After throwing Niko into Arkham, Jaden stopped worrying about him.
He knew Arkham too well.
As long as Niko didn't deliberately wander into the truly dangerous zones, he could survive just fine with a bit of caution.
But if he went looking for trouble himself...
-Heh.
Jaden had already said hello.
Those inhabitants of the danger zones wouldn't kill people easily.
As for what kind of injuries he might end up with, that wasn't Jaden's problem.
After all...
Those remnants of despair might just want to prank him.
Play a game.
Make him an outfit.
Or give him a bit of cosmetic surgery to make him look... more artistic.
And Izuru Kamukura and Adam were there too.
Adam wouldn't let people die.
As for Izuru Kamukura-no, Hajime Hinata now-that guy completely outclassed the residents of Arkham and could suppress any major incidents before they escalated.
If someone truly dangerous managed to escape...
Jaden smiled.
He wasn't Batman.
If you really got out, he wouldn't politely invite you back in~
"Jaden..."
While Jaden was thinking about all this, Erina, whom he was holding, slowly opened her eyes.
She still looked half-asleep.
She rubbed her head lightly against him, adjusted herself into a more comfortable position, and then closed her eyes again.
Jaden looked down at her.
He knew she was awake.
So he spoke softly.
"Erina, in a little while we'll have to head to the Northern Country for that strange cooking competition."
"But before that... I heard last night that there's going to be a major change in the Far East?"
Hearing this, Erina replied lazily with her eyes still closed.
"A change, yes."
"But you can't really call it soon."
"The previous Supreme Speaker's term is over, and the election for the next one has begun."
"I heard the Shinomiya, Fujiwara, Sanzenin, Tenousu, and even the Togami families all have ambitions."
"But it doesn't really concern Totsuki."
"We're basically just voters."
"And since we won't get directly involved, there shouldn't be any trouble."
Jaden nodded.
There really was no reason for Totsuki to get involved.
Whoever became the next Speaker didn't matter.
If they cooperated, fine.
If they didn't-
They'd just replace them with someone who would.
So Jaden hadn't given this much thought.
There was no need to.
Until-
"Mr. Yuki, it's been a long time."
Jaden looked at the man sitting across from him.
He poured himself a cup of water from the thermos, then spoke calmly.
"Yukinoshita."
"You haven't come to see me since the Toyo Electric Power incident."
"Why are you here today?"
He took a sip of water, then shook his head.
"If you're having business troubles, go talk to Erina."
"You didn't stand on the wrong side back then."
"As long as it's not excessive, it's no problem for Totsuki to look after the Yukinoshita family a bit."
Jaden had always been sharp-tongued with people close to him.
But he was actually kind.
Well.
He'd never had bad intentions since he was a child.
So for the Yukinoshita family, who had helped him before, he didn't mind lending a hand.
Especially since-
For him now, this kind of thing was trivial.
After all, he effectively controlled Totsuki, Sanzenin, and Tenousu.
"No... it's not a business issue."
Kuzunari Yukinoshita shook his head.
"It's about the Far East changing its Supreme Speaker."
"As you know, while our Yukinoshita family are only regional councilors... we're still councilors."
"So..."
Jaden raised an eyebrow.
"It's just a Speaker replacement."
"Even if the new Speaker wants to reshuffle his people, it's unlikely he'd start with regional councilors at the bottom."
"Mr. Yukinoshita."
"Aren't you being a little too self-conscious?"
Jaden rarely beat around the bush.
Unless he was talking to Erina.
Or to elders like Yugi.
And what he said was the truth.
Your Yukinoshita family was just a minor regional councilor.
What did the Supreme Council changing Speakers have to do with you?
When an emperor in ancient times was replaced, sure, he might replace his confidants.
But would he replace everyone from the prime minister down to a village head in the countryside?
No.
So why was a small village head panicking?
Hearing this, Kuzunari Yukinoshita sighed.
"Mr. Yuki, if this were before, I wouldn't be worried."
"But recently... our Yukinoshita family offended a councilor over a private matter."
"If it weren't a transition period, it wouldn't matter. Council seats are usually stable."
"But now..."
"There could be problems."
That explanation made sense.
Regional councilors still depended on votes.
And the Yukinoshita family wasn't transcendent like Totsuki.
If someone with motives wanted to stir things up, it wouldn't be hard to find an excuse to push them out.
That was the downside of being low-ranking.
You were inconspicuous.
But once you were noticed-
You had no leverage.
Jaden nodded.
"Who did your family offend?"
Kuzunari Yukinoshita sighed again.
"Someone from the Sanzenin family."
"A person qualified to be an heir."
"And also a formal councilor."
"If it were anyone else, I might've gone to General Nakiri."
"But since it involves Sanzenin..."
"That's why I came to you."
Very few people knew about the subordinate relationship between Sanzenin and Jaden.
In the eyes of most, the only force in the Far East that could truly confront Totsuki was Sanzenin.
That was Totsuki-
Without counting Jaden as an anomaly.
Otherwise, the near-annihilation of the Shinomiya main line wouldn't be such a tightly kept secret.
That was why Kuzunari Yukinoshita came directly to Jaden instead of Erina.
"You're the last person I can turn to."
"If you're willing to help..."
"I would be truly grateful."
Kuzunari Yukinoshita wasn't stupid.
He didn't bring up compensation.
He knew that if Jaden helped, it wouldn't be for benefits.
It would be for personal reasons.
Because even if the Yukinoshita family offered everything they had-
It would still be insignificant to Totsuki.
So he didn't mention compensation.
But any condition Jaden proposed-
As long as the Yukinoshita family could meet it, he would agree.
After all-
For a family their size, if they could deal with Sanzenin, giving up anything would be worth it.
The only things he couldn't give up were his wife and his two daughters.
But he knew Jaden's feelings toward Erina.
This man wouldn't make such a request.
As for everything else-
-Anything was fine.
"Your Yukinoshita family actually dared to offend the Sanzenin?"
Jaden's tone was relaxed.
Not because the Yukinoshita wanted him to deal with Sanzenin.
Even if they said they'd offended aliens, he'd probably sound the same.
He didn't care who the enemy was.
He was just curious.
How did the Yukinoshita family even manage to offend Sanzenin?
How did they dare?
Kuzunari Yukinoshita straightened slightly.
"I had no choice."
"Mr. Yuki."
"My wife and my two daughters are my bottom line."
"I don't care much about the company or the council seat if I don't need them."
"I was nobody to begin with."
"I only reached this position because my family supported me."
"I wouldn't mind losing everything and starting over."
"But I absolutely cannot sacrifice my family."
Jaden blinked.
"So..."
"A Sanzenin heir took an interest in your daughter?"
"Is it really this cliché?"
Kuzunari Yukinoshita's serious expression collapsed instantly.
"Mr. Yuki..."
"Shouldn't you normally show some sympathy at a time like this...?"
"Hm?"
Jaden looked puzzled.
"You're just stating a common situation."
"Why would that need approval?"
This time, Kuzunari Yukinoshita was the one stunned.
But he quickly shook his head.
"You're right."
"However..."
"Mr. Yuki."
"The Sanzenin heir isn't interested in my daughter."
"Then what?"
"He's interested in my wife."
Huh!?
Jaden froze for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"That makes things interesting~"
Kuzunari Yukinoshita was right.
Jaden wouldn't help just for compensation.
He wouldn't even help purely out of old favors.
But-
If the matter itself was interesting...
That was a different story~