SCIAW: Chapter 412/413

Chapter 412: Just Say It

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a skilled thief.

Once someone like that gets angry, what they do can be far more dangerous than a panicked rabbit.

After finding out that her eldest daughter had confirmed the thief's identity, Tomoko had already decided to ignore it.

Her current position made it unsuitable to gamble on a thief's rationality before he was caught.

"Ayako, you are a businesswoman now. You need to look at some things from a business perspective. And with your abilities, the further you go on this road, the more unpleasant things you will see. Just like that kid said, you are a Spectator."

Tomoko naturally understood the concept of acting methods, so she put more effort into steering Ayako in this direction.

What a Spectator needs to do is be even more objective than a businessperson. It is precisely because of this objectivity that a Spectator can see into everyone's inner thoughts more clearly.

"The thief is the monkey on the stage. Can you just jump on stage and act as the monkey yourself?"

Ayako shook her head slightly.

Seeing this reaction, Tomoko nodded with satisfaction.

"You need to talk with Sonoko more about this. She sees things more clearly. Of course, it is because you are soft-hearted that you cannot immediately see through things like this. That is why I chose Sonoko."

"Don't think that just because that child is always laughing and joking that she doesn't see clearly. In some matters, she sees more clearly than anyone else."

As the heir to a conglomerate, the qualities needed are not just strong personal ability, but also insight into situations and the ability to keep the family moving forward steadily.

And also, extraordinary independence.

Tomoko saw this clearly. Her younger daughter was more stable in this regard, while her older daughter was softer. Her personality used to be more go-with-the-flow, with not much autonomy.

Ayako herself knew her shortcomings, and her sister was indeed stronger in this respect. Without her sister, she would not have reached this point.

"Ayako, from now on you need to view things from the perspective of a Spectator. This will help your acting. Also, you need to pay attention to when you enter that usual state of yours, or you will easily get addicted."

"Yeah. I have actually been paying close attention to that lately."

"Power is a different kind of poison. If you are not careful, it will easily seep into your bones. Although I have not experienced that feeling, I have seen many gamblers and drug dealers, so I can more or less understand that what you feel is very similar."

Tomoko was also a very rational person. She knew how convenient and powerful that power was, so it unconsciously makes people indulge in that world of power.

She did not know exactly what that feeling was, but she instinctively felt that it was probably even more stimulating than the dopamine release caused by drugs.

So she reminded her again and again.

"Although Sonoko said that if that happens, that kid can help you with treatment, even so, treatment is only temporary. You need to exercise self-control for a lifetime."

"Do not be too obsessed with the world of power. And, you need to be more confident."

As she said this, Tomoko held her eldest daughter in her arms.

"You have started to change now. That power has given you confidence and your own will."

After a long time, she returned to her mother's embrace, and the sense of security calmed her mood completely.

Ayako also regained her composure and rationality.

"I understand, Mom."

"Alright, I understand. From now on, think things through yourself before coming to us. Once you have thought it over, come and discuss it with us. We will listen to your thoughts and give you some suggestions."

"Then I will go back."

"Go ahead."

After watching her eldest daughter leave, Tomoko felt better than she had in a long time. But along with that came a bit of worry and complexity.

"From now on, Ayako's direction will be a problem."

"It is not that big of a problem. It is just that some things cannot be spoken about openly."

"Then just say it."

Tomoko rolled her eyes at her husband.

Of course she understood what her husband meant. Given Ayako's current situation, it was almost certain that she would have no direction in the future.

What conglomerate families care about is compatibility, meaning a match in status and worldview.

Because people of different backgrounds have different views and ideas about many things, and these different views and ideas form different values.

People with very different values cannot live in the same bed, because they are like magnets with the same pole, repelling each other.

For powerful families and ordinary people, these are the basic standards for choosing a spouse.

And for mysteries? It is no exception.

Can Ayako, who has already stepped into that world, avoid it? Obviously not.

"In the future, our family's situation will be different from that of ordinary families."

In fact, Shiro Suzuki was more open-minded about this matter. After all, the current situation was not like before, otherwise he would not be able to accept it either.

"Whether Ayako will make that choice in the future will depend on her. However, given our son-in-law's situation, I am afraid there is a high probability that she will."

Tomoko did not deny what her husband said.

As things stand, their son-in-law may very well be the greatest mystery in the world.

Therefore, as parents, they did not interfere much with their eldest daughter's relationship.

At most, they would just maintain a closer relationship.

The two Suzuki parents chose to let their eldest daughter's feelings run their course. What kind of flower blooms in the end will be entirely her choice.

After leaving, Ayako quickly returned to Ren's group.

"What did she say?"

Sonoko was also waiting for her sister's answer.

Ayako shook her head slightly.

"Mom said, just ignore it."

Sonoko immediately laughed after hearing this answer.

"I told you, Mom definitely would not care about this. When the thief chooses to admit defeat, Mom will definitely not kill him or force him into a corner."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 413: Unexpected, Curious and Worrying

Katsura Yukiji, dressed in formal attire, walked into the main hall with bright eyes, looking at the dining table next to her and the bottles of expensive-looking wine on top of it.

"Elder sister."

Hinagiku, who was walking nearby, sighed helplessly.

"I know, I know. I won't drink. I get it."

Yukiji tried very hard to stay calm. She would not break her promise to Hinagiku last time. For her, Hinagiku was her only blood relative in the world, and she could not let her go through that same thing again.

It was just that her love for alcohol made it hard for her to give up her addiction so quickly.

But as long as she did not drink too much, Yukiji knew she could still control herself.

Trying to divert her gaze, Yukiji also noticed the situation around her.

"Oh, as expected of a Suzuki conglomerate banquet. There are so many invited guests."

"Of course."

After that meeting, Hinagiku investigated the Suzuki conglomerate and confirmed that it had achievements in various fields. The scope of its involvement was very wide, but not particularly detailed.

Like a newly promoted noble family.

It was showing performance in all areas, but what it demonstrated was only the range of knowledge, not specialized ability.

Some might call it nouveau riche.

Of course, Hinagiku did not think the Suzuki conglomerate was nouveau riche. Compared with other conglomerates, it might not be as stable, but it was full of extraordinary vitality, and the fields it entered were all new ones.

For example, the Internet. For example, AI.

Hinagiku could see that this was probably the trend of the future.

Although she also noticed that this was just a small-scale attempt by the Suzuki conglomerate to spread out and invest, this was not the approach that traditional conglomerates would focus on.

From asking around at school, especially among students with strong family backgrounds, she learned that these areas were still untapped. The average conglomerate would not invest a lot of money in areas with no clear prospects.

After all, these new fields were bottomless pits, and conglomerates without strong financial resources basically could not develop them.

But the Suzuki conglomerate dared to step in. Regardless of whether it was pioneering behavior or not, this approach seemed quite impressive to Hinagiku.

"Most of the families of students at Hakuo are from old-money families, like real estate and industry. There are very few in new fields. So you can hardly see Hakuo students here."

From this, it was also clear that there were not many families at Hakuo that were moving into new fields.

Perhaps the timing was still a little early. After the burst of the economic bubble, people were unwilling to explore new fields.

After listening to Hinagiku's explanation, Yukiji noticed that the people attending the banquet were all strangers. Looking around, there were very few familiar faces.

"Indeed, not a single acquaintance."

As a teacher at Hakuo Academy, Yukiji had met many parents and naturally knew many students' families, but there were almost none of those parents at this banquet.

"It is rare for such a big conglomerate to not invite the parents from Hakuo."

Hinagiku nodded slightly.

"I think this time the Suzuki conglomerate invited companies that are currently cooperating with them. Based on my investigation, the Suzuki conglomerate has been expanding into new business areas, and many of these are in emerging fields."

"Ah, no wonder."

Yukiji finally understood. It was a clash between new capital and old capital.

In fact, she admired the Suzuki conglomerate. It had risen so quickly and become a new form of capital. It also chose a new path. No wonder it was difficult to get along with traditional conglomerates.

After all, how could the old nobles approve of newly risen nobles?

Especially when this new noble has money and likes to take new paths.

It would be strange if the old nobles could accept that.

But when talking about the Suzuki conglomerate, Yukiji could not help but think of that boy with thick glasses who they met last time.

"Hina, what do you think of that boy we met last time?"

"What about him?"

Hinagiku did not quite understand what her sister meant.

"Don't you think he's strange? I keep feeling like his situation is very unusual."

Yukiji always felt that the boy gave off an indescribable strange feeling. Even though the words were on the tip of her tongue, she could not describe that feeling.

"It is not like I haven't noticed his oddness."

Hinagiku naturally had the same feeling. When she first met the boy, she found that he looked at her in a strange way, as if he was looking at something unusual. But she remembered that she did not know him.

He also clearly described what happened between him and her sister, and even repeated some things her sister had said, as well as things her sister had never said.

But judging by her sister's reaction, Hinagiku knew that the boy really did hit the mark.

"He was clearly a stranger, but he seemed to know us."

"In that group, there were Nagi-chan and Isumi. They both come from very wealthy families, but that person is the only one who looks particularly ordinary."

"But… I always feel like he is the center of that group."

This strange feeling strongly contrasted with the boy's ordinary appearance and demeanor. It was because of this sharp contrast that Hinagiku started doubting whether her own thoughts were correct.

After hearing what her sister said, Yukiji felt like the knot in her throat had been loosened.

"Yes, yes, I feel the same way."

"So I have felt that there was something off about him from the beginning. But since Nagi-chan and Isumi are in that team, he shouldn't be at the center in terms of status."

Hinagiku did not deny it. She did think that this was very strange.

Although she also understood that there was no necessary connection between high status and being the center of the team, at the very least, Nagi's position in the team should lean more toward the center.

But the internal situation in that team was particularly strange.

So, is that the reason why Nagi and Isumi transferred schools?

Hinagiku could not help but wonder.

Then she thought of Aika.

Since the birthday party in early April, Aika had been on a long leave at home due to health issues.

Aika often took time off to rest, but never for this long. The key point was that this happened after the birthday party.

Could there be a connection?

Hinagiku could not help but feel some doubts, curiosity, and concern.

(To be continued.)