Inside the room.
Soichiro Takagi sat cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes tightly shut. A long sword in its scabbard lay across his lap, his hands resting upon it.
Beside him, wisps of white smoke rose from a small incense burner, the calming fragrance helping to settle his mind.
On the wall behind him hung a large scroll featuring the character for 'Stillness' written in bold calligraphy.
This practice could be called meditation, or perhaps more accurately, the cultivation of one's spirit.
*Slide.*
The wooden sliding door was pulled open, and Yuriko Takagi stepped inside.
Soichiro Takagi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yuriko. "Well? Is that man willing to join the Takagi family?"
The man he referred to was, naturally, Su Yan.
Soichiro held a very high opinion of Su Yan, a man his daughter, Saya, often mentioned.
After all, being able to ride a motorcycle across most of the city to return Saya safely to the Takagi estate in such a dangerous situation...
That alone was enough to prove the man's courage and capability.
Given the current state of Tokonosu City, it was no exaggeration to say the Takagi family was desperate for talent like him.
However, out of respect for Su Yan's status as a student of Tokyo University, Soichiro had not approached him directly to avoid causing friction. Instead, he left the task to Yuriko, the most influential member of the family besides himself.
He expected she would bring back a satisfactory answer.
After all, she had been gone for quite some time; surely she had successfully persuaded him?
He knew Yuriko well.
If she set her mind to something she believed was possible, she would see it through to the end, regardless of the time or effort required.
Conversely, if she deemed something impossible, she would not waste another second on it.
That was simply the kind of woman Yuriko Takagi was—her insight and judgment were nothing short of exceptional.
Yuriko replied, "No."
"No?"
Soichiro could not help but blink in surprise. It was unexpected that she had not managed to convince Su Yan after all this time.
However, he did not feel too much despair. He had always viewed recruiting Su Yan with a 'win some, lose some' mentality and had prepared for this possibility.
He looked up and waved a hand at her. "Fine, I understand. It is late. If there is nothing else, go get some rest."
"There is something. I have come to say goodbye."
Yuriko's face remained expressionless, as if she were merely mentioning a trivial matter.
"Goodbye? Why?"
Soichiro did not quite register what she meant at first.
Did he have some assignment for her that required leaving the estate?
It was so dangerous outside right now.
The Takagi family's food reserves should still be sufficient.
Besides, there was no need for Yuriko herself to handle such mundane errands.
"Because I have found the greatest investment project in the world."
Yuriko did not shy away from Soichiro's stare.
As she spoke, she seemed to be reminiscing, and a flicker of heat ignited in her eyes.
The excitement she felt was evident even in the tone of her voice.
"What? I absolutely forbid it! Especially now, the Takagi family still needs you!!"
Soichiro realized then that she was not talking about a task; she was talking about leaving the Takagi family entirely.
He did not understand, and he certainly did not respect it.
His eyes went wide with fury. Like a beast released from its cage, he glared at Yuriko, his presence naturally imposing and authoritative.
"Forbid?"
Yuriko let out a cold laugh. "Are you mistaken about something? I am not here to ask for your permission; I am here to notify you."
"Old man, I suggest you do not push me to slap you while I am in such a good mood!"
As an investor, she had just put stock into what she considered her best project yet and had already received incredible returns. How could she not be happy?
Initially, she had been skeptical of the 'Awakening' Su Yan spoke of.
But the moment Su Yan's hand touched her body, her pores were forced open. She felt her life energy rushing out of her like a bellows.
Faced with something so far beyond her expectations, she had panicked completely.
Fortunately, through her own efforts, she had successfully learned how to control that internal life energy.
She had mastered this mysterious power called Nen!
And she had successfully boarded the great ship of the new era!
This was exactly why it had taken her so long to come and find Soichiro.
"Why? Is it because of that man, Su Yan?"
Hearing Yuriko's words, Soichiro knew.
It was all over.
Yuriko was a woman of her word; once she made a decision, no one could change it.
But he still wanted to ask why.
Even though the methods he had used to bring her into the Takagi family years ago were not exactly honorable, he believed the family had not mistreated her since.
How could she be so cold-hearted as to just walk away?
And at a time when the Takagi family needed her most?
Yuriko waved her hand dismissively. "You do not understand. Old relics like you and the Takagi family should have been phased out by the times long ago. I was the only one holding things together all these years."
"I have done so much for this family over the years. Whatever debt of gratitude I owed has long since been repaid. I, Yuriko Takagi, owe you nothing, and I owe this family even less."
"So, what I want to do, what I am going to do, and what I should do—none of that is for the Takagi family to decide."
To outsiders, it looked like Soichiro Takagi was the pillar supporting one of the top families in Tokonosu City.
But Yuriko knew better. He was a short-sighted, stubborn, and self-righteous man.
She had always opposed the political direction the Takagi family took.
If it had not been for his stubborn persistence, the Takagi family would have expanded far beyond Tokonosu City with her help. Why would they still be stuck in this little corner?
"You!"
Soichiro glared at her, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword, as if he might draw it and strike at any moment.
Yet, he had to admit that Yuriko was right.
The way the Takagi family operated was indeed flawed. He knew this, but it was the path of a family that saw itself as samurai, and it was the path he, Soichiro Takagi, walked.
Eventually, Soichiro's hand left the hilt. He looked at the rejuvenated aura Yuriko now possessed.
It was as if he were seeing the spirited, ambitious woman he had met all those years ago.
Soichiro asked in a low, hollow voice, "Do you think the Takagi family still has a chance?"
"What do you think?" Yuriko countered.
Yuriko did not answer him directly, choosing instead to ask him a question of her own.
Without needing her to answer, Soichiro already knew the truth.
He seemed to age twenty years in an instant, his back no longer as straight as it had been.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a raspy voice, "In that case, let the Takagi family fade away with me, a remnant of the old era's twilight."
"However... that child, Saya. I hope you can take her with you on this 'ship of the new era' you speak of."
He naturally trusted Yuriko's judgment; otherwise, he would not have used such despicable means to tie her to the Takagi family in the first place.
Since she claimed Su Yan represented the new era, then there must be a reason for it.
Even if the Takagi family was destined to be smashed to pieces by the coming waves...
As long as his daughter, Saya Takagi, could board the vessel she called the 'New Era', it would be enough for him.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]