Countdown

Upon hearing this, Hayasaka Ai, who was in charge of maintaining the call and was finally able to hear their conversation after a long, encrypted call, belatedly realized that it wasn't a problem with her ears, but rather that they hadn't actually spoken while the call was going on. Her heart stopped beating.

You can't say it's not your brother's name.

And they even directly call him "Old Deng" or something like that.

... Although I really wanted to shout that too.

"..."

In short, Hayasaka Ai nervously raised her head and looked around to see if anyone was listening.

Or perhaps someone else is watching them.

She thought she Matsushita she saw that no one was paying attention to her.

But unexpectedly, the moment she looked up, a pair of calm and beautiful eyes met hers.

She recognized this person.

Shiina Mashiro.

A world-class, genius oil painter.

She is also Advanced Nurturing???

"Oh." As if noticing her gaze, Shiina Mashiro raised her hand and gave her a brief greeting.

Then he turned his head away again.

His gaze was fixed intently on Asakusa Toru.

Wholeheartedly.

Hayasaka Ai: "..."

Good news: Asakusa Toru's shout to Shinomiya Gan'an Ueto went largely unnoticed, so he should be spared being sunk in Tokyo Bay.

The bad news is that their entire conversation may have been witnessed by Shiina Mashiro, and she herself is completely unable to move.

Perhaps this is good news; Shiina Mashiro seems to really like Asakusa Toru, so she should be alright.

Let's return to the characters of Asakusa Toru and Shinomiya Kaguya.

Despite being the head of the Shinomiya Family and Shinomiya Kaguya's father.

However, Shinomiya Gan'an was much, much older than one might imagine.

The minimum is 70, and the starting point is 75.

In other words, age-related diseases and declining bodily functions are unavoidable in older adults.

Even if the Shinomiya Family is very wealthy, physical health is not something that can be easily restored.

If we take the premise that Shinomiya Gan'an is critically ill...

Bankruptcy remains an absolute possibility.

However, influenced by the legacy, and combined with the explanation he gave after saying he wanted to become a photographer, he was deeply moved.

The power struggle among the three older brothers was an inevitable outcome.

So...

Could it really turn out that way?

Shinomiya Kaguya was a little incredulous.

But her intuition told her that this was very likely.

Intuition.

Intuition.

"Alright, that's all for the free Diary spoilers." Just as Shinomiya Kaguya was stunned, Asakusa Toru didn't give her much time to think, but simply clasped his hands together. "If you want me to prove myself, I can pick and choose some other things to say."

"Your personal private information, or the private information of those around you."

"Of course, it may not be really private, but it might surprise you."

Approaching Shinomiya Kaguya was actually just a casual thing to do; Asakusa Toru didn't really have a strong desire to accept her as a concubine.

Even if Miyuki Shirogane doesn't seem to exist.

Just Hayasaka Ai appeared here; just then, he deduced that Hayasaka Ai was behind Shinomiya Kaguya; and just then, he planned to arrange for Shiina Mashiro to go to Shuchiin.

Therefore, he granted the other party a considerable degree of freedom.

Even a refusal is acceptable; even if you refuse, it will only end there.

"No, that's not necessary," Shinomiya Kaguya's calm voice rang out. "You've already proven yourself enough."

"Ultimately, you have no obligation to reveal any information to me."

"The end of the 'free' content means that everything that follows is paid content, right?"

The implication in Asakusa Toru's words is not hard to understand: the beginning is free, but the end will naturally require payment.

Only...

The free content satisfied her curiosity, but incidentally intensified her inexplicable sense of urgency to find the answer.

If you pay...

What is she pursuing?

... Shinomiya Kaguya already knew the answer in her heart.

She wanted it.

Control of the Shinomiya Family.

This is the answer that arises in my heart at this moment.

Chapter 275 Countdown

This ambition is not unexpected.

Shinomiya Kaguya, who grew up in the Shinomiya Family, received a rather selfish upbringing from a young age.

In her childhood, she was ridiculed for being born to a concubine.

The Shinomiya Family is an extremely patriarchal family.

For Shinomiya Kaguya, neither freedom nor a happy childhood is a concept that exists in the Shinomiya Family.

Her attitude towards her family was neither particularly good nor bad.

Before today, her stance was very clear.

'I have no intention of fighting for power within the Shinomiya Family.'

Because she knew very well that she had no chance of winning against her three older brothers.

She was the youngest, she was female, and she wasn't even born to the legal wife.

There was absolutely no chance of winning.

Rather than wasting your life for a slim chance, it's better to live well in the present.

Even if it's just to become a photographer...

Oh, perhaps she understands that sentence a little now.

Even becoming a photographer would be freer than struggling in the mud of the Shinomiya Family.

But, it's quite obvious.

Her wishes are meaningless, and her ideas are of no value.

The fact that she is the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family makes her the most suitable marriage partner and a valuable bargaining chip.

There is no possibility that she would want to set herself free.

Even if it weren't for stabilizing the Shijo Family, even if Shinomiya Gan'an wasn't critically ill.

Someday in the future, she might be "sent away" by her three brothers for various reasons.

Recognize the dangers you face, and be aware of the opportunities that exist right now.

Shinomiya Kaguya's ambition naturally and quietly grew.

The existence of Asakusa Toru presents an opportunity.

The existence of the Diary was an opportunity.

A special power beyond the comprehension of his brothers, a person who knows most of the stories like an outsider.

The only issue to consider.

That's the price to pay.

"So, if I want your help, what would be the price?"

She asked that question.

"Hmm." Although Shinomiya Kaguya asked this question, Asakusa Toru did not give a price directly.

After a moment's hesitation, he said:

"Anyway, for now, let's try adding Diary to the conversations."

The existence of the Diary acts as Cognition Filter, distorting any conversations related to the Diary into irrelevant content.

This doesn't mean that every sentence should include the words "Diary".

After all, sometimes the disconnect in a conversation can actually increase suspicion, and the effect of the Cognition Filter is not limited to just adding that one sentence from the Diary.

However, this range is somewhat difficult to determine.

How wide a conversation can become distorted? How many sentences should be between entries in Diary?

Even just now, after Miyuki Shirogane was mentioned, Hayasaka Ai had clearly begun to hear their conversation.

In other words, at least with Miyuki Shirogane as the dividing line, their words could be heard by unrelated parties.

Asakusa Toru himself had nothing to be wary of.

But Shinomiya Kaguya is different.

It's highly unlikely that her phone won't be tapped; her earlier remarks about Miyuki Shirogane and Shinomiya Gan'an could be dismissed as nonsense.

But judging from Shinomiya Kaguya's attitude...

What follows cannot be so easily dismissed.

Therefore, making good use of the Cognition Filter of Diary for communication is an essential lesson.

However... once the name Shinomiya Gan'an is mentioned, if there really is eavesdropping going on, it probably won't be so easy to fool people.

Well, let's just take it one step at a time.

"... I see."

"Diary."

"Hmm, Diary."

After nodding slightly and repeating the Diary, Asakusa Toru finally began to speak:

"I don't really have anything I need to ask of you. Power is obviously not as real as absolute strength."

"However, coincidentally, I do happen to need your help with something."

"Shiina Mashiro, a world-class oil painting prodigy, now dreams of becoming a debut manga artist." Asakusa Toru smiled, "She's quite similar to a certain rich young lady who dreams of becoming a photographer; both of them are somewhat unconventional."

"I plan to provide her with a little bit of the story of 'Shuchiin,' for which she may need to conduct on-site research at Shuchiin for a period of time."

"Diary."

After Cognition Filter, Asakusa Toru continued:

"During this time, I'll have to trouble Hayasaka to take care of her for a while."

"Consider this a side condition," he said. "As for the price..."

"You must not disobey me, you must not betray me, you must not be my enemy."