The Final Notes Resound on the Uninhabited Island (III) / The Final Notes Resound on the Uninhabited Island (IV)

Hashiba Hikaru's tone suddenly changed.

"Hashiba- kun, you need to think this through. My patience is almost gone."

"Okay, you've finished speaking. Now it's my turn. May I say a few words?"

"Can."

"I... actually have one more card I haven't used yet."

Hashiba Hikaru raised a finger, a cold smile playing on her lips.

Chapter 859 The Last Notes on the Uninhabited Island Part 3)

In the quiet forest, when Hashiba Hikaru revealed that she had another trump card, a crack quickly appeared on the previously confident face of Kujo Hayato.

"A trump card? This is Uninhabited Island with no signal whatsoever."

The old man's white beard twitched as he emphasized the unique characteristics of the place. "Even if you make preparations in advance, if you can't make contact, no support will be able to arrive."

"What you said makes a lot of sense. After all, if I were to do something like that, I would also consider the implications."

Hashiba Hikaru seemed to agree with what Kujo Hayato said; he nodded and continued.

"But what if my preparations are unrelated to whether or not I make contact?"

He pointed to the ground, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"As long as a fixed method of judgment is arranged, if I don't borrow the school's signal base station to send emails at night, the other party can take immediate action. This should be a very suitable solution, right?"

"Hehe, that's true."

Kujo Hayato never looked down on Hashiba Hikaru; on the contrary, he studied her entire experience at the school very carefully.

Since the start of the school year, every decision the boy has made has exceeded everyone's expectations, and he has gradually become the most dazzling presence in the school.

We must be extremely vigilant when dealing with him.

"I am quite interested in what exactly your Hashiba?"

The old man thought for a moment, then a curious look appeared on his face. "Now that you've prepared your trump card, shouldn't you be able to use it?"

"Certainly."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, looking at Kujo Hayato's aged face, "Would you like to guess what kind of reinforcements I can bring?"

"If I guess right, what will you give me?"

"If Mr. Kujo is right, then I'm willing to concede."

Hashiba Hikaru raised her hands, her expression gentle, "I can fulfill any of your requests."

"Is that so?"

A sharp glint flashed in Kujo Hayato's eyes. He thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Hashiba- kun, Hashiba- kun, don't try any tricks. If you're trying to stall for time, this method won't work."

"This isn't about stalling for time; it's about giving Mr. Kujo a chance to get closer to victory."

Hashiba Hikaru paused for a moment, then said, "Once I reveal my trump card, there will be no turning back. The Kujo Family might suffer serious consequences as a result."

"Hashiba- kun..."

Kujo Hayato remained silent for a while. Everything he had done in his life was for the prosperity of the Kujo Family. Even if Hashiba Hikaru was lying, the old man was still unwilling to gamble.

He never liked the word "what if," and since he had already embarked on this thorny path, there was no turning back.

"In that case, I'll agree to a bet with you."

"If I guess correctly who your reinforcements are, you'd better come back to the Kujo Family with me obediently."

"If you haven't guessed correctly, then please stop here."

Hashiba Hikaru chimed in, "I won't pursue your excessive behavior today. Anyway, nothing serious happened. Just consider it a game of make-believe."

"Good."

"Mr. Kujo is indeed a straightforward person. Then it's a deal."

Hashiba Hikaru said very seriously, "Let's begin. To be fair, you only have ten minutes to guess the answer. If you still can't guess it after ten minutes, you lose."

"Can."

Kujo Hayato stroked his beard. Thirty years had passed since he inherited the power of the previous Head of the Kujo Family. Every day, the old man diligently guarded this family business that had been passed down for hundreds of years.

He only takes two days off a year: one for New Year's Day and one for his birthday.

The old man's vast experience gave him a very mature and keen way of thinking, allowing him to easily piece together the truth from the smallest clues.

In this respect, Kujo Hayato doesn't believe he would lose to a teenager.

"Since you're referring to reinforcements, Hashiba, let me narrow down the possibilities first."

He paused, then slowly said, "There are three powerful families around you: the Sakayanagi Family, the Koenji Family, and the Kiryuuin Family."

"Sakayanagi is a person who is devoted to the education industry and has never had any desire for power. Even if he admires you very much, he would not be willing to risk the downfall of his family to oppose me. That's one point."

"Please continue."

Hashiba Hikaru gestured for him to continue.

"Next is the Koenji Family. They are a ruthless and upper-class conglomerate. Even though they have extended an olive branch to you, Hashiba- kun, they will never truly consider you one of their own. Morito is a very interesting junior. I'm sure you've already met him."

"Yes, I've spoken to Mr. Koenji on the phone several times. He probably considers me a close friend despite our age difference."

Hashiba Hikaru Hashima speaks without thinking, and even if it's a lie, the other party is unlikely to actually verify it.

Even so, he will only groom you to be his successor's assistant, making you dedicate your life to the Koenji Family.

While they were analyzing the situation of the reinforcements, Kujo Hayato unknowingly started to criticize and belittle them.

He desperately wanted Hashiba Hikaru to join the Kujo Family; it was a deep-seated obsession of his.

The car accident almost destroyed everything the old man had. If it weren't for his eldest son, second son, and two daughters who survived, Kujo Hayato might have truly fallen ill and never recovered.

"So your conclusion is that the Koenji Family is unlikely to be my reinforcements?"

"Yes, they're the kind of people who won't act without self-interest. Unless Hashiba- kun has already driven me into a corner, Morito won't give the order."

That makes sense.

Hashiba Hikaru's judgment aligned with that of Kujo Hayato. Although the Koenji Family treated him very well, the boy was well aware of the implications.

"Finally, there's the Kiryuuin Family. I heard their daughter is quite close to you, but the Kiryuuin Family wouldn't dare to oppose the Kujo Family. They're low-ranking retainers of the Five Regents; they wouldn't do such a thing."

I've heard about that.

Hashiba Hikaru nodded; Kiryuuin Fuuka had explained this to him before.

The ancestors of the Kiryuuin Family were originally just low-ranking retainers of the Five Regents. It was only because they made great contributions during the Edo period that they were qualified to formally enter the ranks of the nobility.

"In that case, who do you think my reinforcements will be?"

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. It was indeed interesting to talk to Akito like Kujo Hayato, and she could also learn some new knowledge.

If the old man hadn't pressured him to marry his two granddaughters right from the start, the young man might have genuinely wanted to become friends with him despite the age difference.

"If I'm not mistaken, the person you've chosen... should be Higashiyama, right?"

The old man narrowed his eyes slightly, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"..."

He actually guessed right.

Chapter 860 The Last Notes on the Uninhabited Island Part 4)

"It seems I guessed right."

Seeing Hashiba Hikaru's surprised expression, Kujo Hayato was quite satisfied. His aged face seemed to have been rejuvenated, as if a lone tree had been reborn in spring, and he suddenly looked several years younger.

"You guessed right, my trump card is Mr. Higashiyama."

Higashiyama Majo Hashiba Hikaru connected with a politician through the Koenji Family.

That political donation became a good entry point, and coupled with the pressure from the Ayanokoji Atsuomi that suddenly broke out in the early stages of the election, the old man successfully seized the opportunity. Although he did not become Cabinet Minister, he officially joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Communications and held a high position.

Dealing with people like that is the easiest thing; all you need to do is pay them.

Higashiyama Majo was not born into a chaebol family; he simply chose the right faction and got to where he is today.

What he lacks is a steady stream of substantial funds.

Coincidentally, Hashiba Hikaru possessed these.

"Higashiyama is a good guy. He never restrains his thirst for power, and it was because of this that he was able to successfully defeat the Kijima faction back then."

A look of nostalgia crossed Kujo Hayato's face. He and Higashiyama Majo were about the same age and were both outstanding talents of the same generation.

"I've guessed the answer correctly. As agreed, Hashiba- kun must now obediently come back to the Kujo Family with me."

"If we interpret it according to the bet, that's indeed the case."

Although Hashiba Hikaru was surprised that Kujo Hayato could guess the correct answer so quickly, he would not abide by the bet no matter what answer the other party gave today.

Because the boy's initial goal was to stall for time.

"Hashiba- kun, you wouldn't break your promise, would you?"

When Kujo Hayato saw Hashiba Hikaru's still calm expression, a bad feeling suddenly arose in his heart.

Of course not.

"I will always keep my promises."

Hashiba Hikaru shook her head. "I promised to go back to the Kujo Family with you, and I will definitely do it, but there is a very important prerequisite."

"What are the conditions?"

"If the Kujo Family still exists, of course I will keep my promise..."

The boy paused deliberately for a moment, and only after seeing the old man's expression instantly darken did he slowly speak.

"But if the Kujo Family is gone, then of course I won't need to keep this bet."

"Hehe, Hashiba- kun really knows how to joke."

The amiable expression on Kujo Hayato's face had vanished without a trace, leaving only a grimace.

"I'm not kidding,"

Hashiba Hikaru shook her head. "Actually, this is quite easy to understand, Mr. Kujo."

"I've said it before: I hate being forced to do anything, whether it's being recruited by a conglomerate or being invited to become family by someone in power like you."

"I'm just an ordinary student, I don't have much of a choice. If I want to get rid of all this annoying stuff, there's only one way."

"Just do what you can to make it impossible for you to pressure me anymore."

Hashiba Hikaru placed her hand on her forehead and gazed into the distance. At the edge of the azure sky, a dark shadow had already appeared.

That was a helicopter.

"Hashiba- kun, is your goal to completely destroy the Kujo Family?"

"Yes."

Do you think you can do it?

"Mr. Kujo, why don't you turn around and take a look? My reinforcements have arrived."

Upon hearing this, Kujo Hayato quickly turned around and looked in the direction the boy was pointing.

Although he was quite far away, he recognized it as a helicopter.

What did you do?

These words were practically squeezed out from deep within the old man's throat, brimming with surging anger.

"I'll explain the specifics to you after the investigation department arrives; I'm not interested in saying too much."