The Cruelest Reality

Now, Sakayanagi Arisu added another goal to her goals.

She needs more information, everything about Kitagawa Ryo.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi is clearly a good entry point.

Chapter 113: The Cruelest Reality

As one of the top-ranked large hotels in Tokyo, the building standing in front of Sakayanagi Arisu is a 50-story building that is 200 meters high. However, she did not show the slightest fear when she came with her father. She calmly walked into the elevator on the first floor with her father, pressed the corresponding floor button, and frowned in deep thought as the elevator ascended.

The hotel's banquet hall is located on the 33rd floor of this high-rise building. It is spacious enough to accommodate more than 200 guests, and the cost of renting it for three hours is approximately 10 million yen.

However, for the guests invited here today, this number is nothing.

This is the gathering place used by Ayanokoji Atsuomi, the person in charge of the White Room. It was not a large place originally, but it suddenly became very popular a few months ago, and the number of guests increased from the original sixty to two hundred.

Sakayanagi Arisu her reflection in the glass of the luxury elevator. Dressed in a pure white dress, she looked like a true princess. She wasn't carrying her usual cane; instead, she wore an intricately patterned headband that shimmered with a captivating moon-white luster.

These kinds of gatherings usually only have adults attending, and children are rarely seen.

However, the type of event organized by Ayanokoji Atsuomi was different. Almost every guest was keen to bring their children. Besides Ayanokoji Atsuomi's current identity as the founder of a top educational institution, the more important reason was that their children would definitely meet in the future.

Top conglomerates are often solidified family businesses, so whether it's competition or cooperation, many people feel there's no harm in letting their descendants get to know each other.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that parents who think their children are exceptional are more likely to bring them to such events.

After all, for them, their children are something to be proud of more than their businesses, because they represent the future.

With a soft thud, the ascending elevator slowly came to a stop. Sakayanagi Arisu and Sakayanagi Narimori stepped out of the elevator together. The magnificent banquet hall was already filled with many well-dressed celebrities. The adults and children naturally formed two large circles, and within each large circle, many smaller circles were further divided. But no matter where they were, the central topic of conversation in each circle was the same.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi.

This man, who has suddenly appeared frequently in the public eye over the past six months, along with his White Room, is undoubtedly one of the hottest topics recently.

Upon arriving, Sakayanagi Narimori quickly began exchanging pleasantries with many familiar guests. In fact, due to differing philosophies, aside from the initial period when the White Room was first established, he had rarely attended gatherings organized by Ayanokoji Atsuomi.

While chatting with the chairman of a large company, Sakayanagi Narimori glanced at his daughter.

This trip here was entirely at the request of Sakayanagi Arisu.

At this time, Sakayanagi Arisu did not automatically join the children's circle like the previous guests, but instead began to search for Ayanokoji Atsuomi with a clear purpose.

Sakayanagi Arisu quickly spotted the other person as her gaze swept across the banquet hall. Pretending to be picking out her favorite desserts from the nearby food stalls, Sakayanagi Arisu closer and vaguely overheard a conversation between Ayanokoji Atsuomi and another person.

The man speaking to Ayanokoji Atsuomi appeared to be older than him, but his attire was unique. He was dressed head to toe in trendy brands popular among young people, and he was also wearing sandals that were completely out of place with the occasion, giving him a nonchalant and carefree look.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi was also frowning secretly. He also disliked the man's flashy clothes and casual way of thinking, but since the other party had invested a lot of money in the early stages of the White Room project, he could only try his best to show a good attitude.

"Mr. Amasawa, it's been a year since we last met, you still look so young."

"I traveled to Hawaii for a while, and although my skin got a bit tanned, I definitely regained my vitality there."

Shrugging his shoulders, the man known as Amasawa smiled rather nonchalantly.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi smiled as well. He understood what the other person meant. Although Amasawa had a family on the surface, his private life was quite decadent. Just from his tone, he could tell that the other person was not just on vacation in Hawaii, but more like he had found a lover who looked good to him.

However, Ayanokoji naturally wouldn't expose them. If the other party really had a child with his lover, wouldn't the White Room's business be booming? Besides, Amasawa himself was a regular customer of the White Room.

Thinking of this, Ayanokoji Atsuomi also spoke up:

"Speaking of which, Mr. Amasawa, would you be interested in meeting that child you left in the White Room back then?"

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Amasawa showed a puzzled expression:

"I remember the rule in the White Room wasn't that face-to-face contact with children was prohibited, but only after they were eliminated or reached adulthood and left the White Room?"

"The situation is different now than it was then, but it's understandable that Mr. Amasawa is unaware of the current situation since he just returned from abroad."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi offered a brief explanation, but Amasawa seemed uninterested, casually waving his hand and saying:

"Ayanokoji's father, please arrange things as you see fit. She was conceived through IVF anyway. Although she's my daughter by blood, I don't really feel like she's my own flesh and blood. I didn't even see her when she was born."

In the early days of the White Room, in order to attract various sponsorships, Ayanokoji Atsuomi accepted many children of all kinds, including the daughter of Mr. Amasawa in front of him, a Fifth Generation named Ichika.

For wealthy families like the Amasawa Family, IVF babies like Ichika are usually raised separately as one of their siblings, perhaps as a control group, or perhaps to test the educational capabilities of the White Room.

But in reality, after Amasawa sent his daughter into the White Room, he never asked about her or came to see her again.

"To be honest, you can kill me or torture me as you please."

Mr. Amasawa casually placed his hand on Ayanokoji Atsuomi's shoulder, humming a little tune in a rather cheerful mood.

Disregarding the other party's illustrious family background and wealth, in Ayanokoji Atsuomi's eyes, Amasawa was nothing more than a hedonistic egoist. To him, Ichika's current situation was not even as important as what he would eat for breakfast the next morning.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi lowered his eyes.

But it was precisely this kind of guy who spent half his life just barely managing to reach the other's starting point.

Sakayanagi Arisu took all of this into account.

After Mr. Amasawa left, another man approached Ayanokoji Atsuomi. Compared to Amasawa and Ayanokoji, he looked younger, probably in his thirties, and had a gentle face.

"Ayanokoji's father".

The man bowed his head to Ayanokoji Atsuomi, his tone very respectful:

"Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter."

"This is simply our duty in the White Room. Rather, the fact that Xue has stayed until now proves her talent, doesn't it?"

Ayanokoji Atsuomi smiled; the man before him was indeed Yuki's biological father.

The other party's initial intention in sending Yuki to the White Room was somewhat similar to that of Amasawa. Because they had more than one child, they believed Ayanokoji Atsuomi's initial claims on an experimental basis and entrusted their eldest daughter to the White Room for upbringing.

"Moreover, Liang approves of her a lot, and the two have a very close relationship."

Sakayanagi Arisu's hand holding the tray trembled slightly, and she pursed her lips almost imperceptibly.

"I watch every episode of Ayanokoji's father's program. Yuki definitely received a good education in the White Room."

The man said with a slight sigh, "The show 'Genius Duel' has aired more than ten episodes so far. Besides Kitagawa Ryo, Yuki has also appeared as his partner twice, and she has also shown a remarkable level of intelligence."

Judging from the news reports on television, the White Room is undoubtedly the perfect training institution.

While agreeing, Ayanokoji Atsuomi avoided mentioning the topic of suggesting that the other party go see the snow. He had learned to read people's expressions early on, and he would only make a half-hearted suggestion to parents like Amasawa who would never go.

As the person in charge of the White Room, he was one of the people who knew the truth best, including Yuki's own near-collapse mental state.

Of course, as long as Kitagawa Ryo is next to him, the other person looks like a completely normal child.

No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe her as a genius. After all, even among the Fourth Generation, Yuki was one of the most outstanding children besides Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Otherwise, she would never have been able to survive until now under such high-pressure training.

However, in terms of ability, Ayanokoji Atsuomi believes that she may be more outstanding than Amasawa Ichika, the second-ranked member of the Fifth Generation.

"I'll increase my investment this year, how about 100 million yen?"

As if expressing gratitude, the man uttered this number.

"Thank you so much for your support."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi appeared calm. In recent days, he had focused more on building his network of connections than on money, as evidenced by the increasingly large gatherings he was attending.

After speaking with Yuki's father, Ayanokoji Atsuomi, holding a wine glass full of champagne, slowly surveyed the banquet hall. He was quite satisfied with the lively atmosphere, seeing it all as potential assets for the future.

He was the humblest person standing in this place.

Sakayanagi Arisu witnessed everything and then returned to her father's side.

She suddenly remembered her father mentioning that he had once wanted to send her into the White Room, but ultimately it was thwarted by his congenital illness.

Although Sakayanagi Narimori often expresses relief or even apprehension about this matter, Sakayanagi Arisu these past few days:

If she had been sent to the White Room back then...

Perhaps the situation would be quite different now.

However, Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze quickly returned to its firmness; there was only one thing she needed to do now.

She once read a line from a play that left a deep impression on her:

I watched him build a tall building, I watched him host lavish banquets...

Just then, the building collapsed.

"Ayanokoji, I've only met with you today for one thing."

The old man in front of me exuded an aura of old age, and seemed to be getting closer to death than he had been in his youth.

However, the imposing manner and the pressure conveyed by his long-standing high position have not diminished in the slightest.

"Although I feel sorry for your years of hard work, you'll have to behave yourself for now."

Ayanokoji Atsuomi raised his head, looking at Naoe Jinnosuke with disbelief:

"Naoe- sensei? The prime ministerial election is coming up soon. The White Room is doing quite well lately, and should be able to garner a lot of support for the Naoe Faction..."

I know what you want to say.

Naoe Jinnosuke waved his hand, interrupting Ayanokoji Atsuomi, his tone very stern:

"But you need to know that I was the one who proposed the White Room Project in the first place. You've gotten to where you are today entirely because of my stance, understand?"

Seeing that the other party had completely forgotten how he had repeatedly emphasized that the Naoe Faction's name could not be used to act, Ayanokoji Atsuomi felt his blood rushing to his head, but he managed to hold back and not lash out on the spot.

"As for the prime minister election, I have already decided to give up."

"At that time, the votes from the Naoe Faction will also go to Onigashima."

Immediately afterwards, the other party made a statement that Ayanokoji Atsuomi found incomprehensible.

"If Naoe- sensei supports Onigashima... sensei, then of course I will follow in your footsteps."

Not daring to ask for the reason, nor able to press for it, Ayanokoji Atsuomi could only grit his teeth and answer.

"Didn't you understand? I'm telling you to behave yourself for a while."

A sense of foreboding washed over him in an instant, Ayanokoji Atsuomi asked, feigning ignorance:

What are you referring to?

"For Onigashima, you've been a real nuisance these past few months. You've colluded with all sorts of people and pulled off a whole bunch of sensational things. ANHS is his business, so it's only natural that his ears have heard about what you've done."

"Regarding the White Room, you've been tacitly approving of it for the past few months, and I've been the one in charge all along..."

"Huh? Did I say I wanted you to go this far? Besides, do you think I haven't cleaned up your messes over the past six months?"

Naoe Jinnosuke's tone turned into a strong reprimand.

"Then... Project White Room?"

"Do I need to explain? Turn it back into a piece of waste paper and disband it immediately."

"Those children, those with parents, will be sent back home; those without parents will be sent to welfare homes."

I could hardly hear what the other person was saying anymore, and everything in my field of vision became blurry.

Ayanokoji Atsuomi is 44 years old this year, and it has taken him 44 years to get to where he is today.

But the other party can negate all that time and effort with just one sentence.

He has already gambled away everything he has.

From a rational perspective, we should now abandon the White Room, submit to Naoe, and wait for our next comeback.

Then, will they place their hopes on Naoe Jinnosuke, or perhaps on the next generation of the Naoe Faction, his son?

"I'm sorry, I can't accept that."

For the first time Ayanokoji Atsuomi failed to remain calm.

"The White Room was funded and operated by multiple parties, including conglomerates like Kanzaki and Amasawa. It can't be scrapped with just a few words."

He tried to list his cards.

But Naoe Jinnosuke only showed a look of pity, staring at Ayanokoji Atsuomi with his dark pupils, and then laughed:

"Let me be clear then, terminating the White Room project was one of the bargaining chips in my deal with Onigashima."

"I'm old, and even if I become prime minister, I won't serve for long. But my son is still young, so I might as well build up assets for his future."

"In fact, Onigashima is also preparing educational institutions and programs similar to the White Room, in addition to ANHS."

"Furthermore, it seems quite a few people on Onigashima Faction dislike you and want you and the White Room to disappear completely."