The Next Day – Storms Begin
Amamiya Family / Kurosaki Family
Phones rang nonstop.
Emails flooded in faster than they could be read.
Contracts—canceled.
Partnerships—terminated.
Meetings—indefinitely postponed.
The heads of the Amamiya and Kurosaki families sat frozen as report after report came in.
"Did we offend someone?"
"No—there was no warning."
"This company has worked with us for years!"
But no matter how many calls they made—
No one explained.
They didn't know it yet, but they had already been judged.
And sentenced.
Keith's Apartment – Morning
Keith listened quietly as Darius handed him a new black bank card.
"Your previous card has been blocked," Darius said calmly.
Keith didn't ask why.
He simply nodded.
"I understand."
Clara smiled gently.
"Pack your things, dear."
"We're moving."
Runcandel Mansion – Japan
The mansion Keith was brought to made his old apartment feel like a storage room.
Spacious.
Quiet.
Elegant.
Not excessive—
But unmistakably powerful.
Keith took a slow breath.
"…Thank you, Grandfather. Grandmother."
They watched him closely.
No excitement.
No greed.
No shock.
Just calm acceptance.
That alone pleased them.
The Library
Keith stepped into the mansion's library and paused.
Shelves upon shelves.
History.
Politics.
Military strategy.
Economics.
His fingers brushed the spines.
This place… feels right.
System Sign-In – Yesterday (Recalled)
Sign-In Successful
Reward Obtained: Baking Skill – Beginner
At the time, Keith had only acknowledged it.
Now—
With Great Sage, he understood everything.
Ratios.
Fermentation.
Temperature curves.
Flavor balance.
In minutes, the skill was no longer "beginner" in practice.
Keith smiled faintly.
"…I'll make cookies."
Kitchen – Afternoon
The scent of butter and sugar filled the air.
Keith moved calmly, confidently—his hands steady, precise.
Outside the kitchen—
Darius, Clara, and Vermouth watched quietly.
Vermouth was currently disguised as the mansion's caretaker and maid.
Clara glanced sideways.
"You plan to keep that disguise?"
Vermouth smiled.
"For now."
Darius frowned slightly.
"You don't need to hide here."
"I want to," Vermouth replied simply.
A pause.
"…In the future, I'll remove it."
Darius and Clara exchanged a look.
Then nodded.
Reluctantly.
Moments Later
"Grandfather," Keith called.
"Grandmother. You too."
He looked at the maid.
"Please come in."
They stepped inside.
Keith placed a plate of freshly baked cookies on the table.
"Try them."
They did.
Silence.
Then—
"…Good," Darius said, reaching for another.
Clara laughed.
"He's definitely your grandson."
Vermouth closed her eyes briefly as she tasted one.
He made this…
The warmth spread deeper than it should have.
A Quiet Request
Afterward, Keith turned to Darius.
"Grandfather."
"Yes?"
"Could you get me books on finance and business?"
The room stilled.
It was the first time Keith had ever asked him for something.
Darius's eyes softened.
"…Of course."
He stood.
"I'll personally select them."
Keith nodded.
"Thank you."
As Darius walked away, his steps were lighter than they had been in years.
He's finally stepping forward, he thought.
And far away—
The enemies who underestimated that step were already falling.