Chapter 395: Repaying in Kind

Mr. Hughes, the CEO of Citibank, upon hearing that Tsukiyuki Kyoichi could not keep the appointment today, showed not a trace of displeasure. Instead, he said gracefully and politely:

“Please convey my regards to Mr. Tsukiyuki. He is a gentleman worthy of admiration.”

Irisu, the head of Imperial Bank under the Tsukiyuki family, looked apologetic. “My sincerest apologies.”

“May I ask what exactly happened?” Hughes asked.

“It seems to be a personal matter. I’m not very clear on the details, and it’s not convenient for me to probe further. I believe Mr. Tsukiyuki must have had something important come up suddenly that prevented him from coming in person.”

“Very well, then let’s postpone the meeting.”

Hughes walked out of the Imperial Bank Building. The driver at the entrance had delicate features, wore a pair of sunglasses, and stood by the bank’s door like a statue.

“I’ve kept you waiting.”

“Not at all. I am your driver; it is my duty to wait for you,” the driver said respectfully.

However, once they got into the car, this respectful demeanor completely changed. The driver took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of cynical eyes, removed his black suit to show a frivolous Hawaiian shirt, and around his neck hung what looked like a very cheap cross.

“Lord Gu Shuhan, allow me to drive.”

“No, let me do it, Hughes. Driving is a man’s romance,” Gu Shuhan said, gripping the steering wheel and humming a current pop song.

Once inside the car, Hughes, the CEO of Citibank, also stopped using English. Their conversation seamlessly switched to Chinese. If Hughes, who was employed by the Gu family, still used his native language to communicate with Gu Shuhan, it would undoubtedly be an unpleasant act of arrogance.

“But Lord Gu Shuhan, why did you have to come in person? For something like checking on Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s health, you could have just entrusted me to come. Or do you not trust me?”

“Of course I trust you. Actually, I didn’t come here just to confirm Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s health. There are some other matters to attend to as well. After all, our Gu family’s future son-in-law is still trapped in Tokyo.”

Gu Shuhan drove from Chiyoda Ward straight towards Minato Ward. Despite his age, Gu Shuhan could find topics to chat about with people of any age group. He could discuss Honor of Kings with teenagers and Buddhism with elders in their seventies or eighties.

Hughes looked at Gu Shuhan’s back as he drove. “Mr. Gu Shuhan, I have a question, if you don’t mind my asking.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why exactly did Tsukiyuki Kyoichi fail to show up today? Did you already foresee that he wouldn’t be able to come?”

“Yes, he had a bit of a health issue.” A smile played at the corner of Gu Shuhan’s lips. “Barring any accidents, he’s going to have an accident.”

“Is he ill?”

“Yeah, it’s that famous one… what’s it called? Alps disease?”

“You mean Alzheimer’s disease?”

“Right, you could say that. But we China people are used to calling it Alps disease. It’s definitely not that I misspoke; it’s just a cultural difference,” Gu Shuhan argued without blushing or skipping a beat.

“One more question.”

“Ask away, Hughes. Between us, who’s keeping score? You were raised by our Gu family. My trust in you is at 98.75926%.”

Hughes frowned. He hadn’t expected the level of trust to be so precise with decimals. As expected of the Gu Clan Chief, truly extraordinary.

“Then I’ll ask. Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s contracting the Alps… ahem, I mean Alzheimer’s disease — was it his own health issue, or was there another reason?”

“Alright, I won’t hide it from you. Do you remember when we were on Jekyll Island, I went to visit Tsukiyuki Kyoichi?” Gu Shuhan yawned while waiting at a red light, and extended his palm, which was as slender as a woman’s. “At that time, he shook hands with me.”

“What do you mean by shaking hands?”

“Have you heard of inner power? If not, I recommend you read some of Jin Yong’s works. When I was on Jekyll Island, I used inner power to breach Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s cerebral cortex. And then, it’s all about the omnipresent mirrors. As long as he inadvertently looks into a mirror, his brain will go haywire, and he’ll become a puppet that can be manipulated at will.”

Hughes gulped. This was even more fantastical than Harry Potter.

Just a handshake and a major figure was easily destroyed. Such methods were truly terrifying. If such means were used on important figures of other conglomerates, wouldn’t the world be at the Gu family’s mercy?

“He’s a puppet?”

“Originally, Tsukiyuki Kyoichi wanted the rumored Prophesied Girl, Tsukiyuki Rio, to become the head of the Tsukiyuki family. But that would be very disadvantageous to me. So I need to make him designate someone else as the head of the Tsukiyuki family. That person had better establish friendly relations with our Gu family, thus achieving the Asian Economic Alliance I envision.”

Furthermore, the Gu family’s son-in-law had been implanted with non-existent memories, completely erasing all recollections of Lady Gu Xiarui.

Therefore, the Gu family decided to repay in kind.

…

“Kyoichi, you absolutely must not let our granddaughter become the family head. Otherwise, the Tsukiyuki family will be utterly destroyed in her hands,” his most trusted wife said into Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s ear.

At the same time, Tsukiyuki Kyoichi saw many images: Tsukiyuki Rio shooting and killing family members with a pistol, Tsukiyuki Rio attempting to incite a family civil war, Tsukiyuki Rio embezzling large sums of public funds to buy luxury mansions, and images of the Tsukiyuki family suffering tremendous losses due to Tsukiyuki Rio’s mistakes.

Tsukiyuki Rio was beautiful and very concerned about his health, well-educated and reasonable, elegant and dignified. But she could not be allowed to become the head of the family.

This was both for the family and so that Tsukiyuki Rio wouldn’t have to repeat his own mistakes.

“I understand, Riko. I will revise my will. The head of the Tsukiyuki family must possess sufficient sense of responsibility.”

“Let’s go to the other room.”

Riko walked to a sign that said “Under Repair” and then pointed with her slender, jade-like finger. The door to the guest room opened. Behind that door, Tsukiyuki Kyoichi saw another girl. She had just entered high school but already displayed abundant talent. Although she was from a branch family, she fully lived up to the name Tsukiyuki.

She was Tsukiyuki Rio’s behind-the-scenes military advisor. She was the one truly qualified to lead the Tsukiyuki family.

Tsukiyuki Kyoichi once again opened his clear eyes. After sorting out his thoughts, his mind was incredibly lucid.

“Grandfather, what are you saying?” Tsukiyuki Rio’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.

“I said, the position of family head does not belong to you. In a few days, I will convene a family assembly. You may all go back now.” Tsukiyuki Kyoichi’s sudden change caught everyone off guard.

At that moment, Tsukiyuki Kyoichi seemed to have returned, his gaze commanding and his face resolute.

“Master, are you alright?”

“Sorry to have caused you concern, Kurosawa.”

Tsukiyuki Kyoichi stood as straight as ever, just like usual.

“Grandfather, have you forgotten that I have helped the family through crises several times?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything. My memory is clearer than ever before. Now I remember everything. Senju, Rio, you go back. I will make decisions on family matters.”