Chapter 321: The Silly Roe Deer of the Shippou Family
The business dinner venue.
All sorts of beauties and gentlemen were gathered in a grand hall.
Soft, soothing light music drifted through the hall, while at its center, various important figures clustered together in small groups.
Most men wore suits, and the women were almost all dressed in custom-made gowns vying for attention.
Yet when Shiba Miori entered arm-in-arm with Mahiro, they became a breath of fresh air amidst the crowd.
For no other reason than because Shiba Miori's kimono stood out too starkly among these Western-style evening gowns, and many who saw that iconic attire understood what it represented.
That was Shiba Miori, the head of Shiba Heavy Industries.
As for Lina, who served as a bodyguard, she had been left in the car—such occasions were simply not something a bodyguard could be involved in.
Beyond that, most of those present were even more curious about the young man accompanying Shiba Miori, who appeared to be a perfect match for her in looks and talent.
This was unavoidable. In recent years, Mahiro had rarely attended such banquets. Even among the Ten Master Clans, he was not like Saegusa Mayumi, who often represented the Saegusa family head, or like Maya, whose formidable reputation was widely known.
Thus, among those present, hardly anyone recognized him.
But that didn't stop the wealthy from coming over to greet him.
After all, Shiba Heavy Industries was backed by the Yotsuba family and FLT, and in just a year, it had risen to become a top-tier CAD company. It was even said to be collaborating with the military on arms deals. No matter who you were, you'd want to curry favor.
Shiba Miori, however, was accustomed to such situations and handled them with practiced ease.
As for Mahiro, after casually responding to a few, he grew tired of it. He bid farewell to Shiba Miori, walked over to the food area to grab some desserts, picked up a glass of champagne, and retreated to a corner of the banquet hall to quietly enjoy his treats.
Before long, several familiar figures approached.
It was Gamma, along with Kitayama Shizuku and Mitsui Honoka.
Since this was a business dinner focused on commercial partnerships, Kitayama Shizuku's father had brought them along. Gamma, as the vice president of Shiba Heavy Industries and the soon-to-be president of the Mitsukoshi Chamber of Commerce, naturally attended as well.
The moment Honoka saw Mahiro, her eyes lit up. Com disregarding the occasion, she immediately rushed over.
"Mahiro-kun! It's been so long, I've missed you so much!!!"
As if to vent all the longing she had bottled up over this time, Honoka clung to him and refused to let go.
Mahiro smiled helplessly, set down his champagne glass, and patted her back with a hint of indulgence.
"Alright, alright, I know you missed me, Honoka, but you should consider the occasion. So many people are watching."
At these words, Honoka's face flushed bright red in an instant.
"Th-that's not it, I just…"
She hastily jumped out of Mahiro's embrace, her small hands waving frantically.
"Honoka, you're making an even bigger fool of yourself now."
The speaker was Kitayama Shizuku, who gracefully walked over. Today, she wore a blue-and-white patterned gown, with strands of her gray hair casually falling around her. Her every step exuded elegance, perfectly embodying the demeanor of a refined young lady.
Only her delicate face remained as expressionless as ever, making it difficult to discern any emotion.
But the longing in her eyes as she looked at him was about to overflow, no less than Honoka's.
She held her champagne glass and gently clinked it against Mahiro's.
"Welcome back, Mahiro."
"Thank you."
Mahiro smiled, raised his champagne glass in acknowledgment, and took a small sip.
As for Gamma, after approaching, she immediately moved close to him, seemingly wanting to whisper something in his ear, but Mahiro stopped her.
"Just say it directly. There are no outsiders here."
Indeed, there were no outsiders.
Because he was in a corner of the banquet hall, and aside from them, the surroundings were empty.
Gamma didn't hesitate and spoke directly:
"Lord Mahiro, we haven't found Gu Jie's whereabouts yet, but two police officers have gone missing. It's suspected that they have fallen into Gu Jie's hands."
Hearing Gamma's news, his brows immediately furrowed tightly, and his heart sank.
Two police officers missing...
He remembered this plot. They were indeed in Gu Jie's hands—one named Chiba Toshikazu, Erika's older brother, and the other was Chiba Toshikazu's partner, whose name was something like Inahira or something.
However, they weren't captured.
They were killed by Gu Jie during the attempt to arrest him and turned into zombies.
Thinking of this, Mahiro's gaze subtly swept over Kitayama Shizuku and Honoka's faces before he calmly nodded and said:
"Mm, I understand."
It wasn't a big problem. As long as they hadn't been dead for too many years, they could still be saved.
He didn't want to see Erika, that troublemaking ray of sunshine, standing in a cemetery with tears streaming down her face.
"Mahiro-kun, did something happen?"
It was Kitayama Shizuku who spoke, while Honoka beside her looked at him with a worried expression.
They had both noticed Mahiro's unusual expression just now.
They had already heard about the dangers of the other world. After experiencing such perilous events and finally returning home, only to find themselves still in danger—it made their hearts ache.
"It's nothing, just a late-autumn grasshopper hopping around."
Mahiro waved his hand dismissively.
To him, someone like Gu Jie was indeed nothing more than a grasshopper unworthy of the stage, only daring to crawl in the shadows behind the scenes.
But to Kitayama Shizuku and Honoka, it didn't sound that way. They thought he was just putting on a brave face.
"...Are you really okay? I can help too!" Honoka mustered her courage and said.
"Yes, that's right, I can help as well. And I've heard the name Gu Jie mentioned by Raymond before."
Kitayama Shizuku spoke softly, her brows tightly furrowed as if lost in thought.
"If I remember correctly, this Gu Jie's real name is Jiedo Heigu, the mastermind behind the anti-magic international political group 'Blanche.' He's a very dangerous individual.
During her time studying at Berkeley, Kitayama Shizuku didn't just focus on academics; she also gathered quite a bit of intelligence from that Raymond.
Jiedo Heigu was one of them.
Although 'Blanche' is currently being suppressed by various countries, it remains an extremely dangerous terrorist organization.
However, just as she was about to say more, Mahiro suddenly gestured for her to be quiet. Following his gaze, she saw a young man approaching from not far away, with a young woman clinging closely to his side.
With just one glance, it was clear that the woman was not a magician—just an ordinary person.
But the young man was somewhat special. He wore a sharp suit, yet his well-defined features appeared extremely tense and rigid, even somewhat unnatural.
His back was ramrod straight, as if he were a child attending such a banquet for the first time, completely unaware of how to relax.
"...Hello, Kitayama-senpai, Mitsui-senpai, and Miss Lina."
"...?"
Kitayama Shizuku slowly formed a question mark in her mind as she looked at the person before her.
After a moment of thought, she remembered and nodded.
"Hello, Shiba-kouhai."
"Hello, Shiba-kouhai."
Mitsui Honoka followed suit.
Yet, there was no trace of joy or familiarity at meeting a fellow student on their faces—only polite smiles.
However, the young man addressed as Shiba-kouhai didn't seem to care. His target was Miss Lina.
According to his father, the newly established Mitsuoshi Trading Company had already secured countless orders, so his father insisted that he must establish a good relationship with them no matter what.
But Gamma, using the alias Lina, merely glanced at him, offered a polite smile, and then shifted her gaze away, showing no intention of engaging with him.
In fact, just as Shiba was about to speak, Gamma bowed slightly to Mahiro.
"Mahiro-sama, I shall take my leave now."
"Mm."
With Mahiro's nod of approval, Gamma left.
And she didn't just leave Mahiro's side to socialize with others—she left the business banquet entirely.
To her, how could a mere banquet compare to the importance of the tasks entrusted to her by Mahiro-sama? If she hadn't known Mahiro-sama would attend, she wouldn't have bothered with such an event in the first place.
Watching Lina leave without sparing him the slightest courtesy, Shiba froze awkwardly on the spot, a wave of shame and indignation washing over him.
When had the young master of the Shiba family, one of the esteemed Eighteen Candidate Families, ever suffered such a rebuff?!
Their family held considerable influence among the magician clans, after all!
However, the woman clinging to Shiba's side, with her extraordinary looks and figure, took an interest in Mahiro.
She stepped forward with a charming smile and said:
"Nice to meet you. Miss Kitayama, Miss Mitsui, and if I'm not mistaken, this must be Mr. Mahiro, right? I'm Sawamura Maki. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Though her tone placed herself in a humble position during this brief self-introduction, her words...
Rather than suggesting she was modest or unskilled at presenting herself, there was an inexplicable arrogance, as if everyone should already know who she was.
And indeed, Honoka, who responded with her own introduction, asked in an excited voice:
"Sawamura Maki, are you the actress Miss Sawamura Maki? The one who was nominated for Best Actress at the Pan-Pacific Film Awards for 'Summer Drift Ice'..."
"Oh, you've seen that film?"
Sawamura Maki maintained an elegant smile as she responded to Honoka's inquiry, a hint of smugness hidden in the depths of her eyes.
"Indeed! I've watched that work at the cinema. It was excellent! By the way, I'm Mitsui Honoka. Nice to meet you!"
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Miss Mitsui."
Honoka and this Sawamura Maki were getting along quite well, their interaction almost resembling... no, it could be said to be exactly like the fervor of a fan meeting their idol.
However, Kitayama Shizuku's reaction was rather indifferent. She merely stared at Sawamura Maki with dead-fish eyes before nodding and saying:
"Hello, nice to meet you, Miss Kowamura."
Her tone was flat, and the handshake was merely a polite, ordinary gesture.
As for Mahiro, his response was even simpler.
"Oh, hello. I'm Yotsuba Mahiro."
Even more brief, he showed no intention of shaking the hand she extended, nor did he even bother to stand up. Instead, he crossed his legs, swirled his champagne glass, and observed the woman with an amused expression.
This left Sawamura Maki somewhat awkward, but with years of acting experience, she calmly withdrew her hand and smiled gracefully.
"My apologies for overstepping. I didn't know the young master of the Yotsuba family disliked handshakes."
This time, Sawamura Maki directed a gentle and composed smile toward Mahiro.
She could skillfully adapt her smile to the occasion, switching between one exuding strong feminine charm and another that felt entirely free of flirtatiousness.
Tsk, why does this feel a bit... performatively sweet?
Upon hearing this, Mahiro nearly twisted his eyebrows into the shape of an "8."
But he quickly relaxed, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry, it's not that I dislike handshakes. I'm just curious about what qualifies you to shake my hand, Miss Kowamura."
As soon as these words were spoken, Honoka's face couldn't help but show surprise.
She didn't understand why Mahiro, who was usually friendly with everyone, would say such a thing.
However, she was merely curious. She knew Mahiro must have his reasons for acting this way, so she refrained from speaking out and instead followed Shizuku's example by remaining silent.
As for Sawamura Maki herself, she was caught off guard, her expression turning visibly awkward.
She hadn't expected the young master of the Yotsuba family to shut down the conversation so abruptly.
The look in his eyes held none of the greedy desire typical of other wealthy individuals or young masters. Instead, it was filled with mockery.
This made Sawamura Maki's heart skip a beat.
Had she been exposed?
The thought had barely surfaced before she dismissed it. No matter how formidable the Yotsuba family's intelligence network might be, she believed it was impossible for her to have slipped up.
After all, nearly everything had been handled by the young man beside her—Shiba Takuma, the young master of the Shiba family.
Meanwhile, Shiba Takuma, standing nearby, furrowed his brows at Mahiro's words.
"You're from the Yotsuba family?"
Mahiro: "..."
This guy is really blunt.
He scrutinized the young man standing before him repeatedly, his eyes brimming with disdain and mockery.
Shiba Takuma seemed oblivious to his contempt and even asked outright:
"As I recall, the Yotsuba family currently has Miyuki-senpai serving as both the family head and the president of FLT, right? Why isn't she attending tonight's banquet?"
This question nearly made Mahiro laugh out loud.
"Tell me, Young Master Shippou, are you questioning me, or are you questioning the head of the Yotsuba Family? Forgive my ignorance, but since when has your Shippou Family grown so powerful that you dare to meddle in the affairs of the Yotsuba Family? Should we have Yotsuba Maya come and kowtow to you next time?"
The words were dripping with sarcasm.
Moreover, Mahiro raised his voice slightly, drawing the attention of the banquet guests, who began to gather around.
Especially when they heard his line, "Should we have Yotsuba Maya come and kowtow to you next time?"—this made everyone present's hearts skip a beat, and they all turned their bewildered gazes toward Shippou Takuma.
You've got some nerve, kid.
Not only are you picking a fight with the Yotsuba Family, but you also plan to have the former head of the Yotsuba Family come and kowtow to you?
Rumors say the Shippou Family will be promoted to the Ten Master Clans in the next clan meeting, replacing the former Kushima Family, but aren't you getting a bit too full of yourselves?
Even the Kushima and Saegusa Families dare not provoke the currently dominant Yotsuba Family. Are you, the Shippou Family, who are about to become one of the Ten Master Clans, really that bold?
Do you really think titles like the "Queen of the Night" and the "Witch of the Far East" are just for show?
The whispers among the guests naturally reached Shippou Takuma's ears, and the disdainful and mocking looks made his face flush red.
He hurriedly defended himself:
"N-No, I was just asking casually..."
"Oh, is that so? Well, I can tell you that my fiancée Miyuki is too busy to come and has other matters to attend to. Also, next time you plan to have Yotsuba Maya come and kowtow to you, let me know. I'll bring my mother along to personally visit and kowtow to you."
I just wonder if your Shippou Family can handle it.
Shippou Takuma: "..."
This time, Shippou Takuma's face turned ashen.
The words were not only insulting but also filled with threat.
"You... Is the Yotsuba Family always this domineering?"
"Domineering? I don't think so."
Mahiro put on a troubled expression. "Compared to being domineering, I think we're nowhere near your Shippou Family. You haven't even entered the Ten Master Clans yet, and you're already trying to embarrass my Yotsuba Family, even planning to have Yotsuba Maya kneel and kowtow to you."
Such arrogance is truly overwhelming.
As he spoke, Mahiro also adopted the posture of a victim.
Hearing him bring up kneeling and kowtowing again, the surrounding guests couldn't help but snicker.
Although most of them didn't know Mahiro, they had already pieced it together from the conversation.
This must be Maya's son.
Though many were still curious about when Maya had a son.
In the end, Shippou Takuma, unable to bear the humiliation, immediately left the banquet with Sawamura Maki in disgrace.
Like a joke fleeing in panic.
"Hey, Mahiro-kun, do you have some grudge against Shippou-kun and Miss Kowamura?"
After the two left, Honoka couldn't help but ask.
Even Kitayama Shizuku turned her questioning gaze toward him.
"Not really."
Mahiro shrugged. "It's just that that woman isn't a good person, that's all."
As for that Shippou Takuma from the Shippou family... he's even more of a reckless fool, a complete idiot who doesn't think before he speaks, yet he still wants to stand up for women.
He can't even tell when someone is using him as a pawn, and he'd probably help count the money after being sold."
Mahiro's words were merciless, making both Kitayama Shizuku and Honoka burst into laughter.
"Mahiro-kun, you're still as blunt as ever."
Kitayama Shizuku said gently, though it wasn't a reproach—just an observation.
Honoka agreed with that sentiment.
However, she was more curious about why Mahiro said that Miss Kowamura had ill intentions and wasn't a good person.