"Heh, you make a fair point, sir," Gan'an chuckled. "But there are some things that an old man like me simply cannot walk away from. At least in my lifetime, I cannot allow the Shinomiya Consortium to collapse."
As he spoke, Gan'an's smile was quickly interrupted by a coughing fit. His frail body clearly couldn't handle such exertion.
"Cough cough, I apologize, sir. I may have overstepped with my words."
"If you know you're talking too much, then cut the chatter and get to business," Yami replied bluntly, showing no intention of being polite.
"Well then, let's not beat around the bush," Gan'an conceded. "If my guess is correct, you're the one who defeated the Hero Association's Watchdog Man and Tornado of Terror in Q-City. And just now, you wiped out that giant monster too, correct?"
"Yeah, that was me. What of it?" Yami replied casually, shrugging.
At this, the three people present, including Gan'an, momentarily froze. Although Yami's fight with the giant only lasted a few minutes, the sheer power he displayed had left Gan'an astounded.
This was exactly the kind of power the Shinomiya patriarch had been searching for! If they could obtain it, the Shinomiya Consortium would solidify its dominance, truly standing at the top, with the power to overlook all others.
"Impressive, sir!" Gan'an exclaimed. "I came here today to extend an invitation for you to join the Shinomiya family. In return, I'm willing to offer you 10% of the Shinomiya Consortium's shares."
"How does that sound to you?"
A flash of ambition briefly lit up Gan'an's eyes as he presented his offer.
Yami was genuinely surprised by such a generous proposition. Ten percent of the Shinomiya Consortium's shares was no small gift—enough wealth to live a life of luxury for generations.
For many, such an offer would be impossible to refuse. To live without worrying about money and enjoy the freedom of immense wealth—that's something most could only dream of.
But to Yami, money held no real allure. If he wanted, he could become rich and powerful on his own in no time—whether by plundering dungeons or from the worlds he had already traversed.
For most, such wealth would cause madness, but it didn't even begin to catch Yami's attention.
He knew that power and influence often came with strings attached. He had no interest in being tied down to the Shinomiya Consortium like some lapdog.
With this in mind, Yami gave a contemptuous smile, shaking his head without hesitation.
"Joining the Shinomiya Consortium? No thanks. I'm not interested in joining a group like yours, where I'd have to deal with constant power struggles and backstabbing. It's too much of a hassle."
"If that's the reason you came here, then I suggest you turn around and leave."
Yami's tone was clear—he was politely, yet firmly, showing them the door.
However, Gan'an's reaction wasn't one of disappointment, as if he had anticipated Yami's rejection. The old man didn't seem fazed at all.
"Since you are unwilling, sir, I won't force the matter," Gan'an said with a gentle smile. "But I do have one final request, if you would be so kind as to hear me out."
"Oh? And what would that be?" Yami asked, now somewhat curious to hear what the old man had up his sleeve.
"Kaguya, Hayasaka, step forward," Gan'an ordered, motioning for the two girl standing behind him.
Although neither Kaguya nor Hayasaka understood the reason behind the order, they obediently stepped forward without question. For them, the hierarchy was ingrained deeply—they had no room to refuse.
"Father," Kaguya said softly.
"Yes, Master," Hayasaka followed.
Both girls stood before their patriarch, their behavior impeccable and demure, not daring to overstep in any way.
Satisfied, Gan'an nodded approvingly before turning to Yami with a smile.
"Sir, this is my daughter, Shinomiya Kaguya, and this is her maid, Hayasaka Ai," Gan'an introduced. "They are both exceptional individuals. If you don't mind, I would like for Kaguya to become your apprentice, and for Hayasaka to serve you personally."
"What do you think, sir?"
A glint of expectation flickered in Gan'an's eyes as he made his offer.
Offering women to solidify relationships was a common tactic among capitalists. While the method was often seen as distasteful, its effectiveness was undeniable.
Gan'an assumed that a young man like Yami, full of youthful energy, would naturally be tempted by such an arrangement. After all, under the guise of being an apprentice and a maid, they would eventually be at his disposal.
Accepting this "gift" would form a bond with the Shinomiya Consortium. Once that bond was established, Yami would be far less likely to turn a blind eye when the consortium faced trouble.
Gan'an was a master at playing such mental games.
As for what Kaguya or Hayasaka might feel about this arrangement, their thoughts were of no consequence to Gan'an. In his eyes, contributing to the Shinomiya Consortium—even at the cost of their own well-being—was an honor and a duty.
In this dangerous world, survival demanded ruthlessness.
Kaguya and Hayasaka immediately understood the implications of Gan'an's words. Their hearts sank in unison. They wanted to protest, but no words came to their lips.
As children of a powerful family, they knew their fates were not their own to control—especially as women. Perhaps offering their final bit of value to the family was the only course left to them.
"Oh? How interesting." Yami responded, slightly amused. "You want Kaguya to become my apprentice? I must say, as the head of a consortium, you certainly know how to think outside the box."
Yami let out a small chuckle, genuinely entertained by the proposition.
Had the situation been different, he might've even applauded. This was indeed an unusual and bold offer.
It certainly opened his eyes to the extent the Shinomiya patriarch was willing to go.