On the other side.
After Saaki Funamoto led Saori Funamoto out of the luxurious Japanese-style guest room, the very same Saaki who had just looked as though she wanted to beat her unfilial daughter to death suddenly allowed her expression to shift subtly once they had walked some distance away.
Saaki Funamoto glanced at Saori Funamoto gently, signaling for her to follow. The look of fury and disappointment from moments ago—the one that had seemed ready to lash her daughter bloody with a belt—had already vanished completely, like a sheet of white paper soaked in water.
The flippant, devil-may-care expression that had been on Saori Funamoto's face also disappeared without a trace. In an instant, her entire aura changed. The earlier careless swagger was replaced by calm composure.
The best actors were never performers.
They were businessmen and politicians.
That sentence perfectly described Saaki Funamoto and Saori Funamoto.
The mother and daughter exchanged no unnecessary words. Saaki walked ahead, Saori followed behind. She even kept one hand pressed to the side of her cheek, baring her teeth slightly as if in pain, as though she had just been given another harsh scolding by her mother.
At this hour, there were not many people in the corridors of Harugamo Inn. Of course, even if someone did see them, they would merely feel a flicker of surprise or wait until there was some distance before whispering quietly to their companions:
"Looks like Miss Funamoto got beaten by her mother again."
"Madam Funamoto may be getting older, but when it comes to disciplining her child, she's still as formidable as ever."
"Did you see that? When Miss Funamoto walked past just now, she was covering half her face. Could it be swollen from the slap? Is she really her biological daughter? That was ruthless."
"Well, with a younger daughter like Saori Funamoto, who loafs around all day acting like a spoiled playgirl, it's understandable no matter how hard she hits her. If it were my child behaving like that, I'd have cut ties long ago. I'd buy them a house in some random city, give them a fixed allowance every year, and let them fend for themselves."
"You've got the nerve to talk about her? Back in your youth, you were the real heavyweight wastrel, weren't you? Otherwise how would you have ended up with so many illegitimate children?"
"Tch, can we talk nicely without digging up old dirt?"
"Ha ha, my bad. I'll treat tonight—let's go have a few good bottles."
"Still, it's understandable that the second Miss Funamoto acts so frivolously. After all, her elder sister is just too outstanding. She's practically the pride of the Funamoto family. From a young age she showed extraordinary business talent. She even graduated from one of the world's top fifty universities. After graduation, she returned home and readily accepted the marriage arranged by the family.
"In just a few short years, she's already taken over quite a bit of business from Madam Funamoto.
"With such an elder sister for comparison, what motivation would the second Miss Funamoto have to compete? No matter how hard she tries, could she ever surpass her heaven-blessed sister?"
"Having some education is still good... This isn't the wild yet opportunity-filled era when we first rose to power. Back when the Heisei era had just begun, a bit of foresight and a bit of ruthlessness were enough to make a fortune. Now I push my useless sons and daughters every day to study hard. I don't expect them to be great at business. I just hope they can get into a prestigious university."
"We've already made enough money. It's better if the next generation doesn't have too much ambition in business. Do you think running a business is something you can learn overnight? Sure, we have the capital to let them keep making mistakes. But instead of wasting money letting them 'experiment,' it's better for them to guard the family assets honestly—even if it means spending their days eating, drinking, and enjoying life."
"As the saying goes, those without learning or skills are often the ones who can preserve the family fortune. The ones who squander it fastest are those 'good children' who gain a little ability and immediately lose sight of how much they truly weigh."
"Don't put it that way entirely. Madam Funamoto's eldest daughter truly has both talent and ability. The next head of the Funamoto family will probably be her. Who knows—she might even lead the family to new heights, instead of continuing to cling to the hem of the Izumi family like a dog. When that time comes, we might have to rely on her goodwill to make our money..."
Before the woman could finish speaking, the others shot her fierce looks and subtly distanced themselves from her.
This was how interactions between families worked. When everyone stood at roughly the same level with similar backing, there was little need for flattery.
When there was no conflict of interest, harmony prevailed. An occasional gathering posed no problem.
High society was simply big fish eating small fish. Small fish either banded together or became the dogs of the big fish. But among the small fish themselves, regardless of stance, there were usually no open conflicts.
Even if children from different minor families had some unpleasant dispute, both sides would eventually find a time to host a meal, have the children apologize to one another, exchange expensive gifts, or promise a favor.
But once interests clashed—or if someone's brain suddenly malfunctioned—the people who had been calling each other brothers one second would draw a clear line the next, ready at any moment to kick someone while they were down.
At this moment, in everyone's eyes, that middle-aged woman's brain had clearly malfunctioned.
Her husband, upon hearing her words, broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly forced a smile at the others.
"I'm terribly sorry, everyone. This foolish woman of mine spends all day indulging in luxury and excess. The alcohol has long since evaporated her brain. Please don't take her seriously. Women, you know—long hair, short insight. Tonight I'll treat everyone separately to—"
Before he could finish, another man waved a hand. The voice that had sounded warm just moments ago was now icy.
"No need. I'm not fortunate enough to enjoy your hospitality. I have a video conference shortly. I'll take my leave."
"I just remembered I have a business dinner to attend soon as well. Ha ha. After soaking in the hot spring, I'm in excellent spirits. I'd say I have an eighty percent chance of securing the deal tonight. I need to return to my room to prepare some materials. Gentlemen, I'll be going."
The group that had just been chatting together dispersed in the blink of an eye, leaving the middle-aged woman and her husband standing alone.
The man watched as these business partners—who had once maintained fairly good relations with him—walked away one after another. His expression darkened instantly. He raised his hand and slapped his wife across the face, his voice low and furious.
"Have the pigs eaten your brain? How dare you say something like that in Harugamo Inn? Are you tired of living? If you want to die, don't drag me down with you. Once you're dead, I can find a woman as young as I like."
"You dare hit me?!"
The middle-aged woman had no idea why her husband had suddenly struck her. Perhaps she had lived as a wealthy lady for too long and lost sight of herself. She shrieked hysterically.
"A single day as husband and wife means a hundred days of grace. That slap was given out of consideration for the years we've spent together. If I truly didn't care about you, I would have pretended not to hear what you said just now. Then tonight, I'd kill you myself and carry your head to kneel at the gates of the Funamoto family."
At this point, the middle-aged man let out a long sigh.
"I'd rather take your head to kneel at the gates of the Izumi family. But I don't even have the qualifications to do that..."
...
After abandoning the woman where she stood, the man left on his own. The woman remained there, ranting hysterically. Perhaps she had grown accustomed to her husband's usual indulgence. Now that his attitude had turned cold and merciless, she simply could not accept it.
From the moment the earlier discussion had begun, Saaki Funamoto and Saori Funamoto had been standing behind a corner not far away, quietly listening. Only after the group dispersed did they resume walking.
Saaki said nothing from beginning to end. But Saori already understood. Halfway down the corridor, she gave a light cough and glanced back in the direction they had come from before continuing to follow her mother.
Not long after, several people wearing Harugamo Inn staff uniforms—but clearly not ordinary attendants—walked toward the middle-aged woman who was still making a scene.
The mother and daughter entered a spacious room. After sitting back down in her seat, Saaki Funamoto lowered her head slightly, as though deep in thought.
Saori Funamoto began preparing tea. She knew her mother's preferences by heart.
Once Saori poured the brewed tea into a cup and placed it before her, Saaki finally lifted her head. She took a slow sip before speaking unhurriedly.
"After hearing their conversation just now, what are your thoughts?"
"My sister is impressive. But I'm impressive too."
Saori grinned. At that moment, she seemed to have returned to her usual frivolous demeanor.
Saaki nodded in approval.
"Not a bad summary. But there's one mistake. You're more capable than your sister. It's true she has business talent, ability, knows how to win people over, and is ambitious. Many in the Funamoto family already regard her as the next head. But..."
Her gaze turned icy in an instant.
In front of outsiders, whenever Saaki mentioned her two daughters, she always spoke of the elder with pride and of the younger with disappointment. But in truth, all of it was deliberate—an act for outsiders and for that elder daughter herself.
Now, in private with her younger daughter, when she spoke of the supposedly pride-worthy elder child, her eyes held nothing but chilling coldness.
"She's too poor at acting. If she had even a shred of acting skill, I might not have discovered so early the wolfish ambition hidden in her heart. Ambition itself isn't the problem—I should even feel pleased about it. But her mistake was thinking she could touch the rule the Izumi family set for us back then."
"Mother, didn't you try hinting to persuade her before?"
"I did. It was useless. She's too confident—always believing she's the protagonist of the world, thinking she can leverage the small to challenge the great and shake the Izumi family's position. The twenty-seventh head of the Funamoto family once thought the same way. And now..."
She gave a cold laugh.
"His corpse has probably long since been devoured by the fish in Maizuru Port."
"If in the end my sister still insists on her path, what will you do?"
Saori already knew the answer, yet she asked anyway. She wanted to hear it from her mother's own mouth.
Saaki looked at her.
Over the years, in order to deceive her sister's vigilance, Saori had deliberately played the role of a wastrel—indulgent, frivolous, obsessed with pleasure—becoming almost the disgrace of the Funamoto family.
Even as the second young miss, few within the family treated her with respect. Some servants were openly perfunctory toward her. In their eyes, Saori was ruined—destined to rely on her sister's charity in the future to sustain her extravagant lifestyle.
"In my eyes, you have always surpassed your sister. Not merely because you know how to obey and understand what it means to remain the Izumi family's dog."
"More importantly, you can act. You've deceived your sister and the entire Funamoto family."
"Even I was deceived at first. If one day you hadn't broken down and confessed to me in tears, I might still believe your wastrel persona was real."
Saaki reached out and gently stroked her daughter's hair. She knew she had owed this child far too much over the years.
"My good girl. You've suffered. Enduring the cold stares at home, having almost no friends outside. Only Miss Shizuka from the Hiratsuka family saw through your act and was willing to befriend you. We must remember that kindness."
"Endure a little longer. In time, I will prepare a grand gift for you—one sufficient to repay all the grievances you've endured."
Tears shimmered in Saori's eyes as she nodded.
The more impervious she appeared on the outside, the more fragile she was within. She herself did not know how she had endured the mockery and disdain over the years.
All of it had been to ensure her sister never regarded her as a threat...
Hearing her mother mention a grand gift, Saori could not help lifting her head. She blinked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Mother... have you already decided...?"
"Those people were right about one thing. The Funamoto family is the Izumi family's dog. And it is our honor to serve as their dog. But they were wrong in assuming that because the Funamoto family has grown stronger, we now wish to break free and become 'human.'
"Even now, some ungrateful mongrels within the Funamoto family have begun entertaining crooked thoughts about escaping the Izumi family's control. It seems the Izumi family did not kill ruthlessly enough back then.
"I became head of the Funamoto family thanks to the Izumi family's grace. Though I am old, I can still serve as head for another year.
"That is, provided your sister can restrain herself.
"During these remaining years, I will cleanse the Funamoto family completely. Not a single one will be spared.
"I will leave the Izumi family a Funamoto family that is absolutely loyal. Consider it my modest repayment for their favor.
"Saori, I have already decided. After I step down, you will become the next head of the Funamoto family.
"Until then, no matter the ridicule at home or your sister's contempt, you must continue to endure. Revenge can wait. Right now you are at a disadvantage, and your sister holds the advantage. You must remain patient and wait for a perfect opportunity."
"Mother... what kind of opportunity would that be?"
With her mother's recognition, Saori's eyes lit up. Her body trembled faintly.
At the very beginning, Saori had only intended to pretend to be a wastrel in order to survive.
She understood clearly that if she did not play the role of a useless spendthrift, her sister would eventually design her death. It could be a staged car accident. It could be disguised as suicide. As the second young miss of the Funamoto family, her very existence was an eyesore to her elder sister.
But now, with her mother's growing recognition—and after years of enduring humiliation in silence—her goal had gradually shifted.
What began as a desperate wish to stay alive had slowly turned into a desire for revenge.
"Be patient," Saaki said calmly. "Wait until the day your sister loses patience and openly tears her face from mine.
"Her ambition is too great, and it grows harder to satisfy. Since the beginning of this year, she has repeatedly tested the boundaries of the businesses under my name. That proves the enterprises I assigned her are no longer enough to satisfy her and her husband's appetite.
"When that time comes, you will go directly to the Izumi family and demonstrate your sincerity. The Izumi family will be more than willing to lift a finger and crush a few disobedient ants. Afterward, even without my request, they will push you from behind and install you as the next head of the Funamoto family in one decisive move."
"Wouldn't that… count as using the Izumi family?" Saori asked uneasily.
Saaki chuckled.
"Foolish child. Think carefully. At the beginning of this year, when I paid my New Year's visit to the Izumi family, someone of my standing was only permitted to stay for one hour. Yet this year, I remained for an extra half hour. In that additional time, what do you think the head of the Izumi family said to me?"
Saori froze. Then her eyes widened in disbelief. A deep sense of awe toward the Izumi family surged within her.
"My sister's intention to betray them… the Izumi family already knew?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Never underestimate the Izumi family. To become Japan's foremost financial conglomerate, their 'eyes' are spread across the world. They detected your sister's desire to rebel back when she was still studying abroad. At that time, even I was unaware of her ambition."
"Then why didn't they tell you back then?"
Saori frowned in confusion. But after thinking it through, she quickly grasped the reason and spoke softly.
"The Izumi family… deliberately said nothing because they wanted to observe your attitude, Mother?"
Seeing her younger daughter reach the conclusion herself, Saaki nodded in satisfaction. No matter how disappointed she was in her elder child, she did not wish her younger one to be a fool.
Saori's perceptiveness pleased her.
"Exactly. The Izumi family wanted me to discover it on my own and see where I stood. If I had shown even the slightest intention of protecting your sister, I would not have been killed—but overnight, the Izumi family's pieces within the Funamoto family would have stripped me of all authority as head. I would have been placed under house arrest within the family estate, unable to step beyond its gates, spending the rest of my life there."
She sighed faintly.
"I only learned all of this after I discovered your sister's intentions and voluntarily confessed everything to the head of the Izumi family during my New Year's visit this year.
"Saori, you will one day become the head of the Funamoto family. I have nothing to teach you—because the Izumi family does not require a capable head of the Funamoto family. They only require an obedient and sensible dog.
Remember one thing: whatever happens, report it promptly to the Izumi family. Even if they already know, your initiative will demonstrate loyalty. Never make decisions on your own. Simply follow the Izumi family's instructions."
Saori nodded.
In truth, hearing this now, it was clear that nearly every generation of the Funamoto family head had been a puppet supported by the Izumi family, used to control the entire clan.
Yet Saori felt no resentment.
To be controlled by the Izumi family meant she would not have to overthink anything in the future. She would simply execute their commands and, in return, the Funamoto family's prosperity would be guaranteed. No need to worry about business failure. No need to worry about capital shortages.
Yes, people would laugh and say the Funamoto family was merely the Izumi family's dog.
But… what was wrong with being the Izumi family's dog?
Countless prestigious families would beg for such a position and never attain it.
Many of the clans that mocked the Funamoto family's weak knees did so with envy burning in their hearts.
After finishing her cup of tea, Saaki did not allow Saori to refill it. Instead, she asked slowly:
"Saori, earlier you said that the eldest Miss Izumi is Shizuka Hiratsuka's girlfriend… is that true?"
"It feels true. Shizuka rarely lies," Saori replied.
Saaki tapped her fingers lightly against the table. After a moment, she continued:
"If that is the case, then the Hiratsuka family must have accumulated great virtue in their previous life.
"However, the charm of the eldest Miss Izumi is indeed extraordinary. The two girls beside her just now—though she claimed they were merely friends—I have lived long enough to see clearly. Both of them harbor feelings for Kotomi Izumi. Not the affection of friendship, but the kind that wishes to become lovers.
"If I am not mistaken, the eldest Miss Izumi is currently in a relationship with the girl named Yui Yuigahama."
"Then doesn't that mean Shizuka has two romantic rivals? Wait—if the eldest Miss Izumi already has Shizuka yet still maintains ambiguous ties with other girls, even dating another one… isn't that two-timing?" Saori exclaimed in shock.
Before she could finish, Saaki reached out and lightly smacked her. This time, it was a genuine reprimand.
"I just praised you and you're already getting carried away. One sentence can be framed a hundred different ways—you must learn that. If it were any other girl behaving like this, then yes, she would be a scoundrel. But if it is the eldest Miss Izumi, then it is not called being a scoundrel.
"You use a different word.
"You call it being magnanimous in love. Understood?"
"Understood..."
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven