Chapter 39: Chapter 38: The Shinomiya Zaibatsu
It was clear now—Geto Suguru had set his sights on Yuta Okkotsu.
Which meant that war with Jujutsu High was imminent.
Troublesome.
Yet, despite everything, Ryuu couldn't deny one thing—Geto had helped him.
Regardless of who Suguru Geto was, Ryuu wasn't the type to be an ungrateful bastard.
Especially since the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes was something Geto had indirectly gifted him.
It was a debt Ryuu couldn't ignore.
With that thought, he picked up the phone.
---
"Hey, is this Natsukawa-kun?"
Geto's familiar, calm voice came through the receiver.
Ryuu replied without hesitation.
"It's me. What's up?"
A small chuckle followed.
"Still as direct as ever."
"Well, it's been a while since I last visited the Star Religious Group—but if you're calling me now, it's obviously about that."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then, Geto spoke again, his voice amused.
"…Natsukawa-kun really doesn't act like a high school student."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Ryuu sighed. "So? You need me to come over?"
"If possible, yes. There are a few things we should discuss in person."
Ryuu glanced at the time.
Since Utaha was playing mysterious today, and Miko was busy training with Touko, he didn't really have any plans.
"Alright. I'll head over now."
"Great," Geto replied, his tone warm. "I'll be waiting."
Ryuu ended the call, then casually sent a message in the Family Group Chat:
[Ryuu]: Got something to handle. Be back in the evening.
Then, without wasting time, he made his way toward the Star Religious Group's headquarters.
---
Leaving the city, Ryuu's car eventually climbed the winding mountain roads that led to the group's hidden base.
Before he could even step out, he spotted Geto Suguru waiting for him.
"Yo, Natsukawa-kun."
Geto greeted him with a relaxed wave.
Ryuu raised an eyebrow as he stepped out of the car.
"I figured you'd be waiting inside."
Geto chuckled. "I would have—if I wasn't worried about you getting lost again."
Ryuu scowled. "Tch. That was one time."
With an amused expression, Geto gestured for him to follow.
"Our organization isn't some old-fashioned cult, you know. We're quite modern."
Ryuu glanced around as they walked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
This place was different from last time.
Instead of taking the long flight of ancient stone steps, Geto led him toward a hidden facility tucked behind the mountainside.
Ryuu's eyes flickered to a metallic entrance, complete with a security card scanner.
A far cry from the traditional temple aesthetic most outsiders associated with the Star Religious Group.
With a swipe of his card, Geto unlocked the doors—revealing an underground parking complex filled with luxury cars.
Ryuu gave him a flat look.
"…Are you seriously telling me I climbed those stairs for nothing last time?"
Geto gave an unapologetic smile.
"Ah, I forgot to mention—this passage is only for VIPs."
Ryuu's eyebrow twitched.
"…You should have told me this before."
"Oops. My bad." Geto's tone was anything but apologetic.
---
As they rode the cable car up to the temple, Ryuu noticed something unusual.
A group of men in suits stood near the entrance—clearly security personnel.
And in the center of them stood an elderly man with silver hair, exuding an undeniable aura of authority.
Even without knowing his name, Ryuu could tell—
This man was a heavyweight.
The kind of person who controlled entire industries with a single decision.
As they stepped off, the old man turned, his sharp gaze landing on them.
Geto smiled and greeted him.
"Ah, Master Shinomiya. Leaving already?"
Ryuu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Shinomiya?
The Shinomiya Zaibatsu?
That name wasn't just famous—it was legendary.
The Shinomiya family wasn't just rich—they had enough wealth and political influence to sway entire nations.
And more importantly—
If this was the head of the family, that meant…
This was Shinomiya Kaguya's grandfather.
Ryuu remained silent, choosing to observe instead.
The old man gave Geto a small nod.
"I was merely here to pay our dues for the second half of the year."
After speaking, his gaze turned toward Ryuu.
"And who is this?"
His tone was neutral, but his interest was evident.
Geto, ever the smooth talker, gestured toward Ryuu.
"This is Natsukawa Ryuu—a very special guest of our organization."
"Special, you say?" The old man's gaze sharpened.
"Indeed." Geto's smile didn't falter. "Though he's still in high school, he's an extremely powerful exorcist—one who can match me."
At those words, Master Shinomiya's expression changed slightly.
For someone of his status, Geto's power wasn't a mystery.
The fact that Geto himself was calling this high schooler his equal was…
Concerning.
Ryuu felt the weight of the old man's gaze as he sized him up.
A subtle, calculating look.
Like a businessman evaluating a potential investment.
Ryuu remained calm, offering a slight nod—but said nothing.
Geto didn't say anything more either, letting the tension settle for a moment.
Then, after a brief silence, the old man finally looked away.
"…I see."
Without another word, he turned, signaling his guards to follow.
As he boarded the cable car down the mountain, he gave his men a final order:
"Look into him."
And just like that—he was gone.
---
As soon as they were alone again, Ryuu sighed.
"Great. Now I have a billionaire mogul looking into me."
Geto chuckled. "Worried?"
"Not really," Ryuu muttered. "Just annoyed."
"Don't be." Geto smiled. "It's just how the elite operate. People like him—they don't ignore potential threats or assets."
"Asset, huh?" Ryuu clicked his tongue. "What a pain."
Still, this encounter had given him something to think about.
Why was the Shinomiya Zaibatsu paying the Star Religious Group?
Was it really just exorcism fees?
Or was there something bigger going on?
One thing was for sure—
December was about to get a lot more complicated.
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