ㅤ."Do it as an apology to my father." . Aiko said with such an ease as though it were nothing serious. Nahide fell silent, his gaze fixed on the 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭ō. Aiko arched a brow, a wordless command for him to 𝐜𝐮𝐭 his pinky right infront of everyone. ㅤ.

ㅤ.Aiko laid the 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭ō on the table with deliberate care, its presence alone carrying the weight of ritual and unspoken menace. ㅤ

ㅤ."Think of their loved ones, if this escalates further it's because of your stubbornness.". Aiko extended one hand behind her, asking for a 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭ō, the short blade favored in samurai tradition. Junko, quick and prepared, placed the 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭ō into her hand (cont.).ㅤ.

ㅤ.But the sharp crack of a single clap cut through the room, seizing the attention of both men. The sound came from Aiko, who rose from her seat with calm authority. "I’ll give you one last chance, Uncle. Take a good look around you for a moment, Uncle. ".ㅤ.

ㅤ.Keijiro smiled broadly at Nahide’s remark, his gaze locked on the man who was deliberately provoking him. Yet, the air between their eyes grew heavier, the tension sharpening, it felt as though something inevitable would erupt if no one stepped in to separate them. ㅤ.

ㅤ."How much is she paying you to be her loyal dog? Join me, I can double it—triple it—if you’re willing to kiss my shoes right now." . Nahide whispered softly, leaning in with a crooked smile, his breath heavy with mockery as he made sure only the two of them could hear. ㅤ.

ㅤ.But Keijiro remained silent, staring at the man in the white suit with a cold, expressionless gaze but Nahide didn't stop there. He gave Keijiro a light, almost playful pat on the cheek, his eyes lingering on his face before drifting downward, continuing the mockery. ㅤ.

ㅤ.(cont.), met by a steady, unyielding stare, the kind only a bodyguard sworn to protect could give. "Ah, now I remember—you’re Aiko’s loyal dog. What was your name again?" Nahide taunted, his voice dripping with mockery meant to belittle him. ㅤ.

ㅤ.Still unwilling to accept Aiko’s demand, Nahide shot up to his feet and strode toward her—only to stop short when Keijiro stepped firmly into his path. Nahide’s eyes shifted to the man blocking his way (cont.).ㅤ.

ㅤ."So, what are you gonna do? You came here to claim my life? Kill your own uncle? Your own blood?". Nahide pressed both palms flat on the table, his body leaning forward. He spoke in a firm and raised voice. His face flushed red, a clear sign of his irritation and fury. ㅤ.

ㅤ.Nahide laid down the cards in his hand, signaling the end of his game with his associates and VIP guests. The atmosphere instantly grew heavier, the tension in the room thickening with every passing second. ㅤ.

ㅤ.Yet Nahide only grinned in return, followed by a laugh as if he couldn’t believe what Aiko had just said. "Well, look at you, Aiko. Seems like Nobuhide raised you only to do his dirty work, huh?" .ㅤ.

ㅤ.A bit late but back on routine. ㅤ

ㅤ.Only halfway through the week and problems just won’t stop showing up. ㅤ

ㅤ."The punishment for a traitor in Hakuryu is only one—and I’m certain you already know what it is, Uncle. ". "𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉.". Aiko spoke the word slowly, almost in a whisper, yet with enough weight to ensure that everyone in the room heard it clearly. ㅤ.

ㅤ."You working with another organization for your own profit and now, even after being exposed, you still have the audacity to sit here gambling as if nothing happened?" . Aiko’s voice carried a tone of disbelief, as though she could hardly fathom his arrogance. ㅤ.

ㅤ."Uncle. you don’t seem to understand how serious this matter is to my father and to 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐲ū.". "You 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 my family." . Aiko’s fists clenched tightly, trembling with the kind of restrained fury that threatened to explode at any moment. ㅤ.

ㅤ."Look at this degenerate and rotten old man, thinking everything can be settled on his own terms." . Aiko muttered the words under her breath, as if speaking only to herself—but in the suffocating silence of the room, every ear caught it clearly. ㅤ.

ㅤ.It was laced with eerie amusement, the sound echoing unnaturally in the tense room. She was the only one chuckling, her voice twisting the atmosphere heavier with each note—until she cut it off on her own, abruptly and with chilling precision. ㅤ.

ㅤ.Aiko fell silent for a moment, stunned by Nahide’s response—not out of fear, but out of sheer disbelief that he could dismiss something so important while wasting his time gambling. The heavy silence shattered when Aiko suddenly let out a chuckle. ㅤ.