In the dojo of the Isayama Family, over a dozen elders and influential figures of the family had already arrived.
The dozen or so people in the room were kneeling in two neat rows.
In front of them were Isayama Yuu, Isayama Mei, and Isayama Yomi.
Isayama Yomi, who had learned of Isayama Naraku's death late last night, had cried by her father's body all night. Even now, the area around her eyes was slightly red and swollen.
Silence persisted in the room for a while. Seeing that the time was right, Isayama Yuu spoke.
"Thank you all, pillars of the Isayama Family, for attending this meeting despite your busy schedules."
After speaking, Isayama Yuu nodded slightly.
Everyone kneeling below placed their hands on their knees and bowed.
Once the greetings were finished, Isayama Yuu continued.
"As you may have heard, last night my elder brother, Isayama Naraku, was murdered by a Curse User. The specific details of the Curse User are still under investigation..."
After speaking, Isayama Yuu lowered his eyelids, feigning grief.
"Although my elder brother had retired due to his injuries, he was once a top-tier Jujutsu Sorcerer. A Curse User capable of killing him so silently must not be simple. I hope you will all do your utmost to find them."
Isayama Yuu's gaze swept over everyone in the room.
Seeing this, everyone bowed in response.
"You are all pillars of the Isayama Family, and your time is precious. Opportunities for us to gather like this are rare. Therefore, although the timing may not be ideal, please allow me to presumptuously relay my elder brother's will."
With his decade-long wish about to be fulfilled, a flicker of excitement flashed in Isayama Yuu's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
"According to my elder brother, the previous Family Head, Isayama Naraku's will, I will now temporarily assume the position of Isayama Family Head."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Really?"
As soon as these words were spoken, several voices of doubt arose from the crowd.
These individuals were all confidants of Isayama Naraku, having been promoted by him to positions of influence within the Isayama Family.
Isayama Naraku would naturally have informed them when paving the way for his daughter, asking them to support Isayama Yomi.
But at this moment, they heard a candidate completely different from what Isayama Naraku had previously stated.
A power grab?
Everyone instantly understood Isayama Yuu's intentions.
However, before they could speak, Isayama Yuu spoke again.
"Silence!"
Although Isayama Yuu's voice was loud, it lacked the authority of Isayama Naraku.
Moreover, Isayama Yuu had deliberately increased his volume to emulate Isayama Naraku's imposing presence, which instead gave him a somewhat flustered appearance.
The crowd looked at Isayama Yuu, their eyes filled with defiance.
"Although the will states that I will temporarily assume the position of Family Head, due to my own numerous commitments, the actual duties of the Family Head will be carried out by my youngest daughter, Isayama Mei. My daughter is still young, so I ask for your continued support."
As soon as this was said, the probing and defiant gazes in the room significantly diminished.
Isayama Yuu's reputation had been ruined by himself over a decade ago, so if he were to become Family Head, many would naturally object.
But Isayama Mei was different.
Both in terms of bloodline and ability, Isayama Mei was qualified to inherit the position of Family Head.
While her talent might not match Isayama Yomi's, Isayama Yomi was, after all, an adopted daughter without direct Isayama Family blood.
Therefore, upon hearing that Isayama Mei would be the actual Family Head and Isayama Yuu would only hold the nominal title, some elders tacitly accepted the outcome.
After all, when Isayama Naraku had subtly proposed passing the Family Head position to Isayama Yomi, many elders with strong traditional views had disagreed.
"Wait, Uncle Yuu."
Isayama Yomi, having emerged from her grief, finally found an opportunity to speak.
"What is it, Yomi?"
Isayama Yuu's gaze sharpened as he looked at Isayama Yomi, the girl he considered a thorn in his side.
"Did Father truly leave a will appointing you as Family Head?"
Isayama Yomi looked at Isayama Yuu with doubt.
She knew her father's opinion of Isayama Yuu and did not believe her father would pass the Family Head position to Isayama Yuu and Isayama Mei.
"How could that be? The will..."
"I can attest that the previous Family Head's will does indeed exist."
Before Isayama Yomi could finish speaking, an elderly elder interrupted her.
"The Great Elder?"
Isayama Yomi looked at the aged Great Elder with disbelief.
"Words are not enough, show me the proof."
A young man in his thirties with a resolute expression spoke up.
He was Isayama Naraku's confidant and a supporter of Isayama Yomi.
"My brother left his will when he was on his deathbed, he didn't leave a written will..."
Isayama Yuu said with an air of entitlement.
"Then how do you prove this will isn't something you fabricated? The symbol of the Isayama Family Head, the Treasure Sword Lion King, isn't in your or Isayama Mei's possession."
The young man's oppressive gaze made cold sweat break out on Isayama Yuu's forehead.
Useless. But that's fine too. A family head like this will be easier to control.
The aged Great Elder thought to himself.
"Are you questioning us elders who have dedicated decades to the family?"
The Great Elder and several others, who had been informed by the Great Elder beforehand, began to support Isayama Yuu.
Several of Isayama Naraku's confidants, not having received prior notice and being unprepared, were completely suppressed in this confrontation.
"Uncle, the most important thing now is to keep vigil for Father. The matter of the Family Head should be addressed later..."
"Shut up!"
Seeing Isayama Yomi trying to stall for time, Isayama Yuu immediately and angrily cut off Yomi's speech.
The Family Head position he had dreamed of was only one step away, how could Isayama Yuu give it up?
Moreover, the Great Elder was exerting his influence just as he had promised last night, and Isayama Yuu felt he had nothing to fear.
"At this point, who do you think is responsible! Who was holding the Isayama family's Treasure Sword Lion King but failed to protect the Family Head! The family is in crisis, and the Isayama family cannot be without a head for a single day, don't you know that!"
Isayama Yomi's body trembled slightly.
After all, Isayama Yomi was just a young girl in her teens who had just lost her father.
Isayama Naraku, who had discovered Isayama Yomi's talent as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, had originally intended to let her gain sufficient merit before slowly training her to become the Family Head.
Unfortunately, this was a turn of events he could never have imagined.
"Yomi, when your brother met with his accident, you were out fooling around with men, weren't you."
Isayama Yomi opened her mouth and looked at the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd below. Filled with self-reproach, she didn't know how to retort for a moment.
Clap, clap, clap.
A round of applause came from outside the venue.
"Who is it? I didn't think anyone would... Impossible, how could it be you!"
Isayama Yuu, whose confidence had gradually reached its peak, angrily looked at the person daring to disrupt the order of the assembly.
The next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"B-Brother, how is this possible."
"Father!"
Isayama Yomi, feeling immensely guilty, immediately rushed to Isayama Naraku's side.
"Is it really you, Father?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I've made you worry, Yomi."
Isayama Naraku looked at his crying daughter with heartache.
Then he turned, his gaze filled with anger, towards Isayama Yuu and Isayama Mei.
"What a show, Yuu."
Isayama Naraku's voice was calm, yet it made Isayama Yuu feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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