"The Shinomiya family doesn't seem to be so clean either."
As they walked to the reception room, Kiryu suddenly spoke these vague words.
The servants' expressions shifted slightly, but they didn't fully understand his meaning.
However, Shin and Ai Hayasaka understood. After entering the Shinomiya family's residence, they had encountered many malevolent spirits.
These weren't just wandering spirits that happened to enter; they were filled with obvious malice. It was clear these were vengeful spirits who had died due to the Shinomiya family and had unconsciously been drawn back by their resentment.
When Ai Hayasaka, who had become a Stand user just yesterday, returned to the Shinomiya estate, she had also seen them.
She had been quite shaken initially but soon realized what these spirits represented.
She was well aware that, as a major conglomerate, the Shinomiya family couldn't be entirely blood-free. However, seeing so many vengeful spirits haunting the estate still made her uncomfortable.
She even tried using her Stand to eliminate a few spirits, but there were simply too many. It was impossible to get rid of them all.
Thus, they could only leave it as it was.
Kiryu's remark was a reaction to the fact that there were more vengeful spirits here than he'd ever seen on any gang turf.
These glamorous conglomerates in reality had caused far more deaths than the underworld.
…
Soon, they reached the reception room, and Ai Hayasaka opened the door, inviting Shin and the others inside.
On the sofa sat two men: Shinomiya Gan'an , the head of the Shinomiya family, and his eldest son, Shinomiya Oko.
As Shin entered, Shinomiya Oko's gaze fixed on him.
Although Kiryu was technically the leader of the Kiryu group, the seating arrangement of the three upon entering subtly indicated that Shin was the one in charge.
Shinomiya Gan'an looked frail, with a thin body that seemed ready for a hospital bed at any moment.
He glanced at those who had entered and said, "Everyone else, please leave. Ai, you stay."
The other servants bowed and exited, leaving only Shin, his two companions, and Ai Hayasaka in the room.
Without hesitation, Shin sat on the sofa across from Shinomiya Gan'an and Shinomiya Oko.
Kiryu and his Stand-using subordinate sat on either side of him, making it clear to the Shinomiya men that Shin was the one in command.
"I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect the true leader of the Kiryu group to be a young man around Kaguya's age," said Shinomiya Gan'an as he looked at Shin. His tone lacked any condescension, sounding more like that of an ordinary old man.
"I assume their special abilities also come from you?"
"More or less," Shin nodded, lifting the pendant around his neck—a small arrowhead.
Unfortunately, the arrowhead showed no reaction; Shinomiya Gan'an and Shinomiya Oko lacked the aptitude for Stands.
"What a pity. Neither of you has the potential to awaken a Stand."
"A Stand? Is that what you call these unique abilities of yours?"
Shinomiya Oko leaned forward, clearly interested in such things.
As Shinomiya Gan'an 's eldest son, Oko was the most likely successor to the family, especially as Gan'an 's health declined.
He wouldn't let any power slip by unused if it could serve his purposes.
He'd set his sights on this "Stand" ability. If he could obtain such a power, many things that were difficult to handle publicly could perhaps be resolved with ease.
"How can you know we lack this 'Stand potential' if you don't try?"
"Watch your tone."
Though Shin remained silent, Kiryu's Stand-using subordinate seemed displeased. He frowned, and his close-range Stand materialized beside him.
The subordinate held great respect for Shin. Shinomiya Oko's aggressive tone, as if coercing Shin into awakening a Stand for him, rubbed him the wrong way.
If Oko continued, he'd be getting a fist from the Stand.
Though neither Shinomiya Gan'an nor Oko could see the Stand, Ai Hayasaka could. She glanced at it, sighed, and thought that Oko had no idea how close he was to a serious head injury.
"Oko."
Shinomiya Gan'an cast a glance at his son. Despite his poor health, he wasn't yet bedridden.
Oko paused and refrained from saying anything further.
"It's a shame we lack Stand potential, but the Shinomiya family doesn't necessarily need that power," Gan'an said calmly. He'd been through enough to know that not all power could be wielded by the Shinomiya family.
"What we're more curious about," Gan'an continued, "is the extent of what this power can achieve."
Hearing this, everyone in the room except Shin looked tense.
Shinomiya Gan'an 's intent was clear—he wanted to see if this power could be controlled.
If the Stand power was manageable, the Shinomiya family might attempt to control the Kiryu group with force.
But if it was too extraordinary… what the Shinomiya family would do was uncertain.
Shin chuckled—Gan'an wanted a demonstration of his power.
In terms of individual Stand abilities, unless it was an overpowered one like Requiem or Made in Heaven, they weren't exceedingly powerful.
Even top-tier Stands like Star Platinum and The World had their limits.
If Shin was merely a Stand user, he might not have enough power to truly intimidate the Shinomiya family.
After all, the Shinomiya family was one of the largest conglomerates in Japan. They wouldn't be intimidated by a superhuman feat alone.
A handgun could kill a person, but would the Shinomiya family fear a handgun?
With this thought, Shin stood up and walked over to the window of the reception room, opening it as everyone watched.
"The weather isn't great today, is it?"
Everyone was puzzled as they looked outside. The sky was gray with thick clouds, seemingly about to rain.
Then, Shin raised his hand, and a wave of energy emerged from his palm.
It was similar to Yamcha's "Spirit Ball" technique. With his mastery of "ki," Shin could replicate such techniques with ease.
The moment this energy ball appeared, an oppressive aura weighed down on everyone in the room.
To be continued…
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