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***
Yumi's unexpected appearance adds another layer to Ryuuichi's already complicated situation. The arranged marriage, the family politics, and now a concerned aunt—it's a lot to process. He appreciates Yumi's worry but can't shake the feeling that he's being pulled back into a world he actively tried to leave behind.
Inside the café, Yumi Kaneshiro had reserved the entire establishment, with security personnel positioned around the perimeter. This precaution ensured privacy for her discussion with Ryuuichi.
"Ryuuichi, where have you been all these years? Your aunt and everyone else were very worried about you."
Ryuuichi chuckled humorlessly. "Heh."
Coming from his aunt, Ryuuichi found the words very ironic. Besides his three older sisters, he only believed his aunt was genuinely worried about him. As for the rest of the family worrying about him, he just wanted to laugh.
When his parents died in an accident, only his aunt and eldest sister handled their affairs; there was no one else (his maternal grandparents had passed away successively when Ryuuichi was young).
His paternal grandparents didn't even offer condolences, and his two uncles only thought about coveting the properties his parents left them, even trying to scheme to seize them.
Yumi recognized the bitterness in his tone, understanding his skepticism. The actions of her other brothers following the deaths of Arthur and Audrey had clearly left a deep impression on Ryuuichi and his sisters.
"Ryuuichi, take this. It's a small token of my affection for you—an unregistered bank card that can be used at any international bank." Yumi produced a golden bank card, sliding it across the table towards Ryuuichi.
Ryuuichi initially hesitated, wanting to refuse the gesture. However, he considered that while Antares Mercenary Group was beginning to stabilize, it still required significant capital for further development.
"Thank you, Auntie." Ryuuichi accepted the card, placing it in his pocket.
"That..." Yumi hesitated, as if struggling to find the right words.
"Auntie, if there's something you want to say, just say it."
"It's like this, your grandfather has arranged a marriage for you."
Ryuuichi's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossing his face. "What does that old man mean?" His tone was sharp, betraying his rising frustration.
"Your grandfather has arranged for you to marry Meilin Taira, the eldest daughter of the Taira Family. The arrangement involves you marrying into the Taira Family as a live-in son-in-law."
Ryuuichi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Takeo Kaneshiro was using him as a pawn. It appeared there was a major collaboration planned between the Kaneshiro Family and the Starfall Dynasty, but to ensure mutual trust, Takeo was treating Ryuuichi as a disposable asset, sending him to the Taira Family as collateral.
Ryuuichi stood up abruptly. "Tell that old man for me—tell him I am not his pawn, and he will regret this." Without another word, Ryuuichi turned and exited the café.
Yumi sighed, recognizing the weight of her father's actions. She, too, felt the arrangement was excessive, made unilaterally without consulting anyone.
As Ryuuichi walked out of the café, he heard shouts and a scolding voice nearby.
"Hayato, stop right there!"
Ryuuichi glanced in the direction of the sound, spotting Hayato being pursued by a young woman.
The young woman had an oval face and sweet features, but her current expression was one of anger as she chased Hayato. Ryuuichi recognized her as Luna Minamoto.
Luna was Hayato's fiancée, the eldest daughter of another prominent family. The two families had arranged a childhood engagement.
Although Luna was a year younger than them, she was considered a childhood friend. Ryuuichi knew that Luna had harbored feelings for Hayato since they were young, always treating him as her own, and disliked other females getting close to Hayato.
However, Hayato had always regarded Luna as a younger sister.
Hayato, spotting Ryuuichi, quickly ran behind him for cover.
Ryuuichi extended an arm, blocking Luna's path.
Luna looked up, recognizing Ryuuichi. "Oh, it's you, Ryuuichi. Long time no see." A pleasant tone replaced her earlier anger.
"It has been a while. We haven't seen each other for about three years. What brings you here?"
"I came here with your aunt to relax. I didn't expect to run into Luna here."
Yumi emerged from the café at that moment. "Nephew, why did you join a Mercenaries group?" she asked, noticing the emblem on Hayato's uniform.
"I'm with Ryuuichi now; Ryuuichi is my boss." Hayato pointed at Ryuuichi, laughing.
The two girls looked surprised. Yumi hadn't expected her nephew to become the leader of a Mercenaries company.
"Ryuuichi, you actually started a Mercenaries company? Can you fight? Can you command and direct?" Yumi asked, her expression a mix of surprise and concern.
"Auntie, don't…" Hayato, seeing Yumi's intent gaze, coughed before continuing, "Auntie, don't worry, Ryuuichi is more than capable. No one pilots MS better than him, and he also established a military manufacturing company; many of the weapons are…"
"Hayato!" Ryuuichi shot him a warning glare, signaling him to stop talking.
Hayato quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
Yumi paused, piecing together the information. She remembered Ryuuichi's childhood fascination with military technology—the drawings of robots, battleships, and tanks, the anime, novels, and comics focused on MS and war. It seemed her nephew's decision to leave home three years ago was to pursue his lifelong dream.
Ryuuichi then pulled a controller from his pocket, pressed a button, and a motorcycle parked nearby automatically drove to his location.
Putting on his helmet, Ryuuichi turned to Hayato. "Are you staying here, or are you coming back with me?"
"Of course, I'm going back."
Luna had been about to ask Hayato to stay, but Yumi gave her a subtle look, and Luna closed her mouth, watching the two men ride off on the motorcycle.
At that moment, a bodyguard approached Yumi, whispering in her ear.
Yumi nodded, then whispered instructions to the bodyguard before escorting Luna back to the hotel.
…
Inside the hotel suite, Yumi studied the intelligence report handed to her by a bodyguard. "Ryuuichi is quite something. He's built his company to this scale in just a few years."
A red-haired bodyguard stepped forward. "Miss, we've just received information that Ryuuichi is currently resting on a frigate, a warship belonging to his Antares Mercenary Group. They are docked for two days for maintenance and to solicit commissions."
Yumi beckoned the red-haired bodyguard closer, whispering instructions. The bodyguard bowed and left to carry out the task.
"Miss, should we bring Ryuu back home?" asked a middle-aged, black-haired bodyguard.
Yumi shot a glare at the bodyguard. The man, known as Uncle Walter, immediately lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.
"Walter, you've known me since childhood. You know how much I care for Ryuuichi. Forcibly bringing him back would earn me his lifelong resentment."
"Yes, Miss," Walter replied, stepping back respectfully.
"You may all leave. I'm tired and need to rest." Yumi waved her hand, dismissing the bodyguards.
Yumi went to her bedroom to rest.
…
Meanwhile, aboard the frigate, Ryuuichi was relaxing in his quarters when he received a call from the captain.
"Sir, we have a potential client. They want us to escort them to the ancient kingdom of Ganze." The captain's voice crackled through the comms. "Normally, this would be a routine task for Antares, but they're offering one billion Credits for a single escort. It feels… suspicious. I didn't want to accept without your say-so."
Ryuuichi considered the offer. A billion Credits was an exorbitant sum. Only someone with a lot of money would be able to pay for the task. It was a setup, but not one he could ignore. Ryuuichi already had a hunch about who was behind the commission.
"Accept the job," Ryuuichi instructed.
***
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