What the few people in the main hall were specifically talking about, Uchiha Ryo was not interested in, because he was currently busy playing shogi with Yashajin Ai.
"Mmm... I lost." Ai puffed up her little cheeks.
"Ai, your game is actually very good. You're just lacking a little bit of polish."
Uchiha Ryo breathed a sigh of relief. He was lucky to have won. After all, he wasn't from the Nara clan; his shogi skills weren't that strong.
"Ai is very good at defense. There were many times just now when I felt your moves were flawless, and I couldn't find a single point to attack."
"Hmph, of course."
[Yashajin Ai's affinity has increased—G-Points +10]
The door was pushed open, and Yashajin Kouten walked into the room prepared for their rest.
"Young friend Uchiha, I don't know what methods the Shinomiya family used, but they have somehow found out about my contact with your master. He wants to see you alone now."
Oh?! Is there someone rushing to reincarnate? Fine. If Shinomiya Un'yo is willing to die, then he, Uchiha Ryo, is certainly willing to bury him.
"Since Mr. Shinomiya wants to see me, then I'll go have a look."
Yashajin Kouten nodded. "In that case, I'll accompany you. Shinomiya Un'yo... you must be careful. This man's greatest strength is using threats and insidious strategies to maneuver between various powers."
"Uh, that won't be necessary. Mr. Yashajin, you should stay here with Ai. I can handle it myself."
Uchiha Ryo smiled, then pushed open the door and walked towards the main hall.
The two bodyguards at the entrance opened the main doors for him. Just as Uchiha Ryo stepped into the main hall, he saw Shinomiya Un'yo sitting in the main seat. Behind him stood a middle-aged man in a black kimono.
This person gave Uchiha Ryo a somewhat cold feeling... or rather, he felt a familiar aura. An Evil Soul!
"You're the disciple of that mysterious onmyoji, aren't you? Uchiha Ryo... an orphan adopted by an ordinary family, who made some money drawing manga in recent years. I've investigated everyone related to you, but I don't seem to have found this so-called onmyoji master of yours."
"You... investigated me?"
Shinomiya Un'yo waved his hand, inviting him to sit, and instructed a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman standing not far away to serve him black tea.
[System has detected a capturable target]
[Capturable Target's Name: Hayasaka Nao]
[Current Hayasaka Nao Affinity: 1]
As expected of a system that isn't a picky eater. Uchiha Ryo remembered that this Hayasaka Nao was Hayasaka Ai's mother, right? She's a capture target too?!
"To be precise, it wasn't me. On the day you took first place in the Shuchiin monthly exam, Kaguya sent someone to conduct a simple investigation into your affairs. And I only just found out that an external student at Shuchiin is actually the heir of an onmyoji."
Shinomiya Un'yo clasped his hands. "I'll be direct. I want you to work for the Shinomiya family, for me. After becoming my retainer, you can have money, power, and women."
Uchiha Ryo narrowed his eyes. "Is that so? Then how much does Mr. Shinomiya plan to give me?"
"An annual salary of eighty million. I don't need you by my side at all times, but you must be on call and obey my commands. Of course, if your master also wants to become my retainer, this price is just the starting point."
Shinomiya Un'yo looked at Uchiha Ryo, seemingly convinced that he already had the boy in the palm of his hand.
"Eighty million... tsk, tsk, not enough."
Shinomiya Un'yo's calm face frowned slightly. A commoner who had just entered high school dared to challenge him?
"Then you say, how much do you want."
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment and analyzed seriously.
"I've heard that the total assets of the Shinomiya conglomerate are about two hundred trillion yen. After excluding the fixed assets of its several thousand companies and enterprises, your Shinomiya family can produce at least two trillion in liquid assets."
"Mr. Shinomiya Un'yo is one of the four children of the head of the Shinomiya family. Assuming the assets are divided equally, you would get 25%, which is 500 billion."
Uchiha Ryo showed a sunny smile like a friendly big brother next door. "Just give me a simple 500 billion."
The corner of Shinomiya Un'yo's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
"Are you joking with me?"
Uchiha Ryo smiled without saying a word, but the black-haired middle-aged man behind Shinomiya Un'yo stepped forward.
"Leave him to me. Let you orthodox onmyoji know that the folk youkai exterminators you look down on have become very strong!"
The smile on Uchiha Ryo's face gradually disappeared.
"Youkai exterminator?"
The middle-aged man snorted lightly. "Yes, I am..."
Uchiha Ryo tilted his head. "What's a youkai exterminator? Never heard of it."
"...."
"Less nonsense! Prepare to die!"
Shinomiya Un'yo's face gradually turned ugly. "Matoba, who told you to make a move? I'm not interested in your fight. I'm the master here!"
The youkai exterminator, Matoba, nodded and withdrew the talisman in his hand. "Yes, Lord Un'yo."
Shinomiya Un'yo clapped his hands. Hayasaka Nao, who was standing in the corner, retreated through a hidden door, replaced by six bodyguards armed with guns.
"Youkai exterminators, onmyoji? I'm not interested in your power. After all, in the modern world, guns are king! I'm only interested in the power you represent."
"Uchiha Ryo, choose to become a retainer of my Shinomiya Un'yo. It's still eighty million. And I heard... you have a good relationship with your family, right? That middle-aged couple who adopted you, or that sworn brother of yours. You'd want their lives to get better rather than have some accident happen, right?"
Shinomiya Un'yo, a person who excelled at using threats and insidious terror politics to achieve his goals.
He remembered that there was once a guy with the surname Shirogane who opened a factory that competed with a company under the Shinomiya group. His older brother, Shinomiya Oko, was very displeased, and it was he, Shinomiya Un'yo, who took action. With just a few tricks, he made that factory go bankrupt and accumulate a large amount of debt.
Uchiha Ryo? So what if he was an onmyoji's disciple! He had six armed bodyguards by his side. Did he dare to show off his little tricks in front of him, Shinomiya Un'yo!
But Uchiha Ryo, after the other party mentioned Aunt Touko, Uncle Shigeru, and Takashi, was already seething with anger.
He didn't directly control this guy from the start because he wanted to see what tricks this son of a top conglomerate had up his sleeve. He didn't expect him to be just a piece of trash hiding in the shadows.
"I'll ask you one more time, Uchiha Ryo, will you become a retainer of my Shinomiya Un'yo!"
"And if I say no?"
Uchiha Ryo's Sharingan had already opened, and he began to scan the eyes of the armed men.
Shinomiya Un'yo was silent for a moment, then sighed slowly. "So young and arrogant. Or, do you really think the Yashajin family will go all out to protect you?"
"From the way you talk, it sounds like you can take me down at any time!"
Shinomiya Un'yo didn't speak, but just glanced at the six armed bodyguards beside him, as if to say... am I wrong?
But the next moment, Shinomiya Un'yo saw Uchiha Ryo's upper body trembling slightly. Is this... fear?
"Heh heh... hahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha—! You can take me down at any time..."
Uchiha Ryo seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world and couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh.
"Shinomiya Un'yo! Even arrogance requires skill! And it just so happens that I have it!"