Ch 351: Meeting the Kouzuki family.

Inside the Sanctuary crafted by Lilith, Noah finished his daily exercising routine. His metabolism had reached such ridiculous levels that he could now run the required ten kilometers distance at several hundred kilometers per hour, then do his squats and push-ups as fast as gravity would allow, and he still wouldn't sweat or do more than breathe a little faster than usual.

He assigned the earned 3 attribute points to Endurance, then left the Sanctuary and put it in his inventory.

He found Shuiruo and Liliana having breakfast.

"Morning, Ruo Ruo, Bunny." smiled Noah before he kissed them.

"Good morning, My Lord." smiled Liliana.

"Morning, Noah." nodded Shuiruo.

"You two could have slept in, you know? And here I was looking forward to bringing you breakfast in bed."

"Aww, shucks." lamented Shuiruo with a grin. "That's a missed opportunity, but we'll have plenty of occasions later. For now, we need to work hard on saving Yun Meng Xin from that marriage."

"Yes. How are things going on that side? I haven't spoken to her for a while."

"Pretty well, My Lord." nodded Liliana. "We are steadily growing stronger. We are heads and shoulders above the average. Not only that, but I think our lead over them is increasing, despite levels being harder to gain. Ruo Ruo, Erica, Bing Yao and I can take on Lord-grade bosses by ourselves as long as we're careful and our levels are comparable. Erica even made it into the top ten ranking."

"That's great." smiled Noah. "You girls deserve recognition for your efforts."

"Your spear has been sold, for an enormous sum." nodded Shuiruo. "Too bad it wasn't the only fairy-grade weapon in existence by then, or the price would have gone even higher. It has been bought by that guy Long Tian Yun. Isn't that a potential problem? If he throws it, the Sure Hit feature of Soaring Cloud's special attack might kill even you in one shot."

"I wouldn’t have given Yun Meng Xin that spear to sell if this was a huge risk." shrugged Noah. "Little Grey's buffs include one that makes me immune to one-hit kills. That particular trick is one of my trump cards for my future duel with Eve. She'll hit like a truck, I have no doubt about that. But so am I, and I can tank a truck at least once. More than once when I level up this skill further."

"I see." smiled Shuiruo. "Yun Meng Xin has made sure to secure a lot of ores and other materials used for blacksmithing."

"That's great. I will probably return to Azure Dragon City today or tomorrow, if I have time. Hopefully, I will be able to raise blacksmithing enough to get something useful for our levels."

"Let's hope so… Ah, there's another thing I should mention." nodded Shuiruo. "We were clearing some ancient ruin when we found some strange treasure. It's an Orb, but a Mysterious God-grade one!"

"Ah?" asked Noah, suddenly sitting straighter.

"Yes. It is called the Virgo Orb and has a symbol on it, identical to the Zodiac's Virgo sign. And its effects are completely overpowered! It gives its wearer +150% HP and MP!"

"But we can't use it, My Lord." frowned Liliana. "It doesn't have a level requirement, but it won't fit on any slot in our Moon God Bracelets. Probably because of its grade. We were thinking about having it appraised by a merchant to learn more about it."

"Where is it?"

"Erica has it. She's on her way back to Azure Dragon City." said Shuiruo, frowning. She had noticed Noah's strange behavior.

"I need to reach her now." said Noah as he abruptly stood and sat on the nearby sofa. "If any NPC sees it, Erica will become Public Enemy Number One."

"Oh?" exclaimed Shuiruo. She exchanged a glance with Lily.

Noah didn't take the time to explain and connected to Mystic Moon.

…

"Hum? Little Master is back early this time." said Qi Yue as she appeared with a teasing smile. "Did you miss your Big Sister so much?"

"Later for the banter, there's an emergency." curtly said Noah as he opened his UI and initiated a conversation with Erica. Luckily, she was connected as well.

"Erica, where are you?"

"Just entering Azure Dragon God city. Why?"

"That Mysterious God-Grade thing you girls found. DO NOT show it or speak about it to any NPC!"

"Huh? Why?"

"That item is a great taboo. They would kill you to retrieve it. Even the Moon Goddesses would come."

"Oh. What is it, exactly?"

"I'd rather speak about it in the real world. Let's meet there."

"Ok, I'm disconnecting."

"Thanks."

Noah sighed in relief, then smiled at the puzzled Qi Yue.

"Crisis averted. One of my friends found the Virgo Orb in some ruins."

"Ah?" exclaimed Qi Yue, a smile forming on her lips.

"And they were about to have it appraised in Azure Dragon City."

"Ah!" exclaimed Qi Yue with a very different tone this time.

"It's okay, I warned her just in time. But now I have to tell them why they need to keep this secret, and why I need the Orb. I'm returning to my world, see you later."

Before Qi Yue could protest or say anything, Noah disconnected.

…

Noah opened his eyes and saw Shuiruo and Liliana talking to each other, speculating on his reaction and the Orb's nature.

"Alright, let's teleport to the dorm. Erica is waiting for us." said Noah.

The girls nodded and took his hand, and Noah teleported with them.

"Hey, Ruo Ruo, Bunny... You both look nice." said Erica with a wave of the hand as she took in their appearance. Liliana was dressed in a tight, crimson latex cheongsam with white flower patterns and black leather collar, and Shuiruo wore the same outfit, but with the collars reversed, crimson flowers on a white background.

Erica herself was dressed in a black latex maid outfit with a collar.

Noah walked to her with a smile and kissed her deeply.

"Not in front of them." complained Erica half-heartedly.

"Why not? It's not like they aren’t aware of our relationship." shrugged Noah. He looked around. Mai and the others were lying in the various armchairs and sofas of the playroom. He noted with satisfaction that Riona and Kotori were there as well.

"They came to visit Tenka, Kaguya and Yuzuru." explained Erica. "The Spirits have formed their own party inside Mystic Moon."

"I see. Good for them." nodded Noah. "Let's go where we can speak without bothering them."

Erica nodded, and the girls followed him to his room.

"So, what is this damn Orb?" asked Erica.

"You girls may have heard of the great calamity that happened ten thousand years ago in Mystic Moon's lore."

"That Shura thing?" asked Erica with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, that Shura thing." smiled Noah. "Back then, the Shura was a powerful man who got possessed by an artifact called the Lunar Scourge. The Lunar Scourge is an incredibly powerful moon god bracelet, one with fifteen slots meant for twelve Mysterious-God grade Orbs and three Saint-Destroyer grade Orbs."

"Wow, that is indeed powerful. And the Orb we found is related to the Lunar Scourge?" asked Shuiruo.

"It is." nodded Noah. "When the Moon Goddesses and their allies defeated the Shura, they broke up the Lunar Scourge and hid both its main body and its orbs in various places so that another Shura would never appear again… And I mentioned before that I experienced an actual soul attack that broke the confines of a virtual game. This happened when I touched the main body of the Lunar Scourge."

The girls' eyes widened as they started considering the implications.

"Moreover, Lilith gave me a mission to gather every piece of the Lunar Scourge. So we can definitely assume that this is related to the hidden crisis I have been asked to solve."

"…I understand why you told us not to show it to any NPC." frowned Erica. "You said you touched the Lunar Scourge's main body. Do you have it on you?"

"Yes. Hard not to, because after taming the Lunar Scourge, it equipped itself on me and I can't remove it. I found a handful of Orbs already. Each of them is really powerful, but there are some severe penalties that go with it. I require twice as many experience points and SP to level up my skills and increase my level, and if I die, I won't just lose a level. I'll be back to level 1."

"Do we tell this to the others? Yun Meng Xin and her friends are going to ask me about the Orb when I return." asked Erica.

Noah frowned as he thought for a few seconds.

"…We do not know those who administrates Mystic Moon. They may be part of the crisis for all I know. That's why I do not want the Lunar Scourge to be even mentioned in a message between players, just in case. I think you can talk to them verbally. I would already have been caught if there was some automated filter for that. Tell them what I said if you wish, but they need to be aware that they can't let any NPC know about it, and they can't mention it where other players might hear."

"Understood…" frowned Erica. "I will probably tell them about you being bound to the Lunar Scourge, and those Orbs making you stronger. This way, they will be aware that we should give them to you and not show them to any NPC."

Noah nodded, and smiled Shuiruo and Liliana.

"I'll need to go soon, or I'll be late. But before that, there are dice that need to be rolled."

"I don't have my die on me. I'll create one." said Shuiruo as she made one. She threw it twice on the nearby desk.

"1, so a single rule, and 6, Basic bondage." announced Yui. "Ruo Ruo, you now need to wear wrist and ankle cuffs to bed, linked together by 15 centimeters chains."

"Good." nodded Shuiruo. "I wonder how intense the next tiers will be."

"They will be intense, don't worry about that, Ruo Ruo. You'll get there soon." chuckled Yui.

"Your turn, Bunny." said Hikari, and Liliana nodded. She borrowed the die Shuiruo had made and threw it twice.

"5 and 6. Eheh, that one is a double rule." chuckled Hikari.

"I know. I've got it before." nodded Liliana as she stared at Noah expectantly.

"Double rules, and I get to choose them." nodded Noah He thought for a few seconds, then nodded to himself.

"I'll go easy on you today, Bunny. I will choose rules for something we're already doing. I choose both Lifestyle restriction and Uniform."

"Understood, Master." replied Hikari. "Lifestyle restriction Level 2, your Owner must assign you a uniform. Unlocks the Uniform category. Uniform Level 1, you must wear a form-fitting outfit chosen by your Owner."

"…Alright." nodded Liliana before blushing. "I'm getting used to it… and I know My Lord likes to see me wear those outfits."

"I certainly do." smiled Noah before kissing her.

…

Noah pressed the buzzer, and the large steel portal slowly opened. He entered the Kuromori estate and walked toward the manor.

The door opened before he could knock, and Katsuko, dressed in a maid outfit, smiled at him.

"Welcome back, Ren-kun."

"Thank you, Katsuko-nee." smiled Noah. "How are you doing?"

"I feel energized today. We prepared for a long time, and now, our plans are coming along with little disruption. This is both gratifying and worrying at the same time."

"Yes, I understand." nodded Noah. "A bit like those teams who set up a domino chain so elaborate that it takes a whole room. Until the last domino falls as planned, they will worry that something might go wrong at the last moment."

"That's a fitting analogy." nodded Katsuko. "You were the biggest potential failure point, but it seems we were worried for nothing."

As they talked, she led him to the living room where Minaho, Margo and Nei waited. A projector was displaying on a wall a view of Yukino eating some cereal bar.

"Good morning, Yuzuki-sensei, Nei, Margo." smiled Noah with a nod.

"Morning, Ren." grinned Nei with a wave of the hand.

"Hi." nodded Margo.

"Good morning, Nagano-kun." nodded Minaho. "How was your night?"

"Refreshing." nodded Noah. He sat on a chair when Minaho invited him to do so. "I used the opportunity to update my girlfriends on the situation regrading Nagisa, Misuzu and Miyuki."

"Did they explode?" asked Nei with a raised eyebrow.

"No, they gave me carte blanche." shrugged Noah. "I will have to spend maybe two hours in Mystic Moon today for something important. Can we squeeze that between whatever you plan for me to do?"

"We can." nodded Minaho. "Your body will likely need some rest after you do Shirasaka a few times anyway. Let's do that this morning. This afternoon, we will pay a visit to those Yakuza, then you will have more time with Shirasaka. And tomorrow, we will start on her little sister."

"How old is she?" asked Noah, dreading the answer. In the original novel, she was only thirteen or fourteen.

"Is that a problem?"

"…I will do what I must." sighed Noah. "But it will be a major turn off if she's too young."

Minaho nodded, and Noah felt approval in her eyes.

"Rejoice, she just turned eighteen. We waited until that was the case to start our vengeance. We may want to make that man's daughters experience what we endured, but we still have our bottom line."

"I am relieved to hear it." nodded Noah.

"Then let's get started, Nagano-kun." said Minaho as she stood. She picked up a thick folder and gestured for him and Katsuko to follow her. Katsuko has already taken a camera from somewhere.

She led them upstairs and to a room whose door was locked. She used a key to open it, and Noah followed inside.

"Huh, it's you." grumbled Yukino as she saw Noah enter. She was still dressed in her school uniform and housepet choker.

"Yes, good morning to you too, Yukino." smiled Noah. "Are you ready for more sex?"

"Like I have a choice!"

"Didn't you say that you want to retrieve those pictures, Shirasaka?" asked Minaho as she took from her folder a few shots from her deflowering. She waved them in front of Yukino, taunting her.

"I did, but you're not going to give them to me for free, are you?" asked Yukino with a suspicious face.

"Good, you're learning." coldly smiled Minaho. She took a sheet from her folder and handed it to Yukino.

Yukino took it, and her hands shook in anger as she read the content.

"Yukino Shirasaka's erotic services"

"Handjob: 2 000 Yen."

"Footjob: 3 000 Yen."

"Fellation: 5 000 Yen."

"Facial: 7 000 Yen."

"Paizuri: 12 000 Yen."

"Creampie: 20 000 Yen."

"Anal: 20 000 Yen."

Options:

"Bondage: +5 000 Yen."

"Wearing an erotic outfit: + 3 000 Yen."

"Is that a joke?" exploded Yukino.

"It isn't. From now on, Nagano-kun will pay you for sex." smiled Minaho a she handed a thick envelope to Noah. "You can use that money to buy those photos from me. Each of them will cost you 20 000 Yen."

Noah knew what Minaho was doing. She was making Yukino experience the shame and humiliation of accepting money in exchange for her body, as if she was working as a prostitute.

Yukino felt mortified.

"I'm not some filthy prostitute!" shouted Yukino, and the eyes of Minaho and Katsuko became even colder.

"Yikes, that was the last thing to say." winced Noah.

"Ten of those pictures will be deposited in Endou's locker by Monday morning." said Minaho. "No, let's make it fifteen, to reward your insolence. Your only chance to stop it is to buy them from me."

"Fifteen! But!" gasped Yukino before she forcibly stopped herself, her fist clenched.

"Before Yukino brings even more trouble upon herself, I guess I will get started." said Noah as he started stripping.

…

It was early afternoon when Noah left the room where he had taken a 'nap'. In reality, he connected to Mystic Moon, returned to Azure Dragon City using one of the teleportation scrolls, and safely retrieved the Virgo Orb. he also secured in his inventory large amount of various ores and other materials that would be used later.

He also took the time to call Kurumi, and the Spirit agreed to come live with him in the College once his undercover mission was over. In return, Noah would help her with her own vengeance.

"Are you done with whatever you needed to do?" asked Minaho when he returned to the living room.

"Yes, Sensei." smiled Noah. "The rest of my day is devoted to you."

Minaho smiled a little. "Good job this morning with Shirasaka. She won't admit it for a while, but she already has fallen to the pleasure. She would keep having sex with you on command even if I released her."

Noah nodded, as he shared her opinion. Despite the circumstances, Yukino wasn't immune to the pleasure of repeated orgasms, and his relatively affectionate behavior toward her, when contrasted with Minaho's and Katsuko's cold treatment, had already started forging bond between them.

Yukino hadn't fallen in love with him. It would take a while longer for that to happen. But a bond between them had formed. She had started to see him as 'hers', as if having been repeatedly raped by him gave her some kind of claim over him.

"You will also attend a party this evening. We should introduce you to some of Kouzuki Group's elites as Misuzu's future partner."

"So I'm openly challenging her fiancé. It's coming sooner than I expected, but fine. Will her grandfather be present?" asked Noah.

"It is unlikely, but he might observe through the security system or watch later."

"Understood. I'll be on my best behavior." grinned Noah.

"Do you have a suitable outfit?" asked Margo. "We have some inside the mansion if needed."

"I do. I think my navy blue one would be appropriate. I will only need to return home to change before the party."

"Let us go, then." nodded Minaho.

…

Noah half-hoped to find the Yakuza gathered inside some old-fashioned estate, wearing black kimonos.

Instead, Minaho stopped the car near a dull, grey four-story building, its only remarkable feature being the "Hashizawa" sign near the door.

Minaho left the car, followed by Margo, Noah and Nei.

They entered, and two men in cheap black suits waiting in the lobby saw them.

"I am Minaho Kuromori." announced Minaho. "We should be expected."

The older of the two Yakuza stared at each of them in turn, while the younger one was leering at Nei.

"Follow me." said the older one with a nod.

He walked to an elevator and pressed a button.

"I didn't know there were so many sexy women in Kuromori." said the younger one. He actually licked his lips and stepped closer to Nei. "We should have put our hands on them sooner."

Noah placed himself between him and Nei.

"What kind of smooth-brained delinquents are the Yakuza recruiting these days?" asked Noah. "I expected a modicum of class and professionalism. What a disappointment."

"The fuck you said? You're her boyfriend or something?"

"Hum, I don't know." replied Noah as he looked back at Nei and winked. "Am I your boyfriend?"

"I want to have a talk with your other girlfriends first, but I think I'd like that. Or maybe, I'd be your pet?" winked back Nei.

"Lucky me." grinned Noah.

"Cut it out, Koji!" barked the older Yakuza as the elevator's door opened and the younger one was about to retort. "That guy has a point about class. This is a business meeting, not a street encounter. Keep it up and I'll inform Oyabun."

Noah knew that in Yakuza organizations, the leader was referred to as Oyabun, which roughly translated as 'Father'.

"Tsk." spat the younger Yakuza as he stepped back, turned, and returned to the building's entrance.

The older Yakuza gestured toward the elevator, and they entered it.

"Apologies." said the man with a low voice as they started to climb. "Some of my younger brothers are too reckless."

"I understand." nodded Minaho. "They will either wise up, or they will not live to become experienced Yakuza."

"That's how it is, yes."

When the elevator reached the fourth floor, they walked out, and the Yakuza led them down a hallway to a large office.

Seven people were waiting for them, dressed in suits. They didn't stand to greet them, only gesturing to a few chairs on the other side of the long table.

"Good, you're punctual." said the boss. "You requested this meeting. Have you come to negotiate your surrender?"

"Hardly." coldly replied Minaho. "We came to issue a warning. We do not care about strife between Yakuza groups as long as they do not involve us. But you have been taking liberties with one of our assets. This needs to stop."

"And what will happen if we don't?" asked the Yakuza boss with a raised eyebrow.

"We will beat up your members." replied Minaho. The Yakuza started laughing in disbelief, but she wasn't done. "Then we will use our connections to make life very difficult for you. You will face increased police scrutiny, and the banks you group uses, Mizuho, MUFG and Resona, will refuse any future loan. And then we will beat you up some more."

The Yakuza boss leaned forward, his mocking smile turning into anger.

"You did your homework, I'll give you that. But there is one flaw in your plan."

He moved his hand under the table. Noah used Promise and saw him pressing a button. Seconds later, all the Yakuza present in the building were on the move, heading for the elevator and the stairs.

"Oh? And what is it?" asked Minaho.

"You will not be able to execute those threats if you cannot leave this room. When we are done with you, you will be a lot more… compliant."

He gestured to the men present in the room, and they moved around the table, intending to grab Noah and the girls.

"That's how it is, huh?" nodded Minaho. She didn't need to glance at her companions as they knew what to do.

When the Yakuza were extending their hands toward the girls, chaos erupted.

Nei suddenly had a retractable baton in her hand, and she ruthlessly swung at the nearest Yakuza, hitting his temple. The Yakuza dropped with a groan.

Margo was moving, kicking and punching, each strike downing one Yakuza. She was a well-trained martial artist, and Kuromori's second strongest member. Until Noah joined them, that is.

Noah was also moving, and in mere seconds, all six Yakuza were on the ground, groaning or unconscious. The boss was still sitting, incredulous, and Noah quickly closed the distance.

When he used Promise, Noah scanned every Yakuza, and he saw that the boss had a gun in the small of his back.

The Yakuza reached for it and drew it, but as he was aiming, Noah's hands flashed out and seized the gun, turning it and forcing the Yakuza's hand open.

Before the boss realized, the gun was in Noah's hand, pointing straight at his forehead.

Nei, Minaho and Margo froze as well. They had barely registered the presence of a gun, something very rare even in Japan's Underground, and before they could react, Noah had already seized it.

"You will tell your men to stand down. Humor me, Andrei." said Noah with a cold smile.

"My name is not Andrei." frowned the boss.

"It was a movie reference."

The doors of the room opened. Many Yakuza entered the room, only to freeze as they saw their boss in danger.

"Oyabun!" exclaimed the Yakuza.

The boss took a deep breath, glaring at Noah, wondering if he really had the guts to pull the trigger. Most civilians wouldn't, even in a dangerous situation.

But when he stared into Noah's eyes and his steady hand, his instinct kicked into high gear, and he realized that this 'civilian' would kill him.

"Stand down, everyone!" barked the boss.

"Good. So, will you be a problem?" asked Minaho.

"No. Not with Kuromori." glared the Boss.

Noah could tell that he was lying. Those Yakuza would try to avenge their honor the instant the figured they could get away with it.

A bit more motivation was needed, but Noah didn't want to actually shoot, so he decided to make them fear him in another way.

Noah ejected the gun's clip and removed the bullet already in the barrel. Then, not taking his eyes away from the boss, he slowly squeezed.

With a loud, metallic crunch, Noah crushed the pistol. When he put the gun on the table, its middle section was only about half as thick as it had been, and the barrel was angled 45 degrees to the side.

"You cannot kill me." said Noah to the paling boss and his subordinates, speaking slowly to get over their shock. "Even if you were to catch me in my sleep, you wouldn't be able to kill me. I, however, can easily find and kill you all, and the government would call off any investigation the instant I gave them a call. Keep that in mind."

The sweating boss nodded with a jerk.

"We will take our leave, then." said Minaho.

As they walked out, the Yakuza pressed themselves against the walls, not meeting Noah's gaze.

They entered the elevator, pressed the button, and the cabin moved down.

"Thank you, Nagano-kun." said Minaho with a quiet voice. "I had not planned on a small Yakuza group having a gun."

"That's a mistake, but I assume you won't do it again." nodded Noah.

"Show me your hand." said Nei, grabbing Noah's left hand. She felt relieved when she didn't see a single cut or bruise.

"Why did you destroy that gun after he agreed to stand down?" asked Margo curiously.

"I could see in his eyes that he would try to take revenge later." shrugged Noah. "I judged that making them afraid of offending someone they cannot explain would be a better deterrent than shooting that gun and making them want revenge even more."

Minaho nodded as they left the building and headed for the car.

Noah opened the front passenger door for Nei, who flashed him a smile, then sat on the back seat with Margo.

Minaho started driving.

"We'll go by your home so you can change into your suit, Nagano-kun." said Mianho, and Noah nodded.

"Nice, we'll get to meet his girlfriends!" grinned Nei.

"I am fine with it, but I will warn you in advance, my girls and I are playing a certain game. One that lasts for weeks. They won't be dressed in casual street clothes. Please refrain from embarrassing them." said Noah, taking his phone to send a message to Shuiruo and Liliana.

"Sure." nodded Nei.

They drove in silence for a few minutes, then Minaho spoke again.

"…Nagano-kun, have you already killed before?"

Noah looked at her eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror. She was observing his reaction, with a face he couldn't read.

After a few seconds of tense silence, he nodded.

"…Killing is something I generally try to avoid. I mostly deal with issues with peaceful methods, or when they do not work, with shows of force. But there has been times when criminals took those shows of force as an empty promise. Deterrence only works if you prove you have the will to do as you said you would."

"…Thank you for being honest." nodded Minaho.

"Does that disappoint you, Sensei?" softly asked Noah.

"…I need to sleep on it. I would have preferred for you to never have killed, to know the weight of a human life. However, you seem to be pretty well adjusted, and I won't have to worry that killing someone might change you. I do not plan for you to kill anyone, but with Japan's Underground, you never know what might happen."

"I see." nodded Noah.

They quickly reached the Nagano residence, and Noah opened the door and ushered them in.

Shuiruo and Liliana were waiting in the living room, dressed in their latex cheongsams.

Noah did the introduction, then went upstairs to change.

…

"Would you like some tea? I already put some water to boil." asked Shuiruo as she faced Minaho, Margo and Nei.

"Yes, thank you." nodded Minaho.

"I will fetch the cups." said Liliana as she walked to the kitchen. She still felt embarrassed to be seen wearing latex and welcomed any opportunity to get away from their glances, no matter how fleeting.

"Alright, please sit down, everyone." smiled Shuiruo.

"I must say that you look great." smiled Nei. "Where did you find that outfit? I'm tempted to buy some for myself."

"Those are custom-made." grinned Shuiruo. "If you make puppy eyes at Master, I'm sure he will give you many of those. He will probably want to see you model them, however."

"Of course." nodded Nei. "It's for him that I'm considering it after all. Does he treat you well?"

"As much as his busy schedule allows." nodded Shuiruo. "He has many commitments, and those are important. Even though I would appreciate spending more time with him, I am aware that it would be selfish of me to do so."

"How did you meet him?" asked Margo.

"…I was dying from the Isrock virus. My condition had reached the point where I was losing my ability to stand. When I had lost all hope, Master found me. Master didn't just cure me of the virus. He restored my atrophied muscles, and then cured my parents as well. That is when I fell in love with him. I decided to devote this life that he saved to him. And when I did, he granted me many gifts, including the ability to heal others, and he asked me to use that particular gift to do some good in the world."

Shuiruo's radiant smile had an effect on them, and Minaho, Nei and Margo smiled back, feeling a small fuzz of happiness.

Liliana returned with a tea set and started serving them.

"Thank you. And the AI? Hikari, was it?" asked Minaho with a glance at the black bangle on Shuiruo's left wrist. "I wasn't aware that Artificial Intelligences already existed."

"I am Yui, nice to meet you all. Hikari is my sister of sorts. We were both created by a slightly insane but very talented scientist for the purpose of providing health counseling to people suffering from depression. But his plans changed at some point, and we were slated for deletion. Master negotiated with that scientist and gave him some valuable information in return for our guardianship. So now we work for him, and it's a lot of fun!"

"I am glad he did." nodded Nei. "But how can an AI be contained in something so small as a bangle?"

"This bangle is simply a bunch of sensors monitoring Ruo Ruo's vitals and immediate surroundings. My real body is far away. And I look like a flesh and blood woman. We will likely meet in person sometime soon, once Master is allowed to be more… open."

"Wow. That… I look forward to it as well." nodded Nei.

"Allowed?" asked Minaho with a raised eyebrow. "Is there a hierarchy among Sacred Beasts?"

"Sacred Beasts?" blinked Shuiruo.

"Yes, we found out about that." winked Nei with a conspiratorial voice. "After all, only a Sacred Beast can bestow blessings to others, so Nagano-kun has to be one. But as long as he wishes to pretend he's human, we'll play along. But who is above him, then?"

Shuiruo and Bunny glanced at each other for a second.

"We cannot comment about that at this point." smiled Shuiruo.

Noah descended the stairs, now clad in a navy-blue business suit with a white shirt and black tie.

"How do I look? I won't embarrass Misuzu, right?" asked Noah.

"No, you look perfect." nodded Minaho with approval.

"Here, My Lord." said Bunny as she handed him a cup of tea.

"Thank you." smiled Noah.

"Ren, we talked about those nice outfits Shuiruo and Bunny both wear, and they look great." smiled Nei. "I'm supposed to do puppy eyes at you to convince you to tell me where I can buy some for myself."

"Don't do the puppy eyes, that's my weakness!" chuckled Noah. "Just give me your measurements and a description of what you want, and you will receive them within three days. Money is no issue, but I will want to see you model those, and I may take a photo or two. It doesn't have to be only latex, either. If you want something made of leather or silk or whatever, that can be arranged."

"That's great! Thank you, Ren!" grinned Nei, and Noah blinked.

"…Damn, I told Katsuko that I would not leverage what I can provide to seduce any of you. Does offering clothes count?"

"I do not think it does." smiled Minaho. "You aren't demanding that Nei have sex with you in return for those clothes."

"Right." nodded Nei. "I already decided to be yours anyway, so feel free to spoil me with clothes, I won't mind!"

"So you are going to join us?" grinned Shuiruo.

"Yes." nodded Nei. "Nagisa and Sensei both vouch for him, and I trust their judgement.  I think I can be happy with him."

"I think so as well. I will try hard not to prove them wrong." smiled Noah, looking at Nei with warm eyes.

He was thinking about her twin brother who had been murdered by Cesario Viola. He planned to revive him as soon as he could abandon his cover.

Now that he thought about it, Two of Misuzu's relatives had been killed by the same man as well. Being normal humans, they would be cheap to revive.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but we should get going." said Minaho after glancing at her watch. "Misuzu is going to be waiting for us."

"It has been a pleasure to meet you both." smiled Margo as they stood.

"Likewise." nodded Liliana. "We look forward to seeing you more regularly."

"Yes, feel free to visit us whenever, even if Master is away." smiled Shuiruo.

"Bunny, Ruo Ruo, I do not know when I'll be back. I'll keep you informed." said Noah.

"Yes, My Lord. We will wait for you." nodded Liliana.

…

The Kouzuki estate was even bigger than the Kuromori mansion and its surrounding land. Minaho drove the car inside, then stopped near the black limo. A middle-aged man was standing near it. Noah assumed he was the driver.

The mansion's door opened, and five young women came out.

"Danna-sama!" happily exclaimed Misuzu as the quickly closed the distance, giving hm a light hug. She was dressed in an elegant burgundy off-shoulder dress and some understated jewelry.

"I'm also happy to see you, Misuzu." smiled Noah before adding in a whisper. "How is my cute pet doing?"

"I am doing fine." nodded Misuzu. I look forward to introducing Danna-sama to some of my friends. They will be so jealous!"

Noah nodded and glanced at the other four people. Misuzu noticed and cleared her throat.

"And speaking of introductions, Danna-sama, this is my bodyguard, Michi Kudou." said Misuzu, gesturing toward the other girl. She was petite, had neck-length black hair and black eyes, and looked like a pretty doll.

Noah knew better than to underestimate her, however, as the personal fighting style of the Kudou family mixed martial arts with unconventional, easy to hide weapons. He didn't need to use Promise to know that this girl must have a retractable baton and other weapons strapped on her tights under her black dress.

"Nice-to meet you, Kudou-san." smiled Noah.

"N-Nice to meet you." replied Michi with a shy expression.

"This is my cousin, Ruriko." grinned Misuzu as she gestured toward a girl who looked about her age and had similar features. Ruriko had the same black eyes and long black hair, but hers was straight above the neck, and wavy under it. She was dressed in a sapphire-blue dress, its design identical to Misuzu's.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ruriko-san." nodded Noah.

"Please call me Ruriko." smiled Ruriko.

"Very well, Ruriko." said Noah.

"Beside Ruriko is Yoshiko, her attendant." smiled Misuzu, gesturing to an attractive young woman with black eyes and long, straight black hair styled in a ponytail. She stared at him with a polite but evaluating gaze. She wore a modest but elegant emerald-green dress.

"Nice to meet you, Yoshiko-san."

"Likewise." nodded Yoshiko. "But please call me just Yoshiko. It would be strange if you call me Yoshiko-san while you refer to Ruriko-sama as Ruriko."

"As you wish." nodded Noah.

"This is Reika Fujimiya, a high-ranking member of Kouzuki Security Services. She will come as our chaperone." continued Misuzu.

"A pleasure to meet you, Nagano-sama." nodded Reika. She was tall, had short black hair and black eyes, and the way she filled her black suit made clear that she spent a significant amount of time working out.

"The pleasure is mutual, Fujimiya-san." nodded back Noah.

"Finally, this is Nakai Renzo, our driver." finished Misuzu.

"Nice to meet you, Nakai-san." nodded Noah again.

"I am honored to meet you, Nagano-sama." replied the driver with a respectful nod.

"Have fun at the party." said Minaho. "I will remain here with Margo. I need to talk with His Excellency."

"Alright, see you later, Sensei." nodded Margo.

The driver opened the limo's passenger door, and the girls entered. Noah was the last one and looked around with interest.

"Eheh, is it the first time you're inside a limo, Danna-sama?" asked Misuzu with a laugh. She had glued herself to his side and grabbed his hand.

"It actually is." nodded Noah as he felt the Limo start to move. "Usually, I simply move around by walking. My last car was a modest sedan. That party we're going to will be filed with the elites of the Kouzuki Group, won't it? Won't Nei and I be the only outsiders?"

"Yes. This party is intended for the younger generation to forge connections, to be accurate." nodded Misuzu, her smile fading for a moment. "The members of the so-called 'Prince faction' will attend. Grandfather warned them not to start anything with anyone accompanying me or Ruriko. I hope they will remember that."

"Even if they don't, it takes a lot to really offend me, and I promised Yuzuki-sensei that I would behave." smiled Noah. "Even if they go all-out and call me a peasant or a gold-digger, I will only take note for later. Vengeance, cold dish, and all that."

"With all due respect, how could you take vengeance on one of them?" asked Yoshiko, frowning. "I do not mean to demean you, but you do not seem to have significant assets to leverage against some people whose family have real power within the Kouzuki Group, and I doubt His Excellency would let Misuzu use her own influence on your behalf."

"There is more to me than meets the eye." smiled Noah.

"Could it be, you're the secret heir of another big family?" asked Ruriko excitedly.

Nei started giggling.

"Assuming I was a secret heir, I wouldn't be much of one if I admitted it so easily, now would I?" winked Noah. "But no, I'm not a secret heir. My parents were both middle-class. Power and authority, however, take many forms, and finances are only one of them. I may not have billions in a bank account, but I have things that money can't buy."

"Like what?" asked Misuzu.

"Like you." smiled Noah.

"Danna-sama!" cried Misuzu as he pressed herself against him and kissed him.

"Yes, you have me! I'm your cute pet for life!" declared Misuzu with an expression of utter happiness.

"Careful, Misuzu, you'll damage your makeup." warned Noah. "And maybe you shouldn't speak of such things in present company?"

"They all know already." smugly said Misuzu. "I don't hide anything from my sister or Michi, and Grandfather was told by Nagisa."

"I see. And how did your grandfather take it?"

"Grandfather is somewhat old-fashioned. He has no problem with women assuming leadership positions. In fact, he is grooming both me and Ruriko to take the lead of the Kouzuki Group one day. However, when it comes to relationships between a man and a woman at home, he thinks that all women are natural submissives, and they can only find true happiness when they wear a collar."

"And do you think so as well?"

"I am looking forward to my collar, Danna-sama." replied Misuzu with puppy eyes.

"Soon." promised Noah. "But I won't just buy you one. I will learn leatherworking and make you one myself."

Noah could simply use his ability to create one in seconds. But crafting one could be interesting as well, and he was in the mood to invest some time and effort for Misuzu.

"Danna-sama!" crooned Misuzu, making hot eyes at him. She was literally squirming with happiness.

"I want a collar too!" exclaimed Nei.

"I'll also make you one." nodded Noah.

"You're going to be his pet as well?" asked Misuzu.

"Pet, lover, girlfriend, even sex slave, I don't care as long as he pampers me. And I can think of fun things to do with collar plays! How about him taking you from behind, holding a chain connected to your collar like a leash?"

"I want to try that!" grinned Misuzu.

"Walking you out like a dog in a public space, and making you pee in public?"

"That too! I want Danna-sama to take me outside and impregnate me!"

"Let's stop discussing this, some people are getting uncomfortable." chuckled Noah. Reika and Yoshiko were definitely uneasy, and Ruriko, who had lived an existence so sheltered that she didn't anything know about sex, looked in confusion. And Michi was eagerly listening.

"I can assure you that there are going to be plenty of kinky plays in the future, and you will get your fill."

"Hum, it's a promise." grinned Nei.

"Misuzu, you were working at the flower shop with Nagisa earlier today, right?" asked Noah to change the subject.

"Yes. She's looking forward to your next visit."

"Tell me about your day. I'd like to know more about you and what you do."

Misuzu happily started talking, and for a few minutes, she talked about flowers, deliveries, and the popularity of respective flower arrangements. The other girls occasionally interjected, asking Misuzu questions or offering their opinion. Noah was listening quietly, memorizing everything.

His relationship with Misuzu was, to say the least, sudden. He didn't actually know much about her, and most of it was from what he remembered from reading the fiction. He wanted to correct that.

The Limo stopped in front of a large skyscraper.

"We have reached our destination." said Reika as she scanned for threats through the windows.

Noah used Promise for a few seconds and didn't see any threat within a two hundred meters radius either.

…

The party was on the fifth floor, in a huge ballroom with white marble walls and a wooden floor. Tables with appetizers and drinks were lined near each wall, with a half-dozen waiters in uniforms tending to the guests' needs.

With Noah and his group, the total number of guests had reached a little over a hundred.

Noah expected that Misuzu would lead him around, introducing him to everyone, but she had other plans. She simply spotted a few of her female friends and made a beeline to them, still holding Noah's hand.

Had Misuzu's friends been less refined, Noah had the distinct impression that they would be squealing from delight, both from genuine happiness for Misuzu, and for the gossip and scandal he represented. They already heard rumors stating that Misuzu was going against her grandfather's orders as a rebellion.

"No, that's not the case." replied Misuzu as she shook her head. "Grandfather has decided to suspend the engagement for a few weeks while he evaluates Danna-sama."

"I see." nodded one of her friends. "But, I do not understand why. Does Nagano-kun have a great status?"

The gazes fixed on him, and Noah smiled gently.

"From my point of view, there are two kinds of people who have the qualifications to become Misuzu's partner. The first is the type who received an elite education similar to Misuzu's. They could help her and replace her temporarily while she is away. I imagine most of the young men present here fall into this category."

Noah gestured toward the groups of men scattered around, and the girls nodded in agreement.

"And the second kind is made up of those who, instead of having the same set of skills as Misuzu, can complete her by giving her what she needs. That is, warmth, affection, and understanding. I give her the space to be herself and drop the mask imposed by social norms without judgement. If Misuzu is a beautiful bird, I am the branch where she can land and rest until she's ready to fly again."

Noah was smiling warmly at Misuzu when he said that, and she squeezed his hand with eyes full of love.

"So romantic..." breathed one of her friends.

"Yes, we approve of this!" squealed another.

"You see? that's why Danna-sama is Danna-sama!" nodded Misuzu.

"Does that mean that you do not intend to involve yourself with the affairs of the Kouzuki House?" asked another girl. "Most marriage partners are offered a position where they can prove their worth."

"I don't. I have been trained as an accountant and I am fairly good at it, if I do say so myself, but unless Misuzu asks me to take a look at the numbers, that is her business. I currently am a student at Hyakkaou Private Academy, and I'll have my own career."

"Ah, you shouldn't have said that, Ren." chuckled Nei. "Knowing His Excellency's reputation, this will come back to his ears before the night is over, and we will want to test you on that."

"I do not mind." smiled Noah. He was already good enough to spot embezzlement back then when he was just a normal human. Now, with his attributes boosting his intellect and his eidetic memory, he doubted there would be many that could best him as an accountant.

The conversation shifted away from him and toward matters internal to the Kouzuki Group, and Noah looked around as he listened.

As expected, Nei got a lot of glances from the young men, even more than Noah himself did. A few of them caught his attention.

Misuzu noticed his gaze and spoke with a low voice.

"The tallest man in the back is Kouzuki Souji-san. He's grandfather's brother's grandson. Next to him is Souji-san's brother, Subaru-san. The one in the middle of those making noise right now is Kouzuki Satoshi-san. That person is on the lineage of grandfather’s younger brother. On Satoshi-san’s side, Natsuko Makoto-san. It’s grandfather’s sister’s grandson. Those four are the Princes of Kouzuki house…"

"I see." nodded Noah.

After a minute, Kouzuki Satoshi and another who was part of the same group walked to them, smiling. the one whose name Noah didn't know called out to Nei.

"You, aren't you cute? Where do you come from? Which acquaintance are you, Misuzu-san or Ruriko-san?"

Nei turned her head away, ignoring him.

He didn't get the memo.

"I'm Fumikazu Tsunoda. Or rather, you know about me already, don't you?"

Nei sighed and turned to him.

"Sorry, your mouth stinks. Could you go somewhere else?"

Noah raised an eyebrow at Nei's bluntness. The guy instantly got furious.

"What's with you bitch?"

"Hey, Tsunoda, stop that." cut in Satoshi before turning to Nei with a placating smile. "Sorry, this guy doesn't mean to do anything bad."

This was such an obvious Good Cop, Bad Cop routine that Noah felt like rolling his eyes, but there was a twist. Kouzuki Souji walked to them with an apologetic smile.

"The lady over there is just too beautiful, so they couldn't restrain themselves and tried to call out with a friendly attitude. Let them apologize to you."

He glared at his companions.

"Tsunoda, Satoshi, you must apologize."

"…Y-Yes, Souji-sama."

"Understood… Souji-sama."

The two of them bowed their heads at Nei.

"I'm sorry."

"I apologize."

Nei didn't answer. She was waiting for their next move.

Souji next smiled at Misuzu.

"Therefore, Misuzu-sama… could we just forgive and forget?"

He looked at each girl for a second before speaking again.

" Though there was a small trouble…please don’t mind it. How about it? It’s a rare opportunity so we would like to know Misuzu-san and Ruriko-san’s friends. We will also introduce ourselves. If we do a step-by-step process, we won’t have such troubles like earlier…"

"I refuse." coldly replied Misuzu.

This clearly wasn't the response they expected, and Souji's eyes narrowed in irritation.

"Why? Aren’t we relatives? If they are yours or Ruriko-sama’s friends then we would like be friends with them too… earlier, that’s what His Excellency has ordered. To get along with Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama’s friends."

"My grandfather said that Souji-san and the others should not make blunders towards us." rebutted Misuzu. "There's no 'get along' in what he said."

Souji knew he was in the wrong, but that didn't stop him.

" Although he didn’t say it directly…once you read the context, you’ll understand it somehow."

Misuzu scoffed.

More and more members of the Prince faction walked closer, assembling themselves behind Souji.

"As the two successors of the Kouzuki family…" continued Souji. "…You bear the future of Kouzuki Group. Since it's a great opportunity, my interpretation is that His Excellency thought that he wants us to deepen our understanding with each other."

Noah rolled his eyes this time and didn't bother hiding it. Souji and Tsunoda noticed, but they were too busy to scold him.

"Isn't that just Souji-san's selfish inference?" asked Misuzu, her voice cold.

Some of the men behind Souji started voicing their opinions.

"I wonder? I think that Souji-sama's guess is right."

" Umu, I think so too. With the food and room being well… His Excellency is ordering us to be friendly with Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama."

"I think Souji-sama is right."

"Misuzu-sama, that's how it is, please introduce everyone. Please."

"That's right. His Excellency never does anything useless. His orders definitely had meaning."

On and on, they each voiced their support and used group pressure to try to force the girls, and Nei in particular, to socialize with them.

But Misuzu was made of sterner stuff.

"I've already refused. Please don't make me repeat it."

"However, isn't Misuzu-sama the daughter of His Excellency's second child? In other words, a daughter of the branch family? You're not a legitimate heir in Kouzuki House."

"Shut up!" exclaimed Ruriko.

The small crowd suddenly stopped as the shy Ruriko suddenly spoke up.

"Misuzu-onee-sama speaks on my behalf. Her words are like my own."

"Ha… I'm sorry." apologized the one who had commented on Misuzu's lineage.

Noah thought about something and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Is there something funny?" asked Souji with a frown.

"Ah, sorry." grinned Noah. "It's just that this situation reminds me of an incident that happened with one of my friends. She and her colleague were harassed by a handful of people during a gala. And those guys were too arrogant and just didn't accept being told to go away."

"So, what did she do? She could have simply knocked them out since she's a martial artist, but when this girl gets irritated, she can really go for the jugular. She forcibly stripped their leader naked, in plain view of everyone, and threw his clothes up in the air. The clothes were hanging from the chandeliers too far for him to reach, and the man fled in tears, wearing only his socks and shoes, followed by his companions who were afraid they might be next. He never showed his face in public again."

Most of the girls snickered or hid their mouth behind their hands as their shoulders shook silently, imagining the scene, but the men weren't amused, and Souji least of all.

"Who's that friend?" asked Nei as she recovered. "I want to meet her! It sounds like we'll get along!"

"I'm sure of it." nodded Noah. "And if these gentlemen keep trying to pressure Misuzu, maybe I will reenact this scene. We have chandeliers up there, and His Excellency might find it humorous enough to go easy on me afterwards. I'd be acting in defense of his granddaughter after all."

"Y-You wouldn't dare." gasped Souji as he took a step back.

"I dare many things." smiled Noah. "And I have the means to buy His Excellency's forgiveness later. So, do not push your luck."

Souji seemed torn between a desire to retreat and a desire not to lose face. While he was hesitating, the speakers hidden in the ceiling came to life.

"That is quite enough." spoke the voice of an old man, full of dignity and authority.

"Kouzuki Satoshi, Fumikazu Tsunoda, Kouzuki Souji. I warned you not to cause a blunder, and you went ahead and did just that. You will be disciplined tomorrow."

The faces of the three people who had been named turned grey, and the crowd behind them stepped back abruptly, now regretting their participation in this farce.

"P-Please excuse us, Misuzu-sama, Ruriko-sama." uttered Souji with a stiff bow. "We will leave you alone."

His flunkies excused themselves as well then left for the room's farthest corner.

"Thank you, Danna-sama." smiled Misuzu.

"Are you fine with it? I didn't want to make you appear like you need someone's help to deal with something like this, but I also didn't want to just watch them tear you down. I am your partner after all."

"I'd say it was okay." nodded Nei. "And that threat you made was so creative and funny!"

The girls nodded, and Noah smiled. They apparently thought that he had just made it up.

"It is, right?" winked Noah. "Now let's resume to where we were interrupted. Ruriko-san was speaking about her school friends."

"Yes…" smiled Ruriko

Before long, the girls were happily chatting like before, and Noah politely smiled as he memorized everything.

…

The limo reached the Kouzuki estate and stopped in front of the Kouzuki mansion.

"Too bad, it is over already." lamented Misuzu as they left the vehicle.

"We will have plenty of time together in the future." smiled Noah.

"How about Danna-sama spending the night here?" hopefully asked Misuzu.

"Sorry, Misuzu, but I have…" started Noah, thinking about the limited time he had to make Yukino submit, but he stopped speaking as Minaho left the mansion and walked to them.

"Come with me, Nei, Nagano-kun. His Excellency wishes to talk to you."

"Alright." nodded Noah. He could feel Misuzu by his side stiffen.

"It will be fine." reassured Nei. "I have met Misuzu's grandfather a few times, and he's a good person."

"I'm aware." nodded Noah.

"I'm coming with Danna-sama." said Misuzu, and Minaho nodded.

"He didn't say to bring him alone, so it should be fine."

Minaho led them inside and to a large room, tastefully decorated with dark wood furniture. An old man, dressed in a dark brown kimono, was sitting on a large armchair near the fireplace, a black cane in his hand. His appearance reminded Noah rather powerfully of Erina Nakiri's grandfather in Food Wars. A tablet PC was on a stand within his arm's reach. Margo was sitting on a nearby sofa and nodded at him and Misuzu.

"Nagano-kun, this is His Excellency, Kouzuki Shigetaka." formally said Minaho. "He helped the Kuromori family a lot over the past few years. Your Excellency, this is Ren Nagano, as you already know."

"A pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency." said Noah with a respectful bow to an elder, but not an obsequious one.

"Likewise." gravely nodded Shigetaka. "I must say, young man, that you are quite the enigma. And I do not like enigmas. Although I understand from what Minaho told me that you won't answer questions about your real identity."

Misuzu blinked and looked at him in confusion, as she wasn't aware of this.

"…I cannot comment on this matter for now. I expect for this restriction to be lifted after Sousuke Shirasaka has been dealt with. However, I dare say that some of you can look forward to some pleasant surprises."

"This priceless thing you mentioned in the ballroom?"

"Precisely." nodded Noah.

Shigetaka stared at him, obviously expecting more, but Noah only smiled back.

"Humph, keep your secrets for now. I didn't expect you to answer anyway. I brought you here to learn about your intentions. Minaho told me you know about our plans. Do you intend to interfere with my own?"

"Which plan are you referring to, Your Excellency? Your vengeance against the man who killed your eldest son and his wife, or your intention to raise a commoner above the nobles to restrain their excesses?"

Shigetaka's eyebrows shot up almost to his hairline before his face became a mask again. He glanced at Minaho, who shook her head.

"I didn't say a word about the latter, and he already knew we were preparing a trap against Cesario Viola."

"…Both."

"I will fully cooperate with the first one. As for the second… The concept of Noblesse Oblige is one of my core values, something I believe we both share."

Kouzuki Shigetaka nodded.

"I have no objection to that plan either, and if you choose me, I will do my part. But I already have some significant commitments. Did Nagisa mention to you that I will be sent on a long-term expedition in the near future?"

"She did." nodded Minaho.

"By the time this happens, I will have plenty of subordinates in Japan, enhanced people like Shuiruo, and the nobles will not dare do anything that would attract their ire. Their presence will make your plan somewhat redundant." said Noah before smiling. "That being said, redundancy is not a bad thing, and if you still want to throw pretty girls at me, I am not foolish enough to decline!"

"Ah!" snorted Shigetaka. "That, I can easily believe, at least… Have you ever met Lord Tenryuu? It seems you have one of his descendants as a lover."

He was referring to the Silver Dragon, the Sacred Beast that chose Japan as its territory.

"I never had the chance."

"I see… I will approve of your relationship with Misuzu for now. Minaho, is it fine with you if I present the bait tomorrow? It would be best if they attacked next week-end."

"It's going to be a bit tight, but we can make it work." frowned Minaho. "I'll rely on you a lot, Nagano-kun."

"I'm fine with it." shrugged Noah.

"It's agreed, then." nodded Shigetaka. "Years of preparation are about to come to a head. I look forward to it."

"Yes…" nodded Noah. "Out of curiosity, if I had really carried out my threat and stripped that guy naked, how would you have reacted?"

Noah saw the Shigetaka's lips twitch and contract as if he was struggling not to smile for a moment.

"Nothing immediate, since I need you for our plans. But later, I would have tried to punish you in some way. Pulling this stunt would have caused too much outrage and created permanent enmities. You would be isolated. That is bad for business."

Noah nodded as he understood his reasoning, even if he didn't share it. He was simply too powerful to be ignored.