The Device That Should Not Exist
The laughter and emotion slowly faded, and the room returned to a calm silence.
Keith looked at Karasuma Renya again.
"Great-grandfather," he said, "there's one more thing I want to ask."
Renya nodded, curious.
"Go on."
Keith reached into his coat once more—but this time, what he took out wasn't metal.
It was glass.
A thin, transparent slab, almost unreal, its edges glowing faintly.
Kir blinked.
"…What is that?"
Keith held it up casually.
"A smartphone," he replied.
"More advanced than the one you just saw."
Gin's eyes narrowed.
Rum stiffened instantly.
Ethan leaned forward.
"A phone?" Kir repeated. "That's impossible."
Keith tapped the glass once.
A holographic projection burst into the air—clean, sharp, alive.
"Unlike the previous one," Keith continued calmly,
"this device can access any digital system on the planet."
The room went dead silent.
Rum's mind raced.
Gin instinctively evaluated threat levels.
Curaçao felt a chill crawl up her spine.
"…Any device?" Ethan asked carefully.
"Yes," Keith replied.
"Satellites. Military networks. Financial systems. Intelligence databases."
Renya finally spoke, voice low.
"And you're telling us this… why?"
Keith met his gaze.
"Because I'm not releasing it.
Not selling it.
Not licensing it."
One by one—
Shock spread across every face.
Gin muttered, "…You're insane."
Rum swallowed.
"If this went public," Rum said slowly,
"it would dominate the world overnight."
Keith nodded.
"Exactly."
Sunset Manor
With a swipe of his hand, the hologram changed.
A mansion appeared—elegant, modern, overlooking a glowing sunset.
Kir's eyes widened.
"…Sunset Manor?"
Rum nodded reflexively.
"Yes," Rum said. "We're planning to sell it."
"Stop," Keith said immediately.
Everyone turned to him.
Renya raised a brow.
"Why?"
Keith didn't answer.
Instead, he flicked his fingers.
The hologram shifted again.
This time—
The room seemed to shine.
A mansion made entirely of gold appeared—walls, pillars, roofs, all gleaming like a divine relic.
The weight of it alone felt overwhelming.
Kir's knees weakened.
Curaçao sucked in a sharp breath.
Gin stared openly.
"…What the hell," Gin muttered.
Rum's face went pale.
Keith looked at Rum.
"How much would this be worth?" Keith asked casually.
Rum swallowed hard, calculations flashing through his mind.
"…Give or take," Rum said slowly,
"this exceeds national reserves.
It's… beyond obscene."
Keith tilted his head.
"Do you still want to sell Sunset Manor?"
Rum didn't hesitate.
"No."
He immediately pulled out his phone and made the call.
"Cancel the sale," Rum said coldly.
"Yes. Immediately."
The call ended.
A Simple Offer
Keith turned back to Karasuma Renya.
"Great-grandfather," Keith asked lightly,
"do you want one of these phones?"
Renya stared at the glass device.
Not greedily.
Not fearfully.
But thoughtfully.
"…Yes," Renya said at last.
"I do."
Keith smiled.
"I'll send it to you later."
Renya laughed softly.
"You really are dangerous," he said.
"Not because of your power—but because you know when not to use it."
Keith lowered the device.
"I don't want to rule the world," Keith said simply.
"I want to build one that doesn't need shadows forever."
For the first time—
Gin bowed his head slightly.
Rum felt genuine awe.
Ethan smiled with quiet pride.
Kir and Curaçao looked at Keith as if seeing a myth walking among them.
Karasuma Renya leaned back, eyes shining.
"…Kaori would have loved you," he said.
Keith didn't answer.
He only smiled.