Chapter 1150. Approaching the Night / Sugar Cube
「 Is it okay to come in? 」
The lawyer of Anna Erica-san’s late Grandfather is an old man in his 70s with white hair.
「 It was in Grandfather’s will to continue paying Takahata Youko-san her pension, right? 」
Erica-san confirms it with the lawyer.
「 Yes, that’s in the will of your late grandfather. To send remittance every month until Takahata Youko-san’s daughter graduates in college 」
The lawyer replies.
「 That came from the stock dividend he bestowed to me, isn’t it? 」
「 Yes, those were his instructions 」
Erica-san’s late Grandfather adopted her…
Then, he gave her half of the inheritance.
Then the lawyer manages it all until Erica-san becomes an adult.
Err…Anna Erica-san and Takahata Marika-san have two years age gap.
Once Marika-san graduates from college in her adulthood, then the pension ends at the same time Erica-san can hold her inheritance.
The Grandfather planned it as such.
With that, Erica-san can be ignorant of the pension at all.
「 Erica-san’s Grandfather didn’t consider that she might read the journal he left behind 」
Erica-san read the journal in the secret library in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the detached building, exposing her Grandfather’s plan.
「 The late predecessor died suddenly after all 」
The lawyer said.
「 The truth is, he wanted to deal with it before he dies before things become public 」
「 It was a heart attack. He was healthy that morning, but he suddenly died 」
Erica-san said.
「 Even so, the predecessor left his instructions on what to do after his death so it’s okay for him to die anytime. We’ve been doing everything according to his will but I don’t think he ever imagined that he would have to give up his shares due to a merger with another auditing firm 」
Erica-san’s grandfather died ten years ago.
The situation’s changed.
Inevitably, things will not go as planned.
「 Well then, the problem stocks can be in Kouzuki SS’ care 」
Shou-neechan told the old lawyer.
「 Then, as for the compensation for the stocks… 」
Shou-neechan looked at me.
「 I remembered something better than having Kouzuki SS pay for it with land or money 」
She smiled.
「 What is it? 」
I don’t get Shou-neechan’s objective.
「 The stocks we’re to take from Anna-san are all belonging to some excellent companies. And so, why don’t we exchange it with some stocks from stable and excellent companies too? 」
「 Huh? Kouzuki SS has stocks? 」
They’re a company specialized in bodyguarding the n.o.bility, and yet, they have stocks?
Are we investing in stocks or something in a sector I don’t know about?
「 Of course. It’s not the company, but the stock you hold 」
The stock I hold?
「 The stocks of Kouzuki SS itself 」
Oh.
「 Kouzuki SS stocks aren’t public. Currently, Kakka’s handing over all the stocks to you. So, why don’t we give a part of the stock to Anna Erica-san?
So we’re swapping Erica’s stocks with Kouzuki SS stocks?
But…
Erica-san’s stocks have a dividend, which is used to pay off Takahata-san’s pension, and those are all blue-chip stocks, right?
Will Kouzuki SS stock match that?
Far from a part of it, I feel like handing over the whole stock might not be enough.
「 I think that it’s a good idea. Why don’t you talk it out with Tsukiko-san? 」
Shou-neechan smiled at me.
I see. So that’s it.
「 I think that it’s going to be the best choice if you consider the future 」
If Erica-san will become my woman.
Then, her a.s.sets will belong to our family anyway.
If that’s the case, it would be stupid to tamper with the a.s.sets of Kouzuki SS poorly, or crashing, or changing the name at this point.
The problem now is that we just need to get rid of the problematic shares that interfere with the merger of the corporations which is held by the Anna house.
「 Tsukiko, if you’d please 」
I looked at Tsukiko.
「 Yes, Kou-sama 」
She releases her Miko power.
「 Then, we will exchange it with the stocks of Kouzuki SS. Is that good enough? 」
Shou-neechan said. The lawyer.
「 Err, yes, well, I think that’s good. Kouzuki SS is also a strong and stable company, yes 」
The lawyer’s mind is controlled to view the transaction as appropriate.
「 Anna Erica-san, is that okay too? 」
「 Yes, I’ll leave it to you 」
Erica-san replies with a pale expression.
She’s watching the fearsome power of Tsukiko.
She knows that no matter what happens, things will go our way.
「 Then, Kouzuki SS will be the one paying Takahata-san’s pension from here on 」
Shou-neechan arranged.
As expected, Kouzuki SS stocks won’t be able to pay out as large dividends that they had so far
Since we took the blue-chip stocks from the lawyer, we’re also taking the responsibility for giving the Takahata house their pension.
「 Yes, if you’d please 」
Tsukiko’s power is influencing the lawyer, so he accepted Shou-neechan’s suggestions right away.
「 Still, I’m glad. We’re able to settle the problem with the stocks before we meet up with Anna Kenichirou-san, the head of Anna house now 」
The lawyer says satisfied.
「 Good gracious, I had to follow the predecessor’s wishes to keep it a secret to Kenichirou-san for ten years. I was troubled on how to explain it all to Kenichirou-san. So, please keep the secret about Takahata-san’s pension to Kenichirou-san 」
「 I understand 」
It’s always been a secret to the Anna Couple that Takahata Youko-san, the surrogate mother that gave birth to Erica-san, is still receiving the pension.
The lawyer keeps his agreement with Shou-neechan.
Right in front of the couple.
Tsukiko’s suspending the couple and is stopping the lawyer from recognizing them.
Therefore, he talks like they’re not here.
「 Well then, we will call Anna Kenichirou-san 」
「 Yes, if you’d please 」
I looked at Tsukiko.
「 Okay 」
Tsukiko resumes the Anna couple.
At the same time, the lawyer now thought that the couple just entered the room.
「 Oh, Kenichirou-san, Kazumi-san 」
「 Thank you for coming 」
Then once again.
The Anna Couple, the lawyer, and Shou-neechan started their discussion.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 We will deal with the details of the meeting 」
We already cleared up the problem with Erica-san’s stocks by swapping them with Kouzuki SS stocks, so…
Shou-neechan tells us that.
「 Kaan-sama and Ruriko-sama must be tired, so please take a rest in another room. Anna Erica-san, you can accompany them 」
「 Oh, indeed. We’re going to talk business from here on 」
The lawyer said.
「 Kaan Momoko-sama, Kouzuki Ruriko-sama, and Kuromori-sama, thank you 」
Erica-san’s father, Anna Kenichirou bowed his head to us.
「 You too, take a rest with them 」
He tells his wife…
「 But, dear… 」
The mother looked at Erica-san.
「 Right. Erica-san is still confused about a lot of things so I’m sorry to ask but please let it be just us for now 」
Ruriko said.
「 You’re right. Then, please take care 」
Her mother said sadly.
「 Then, let’s go. I want to drink tea 」
Kaan Momoko-neechan stands up.
「 Use the room 2506 」
Shou-neechan said and then handed me the keycard to that room.
「 There should be tea and snacks ready there 」
「 As expected of Seki-san, you’re so thoughtful! 」
Momoko-neechan smiles.
「 Come, Kou-chan, Ruriko, and the girls let’s have some tea! Erica-san too 」
Since it’s the young lady of the Kaan house saying that, there’s no choice but to go.
We stand up too.
「 Come, Erica-san 」
Ruriko stretches out her hand to Erica-san.
Michi also stands behind Erica-san.
Erica-san;
「 I understand 」
She stands up timidly.
「 Then, take care of the rest, Shou-neechan 」
「 Yes, I will 」
We left the room.
In the corridor, I see some bodyguards from the Kouzuki SS, but they’re keeping their distance.
As long as Shou-neechan or Ruriko doesn’t call them, they won’t come.
「 This way, Kou-chan 」
Oh right, I’m holding the keycard.
I inserted the key into room 2506 and unlocked the room.
This room has a bulky door. It’s a soundproof and radio-proof room.
Oh, it’s much smaller than the room earlier, but this room is also a conference room.
It’s as Shou-neechan says, the corner of the room has a teapot and snack set.
We get inside.
Momoko-neechan, Ruriko, Erica-san, Michi, Sebastia.n.u.s (Yamada Umeko-san,) Tsukiko, Nei and I moved inside the room.
「 Haaa, that was tiring 」
As soon as the door closes, Nei stretches her body and said.
「 You did well until halfway 」
Momoko-neechan told Nei.
「 Well, my role was just to create a guideline in the front so the story moves forward to our pace 」
Nei smiled.
「 I’m busy using my power so it helps that Nei-san is in front 」
Tsukiko said.
「 I see. So it’s a team play 」
Momoko-neechan told the two.
「 Tsukiko-san has to focus on using her power or else she’ll break their minds 」
「 And Nei-san’s taking it slow and logical when talking, and at the speed that won’t confuse me 」
Nei and Tsukiko said.
「 Tsukiko, sit down. You must be tired 」
I look at Tsukiko’s face and said.
「 Yes, I’ll prepare the tea with Michi 」
Ruriko goes to prepare tea.
「 Sebastia.n.u.s, help her out 」
「 Yes, Momoko-ojousama 」
Yamada Umeko-san joins those who prepare the tea.
「 But, is it okay for you to come here? What about the meeting in the other room? 」
Momoko-neechan asks Tsukiko.
「 Yes. Well, I already carved in their minds that they have no other choice anyway so if they talk to Shou-oneesama even without my influence… 」
「 It’s better to not just push them using Tsukiko’s power but to have them think and decide themselves. Miko power’s influence becomes familiar to their bodies 」
I sat down and told Momoko-neechan
「 Really? Sure, that’s okay, but…hey, Erica-san, don’t just stand there and sit down too 」
「 Ah, yes 」
Momoko-neechan urged her, Anna Erica-san sat down.
「 But still, that’s all resolved, right? Your father thinks that you’re his daughter. Even if it’s using Vitro fertilization and surrogate mother birth
He thinks that it’s their sperm and egg that’s used to conceive and give birth to the child.
「 Then, your mother believes that you’re a daughter from her egg and your Grandfather’s sperm. But, since it’s Vitro fertilization, it’s not like your Grandfather and mother had a s.e.xual relationship 」
Momoko-neechan said. Erica-san looks down quietly.
「 Well, the truth is Erica-san’s a child of her Grandfather and the surrogate mother, but, it’s better if your parents don’t know the truth, right? 」
Momoko-neechan said with a smile.
「 Erica-san was worried that her father and mother know the truth and that she’s the only one who hadn’t been told, and that they didn’t love her because she wasn’t their real child 」
Nei said.
「 But, it wasn’t the case. Both your father and mother weren’t trying to deceive you, and they love you from the bottom of their hearts. I understood the depth of their love 」
Tsukiko tells Erica the results of her probing with her power.
「 Yes. Your parents love you Erica-san. So it’s okay to let them be. Let secrets stay as secrets. There’s no problem with that 」
Momoko-neechan said. Erica-san;
「 There is a problem. I know that I’m not Mother and Father’s daughter… 」
「 Even so 」
「 Furthermore, the person who gave birth to me… 」
Erica-san said, stopping Momoko-neechan.
「 If that’s your problem, look, Kou-chan’s already settled your stocks, and he will continue to pay your surrogate mother’s pension from here on 」
「 It’s all because of Grandfather’s instructions, and I haven’t done anything in return to her 」
「 But, that’s… 」
Momoko-neechan doesn’t know that Takahata Youko-san’s daughter, Erica-san’s half-sister, Takahata Marika-san is in the next room.
「 Don’t overthink it. Your surrogate mother received her money ever since your birth and never met Erica-san. She has her life, so if you come and make noise Erica-san, it’ll only cause trouble to her 」
Momoko-neechan said.
「 She did as her contract says, she gave birth to you knowing well that the Anna house will take the child. She’s already determined to not meet you anymore. If not, she won’t be your surrogate mother 」
「 She’s not a surrogate, she’s my real mother! 」
Erica-san insisted.
「 I can understand how you feel, but, Erica-san 」
「 I…!!! 」
Erica-san’s not convinced.
She’s still young.
No matter how much the Anna couple loves their daughter.
Her heart wavers because she knows her true mother.
「 Calm down, Erica-san, have some tea 」
Ruriko brings over a tray of teacups.
「 Kou-chan, why don’t use her power and erase Erica-san’s memories? 」
Momoko-neechan tells me.
「 Erica-san should just forget her real mother. Especially if you consider her relationship with her parents from here on 」
That’s…
Erica-san will be awkward with her parents, especially her mother…
Erica-san’s minding it too much, but…
「 N-No… I don’t want to forget my real mother!! 」
Erica-san said.
「 But, Erica-san, you can’t go back to the Anna house like that, right? How can you live with your parents? 」
「 That’s… 」
Knowing that they’re not her real parents, she will suffer if she continues that same parent-child relationship as before.
「 Okay, stop that now. Let’s have a tea break. You won’t find an answer no matter how much you think about it, and the more you worry, the more you reach a dead-end 」
Momoko-neechan said.
「 Erica-san, eat something sweet. Put in a lot of sugar in your tea, you need to bring some sugar into your head and get back your spirit 」
「 I’ll do the same 」
Tsukiko drops sugar cubes in her black tea with a smile.
1, 2, 3…
I…
「 Right. You still have stuff to do before you worry about yourself 」
Erica-san looked at me.
「 You see, we did all this work for Erica-san. And, we managed to bring it in a good direction. We’re still halfway through it, but still 」
Erica-san’s eyes show fear.
「 So, Erica-san has to pay us up. Something, for all our efforts 」
We don’t do volunteer work.
We always seek compensation for anything.
「 I understand. I already am this far… 」
Anna Erica-san lifts her face.
「 I will…I’ll become your slave. Kuromori-san’s s.e.x slave 」
She finally announced it.