He knew these women were not to be casually admired, and he knew that the man he sought was currently watching his every move from somewhere.
Before long, Takeru was allowed inside.
Takeru went to the antechamber, took off his shoes, and then followed the maid all the way to his father's office.
It was a huge reception room connected to a tearoom and a study.
It was a reception room large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
The white-haired old man, casually seated on a cushion, looked calmly at Takeru.
"What made you decide to come see me? I thought you had forgotten about me, your father."
As soon as they met, Takeru was startled by the old man's confrontational demeanor.
Despite having been in officialdom for many years and considering his composure to be second to none, every time he met his father's somewhat clouded eyes, he would become so nervous that he would break out in a cold sweat.
It was the height of summer, and soon Takeru's shirt was soaked with sweat, sticking uncomfortably to his body.
"Father, what are you saying? I am your son, of course it's perfectly normal for me to come visit you."
Takeru's words were insincere; ever since the old man retired, Takeru had rarely returned here.
According to him, this person had lost his value.
But what he never expected was that his eighty-year-old father could once again assume the position of Prime Minister.
This forced Takeru to shamelessly return here and ask for his father's help.
"Oh? I didn't expect you, this unfilial son, to still remember your father? Your father is very pleased. So what's the deal with Onijima? Do you know that because of Onijima, I, Miyako Honden, almost became the laughingstock of the entire political world?"
Honden glared angrily.
Takeru, frightened, quickly pressed his head to the floor, his mind racing to figure out how to explain the incident.
Onijima was Honden's chosen successor and the actual founder of Kou-Iku. Young and promising, he had already held a high position and, with Kou-Iku, had gathered a group of followers.
It was no exaggeration to say he was a rising star in the political world.
But even such a talented person probably wouldn't have imagined that Miyako Honden, whom he revered as a mentor, would have a foolish son who would frame his own people.
That's right.
Onijima was framed by Takeru and Ayanokouji Atsuomi, forced to resign from the prime minister's position after only one month.
According to common sense, either Ayanokouji Atsuomi or Miyako Takeru should have inherited his position.
However, due to their despicable methods, they were collectively ostracized by everyone. Ayanokouji Atsuomi was dismissed, and Miyako Takeru was removed from his core duties.
To stabilize the overall situation, Miyako Honden, who had only retired a month ago, had to be brought back to deal with the current chaotic situation.
Honden wished he could kill his good-for-nothing son on the spot, because he had an agreement with Onijima that after Onijima's term, Takeru would be next. But Onijima probably never expected Takeru to be so impatient as to frame him to seize the position.
"Those were all Ayanokoji's ideas..."
"Shut up! Don't I know what kind of person you are?"
"Please calm your anger, Father."
Seeing Takeru almost prostrate on the floor, begging for forgiveness, Honden snorted coldly.
"What do you want from me today?"
"It's about Amane."
Upon hearing Amane's name, Honden's deeply wrinkled face managed to force out a smile.
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