Chapter 1137. Before Sunset / Negotiations 2
「 Either way, weren’t you going to contact the police with the case that Anna Erica-san ran away from home, weren’t you? 」
Kaan Momoko-neechan talks to Anna-san’s father on the other side of the phone.
『 Are you threatening me? 』
Anna-san’s father’s voice comes from the speaker.
「 Oh? I believe that expression is extremely inappropriate. We’ve come to this situation because your young lady sought protection from us. I should be the one saying that it’s causing us trouble 」
『 If it troubles you, then you can return my daughter right away 』
Anna-san’s father is holding anger in his words.
『 Anyway, this is a problem within the family. I’m thankful that you worry for my daughter, but this is something we can’t consult to Kaan Momoko-sama and Kouzuki Ruriko-sama who are still students 』
Kaan Momoko-neechan pressed the receiver, and then…
「 He said, what do we reply? 」
I…
「 Give the phone back to Shou-neechan…adults should deal with the adult talk 」
「 You’re right, okay 」
Momoko-neechan gives the receiver to Shou-neechan
「 I’m taking the phone again, this is Seki from Kouzuki SS 」
『 I only have one request, that is to return my daughter. As soon as possible! 』
Anna-san’s father speaks with a forcing tone.
「 We can’t do that 」
Shou-neechan replies coldly.
『 Why?! I’m Erica’s father! That girl is still minor, and so if you don’t return her to her relative, which is me… 』
「 However, Anna Keniichirou-sama is currently having a relationship that contradicts your interests with Erica-sama 」
『 W-What are you talking about? 』
Anna-san’s father panics.
「 According to Erica-sama, Anna Keniichirou-sama’s trying to take away the inheritance Erica-sama received from her Grandfather, were you? 」
『 T-That’s what I mean when I said that it’s a problem within the family 』
「 No, it may be a domestic thing but this is an alarming problem. As a minor, Erica-sama’s a.s.sets are currently managed by her designated guardian, a lawyer, isn’t it? I heard that was the in the will of Erica-sama’s late grandfather, to wait until she’s mature 」
『 T-That’s true, but… 』
「 Despite that, Anna-sama, you’re trying to take away the inheritance of your still 14-year-old daughter, isn’t that an act of extortion? 」
『 Erica and I are parent and child! 』
「 Please say that in court. What’s important is that the young lady, Erica-sama felt that she was being extorted 」
Shou-neechan a.s.serted.
「 No matter what your intentions are, Anna-sama, if your daughter feels that you are forcing her, then that would be extortion. That’s not allowed, even if you’re her father 」
「 As expected of Seki-san 」
Momoko-neechan’s impressed with Shou-neechan.
『 Wait a second! Anyway, let me talk to Erica!! 』
Shou-neechan says while making sure the other side doesn’t hear it.
「 Your father wants to talk, what about you? 」
She asks Anna-san.
「 I-I don’t want to talk! 」
Anna-san refused.
「 The young lady doesn’t seem to want to talk. 」
『 No, hey! You! 』
「 One more thing, the forced engagement, I believe that the judge will view that poorly 」
『 You keep talking about the court since earlier, but… 』
「 I believe that this will reach a court battle if this reaches Kakka’s ears. Kakka hates insincerity, and so I believe that he will not be frugal in supporting the junior of Ruriko-sama, his precious granddaughter 」
Shou-neechan said.
「 Kouzuki house’s judicial people are quite formidable. Well, I believe that the companies that rely on Anna-sama’s auditing will drop down 」
If Jii-chan contended them in court, the companies close to the Kouzuki house will all stop relying on Anna-san’s company for their financial affairs.
Furthermore, if they discover that the cause of that is an inheritance dispute with his daughter, the confidence in Anna-san’s father will sink down.
『 You’re making threats! 』
「 If Anna-sama thinks that it’s a threat, then you can sue us. We’ll settle it in the courtroom 」
Shou-neechan doesn’t step back.
『 Okay. I lost this one. What do I do? 』
Anna-san’s father accepted his loss.
However, that’s not how he truly feels.
Unable to turn it around, he’s now looking for alternatives.
「 Shou-oneesama, let me 」
Ruriko takes the phone from Shou-neechan.
「 This is Kouzuki Ruriko. I have three requests. First is that Erica-san’s grandfather’s inheritance should not be transferred to her father, but should be discussed properly. As far as Erica-san’s concerned, I think that there’s still a room for discussion 」
Yeah. Anna-san isn’t that interested in the stocks or bank accounts her Grandfather pa.s.sed to her.
The problem is that “something” that only Anna-san knows.
We have to know that that is somehow, but for now…
「 This discussion will be under the presence of Erica-san’s current guardian, the lawyer. The judicial affairs people from the Kouzuki house will be present as well. The lawyers of both parties will draw up a legally binding force based on the result of the conversation. And, there will be a check to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen again. That’s my second request 」
Ruriko said.
He could show a good face to us and then try to take away Anna-san’s inheritance soon after.
Legal papers should be able to tie him down.
「 The third is that Erica-san shows no consent in the engagement. Therefore, please void it, so that the engagement talks never happened. That’s all three 」
『 Those are some strict conditions 』
Anna-san’s father mutters.
「 Really? I believe that Anna-sama’s demands for Erica-san are much more unreasonable 」
Ruriko calmly says.
『 Anyway, if I accept the three conditions, you will return Erica? 』
「 Oh? Please don’t say something so scandalous. You make it sound like we’re kidnapping Erica-san 」
『 You’re right. Erica ran away from home out of her own volition 』
Anna-san’s father speaks gloomy.
「 Yes. Erica-san will not return home until you accomplish the three requests 」
『 I understand. I accept all three conditions 』
「 Thank you. The discussion with Erica-san will be held in the Kouzuki group’s hotel tonight. We will contact you as soon as the location is decided 」
Of course, we don’t trust Anna-san’s father at all.
Therefore, we’re choosing the location where Kouzuki SS can move freely, which would be a hotel of the Kouzuki house.
『 Tonight? 』
Anna-san’s father is surprised.
「 Oh? I believe you don’t want to prolong Erica-san’s escape from her home? 」
『 No, Ruriko-sama’s right 』
「 Will your lawyers be able to attend? 」
『 I’ll ask them so they could come tonight 』
Anna-san’s father replied.
Then.
「 Ah, please wait! Ruriko, give me the phone 」
Momoko-neechan said in a hurry.
Ruriko gives the phone to her.
「 This is Kaan Momoko. Anna-sama, I have something I have to ask by all means! 」
Something she has to ask Anna-san’s father.
『 What is it? 』
「 I would like to ask why is Erica-san engaged to that person? 」
Momoko-neechan asks, filled with curiosity.
「 Why did you choose someone, after reviewing your standards, to choose Madohori Tadashi-san as your 14-year-old daughter’s fiance? 」
If Momoko-neechan goes that far, then that Mad Hori man must be a really weird person.
Anna-san’s father.
『 I do not understand my daughter 』
He speaks in a depressed tone.
『 What Erica’s thinking, doing…even I, her father, don’t understand it 』
Anna-san hears her father’s voice quietly.
『 Therefore, I thought that Madohori-kun… That man is smart despite young, so I thought that he might understand Erica 』
「 Oh, I see. Thank you for your input 」
Momoko-neechan said. Then she gave back the phone to Shou-neechan.
「 This is Seki. We will notify you once the meeting place is decided 」
『 I understand. Then I will be waiting for your call 』
Then, she ends the call.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Haa, that was surprising. To think that men on Anna-san’s generation call Mad Hori as an intelligent young man 」
「 It shocks me too. As expected of the man overly conscious of how the old men view him 」
Momoko-neechan and Mariko are getting fired up talking about Anna-san’s fiance. Madohori Tadashi.
「 Shou-neechan, what’s Anna-san’s father’s relationship with the other side? 」
I asked.
He likely accepted the negotiations but he’s going to forcibly take Anna-san back by using his connections to the other side.
「 He’s doing auditor work, and so he should have some acquaintances, but, he hasn’t used them proactively. If he started loaning from the other side, it’ll affect his business 」
Shou-neechan said.
「 I checked them just in case, but I don’t think there would be any of them that dare to confront Kouzuki SS. That is as of now 」
Yeah, they specialize in auditing large enterprises after all.
They should know fear when it comes to the Kouzuki house or Kouzuki SS.
「 Right… As of now…anyway, he thinks that he managed to deceive us, and he can manage as soon as he takes back Anna-san 」
「 I believe so too 」
Misuzu nods.
「 I don’t want to go back! 」
Anna-san?!
「 I don’t want to meet Father!!! 」
The call ended, and so the thread of her tension is also cut off. Now she’s shouting loudly.
「 It depends on Anna-san what happens. We’re just doing what Anna-san wished for 」
「 B-But, giving me to my father!! 」
「 It’s just a means to an end. Anyway, if we don’t meet him, there will be a lot we don’t know 」
I said.
「 Anyway, you have to face your reality upfront. If not, everything will remain unknown 」
「 I-I don’t mind staying ignorant to it! 」
Anna-san said.
「 Can’t let that happen. Never. It’s better if you know, it’s Anna-san’s family after all 」
「 Yes. Erica-san doesn’t know about her father or her late Grandfather 」
Ruriko said.
「 Yes. I don’t like how your father gave up saying “I don’t understand my daughter,” but, Anna-san too, you might not understand your father either 」
Momoko-neechan told Anna-san.
「 I-I… 」
Anna-san fell silent.
I…
「 It’s okay. We got this. It’s the usual thing for us 」
「 Seriously, it’s always a lot of trouble every time, Yo-chan 」
Nei laughs.
「 Oh? Kou-chan? You do something this fun all the time? 」
Momoko-neechan asks smiling.
「 It’s nothing fun. It’s human lives on the line here, so we take it seriously. 」
I replied.
「 Then, I’ll make arrangements to the hotel where the discussion with Anna-san will be held 」
Shou-neechan looks at the watch in the dining room.
It’s six in the evening already.
「 It’s going to be 8:30 to 9 PM. If the lawyer from the other side is coming, that would be the time 」
「 Yeah. Get that in the schedule, Shou-neechan 」
I asked her.
「 Okay. Ruriko-sama, is the Kouzuki Grand Hotel good as the venue? 」
「 I’ll let Shou-oneesama decide 」
Ruriko replies.
「 Certainly 」
Seems like Shou-neechan decided that way since it’s the easiest hotel to keep bodyguards in.
「 A city center hotel? 」
I asked Shou-neechan.
「 It’s more of a bay coast than the city center. It’ll take 45 minutes of driving to arrive there 」
Then that means, we still have time.
I mean, I’m worried that we might depart right after dinner.
「 Katsuko-nee, there’s still time before dinner, right? 」
I shout to the kitchen.
Katsuko-nee just came home, and since we have a lot of people in the family, it’ll take time to prep the meal.
「 Yes, even if I hurry, it’ll still take 40 minutes 」
「 Everyone’s helping out so we’ll be finished sooner 」
Katsuko-nee and Mana show up from the kitchen and said.
「 You don’t have to rush it! Take it easy 」
I said.
「 Then, Anna-san, why don’t we begin before dinner? 」
I tell her with a smile.
「 What? 」
Anna-san’s looking blankly.
「 Your training. Training 」
Right, now, Anna-san…
「 Anna-san, you’re interested in training, weren’t you? Didn’t you say that earlier? 」
「 That’s true, but… 」
Anna-san’s confused.
「 N-Now? What? 」
「 Yeah, let’s do it while we have time! Besides, it takes time to do this 」
「 B-But… 」
「 Huh? Were you lying when you said that you were interested in s.e.x, rape, and training? 」
I purposely speak s.a.d.i.s.tically.
「 I-I’m not lying! I’m not! 」
Anna-san;
「 B-But, is it okay to do it? 」
「 Obviously it is. No, I said that it is so it’s okay 」
The truth is before she could talk to her father…
I want to ask out what’s the actual inheritance her Grandfather left her.
But, this girl won’t answer it when I do frontal attacks.
「 Hey, hey, Sebastia.n.u.s! You need to get trained together with Erica-san! 」
Momoko-neechan told Yamada Umeko-san.
「 Y-Yes, uhm, if possible, I’d like the same too 」
Yamada Umeko-san seems to have a firm resolve that I will violate her.
「 Then, Onii-sama, shall we get to a room above? 」
Ruriko smiles.
「 Yeah, the SM room 」
I replied with a purposefully loud voice.
It’s to shock Anna-san.
「 My, that seems fun! Of course, I’m watching! 」
「 Me too! I’m going to watch! 」
Momoko-neechan and Mariko want to join in.
「 Me too, Danna-sama 」
Misuzu and Ruriko are coming too.
The young ladies group are all seniors to ANna-san.
If that’s the case, let’s give someone from the seniors as mercy to her.
「 Arisu and Karen, help out Katsuko-nee. I’ll ask you to prepare dinner 」
「 Yes, certainly 」
「 Certainly 」
The two show their faces from the kitchen.
Also.
「 Eri and Rie, help Katsuko-nee out 」
「 Eeeh? 」
「 Can’t help it, Eri-chan 」
「 I guess 」
「 Yeah 」
The twins stood up and head to the kitchen.
While at it.
「 Mitama and Kinuka, I’ll have you guard the mansion. Go to Margo-san and ask her to teach you how to use the monitoring systems in the mansion 」
「 Roger that! 」
「 That! 」
Then…
「 I’m going to go up to the second floor, Yo-chan 」
「 Me too, I’m coming 」
Nei and Edie are coming.
Yeah, these two should be there to monitor Anna-san’s mental state.
「 What about Michi? 」
I asked.
「 I’ll accompany you 」
She’s Misuzu’s bodyguard, after all, she can’t leave Misuzu’s side while Kaan Momoko-neechan’s here.
「 Me too, I’m going. This looks fun 」
Yukino smiled.