Tokyo Three Generations

To avoid attracting attention, Kenji Sakura deliberately parked the car in an alley some distance from the apartment building. After getting out of the car, the two of them walked together to the apartment building under the cover of night.

Jun Takasaki looked around and found the shadows eerily silent, except for a few more secluded spots where faint shadows seemed to be moving.

He didn't ask who those people were, nor did he need to know.

"How many people are up there?" he asked Kenji Sakura.

According to her, only she and her daughter are together now.

"Then have the people monitoring us stay away, and the two of us can go up," Takasaki Jun whispered. "Since we haven't reached the point of tearing each other apart yet, we should be polite to avoid putting too much psychological pressure on them and making things worse."

Kenji Sakura agreed wholeheartedly and nodded in agreement.

Then, Kenji Sakura pressed the keypad on the door, opened the door, and the two of them walked into the building together.

Because the building was quite old, a damp and rotten smell hit them as soon as they entered, but neither of them cared about that. They were focused on their surroundings, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Soon, they arrived at the door upstairs.

Kenji Sakura raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

"Ms. Nagasaki, it's me."

At that moment, the Nagasaki mother and daughter had just sat down at the dining table when they heard the noise outside. Nagasaki Chizuru suddenly trembled, and the chopsticks in her hand fell to the table.

But after clearly hearing who it was, she barely suppressed her fear, stood up from her seat, and walked to the door.

She didn't open the door immediately, but instead peered through the peephole.

The person standing outside was indeed Kenji Sakura, but there was another young man she didn't recognize.

The young man was tall and handsome, but in this situation, he only aroused more suspicion in her.

"Kenji, may I ask who this person next to you is...?" she asked softly.

“This is on behalf of the gentleman himself, so please don’t be rude,” Kenji Sakura replied in a serious tone.

Although he didn't directly name the other person, even someone as clueless as Nagasaki Chizuru could guess it under these circumstances.

As a result, she felt more at ease.

The fact that Representative Takasaki was willing to send his son proved that he both valued him and was hesitant to act against him at the moment, so at least I didn't have to worry about him turning against me immediately.

With a sense of relief, she opened the door, and then two people walked in one after the other.

Jun Takasaki followed Kenji Sakura in.

As soon as he entered, he discreetly surveyed everything in the small living room.

The dim light made everything in the room appear somewhat blurry, but his senses were always sharp, so he wasn't affected.

Nagasaki Chizuru, dressed in a women's suit and skirt with a white shirt underneath, is looking at herself with a mixture of relief and fear.

Behind Chizuru Nagasaki, there was a small dining table with instant noodles and dumplings on it, steaming hot.

Right next to the dining table sat a chestnut-haired girl, who was looking up at him.

She was beautiful, with a calm yet bewildered expression.

In that instant of eye contact, a fleeting look of surprise and hope crossed her eyes.

After seeing the girl's face clearly, Jun Takasaki's gaze shifted slightly downwards, and then he was surprised to find that she was wearing a school uniform from Tsuki no Mori.

Why is it Moon Forest again?

If the occasion hadn't been so bizarre, he would have almost couldn't help but complain.

After a brief moment of staring, he looked away and turned his gaze back to Nagasaki Chizuru.

The light from the electric lamp was dim, and the yellowish light fell on Nagasaki Chizuru's face, making her originally beautiful face look more sinister and ghostly, as if to suggest that the fate of the mother and daughter was like a candle flickering in the wind.

This is not a metaphor, but a real possibility.

Although the father didn't say it explicitly, judging from his seriousness, the large-scale mobilization, and even the use of connections from the underworld, he probably really had the intention to kill.

Judging from all indications, this is certainly not their first victim.

How much blood has the Takasaki family shed over the decades since his grandfather? He didn't know, and he didn't want to know.

But this was the first time he realized how close death was to him.

It might even happen right in front of him.

As the heir carefully raised by the Takasaki family, he had no strange moral fastidiousness, nor did he think that "sacrificing the lives of others to protect one's own family" was a big problem—but even so, he still had a strange feeling when he first faced such a scene.

Everyone has a first time, right?

Jun Takasaki abandoned this pointless sentiment and politely bowed his head to Chizuru Nagasaki.

"Ms. Nagasaki, I am very sorry to meet you for the first time in this way."

Although he behaved very politely, Nagasaki Chizuru felt a flush on his face.

Because she knew this was a silent condemnation of her—that it was all your fault.

Moreover, she had no reason to defend herself.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

She apologized repeatedly, then suddenly knelt on the floor, sincerely apologizing to the Takasaki family's representative, "The responsibility for this incident lies entirely with our agency. We have caused trouble for Mr. Takasaki, and we will take full responsibility."

Seeing a white-collar woman apologize to him by bowing deeply in front of him did not make Jun Takasaki happy.

Moreover, this is not a solution to the problem.

"The important thing isn't an apology, but solving the problem." He then responded coldly, "You say you'll take responsibility, so how do you intend to take responsibility?"

Chizuru Nagasaki had anticipated this problem beforehand.

However, at this moment, she really couldn't come up with any good solutions, since she had very few bargaining chips at her disposal.

“Our firm has suffered a severe blow and will certainly be unable to operate for the time being,” she replied softly. “However, as long as we escape the sanctions and weather the storm, I can regroup and make amends for the losses that the firm has caused to Mr. Takasaki.”

"So, in other words, we have to help you get out of this predicament before we're even entitled to your compensation?" Jun Takasaki retorted.

From the young man's attitude, Nagasaki Chizuru sensed a hint of danger.

Fearing the man might be a naive young man, she quickly replied, "For the sake of our years of service, I humbly request that you do me this favor..."

As she spoke, her voice trembled with emotion, "Over the years, I have been deeply grateful for your care and guidance, sir. The memories are still vivid in my mind, and I will always remember your kindness. I have only this request. I will repay you with everything I have, no matter the conditions!"

Although Nagasaki Chizuru's tone was very sincere and touching, Takasaki Jun frowned.

This is tantamount to implying that everything is "vividly remembered" and recorded.

He wasn't surprised that the other party would leave him some options, but the feeling of being threatened was indeed very unpleasant.

In an instant, he suddenly understood why his father had the intention to kill him.

In his silence, an invisible sense of oppression began to spread throughout the room. Nagasaki Chizuru held his breath, awaiting the next verdict.

However, Jun Takasaki's gaze fell on the girl next to him who hadn't said a word.

At this moment, she was clenching her fists, her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked like she wanted to speak but dared not, forcibly suppressing her emotions.

Indeed, what child could remain unmoved upon seeing their mother humbly kneeling before others?

Thinking of this, Jun Takasaki's anger subsided somewhat.

"What's your name?"

This sudden question stunned everyone.

"Nagasaki Motoyo." After a moment of stunned silence, the girl answered instinctively.

19. A Moment of Benevolence

“Nagasaki Motoyo…” Takasaki Jun murmured the name, then looked at her school uniform.

She looks to be around the same age as Toyokawa Shoko. Could they be classmates? If so, that would be such a coincidence.

To be honest, Tsukinomori truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier girls' school. The three students I've met so far are all incredibly beautiful; the odds are just too high.

Unfortunately, this young girl, in the prime of her life, was innocently drawn into the vortex created by her mother without even realizing it.

If I really stood by and did nothing, both mother and daughter might perish... or perhaps it would be worse than death.

To preserve his family's reputation, he didn't mind the deaths, but a deep-seated pity made him somewhat reluctant to leave.

If possible, spare her life.

"I guess I'm still the same old looks-obsessed person after all..." he sighed inwardly.

Of course, all of this is based on the premise that the family's interests come first, and he is certainly rational enough about this.

The others had no idea what he was thinking; they only saw him staring intently at Nagasaki Motoyo. In this serious and tense atmosphere, neither the mother nor the daughter dared to make a sound, yet both felt fear and embarrassment.

There are two strong men and two weak women here. If this young man really loses his beastly nature, he can do whatever he wants... Just thinking about this makes Nagasaki Chizuru shudder.

She felt deeply that, at least at this moment, all the protections the "law" offered her had failed, and her life and fortune seemed to depend on the whims of certain individuals.

Fortunately, the young man did not do anything out of line. He just pondered for a long time before suddenly turning his head to look at Nagasaki Chizuru.

"Ms. Nagasaki, I have something very important to discuss with you."

Perhaps startled by his overly serious expression, Nagasaki Chizuru didn't react for a moment.

But soon, she nodded slightly—she knew she had no choice but to refuse anyway.

The two of them went into a room next door.

Jun Takasaki closed the door and then turned to look at Chizuru Nagasaki.

"Ms. Nagasaki, do you want to die with your daughter, or do you want to live?"

This seemingly mundane question struck like a thunderbolt, causing Nagasaki Chizuru, who was already under immense pressure, to nearly collapse to the ground with her legs going weak.

However, this time she did not kneel down, because Jun Takasaki reacted quickly and grabbed her arm, forcibly supporting her body.

The sharp pain in her shoulder brought Nagasaki Chizuru back to her senses. Her breathing became rapid, and she gasped for breath. "I... of course I want to live, at least, at least let my daughter live. She is completely innocent."

“Okay, I understand your choice.” Seeing that the other party had given a satisfactory answer, Jun Takasaki nodded. “Then, in order to achieve this goal, you should now follow my advice. As long as your performance satisfies us, we will put in a good word for you.”

Although it was just a verbal promise, the young man's tall and handsome figure and serious expression gave it a strange persuasive power.

Of course, Nagasaki Chizuru isn't exactly a saint, and she wouldn't be so naive as to believe someone's verbal promises.

However, given the current situation, the Takasaki family is the only lifeline she can grasp. What else can she do but believe in them?

"I...I will cooperate, no matter what, I will cooperate!" she replied repeatedly.

“Alright, I’ll ask you a few questions first, and you’ll answer them truthfully. Remember, don’t lie, otherwise I’ll assume you’re not sincere, and then you’re completely finished.” Jun Takasaki nodded slightly. “First, what’s the current situation at the Kuroshima Office? How much of it is actually related to the Takasaki family?”

“Our boss has successfully escaped, and the other core members are all safe for the time being,” Nagasaki Chizuru replied. “Moreover, it doesn’t matter if those employees are arrested, except for the boss, because I am Mr. Takasaki’s only contact person. Only I am clear about the details of the transaction. The others are only responsible for their clients. I know nothing about their clients. Conversely, they have no access to my data, let alone trace it back to Mr. Takasaki.”

Upon hearing the other person's answer, Jun Takasaki kept observing her expression, confirming that she wasn't lying.

In other words, up to this point, the risks are still manageable and the worst-case scenario is not yet imminent.

“Then your way out is very obvious.” Jun Takasaki emphasized, “Quickly try to recall where your boss, Kazuo Kuroshima, might be hiding.”

"This……"

Upon hearing that the other party actually wanted him to betray his boss, Nagasaki Chizuru hesitated for a moment.

"Even now, don't you understand your position? Ms. Nagasaki?" Jun Takasaki sneered. "You're facing the most terrible situation imaginable, practically standing on the edge of a cliff. Your greatest hope now is to help us find Kazuo Kuroshima as soon as possible! Only by achieving such a feat will the higher-ups consider letting you go..."

Before the other person could speak, he continued, "Things have come to this point, and whatever the reason, Kuroshima Kazuo must apologize for his incompetence. Isn't that a matter of course? Either you help us find him, or you die with him. The choice is yours."

Moreover, you need to understand that several other cadres in the same situation as you are definitely facing the same choice! If someone gets there first and finds Kazuo Kuroshima, you won't even have a chance to earn merit anymore, and we won't even know how to ask for your help..."

After he finished speaking, Jun Takasaki calmly waited for her response.

He already knew in his heart how she would answer.

As expected, after a moment of hesitation and struggle, Nagasaki Chizuru made the obvious choice, "I understand... Give me some time, and I will tell you all the clues I know, is that alright?"

Although Nagasaki Chizuru's tone was tinged with sorrow and tears, Takasaki Jun did not detect much guilt or pain in her voice.

Clearly, she had no qualms about sacrificing her boss to save the lives of the mother and daughter.

Hmph, hypocritical woman.

With a hint of sarcasm in his heart, Jun Takasaki let out a cold laugh.

Based on his current observations, he has roughly assessed the situation his family is facing. Although there are risks, there is still hope for recovery.