That evening, the atmosphere inside the five-star hotel felt more tense than usual.
A luxury car stopped in front of the main entrance.
Aizen stepped out calmly, his expression filled with confidence.
He immediately walked toward Kiyotaka.
“You should just give up,” he said coldly.
“You’ve already lost. I have everything she needs.”
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
“And remember… no bringing outsiders into the meeting room. My chance of winning? One thousand percent.”
Kiyotaka remained silent.
His face showed no pressure at all.
“There’s one thing you can’t do,” he replied quietly.
“You can’t erase someone’s trauma.”
Aizen fell silent for a moment.
The aura around him slowly changed.
Yet Kiyotaka remained completely relaxed.
“I also know… what you’ve been hiding.”
This time, Aizen finally realized—
The person standing before him was no ordinary opponent.
The two of them entered the meeting room.
At the same time, every team began moving according to the plan.
• Manabu and Arisui headed toward the hotel security room.
• Nagumo and Fumino prepared their arguments.
• Ryen and Koenji disguised themselves as security guards.
• Kuze and Yuki installed hidden cameras while keeping the atmosphere normal.
Everything was proceeding according to strategy.
The meeting began.
Inside the room were already gathered:
• Kiyotaka’s parents
• Yuzuki’s parents
• Fumino’s parents
• Both sides’ grandparents
• Along with several other family members
The atmosphere felt heavy.
The very first topic immediately centered on Kiyotaka.
His grandparents spoke firmly.
“We want Kiyotaka to marry Fumino.”
The entire room instantly fell silent.
However, Fumino’s family immediately objected.
“Fumino already has a partner.”
Kiyotaka also spoke up.
“I already have a partner as well. And our relationship has already been approved by both of our parents.”
Aizen gave a faint smile.
“The parents don’t matter… the grandparents do. And they chose me.”
Kiyotaka stared directly at him.
“I never hurt her.”
Meanwhile, inside the security room…
Manabu and Arisui had already gained access to the hotel camera system.
They monitored the entire hotel area.
However, a problem appeared.
Arisui immediately sent a message to Nagumo:
Record from inside.
We need additional evidence.
Nagumo chose the safer option—recording secretly.
On the other side, Kiyotaka had already anticipated this.
He subtly signaled his father.
Without saying much, his father immediately understood—and began recording discreetly.
Outside, Kuze and Yuki had finished installing additional cameras.
“Everything’s secure,” Yuki typed in the group chat.
“We’ll wait for further instructions,” Kuze replied.
However…
Manabu suddenly noticed something.
On the monitor, a suspicious group of people appeared.
There were many of them.
Wearing identical outfits.
And they were heading toward the same floor as the meeting room.
“Suspicious…” Manabu muttered.
He immediately sent the information to every team.
Arisui quickly began organizing countermeasures.
“Yuki, increase surveillance. Kuze, check the area directly.”
Kuze attempted to access the restricted area.
And just as expected—
There were clear signs that violence was about to break out.
Yuki immediately acted fast.
She triggered a fake fire alarm to create an evacuation route.
At the same time, she contacted Kuze.
“Prepare an escape route.”
Then she sent a message to Ryen and Koenji:
Get ready.
The situation could change at any moment.
Back in the security room…
Suddenly, Manabu’s screen changed.
Blurred.
Then words appeared on the monitor:
“SYSTEM HACKED”
Manabu smiled faintly.
“So that’s what this is…”
He immediately opened the backup system he had prepared beforehand.
“If you want to play seriously… then let’s play.”
Control returned to their hands once again.
But it still wasn’t over.
Suddenly—
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocked on the security room door.
Arisui immediately became alert.
She prepared a sleeping drug.
“Get water,” she whispered.
“I didn’t bring any.”
The situation became dangerous.
Arisui eventually pulled out a syringe.
“If we have no choice…”
The door slowly began to open.
They hid themselves.
Two people entered.
Stalkers.
Arisui prepared to strike from behind—
But one of them noticed her.
The situation nearly fell apart.
In a split second—
Manabu moved.
Thud!
He struck one of them in the neck, instantly knocking him unconscious.
The other one was immediately restrained.
Both of them were subdued and tied up.
“Who sent you?” Manabu asked coldly.
With pressure against his throat, one of them finally spoke.
“We were only ordered to attack… only the boss knows the exact timing…”
Back inside the meeting room…
Aizen and the grandparents began attacking verbally.
“Not worthy.”
“Not ready.”
“He failed before.”
“Even his grades aren’t perfect.”
However—
Kiyotaka simply smiled.
A cold smile.
Yuzuki tried to calm him down.
But Kiyotaka only stared straight ahead.
“I already ranked first,” he said calmly.
“Just luck,” they replied.
“Three times in a row.”
The room fell silent once again.
Inside the security room, Arisui successfully put one of the enemies to sleep.
Manabu secured the system once more.
However…
“The meeting room camera has been destroyed,” he reported.
Kiyotaka remained calm.
“There’s still one left.”
Everyone fell silent.
It turned out—
He had already prepared a hidden backup camera.
One that only he knew about.
Arisui stared at her phone.
Then…
She called someone.
The battle had only just begun.