Chapter 75: Chapter 34

Everyone—Renji, Sakai, Shou, Suzune, and Seijirou—was frozen in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they stared at Touka.

Her sudden, detailed, and utterly professional business breakdown had been completely unexpected, a staggering revelation of hidden capability.

Then, as if a switch had been flicked, all that confidence she had momentarily displayed evaporated.

She hunched her shoulders slightly, her hands fidgeting at her sides, and reverted instantly back to her shy, timid persona.

She looked nervously at the group, her voice barely a whisper, thick with a familiar stutter.

"W-why is everyone staring at me?" she asked, her long bangs falling further over her eyes. "Did I... did I say anything wrong?"

Seijirou blinked once, and a genuine smile, one tinged with profound appreciation, spreading across his face.

"No, Touka," he said, his voice warm. "You said nothing wrong. You just gave us a masterclass in business operations."

He thought for a moment, realizing the immense value she offered.

His money always came from his parents, and he has no other source of income aside from his monthly allowance.

Maybe her business idea could really help him.

He looked at the impressive building, then back at the girl who had just mapped out its entire operational risk strategy.

"In fact," he added, his tone firming with decision, "if you want to, Touka, you can manage this establishment. You can run it exactly as you please."

Touka’s head immediately perked up, her golden eyes widening slightly in disbelief.

"R-really? You would let me?" she asked, the shyness warring with palpable excitement.

Seijirou nodded, completely serious. "Consider yourself the CEO. Shou will handle the logistics and acquisitions, but you handle the strategy and operations."

"T-Then, I will not let you down!" She grinned brightly. "I promise I won’t make you lose money! I will turn this place into a massive brand in the future!"

Seijirou nodded, believing her. After all, this girl became a multi billionaire in the future.

Shou, meanwhile, sighed. Why did he get involved in this? And no one even asked about his opinion! What if he doesn’t want any part of this?!

Of course, he remained silent.

"Ahem."

At that precise moment, a sound of deeply embarrassed, purposeful coughing sounded from the corner of the group.

Everyone, including Touka, turned to look at Rei, who stood with her arms crossed, avoiding eye contact and acting as if she hadn’t noticed their collective gaze.

"Ahem," She cleared her throat again, loudly.

The group politely turned their gaze away, returning to the conversation about Touka’s new role.

"But then, Boss, what about security—"

Sakai started.

"Ahem!"

A much louder, dramatic cough interrupted him.

Everyone turned to Rei again, who was now fidgeting and bouncing on the balls of her feet, an exaggerated look of distress on her face.

Then, Rei launched into a dramatic performance.

"Ah," she sighed, throwing her hands up in mock despair. "I have skipped my work to come here today! What if my boss fires me on the spot? And I’ll have no job and no money! If only there was another employer out there willing to hire a diligent worker like myself!"

Her eyes flickered pointedly toward Seijirou and Touka.

Seijirou sighed, a hint of resignation and amusement in his eyes.

He knew exactly what she was doing. The twenty thousand yen was temporary, and she needed a new, legitimate income stream, preferably one that was protected by the Kageyama organization.

After all, although she acted brave, she was probably still afraid of going back to work in her old part time workplace.

"Fine, Rei," Seijirou conceded, shaking his head. "If you really want to work, you can work here. But that decision is entirely up to Touka. She’s the boss now."

Touka, radiant with her new sense of purpose, immediately nodded without hesitation. "Yes! With my operational plan, I will need dedicated, trustworthy staff. I would gladly welcome you, Rei-chan."

Rei visibly brightened, the feigned distress vanishing. She grinned triumphantly, the previous shame over taking the money and acting like a puppy completely gone.

At that moment, Renji finally got impatient. "Alright, business meeting adjourned! Can we please go check out the place now, Boss? I need to see the arcade setup!"

The others looked at his bounding, excited expression and simply agreed. The thrill of exploring their new, luxurious hideout was too much to resist.

With Renji leading the charge, they all entered the grand, new establishment.

The heavy door swung open, revealing the polished floors and gleaming array of arcade machines on the first floor, a stark and stunning contrast to the decrepit storage unit they had just left.

*

*

*

By the time the group finally emerged from the new base—exhausted, hyped up on adrenaline from the arcade games, and slightly tipsy from sampling the bar’s alcohol—it was already late evening.

The streetlights were casting long, faint glows across the pavement.

Suzune, ever the protective friend, declared that she would personally escort Rei and Touka home.

"You two are new to the area, and with all the weird stuff going on, I’m walking you back," she announced.

Honestly, ever since the incident with the cult and how it became clear that gods exists, she became even more cautious.

After all, most myths depicts as extremely selfish and perverted beings who seems far more interested in dick measuring contest than actually doing actual divine work.

Sakai, Renji, and Shou, already comfortable in their new domain, decided to stay and test the luxury of the third-floor VIP quarters, leaving Seijirou to walk home alone.

Seijirou said his farewells to Shou and the others and started his walk, enjoying the quiet solitude after the day’s chaos.

He wanted to stay with them, to play more, but he knew he couldn’t linger, as his mother, Kageyama Hakari, was still waiting for him with a promised "gift."

As he walked, his thoughts drifted to Kageyama Hakari from his memories.

She was a fascinating, intimidating figure, and a constant, demanding presence in his past—a past that the game’s narrative had conveniently ignored.

In Seijirou’s memories, Hakari had been the epitome of the demanding, perfectionist parent.

She was incredibly strict but, paradoxically, also utterly doting.

She wanted him to be the best, the flawless epitome of perfection, relentlessly forcing him to attend a grueling schedule of extra classes: advanced instruments, classical dancing, singing, complex history, high-level mathematics, and many more.

Sue to that, Seijirou was widely hailed as a genius, a prodigy molded by his powerful background, but only he knew how profoundly he had suffered under the iron rule of his mother’s meticulous, exhausting regimen.

At the same time, this strictness was coupled with a strange indulgence.

Whatever Seijirou truly wanted, she would procure.

Whatever misdeeds he committed, she would tolerate or silently erase.

Even when Seijirou had completely transitioned into the manipulative, amoral scumbag he was today—which is also indirectly her fault for bringing Retsu into his life—she still indulged him, seeing his actions as a necessary ruthlessness for survival in their world.

In the game, however, she only have a singular, decisive appearance in the original storyline.

She only showed up to stop the player from completely beating Game-Seijirou into unconsciousness during the final confrontation.

She would stand over her son, threatening the player that if Seijirou was hurt further, or if any of his widespread misdeeds were to become public knowledge, she would use every ounce of her political and financial power to utterly ruin the player’s life.

To be honest, he doesn’t know what would happen if you ignore her words and tried to continue beating Seijirou and even expose all his misdeeds, as he had chosen to comply, not wanting to deal with a massive corporation with vast political power.

Lost in these complex thoughts, Seijirou finally arrived at his imposing, privately situated house.

He unlocked the front door and pushed it open, stepping into the dimly lit, elegant foyer.

He paused, the quiet of the hallway amplifying his surprise.

He was immediately greeted by a sight that completely stunned him, his analytical thoughts grinding to a halt.

Standing side-by-side at attention near the entrance inside, their hands clasped demurely in front of their waist, were two women.

Both were wearing identical, traditional black and white maid uniforms, complete with delicate lace headbands.

One of them was Himejima Haruka, his cold, stoic, and usually impeccably dressed classmate.

The other was an incredibly beautiful older woman with long white hair and striking features—an older, slightly softer version of Haruka.

In perfect, synchronous unison, the two women offered a precise, formal bow.

"Welcome home, Master Seijirou," the older woman said smoothly, her voice rich and professional.

Haruka straightened, her red eyes meeting his. Though her expression remained utterly neutral, her voice, usually so distant, was strained with suppressed humiliation.

"Welcome home, Master Seijirou," Haruka repeated, the title tasting like ash on her tongue.

What the fuck?

"Fufufu, how do you like your gift, Seijirou?"

Seijirou immediately looked pass the two girls, where he saw his mother, smiling at him, arms crossed.

Her face looked smug, as if saying ’You like my gift, don’t you? Why don’t you shower your mom with praises and thanks?’

Seijirou simply stared at her in shock.

He had already decided not to interfere, and these two still couldn’t escape their fate of being a slave?

Just what the hell is wrong with this world?