Chapter 18  : Names That Shouldn’t Be Spoken

A few hours earlier.

Mekisa sat across from Yumiko, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

Yumiko, however, looked far too relaxed.

She leaned back, tapping a pen against her chin with a playful grin.

“Alright, class,” she said. “Lesson one: don’t interrupt your teacher.”

Mekisa frowned. “Yumiko.”

Yumiko laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll start.”

She straightened slightly.

“After your father’s accident,” Yumiko said, her tone turning serious, 

“the Kevi Group took a massive hit. Stock crash. 

Trust collapse. That’s when two unknown shareholders quietly absorbed the biggest shares.”

Mekisa’s fingers tightened.

“The first,” Yumiko continued, “is the Ito Group.”

Mekisa nodded. “I know that part. So which one helps us?”

Yumiko flicked her forehead lightly.

“Hey!” Mekisa snapped.

“Teacher hasn’t finished the lecture,” Yumiko said smugly.

She continued, “Ito Group is… strange. Power divided into two kings and one queen. Three heads. One body.”

Mekisa leaned forward.

“Even the media only knows about one of them,” Yumiko said. “One king. One-third ruler.”

She paused.

“His name is Vyuk.”

Mekisa stood up immediately. “Then let’s meet him.”

Yumiko groaned and hit her forehead again.

“No, sis. Absolutely not.”

Mekisa glared. “Why?”

“Because Vyuk is a creep,” Yumiko said bluntly. “Smart. Dangerous. Clever enough to look harmless. He won’t help us out of kindness and he’ll never be an easy target.”

Mekisa didn’t hesitate.

“For the orphanage,” she said quietly, “I’ll deal with anyone.”

Yumiko softened for a moment.

“I know,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter.”

She looked away.

“Mom already went to meet him.”

Mekisa froze.

“So that door is closed,” Yumiko continued. “And the other king and queen of Ito Group? Completely unknown. Ghosts.”

Silence settled between them.

Mekisa spoke again. “Then what about the second unknown shareholder?”

Yumiko laughed lightly.

“Oh, sis. Forget about them.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“They’re far more untouchable for new comer like you.”

Mekisa’s voice dropped. “Tell me their name.”

Yumiko looked at her.

Really looked.

Those eyes weren’t desperate anymore.

They were determined.

Yumiko swallowed.

“…Okay,” she said quietly.

“The second unknown shareholder is—”

“L—”

Present time

A quiet house. Dim lights. Familiar danger.

Yukiro stood in the living room of his sister’s home.

“So,” he said, rubbing his neck, “why did you call me in an emergency, Big Devil?”

His sister raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“That’s rude,” she said sweetly. “Calling your big sister such scary names.”

She walked over and poured tea calmly.

“I have good news,” she continued, “and bad news. Which do you want first, my cute little brother?”

Yukiro exhaled. “Times are bad. Start with the bad.”

She nodded.

“The Ito Group,” she said, “has sided with Lady Shizuka."

Yukiro stiffened. “All of them?”

She tilted her head. “This time, the Queen decided the move new style.”

Yukiro’s eyes narrowed. “So the other king followed.”

“I think so,” she replied.

Yukiro leaned back, thinking.

“…The Queen is the hardest piece on the board,” he said slowly. “If she moved like this, she plans for  game later.”

His sister smiled.

“You’ve got good foresight,” she said.

Yukiro looked up sharply. “Then what’s the good news?”

Her smile widened.

“Your Lioness,” she said, “found her ally.”

Yukiro’s breath caught. “You mean”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “She figured out the second unknown shareholder.”

Relief and tension hit him at the same time.

“So she has a chance,” he said.

His sister’s smile faded slightly.

“Yes,” she replied.

“But now…”

She turned toward the dark window.

“…the real chase has started.”

Somewhere in Neon City

Names long buried were rising again.

And the board was no longer under Shizuka’s control alone.

To Be Continue~

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Next chapter coming soon ~