At the opposite table, seeing Kaguya Shinomiya's words becoming increasingly outrageous, Ai Hayasaka could no longer focus on restraining Luo Shu's hand. Instead, she quickly stood up, walked to Kaguya Shinomiya's side, and with a dark expression, pulled her away along with her chair:
"Young mistress, you're drunk."
"But, Hayasaka... I haven't been drinking..."
Ignoring Kaguya Shinomiya's protests, Ai Hayasaka said firmly:
"No, you're drunk."
As she spoke, Ai Hayasaka took out her phone, called in the four female bodyguards stationed outside the door, and said expressionlessly:
"Young mistress is drunk. Arrange for her to sober up in the neighbouring private room."
"Yes!" x4
The four female bodyguards quickly bundled up Kaguya Shinomiya and carried her to the adjacent private room.
After the door closed, Ai Hayasaka sighed, massaged her forehead and pulled out a chair to sit down, and sighed:
"What kind of farce is this!!"
"I actually find it quite interesting."
Luo Shu, sitting nearby, said with a chuckle:
"So, what Kaguya Shinomiya has been troubled about recently is how to treat her non-biological old father properly while planning to finish off those older brothers?"
"No, that's not what she told me yesterday."
Ai Hayasaka sighed at this point, feeling that there was a huge gap in the sisterly relationship between her and Kaguya Shinomiya:
"Yesterday she clearly told me to preserve as much of the Shinomiya family's core industries as possible."
How could the young mistress change her mind in the blink of an eye? Did she know how much sacrifice Haruno had made just to invite Luo Shu out? Just moments ago, Ai Hayasaka thought she'd have to leave early and go to a hotel with Luo Shu first.
Meanwhile, Haruno Yukinoshita was beginning to understand the situation.
Why did it feel like the person who truly had influence with Luo Shu in the Shinomiya family wasn't Kaguya Shinomiya, but rather her maid Ai Hayasaka?
A puppet master and her behind-the-scenes manipulator maid?
With this thought surfacing in her mind, Haruno Yukinoshita put on a proper smile again:
"People's opinions shouldn't change that easily, should they?"
This was practically saying outright that Kaguya Shinomiya was being duplicitous.
It was clear that Haruno was genuinely displeased with Kaguya's strange tactics.
At this point, Ai Hayasaka said calmly:
"She has multiple personalities."
Haruno, caught off guard, immediately fell silent:
"That explains it then."
You can't reason with a mentally ill person, especially when that mentally ill person is sitting right next to you.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu was also piecing things together:
"The rational Kaguya hopes to preserve more of the Shinomiya family's industries through me, but the emotional Kaguya wants every Shinomiya family member dead except for Gan'an Shinomiya?"
"It seems the Shinomiya family has been quite turbulent lately."
Ai Hayasaka's expression remained calm: "Young master Seiryu and several clan elders have been making private contacts and have secretly met with the Shijo family."
"The Shijo family, if I recall correctly, is a branch family of the Shinomiya family. The kind with deep-seated hatred."
Haruno's mind quickly made the connection, and she couldn't help but laugh:
"Quite cunning, isn't he? Old man Gan'an Shinomiya."
At this moment, Ai Hayasaka sighed softly:
"The discord between the Shijo and Shinomiya families is actually an illusion deliberately created by the old patriarch Gan'an."
"Originally, the old patriarch's plan was for the Shinomiya main family to be inherited by the eldest son, Oko, with the second son, Seiryu and third son, Un'yo, each inheriting portions of the property."
"Meanwhile, young lady Kaguya, who inherited the old patriarch's personal assets, would marry into the Shijo family as the wife of the heir, providing the conditions for the Shijo family to become the new Shinomiya family."
"As for the reason behind this arrangement..."
Here, Ai Hayasaka casually revealed Gan'an Shinomiya's biggest secret:
"The current head of the Shijo family is the old patriarch Gan'an's illegitimate child."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood everything: "I see. Sacrificing the pawns to save the king?"
He had to admit, this move made him want to applaud Gan'an Shinomiya.
"Circumventing the agreement with American financial conglomerates, avoiding the watchful eyes of Japan's authorities, marrying the child born from the woman he loved to his own grandson, then having the Shijo family shed all Shinomiya restrictions to become a new top financial conglomerate."
"That old bastard certainly knows how to scheme."
Luo Shu shook his head at this point:
"But he probably didn't anticipate how quickly the situation would change."
"Indeed." Ai Hayasaka had no particular opinion on this, even though the Shinomiya family's calamity was caused by the conflict between Serafall and Aya Tokoyogi.
But to be honest, the Shinomiya family is no different from ants when facing those two Demigods. The only connection they could possibly have lies with the two Familia candidates, Ai Hayasaka and Kaguya Shinomiya.
To put it bluntly, Kaguya Shinomiya is essentially a caged canary raised by the Shinomiya family.
Aside from Gan'an Shinomiya, who arranged everything for her and pampered her as she grew up, if anyone else in the family died, Kaguya would probably applaud and cheer.
As for Ai Hayasaka... the Hayasaka family was a lineage that Oko Shinomiya personally took action to annex.
Having been a servant from birth until adulthood, Ai Hayasaka may not feel strongly about it herself, but she is well aware that the other elders of the Hayasaka family likely despise the Shinomiya family to the core, yet dare not show it.
Under these circumstances, the Shinomiya family's connection to the Hidden Management Department is practically nonexistent. How would they dare seek revenge against two Demigods?
They'd probably be eliminated the moment they even considered it, without causing so much as a ripple.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Haruno Yukinoshita noticed that Luo Shu seemed to have a new idea and couldn't help but ask curiously:
"I currently have quite a few Shinomiya family businesses that the Shijo family is attempting to acquire through roundabout methods. I suppose this must be the Shinomiya family's last struggle."
"Should we stop them?"
Luo Shu's response was somewhat vague:
"That depends on the situation."
"On what situation?" Haruno Yukinoshita was somewhat puzzled.
At that, Luo Shu simply turned his head and looked towards Ai Hayasaka:
"Ai, later on, go and confirm whether Maki Shijo, the current heiress of the Shijo family, has the qualifications to become a Familia."
Hearing this, both Ai Hayasaka and Haruno Yukinoshita understood Luo Shu's implication.
If Maki Shijo has the qualifications to become a Familia, then this manoeuvre can be tolerated. If not... then both the Shinomiya and Shijo families would be operating in violation of the rules... and their fate would naturally go without saying.
Just then, Luo Shu smiled and eased the tension, saying:
"Alright, alright, let's leave the serious matters here for now. Have Kaguya come back for dinner."
"Let's eat first. After we finish, I'll probably have to rush to the next engagement."
"The next engagement?" Ai Hayasaka was taken aback upon hearing this; she had just been considering which hotel to book. How could Luo Shu already have another dinner arrangement?
Luo Shu then explained with a look of exasperation:
"Utau Hoshina asked to meet with me, and in the evening, I already have plans with Maya Yotsuba..."
"I have a feeling today is going to be very busy."
Hearing this, Ai Hayasaka said nothing, but silently used the Divine Pantheon's private messaging function to send Luo Shu the address of a hotel.
Luo Shu made a questioning sound upon receiving the message and looked up at Ai Hayasaka's expressionless face.
Seeing that she showed no reaction and was very seriously making a phone call to arrange for someone to bring Kaguya back, Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at her again.
'Good grief, I really am in for it...'
Luo Shu inwardly exclaimed 'bloody hell', simultaneously realising one fact:
'It looks like my entire evening is fully booked... damn.'