"Did he say that?" Ho-ho, ay da prince. And what about this dude? Yes? Oh, I wish I'd seen that. It was high time to rein him in… No, no. You know, Bakuro-kun, I'm not a fan of sitting in one place for several hours. The bones are not the same anymore... ha-ha-ha, I hope so, I think I will live in this world for some time… It's the will of the gods, my friend... thank you for sharing the news, otherwise you yourself understand: work — home, home — work. There is no time left for social life at all… And the same to you, Bakuro-kun. Goodbye.
Turning off the video screen built into the desktop, Kenta raised his head and looked at his son sitting in the chair opposite:
- so. What are we going to do?
— Save, of course.
Kenta muttered, looking out the window. — I think our name will protect him from absolutely brazen assaults. But it will not completely protect, the fact. And offering to sell the land to us will not look good.
— That's right. I suspect that not the smartest people still managed to get it at the auction. And he won't sell. He will rest his horn, declare war on everyone, but he will not sell.
"Are you so sure of that?"
"Aren't you?" He's always been like that. He clung with all his limbs and did not let go. Even if it was not profitable for him.
— So... the guy is not a fool to keep something that is harmful or sucks resources out of him. Akeno's face showed an expression of skepticism, pity and a grin after these words. - what?
— Remember your present for his twelfth birthday.
— Ahem, ahem.
— Yes, yes. Completely meaningless, in figs he does not need, insanely expensive aquarium fish. How many times did you have to convince him afterwards that they were being bred for sale? How much weight did he lose there then? How many months have you been sleepy? So what? Those damn fish are still swimming in his aquarium. Where did you find the money for maintenance? He doesn't give up or give up what he considers his own, and you know it. The case with the fish is not the only one, there were others.
—Ho-o-o-o..." the old man exhaled heavily. — Your suggestions?
— Rent.
It took the old man about ten seconds to calculate this option.
— Apparently, old age makes itself felt. Really, a good idea. In our case, it's generally perfect. You can even advise him as tenants of Ohayashi…
— What are you, Father?! Ohayashi? They'll fool him at once. It's... it's Ohayashi!
— A century-old prejudice speaks in you. It's time to melt the cold relations between our families.
— Oh, I don't know, I don't know… Ohayashi, they are so... — Akeno depicted the twisting of the light bulb with his palm. — In general, they are not like that!
— Yeah, son. At least decide for a start.
"It doesn't matter," the man waved away. — The main thing is that not only our clan is saturated with prejudice. They'll throw Shinji out of principle to annoy us. Although stop. First they'll try to pull him over to them, and then, when they can't do a damn thing, they'll throw him. I don't know how yet, but that's for sure.
— It's possible. I am sure that Dai-kun will be interested in his "kamontoku", freedom and closeness to us. But then everything depends on us. We will be able to show them that we are moving closer… Will they understand that it would be time already… And the guy's tongue won't fall off, I think.
— In general, I have nothing to object to. I still think that Ohayashi are too harmful types... eh, but they can't be called fools either. The main thing is to prepare the lease agreement correctly, and otherwise do what you want.
Stop! No, no, not what you want! Talk to me first. And then I know you, the old schemer.
— It's a shame somehow...
- That's when you throw out all your plans at his expense, that's when you take offense.
— Yes, there are no plans left...
- Uh?
— Son, I should at least try to return him to the genus. You know they don't have any grandchildren there now.
— But there are three sons... two. They'll make more grandchildren for the old man.
— Most likely, but they are not there yet.
— Yes, that's
enough, son, that's enough… Just five years ago, one of the imperial families disappeared. Ancient, strong. They, too, probably thought it was nonsense that they would have time to have children. So what? Where are they now? Even in my youth, they were considered a great family. And now? A miserable fifty years — and they were gone. I have to take care of the clan, and their kind is part of this clan.
— They themselves must…
— We must, Akeno, we must. And I'm sure Daisuke keeps his finger on the pulse, but specifically with Shinji he is tied hand and foot. Unlike him, I can do at least something. Or try to do. And by the way, since we're talking about this, how is it…
— You got it! What are you asking me? Every morning. It's the same thing. Go ask her yourself.
— Yes, as if... I... it's easier for you somehow.
— Me? You... that's it, Father," the man ran his palm over his face, "we'll shut up. Let's not talk about it. Let's think over the lease better.
* * *
— Are you admiring the gift, daughter?
Aneko, dressed in short shorts and a tank top, sat on the veranda overlooking the garden and waited for her wet hair to dry after a shower. At the same time, she was looking at the pendant Shinji had given her.
— I'm rather thinking about what I would wear under it.
— Decided to show off in front of your friends? My father chuckled.
— Pf, — the girl snorted, for some reason embarrassed.
— And how much is this trinket worth? — the man still asked cunningly.
"Ninety—eight million."
— Ho, and he does not waste his time on trifles, buying gifts to almost unknown girls.
"I brought him luck," Aneko grumbled. — That's what he said.
"Heh, I don't doubt that. My baby Aneko brings only good luck...
— Dad!
— ...noticed a long time ago. Well, in general, how do you like the young man?
— In general ... — the girl thought. — There is no short answer here.
— Well... tell me how it is.
— Not a fool. Observant. His knowledge is somewhat fragmentary. But what is interesting is that due to his life experience, which, in theory, he should not have, he manages, one way or another, to turn everything into a plus for himself. In extreme cases, to neutralize the harm from their ignorance. He is looking for benefits everywhere, not necessarily material ones. Can… How should I say it... to inspire. And not force, but something in between. Not strength, not weakness ... it is difficult to convey in words, he will come today, you will see for yourself. Then she grinned, remembering something. — He doesn't like to lie. Avoids it in every possible way, but if it is really necessary... I wouldn't know — I would believe it. It's a pity you didn't see how he turned down those who wanted to buy ancestral lands from him," she smiled to her thoughts. — The owner. Why there was such an impression, I will not say, but it is there. In general... if such an opportunity presents itself, I would not mind going somewhere else with him. Oh, by the way. He has no idea what kind of family he came from, he considers himself a commoner in general.
— I see ... — That's just the face of the head of the clan expressed something else. — Well, didn't you miss me too much?
— There are a few, they played there for too long. But I made a couple of contacts, as you taught me.
— Oh, I can't believe that there were really just a couple of contacts. — The girl only smiled in response. — Okay, rest up, daughter. I'm going to get busy.
Entering the office, the most important in the Ohayashi clan found his eldest son in it. A twenty-year-old guy was sitting in a chair standing in the corner of the office and drowning in the shade.
"Don't touch your sister today, let her rest," the elder Ohayashi began.
— Yes, actually, I've already heard everything.
— When did you manage it?
— Women are talkative, especially in their own circle. — Noticing his father's curious look, he continued: — She managed to talk to the mothers, and I was just passing by.
"Someday they'll catch you eavesdropping, and I won't save anyone.
— I'm just on business, — the guy was defiantly offended.
— It's not worth it on business either. You are the future head of the clan, not a ninja. So use them as needed.
"Sending outsiders to eavesdrop on your own family?"
— No, of course not. There is no need to send anyone. There are servants for that.
"You're a cynic, Father.
"You're wrong. It's just that you have to learn from someone, right? And it's better to learn to ask than to eavesdrop. But let's talk about business. To begin with, give me your opinion, since you heard something there.
— Some of your requests are abstract. On what question exactly do you want to know my opinion?
"If I'm a cynic, Seng, then you're a bore. Tell me what you think about the guy.
— He would be useful to us in the clan. And given the "kamontoka", ancestral lands and finances, it is not shameful to give him a coat of arms. That's just what I think it's not worth doing. It would be much more practical in the long term to try to make peace with Koyama. Still, it's time to stop a hundred years of cool relations. It won't end well. And with the help of a guy, we can do everything. It won't get any worse.
"Maybe it won't," Dai said thoughtfully. — But I note that we will also miss a promising young man with his new ancestral lands.
— I have a plan. Simple as a hundred yen. If everything works out, then we will always have a chance to get him into the clan.
— Come on, come on.
— If in general it is very simple, then so. The Koyama give him a coat of arms, and we give him a wife from our family.
— Pf-s-kha, — the owner of the office almost choked in a cup of coffee. — You... this... warn me before you give something like that. Where will we find him a wife? Only Aneko is the right age for us. Everyone else is eleven or twelve years old. He will find a wife himself sooner than these brats will come of age. Well, or Koyama will be found for him.
"Aneko will do fine. She already understands what duty is, and here, too, in her soul, it seems to me, she will not mind.
"Aneko is already engaged," the man began to grumble. Everyone in the family knew that this was a very infrequent phenomenon. But, apparently, a lot of people managed to get it with this topic.
— With whom? With a coward who is afraid to live in his own country? This is shameful even for my broad views.
— He's coming back the other day.
— After his father put pressure on him? Did you put pressure on your father? We will be laughed at in society. Everyone will say that we…
— That's enough. You know very well that I can't just break off the engagement of my daughter to the son of the daimyo of the province of Shimosa. Now, if this Sate Shinichi was really being hunted, then yes, then his escape to Germany would quite officially be a cowardly act. And I would have options. And so…
— This, of course, is not nonsense, but it is far-fetched. Even I can think of a couple of reasons to break off the engagement.
— Reinforced concrete?