Tokyo: After years of stagnation, the heiress of the yakuza arrives.

"The last time she came, she was thinking about some things related to you and Kaoru Amamiya."

Miyazaki Kiyoshi stopped there, without explaining why Shimotsuki Takari thought of these things, nor telling Kuroba Shido how much he actually saw in that brief inner portrait.

There's no need for that. She only needs to prove that she didn't arrange for anyone to investigate Shido Kuroba. As for other information, it's not within the scope of this explanation that needs to be made public.

"I only saw what she was thinking at the time."

After saying that, Miyazaki Kiyoshi stopped talking.

Kuroba Shido looked at her, and the magic chanting that was constantly running in his head paused for a moment.

That really explains it.

It wasn't a simple "no," nor was it left to guess. Instead, it provided a complete answer, including who the information came from and how it was obtained.

Although this answer is still very much like Miyazaki Kiyoshi's style—he would never say a fourth sentence if he could explain something in three sentences, and he completely cut off any part that involved Shimotsuki Takari's inner thoughts—it is still unprecedented compared to the club president's usual attitude of "how you interpret it is none of my business."

A strange, inappropriate feeling of emotion even welled up inside Kuroba Shido.

Family members, does anyone understand?

The minister who usually wouldn't even blink when misunderstood, thinking that explaining was a waste of life, was actually willing to say a few more words for the poor boy today!

Brothers, type "tears" in the chat!

Of course, while he was moved, his mischievous mind still couldn't be shut down. After all, no one knew whether the minister's explanation was meant to lower his guard so that he could take advantage of the moment when the No. 42 concrete firewall was shut down to sneak into the depths of his brain and pack up everything he shouldn't have seen.

So, while Kuroba Shido appeared moved on the surface, the excavator in his heart only paused for less than half a second before roaring back to life.

Caution is an important virtue that has enabled this impoverished boy to survive to this day.

As for why Miyazaki Kiyoshi was willing to explain, he didn't think about it in a more complicated direction for the time being. He just felt that the minister might not have been sleeping well today, and his behavior pattern had undergone a very brief benign change.

The driver couldn't explain it as a "benign mutation." At least in the driver's memory, this was the first time Miyazaki Kiyoshi had gone to such lengths to explain something in order to prove his innocence. Even though his tone was still calm and his words were still brief, the difference was obvious enough.

The driver dared not think any further and could only lower his gaze even further, pretending that he had not heard at all.

It only touches on the surface, without detailed accounts, complete information, or specific images and descriptions of the people involved in that night at Kaoru Amamiya's house.

Kuroba Shido understood. The department head had indeed not investigated him, and Shimotsuki Takari had not spoken out to inform on him. It was just that the married woman, after arriving at the Miyazaki family, couldn't control her mind and accidentally recalled some things that she shouldn't have recalled in front of Miyazaki Kiyoshi. Then, the department head read them on the spot, and she didn't even have a chance to be saved, directly completing a silent betrayal.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

Who would have thought that the seemingly most honest housewife would actually be the one who stabbed the most in the back!

hateful!!!

Although Kaoru Amamiya is often unreliable, at least there are always clues when she betrays him, and he can predict the risks in advance by looking at the other person's expression and intelligence.

Shimotsuki Takagi was different. She didn't speak, type, or make any unnecessary movements throughout the entire process. She just thought about it for a moment and then delivered the most dangerous part of the poor boy's journey to the Minister.

Silent and stealthy, impossible to guard against.

This is a true top-tier backstab!

Kuroba Shido gritted his teeth inwardly, already preparing to seriously ask Shimotsuki Takari next time he saw her why the married woman couldn't manage her mind, and didn't she know that keeping some things to herself could also lead to leaks?

Then, Shido Kuroba glanced at Kiyoshi Miyazaki in the video.

Wait, now doesn't seem like the time to hold Shimotsuki Takari accountable.

More importantly, he had just righteously accused the minister of investigating his personal privacy, and even put on a long, emotionally charged, and well-structured performance of sadness. However, the minister not only did not investigate, but also gave an explanation, which was quite unusual, to prove his innocence.

In other words...

He just said the wrong person.

In less than a fraction of a second, Shido Kuroba's brain completed the analysis of the current situation, the assessment of risks, the selection of solutions, and the switching of facial expressions.

One second, the boy on the screen was still immersed in the pain of being betrayed, his eyes were desolate, his lips were tight, and his whole person exuded a broken aura. The next second, all the sadness was swept away, and Kuroba Shido stood up straight, with an extremely sincere, sunny, and even somewhat ingratiating bright smile on his face.

A face change at lightning speed!

"Your Excellency, I spoke a little too loudly just now."

Miyazaki Kiyoshi looked at him.

Just a little?

Kuroba Shido seemed oblivious to her gaze, his hands naturally clasped together in front of him. If it weren't for the fact that one of his hands was still holding his phone, he would have loved to give the department head a full 90-degree bow on the spot.

"The main problem is that the poor boy had just woken up and his mind wasn't fully awake yet, so he accidentally brought the content of his dream into reality."

"Minister, you are upright, honest, kind, and respectful of your members' privacy. How could you possibly conduct such an investigation? I was influenced by rice balls and momentarily confused, misunderstanding your meaning."

"I implore the Minister to forgive this poor young man's crude, ignorant, and thoughtless remarks!"

This process of admitting mistakes was smooth and seamless, without any pauses, clearly indicating that it wasn't the first time it had been used.

Kuroba Shido felt that his sincerity might not be enough, so he quickly added another layer of insurance.

"Actually, I have always believed in the Minister's character. What just happened was just to test whether the communication mechanism can function properly when the club encounters a sudden crisis of trust."

"The test results are in. Our Minister remained calm and composed in the face of the misunderstanding, demonstrated clear logic, and was willing to actively communicate with members, fully proving that our organization has a healthy, stable, and humane superior-subordinate relationship!"

"Therefore, what I said just now was not an accusation, much less a suspicion; it was merely a temporary club exercise. All the lines were for the sake of the situation and have nothing to do with my true stance!"

In just over ten seconds, the malicious investigation turned into a trust test, the sorrowful accusation into a scenario rehearsal, and even that drop of sweat could be explained as Kuroba Shido's professional attitude of actively engaging in order to enhance the realism of his performance.

If you redefine it fast enough, errors won't be able to catch up!

The driver, sitting in the front, was dumbfounded. Just seconds before, the person on the phone was accusing the young lady of breaking trust, his voice filled with sorrow as if the whole world had betrayed him. A few seconds later, the same person was praising the young lady for being upright, honest, and kind, and shifting all the blame onto the discounted rice ball she had just eaten.

This is no longer about being flexible; it's about having no shape at all, and being able to transform into anything when needed!

The driver had been with Miyazaki Kiyoshi for many years and had seen intelligent people, tough guys, and people who immediately bowed their heads after realizing their mistakes. But he had never seen anyone like Kuroba Shido, who could switch between two faces so naturally, without even a transition animation.

No wonder he can get along with the young lady.

Normal people need to carefully control every thought in front of Kiyoshi Miyazaki, worrying about saying the wrong thing or revealing a thought. Shido Kuroba is different. After discovering a mistake, he can directly delete the previous version of himself and regenerate a safer new version.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki did not comment on his apology, but simply offered a calm reminder.

"You just said I was investigating you."

"Just now?"

Kuroba Shido looked puzzled, as if he had heard some completely unfamiliar words.

"What do you mean, 'just now'? I don't remember anything like that."

As he spoke, he paused to think for two seconds, then slapped his forehead as if suddenly realizing something.

"Minister, you must have misheard me. I was clearly saying that you act with integrity and would never investigate any of your staff members."

"As for the claims of broken trust, behind-the-scenes investigation, or disheartened feelings, none of them have been mentioned. It's possible that other residents upstairs were watching TV and the sound accidentally got into their phones."

Kiyoshi Miyazaki: "..."

The apartment's soundproofing system was personally checked by her. Even if someone next door was banging a gong in their room, let alone other residents watching TV, Kuroba Shido wouldn't be able to hear it so clearly.

However, Shido Kuroba had already decided to erase that part of history, so he naturally wouldn't give Kiyoshi Miyazaki the opportunity to continue asking questions.

"Minister, I'll be right down now!"

Shido Kuroba turned around and grabbed the cane that was placed next to the kitchen counter. His movement was so fast that it only left a blur in the video.

"The thought that I might not be able to go to school on time today makes me feel terrible. My chest feels tight, I have difficulty breathing, and I feel like I've lost my direction in life!"

"School is an ocean of knowledge, the classroom is a ladder for poor teenagers to change their destiny, and teachers are the guiding lights that illuminate the path of life. How can I let down everyone's expectations of me because of a mere leg injury and a breakfast?"

"I'm here, Minister! Wait for me!"

Without giving Miyazaki Kiyoshi a chance to speak, Kuroba Shido decisively ended the video call.

The phone screen disappeared, and Miyazaki Kiyoshi stared at the screen, which had returned to the contact interface. He remained silent for a moment, as did the driver in the front seat.

The person who just spent several minutes in the video talking about the futility of anxiety in order to continue sleeping, and who was still standing steadily in the kitchen waiting for the countdown to end, has now suddenly become an excellent student who loves knowledge, respects the classroom, and can't wait to return to school, simply because he heard the name Jingu Aoko.

The speed at which this level of ideological awareness has increased would probably move even the president of Kamikawa University to tears.

Upstairs, Kuroba Shido didn't waste a second after ending the call. He stuffed his phone into his pocket, confirmed that the empty rice ball wrapper had been thrown into the trash can, grabbed his backpack from the kitchen doorway and slung it over his shoulder, and casually pushed up the tie that was loosely hanging around his neck, making it barely presentable.

Finally, there's the walking stick.

Normally, Shido Kuroba should have placed his cane on the ground, slowly adjusted his center of gravity, protected his injured leg, and left the apartment step by step.

Is this a normal situation?

of course not!

The minister holds the nuclear weapon that could send him to Aoko Jingu's interrogation room, and the car downstairs is the only temporary safe house that can prevent the nuclear weapon from being launched.

Even if both legs are in casts, poor teenagers can still develop a new way of walking by using their hands.

Kuroba Shido slung his cane over his shoulder, then used his good leg to exert force, minimizing the time his injured leg spent on the ground. He moved quickly toward the entrance in a posture that didn't fit his injured status but was perfectly befitting of a Tokyo survival master.

Shoes on, door unlocked, and out the door—the whole sequence of actions took only a dozen seconds.

In the apartment corridor, Kuroba Shido braced himself against the wall with one hand to adjust his direction, while carrying a cane in the other. His schoolbag swung back and forth behind him, moving so fast it seemed as if Jingu Aoko was chasing him with a knife.

The elevator happened to stop on this floor.

Heaven has not forsaken me!

Kuroba Shido rushed in, frantically clicking the close button. As the elevator doors slowly closed, he even cautiously peeked out from both sides of the corridor to make sure no vicious woman appeared around the corner before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

As the floor number began to descend, Kuroba Shido didn't stop. Using the smooth metal walls inside the elevator, he quickly tidied his hair, tie, and collar, and then rubbed his face with his palms to clean up his sweaty appearance.

When the elevator reached the first floor, the person in the mirror was no longer the unlucky guy who almost choked to death on a rice ball and was terrified by the name Jingu Aoko, but a sunny, upright, studious, and handsome young man full of anticipation for his upcoming school life.

"bite."

The elevator doors opened, and Kuroba Shido put down the cane he was carrying on his shoulder, his survival engine fully activated!

"Da da da—"

The crisp, rapid sound of a cane echoed through the apartment lobby. The receptionist only saw a blur before a young man with mobility issues rushed from the elevator to the main entrance. His speed was so fast that it made one wonder if the cane was not an aid but a turbocharged third leg.

"Da da da—"

The sound was getting closer.

The driver, sitting in the car, subconsciously looked up and saw Kuroba Shido rushing out of the apartment building. For the first time, his eyes showed such obvious astonishment.

The driver knew the person upstairs would come down, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

The person who just moments ago needed the young lady to personally video call and urge him on, even giving him a one-minute countdown to his death, is now carrying a schoolbag, leaning on a cane, and running with the momentum of a 100-meter sprint.

The injured leg did not fully touch the ground, and the body mainly relied on the good leg and crutches to exert force alternately. The movement looked a bit strange, but the speed was not slow at all.

The driver finally understood why the young lady had been willing to wait downstairs for so long. Although she might not always be obedient, once the right switch was found, her efficiency was indeed astonishing.

Kuroba Shido rushed to the car, deftly opened the back door, bent down and sat inside, then tucked his backpack and cane to the side and closed the door behind him.

"Bang."

The car vibrated slightly.

Kuroba Shido leaned back in his chair, his breathing only slightly rapid, but there was no trace of the panicked escape he had just made on his face. His survival instinct had rearranged his features, making him look more upright, sunny, and even more handsome than usual.

Kuroba Shido straightened his tie, turned his head, looked at Miyazaki Kiyoshi sitting next to him, and gave him a bright smile as if the two of them were meeting for the first time today.

"Oh my, Minister, what a coincidence! You're going to school too?"

Kiyoshi Miyazaki: "..."