My roommate turns out to be the heiress of a triad!

Ryoichi Sugawara frowned, looking troubled.

He put himself in Kujo Mayu's shoes, feeling the helplessness of being utterly helpless in that pitch-black dungeon.

A chill ran down his spine, causing his body to tremble as if electrocuted.

"Then...doing that is illegal, isn't it?"

He spoke haltingly, but he still managed to suppress the chill and express his protest in words.

"Illegal?"

A look of doubt appeared in Kujo Mao's eyes.

She had no idea what the boy had connected her words to.

The "no opportunity to escape" he mentioned was nothing more than expelling her from Kitasakano High School and having her stay at home to receive tutoring and be strictly supervised.

This was the lightest punishment I could think of for her running away from home.

Although the Kujo family is nearing decline, the resources they can provide for their children are still unimaginable for ordinary families.

Having her study at home would not only make it easier for me to discipline her, but also allow her to receive guidance from teachers who are better than those at Kitasakano High School.

Besides, that's how I got through it back then.

The conditions she's being offered now are much better than they were back then, so what could she possibly be dissatisfied with?

Kujo Mao's patience was running out, and her expression clearly showed her dissatisfaction.

"If your request to sit down and talk is just to tell me that my behavior is illegal, then there is no need to continue the discussion."

Her icy tone exuded an invisible, authoritative pressure, delivering an ultimatum to Sugawara Ryoichi.

If this can no longer pique my interest, then the conversation ends here.

That seems to be the meaning behind it.

This reminded Sugawara Ryoichi of some difficult clients he encountered when he was a corporate slave in his previous life.

They put on airs and acted arrogantly.

The key is that you can't lose your temper or show your displeasure.

Because I genuinely need their help.

The woman in front of him was more difficult to deal with than any of the clients he had ever encountered before.

After all, if he really angered her, the leader of the underworld, he might encounter some danger.

Choosing to protect oneself and letting Kujo Mao take Kujo Mayu away, without offending her, is the option most in line with the identity of an ordinary person.

At this moment, Kujo Mayu, who was sitting to the side, was extremely anxious.

She knew she couldn't convince her mother at all, otherwise she wouldn't have run away from home to show her mother her resolve.

His hands, resting on the table, rubbed together incessantly, while his watery eyes gazed intently at Sugawara Ryoichi.

Ryoichi Sugawara noticed her gaze.

At this moment, was she hoping that she could stand firmly on the same side as her, help her fight against her mother's tyranny, and reverse her fate of being locked deep in that Japanese mansion?

Ryoichi Sugawara didn't know if he had the ability or the qualifications.

At this time.

The system panel suddenly appeared in front of Sugawara Ryoichi's eyes.

The countdown for unclaimed tasks has begun.

Once the timer ends, the task will disappear as the number reaches zero.

Task objective: Persuade Kujo Mayu to go home.

Duration: Five days

Reward: 3 million yen

Note: The reward for this task may be adjusted based on the completion status.

Time to claim: 0 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds

】

This task currently offers the most generous rewards issued by the system.

Should we persuade her to go home?

Ryoichi Sugawara didn't know why the system would issue this kind of task.

Is she hoping to guide herself in this way, to become an accomplice in Kujo Mao's suppression of her child's ambition?

Then it's better not to take this kind of money.

I can earn back those three million through other means.

Just as Sugawara Ryoichi was about to close the system panel, he suddenly remembered an important message.

That was a task issued by the system the night before last when I went to the shopping mall with Mayu Kujo to pick out underwear.

Ryoichi Sugawara opened the list of completed tasks and viewed the detailed description of the task.

[Completed Task: Help Mai Kujo choose lingerie]

Duration: Three hours

Reward: 50,000 yen

Finished rating: E

Actual reward: 2,000 yen

After accepting this task, Sugawara Ryoichi did not offer any advice on choosing underwear for Kujo Mayu.

I just paid for her at the end of the bill.

Because of the low participation rate, the completion rate was rated as the lowest level, E, by the system.

The original reward of 50,000 yen has been reduced to 2,000 yen.

In other words.

Even if the main objective of the mission is not achieved after accepting the task.

You can earn money as long as you participate to a certain extent.

Let's try a different approach based on this principle.

With Kujo Mao coming to her door, it's a foregone conclusion that Kujo Mayu will be going home tonight.

The second half of the task description, "Get her home," has already accomplished the objective, hasn't it?

Is it because my persuasion worked and got her home that it became less important?

It turns out it wasn't some unjust black money scheme designed to make me an accomplice of Kujo Mao.

It's not so much a safety net, but a guarantee that allows me to go all out for Kujo Mayu.

Then why not do it?

Half of three million is one and a half million.

Not a lot.

With the recording still in his possession, he should be able to keep himself safe.

Besides, she had already decided yesterday that today's protagonist was Kujo Mayu.

As long as today isn't over, she'll still be the main character.

Since she, as the protagonist, encountered difficulties, I had to step in.

Just like when I met Yamada Jun and the others in front of the Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station during the day.

Sugawara Ryo felt his mouth was dry and his throat was moving. He swallowed and didn't dare to be careless.

Under the watchful eyes of both Mao and Mayu Kujo, he slowly began to speak.

"Since Mrs. Mao opposes Mayu's aspirations so much, could you please tell us your reasons?"

Neither Moyou nor I are unreasonable people.

If your reasons are convincing enough, she will likely be willing to follow your advice.

Yes.

This is the key.

The conflict between the mother and daughter stems from Kujo Mayu's ambition to revitalize the yakuza.

A powerful figure like Kujo Mao certainly didn't tell his daughter the reasons behind his decision.

The fact that Kujo Mao is willing to sit here proves that she has at least a basic willingness to communicate.

If she could explain her reasons for making this decision, perhaps Kujo Mayu would be able to accept it.

Once their relationship improves, Sugawara Ryoichi can go home with Kujo Mao without worry.

Moyou?

Both Kujo and her daughter heard the name Sugawara Ryoichi unconsciously utter.

For some reason, Kujo Mayu, who was involved in the incident, felt a warm feeling in her heart when she heard Sugawara Ryoichi still dare to call out her name in front of Kujo Mao.

Kujo Mao simply glanced at the two of them silently, offering no comment.

As for the reasons for opposing his daughter's ambitions...

She couldn't possibly say to the two children:

This organization ruined my lifelong happiness.

You want me to agree to my child embarking on the path of revitalizing it?

Feeling there was no need to sit down and communicate any further, Kujo Mao called to the maid outside the door to summon a few people to come up and take Kujo Mayu away.

"Mother, why is this?"

Kujo Mayu was bewildered and panicked, not understanding why her mother had suddenly turned on her.

Ryoichi Sugawara also seemed a little flustered, wondering what was wrong with what he had just said.

Just when Kujo Mayu thought everything was settled, the door to the rented house was opened from the outside.

An unexpected person appeared at the door.