Chapter 218: Unreasonable Request

Nothing made sense anymore, everything was just getting more and more complicated, and messed up.

Not one of the people he had met or seen in these days was like they looked like, they were all either machination of others, or were setting up their own machinations.

Right now, he was just being a witness of another one, his mother-in-law. He had always thought that his mother-in-law was the type of woman who was subdued by her husband.

Especially with Master Takeshiba's character, and temperament, there was no way he would let her run around him free!

Just what was going on here!?

Furthermore, she seemed to be prepared of dealing with him, even though she was a good actress she couldn't escape his gaze.

Even though she was pretending to not know what he had in his hands to make Master Takeshiba hand his daughter to him, she most probably knew all about it.

But in this ordeal only three sides knew about that, him, Master Takeshiba, and the Council of Five, no one else did!

Could she be placed as a spy from the Council!? But then why would she need to come here and do what she was doing!? It didn't make sense!

Could it be that she was here on Master Takeshiba's instructions and trying to test him!? What was the need for such a game though, it was too easy!

No matter how much he thought he couldn't come up with a reasonable and logical conclusion, he could only depend on her answer.

Yuzuriha Akiha seemed to be really happy with his current face. Just like she wanted he was really puzzled and confused with her reason, and motive, as she let him think a bit more, and then said,

"Let me get straight to the point son-in-law, the Yuzuriha family is ready to pay you twice as much as my husband in order to pull you to our side!"

This statement clearly surprised Eric, as he didn't expect her to throw such a bomb, but this just made things even more interesting.

The other families shouldn't have much information on his background, or on his worth, so why was the Yuzuriha family suddenly throw such an offer to him.

If he thought well enough then it's kind of made sense, after all, the Council of Five wouldn't let the Takeshiba family take all the benefits.

They were prepared to divide everything by 5, only to prevent them from being able to take half of everything.

Most probably they didn't know that he had already given the formula to Master Takeshiba though, as that was his biggest trump card in their eyes.

So, most probably they had intentionally spread rumors to the other four families, putting them against the Takeshiba family.

His mother-in-law was probably the first one to approach, but soon more and more people would appear on his door, trying to pull him to their side.

This made the issue easier to handle though! Not only that, but this was going to be a great opportunity for him to grow his forces and himself faster.

The lake had started to get churn and really soon it would become mudded and unclear, that would be the best time for him to make big gains, and grow quickly.

How could he give up on such an opportunity that he was presented with? He would be the most stupid person if he did that!

With these thoughts in mind, Eric pretended to be surprised, and shocked as he said,

"The Yuzuriha family!? Just what do you guys actually know about me!? And no lies, if you truly do want me to collaborate with you!"

Having dropped her bomb, and the reason she was here, Yuzuriha Akiha was now more assured of her success in this deal, as she started telling him what she wanted him to hear.

It wasn't like she lied, she just didn't tell him everything, after all, she was confident in her acting skills, and self-control.

To keep this short, she told him that they knew he was a mysterious expert, with a deep background.

They also knew about the calamity that was supposed to happen in the near future and the fact that he could help them improve their strength.

It was just general stuff, but still, these things were supposed to be a secret! Well, he never thought that he would be able to stay in the shadow if those old fogies were involved anyway!

He had never trusted them, that was why he even created that splendid story about his Master, he would make sure to hand everything over to his Master when the time came.

Well, that was meaningless at the moment anyway, now was the time to negotiate with the hot fox in front of him, as he said with a sigh,

"Sigh~! Well, I should have expected something like this, sooner or later! But there are still a few things that obstruct our collaboration mother-in-law!

First, how do I know that you aren't just sent here by my esteemed father-in-law to test me!?

Secondly, what is the price that you are willing to pay for my collaboration? Don't forget that I already have a bad taste from you Yuzuriha family, due to your nephew!"

Yuzuriha Akiha had a weird face when she heard the last part, but still, she couldn't give up, so she continued,

"For the first obstacle, I think that I can make you believe me by organizing a meeting between you and my brother, the family head of the Yuzuriha family.

You chose the time and place, and we will be there! That should be enough to demonstrate my side right!?"

Indeed, that would show that she was representing the Yuzuriha family, and also acting on their side, even though it was still a bit dubious.

"That would be barely enough! But would truly show that you are not sent here by your husband, then for the second matter!?"

Yuzuriha Akiha was satisfied with herself for managing to reach up to her, and all that was left now was haggling the price. She had full confidence in finding a deal with Eric.

"As for the second matter we are prepared to offer you twice whatever my husband offers you!"

"Not enough!"

It wasn't like she didn't expect something like this, but if those rumors were true, then she couldn't lose on this opportunity!

"Thrice!"

"Not enough!"

…

"Ten times more!"

"Not enough!"

Until now Yuzuriha Akiha was just increasing the offer with each word, but she never expected this guy to make things so difficult for her!

Ten times more was her limit, so she looked him in the face with a cautious look, as she said,

"I can't offer you more than this good son-in-law, but can you tell me why are you making things difficult for me!?"

"Well, it's not that I am trying to make things difficult for you mother-in-law, it's just that I am not really interested in money only!

Don't forget that your husband gave me something you can't give me anymore, your daughter!"

As he said that he intentionally started looking at her from her head to her toes, as he made sure to stop for a bit more on her assets.

Yuzuriha Akiha would be a stupid woman if she didn't understand his meaning, but that didn't make her uncomfortable with something.

Quite the opposite it made her satisfied that she was able to attract his lust. This would make things even easier for her! After all, she had thrown her dignity away a long time ago.

She was raised to be a puppet, and a flesh asset of the Yuzuriha family, and she had long ago accepted that fate.

So being faced with that, she chuckled for a bit as she said,

"Then this makes things easier doesn't it, son-in-law!? Or should I call you, Master!?"

Eric was a bit startled by how quickly she was able to accept that, but still didn't show it on his face, as he said,

"It's really good that you are capable to understand things fast beauty! But don't get complacent yet, you aren't enough to make up the balance!"

Hearing that Yuzuriha Akiha was taken aback for a moment, as she thought that she had sealed the deal, but this kid was overstepping his boundaries.

But she couldn't act rashly right now, as she had to step on her womanly pride, as she said,

"Who else!?"

"For starters, you second daughter, your two daughters-in-law, your niece, and Yoshida Gina!"

As he said that, he was looking her in the eyes, he could feel that a fire had started to burn inside her, but he didn't care.

In fact, he seemed to be reminded of something as he continued,

"Oh, and an apology from your nephew! I don't want to be petty, but he did cross the line!"

Yuzuriha Akiha didn't know what to make of this situation anymore! Everything seemed to be too much, was this kid even worth it!?

Well if the rumors were true then he was worth it, but just how true were those rumors though!?

"Don't you think you are going a bit too far!?"

She couldn't help but blurt these words, as she gave them deep thinking! After all, he was asking her to build him a harem, while she constantly harmed her own children.

Clearly, she wouldn't accept something like that easily. She couldn't bear to disobey Master Yuzuriha's order, but at the same time, she couldn't do something like this easily either!

"No, I don't! I think the fact that your husband was prepared to go against the other families, the rules of old, and his own family to have me by his side is enough evidence of my worth.

Don't you think!?"