Chapter 136 – Family Meeting After Returning to Japan (3)

“As Reiko just explained, I believe everyone now understands why the family’s personal expenses will not be funded with easy money. If any household is in financial difficulty, assistance will be provided from the main family. Submit your petition together with your account books to the house steward, Haga.
Now, regarding the matter of money—does anyone have anything else to bring up? If not, I’d like to move on to discuss a few personnel changes within the family. Is that acceptable?”

For a moment, Uncle Genji raised his hand but then withdrew it. No one else seemed to object.

“Now then, about Tokita. Officially, he will remain Reiko’s chief butler, but he will be removed from the actual butler duties. Instead, he will take charge of Ootori Trading. Since Ootori Trading’s workload has sharply increased and its importance has risen significantly, we need someone from the family side to maintain firm control.
For practical butler duties and as Tokita’s assistant, the American Sebastian Stewart, who was hired in the United States, will take over. He’s currently occupied with business, so he will meet those who need to see him in due course, but he and his subordinates will begin coming and going from this main estate. You can look over his brief résumé and photograph later.”

At that point, a hand was raised. It was Uncle Zenkichi.

“To be frank, how trustworthy is this American?”

“Reiko.”

“Yes. Perhaps because Sebastian is of Jewish descent, he holds no particular loyalty to the United States. He likely has none toward Japan either, but he has pledged his loyalty to me. Moreover, right after the great stock market crash, I—no, the Ootori family—was greatly indebted to him. So I intend to repay that debt to the fullest extent possible.
Besides, Tokita has been employing him locally for several years now. I believe everyone would feel more at ease trusting Tokita’s judgment rather than my own, wouldn’t you?”

I deliberately spoke in a somewhat modest, well-mannered tone, but I could sense that everyone was reassured by the fact that both my grandfather and Tokita had vouched for him.

Uncle Zenkichi also seemed to have asked the question merely on behalf of the group.

So Uncle Zenkichi gave a small nod.

“I’ve reviewed his background, his work under Tokita, and what he’s done since coming to Japan. I can tell he’s competent. Personally, I want capable personnel, so I’d rather have him give his all on the front lines.”

“In that case, we’ll need to find another butler for Reiko.”

My grandfather said that with a light shrug. But there was someone who didn’t like this personnel decision. Uncle Genji. His expression turned sour.

“Hold on a second. You’re saying a foreigner is going to be the butler for the eldest daughter?”

“Is there a problem with that? One of my own aides was from the continent, and half of the security team are from somewhere over there too. Granted, a white man is unusual, but even Torasaburou’s group and the Kou family have had them before. Besides, aren’t half the staff in our overseas branches locals anyway? It’s nothing new. And watch your words—Torasaburou is right here.”

That was just like Uncle Genji—a classic blunder.
After all, Torasaburou’s wife is an American woman he married overseas. 

While Torasaburou’s expression didn’t change, Uncle Genji’s face immediately did instead.
Still, he seemed determined to press on today, quickly regaining his composure.

“My apologies, Uncle Torasaburou. But we’re talking about the eldest daughter’s butler. In some cases, that role holds nearly the same authority over the Ootori family as Tokita does!”

“Reiko herself trusts him. Tokita has given him his full endorsement. I’ve spoken with the man at length myself and found him to be quite an interesting fellow. Father thinks the same. So what’s the problem? If you’re still uneasy, go meet him yourself and talk to him properly. After that, I’ll listen to your concerns again. That’s all I have to say, anything else?”

At those words, Uncle Genji, who had been wearing an openly dissatisfied expression, hurriedly corrected his demeanor and raised his hand halfway to his face.

Grandfather gave a slight nod to prompt him.

“For now, let’s put that foreigner aside. More importantly, I’d like to assign a close aide candidate to my eldest son, Gentarou.”

“Hm? That’s your family’s matter. I don’t mind in the least.”

“No, I’d like to receive official permission. I intend to raise Gentarou and his aide under the premise that they will serve as the eldest child and that child’s aide, Father.”

At those words, my grandfather’s eyes narrowed slightly—no, they sharpened. It was the look he gave when he stopped playing the harmless fool.

“Genji, don’t misunderstand. The eldest child’s aide serves only Reiko. And even if Gentarou were to become Reiko’s husband and be adopted into the family, the eldest child would still be Reiko’s child. Gentarou might become the head of the clan, but he will never be the eldest child. You do understand what you’re saying?”

His voice had taken on a serious tone.
He was still holding back a little, probably because the person he was talking to was his own son.

Uncle Genji, on the other hand, didn’t seem willing to back down, even if he was visibly shaken.

“T-That’s exactly what’s strange, so I want to prepare to correct it. My brother, Kiiichi, is dead, and Reiko is a girl. The foundation Genichirou-sama built has already collapsed, hasn’t it?”

“Not in the slightest. The Ootori family doesn’t care about male succession—you know that very well. What’s this about? Do you want the family’s power that badly? Or are you after the eldest child’s suddenly swelling fortune? Hoping to get rich with no effort at all?”

(Scary! If I were Uncle Genji, I’d have wet myself already. Not that I could ever say that out loud. But seriously, what is Grandfather trying to do by provoking Uncle Genji like this? At this rate, it looks like Uncle Genji will just end up humiliating himself.)

Just as I predicted, Uncle Genji’s face had turned a bluish purple.
He must have known exactly what he was saying, thinking he could make an accusation, but not only was there nowhere for him to cling to, he also realized he was being made into a fool.

“I—I’m not interested in money! Don’t mock me! I just want to correct the distorted state of this clan and the zaibatsu! I don’t care if she’s some miko or whatever, you can’t seriously think it’s normal for a child to be carrying the fate of the whole family! And on top of that, why does a kid have two billion dollars!? You could search the whole world, and the only monster like that would be her! Everyone, open your eyes! This is insane, isn’t it?!”

He shouted and screamed as he stood up.
The more words he spat out, the more it looked like the sanity was draining from his eyes.

His movements were exaggerated, so much so that instead of looking passionate, he just looked unhinged. 

It was honestly a little frightening.

But his shouting and flailing seemed to end with that final scream.

A moment of silence dominated the room, but then came Uncle Genji’s muttering.
I couldn’t catch all of it, but it sounded like, “I’m right. I’m not wrong. It’s this family that’s insane.” 

The fact that he wasn’t using his usual “watashi” for “I” made it all the more unsettling.

Then, still mumbling to himself, Uncle Genji suddenly reached a hand behind his back. When his hand came forward again, I caught sight of something black. But before I could clearly see what it was, it was already out of his hand—forced out of it.

Because, in the few seconds between, things I couldn’t have possibly predicted began unfolding right before my eyes.

The moment Uncle Genji muttered, “So this really is the only way,” and I saw that black object in his hand, a sharp bang! cracked right next to me, followed by a metallic clang! from Uncle Genji’s direction.

In the next instant, a dark shadow moved from my side and stepped between us.
Then there was another sound—and Uncle Genji was pinned to the floor. 

The one holding him down was Tokita, who looked as calm as if he had merely finished some routine task.

By the time Tokita had him subdued, Kouryuu-sensei had also darted out from another table, joining in to help restrain him.
For some reason, he began checking different parts of Uncle Genji’s body.

I couldn’t do anything but sit there, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Then I suddenly caught a whiff of gunpowder and turned toward my grandfather. 

In his hand, he was holding a simply designed pistol.

Seeing that made me think, “Oh, right,” and when I looked toward the corner of the room, I saw something similar lying on the floor.
It must have been what Uncle Genji had been holding.

It had all happened in a flash, but the memory was clear, my body’s had remembered it vividly.

At that moment, Grandfather Kiichirou sharply commanded, “Someone, now!” and several servants immediately rushed into the room. 

Among them was Shizu.

From there, the room was swallowed by chaos. The meeting was completely over; any talk or discussion was impossible now.

And I—felt as if I were hearing all of it from far, far away.

When I came to, I was being held in Shizu’s arms.
She was surprisingly well-endowed, and half of my face was pressed against a very soft, comfortable warmth.

(Come to think of it, this might be the first time Shizu’s hugged me this tightly.)

As I lifted my head, I met her gaze—she had just noticed that I’d woken up. In her eyes, I could see my reflection.

“It’s all right now, milady. Are you hurt anywhere?” she asked gently.

I shook my head slightly in response. Being held made it a little hard to move, but she seemed to notice well enough. Shizu’s usually pale skin, slightly bluish from earlier, had regained a touch of color.

“I was worried when you lost consciousness. I do not believe you are hurt, but is there any pain anywhere?”

I shook my head again.

“I’m probably fine. And I think Grandfather and Tokita took care of everything, so I’m completely okay. My mind just got a little flustered by something unfamiliar, I guess.”

“I see. Very well, then.”

“Yeah. Also… it’s a little nice, but you don’t have to hold me anymore.”

“…Yes. If you feel unwell in any way, please tell me immediately.”

“Mm. So… what happened?”

I was released from Shizu’s arms and slowly stood up. This wasn’t the room from before, nor my own room.
Looking around, I realized it was an unused room near the reception room we’d been in earlier. My memory matched.

“Lord Genji has been captured by Tokita and the others and is being held in a room in the basement. The others are waiting in separate rooms.”

“And Grandfather?”

“He is currently giving instructions. I have been told to report to him once you have settled down, milady.”

“Then let’s go to Grandfather. I have a lot to ask him.”

“Understood.”

She gave her usual neat bow. Even by Shizu’s assessment, I was perfectly fine.