Stealing Spree

Chapter 2378: Meeting Marikaʼs Aunt (3)

Authorʼs Note: Small typo from the previous chapter. It should be Kaneko Hirokage, the Patriarch of the Kaneko Family. I messed up and typed Otohaʼs name.

Kagura-san froze and her composed face became layered with a mask of shock. The voice of

the eccentric old man, Kaneko Hirokage had filled the room, easily cutting through the growing tension like a sharp knife.

Marika looked at me, confusion evident in her eyes but I gave her a small nod to reassure her. This was something I had anticipated ever since learning that it was her second aunt who would arrive.

”Aunt Kagura?”

Kagura pressed her lips into a thin line before responding to the voice on the phone. Since she put the call on loudspeaker, it was probably the old man who told her to do so.

”Uncle Hirokage... I get that youʼre somewhat connected to this boy but this is an internal family matter.”

”Internal? Ha!” Hirokage barked a laugh. ”Do you think the Kujou Familyʼs affairs donʼt spill over into the rest of us? This arrangement with the Ichihara is nothing but desperation. What kind of fool mortgages their lineageʼs future for a short-term gain? Ridiculous!”

Look at that old man, was he waiting for a long time to rant like that? Nevertheless, there were only a few who had the same view as him. Most former noble lineages are still engaging in political marriages. Hell, even the ones they called upstarts. Because for people in the upper caste like this, wealth and influence were all that mattered.

Kaguraʼs hands clenched the phone as she frowned. ”Uncle, with all due respect, this is not-”

”This is very much my business,” Hirokage interrupted sharply. ”I have a daughter much like your niece there. And that boy...”𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

”Wait. Uncle, your granddaughter has also been... fooled by him? Why are you helping him then? Shouldnʼt you be angry?”

”Fooled? Ha! You have no idea because you have no granddaughter of your own, Kagura- chan.”

”Uncle-”

”Quiet! Listen to me first.” The eccentric old manʼs voice turned firm, silencing Kaguraʼs protest. ”Yes, my granddaughter is involved with him. But do you think I would take the time to intervene in petty matters like this if I didnʼt see something extraordinary in the boy? Kagura, you know me well enough to understand I donʼt waste my breath unless itʼs worth it, especially to idealistic people.”

Kagura sat back as her posture stiffened. Her sharp eyes darted between Marika and me as though recalibrating her thoughts.

”Extraordinary, you say? What makes him so exceptional that youʼre willing to speak for him, Uncle?” Kaguraʼs voice carried skepticism, but there was a hint of curiosity laced within.

It was a normal reaction though. In her eyes, I was probably nothing much thatʼs why she couldnʼt help but doubt the old manʼs words.

”Heh. Thatʼs for you to find out if youʼre not too stubborn to see past the traditional nonsense your family clings to. For now, listen carefully: Marika is not a pawn. Sheʼs not a tool to restore the Kujou Familyʼs estate or prestige. And Onoda Ruki...” He paused, his tone softening just slightly.

”He has the kind of resolve that your family lacks. He said he was going to prove something to me. Something that no one had accomplished before.”

Marika squeezed my hand tightly, her eyes shimmering with emotion of both joy and perplexity. She never thought sheʼd hear someone of his stature praise me like that.

”Uncle... If thatʼs truly what you see in him, then... why intervene now?”

”Because, Kagura-chan, sometimes even a lion cub needs someone to swat away the hyenas circling him. That Ichihara deal is one such hyena. Itʼs a sham, and deep down, you know it. Your familyʼs elders are too blind to see the disaster theyʼre walking into.”

Kagura-san took a deep breath and sighed. A helpless look drawn on her face, ”But Uncle... Itʼs still not my decision. Iʼm only here to represent—”

”You represent nothing but outdated traditions,” Hirokage snapped. ”Marika-chan has made her choice, hasnʼt she? Sheʼs chosen that boy. Well, heʼs got my backing now. Letʼs see if your family can argue against that.”

Marika gasped softly beside me, her eyes widening as the weight of the old manʼs words sank in. Although her interaction with Otoha was still limited to a few instances, she never expected the girlʼs grandfather to back us like this.

Kagura blinked, her jaw tightening as she processed what her uncle was implying. ”Uncle, do you mean to...”

”Yes, I do,” Hirokage said flatly. ”Iʼll ensure the Kujou Family doesnʼt lose face, but this nonsense with the Ichihara ends today. If your family wants to rebuild their estate, they can come to me. Let them explain to my face why they thought this farce was a good idea.”

”Onoda. If Uncle Hirokage thinks so highly of you, Iʼd be a fool not to take a closer look. But let me make one thing clear: I still care about Marikaʼs future. Words alone wonʼt convince me to let her throw everything away for you. She can still find someone different from you if she really doesnʼt want to be a chip to be played.”

Kagura-san turned to me but I could tell even after all that, she was still not convinced. Sheʼs just giving face to the eccentric old man.

”Aunt Kagura-!” Marika tried to argue with her but I stopped her, pulling her close to me.

”Honestly, we have similar thoughts. Marika deserves someone better. But Kagura-san, you said you respect choices. Why not respect hers?”

And then before Marika could scold me, I held her in my embrace as though rubbing our relationship in her auntʼs face.

”Besides, I donʼt intend to ask for Marikaʼs hand without proving that Iʼm worthy of her trust and devotion. If you need evidence of my intentions and actions, Iʼm more than willing to

provide it.”

Kagura-san folded her arms and frowned, clearly annoyed at my actions, ”Very well. Iʼll give you a chance, Onoda. Convince me, not with flowery speeches, but with actions that show youʼre capable of standing by Marikaʼs side despite the odds.”

”I will,” I said firmly, a small smile playing on my lips.

At that moment, Hirokage spoke again, his tone amused. ”Good. Thatʼs settled then. Kagura- chan, stop playing the gatekeeper. Let the boy and Marika breathe for now. And donʼt forget what I said. Get that old codger from your family to contact me. Iʼll be waiting.”

The line disconnected abruptly, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. Kagura exhaled heavily, her composed facade slowly returning.

”Alright. Youʼve earned a reprieve,” She said finally, her gaze settling on me. ”Let me see if you can really prove that. Iʼll be staying here for a while to monitor you.”

”Aunt Kagura, stay? Then what will you say to them?” Marika asked, referring to the Ichihara Family who was probably waiting for good news from her.

”Donʼt mind it. I have my ways of stalling.” Upon saying that, she stood up and walked out of the living room, leaving us alone.

As we watched her back disappear, Marika couldnʼt help but let out a sigh of relief before weakly falling into my embrace, ”Ruki-kun... We passed.”

”Well, I wouldnʼt call it passing flawlessly. We cheated.” I wryly smiled as I thought about what kind of things that old man would have me do to repay this heavy favor.

Iʼd expect him to make use of my talents. I guess I have to start preparing more for whatever it

will be.