(1/5)

  Hayasaka Nao knew well what was happening within the Shinomiya family.

  She had been p who the mastermind was, someone capable of rallying so maernal forces to collectively resist the Shinomiya family.

  And the final aurned out to be Miss Kaguya.

  This was truly ued.

  Nao bowed slightly.

  "Master Oko is joking."

  "You know whether it's a joke or not."

  Shinomiya Oko sighed, a hint of deje in his tone.

  "My you sister, I've always treated her as nothing more than a tool."

  "Who could have imagihat a mere tool would end up scheming and stepping on the Shinomiya family with one foot?"

  "It's not just my sister—your daughter is the same."

  "The wedge I've always kept firmly in my hand has betrayed me in the end."

  Having hunted for half a lifetime, he was now pecked in the eye by the eagle he had raised. The irony was unbearable.

  Perhaps if he had been aware of certain things beforehand, he could have still retained trol.

  Unfortunately, everything he had built up was now a plete joke.

  "Well done!"

  She didn't show it on her face, but in her heart, Nao couldn't help giving a thumbs-up to her daughter and Miss Kaguya.

  The person who had the deepest trol over the entire Shinomiya family was undoubtedly Shinomiya Oko.

  This man was ruthless and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

  If such a person was forced into a er, it could only mean he had been crushed in an overwhelmi.

  Nao hadn't iigated who was behind this push. The Hayasaka family wasn't in a position to openly betray their master right now.

  That's why she quietly enjoyed seeing the proud and arrogant young master of the Shinomiya family so utterly devastated.

  Wheurned, she would definitely describe this situation in full to Masato.

  On the surfaao maintained her usual gentle expression, exuding respe every gesture.

  "Young Master Oko, maybe things aren't as you think."

  "..."

  Oko suddenly remembered why he had chosen the Hayasaka family in the first pce.

  Aside from the fact that they were easy to trol, there was also this person—Hayasaka Nao.

  Her expression was so perfectly trolled that even he couldn't detect a single fw.

  Like mother, like daughter.

  "You're just like you were when you served Un'yo. You're more tactful than your daughter aer at maintaining a poker face."

  "Thank you for the pliment, Master Oko."

  Even though she k was an insult, Nao remained unbothered.

  At this moment, aion from Oko was nothing more than the angry howling of a defeated dog.

  "Young Master Oko, it's getting windy outside. Let's head in first."

  "We wouldn't want to keep Miss Kaguya waiting. That wouldn't be appropriate."

  "..."

  This statement made Oko visibly unfortable.

  "Hmph!"

  With an angry snort, he turned and walked into the vil.

  Nao followed behind, maintaining her dignified and posed demeanor.

  Ihe vil's living room, Kaguya had been waiting for some time.

  She was seated on the sofa, elegantly flipping through the diary in her hands.

  "Indeed, just reading the diary won't easily yield rewards."

  Today's lottery from reading the diary had been another "[Thank You for Participating]."

  "The first lottery after reading the diary must have been an exception, givihe best possible reward."

  [One Piece]

  [Obtained Devil Fruit: Ice-Ice Fruit]

  Although the fruit tasted terrible, eating it had granted her extraordinary powers.

  In the subsequent lotteries, she had drawn two "[Thank You for Participating]" results and one portion of "Sea Ki."

  Only the Sea Ki was somewhat det.

  Clearly, there were strict rules when it came to reading diaries.

  It was evident that the rules for diary readers were far more strihan those for the diary's owner.

  This was likely the gap between being the diary's owner and being a mere holder of its pages.

  But such a gap was to be expected, without it, how could one distinguish between the superior and the subordinate?

  "Miss Kaguya."

  Hayasaka's voice from behind brought Kaguya Shinomiya out of her thoughts.

  She looked up to see the vil's door slowly open, and her eldest brother and Hayasaka Nao walk ier the other.

  This prompted Kaguya to rise from her seat.

  She stepped forward, but instead of greeting Oko, she walked past him to greet Nao.

  "Long time no see, Aunt Nao."

  "Long time no see, Miss Kaguya."

  Nao hadn't expected Miss Kaguya to personally wele her.

  She g Oko ahead of her, noting how his shoulders trembled with anger.

  "It just so happens that the Shinomiya family is now in my hands. I'll need capable people to mas industries, and I think the Hayasaka family will make excellent assistants."

  "KAGUYA!!!"

  Oko could no longer tain himself. With a furious roar, the temperature in the living room seemed to drop several degrees.

  Hearing this outburst, a cold smile appeared on Kaguya Shinomiya's face.

  "Oh, it's you, big brother. I didn't notice you earlier."

  "Sorry, I assumed you'd retired and were staying at home."

  "Kaguya… I am still the heir of the Shinomiya family!"

  Oko emphasized this point through gritted teeth.

  "You won't be for much longer."

  Kaguya rebutted him mercilessly.

  "The Shinomiya family is crumbling. It's being suppressed by Sanzenin. Big brother, how much longer do you think it will st?"

  "If the heir doesn't ge, the Shinomiya family will fall pletely."

  "Big brother, you bear the thought of the Shinomiya family's plete colpse?"

  "That's a death sentence."

  Nao felt the power of Kaguya's words more deeply than if they had been physical blows.

  Oko's expression broke pletely.

  Could the Shinomiya family withstand colpse?

  No, it couldn't.

  If the Shinomiya family fell, no ohin it would survive unscathed.

  "It's the same for you."

  "Really? Then why do you think Sanzenin is supp me, big brother?"

  Oko was at a loss for words.

  He didn't know the exact reason, but he could tell that even if the Shinomiya family fell, Kaguya had enough fideo gain Sanzenin's prote.

  But if Kaguya could secure Sanzenin's prote, what about the rest of the Shinomiya family?

  When the Shinomiya family colpsed, their enemies would surely e knog the very same night.

  Kaguya took Nao's hand and led her to the sofa to sit down.

  The sneer on her face was like that of an empress looking down at a dethroned emperor.

  "Now, it's my turn to speak, Shinomiya Kaguya's turn. And you, big brother, only passively listen."

  "You will hand over the title of heir to me. If I refuse, the Shinomiya family will be destroyed."

  "At this point, you're begging me. Don't get it twisted, big brother."

  "And one more thing, I hate you talking to me with your head tilted upward."

  "You know what I mean, don't you, big brother?"