Hearing her father Gan'an Shinomiya's astonished words, Kaguya's face flushed red as she instinctively began making excuses:
"This wasn't actually my idea - it was elder brother's suggestion."
'Sorry, elder brother. Since you don't lack for faults anyway, please bear this one for me...'
Kaguya quietly consoled herself internally.
Meanwhile, upon hearing Kaguya's explanation, Gan'an Shinomiya merely furrowed his brows and remarked:
"Oko? That brat certainly dares to dream."
Gan'an Shinomiya had a good understanding of Oko Shinomiya's character.
If it were that brat who treated everything as a bargaining chip, such thoughts would naturally arise.
After all, compared to the benefits Kaguya Shinomiya could gain by attaching herself to Luo Shu, the so-called costs were negligible.
However, recalling how Oko had instilled misguided ideas in Kaguya, Gan'an couldn't help but sigh and explain to his daughter:
"Oko's thinking isn't wrong. That young Director of the Hidden Management Department could indeed bring the most direct benefits to the Shinomiya family."
"Then why did Father say..." Kaguya looked at Gan'an with confusion.
If it was the optimal choice, then from an investment perspective, shouldn't they pursue it?
Seeming to read Kaguya's thoughts, Gan'an narrowed his eyes and said calmly:
"That's only if the other party would even consider you, Kaguya."
Kaguya's expression stiffened at this second jab from Gan'an, but she remained silent, waiting for his explanation.
With another light sigh, Gan'an continued:
"That boy Oko has few connections in mystic side circles, so his ignorance is understandable. It's only natural you'd be misled by him."
"But Kaguya, you must understand this."
"Even within mystic side circles, that Director of the Hidden Management Department stands at the very pinnacle."
At the very pinnacle...
Kaguya's eyes widened as she recalled the man she'd met last time - with his gentle smile and utterly unthreatening demeanour. The thought seemed almost unbelievable.
It was then that Gan'an added with profound emotion:
"Demigod."
"That's what the mystic side calls beings of his calibre."
"As the name suggests, they retain human qualities while approaching divine status."
"Even within mystic side circles, there are fewer than five such Demigod powerhouses."
"These are individuals whose personal might enables them to speak as equals with the leaders of the Five Great Powers."
"Moreover, that Demigod of the Hidden Management Department is still so young..."
"So Kaguya, do you understand now?"
"This... this..." Kaguya found herself momentarily speechless.
Gan'an raised an eyebrow as he studied his daughter.
To be fair, he didn't think his Kaguya was lacking.
Her origins were just slightly too humble.
The daughter of a dancer - even if adopted as his own and bearing most of the Shinomiya family's wealth - could theoretically compete with the children of Japan's prime minister or the Five Regent Houses.
But such comparisons only held within Japan. Against the world's true aristocracy, she'd rank as middling at best.
With another sigh, Gan'an mused:
"If my old contacts' information is accurate, England's royal family, America's core dynasties, and Jewish financial conglomerates have all shown interest in him."
"Though all those tentative approaches were blocked by the Supreme Chairwoman of the SDS."
"The Supreme Chairwoman of the SDS?"
Kaguya immediately pictured that pure-looking pink-haired girl, a startling possibility dawning on her.
No way...?
At that very moment, Gan'an Shinomiya confirmed Kaguya Shinomiya's speculation:
"It's said that the Supreme Chairwoman of the SDS intends to arrange a marriage alliance, and there are rumours that the two parties are already in a confirmed relationship."
"Of course, such gossip may not reflect the truth, but the mere fact these rumours are circulating suggests the SDS Chairwoman isn't without interest."
Kaguya Shinomiya fell silent.
She wasn't a child raised under lax education - she naturally understood the implications of such matters.
Even if the Shinomiya family's wealth was already considered unimaginably extravagant in ordinary people's eyes, enough to tempt Japan's Cabinet leaders, it paled in comparison to SDS's influence.
That was a behemoth centred around America's arms conglomerates, covertly controlling military forces across the Americas and manipulating political circles.
Such a dowry was indeed beyond the Shinomiya family's league.
Regarding this, Kaguya Shinomiya offered an unusually meek apology:
"My apologies, Father. It seems I spoke meaninglessly."
Gan'an Shinomiya didn't comment, merely stating impassively:
"Your current mindset isn't suited for decision-making."
"Very well, I'll have suitable candidates' profiles delivered to you later. Consider carefully which one to pursue."
Hearing this, Kaguya replied somewhat stiffly: "But Father, what about Elder Brother—"
"I'll have Un'yo handle Oko's side to buy some time."
Gan'an Shinomiya's lips curled coldly:
"Though this isn't something we need to overly concern ourselves with. The Cabinet Secretary likely wants to stall even more than we do."
"After all, Oko attacked none other than the Hidden Management Department's representative."
"Until they declare their stance, we still have room to manoeuvre."
"In fact, the Cabinet Secretary would prefer we negotiate an outcome favourable to them."
After a long silence, Kaguya took a deep breath:
"I understand, Father. I'll consider this carefully."
...
10:15 AM.
Main entrance of Shinomiya Hospital.
Ai Hayasaka, still wearing her Shuchi'in Academy uniform, checked her watch before spotting Kaguya exiting the hospital gates looking distracted.
"Lady Kaguya."
Hayasaka hurried forward, her heart sinking upon noticing Kaguya's expression. She couldn't help asking:
"Your expression... Has something troubling happened?"
Seeing her closest friend, Kaguya turned and blurted out:
"Hayasaka, do you think Mr Luo Shu from the Hidden Management Department has... intentions towards me?"
Hayasaka froze, staring at Kaguya in bewilderment. Why would this idiot ask such a thing?
"Why would you think that?"
Finally, Kaguya revealed the 'little secret' she'd kept from Gan'an:
"Because he hinted to his secretary to leak Elder Brother's affairs to you!"
"If he had no intentions whatsoever, why would he instruct his subordinate to disclose such information?"
Without this, Kaguya Shinomiya wouldn't have thought that Luo Shu might have feelings for her. After all, how could a secretary leak a secret without the superior's permission?
Hearing this, Ai Hayasaka fell silent.
She gazed wordlessly at Kaguya Shinomiya, hesitating for a moment before finally murmuring:
"Lady Kaguya."
"You think so too, don't you, Hayasaka?" Kaguya asked with an innocent expression.
"Is there a possibility..."
Instead of answering Kaguya, Ai Hayasaka posed a question to her young mistress:
"That Mr Luo Shu might actually be interested in me?"
Kaguya Shinomiya: "???"