Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

That doesn't make sense.

Is something... off?

Saionji Kiji struggled to process Akiyama Masashi's words, his expression as if he were listening to some kind of fantastical tale.

He spoke hesitantly, each word spoken slowly, as if afraid he might misunderstand.

"Mr. Akiyama, are you saying... I should sue Rika... for fraud?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Is...is this really reasonable?"

Whether something is reasonable or not is something I, as a lawyer, should consider.

Masashi Akiyama replied, "Your goal is to protect your assets. So as long as you can get her imprisoned, you'll keep all your money and be able to get a smooth divorce, leaving her with nothing."

Saionji Ki was stunned by these words.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but found that he couldn't make a sound.

It took a while before I could find my voice again.

"Is this... really feasible?"

"I'm fairly confident, but no lawsuit can guarantee a 100% win," said Masashi Akiyama, pulling a blank agency agreement from his drawer.

"The law is a weapon, but how that weapon is used depends on the person wielding it."

"But...shouldn't we argue within the framework of marriage law and defeat the opposing lawyer in court?"

Masashi Akiyama did not give a direct answer.

He turned to the side, his gaze fixed on a corner of the reception area.

Rin Saionji was curled up in a single sofa, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold in her hands, her eyes wide open.

She tried to understand the conversation, but was confused by the legal jargon, her pupils almost contorting into the shape of mosquito coils.

"Do you think a position like your brother's can win?"

Rin Saionji was taken aback.

She glanced at her brother, then at Masashi Akiyama, and finally shook her head timidly and very slightly.

"So," Akiyama Masashi turned his gaze back, his eyes landing on Saionji Kiyoshi's face.

"You need to step outside of that. Don't argue with the other party within the framework they're comfortable with."

"This...this can't be happening..."

"Of course. As long as this matter is morally just, I'll use any legal means to win, that's enough."

Masashi Akiyama paused, then glanced at his watch.

It is 3:10 PM.

"Alright. If you trust me, we can sign the formal agency agreement now. As for the agency fee..."

Under the tense gaze of Saionji Ki, Akiyama Masashi slowly spoke.

"I want five percent of your property back as a reward."

Saionji Ki was stunned.

It wasn't because of the compensation.

A five percent percentage is reasonable, even fair.

His hesitation stemmed from...

"Mr. Akiyama, it's not that I don't believe you," Saionji Kiyoshi said with difficulty, organizing his thoughts.

"But... Rika's lawyer is a famous divorce lawyer in Tokyo. When I consulted with other lawyers before, many refused to take my case for fear of offending the other party. I'm worried that if you take this case, you might face retaliation from them..."

These words changed Masashi Akiyama's opinion of Kiyoshi Saionji.

Based on our brief encounter, Saionji Ki is an overly gentle, even somewhat naive, man.

Only someone so kind, bordering on foolish, would be taken advantage of and deceived to this extent.

Even in such dire straits, he was still worried about dragging others down with him.

"Don't worry." Masashi Akiyama's voice was unusually gentle. "I've been offending people since my debut. You just need to trust me."

He stood up and pulled out several blank sheets of paper from the printer to organize the list.

"Alright, what you need to do now is to compile all the relevant materials—bank statements, chat logs, the detective's report, all your correspondence—and send them to me. Once I'm ready, I'll file a lawsuit immediately. In the next few days, all you need to do is try your best to delay them."

"Yes, yes." Saionji Kiya also stood up and bowed deeply. "Mr. Akiyama, I'm entrusting everything to you."

When Saionji Kiyoshi left, he tried to take Saionji Rin with him.

"Rin, it's time to go back."

"I...I'd like to see..." Rin Saionji stammered in refusal, her gaze drifting towards Masashi Akiyama, who was engrossed in organizing documents. "Mr. Akiyama's job duties..."

What?!

Saionji Ki instantly forgot about being scammed.

The current situation is that his only younger sister is about to be kidnapped!

He scrutinized Akiyama Masashi with piercing eyes, then glanced at his sister whose cheeks were slightly flushed, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

Akiyama Masashi felt the burning gaze, looked up, his eyes darting back and forth between Saionji Nori and Saionji Rin, before a look of sudden realization dawned on him:

"Do you want to monitor the work progress? Of course you can."

He's such a slowpoke!

Saionji Kiku wailed inwardly.

"N-no..." Rin Saionji opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say, her whole face turning bright red.

"Yes!" Saionji interrupted her sister, forcing a bright smile as she looked at Akiyama Masashi.

"Rin always cares about me, and she only decided to stay here because of me."

"Then I'll leave her in your care, Akiyama-san."

"elder brother……"

Rin Saionji protested quietly, but Kiyoshi Saionji had already waved his hand and turned to leave the office.

Wuwuwuwuwu, Rin!

…………

After Saionji Ki left, the office fell silent again.

Rin Saionji sat obediently in the corner of the reception area, her hands resting on her knees.

Her gaze would occasionally drift towards Masashi Akiyama, but she would hurriedly look away when he looked up.

Masashi Akiyama didn't pay much attention.

After organizing the documents at hand, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Moshi moshi, Yass?"

Maki Suzuki's voice came through the receiver.

"Why haven't you contacted me in so long? Have you made new friends and forgotten about me?"

Rin Saionji's ears twitched slightly.

She remained seated, but her body unconsciously straightened a little, and her gaze drifted seemingly unintentionally in the direction of Akiyama Masashi.

"Maki," Masashi Akiyama said bluntly, "I have some big news for you."

"Huh?"

Maki Suzuki on the other end of the phone was clearly intrigued.

"What kind of news is it?"

Masashi Akiyama glanced out the window.

The afternoon sun was gradually setting in the west, casting long shadows on the street.

At the street corner, a newlywed couple walked hand in hand, their posture very affectionate and sweet, just like the former couple, Saionji Ki and Aiba Rika.

He turned his gaze away and looked at the document left by Saionji Ki on the table.

"The kind of thing that would make the front page of the Yomiuri Shimbun's social section."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, the sound of Maki Suzuki taking a deep breath could be heard.

"...I'm coming right away."