In the Isayama Family's dojo, over a dozen Elders and influential figures of the Isayama Family had all arrived.
The dozen or so people in the room sat neatly in two rows, kneeling.
In front of these people were Isayama Yu, Isayama Mei, and Isayama Yomi.
Isayama Yomi, who learned of Isayama Naraku's death late last night, had cried by her father's body all night; her eyes still showed slight redness and swelling.
The silence in the room lasted for some time, and Isayama Yu, seeing that it was about time, spoke.
"Thank you very much, pillars of the Isayama Family, for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend this meeting."
After speaking, Isayama Yu nodded slightly.
Seeing this, everyone kneeling below placed their hands on their knees and bowed in Rei.
After everyone had completed their bows, Isayama Yu continued.
"I believe everyone has already heard the news. 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 Yu lowered his gaze, feigning sorrow.
"Although my Elder brother had retired due to injury, he was once a top-tier Jujutsu Sorcerer. A Curse User capable of killing him without a sound must not be simple. I hope everyone will spare no effort to find him."
After speaking, Isayama Yu's gaze swept over everyone in the room.
Seeing this, everyone bowed in response.
"Everyone here is a pillar of the Isayama Family. You are usually busy with official duties, and opportunities to gather like this are rare. Therefore, although the timing is not ideal, allow me to presumptuously report my Elder brother's last will."
His wish of over a decade was about to be fulfilled, and a hint of excitement flashed in Isayama Yu's eyes, but this excitement was quickly suppressed.
"According to the last will of my Elder brother, the former Head of the Isayama Family, Isayama Naraku, I shall temporarily assume the position of Head of the Isayama Family."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Really?"
As soon as these words were uttered, several voices of doubt immediately arose in the room.
These individuals were Isayama Naraku's confidants, who had become influential figures in the Isayama Family through his promotion.
When Isayama Naraku was paving the way for his daughter, he would naturally inform them and ask them to support Isayama Yomi.
But at this moment, they heard a completely different candidate than what Isayama Naraku had previously mentioned.
Seizing power?
Everyone instantly understood Isayama Yu's intentions.
However, before they could speak, Isayama Yu spoke again.
"Silence!"
Isayama Yu's voice was loud, but it lacked the authority of Isayama Naraku.
Not only that, but Isayama Yu, in his pursuit of Isayama Naraku's authoritative effect, deliberately raised his voice, which instead made him seem a bit like he was angry out of embarrassment.
Everyone looked at Isayama Yu, their eyes mostly showing defiance.
"Although the will states that I am to temporarily assume the position of Head of the Family, due to my own numerous responsibilities, the actual duties of the Head of the Family will be carried out by my young daughter, Isayama Mei. My daughter is still young, and I hope everyone will assist her greatly."
As soon as these words were uttered, the probing and defiant gazes in the room instantly diminished significantly.
Isayama Yu's reputation had been ruined by himself over a decade ago, so if Isayama Yu wanted to become the Head of the Family, many people would certainly be displeased.
But Isayama Mei was different.
Whether from the Bloodline or from ability, Isayama Mei was qualified to inherit the position of Head of the Family.
Although her talent was not as great as Isayama Yomi's, Isayama Yomi was, after all, an adopted daughter without the Isayama Family Bloodline.
Therefore, upon hearing that the actual Head of the Family would be Isayama Mei, and that Isayama Yu would merely hold the nominal title of Head of the Family, some Elders with traditional views tacitly accepted this outcome.
After all, when Isayama Naraku had subtly proposed passing the position of Head of the Family to Isayama Yomi, many elderly people with strong traditional beliefs did not approve.
"Wait, Uncle Yu."
Isayama Yomi, recovering from her grief, finally found an opportunity to speak.
"What is it, Yomi."
Isayama Yu looked sharply at Isayama Yomi, the girl he considered a thorn in his side.
"Did Father truly leave a will for Uncle to assume the position of Head of the Family?"
Isayama Yomi looked at Isayama Yu with doubt.
She knew her father's opinion of Isayama Yu, and therefore did not believe her father would pass the position of Head of the Family to Isayama Yu and Isayama Mei.
"How could that be, the will..."
"I can testify that the former Head of the Family's will is indeed real."
Isayama Yomi had not even finished speaking when an elderly Elder interrupted her.
"Grand Elder?"
Isayama Yomi looked at the elderly Grand Elder in disbelief.
"Words alone are not enough. Show us the proof."
A young man in his thirties with a resolute expression spoke up.
He was a confidant of Isayama Naraku and a supporter of Isayama Yomi.
"My Elder brother left his will when he was on the verge of death; he did not leave a written will..."
Isayama Yu said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Then how will you prove that this will isn't something you made up? The symbol of the Head of the Isayama Family, the treasured sword shishiou, is not in your hands or Isayama Mei's."
The young man's oppressive gaze made cold sweat break out on Isayama Yu's forehead.
'How useless, but this is good too; such a Head of the Family will be easier to control.'
The elderly Grand Elder thought to himself.
"Are you questioning us old people who have dedicated decades to the Family?"
The Grand Elder and several others who had been informed by the Grand Elder in advance began to support Isayama Yu.
Isayama Naraku's confidants, having received no prior notice, were unprepared and were completely suppressed in this confrontation.
"Uncle, the most important thing now is to keep vigil for Father. The matter of the Head of the Family should be discussed later..."
"Shut up!"
Seeing Isayama Yomi trying to stall for time, Isayama Yu immediately interrupted Yomi's speech angrily.
With the coveted position of Head of the Family just one step away, how could Isayama Yu give up?
Moreover, the Grand Elder was also exerting his influence as he had promised last night, and Isayama Yu felt he had nothing to fear.
"At this point, whose responsibility do you think it is! Who was it that held the treasured sword shishiou of the Isayama Family but failed to protect the Head of the Family! Now, at a time of Family crisis, the Isayama Family cannot go a single day without a Head of the Family, do you not know that!"
Isayama Yomi's body trembled slightly.
Isayama Yomi was, after all, just a young girl in her teens who had just lost her father.
Isayama Naraku, having discovered Isayama Yomi's talent as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, had initially planned to let Isayama Yomi achieve sufficient merits first, and then slowly train her to become the Head of the Family.
Unfortunately, this turn of events was something he could never have foreseen.
"Yomi, when my Elder brother had his accident, you were out fooling around with a man, weren't you?"
Isayama Yomi opened her mouth, looking at the scrutinizing gazes of everyone below. Filled with self-reproach, Isayama Yomi didn't know how to refute him for a moment.
Clap, clap, clap.
A round of applause came from outside the dojo.
"Who is it? Don't you know that right now... Impossible, how could it be you!"
Isayama Yu, whose confidence had gradually reached its peak, angrily looked at the person who dared to disrupt the order of the meeting.
The next moment, he widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Brother, Elder brother, how is this possible?"
"Father!"
Isayama Yomi, filled with immense guilt, immediately went to Isayama Naraku's side.
"Is it really you, Father?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I made you worry, Yomi."
Isayama Naraku looked at his crying daughter with tenderness.
Then he turned, looking angrily at Isayama Yu and Isayama Mei, the father and daughter.
"What a show, Yu."
Isayama Naraku's voice was calm, yet it made Isayama Yu feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
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