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The next day.
After breakfast, Aoi still wanted to persuade Takashi to go back and apologize.
But this time, Takashi had no intention of talking to her. He only shot her a resentful glare before storming away.
...
Inside Soichiro's office.
After listening to Takashi's report, Soichiro rose immediately to his feet.
"Takashi-kun, can you guarantee the authenticity of this information?"
The intel Takashi provided was too shocking—Soichiro couldn't treat it lightly.
"Yes, I can guarantee it. I'm willing to stake my life on its truth!" Takashi declared firmly.
"Very well. I understand. I'll find a way to verify it. You may leave now."
Hands clasped behind his back, Soichiro gazed out at the fountain in the estate's courtyard. Inside, his thoughts raged like a storm.
...
Ten minutes later, Soichiro reported the intel to Yuriko.
But this time, the couple who usually shared the same judgment revealed a sharp divide.
"No. I cannot agree with what you're planning, Soichiro."
"In the middle of an apocalyptic crisis, we should unite every force we can."
"Besides, Akuto-kun grew up before our eyes. Even if what Takashi says is true, we have no reason to act rashly."
Hearing Yuriko's words, Soichiro narrowed his eyes.
"Yuriko, are you sure it's not because he's the man your daughter has feelings for?"
"What do you mean my daughter? Isn't Saya also your daughter?" Yuriko shot back sharply.
"She's not! Who knows which bastard you had that brat with!"
"I already told you! I never had relations with anyone, I don't even know how Saya came to be—I just suddenly found myself pregnant."
"When you married into this family, I explained everything to you. You accepted it. What's the point of bringing it up now?"
Yuriko's heart ached. She hadn't expected Soichiro to deliberately reopen her old wounds.
"You say I accepted it back then?"
Soichiro let out a cold snort.
"That was then. This is now."
"Now that the old man is dead, I am the head of the Takagi family!"
In Fusō's great houses, it wasn't unusual to marry promising men into the family. After Yuriko was discovered to be pregnant, Soichiro had been brought in as a scapegoat groom.
Men who were willing to accept another's child were either utterly spineless… or biding their time for a future explosion.
Clearly, Soichiro was the latter.
"So all along, Soichiro—you never intended to take responsibility for me and Saya?"
"That's right."
"From the very beginning, your goal was to usurp the Takagi family, wasn't it?!"
"That's right!"
"You bastard!"
Tears welled in Yuriko's eyes as she raised her submachine gun at him.
But...
Before she could even pull the trigger, a katana pressed coldly against her throat.
"Soichiro, you—!"
"Yuriko, you're no longer suited to be part of what comes next. Everything… can wait until you wake again."
Soichiro had no intention of killing Yuriko. At least… not yet.
The chaos had only just begun. He wasn't yet in a position to break away from the Takagi clan and establish a faction entirely his own.
For now, he still needed the Takagi name and influence to build his power.
...
Lunchtime.
Today's lunch was once again lavish, nearly on par with yesterday's banquet for Kaguya's reception.
After the meal, Soichiro invited Akuto and his group to the courtyard.
"Akuto-dono, today I captured a high-level zombie. To boost morale within the estate, I plan to execute it publicly."
"I wonder if you and Princess Kaguya have time to witness it?"
"Oh? Uncle Soichiro, your progress is impressive—you even managed to capture a high-level zombie alive?"
Akuto scanned Soichiro's aura.
Mid-level demon?
Soichiro's strength had already risen to the mid-demon rank! No wonder he could capture a high-level zombie.
"As the guest, I'll follow your lead. Uncle Soichiro, please show the way~"
Akuto gave him a deep look and smiled.
...
Ten minutes later.
In the Takagi courtyard, inside a steel cage reinforced with multiple layers of special alloy.
Akuto and Soichiro stood inside along with the captive, while the rest of the household watched from outside.
Within the cramped cage crouched a high-level zombie.
Once the core members had assembled, Soichiro raised his voice.
"Everyone, today I'll show you one of the evolved types of zombies—the Licker."
"Although Lickers cannot stand upright, they use powerful limbs and razor-sharp claws to climb walls and ceilings with ease."
"With their explosive leaps and swift movements, even rapid-fire weapons struggle to strike them accurately."
"When the hordes come, Lickers must be dealt with first. Their charging ability allows them to breach defenses at terrifying speed."
"If you ever encounter one of these, you must report it immediately."
Clap, clap~
Finishing his speech, Soichiro clapped his hands.
In the next instant, the electrified cage opened.
The Licker tested cautiously, found the electricity gone—then burst forth at incredible speed!
"Swish!~"
Like a phantom, Soichiro flickered past it.
A second later—
Shhk!
The Licker exploded into ribbons of red flesh, its body disintegrating mid-air!
But Soichiro didn't stop. He accelerated straight toward Akuto and Kaguya!
Clearly, this cage had never been meant to hold the Licker. It was meant to trap Akuto.
Clang!~
The ring of metal striking rang out.
A pair of wings, black as obsidian, spread wide behind Akuto and blocked Soichiro's katana.
"So it really was like this, huh...?"
Staring at the devil wings unfurled behind Akuto, Soichiro drew in a sharp breath.
"Attack!"
At his command, the cage door opened, and the awakened ones lying in ambush surged forward!
(End of Chapter)
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