After leaving ZAGE Tower, Zanki didn't return to his ZUSUGA office. Instead, he went straight to his family home, the Zagashira Mansion, to find his father, Zenzou Zagashira.
"I need to ask Father about this—about the origin of Zaboru's power."
Zanki knew something wasn't right. He couldn't shake the feeling. The ability Zaboru displayed wasn't just rare—it was specific, the kind of inherited power passed down through bloodlines. In Japan, certain families had long guarded supernatural abilities, signature moves known only within their clans. These traditions dated back centuries, carefully protected and rarely shared outside the lineage. The Zagashira were one such family, and their unique abilities were considered sacred and highly confidential.
But Zaboru wasn't part of any known family with these legacies, at least not officially. What disturbed Zanki the most was that Zaboru's power bore a striking resemblance to techniques only practiced by high-status bloodlines. That kind of overlap wasn't supposed to happen unless there was a hidden connection—something buried in history or purposefully erased. Most of these families kept their secrets locked away from the public eye, hidden behind layers of tradition and secrecy. And now, one of those secrets might be unraveling.
Before long, Zanki arrived at the mansion. Zenzou was sitting in the garden, calmly sipping his tea. He noticed Zanki approaching but chose not to acknowledge him immediately, staying silent and composed.
Zanki stepped closer and said, "Father, I want to ask you something."
Zenzou remained calm and replied, "What is it?"
Though he kept his cool, Zenzou was genuinely surprised to see his son visit him.
"Do you know anything about the Renkonan family?" Zanki asked.
Zenzou's eyes widened ever so slightly—a flicker, almost imperceptible—but it was enough. Then, with the same calmness he always carried, he replied, "No, I don't."
Zanki didn't buy it for a second. He'd studied his father's reactions his entire life and knew that look. "Don't bullshit me, Father. I know you know something. This is about Zaboru Renkonan."
He drew in a sharp breath, steadying the rising anger in his chest. "He has an ability. One like ours. That shouldn't be possible. I've studied our records, gone through our family history, page by page. The name Renkonan doesn't appear anywhere—not in the list of families that performed the God Offering, not in any bloodline registry. That ritual is ancient and sacred, passed only through a handful of families. There's no way someone outside those lines could've inherited it."
Zanki's voice lowered, but the weight in it grew heavier. "Either something is being hidden... or someone has broken the rules. And I need to know which it is."
Zenzou sighed. Of course he knew the Renkonan name—how could he not? But he had no intention of getting involved with them, especially because of who was at the center of it: his eldest son. Zanichi, the child with the most raw potential of all his offspring, was also the most reckless. He had a brilliant mind, an intense spirit, and abilities that could've made him the heir to everything. But instead, he chose a path of rebellion. He was proud to the point of self-destruction, choosing to be disowned and live as an outcast rather than follow the family's expectations.
Zenzou had once made a powerful vow—a solemn promise, sworn with every fiber of his being—that he would never interfere in Zanichi's life again after disowning him. And for Zenzou, promises weren't just words. His unique ability, called "Ultimate Promise," gave immense weight to any vow he made. Once spoken, a promise from him became not just likely but destined to unfold, or at the very least, events would align to support it. It was a blessing in business, giving him a terrifying edge in negotiations and strategy. Competitors feared him because when he said something would happen, it often did.
But the ability came with steep limits. He couldn't make reckless promises or contradict previous ones. The more ambitious the vow, the more his life subtly bent around it, often in painful ways. Still, this power made Zenzou a formidable figure in the business world. His name alone could shake boardrooms—and seal deals before they were even inked. Yet now, bound by his own oath, he had to watch in silence as a dangerous truth quietly resurfaced, one tied to the very son he swore never to reach for again.
This tradition began hundreds of years ago, dating back to the Sengoku Period in the 1500s. During that violent and chaotic era, several noble families from Edo's upper class were approached by a mysterious traveler. No one knew his origins or his name, but his words carried weight—and temptation. He told them that through offerings of immense value—gold, land, and even human lives—they could awaken hidden powers sleeping within their bloodlines. Most dismissed him at first, but desperation and ambition won out. One by one, the families followed his instructions.
The results were undeniable. Each family that made the sacrifices began to manifest unique abilities—powers that defied natural explanation. No two abilities were the same, and each aligned in strange ways with the nature of the family that wielded it. Over time, these powers became traditions, deeply woven into their lineage. Children inherited the abilities, though in a slightly weakened form, a dilution caused by the passage of time and blood. Still, even generations later, the gifts remained strong—mysterious forces passed silently through the ages.
Zenzou sat motionless as the weight of history and personal vows tangled inside him. He had made a promise—one bound by his ability, "Ultimate Promise." If he broke it, consequences would follow. Speaking certain truths now would go against that sacred oath. He turned to Zanki and said, with a flat but deliberate tone, "I don't know about the Renkonan, Zanki."
Zanki narrowed his eyes, catching the hesitation in his father's voice. "You promised, huh?" His tone was cold. He knew what that meant. A dead end.
"Fine then," he said, stepping back. "I'll find out for myself."
Zenzou's voice carried behind him. "Stop. It's not worth your time, Zanki."
But Zanki didn't stop walking. "You're not the one who decides that," he said, not even turning around.
With that, Zanki stormed out of the Zagashira Mansion, deep in thought. 'I need to keep my distance from Zaboru for a while,' he told himself. 'There's too much I don't know, and I need to dig deeper. I can't afford to get tangled up with the wrong people—especially not ability users.' Resolute, he made his way back to the ZUSUGA offices, determined to continue his investigation from a safer distance.
But little did they know, Zaboru's power was something entirely different—a rare and extraordinary force that existed on a completely separate level from what they understood. Zanki believed that Zaboru possessed only a single ability: the Aura of Influence. But in truth, that was just the surface. Zaboru harbored multiple powers, each more complex and dangerous than the last.
Meanwhile, Zaboru was resting with his wife Ayumi in their bed on the 52nd floor of the ZAGE Tower. The room was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The distant hum of Tokyo at night served as their lullaby. Zaboru shifted slightly, turned toward Ayumi, and gently placed a hand on her belly, feeling the faint movements within.
"Say, Ayumi, what should we name this little one?" he asked, his voice warm with anticipation.
Ayumi smiled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Hmm... what do you suggest?" she replied, her eyes half-lidded with fatigue and affection.
Zaboru grinned with playful confidence. "Well, I was thinking... Zayumi. Sounds nice, right? A perfect blend of us."
She turned her head slowly, giving him a deadpan stare that said everything without a word. Zaboru laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. "But it's a good name... isn't it?"
Ayumi sighed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "No, Zaboru. I know it's a combination of our names, but I don't want something that simple. It should mean something. Something that will carry weight as he grows."
She paused, thinking deeply, running her fingers over the smooth fabric of her blanket. Then her expression brightened as inspiration struck. "How about Zenshin Renkonan? It means 'Always move forward.' You wanted a name that starts with Z, right?"
Zaboru's eyes lit up with genuine admiration. "That's perfect! I love it. Zenshin... it's strong, and it sounds like he'll be someone who won't stop no matter what."
He leaned in to kiss her forehead, his heart full. Then, with a tenderness he gently placed his hand on her belly again and whispered, "Heheh... Zenshin, hurry up and come out already. Your papa's waiting."
His excitement wasn't just clear—it was overwhelming. He is truly excited.
To be continue
AN : I see that you guys hate this , so i'm sorry for that , because i thought it will be interesting if i add a supernatural element for it and this are hinted from hundreds of chapter ago but this will probably be the last time we met mc family for a while i will not follow them up.