Drawing a Map, Ayanokouji Atsuomi Calls / Negotiating with Ayanokouji Atsuomi-It'll Cost Extra!

"Mr. Kujo and Professor Ayanokoji, it is truly an honor for the Koenji Family to have you both visit us today."

"No need to be so polite, Morito. I've come to you today simply to ask you about a few things."

The white-haired Head of the Kujo Family was named Kujo Hayato. His aged face looked very dignified, and he spoke with great authority.

"Please ask me, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Koenji Morito inherited the Koenji Family from his father, Koenji Masahiro, who was of the same generation as the old man before him. Therefore, it was perfectly acceptable for the old man not to use honorifics, given his status and seniority.

"Duchen, you may ask."

After receiving permission from Koenji Morito, the old man immediately looked at the middle-aged man standing beside him.

The man had a gloomy and deep-set face. Although he was wearing a smart suit, his demeanor was nothing like that of a corporate elite. Instead, he resembled a wild beast eager to fight.

"Yes."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi nodded, meeting Koenji Morito's gaze directly.

"I heard that the Koenji Family recently appointed a new independent director. Is that true?"

"Hehe, Professor Ayanokoji really has excellent information. This matter is indeed true. As the major shareholder of a core subsidiary of the Koenji Family, according to the Koenji Family's rules, it is certainly permissible to invite him to join the board of directors."

When facing Ayanokoji Atsuomi, Koenji Morito's eyes immediately lost all respect.

After all, he had already figured out where the other party came from. No matter how high a Koenji Morito to power through women got, he still wouldn't move the heart of Morito Takaenji, the head of a conglomerate.

"Is his name Hashiba Hikaru?"

When he uttered that name, a fierce glint flashed in Ayanokoji Atsuomi's eyes.

"Hehe, why is Professor Ayanokoji so concerned about one of the shareholders of our Koenji Family? Did he offend you somehow?"

Koenji Morito was not in a subordinate position, so of course he wouldn't answer every question the other party wanted to hear; instead, he seized the initiative.

"Mr. Koenji, this question is very important to me, and I hope you can give me a definite answer."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi continued to press, his tone very firm, after all, he had someone backing him up.

"Honestly, Professor Ayanokoji is really pushing us. Do we need your permission to take on a shareholder?"

Koenji Morito was no pushover; his aura suddenly changed, and he looked at the man in the suit in front of him with a smile.

"Morito, just pretend it's my question. Can you give me some face?"

Just then, the Head of the Kujo Family suddenly interrupted the conversation, his white beard twitching as he stared at the son of his old friend.

The other party has been in charge of the Koenji Family for many years and has helped the Koenji Family make considerable progress in emerging fields. He is a very capable successor.

"Alright then, after all, Mr. Kujo is an old friend of my father, so of course I must respect you."

Koenji Morito said this on purpose, and after seeing Ayanokoji Atsuomi's gloomy face, he immediately smiled and asked.

"Could you please repeat your question, Professor Ayanokoji? I don't quite remember it."

"..."

Chapter 792 Drawing a Map, Ayanokoji Atsuomi's Call.

Faced with Koenji Morito's deliberately difficult attitude, Ayanokoji Atsuomi felt a surge of anger, but he did not want to offend the Koenji Family at the moment. Even if he were to turn against them, he would wait until he had truly ascended to the position of Cabinet Minister.

"What I was about to ask was..."

The man composed himself and repeated his question.

"Is the new director who joined the Koenji Family's board of directors named Hashiba Hikaru?"

"Yes, Hashiba- kun is a very outstanding young man. When I was his age, all I could think about was how to have fun."

Because the Head of the Kujo Family was there, Koenji Morito couldn't completely disregard him, but he still had to control the extent of the offense. After all, Hashiba Hikaru's mission wasn't finished yet, and he didn't want to fall out with the Kujo Family right now.

Did he come alone?

"Um?"

Koenji Morito glanced at him with some confusion, but he remembered it. "As a shareholder, Hashiba- kun should naturally attend the meeting alone. I didn't quite understand Professor Ayanokoji's question."

Have you spoken with Hashiba Hikaru?

Ever since Ayanokoji Atsuomi learned that Hashiba Hikaru was the main reason for Sakayanagi Narimori's early return to school, he had been thinking about the connection between him and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. If the two of them were really planning something, he had to prepare in advance.

"The specific topics we discussed involved company secrets, so even if Mr. Kujo were here, I couldn't tell you, Professor Ayanokoji."

Koenji Morito, sensing something unusual, spoke up, "Besides these, is there anything else you'd like to ask Professor Ayanokoji?"

He interrupted directly from that direction, and the two people opposite him, being astute, naturally understood the subtext of his words.

"Haha, Morito, you're certainly straightforward. In that case, I won't make things difficult for you."

Although the Head of the Kujo Family is a veteran zaibatsu (financial conglomerate), he is not stupid. The Koenji Family and the Kujo Family are roughly equal in strength. He only answered the question out of respect, so he can't keep asking.

That's true rulelessness.

"One last question."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi suddenly looked at Koenji Morito and asked directly.

"Mr. Koenji should have Hashiba Hikaru's contact information, right?"

A smile suddenly appeared on the man's lips. "Since he's a shareholder of your Koenji Family and the head of a subsidiary, his contact information shouldn't be considered confidential, right?"

"I see. So, it seems that Professor Ayanokoji went through all this trouble just to get Hashiba- kun's contact information."

Koenji Morito narrowed his eyes again. As the head of a conglomerate, he was not usually a pleasant person; he would only smile when he was particularly angry or deep in thought.

The more emotions one experiences, the more pronounced the smile.

Can't I have this number?

Ayanokoji Atsuomi is a man who never gives up until he achieves his goal. Since he has come all this way, he certainly cannot leave empty-handed.

"Alright, alright, since Professor Ayanokoji is so insistent, I must oblige. Otherwise, people will say that the Koenji Family doesn't know how to treat guests."

Koenji Morito handed over Hashiba Hikaru's contact information to Ayanokoji Atsuomi, adding that...

"However, it's probably best if Professor Ayanokoji doesn't contact Hashiba casually. After all, he's still a student and should focus on his studies."

"Thank you for your number. I won't bother you any longer. Goodbye."

After saving the number, Ayanokoji Atsuomi glanced at the Head of the Kujo Family beside him and prepared to take his leave.

"Please Professor Ayanokoji. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't see you off."

Koenji Morito watched Ayanokoji Atsuomi leave first, then glanced at the old man standing beside him, and sighed softly.

"Uncle Kujo, the people your Kujo Family chooses are really domineering."

"There's no other way; my grandson is simply incapable of shouldering any responsibility. We have no choice but to rely on the help of outsiders."

As a member of the Court Noble Clan, Kujo Hayato exudes the air of a zaibatsu (financial conglomerate) in every move he makes. Unfortunately, he has no successors and has to rely on outsiders to help the Kujo Family revitalize itself.

"Hehe, since you've made your decision, I naturally have nothing to say."

"Who exactly is this Hashiba Hikaru that Ayanokoji just mentioned?"

Kujo Hayato suddenly became curious. He stroked his gray beard and asked, "Why do I feel like Morito thinks highly of him?"

"He is a very outstanding young man."

Koenji Morito smiled and nodded, then made a witty remark.

"Luckily I don't have a daughter, otherwise I might have to marry him."

"Is that so?"

The old man from the Kujo Family twitched his eyebrows, a strange look on his face.

Although his grandson is not particularly outstanding, he has a very beautiful granddaughter who received a traditional aristocratic education from a young age and has a very gentle personality.

"It seems Uncle Kujo has made a very interesting connection."

Koenji Morito shook his head. "But I advise you not to overthink it. I heard he's getting very close to the three girls from the Kiryuuin Family."

"Hehe, I don't know much about love. Since he's a nice guy, it's normal for him to be popular."

Kujo Hayato smiled meaningfully, then turned and slowly walked away.

At school, after Hashiba Hikaru contacted Amasawa Ichika, he quickly agreed to her request.

Amasawa Ichika is different from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka because she didn't secretly escape from the [White Room]. Instead, she went through a series of screenings and was sent here by Tsukishiro.

She is one of the best among her cohort of trainees, and she should have a good grasp of the various situations in the [White Room], otherwise she wouldn't have agreed so readily.

"If possible, we need to draw a detailed map, including the layout of all the rooms and a map of the routes that allow for movement."

Hashiba Hikaru and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat together; the three of them were meeting up again today in a private, enclosed room.

Sakayanagi Arisu sat listening attentively. It wasn't her turn to speak up at this point, since the girl had only been to the [White Room] once, and when she was very young, so she couldn't provide much useful information.

Squeak--ya.

After the door to the private room opened, a red-haired junior walked in with a smile. After greeting the seniors one by one, she immediately moved closer to Hashiba Hikaru.

"Senior Hashiba, are you planning to draw a map of the [White Room]?"

"Amasawa, please try your best to recall and help me complete the map."

Hashiba Hikaru patted her little head and said with a smile.

"Honestly, Senior Hashiba only pats my head when he needs something from me."

Amasawa Ichika muttered something, then suddenly heard a buzzing sound.

"Senior Hashiba, your phone is ringing."

"Yeah?"

Hashiba Hikaru picked up the cell phone on the table; it was a number she had never seen before.

"Hello?"

"Is this Hashiba Hikaru? I'm Ayanokoji Atsuomi."

"..."

Chapter 793 Negotiations with Ayanokoji Atsuomi: More Money Needed!

After hearing the other person introduce themselves, Hashiba Hikaru was clearly taken aback.

Why did Ayanokoji Atsuomi know his phone number?

What is he going to do?

"Mr. Ayanokoji?"

The boy quickly gestured for the other three people present to be quiet, then pressed the speakerphone button.

"I wonder what brings you to me by phone?"

"I just came to say hello. I've heard that Hashiba- kun is a very talented person."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi gripped his phone; he had made this call specifically to test him.

"Hehe, besides greetings, Mr. Ayanokoji must have something he wants to ask, right?"

Hashiba Hikaru had no interest in pretending to be friendly with him; after all, the other party's position was completely contrary to her own, and there was no possibility of shaking hands and making peace.

The expressions of Amasawa Ichika, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, and Sakayanagi Arisu beside them were all serious. All three of them knew who the caller was, and listened to the voice coming from the phone with different expressions.

"Hashiba- kun is indeed a straightforward person. In that case, I won't mince words."

Sensing Hashiba Hikaru's attitude, Ayanokoji Atsuomi asked directly, "I know Hashiba- kun wants to do many things, but for your own good, I'm going to offer you an excellent opportunity. I hope you'll consider it."

"What opportunity?"

A disdainful smile appeared on Hashiba Hikaru's lips. Even if he wanted to use sweet talk now, it would be useless, since the boy wouldn't easily change his mind once he made a decision.

"I did some research on Hashiba family background and upbringing a few days ago. You are indeed an outstanding young man, and with just one opportunity, you can rise above others and become a true power and influence."