After receiving Ai's call, Shinomiya Kaguya's mood, which had lifted slightly, plummeted instantly.
She coldly said "I understand" and hung up.
Her luxury car was still waiting outside the gate. Almost every day, two of her cars were parked outside the school to prevent any unforeseen incidents. Sometimes Ai needed one for urgent mansion business, so this foresight ensured Kaguya was never left without transport in an emergency.
"Kaguya-san! What's wrong?"
A cheerful voice rang in Kaguya's ear. Without thinking, she knew it was Fujiwara Chika.
"Nothing, just... my father is here." Kaguya shook her head slightly.
"Wh-What!"
Chika's sapphire eyes widened as if she had heard something terrible.
"Kaguya-san, let's run away!"
After a few seconds of internal debate, Chika rushed in front of Kaguya, grasping one of her hands tightly with both of hers, her eyes filled with determination.
"Hayasaka is at home."
"If I don't go, Father will definitely punish Hayasaka." Kaguya lowered her head. She didn't want to see her father at all.
Gan'an had never liked her. They rarely met, let alone spoke.
"Ah... Kaguya-san, I want to help you, but..."
Chika's head drooped. Her father had told her it was best not to interfere in other families' affairs, though daily social interaction was fine.
Since Chika's father and Kaguya's father often crossed paths due to their status, Chika and Kaguya had met through those connections.
"It's okay. I have to go back quickly, or that rigid father of mine will scold Hayasaka."
In the end, Chika could only watch helplessly as Kaguya left. Even as her best friend, she couldn't do anything to help.
Lin Feng used his spatial control magic to teleport directly into Hayasaka Ai's room.
There were no surveillance cameras or listening devices in her room; Ai checked for such things frequently.
After casting a concealment spell, Lin Feng walked out of Ai's room. Although there were no cameras in the hallway either, he needed to be safe. Ai hadn't revealed their relationship yet, so it wouldn't be good for him to just appear out of nowhere.
Though, if he really wanted to, he could just release his Divine Aura and settle everything instantly without needing any other abilities.
Lin Feng quickly made his way downstairs. The first thing he saw was Ai sitting on a sofa. To her left sat an elderly man who looked significantly aged—presumably Kaguya's father, Shinomiya Gan'an.
Lin Feng walked up behind Ai and whispered in her ear, "I'm here."
Feeling the extremely warm breath on her ear, Ai's heart tickled, but she maintained a serious and proper expression, staring straight ahead.
"Lady Kaguya!" "Lady Kaguya!"
Before long, a chorus of voices calling for Kaguya could be heard from outside.
Even Gan'an's bodyguards joined in. Regardless of everything, Kaguya was a Shinomiya, and they were servants. Even if they privately believed she wouldn't inherit anything, they had to maintain appearances.
"Father..."
"Kaguya, find a seat."
Hearing Gan'an's strange, aged voice made Kaguya feel uncomfortable inside, but she obediently sat down.
"Kaguya, in a few days, I will have someone come to reclaim the companies under your name."
Gan'an's cold voice filled the room, but his words were unbelievable to both Ai and Kaguya.
Originally, Kaguya had quite a few companies and shops under her name, but over the years, they had been stripped away one by one. Now, she only had a measly few companies and shares in some large shopping malls left. The rest had all been reclaimed by the Shinomiya Group—by the father sitting in front of her.
And today, he had come to take even those last few remaining assets? How was she supposed to cover her living expenses?"The servants aren't getting paid? I'm sure they'll just jump ship to someone else's payroll."
"Father, why are you reclaiming the few companies I have left?"
"Over the years, you've gradually taken back so many companies, and I haven't said a word."
Shinomiya Kaguya was now virtually speechless, her anger reaching its boiling point. If not for that, she wouldn't have been able to utter a word under the oppressive atmosphere created by her cold father.
"Kaguya... this is not something you can refuse."
"In a few days, I will send a steward from the main house to handle these matters. If you try to stop them, I will take away everything you have left."
Shinomiya Gan'an was pushing things to the extreme. He clearly intended to bring Kaguya completely under the family's control.
Originally, with these companies, Kaguya maintained a degree of autonomy. Now, she would become nothing more than a canary in a gilded cage.
"Family Head, I object!"
From the moment she heard Gan'an's first sentence, anger had surged within Hayasaka Ai, though her professional composure kept it in check. She had wanted to hear what else this old man had to say.
She hadn't expected him to be so shameless as to say such things openly, treating them like fools!
"Hayasaka!"
Kaguya cried out in surprise. She hadn't expected Ai to defend her so fiercely, to the point of standing up and directly challenging Shinomiya Gan'an, the absolute ruler of the Shinomiya Group.
But immediately, worry for Ai washed over her. How many people who defied her father within the conglomerate ever survived?
Even if the Hayasaka family still had some use to the Shinomiyas—and perhaps out of consideration for Ai's mother—he might spare her life for now. But she would likely be used as a tool for a political marriage, traded away like a bargaining chip.
Hearing Ai cry out against the injustice, Gan'an turned his gaze toward her. Since becoming the head of the family and controlling the conglomerate, he rarely encountered anyone who dared to oppose him.
He certainly didn't expect resistance from a member of the defeated Hayasaka clan.
"Hayasaka, you need to return to the main house and see your mother for some... intensive re-education."
Gan'an brought up Ai's mother simply to remind her: Your family is under my control.
With just one word, he could wipe them out.
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Danmachi Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (Simulpub – Full)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────