expected of you.'"

"Ah, sorry."

"Honestly, when you first brought me out of there, I should've kissed you. That would've been more romantic." Hayasaka's cheeks turned pink. "But since you're using Kaguya's body right now, that would be way too weird."

"You're right…"

The body-swapping issue was something he had to deal with soon. Dragging it out was no solution.

…

Inside a room, Shinomiya Oko sat with several cadres. Their faces were dark with fear.

There was no doubt—the entire Shinomiya family was under surveillance. There was even a sniper outside.

How Kaguya managed to find a sniper in Japan, none of them had any clue. Based on what they knew of her, such forces shouldn't have been at her disposal.

But one thing was certain: if Kaguya wanted them dead, their funerals could be held at any time.

"How could Kaguya control such a force?"

"Someone must be backing her. Otherwise, she couldn't have built this up without us noticing."

"Could it be an enemy family?"

"To use armed forces in Japan, besides the US military, only IW could manage that. But they've stopped interfering in international affairs, haven't they?"

"Could Takamine Rinji be pulling the strings?"

The cadres debated fiercely about possible conspiracies, while Oko himself was on the phone.

It was his wife.

Once the call connected, he realized he had been deceived. His wife wasn't in any danger.

She was simply calling to report some newly learned news.

"I see. I'll handle it on my end."

Hanging up, Oko looked at the group and said, "My wife just learned something from Yuntaka. Apparently, there's a company that can produce medicine to treat Father."

"What?"

"But Lord Gan'an was infected with an unknown virus…"

"It's a pharmaceutical company," Oko explained. "A company called Amano Pharmaceuticals."

"Why would they have a cure for an undiscovered virus?"

"Wait… Amano Pharmaceuticals… I've heard that name before."

One cadre muttered, then after some thought, his eyes widened.

"I remember now. Four years ago, that company had a patent conflict with a Shinomiya Group subsidiary. We used public opinion to crush them. The company went bankrupt, and its president committed suicide."

"… …"

The room fell silent.

A company that should have disappeared four years ago suddenly resurfaced, and only they possessed a cure for Gan'an's illness.

This didn't look like coincidence at all, but like a meticulously planned revenge.

"What's the company's current situation?"

"No idea. It was just registered, not listed yet. We can't find much. And since it's based in Tokyo… well, thanks to Takamine Rinji, our forces can't infiltrate Tokyo anymore."

"… …"

"But we did find the current CEO. A man surnamed Shirogane."

"Shirogane…"

"Lord Oko, he's not a big name. But I'm sure you know his son," the cadre said. "Shirogane Miyuki."

"Shirogane Miyuki? The acting head of Daiippon Bank?"

That name he knew well. Anyone who had sat securely in such a position for two weeks was worth looking into.

"Wait, didn't Kaguya say Takamine Rinji is in their student council?"

"Yes."

"And Shirogane Miyuki is the president of Shuchiin Academy's student council, with Kaguya as vice president, and Takamine Rinji as treasurer…"

Linking it all together, Oko felt he saw a terrifying conspiracy.

"If Takamine Rinji is working under him, then that means Rinji is on his side. Combine that with Kaguya suddenly building such a powerful force… this all points to that Shirogane Miyuki being the one pulling the strings."

Looking at his wounded cadres being carried away and the bullet hole in the window, Oko hands trembled.

"How terrifying… What is that Shirogane Miyuki really after…?"