Ch 60 - Weighing the Scales

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🔥 Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurers… ⚔️ Buddyschlym! ⚔️ and ⚔️ Moran! ⚔️🎉⚡️ Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!

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The grand hall of the Zenin Clan was dimly lit, the faint glow of lanterns casting long shadows on the intricate woodwork and imposing ancestral portraits. The air was heavy with the weight of tradition, pride, and years of calculated decisions.

At the center of the room sat Naobito Zenin, his grin restrained but his satisfaction evident. Flanking him were Naoya Zenin, his expression filled with poorly veiled irritation, Ogi Zenin, his sharp eyes cold and calculating, and Jinichi Zenin, calm and observant, his hands folded neatly on the table.

Naobito cleared his throat, his voice carrying the weight of authority as his sharp gaze swept over the gathered Zenin clan members. "Gentlemen, we're here to address the debacle surrounding our most recent endeavor regarding the boy, Megumi. As you're all painfully aware, our plan to retrieve him was… let's call it, forcibly disrupted."

Ogi leaned forward with a sneer, his fingers drumming on the floor with mocking precision. "Disrupted, Naobito? The Kukuru Unit, our so-called elite force, couldn't handle the simple task of bringing back a child? This isn't disruption—it's incompetence. And it reflects poorly on us."

Naobito's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of his seat. His voice turned razor-sharp, slicing through Ogi's condescension. "Watch your words, Ogi. This wasn't some minor inconvenience. The Kukuru Unit didn't fail because of poor planning. They were thwarted by Satoru Gojo."

At the mention of Gojo's name, the room shifted. Ogi's smugness dissolved into a scowl, his lips curling as though the name itself left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Jinichi's eyebrows arched in subtle interest, his expression otherwise unreadable.

"Satoru Gojo?" Jinichi asked, his voice a measured calm that betrayed a flicker of curiosity. "What possible reason would the Gojo Clan's golden child have to meddle in our affairs? The boy isn't their concern."

Before Naobito could respond, a scoff cut through the tension. Naoya leaned back in his chair with an almost theatrical sigh, his arms crossed and an infuriating smirk tugging at his lips.

"Gojo's involvement wasn't random," He said, his tone dripping with disdainful amusement. "Turns out, he's close with Liam Nakamura. You know, that insufferable brat with too much money and not enough sense. Turns out, the spoiled rich kid isn't as useless as we all assumed. He orchestrated the entire operation and used Gojo like a pawn in his little game."

Ogi let out a derisive snort, his laugh venomous as he leaned back in his chair. "So let me get this straight. The great Zenin Clan, masters of sorcery and tradition, were outmaneuvered by a child with a fat wallet and a flair for theatrics? Pathetic. What's next? Are we losing our grip to street performers?"

Naobito's eyes narrowed. "Be careful with your words, Ogi. It's your children that ended up being the focal point of this deal. Perhaps some embarrassment on your part is warranted."

Ogi's jaw tightened, his disdain now directed at Naobito. "Don't lecture me. I'll hear the rest of this before passing judgment. Speak."

Naobito's smirk returned as he reclined slightly in his chair. "Liam Nakamura offered a deal: 300 million yen in exchange for Maki and Mai."

Ogi's lips curled into a cruel smile, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of shock. "300 million yen? For them? I didn't realize stupidity was so expensive."

Naoya chuckled darkly. "Exactly. They're a liability to the clan, yet he thinks they're worth that much. We should let him waste his money."

Jinichi tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. "And what does Nakamura gain from this? Surely he isn't spending such a fortune out of the goodness of his heart."

Naobito nodded. "He sees potential in them. Perhaps he thinks he can mold them into something useful. It's irrelevant. What matters is that we gain 300 million yen for two individuals who bring nothing of value to the clan. That alone makes this deal worthwhile."

Ogi leaned forward, his tone icy. "Let me make something clear. I couldn't care less about those girls. They're dead weight, embarrassments to the Zenin name. But I do care about the reputation of this clan. If it gets out that we sold off two of our own for cash, it'll look weak."

Naoya smirked. "Who cares what it looks like? The only people who matter are the ones in this room. Besides, who would dare challenge us? Especially with 300 million yen padding our coffers."

Jinichi tilted his head slightly. "Naoya has a point. Reputation is important, but so is strength. This money could be used to solidify our position, to ensure that the Zenin Clan remains unchallenged for generations."

Naobito held up a hand, silencing the debate. "There's more. Liam also promised that Megumi would be groomed to become the next head of the Zenin Clan. He offered us the potential for a strong future leader without us having to invest a single yen."

Ogi let out a sharp, derisive laugh. "Groomed to be the next head? By him? The boy may have Ten Shadows, but the idea that Nakamura or Gojo could prepare him to lead this clan is absurd. He's not worthy of the title, and I'll be damned if I let a child of that woman rise above me."

Naobito's eyes flashed dangerously, but his tone remained calm. "Your personal grievances with Toji's children are irrelevant. This isn't about your pride, Ogi. It's about what benefits the clan."

Ogi's lip curled, but he said nothing.

Jinichi broke the silence, his voice steady. "Do you truly believe Megumi will take the position, Naobito? Even if he's trained to perfection, there are… complications within the clan. Not everyone will accept him, and that kind of division could prove fatal."

Naobito's smirk turned calculating. "That division is exactly what I'm counting on. If Megumi becomes a focal point for conflict, it will expose the fractures within our clan. The infighting will weed out the weak and solidify the strong. It's a risk, but one worth taking."

Naoya scoffed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're putting too much faith in that kid. He's not going to take what's mine. I'll make sure of it."

Naobito glanced at his son, his tone cold. "If you're so concerned, prove yourself worthy of the position. Megumi has Ten Shadows. What do you have, Naoya, besides arrogance?"

Naoya's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

Ogi slammed a hand on the table, his patience wearing thin. "Fine. Take the money, get rid of those two girls, and let Megumi be Nakamura's problem. But don't come crying to me when this blows up in your face."

Naobito rose from his seat, signaling the end of the meeting. "The decision is made. The deal benefits the Zenin Clan far more than it costs us. That's all that matters."

Jinichi stood as well, his expression unreadable. "We'll see if your gamble pays off, Naobito. For the clan's sake, I hope it does."

Naoya muttered something under his breath, his frustration evident as he followed his father out of the room.

Ogi remained seated, his gaze cold and distant as he stared at the table.

"A child of Toji as the head of this clan… how far we've fallen," He muttered bitterly before rising and storming out.

The room was left in silence.

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