"Oko-nii, you are too kind. It was only by coincidence that I encountered that matter with Sakayanagi."
"At the time, I thought that instead of letting outsiders profit from such a good opportunity, it would be better to let our own people handle it, as long as Oko-nii does not think the profit is too small."
Toru spoke only pleasant words to Oko.
For this heir of the Shinomiya family who did not truly match his position, one had to go along with him. Only then could greater benefits be extracted from him.
With someone like Oko, unless you could finish him in one strike, it was better not to offend him.
Foolish people also brought trouble, especially when that foolish person was vindictive and held considerable power. Even the slightest offense might make him act recklessly without considering the consequences.
So first, appease him. Then find an opportunity to take everything he has.
"Haha, Toru-kun is right. We are our own people. You are too modest. That was a deal involving twenty billion dollars. How could I think the profit is small?"
"That old man Sakayanagi hoarded good things but was stingy. Now that old fool has been calculated by others instead."
"The Shinomiya family originally planned to take a share too, but since it involved several other financial conglomerates, it was inconvenient for us to interfere further."
"But as soon as Toru-kun stepped in, everything was settled. I admire you!"
"Do not worry about the money you deserve. We will transfer it to your account within the next two days. It is just a bit troublesome since we need to avoid taxes."
Oko looked delighted and patted Toru hard on the shoulder.
Seeing Toru so close to him and lowering his stance greatly satisfied Oko's vanity. It made him feel that Toru understood his place, which left him elated.
"I do not understand these matters, so I will leave it to Oko-nii."
"No trouble at all!"
"By the way, where is Kaguya? Did she not come with you?"
"Oh, Toru-kun is thinking about his fiancée? She came with me. She is over there."
Oko pointed casually. His expression changed instantly. He had been smiling a moment ago, but now anger rose in his eyes.
Kaguya, accompanied by Hayasaka, was speaking with a beautiful girl with twin ponytails who looked about the same age.
Oko's anger was directed precisely at that girl.
"Who is she?"
"Maki Shijō."
Oko's expression became somewhat unnatural.
"The Shinomiya family and the Shijō family were originally one family. The Shijō were a branch of the Shinomiya family."
"Due to differences in philosophy, the Shijō family eventually separated."
His words were vague.
Toru could already guess that when the two families split, the Shinomiya family likely used some underhanded methods.
Most of the Five Regent Houses had branched out from the Fujiwara.
The Shinomiya family was no exception. Originally, they were part of the Fujiwara Hokke Uona line. Only after becoming independent did they form their own branch families.
But Oko's reaction was strange.
With his personality, if he were facing someone he had defeated, he would be condescending and dismissive.
Yet he showed anger toward Maki.
There were clearly deeper issues between these two families.
"Talking about the Shijō family is unlucky. Once a family splits off, it is like spilled water. Do not mind them."
"By the way, Toru-kun, were you out with Hayasaka last time?"
"Yes. I happened to run into her at the aquarium."
"What do you think of Hayasaka?"
"I think she is quite good. As a maid, she is diligent, responsible, and capable."
"It is good that you like her. You are Kaguya's fiancé, so from now on, Hayasaka is also your maid."
Oko showed an ambiguous smile.
"The Hayasaka family owes the Shinomiya family a large sum of money. If they do not want to go bankrupt and struggle to survive, they can only obey the Shinomiya family and work properly."
"Hayasaka is an obedient and sensible girl. I like her as well. But since Toru-kun thinks she is good, the Shinomiya family can reluctantly give her to you."
His words clearly implied that Toru could do as he pleased with Hayasaka. She would have no power to resist and could only obey.
If she resisted, the Shinomiya family would make the Hayasaka family pay a heavy price.
Oko liked women, but he was not a lecher.
Born into the Shinomiya family and educated among elites, he cared only about power and money.
In his view, women were merely attachments. If a woman could be exchanged for greater power or wealth, it was a profitable deal.
Kaguya was like this. Hayasaka was the same. In his eyes, they were bargaining chips to exchange interests with the Fujiwara. Now, even Toru himself had become someone Oko wanted to use as a personal bargaining chip.
"I just saw you speaking with Wakaba's daughter. That Mutsumi is quite pretty. Her father, Wakaba, is an artist under Yoshimoto."
"You may not know Yoshimoto well since you have not been in Japan. It is the largest comedy entertainment company in Japan, holding nearly eighty percent of the variety show market."
"Shinomiya Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Shinomiya Group, holds nine percent of its shares and is the largest shareholder. Other major groups, such as the Suzuki, are also important shareholders."
"That is precisely why Wakaba is qualified to attend tonight's banquet as a performer."
"The entertainment industry is the same everywhere in the world. As long as you control the resources and the discourse power, these entertainers can only bow their heads."
Oko was speaking plainly.
In the eyes of ordinary people, top comedians might seem like important figures, members of the upper class.
But in the eyes of major capital, they were merely tools for profit. Once capital controlled media resources and discourse power, the status of entertainers was actually very low.
Toru was speechless. What kind of person did Oko think he was, a walking cannon?
Though, judging by his past, his life had indeed been somewhat chaotic.
Oko then changed the topic.
"You are so familiar with Chris Vineyard. Do you know anyone in Hollywood?"
"I know some people from the six major film and television groups."
"Then if there is an opportunity in the future, you must introduce me."
Oko's indifference toward women came from the fact that most women were easy for him to obtain.
Just as he did not care much for stars in Japan, it was because they were within easy reach.
People always longed for what they could not obtain.
Hollywood in America was territory he could not easily reach, which greatly increased his interest.
Toru humored him with a few words.
Feeling they had talked enough, Oko went off to socialize with others.
Toru took out his phone and sent the same message to Curacao and Ayanokoji.
[I am giving you a task. Investigate the current specific situation of the Shinomiya family and the Shijō family.]
As a former ace operative of the Black Organization, Curacao certainly had her own channels and methods of investigation.
Sending the same task to Ayanokoji was not only to compare results but also to test his ability.
No matter what method he used, whether hacking into internal systems of the two conglomerates or something else, Toru only wanted the result.
[Received, Boss!]
...
Advanced Nurturing High School, student dormitory.
Ayanokoji, expressionless, looked at the task on his phone and immediately got off the bed.
He took out his laptop and began thinking.
Since Boss wanted to know the current relationship between the Shinomiya and Shijō families, he obviously did not mean surface-level information. He wanted deeper content.
After all, these were two major conglomerates. Obtaining internal information would not be easy.
"Fortunately, it is only the Shinomiya and Shijō families, not something like investigating the Pentagon. If it is just these two, it can still be done."
He wanted to complete the task perfectly.
Toru had promised him freedom. Recently, his father had stopped interfering, acting as though he did not exist.
The heaviest burden on his shoulders had been lifted. He felt much lighter.
Since Toru fulfilled his promise, he would prove his own value in return.
As someone who wanted to integrate into normal society, he would need a job in the future.
Now, he had found one, a job ordinary people could not do.
...
In the Suzuki Group's banquet hall, glasses clinked continuously.
Toru held a glass of champagne, smiling and chatting with people he knew and people he did not.
For those of higher status, he spoke a little longer, building familiarity step by step.
For those of lower status who tried to cling to him, he declined politely with a smile, maintaining proper etiquette.
Although he did not enjoy such socializing, he handled it with ease, making everyone feel comfortable.
Only when the chairman of the Suzuki Group and his wife stepped onto the stage did the guests quiet down, raising their glasses and applauding.
"Welcome, everyone, to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Suzuki Group. On behalf of the Suzuki Group, I would like to..."
The chairman delivered a brief opening speech.
Afterward, Suzuki Tomoko mentioned that to deal with Kaitou Kid, the Suzuki Group had given each guest a black pearl so the phantom thief could not distinguish between real and fake.
Some guests laughed at Kaitou Kid. Others, more perceptive, remained noncommittal.
Detectives from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were also present, nervously scanning the surroundings, trying to determine where Kaitou Kid might appear.
The lights dimmed, and the hall fell into darkness.
On the large screen, a documentary began playing, showing the difficult journey of the Suzuki Group from its founding to the present, highlighting key moments when it seized opportunities and rose to become one of Japan's major conglomerates.
Just as the documentary was playing, a faint sound rang out, followed by a heavy object crashing to the ground and the sound of glass shattering.
Boom.
"What was that sound?"
"Something fell."
"Ah!"
"Someone is dead!"
The crowd screamed.
Toru slapped his forehead.
Conan's causality weapon really is invincible.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)