Chapter 204: The First Meeting (Part 3)

"So, can someone explain the situation in detail?"

In a conference room inside a tall office building, over a dozen people sat around a long table discussing recent developments.

Rinji looked around at the company executives and spoke in a low tone. "It's only been two weeks since I invested, and now you're telling me your president's in jail?"

"Yes… someone dug up dirt on him," one of the executives said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Apparently, three years ago he had dealings with someone connected to a murder case, and now there's an official investigation."

"Even stuff from three years ago got dug up?"

Rinji frowned slightly.

"Yes... and the worst part is, the president didn't even know the guy was a killer. And when we started developing the land, the media blew everything up. Protesters are surrounding the site with banners."

"…"

"Mr. Takamine, we're being targeted. The other side is a veteran at this kind of thing."

"…Who did it?"

"You've probably heard of them—one of Japan's four major conglomerates, the Shinomiya family."

"Never heard of them. Can we deal with them?"

"No way, it's the Shinomiya family!" the man shouted. "They have people embedded in every major industry. Once they've targeted you, you're finished."

"I see. So you're telling me the forty million U.S. dollars I invested—over four billion yen—is gone?"

"...We sincerely apologize."

"Forget it."

Shaking his head, Rinji stood up and left the conference room.

…

"Young master, should we handle this... discreetly?"

Outside, a black-clad man approached Rinji and made a throat-cutting gesture.

Rinji clenched his fists, his face dark with rage.

Forty million dollars up in smoke. He couldn't possibly be in a good mood. All he could think about was tracking down this Shinomiya family and blasting them with a missile.

Finally, he let out a breath, unclenched his fists, and forced a smile onto his face.

"Forget it. I promised Hayasaka I'd be a good person."

"But…"

"I'll just chalk it up to bad luck. Next time I'll invest in a company I can fully control," Rinji said with a smile.

---

"Hayasaka, I'm here."

"Rinji…"

When Rinji arrived at the park, he saw Hayasaka Ai sitting alone on a bench.

Her slightly red eyes suggested she had been crying.

"Um... Hayasaka, did something happen?"

Sensing that something was off, Rinji sat beside her and asked with concern. It was the first time he had seen Hayasaka look so sad.

She was always such a strong girl.

"It's nothing."

Hayasaka shook her head and forced a smile.

"...You're not even willing to tell me the truth?" Rinji sounded disappointed.

"N-No, it's not like that."

Hayasaka tried to explain, but the words caught in her throat.

She just didn't want Rinji to worry.

They had met several times in the past weeks, always during her limited breaks from work. She'd sneak off to the park to meet with him.

Her job came with immense pressure, but talking to Rinji helped her decompress.

And Rinji always listened attentively. He was a very loyal listener.

After a moment of hesitation, Hayasaka finally spoke. "Today... I was punished by the Shinomiya family's tutor over something."

She held out her hands, which were marked with red welts as if struck with a rod.

"She said I go out too much and might corrupt the Shinomiya lady... So... Rinji? What's wrong?"

Hayasaka turned to look at him mid-sentence and saw his crimson eyes glowing with a terrifying light.

"Rinji?"

"No... sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Seeing Rinji suddenly bow his head, Hayasaka laughed, and the gloom on her face disappeared.

She really enjoyed the time they spent together in the park. It had become her only source of motivation to withstand her job.

"...Because I realized I don't know how to comfort you."

"It's okay."

Hayasaka chuckled and gently ruffled Rinji's golden hair, just like her own.

"Just having you come see me is enough."

"But... never mind." Rinji looked up. "Does that tutor live with you?"

"No, normally she lives in an apartment near the port."

"I see…"

"It's getting late. I just got scolded today, so if I'm late getting back, I'll be in big trouble."

Hayasaka stood up from the bench, patted her skirt, then turned back to Rinji. "By the way, Rinji, you said you've been working too. Where are you working?"

"I…"

Rinji didn't know how to answer.

He wanted to say he worked at IW, but in the public eye, IW was more like an evil organization that profited from war.

Hayasaka hated bad people, so Rinji didn't want to expose his connection to IW.

"I'm... uh... helping out at a real estate company."

"I see. For someone your age to work there, that's impressive."

"It's alright."

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Hayasaka turned her back to Rinji.

"Rinji... you'll always stay with me, right?"

"Of course."

"That's good."

Hayasaka turned back and smiled at Rinji.

Her smile bloomed like a flower.

---

"…This is the place."

After parting ways with Hayasaka, Rinji made a call to confirm the location, then arrived alone at a single-family apartment.

He stepped forward and touched the doorknob—automatically, the door swung open.

Inside, a middle-aged woman jumped in fright when she saw him.

"Y-You… where did you come from?"

"You're the Shinomiya family's tutor?"

"Who are you!? Don't come any closer, or I'll call the police—"

Bang!

Before she could finish speaking, Rinji rushed forward and kicked her kneecap with full force.

"Aaahhhhhhh!!!"

The woman screamed in pain, clutching her leg in horror as she looked up at Rinji.

"Do you know who I am? I work for the Shinomiya family… if you lay a hand on me—"

"Again with the Shinomiya family."

Rinji raised his leg again and crushed the shinbone of her other leg.

The intense pain caused her to faint immediately.

Rinji walked forward with a cold expression, reached out, and grabbed her neck. With just a little force, he could kill the woman who dared to lay hands on Hayasaka.

"…If I want to be a good person… I can't kill."

Eventually, he let go and sighed, a bitter smile forming on his lips.

"What… am I even doing?"