"Heh, sir, you must be joking. This old man is quite sincere," Gan'an chuckled.
"If you agree to take Kaguya as your apprentice, you will gain the full support of the Shinomiya Consortium. I will mobilize all its resources to meet any of your needs."
Gan'an wasn't offended by Yami's remarks. On the contrary, he didn't see any issue with the situation.
For capitalists, the process is irrelevant; only the outcome matters. As long as they achieve their goals, no matter how unsavory or unethical the path, they see no problem with it.
Especially in this uncertain world, reputation and honor are far less valuable than real power.
"I must admit," Yami said, nodding slightly, "this offer is more appealing than your previous one."
Indeed, Yami couldn't deny that Gan'an was a skilled negotiator. However, the old man seemed to overlook one crucial fact: the more powerful side always dictates the terms.
"Still, I'll have to refuse," Yami said calmly. "Taking on an apprentice is too troublesome. While I do have two disciples, I didn't train them from scratch. It takes too much time and effort to turn an ordinary person into someone strong."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"Besides, I despise using women as bargaining chips. Your behavior disgusts me, Gan'an. Don't bring your business dealings to me, or you'll make me hate your existence even more."
The atmosphere, once somewhat cordial, turned icy. Yami's demeanor grew serious, and his gaze sharpened, exuding an oppressive force that weighed heavily on the room.
The sheer pressure caused Gan'an, an ordinary man, to instinctively take several steps back, sweat forming on his forehead. Although Yami hadn't made any physical move, Gan'an felt as if death itself loomed over him.
For a moment, terror gripped him.
This overwhelming fear made him realize the magnitude of the being he was confronting. His earlier behavior had been far too presumptuous.
He had made the mistake of considering them equals.
The young man before him wasn't like the heroes from the Hero Association. Even an S-rank hero, aware of Gan'an's status, would at least feign politeness while turning down such a proposition.
But this man was different. He wasn't some tame house cat—he was a ferocious tiger, ready to devour.
The power of the Shinomiya Consortium couldn't tempt him at all.
Now, the only option left was for Gan'an to lower himself, to humble himself and appeal to Yami's sense of mercy. Perhaps that was the only way to gain the protection he so desperately sought.
Realizing this, a brief internal struggle flickered in Gan'an's eyes before vanishing. For someone of his stature, bowing his head was an immensely difficult, almost maddening act.
But after witnessing the display of true power today—and coming face to face with death—Gan'an knew he had no other choice.
In the face of such monstrous strength, ordinary people had no control over their destinies.
Just like the low-level employees of the Shinomiya Consortium had no control over whether they would keep their jobs.
This time, they had been fortunate. The giant monster was defeated, sparing City D, and the Shinomiya Consortium remained intact.
But what about next time?
It wasn't realistic to rely on luck or hope someone else would save them again. Could they really count on their wealth to bribe every monster, hoping for mercy?
What a joke.
As for relocating the Shinomiya Consortium's headquarters to City A, where the Hero Association's headquarters was based, Gan'an quickly dismissed the thought.
The Shinomiya Consortium wasn't the only powerful conglomerate in the world, and monsters appeared in every city—City A included. In fact, monsters appeared there even more frequently.
Although the Hero Association's best heroes were distributed across cities, there was no guarantee of survival, no matter which city they moved to.
Now, faced with such an opportunity, Gan'an knew he couldn't let it slip away.
A glimmer of determination and madness flashed in Gan'an's eyes. Without hesitation, he did something completely unexpected.
The old man dropped to his knees, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of everyone.
For a moment, everyone—including Yami—was stunned by this display of humility.
"Sir," Gan'an began solemnly, "I, Shinomiya Gan'an, humbly request your protection."
"The Shinomiya Consortium will support you in anything you wish to accomplish."
"Please, sir, if you agree, this old man will be forever grateful."
His posture was one of absolute submission.
Faced with this scene, no one knew how to react. Yami, however, couldn't help but show surprise once again.
He had lost track of how many times Gan'an had surprised him today. The old man's decisiveness was startling, completely devoid of the arrogance one would expect from the head of a powerful consortium.
"For the chairman of such a large organization, isn't this a bit too humble?" Yami asked, bemused.
Gan'an let out a soft chuckle. "Heh, there's no shame in it. I've never considered myself above others. In front of you, or the heroes, I'm just an ordinary man."
"The old man is well aware of the Shinomiya Consortium's current state."
"We are wealthy, and I hold a high position, but in the end, we're like helpless children, powerless to resist. There is nothing to take pride in."
"Only by becoming a true power—one that stands at the top—can we ensure our survival."
"So, sir, I beg you—please agree."
Gan'an's tone was sincere, and his humility was evident. He had already given Yami plenty of reason to consider his offer.
Surely, no one could refuse under such circumstances.
But…