I, the spiritual mentor of beautiful girls from all over the world

She shook her head violently, completely overturning her previous conclusion.

Because this... isn't my sister's style!

Although her methods were ruthless, they always carried a condescending, cat-and-mouse-like mockery.

She enjoys the process of manipulating people's hearts and the pleasure of watching her prey struggle.

And SY Investment's move was cold, precise, efficient, and overwhelming—

Yes, the power of capital without any emotion!

It's not toying with its opponents, but rather using an almost industrial, mechanical approach to completely crush all obstacles at the physical level.

This style… this absolute power that disregards cost, focuses solely on achieving the goal…

Yukino Yukinoshita's pupils suddenly contracted.

In her mind, a hypothesis she had once made but had rejected because it was too absurd came to mind.

Teacher Lynn… his blank background… and what my sister once inadvertently revealed, that the family seems to be investigating him…

A truly colossal entity, standing at the pinnacle of the Japanese economy, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea.

—The Shinomiya Foundation is large.

Chapter 77: Hayasaka Ai is also very tired today.

When the name "Shinomiya Foundation" finally came to mind, Yukino Yukinoshita felt a chill rise from the bottom of her heart.

The mysterious investor on the bidding document – ​​“SY Investment” – if the “S” really stands for “Shinomiya” (fourth palace)!

At that moment, the nature of the matter changed completely.

This is no longer just a family conflict between her and her sister, and it has long since gone beyond the scope of the power struggle between Teacher Lynn and her sister.

This means that the existence of Teacher Lynn has already attracted the attention of the real giants at that level...

What exactly do they want to do?

Yukino Yukinoshita's breath hitched slightly.

She recalled the rumors about the Shinomiya family that circulated only among the upper echelons of high society—

That case of the missing heiress, which was supposedly covered up by the Shinomiya family using all their resources...

After that, the Shinomiya family... seems to have been searching for someone...

"S" represents the fourth house... So what about "Y"? What does it represent? The first letter of a person's name?

Her thoughts raced.

What comes to mind when you think of Y...?

...Yoru (night)?

This thought was like a key, instantly unlocking the long-sealed door deep within her memory.

In classic Japanese tales, the princess in "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" is inextricably linked to the image of "night"...

Kaguya.

Then, at the moment when all the clues come together.

A complete name, one that made her tremble, suddenly took shape in her mind!

Shinomiya/Kaguya!

If it really is her, then everything makes sense!

This astronomical investment of 150 million was not for the school festival at all.

This is the Shinomiya family...

Do not!

...It was the once-missing heiress of the Shinomiya family who was sending a signal to Professor Lynn through the name "SY"!

Is it a warning?

Is it a test?

"860" or... a belated thank you?

...Ms. Lynn.

Who exactly are you?

……

Tokyo.

In the heart of the city, where land is incredibly valuable, stands a luxurious Japanese-style mansion covering several acres.

The ancient walls, like a barrier, completely isolated it from the hustle and bustle of the modern city outside.

This is the Shinomiya family.

A behemoth whose very name is enough to send shivers down the spine of the entire Japanese economy.

Inside the study, Hayasaka Ai carried a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon tea, walking with almost no sound.

I gently placed the teacup on the desk, which was carved from a single piece of rosewood.

She looked at her young mistress.

The comment in my mind, "Working people are so tired today," has filled the entire screen.

Kaguya Shinomiya was sitting behind her desk.

She wore a well-tailored, pure black dress that made her skin look even whiter than snow.

Her long, smooth, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, tied at the ends with a simple red ribbon.

Those beautiful eyes, which should have been sharp and cold like rubies, were now somewhat unfocused.

It was as if I had pierced through the air in front of me and was looking at a distant, rainy night.

She rested her chin on her hand, her fair fingertips unconsciously caressing her soft lips.

Then, on that stunningly beautiful face that always wore a perfectly polite smile, or the aloofness of "Ice Kaguya"—

Without warning, a faint blush appeared.

Hayasaka Ai let out a weary sigh in her heart.

It’s over.

The young lady has started her daily routine of "reviewing the day in the rain" again.

These symptoms, even if not "late-stage love-struck," at least indicate "severe unrequited love."

Ever since that rainy night when the young lady escaped from a meticulously planned kidnapping, she's been like a completely reinstalled operating system.

The once aloof and arrogant "Ice Kaguya," who treated everyone as pawns and whose emotions fluctuated more steadily than a flat line on an electrocardiogram, is now appearing online less and less.

Instead, what we see before us is this...

I get distracted from time to time.

She blushes from time to time.

She would unconsciously touch her lips from time to time.

She is a naive and innocent girl who has her first kiss stolen in an unbelievable way by a powerful and wicked man, and is still deeply infatuated with him.

Hayasaka Ai silently complained to herself.

Miss, you are the daughter of the Shinomiya family!

Could you please show some of that cold, ruthless attitude of "It's getting cold, let those short-sighted little groups go bankrupt"?

"Hayasaka." Kaguya's cool voice pulled her back from her internal monologue. "Any results?"

Hayasaka Ai bowed slightly and skillfully took out a thin, completely black piece of paper, slightly larger than a cell phone, from her pocket.

With a light tap of her fingertip, the thin sheet silently lit up, casting a soft light onto the opposite wall, forming an incredibly clear dynamic data graph.

"Kaguya-sama, the investigation into the codename 'Rainy Night Phantom' is still making no progress."

This ridiculously cheesy nickname, which made her want to dig her toes into the ground every time she said it, was personally given to her by Kaguya-sama.

"All the surveillance cameras on the relevant road sections suffered varying degrees of physical or signal damage within fifteen minutes before and after the incident. The methods were professional and beyond repair."

Kaguya's gaze was fixed on the humanoid data on the wall, which had dodged the bullets at an unbelievable angle.

"The director of the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Tokyo has submitted his resignation after reviewing this data on physical movement," Hayasaka Ai reported in a completely flat tone.

His resignation letter stated: "My lifelong research into human potential has proven to be nothing more than a childish crayon drawing in the face of this data. I have decided to return to the countryside to farm, because farming, at least, makes logical sense."

"The FBI's criminal psychology consultant hasn't resigned, but he's refused to continue following up on the case, citing 'personal belief conflict'," Hayasaka Ai added expressionlessly.

He believed that the ability to hit the wrist and knee with all 28 bullets in that situation was a matter of "theology" rather than "criminology".

"Therefore, he refused to do psychological profiling of God."

Kaguya's fingertips unconsciously traced her lips, her voice trembling slightly.

"Then... what was his motive? What was his purpose in taking that hundred million?"

"Regarding the motives, the joint analysis team had serious disagreements on two hypotheses: 'alien dimensional reduction attack' and 'awakening of an ancient evil god,' and almost disbanded due to internal strife."

Hayasaka Ai suppressed a retort and continued, "In the end, they ruled out all higher-dimensional possibilities and came to... the most logical conclusion."

"What is the conclusion?"

"The target's action logic may not be based on 'profit,' but rather... simply on 'eliminating trouble.'"

"...Huh?" Even Kaguya couldn't help but utter a single, unintelligible syllable upon hearing this conclusion.

Hayasaka Ai added expressionlessly, "The expert team believes that the target may have just wanted to pass by, but the kidnappers and you... blocked his way home, becoming a 'roadblock'."

"So he chose to remove this 'roadblock' in the most efficient and direct way."

"As for the 100 million yen he took..."

Hayasaka Ai paused, then spoke in an absolutely objective tone.

"The foundation's accounting department's analysis report believes that this should be defined as... 'the most cost-effective god-level security service fee in history,' and that we... paid too little at the time."

Kaguya: "..."

She put down her teacup and fell into a long silence.

This conclusion, absurd yet strangely convincing... made her believe it.

Because this perfectly explains all the contradictions in that man.

He possessed godlike power, yet had no worldly desires.

He acted decisively and ruthlessly, yet without the slightest malice.

He saved him, but then used a kiss and the nonsense about a "mysterious pile driver" to make fun of him like a fool.

All his actions seem to disregard the outcome, caring only about whether the process is... as he pleases.

This realization struck Kaguya Shinomiya like a heavy hammer, slamming into her worldview built on "interests."

In her life, everything can be calculated and traded.

But this man... he is an absolute "variable" that cannot be calculated.

And what she, Kaguya Shinomiya, hates most is the "variable" that she cannot control.

And...it's what I most desire.

"So, not even a single photo?"

Kaguya's voice carried a hint of grievance that she herself was unaware of.

"terribly sorry."

Hayasaka Ai lowered her head slightly.

"but……"

She changed the subject and pulled up another file on the tablet.