Chapter 127
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.
Over three years had passed ever since Kurogane Shishio visited the Kouzuki clan and caused a divide that set into motion the early revelation of the mysterious person behind Kazuno Technologies. This caused a lot of commotion in the business world initially but after a time, everyone started to accept it especially after the initial release of the products that were developed by Kazuno Mei and her company.
Kazuno Technologies begun a revolution that combined reliable performance along with a support AI to help those who are less technologically inclined. 'Rucy-chan' was an instant hit amongst adults and young people alike. There was even a collaboration to make different versions of 'Rucy-chan' in the form of other well-known characters which boosted the company's fame to great heights.
It's direct competitor when the company was still in its initial stages, the Ringo Corporation, lost their illustrious CEO and after that, the company's remaining board members have been bought out by the Kurogane Conglomerate for scraps. Little did they know that their decision to build up the company in their own image would fail miserably once the mysterious new company exposed their cards.
The Ringo Corporation's products were known for their simple yet elegant look despite the obvious money-making scheme they placed on whatever programs they would use because they separated themselves from universal compatibility. There were still those that preferred to use them after Kazuno tech's products reached the consumers but they were those that just didn't like to change.
With the assistance of Rucy-chan that was available for every device that Kazuno Tech made, even senior citizens felt like they could keep up with today's technology. This caused the Kurogane Conglomerate to regret their decision on trying to revive the Ringo Corporation's former glory. Even with their deep connections, there was no stopping Kazuno Tech which started a technological revolution.
Kurogane Sousuke initially thought that he had gotten a one-up on his younger brother. He was the one who took the initiative and took over the Ringo Corporation the moment he found out that Muimina Budou had disappeared. He took advantage of the fact that Shishio had been focusing on his son and his ex and made a move without consulting the family. He used his own assets so he could claim the remnants of the Ringo Corporation for himself and take all the credit but it backfired on him miserably.
Shishio, on the other hand, was thankful that he hadn't made a move. He would have used his own assets but a great portion of them was given to Kazuya as a tribute to show his sincerity. It was given to the boy directly when they met again after the boy's busy schedule had been cleared up. The boy accepted it and wasted no time to move everything to an account that was unknown to Shisho.
Though initially, he felt that his deal with Kazuno Mei was to his advantage, Shishio later thought that he let her off too easily especially after the losses his elder brother suffered from his efforts to try and suppress Kazuno Tech. He felt that he had underestimated Mei greatly.
He once feared that she would make use of his son like she did before but while he kept an eye on her, something came to his attention. A mysterious girl who popped out of nowhere had been seen living with her after she moved to live in the renovated headquarters of Kazuno Technologies.
Kazuno Kaguya, a girl who was supposedly Kazuno Mei's adopted sister. Not even he could determine the girl's origins because Mei's family had been complicated in the first place. Her father was from the suburbs of the large country that was southwest and while her mother lived with her for a while, she had already left this world.
Furthermore, Kazuno Kaguya was used as the public face of Kazuno Tech after the success of her debut in the historical drama along with the now extremely popular Kuronuma Ayame. These two were known as best friends and were said to know a lot about each other. Kuronuma even went as far as to state that she could answer most questions that fans had been trying to find out about the quiet Kaguya.
Even if that weren't the case, these celebrities usually have tight-knit protection over their privacy. Kazuno Kaguya and Kuronuma Ayame, in particular, were part of the Aoki group so their privacy's protection was more or less guaranteed because anyone who would speak ill of anyone they were in charge of would suffer quite a number of consequences. With these two as their current rising stars, who would dare pry into the girls' private affairs and risk getting buried in the eyes of the public?
Shishio was suspicious about where Kazuno Kaguya came from but he was more concerned about both his son and that mysterious girl going to Aoki group. He was suspicious about it and thought that Kazuno Mei was using that unknown girl to communicate with Kazuya secretly. He only calmed down when he found out that Kazuya and Kaguya wouldn't have many chances to converse much because not only did Kazuya not have good relations with Kuronuma Ayame, the two never had the chance to be in the same place at the same time.
Other than that, things have relatively been going smoothly with his relationship with Kazuya. Though it was a very awkward start at first since Shishio had no idea what being a father meant, it became nearly simple because of his son's intelligence and wisdom. He could imagine what Kyouko told his son if she did talk about him so he opened up the topic whilst telling his own story.
This all happened when Kazuya came by for a visit at the hospital where Shishio had been confined. Shishio took advantage of his pitiful state to gain a bit of sympathy so that the child would listen with an open mind. Unfortunately, Nagisa did not make it out of surgery alive and she died shortly after the couple was rushed to the hospital.
This was the reason why Sousuke had gained a little control over what Shishio left behind and made his move. While the latter had been building a foundation with Kazuya, the former made a move towards his individual ruin. Though these two were separate men, it was still their clan who took a blow.
Kazuya who was initially surprised after getting word that Shishio and Nagisa got into an accident only had one thought. 'This guy sure acts fast'. He already mentioned that there would be no way for him and someone like Nagisa to get along so Shishio considered his options and chose Kazuya who had a greater benefit to him more than anyone.
Kazuya immediately understood the moment he entered the hospital room. He scanned Shishio's bandaged body and other than bruises and light injuries, he wasn't as injured as he appeared to be. Nagisa had acted as a shield that the man took advantage of and she incurred most of the damage that led to her demise.
"(You truly are befitting of your name)" Kazuya thought as he pretended to listen intently to the sob story Shishio told. Kazuya didn't care whether it was true or not, what mattered to him were the facts. He didn't know what Shishio's endgame was but it didn't matter. He was trying hard not to end his life at that moment so that this scum father would join his bitch wife in hell.
.
Kazuya was now in his second year of middle school and had passed the initial starting point of his previous life. He had been successful in preventing the event that changed his fate to a tragic one. He had already proven to himself that fate can indeed be changed as long as he took the necessary steps, so he was looking forward and had been preparing for his travel back to the world that had its people manipulate and murder him and his companions.
"P-please!!!! Just k-kill me!!!" A man wearing a bloody suit was tied to a chair that had a pool of blood forming around it.
This man is Asahi Daikichi, a board member of the Kouzuki Corporation who had been collaborating with the Kurogane Conglomerate in secret. He was only one of the not so obvious ones that Kazuya dug up as he spent more time in the Kurogane Conglomerate. This man was now Test Subject Number 92 of Kazuya's studies.
"There's no need to be dramatic now is there? I haven't even cut off anything that wouldn't grow back" Kazuya grinned. This man was begging to die just when he was getting warmed up. He only had his assistant Anri use a nail cutter to slowly skin this man's legs so what was the big deal? He didn't even dig out an eyeball with a spoon as he tried with the others yet.
"I just have one more question to ask" Kazuya had been wearing a mask but Daikichi saw the serious and sinister look he was given. This was probably the reason why he had been taken tonight. "A little over two years ago, someone broke into the Kouzuki clan's residence. There was nothing stolen but the surroundings were made a mess out of. Did it have anything to do with the Kuroganes?"
"I've told you everything I know! I don't know who you are but the Kuroganes will definitely find yo—" his mouth froze as soon as the masked man in front of him took off the mask covering his face.
"There's no need for them to find me because since you've signed the necessary papers to transfer all your shares to me in the event of absence, they would have signed it off as losing a mere spy to a company that they would eventually own in the future via me. You were quite clever to avoid letting my mom and the others who are truly loyal to the company to find out your affiliation to the Kuroganes, by doing it early but, too bad… crushing traitors like you had become a habit of mine" he gave the old man a sinister smile before turning towards Anri who understood that she can take care of the rest.
Kazuya was quite pleased with this assistant of his. Anri was supposed to be serving as Matsuri's assistant but when she was given a choice on who she wanted to serve, her first choice was surprisingly the one who put her through so much torment when they first met.
Kazuya was initially hesitant on accepting Anri, but it was better to keep an eye on her because even he wasn't sure that what this girl experienced was enough to make her loyalty last. Anri was set to be Kaguya's assistant and manager which Mei didn't have any complaints with because not only was Anri reliable, she was trustworthy in her eyes.
Kazuya found it convenient because this girl already had a glimpse of what he was capable of so he didn't need to pretend with Anri. He was even able to let her help him with his studies whenever he fished out traitors within the Kouzuki Corporation which granted him a seat as a spectator as not only did this weird girl show complete obedience, she didn't even flinch at the spectacle of what Kazuya did to the caught traitors.
"Master…" Anri turned towards him with her bloody apron. "He broke…" She looked a little disappointed. Asahi Daikichi was already foaming at the mouth as he twitched and trembled uncontrollably.
"Let me take a look" He moved towards the old man and gave him a suspicious look. There had been times a few test subjects feigned as they had been broken but what they didn't know was that doing that only made things worse for them.
*KRRRK* Kazuya bent one finger which made Daikichi groan but there was no change in his state of mind. Anri was not trying to break the test subject's mind, but rather striving to find a balance, yet she had failed once again. It was truly a difficult endeavor without her master's help.
"What a shame. This one broke too easily" Kazuya sighed as he began to heal the old man's wounds. This was a spectacle that Anri never grew tired of watching.
"How will this one die, master?" She took off her apron and neatly folded it before placing it on the table that was crowded with tools.
"Let's see…" Kazuya concentrated mana at the tip of his finger and formed an air bubble. He shot it towards Daikichi's body and after a few moments, the man started to convulse as if he was having a heart attack. Kazuya wasted no time and summoned his ring and put the man's corpse inside it after he took his final breath.
"Sorry master" Anri saw her master's sigh as he couldn't apprehend the one responsible for disturbing the mana gathering formation in the Kouzuki house.
His primary suspect had been the Kuroganes but there was no one home at the time someone broke in and aside from the landscape being messed up, there had been nothing else. It was like a prank in everyone else's eyes but Kazuya suspected something else.
Tsuna was the first suspect because he knew about formations and recognized the mana gathering formation that was slowly being extended but at the time of the incident, Tsuna was with Kou and the others on a trip which was confirmed via a video conference when he asked for his predecessor's opinion.
It had been two years after the occurrence, even Tsuna thought that it had been an isolated incident. He didn't know why Kazuya had been so paranoid about it, but since he lived in the mountains, Tsuna considered that it was akin to animals reacting to nature which may have been the cause.
"It's alright" Though this question came out of habit when he interrogated people, he didn't hope to find any answers. "I'll put this old man back in his home so you may head back to the headquarters" He took a look at himself and made sure that there were no traces left before using his mana to cleanse the place.
"Ayame-sama has been trying to contact you and has been asking when she could meet up with you" seeing that their task was over, she immediately reverted back to her regular assistant mode. "Should I tell her the usual excuse?" seeing the frown on her master's face, she immediately suggested his usual plan of action.
"Just tell her we'll meet up when the next project has been decided. Tsuna-san is returning soon so I need to prepare myself for it"
.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
.
Over three years had passed ever since Kurogane Shishio visited the Kouzuki clan and caused a divide that set into motion the early revelation of the mysterious person behind Kazuno Technologies. This caused a lot of commotion in the business world initially but after a time, everyone started to accept it especially after the initial release of the products that were developed by Kazuno Mei and her company.
Kazuno Technologies begun a revolution that combined reliable performance along with a support AI to help those who are less technologically inclined. 'Rucy-chan' was an instant hit amongst adults and young people alike. There was even a collaboration to make different versions of 'Rucy-chan' in the form of other well-known characters which boosted the company's fame to great heights.
It's direct competitor when the company was still in its initial stages, the Ringo Corporation, lost their illustrious CEO and after that, the company's remaining board members have been bought out by the Kurogane Conglomerate for scraps. Little did they know that their decision to build up the company in their own image would fail miserably once the mysterious new company exposed their cards.
The Ringo Corporation's products were known for their simple yet elegant look despite the obvious money-making scheme they placed on whatever programs they would use because they separated themselves from universal compatibility. There were still those that preferred to use them after Kazuno tech's products reached the consumers but they were those that just didn't like to change.
With the assistance of Rucy-chan that was available for every device that Kazuno Tech made, even senior citizens felt like they could keep up with today's technology. This caused the Kurogane Conglomerate to regret their decision on trying to revive the Ringo Corporation's former glory. Even with their deep connections, there was no stopping Kazuno Tech which started a technological revolution.
Kurogane Sousuke initially thought that he had gotten a one-up on his younger brother. He was the one who took the initiative and took over the Ringo Corporation the moment he found out that Muimina Budou had disappeared. He took advantage of the fact that Shishio had been focusing on his son and his ex and made a move without consulting the family. He used his own assets so he could claim the remnants of the Ringo Corporation for himself and take all the credit but it backfired on him miserably.
Shishio, on the other hand, was thankful that he hadn't made a move. He would have used his own assets but a great portion of them was given to Kazuya as a tribute to show his sincerity. It was given to the boy directly when they met again after the boy's busy schedule had been cleared up. The boy accepted it and wasted no time to move everything to an account that was unknown to Shisho.
Though initially, he felt that his deal with Kazuno Mei was to his advantage, Shishio later thought that he let her off too easily especially after the losses his elder brother suffered from his efforts to try and suppress Kazuno Tech. He felt that he had underestimated Mei greatly.
He once feared that she would make use of his son like she did before but while he kept an eye on her, something came to his attention. A mysterious girl who popped out of nowhere had been seen living with her after she moved to live in the renovated headquarters of Kazuno Technologies.
Kazuno Kaguya, a girl who was supposedly Kazuno Mei's adopted sister. Not even he could determine the girl's origins because Mei's family had been complicated in the first place. Her father was from the suburbs of the large country that was southwest and while her mother lived with her for a while, she had already left this world.
Furthermore, Kazuno Kaguya was used as the public face of Kazuno Tech after the success of her debut in the historical drama along with the now extremely popular Kuronuma Ayame. These two were known as best friends and were said to know a lot about each other. Kuronuma even went as far as to state that she could answer most questions that fans had been trying to find out about the quiet Kaguya.
Even if that weren't the case, these celebrities usually have tight-knit protection over their privacy. Kazuno Kaguya and Kuronuma Ayame, in particular, were part of the Aoki group so their privacy's protection was more or less guaranteed because anyone who would speak ill of anyone they were in charge of would suffer quite a number of consequences. With these two as their current rising stars, who would dare pry into the girls' private affairs and risk getting buried in the eyes of the public?
Shishio was suspicious about where Kazuno Kaguya came from but he was more concerned about both his son and that mysterious girl going to Aoki group. He was suspicious about it and thought that Kazuno Mei was using that unknown girl to communicate with Kazuya secretly. He only calmed down when he found out that Kazuya and Kaguya wouldn't have many chances to converse much because not only did Kazuya not have good relations with Kuronuma Ayame, the two never had the chance to be in the same place at the same time.
Other than that, things have relatively been going smoothly with his relationship with Kazuya. Though it was a very awkward start at first since Shishio had no idea what being a father meant, it became nearly simple because of his son's intelligence and wisdom. He could imagine what Kyouko told his son if she did talk about him so he opened up the topic whilst telling his own story.
This all happened when Kazuya came by for a visit at the hospital where Shishio had been confined. Shishio took advantage of his pitiful state to gain a bit of sympathy so that the child would listen with an open mind. Unfortunately, Nagisa did not make it out of surgery alive and she died shortly after the couple was rushed to the hospital.
This was the reason why Sousuke had gained a little control over what Shishio left behind and made his move. While the latter had been building a foundation with Kazuya, the former made a move towards his individual ruin. Though these two were separate men, it was still their clan who took a blow.
Kazuya who was initially surprised after getting word that Shishio and Nagisa got into an accident only had one thought. 'This guy sure acts fast'. He already mentioned that there would be no way for him and someone like Nagisa to get along so Shishio considered his options and chose Kazuya who had a greater benefit to him more than anyone.
Kazuya immediately understood the moment he entered the hospital room. He scanned Shishio's bandaged body and other than bruises and light injuries, he wasn't as injured as he appeared to be. Nagisa had acted as a shield that the man took advantage of and she incurred most of the damage that led to her demise.
"(You truly are befitting of your name)" Kazuya thought as he pretended to listen intently to the sob story Shishio told. Kazuya didn't care whether it was true or not, what mattered to him were the facts. He didn't know what Shishio's endgame was but it didn't matter. He was trying hard not to end his life at that moment so that this scum father would join his bitch wife in hell.
.
Kazuya was now in his second year of middle school and had passed the initial starting point of his previous life. He had been successful in preventing the event that changed his fate to a tragic one. He had already proven to himself that fate can indeed be changed as long as he took the necessary steps, so he was looking forward and had been preparing for his travel back to the world that had its people manipulate and murder him and his companions.
"P-please!!!! Just k-kill me!!!" A man wearing a bloody suit was tied to a chair that had a pool of blood forming around it.
This man is Asahi Daikichi, a board member of the Kouzuki Corporation who had been collaborating with the Kurogane Conglomerate in secret. He was only one of the not so obvious ones that Kazuya dug up as he spent more time in the Kurogane Conglomerate. This man was now Test Subject Number 92 of Kazuya's studies.
"There's no need to be dramatic now is there? I haven't even cut off anything that wouldn't grow back" Kazuya grinned. This man was begging to die just when he was getting warmed up. He only had his assistant Anri use a nail cutter to slowly skin this man's legs so what was the big deal? He didn't even dig out an eyeball with a spoon as he tried with the others yet.
"I just have one more question to ask" Kazuya had been wearing a mask but Daikichi saw the serious and sinister look he was given. This was probably the reason why he had been taken tonight. "A little over two years ago, someone broke into the Kouzuki clan's residence. There was nothing stolen but the surroundings were made a mess out of. Did it have anything to do with the Kuroganes?"
"I've told you everything I know! I don't know who you are but the Kuroganes will definitely find yo—" his mouth froze as soon as the masked man in front of him took off the mask covering his face.
"There's no need for them to find me because since you've signed the necessary papers to transfer all your shares to me in the event of absence, they would have signed it off as losing a mere spy to a company that they would eventually own in the future via me. You were quite clever to avoid letting my mom and the others who are truly loyal to the company to find out your affiliation to the Kuroganes, by doing it early but, too bad… crushing traitors like you had become a habit of mine" he gave the old man a sinister smile before turning towards Anri who understood that she can take care of the rest.
Kazuya was quite pleased with this assistant of his. Anri was supposed to be serving as Matsuri's assistant but when she was given a choice on who she wanted to serve, her first choice was surprisingly the one who put her through so much torment when they first met.
Kazuya was initially hesitant on accepting Anri, but it was better to keep an eye on her because even he wasn't sure that what this girl experienced was enough to make her loyalty last. Anri was set to be Kaguya's assistant and manager which Mei didn't have any complaints with because not only was Anri reliable, she was trustworthy in her eyes.
Kazuya found it convenient because this girl already had a glimpse of what he was capable of so he didn't need to pretend with Anri. He was even able to let her help him with his studies whenever he fished out traitors within the Kouzuki Corporation which granted him a seat as a spectator as not only did this weird girl show complete obedience, she didn't even flinch at the spectacle of what Kazuya did to the caught traitors.
"Master…" Anri turned towards him with her bloody apron. "He broke…" She looked a little disappointed. Asahi Daikichi was already foaming at the mouth as he twitched and trembled uncontrollably.
"Let me take a look" He moved towards the old man and gave him a suspicious look. There had been times a few test subjects feigned as they had been broken but what they didn't know was that doing that only made things worse for them.
*KRRRK* Kazuya bent one finger which made Daikichi groan but there was no change in his state of mind. Anri was not trying to break the test subject's mind, but rather striving to find a balance, yet she had failed once again. It was truly a difficult endeavor without her master's help.
"What a shame. This one broke too easily" Kazuya sighed as he began to heal the old man's wounds. This was a spectacle that Anri never grew tired of watching.
"How will this one die, master?" She took off her apron and neatly folded it before placing it on the table that was crowded with tools.
"Let's see…" Kazuya concentrated mana at the tip of his finger and formed an air bubble. He shot it towards Daikichi's body and after a few moments, the man started to convulse as if he was having a heart attack. Kazuya wasted no time and summoned his ring and put the man's corpse inside it after he took his final breath.
"Sorry master" Anri saw her master's sigh as he couldn't apprehend the one responsible for disturbing the mana gathering formation in the Kouzuki house.
His primary suspect had been the Kuroganes but there was no one home at the time someone broke in and aside from the landscape being messed up, there had been nothing else. It was like a prank in everyone else's eyes but Kazuya suspected something else.
Tsuna was the first suspect because he knew about formations and recognized the mana gathering formation that was slowly being extended but at the time of the incident, Tsuna was with Kou and the others on a trip which was confirmed via a video conference when he asked for his predecessor's opinion.
It had been two years after the occurrence, even Tsuna thought that it had been an isolated incident. He didn't know why Kazuya had been so paranoid about it, but since he lived in the mountains, Tsuna considered that it was akin to animals reacting to nature which may have been the cause.
"It's alright" Though this question came out of habit when he interrogated people, he didn't hope to find any answers. "I'll put this old man back in his home so you may head back to the headquarters" He took a look at himself and made sure that there were no traces left before using his mana to cleanse the place.
"Ayame-sama has been trying to contact you and has been asking when she could meet up with you" seeing that their task was over, she immediately reverted back to her regular assistant mode. "Should I tell her the usual excuse?" seeing the frown on her master's face, she immediately suggested his usual plan of action.
"Just tell her we'll meet up when the next project has been decided. Tsuna-san is returning soon so I need to prepare myself for it"
.
.Over three years had passed ever since Kurogane Shishio visited the Kouzuki clan and caused a divide that set into motion the early revelation of the mysterious person behind Kazuno Technologies. This caused a lot of commotion in the business world initially but after a time, everyone started to accept it especially after the initial release of the products that were developed by Kazuno Mei and her company.Kazuno Technologies begun a revolution that combined reliable performance along with a support AI to help those who are less technologically inclined. 'Rucy-chan' was an instant hit amongst adults and young people alike. There was even a collaboration to make different versions of 'Rucy-chan' in the form of other well-known characters which boosted the company's fame to great heights.It's direct competitor when the company was still in its initial stages, the Ringo Corporation, lost their illustrious CEO and after that, the company's remaining board members have been bought out by the Kurogane Conglomerate for scraps. Little did they know that their decision to build up the company in their own image would fail miserably once the mysterious new company exposed their cards.The Ringo Corporation's products were known for their simple yet elegant look despite the obvious money-making scheme they placed on whatever programs they would use because they separated themselves from universal compatibility. There were still those that preferred to use them after Kazuno tech's products reached the consumers but they were those that just didn't like to change.With the assistance of Rucy-chan that was available for every device that Kazuno Tech made, even senior citizens felt like they could keep up with today's technology. This caused the Kurogane Conglomerate to regret their decision on trying to revive the Ringo Corporation's former glory. Even with their deep connections, there was no stopping Kazuno Tech which started a technological revolution.Kurogane Sousuke initially thought that he had gotten a one-up on his younger brother. He was the one who took the initiative and took over the Ringo Corporation the moment he found out that Muimina Budou had disappeared. He took advantage of the fact that Shishio had been focusing on his son and his ex and made a move without consulting the family. He used his own assets so he could claim the remnants of the Ringo Corporation for himself and take all the credit but it backfired on him miserably.Shishio, on the other hand, was thankful that he hadn't made a move. He would have used his own assets but a great portion of them was given to Kazuya as a tribute to show his sincerity. It was given to the boy directly when they met again after the boy's busy schedule had been cleared up. The boy accepted it and wasted no time to move everything to an account that was unknown to Shisho.Though initially, he felt that his deal with Kazuno Mei was to his advantage, Shishio later thought that he let her off too easily especially after the losses his elder brother suffered from his efforts to try and suppress Kazuno Tech. He felt that he had underestimated Mei greatly.He once feared that she would make use of his son like she did before but while he kept an eye on her, something came to his attention. A mysterious girl who popped out of nowhere had been seen living with her after she moved to live in the renovated headquarters of Kazuno Technologies.Kazuno Kaguya, a girl who was supposedly Kazuno Mei's adopted sister. Not even he could determine the girl's origins because Mei's family had been complicated in the first place. Her father was from the suburbs of the large country that was southwest and while her mother lived with her for a while, she had already left this world.Furthermore, Kazuno Kaguya was used as the public face of Kazuno Tech after the success of her debut in the historical drama along with the now extremely popular Kuronuma Ayame. These two were known as best friends and were said to know a lot about each other. Kuronuma even went as far as to state that she could answer most questions that fans had been trying to find out about the quiet Kaguya.Even if that weren't the case, these celebrities usually have tight-knit protection over their privacy. Kazuno Kaguya and Kuronuma Ayame, in particular, were part of the Aoki group so their privacy's protection was more or less guaranteed because anyone who would speak ill of anyone they were in charge of would suffer quite a number of consequences. With these two as their current rising stars, who would dare pry into the girls' private affairs and risk getting buried in the eyes of the public?Shishio was suspicious about where Kazuno Kaguya came from but he was more concerned about both his son and that mysterious girl going to Aoki group. He was suspicious about it and thought that Kazuno Mei was using that unknown girl to communicate with Kazuya secretly. He only calmed down when he found out that Kazuya and Kaguya wouldn't have many chances to converse much because not only did Kazuya not have good relations with Kuronuma Ayame, the two never had the chance to be in the same place at the same time.Other than that, things have relatively been going smoothly with his relationship with Kazuya. Though it was a very awkward start at first since Shishio had no idea what being a father meant, it became nearly simple because of his son's intelligence and wisdom. He could imagine what Kyouko told his son if she did talk about him so he opened up the topic whilst telling his own story.This all happened when Kazuya came by for a visit at the hospital where Shishio had been confined. Shishio took advantage of his pitiful state to gain a bit of sympathy so that the child would listen with an open mind. Unfortunately, Nagisa did not make it out of surgery alive and she died shortly after the couple was rushed to the hospital.This was the reason why Sousuke had gained a little control over what Shishio left behind and made his move. While the latter had been building a foundation with Kazuya, the former made a move towards his individual ruin. Though these two were separate men, it was still their clan who took a blow.Kazuya who was initially surprised after getting word that Shishio and Nagisa got into an accident only had one thought. 'This guy sure acts fast'. He already mentioned that there would be no way for him and someone like Nagisa to get along so Shishio considered his options and chose Kazuya who had a greater benefit to him more than anyone.Kazuya immediately understood the moment he entered the hospital room. He scanned Shishio's bandaged body and other than bruises and light injuries, he wasn't as injured as he appeared to be. Nagisa had acted as a shield that the man took advantage of and she incurred most of the damage that led to her demise."You truly are befitting of your name" Kazuya thought as he pretended to listen intently to the sob story Shishio told. Kazuya didn't care whether it was true or not, what mattered to him were the facts. He didn't know what Shishio's endgame was but it didn't matter. He was trying hard not to end his life at that moment so that this scum father would join his bitch wife in hell..Kazuya was now in his second year of middle school and had passed the initial starting point of his previous life. He had been successful in preventing the event that changed his fate to a tragic one. He had already proven to himself that fate can indeed be changed as long as he took the necessary steps, so he was looking forward and had been preparing for his travel back to the world that had its people manipulate and murder him and his companions."P-please!!!! Just k-kill me!!!" A man wearing a bloody suit was tied to a chair that had a pool of blood forming around it.This man is Asahi Daikichi, a board member of the Kouzuki Corporation who had been collaborating with the Kurogane Conglomerate in secret. He was only one of the not so obvious ones that Kazuya dug up as he spent more time in the Kurogane Conglomerate. This man was now Test Subject Number 92 of Kazuya's studies."There's no need to be dramatic now is there? I haven't even cut off anything that wouldn't grow back" Kazuya grinned. This man was begging to die just when he was getting warmed up. He only had his assistant Anri use a nail cutter to slowly skin this man's legs so what was the big deal? He didn't even dig out an eyeball with a spoon as he tried with the others yet."I just have one more question to ask" Kazuya had been wearing a mask but Daikichi saw the serious and sinister look he was given. This was probably the reason why he had been taken tonight. "A little over two years ago, someone broke into the Kouzuki clan's residence. There was nothing stolen but the surroundings were made a mess out of. Did it have anything to do with the Kuroganes?""I've told you everything I know! I don't know who you are but the Kuroganes will definitely find yo" his mouth froze as soon as the masked man in front of him took off the mask covering his face."There's no need for them to find me because since you've signed the necessary papers to transfer all your shares to me in the event of absence, they would have signed it off as losing a mere spy to a company that they would eventually own in the future via me. You were quite clever to avoid letting my mom and the others who are truly loyal to the company to find out your affiliation to the Kuroganes, by doing it early but, too bad crushing traitors like you had become a habit of mine" he gave the old man a sinister smile before turning towards Anri who understood that she can take care of the rest.Kazuya was quite pleased with this assistant of his. Anri was supposed to be serving as Matsuri's assistant but when she was given a choice on who she wanted to serve, her first choice was surprisingly the one who put her through so much torment when they first met.Kazuya was initially hesitant on accepting Anri, but it was better to keep an eye on her because even he wasn't sure that what this girl experienced was enough to make her loyalty last. Anri was set to be Kaguya's assistant and manager which Mei didn't have any complaints with because not only was Anri reliable, she was trustworthy in her eyes.Kazuya found it convenient because this girl already had a glimpse of what he was capable of so he didn't need to pretend with Anri. He was even able to let her help him with his studies whenever he fished out traitors within the Kouzuki Corporation which granted him a seat as a spectator as not only did this weird girl show complete obedience, she didn't even flinch at the spectacle of what Kazuya did to the caught traitors."Master" Anri turned towards him with her bloody apron. "He broke" She looked a little disappointed. Asahi Daikichi was already foaming at the mouth as he twitched and trembled uncontrollably."Let me take a look" He moved towards the old man and gave him a suspicious look. There had been times a few test subjects feigned as they had been broken but what they didn't know was that doing that only made things worse for them.*KRRRK* Kazuya bent one finger which made Daikichi groan but there was no change in his state of mind. Anri was not trying to break the test subject's mind, but rather striving to find a balance, yet she had failed once again. It was truly a difficult endeavor without her master's help."What a shame. This one broke too easily" Kazuya sighed as he began to heal the old man's wounds. This was a spectacle that Anri never grew tired of watching."How will this one die, master?" She took off her apron and neatly folded it before placing it on the table that was crowded with tools."Let's see" Kazuya concentrated mana at the tip of his finger and formed an air bubble. He shot it towards Daikichi's body and after a few moments, the man started to convulse as if he was having a heart attack. Kazuya wasted no time and summoned his ring and put the man's corpse inside it after he took his final breath."Sorry master" Anri saw her master's sigh as he couldn't apprehend the one responsible for disturbing the mana gathering formation in the Kouzuki house.His primary suspect had been the Kuroganes but there was no one home at the time someone broke in and aside from the landscape being messed up, there had been nothing else. It was like a prank in everyone else's eyes but Kazuya suspected something else.Tsuna was the first suspect because he knew about formations and recognized the mana gathering formation that was slowly being extended but at the time of the incident, Tsuna was with Kou and the others on a trip which was confirmed via a video conference when he asked for his predecessor's opinion.It had been two years after the occurrence, even Tsuna thought that it had been an isolated incident. He didn't know why Kazuya had been so paranoid about it, but since he lived in the mountains, Tsuna considered that it was akin to animals reacting to nature which may have been the cause."It's alright" Though this question came out of habit when he interrogated people, he didn't hope to find any answers. "I'll put this old man back in his home so you may head back to the headquarters" He took a look at himself and made sure that there were no traces left before using his mana to cleanse the place."Ayame-sama has been trying to contact you and has been asking when she could meet up with you" seeing that their task was over, she immediately reverted back to her regular assistant mode. "Should I tell her the usual excuse?" seeing the frown on her master's face, she immediately suggested his usual plan of action."Just tell her we'll meet up when the next project has been decided. Tsuna-san is returning soon so I need to prepare myself for it".
