Back at Jujutsu High, Maki Zen'in stood on the training grounds with arms crossed, watching Panda and Inumaki train.
Panda turned toward her, chuckling.
"You've got that look again, Maki-san. Thinking about the higher-ups?"
Maki rolled her eyes. "Tch. Those geezers are all bark and no bite."
She wasn't wrong. Ever since returning from the Dungeon World, her strength had grown exponentially. Her Blessing Level had reached Lv4, and she now wielded domain-level magic comparable to a high-tier sorcerer.
Even Toji Fushiguro, the original Heavenly Restriction prodigy, would be in awe of her current state.
It wasn't just strength either. With Ren at her side, her perspective had changed. She had no interest in squabbling with bureaucrats or chasing small-time clout. She was above that now.
Just then, the newcomers strolled over.
Yomi Isayama and Kagura Tsuchimiya.
Yomi stepped forward, her nodachi glinting under the afternoon sun. Her eyes locked onto Maki's with unmistakable intensity.
"So you're Maki-senpai. I've heard the rumors."
Maki caught the glint of challenge in her gaze. If it were the old her, she might've humored her with a spar. But now?
She didn't fight to prove a point. She fought worthy opponents—people like Gojo Satoru.
So she replied flatly, "If you've awakened your Innate Technique, then focus on your studies here. Jujutsu High will test whether you're ready."
Yomi frowned but said nothing. She wanted to push back—to show she wasn't some greenhorn. But before she could speak, Kagura gently tugged her sleeve.
"Nee-san, now's not the time," Kagura said softly.
Yomi exhaled and stepped back. But the fire in her eyes didn't fade.
"I understand... But remember this, Senpai—my name is Yomi Isayama. I won't let you forget it."
"Fufu, I hope you live up to that name," Maki replied with a smirk and a nod.
Kagura quickly stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Um, Maki-Senpai, I'm Kagura Tsuchimiya. It's an honor to meet you!"
"Got it. I'll remember you too," Maki said with a teasing smile.
"Eh?! R-Really? I'm honored!" Kagura blushed, her voice stammering a bit.
After greeting her new kouhai, Maki turned to Panda. "Where's Gojo-sensei right now?"
"Ah, he went overseas for a mission," Panda answered, scratching the back of his head.
She didn't even need to ask—he was definitely checking in on Yuta Okkotsu. That guy was always too protective of his beloved underclassman.
Maki felt a tinge of disappointment. She had originally returned hoping to challenge Gojo Satoru in a no-holds-barred fight. But with him gone, there was no point waiting around.
As for Panda and Inumaki-senpai? Please. With her current strength, she could wipe the floor with them using only a fraction of her power.
She wasn't interested in beating up weaker opponents. Her thirst for battle was reserved for the truly elite.
Well, she'd just take on a mission to exorcise a Special Grade Curse Spirit instead. That should help scratch the itch.
She mentioned the plan to Akiyama Ren, who of course supported her decision wholeheartedly.
After teleporting back to the villa, Ren intended to check on how Yotsuya Miko and the others were progressing with their Onmyōdō and Jujutsu training. But before he could even take a step outside his room, his phone buzzed.
The screen lit up—Yukinoshita Haruno.
Ren raised an eyebrow. What now? Hadn't she flatly rejected his previous... proposal? Was she finally having second thoughts?
He answered casually. "Hello?"
A silky voice came through. "Ren-sama, may I treat you to lunch today?"
"Sure."
"Then how about 11:30 a.m.? I'll send you the address."
"Sounds good. I'll be there."
"Ren-sama, you're too kind. I'll have a driver pick you up."
"That works too."
After hanging up, Ren's expression sharpened. He activated his Divine Eye and swept across all of Chiba City in an instant. His supernatural perception painted the full picture.
So that's what this is about.
An ambitious outsider had entered Chiba and was making waves. Rapid expansion, massive investment, strategic alliances... and all of it was crushing the Yukinoshita family's hold on local business.
Their corporate influence had taken a direct hit. Several key contracts they'd banked on? Lost. Worse yet, Yukinoshita Haruno's father, a well-known councilman, had been entangled in scandal after scandal—affairs, corruption, misuse of public funds. He was now under investigation and suspended from office.
The ripple effects were devastating. Partner companies abandoned them in droves. The Yukinoshita household was in chaos, and the once-proud family teetered on the brink of ruin.
And now she comes crawling back.
Ren's eyes gleamed with mild disdain. He wasn't a villain, but he certainly wasn't a saint. He helped who he liked, and he ignored those who bored him.
Ever since awakening his System and stepping into a world beyond common sense, his moral compass had become... flexible. Pandora, the Dungeon World, countless conquests—it all reflected who he was.
If he wanted something, he took it. If someone disappointed him, they were forgotten. Simple as that.
When he'd offered to support the Yukinoshita family in exchange for one night with Haruno, she'd flatly refused.
Now that she needed him again, the stakes had changed. The price had gone up.
At 10:40 AM sharp, a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom rolled into the prestigious Saint Sakura residential area, its polished surface gleaming under the late morning sun. It came to a stop before the grand entrance of Villa Number One.
The uniformed chauffeur stepped out and pressed the intercom beside the ornate gate, then stood to the side respectfully, awaiting a response.
Within moments, the heavy gates swung open, revealing a beautiful young woman with short, chestnut hair styled neatly under a white lace maid's headdress. She wore a pristine black-and-white maid uniform with elegance and composure.
"May I help you?" she asked in a polite tone, her amber eyes coolly studying the man.
"Ah, yes! I'm here to pick up Akiyama Ren-sama," the driver replied instantly, bowing slightly. "My lady has requested his presence."
"Understood. Please wait a moment," Sakura, the head maid, replied with a graceful nod before returning inside.
A few minutes later, Akiyama Ren emerged alongside her, dressed in a sharp, custom-tailored ensemble that perfectly highlighted his lean figure and confident aura.
The chauffeur, catching sight of him, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Even the young master's maids were this stunning—what kind of life was this?
"Akiyama-sama, my ojou-sama is awaiting you at the venue. Please allow me to escort you," the driver said respectfully.
"Mm, lead the way," Ren replied nonchalantly.
The driver rushed to open the rear door, and Ren stepped into the luxury car with practiced ease. After shutting the door carefully, the driver quickly got back in and started the journey toward Tokyo.
Roughly thirty minutes later, they arrived at an opulent hotel nestled in the heart of Shinjuku—one of Tokyo's most elite districts. The name of the hotel, etched in gold above the entrance, shimmered like a beacon of high society.
Guided by the concierge, Ren was led to a private VIP suite on the top floor. As the doors slid open, a figure stood up from a velvet-cushioned seat.
Yukinoshita Haruno, dressed in a deep crimson evening gown that hugged her curves perfectly, greeted him with a delicate smile. Her usually cool and composed demeanor was replaced with something that looked suspiciously close to desperation.
"Adagaki-sama," she said, her voice laced with a forced brightness. "You came."
Ren sat beside her with deliberate ease, legs crossed as he looked her over with a smirk. "Haruno-san, what exactly did you want to talk about? I assume this isn't just a social lunch."
The way he emphasized her name made her skin crawl.
Haruno's elegant expression faltered for a brief second, but she quickly recovered and said with a flattering smile, "Akiyama-sama, I wanted to ask... about what you mentioned before."
"Oh? You'll have to be more specific," Ren replied, feigning ignorance.
Her smile tightened. The weight of her family's crumbling legacy hung heavy on her shoulders. The silence between them stretched awkwardly, until finally—unable to delay any longer—she lowered her gaze.
"If you're still willing, I... Yukinoshita Haruno, am ready to offer myself to you for a night. In exchange, please save my family."
Ren leaned back, leisurely swirling the glass of crimson wine he had poured earlier. The rich aroma lingered in the air, but he didn't drink it.
"That was the old offer, Haruno-san," he said slowly. "But now, you're not worth that much."
Her body tensed, and the corners of her lips twitched as if suppressing something primal.
"Upset?" Ren asked, lips curled into a teasing grin. His eyes gleamed like a predator's. For a moment, he was no different from those charismatic yet terrifying antagonists seen in anime—Araragi Koyomi's madness, Gilgamesh's arrogance, or even Dazai's detached cruelty.
Haruno took a breath, swallowing her humiliation like bitter sake. Then, with a perfectly rehearsed smile, she replied, "Of course not. It's my privilege to serve Adagaki-sama. I would never dare ask for anything more."
Ren raised an eyebrow at her resolve. This woman, who had once refused him outright, now grovelled in front of him. He downed the wine in a single gulp and clicked his tongue. "Tch... still doesn't taste good."
Placing the glass aside, Ren leaned forward.
"From now on, you're mine. My woman. You'll obey everything I say without question. Even if I tell you to crawl on all fours and bark like a dog, you'll do it. Are you prepared for that, Haruno-san?"
Haruno's shoulders trembled slightly, her nails digging into her palm beneath the table. But then, slowly, deliberately, she rose from her seat, got down on her knees, and looked up at him.
"From today onward... Yukinoshita Haruno is Adagaki-sama's pet."
Then, to Ren's slight amusement and vague disgust, she imitated a dog—sticking out her tongue and panting quietly.
A storm of complex emotions brewed inside him. Though a smirk touched his lips, his eyes darkened.
She had made her choice. Sacrificing herself to salvage the Yukinoshita name while paving the way for her younger sister, Yukino, to carry the legacy forward.
Ren reached down and pinched her soft, trembling tongue between his fingers. Her entire body stiffened, but she did not resist or speak.
After a few moments, he released her, wiped his fingers with a wet towel, and sat up straighter.
"That's enough," he said curtly.
Her face flushed with shame and burning humiliation, Haruno remained kneeling.
Ren took out his phone, thumbed through his contacts, and dialed.
The phone was quickly picked up on the other end.
"Young Master, do you need something from me?"
"Investigate which families or organizations have recently made moves in Chiba City. I want a full list."
"Understood! Give me ten minutes, Ren-sama."
"I'll be waiting."
Ren ended the call and glanced over at Yukinoshita Haruno, who had been watching anxiously. Her previously tensed shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
She had been genuinely worried that Ren was simply humoring her—that his promises were nothing more than idle talk. But watching him make the call with such composure, she felt a spark of hope rekindled in her chest.
"He's really doing it…" she murmured to herself.
Exactly ten minutes later, Ren's phone rang again.
He picked up instantly. "Speak. What did you find?"
The voice on the other side was grave.
"The ones making moves in Chiba City are a family-run conglomerate based out of Adachi Ward, Tokyo. Recently, they've received heavy backing from the Suou family—yes, that Suou family. Word is, they intend to groom the head of this Adachi group to become the next mayor of Chiba City."
Ren's brows furrowed slightly.
YuisakiMidori, his loyal subordinate, continued, clearly aware of the implications. "Ren-sama, please consider this carefully. If it were just the Adachi group, the Adagaki family could snuff them out like a candle. But the Suou clan… they're remnants of the old aristocracy from the Meiji era. A diplomatic house with imperial recognition. Their roots run deep. Even in decline, they are intertwined with the bureaucratic machine."
Yukinoshita Haruno, who had been eavesdropping closely, turned pale. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Suou… no one can help us now," she muttered, despair seeping into her voice.
But Ren remained composed. "I see. That's all I need to know."
He hung up.
Then, without missing a beat, he pulled out his phone again and dialed Maki Zen'in and Kurahashi Kyoko.
"I need a favor. Inform the Jujutsu Alliance and the Onmyo Agency. It's time they earned their keep."
He wasn't going to play chess on the board laid out by the secular world.
No—he would flip the board entirely.
If the Suous wanted to leverage political influence, then Ren would answer with the might of the supernatural.
The Jujutsu Society's noble clans: Gojo, Zen'in, Kamo. The Onmyo lineage: Tsuchimikado, Soma, Kurahashi, Dairenji.
They weren't just ancient families—they were institutions. Powerhouses of jujutsu and onmyōdō, hidden behind the curtain of modern society. The true string-pullers behind the Japanese supernatural and spiritual order.
And Ren had these factions at his beck and call.
Yukinoshita Haruno could only gape in awe.
"W-What kind of monster are you..." she whispered, watching him operate with terrifying confidence.
This man wasn't just the heir to a wealthy family. He was a nexus of power, with forces most people didn't even know existed dancing in his shadow.
....