First came praise, then introductions, then building connections, and fourth should have been the money.
Fujino quietly pondered it and saw through the whole arrangement at a glance.
That was just how interpersonal relationships worked. Society ran on favors; wherever there were people, there were favors.
Understanding that deeply, Fujino did not wait for the other party to take out the money.
If it came down to taking out money, that would mean they were not giving him face.
As for not paying?
If you wanted someone to take your child as an apprentice without paying, just see whether he would make the kid suffer.
That was how old masters were. If you did not pay enough, it would be strange if they did not make things difficult for your child.
Fujino lightly cleared his throat. "Well, I'd noticed long ago that Conan was a smart kid, someone with great potential. Since Big Sis Yukiko has already asked, how could I refuse?"
"Wonderful!"
Yukiko Kudo smiled brightly, then pulled a check from her handbag and handed it to Fujino. In a gentle tone, she said, "Please don't think this payment is too little, Fujino. Conan's parents asked me to pass it along. After all, learning something means paying tuition, and we'll be troubling you as well..."
"You're being too formal..."
While awkwardly declining, Fujino took the check. He glanced at it from the corner of his eye and immediately tucked it into his pocket.
Hmm, about twenty million yen.
It was not much, but it was already a lot for taking on an apprentice.
It was even more than the lodging fee.
Fujino remembered that when Conan moved in with the Mori family, he seemed to have only paid ten million yen.
Thinking about it that way, the money was