Five times the profit. What did that mean?

Japan wasn't resource-rich. Many things had to be imported, and raw material imports made up a huge portion of the Shinomiya conglomerate's profits.

Five times that was equal to one and a half times the entire family's quarterly profit.

It was blatant robbery.

Oko knew it, and so did Kaguya.

When Hayasaka told her to say it, she already felt something was wrong. This wasn't negotiation anymore but outright plunder.

"Five times… isn't that too much?" Oko frowned.

'Yeah, I think so too,' Kaguya thought helplessly.

But she had no choice, so she continued with Hayasaka's lines.

"Five times. Not a yen less. Originally I wanted seven times plus one of your legs, but since we're siblings, I'm letting you off easy. Don't make me regret it."

'Ah… this is unbearable. Rinji's way of talking is so barbaric. He's not even human!'

But this really was how Rinji negotiated.

Normal negotiation was to avoid conflict and reach a compromise. For Rinji, negotiation was just a way to save time.

He didn't care about results. If it worked, fine. If not, he'd just fight. What he wanted never changed.

That lawless attitude was why he always looked like he'd throw a punch at the slightest disagreement.

And undeniably, it was extremely effective.

This actually involves the concept of the Chicken Game.

Assume two people are driving toward a cliff. Each has two choices: brake or accelerate. If one brakes and the other doesn't, the one who keeps going wins and the one who braked loses face.

If both brake, it's a tie.

If you don't brake and the other gives up, you win and the other loses.

If neither brakes and both accelerate, both die.

So for each person, the best result is the opponent giving up while they themselves refuse to stop.

Rinji is the type who can protect himself no matter the situation, so the Chicken Game doesn't really apply to him, but it fits Kaguya perfectly.

The essence of the Chicken Game is giving the opponent the illusion that you're ready to risk everything.

Kaguya doesn't have Rinji's influence or power, but because Rinji used her identity during winter break to create chaos in the main family, Oko no longer knows how much hidden strength his sister actually has.

And he can't continue investigating Kaguya in Tokyo now that Hayasaka has left. All of Kaguya's intel on his side has been reset to zero.

This information gap makes Oko unable to see through Kaguya's hand. Every step she takes pressures him and creates the illusion she's dangerous.

This is exactly why Hayasaka told Kaguya to imitate Rinji's behavior.

The more arrogant she acts, the more frightened the opponent becomes, since Oko isn't someone who dares to step on the accelerator.

According to Hayasaka, a normal person in this situation should…

"Kaguya, I can hand over all the businesses, but the money… how about triple?"

Retreating a step, then minimizing losses. That's exactly what Oko would do.

Thinking it had worked, Hayasaka continued guiding Kaguya's next moves.

Kaguya continued the act.

"Triple? Are you trying to feed a beggar?" Kaguya showed a disgusted expression. "But judging from your pathetic face, you probably don't have much money anyway. Fine."

Money wasn't important. What mattered was securing the businesses.

"Thanks."

Oko was furious.

The Hayasaka he once completely controlled was out of reach, and his sister had also slipped completely out of his hands.

To him, Hayasaka and Kaguya were tools.

Kaguya's only value was being used as a marriage pawn.

But looking at Kaguya's bandit-like expression now, Oko realized even that was hopeless.

With how she looked, no one would marry her.

Worse, Kaguya was now biting off a huge chunk of his assets, and though he couldn't stand it, he was helpless.

"Kaguya…"

Filled with hatred but forcing a smile, Oko said, "I heard you submitted an application to Stanford University. Is that true?"

"!?"

Kaguya was startled, but Hayasaka whispered into her earpiece and calmed her down.

"What's it to you? Planning to stop me?"

"No, of course not." He waved his hand. "Going abroad is great. It's just a little sad if you won't be in Japan…"

A lie. He desperately wanted her out of Japan.

If she stayed, he wouldn't have a moment to breathe. She might even devour his remaining assets.

If she left, he'd have a chance to rebuild.

Kaguya stared at him, thinking,

'Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? I want to go to America with the president too, but if I don't clean up your mess, IW definitely won't let me go.'

"This has nothing to do with you. Hand over the businesses and the money, or else—"

"Handing them over now is troublesome," Oko said with a smile. "You know how annoying the procedures are. If I hand them over right away, the Shinomiya family will…"

"When will you hand them over then?"

"After you become an adult and enter university."

"…"

'Tch, this old fox is counting on me going to America so he can delay everything.'

[Kaguya.]

Hayasaka's voice entered her ear.

[See the cup on the table?]

Kaguya looked at the cup filled with tea.

She saw it, but didn't know what to do.

[Pick it up and smash it on the ground.]

Kaguya: "???"

She didn't understand. Was this really how Rinji expressed anger?

Even though she was confused, she followed Hayasaka's instructions. She picked up the cup and slammed it onto the floor.

Crack!

Bang!!

"AAAAAAA!!!!"

The moment the cup shattered, Oko's right ring finger flew off, spraying blood.

He collapsed in agony, clutching his hand, while Kaguya stared blankly at what just happened.

She turned and saw a bullet hole in the window.

[Kaguya, with Rinji's personality, he would never rage uselessly. Smashing the cup isn't venting emotion. It's sending a signal.]

'So that's what smashing the cup was for!!?'

Exactly.

Hayasaka had heard from Fusui that there were snipers outside the estate, so she had planned this.

Real pain greatly increases pressure.

"Don't… I'll hand it over." Oko screamed. "I'll hand over everything right now!"

[See? Very effective.]

Kaguya: "…"

She really felt that the Hayasaka who had been with her for ten years had completely changed after meeting Rinji.

But… as long as the goal was reached, it was fine.