Campione: Strongest# 415: Asagami House

Tokyo Metropolis—

In the heart of the city, where every square inch of land was worth a fortune, sat an old, traditional Japanese-style estate.

The gate bore a plaque with bold characters written in elegant calligraphy: 'Asagami Family.'

The Asagami family was an ancient and storied clan, but it had only recently risen to prominence in the city's high society through real estate.

Their success was entirely due to the family head, Kouzou Asagami.

This sharp, middle-aged businessman had, during Japan's economic bubble, purchased vast tracts of prime real estate at rock-bottom prices, including the property of the Asagami family's main branch, the Asakami family.

By acquiring the main branch's land, the Asagami family had turned the tables, a branch family reversing the natural order. Kouzou Asagami had even married the main branch's matriarch, a hot topic in High society at the time.

But now, this recently risen, old-money family was facing a major crisis.

The man who had brought the Asagami family to its current prominence, Kouzou Asagami—was missing.

————

“So, brother, what exactly are you planning?” In the main living room of the Japanese-style estate, Kouzou Asagami’s second son, Kazuhiko Asagami, knelt on the floor, his face a mask of displeasure as he looked at his older brother, Masahiko Asagami.

“Father’s been missing for a month. The family’s real estate business has ground to a halt. We need to choose a temporary head of the family, and soon,” Masahiko said, nonchalantly wiping his katana.

“That’s for you to decide, brother,” Kazuhiko said, his voice stiff as he looked at the katana in his brother’s hands with a hint of fear.

Kazuhiko was terrified of his brother.

In this country, real estate was the industry most closely entangled with... organized crime. And his brother, Masahiko, who was two years his senior, was the leader of the “Asagami Group,” the organization that cleared the way for the Asagami family’s business in the shadows.

A lack of familial affection seemed to be a universal ailment among large families.

If Kazuhiko wanted to fight for power, to compete for the position of family head, the first obstacle he would have to overcome would be the katana in his brother’s hands.

So, for now, Kazuhiko didn't dare to make a move. He had to bide his time, to gather his strength to resist his brother.

“It seems little Fujino has returned to the family,” Masahiko said, his expression impassive as he caressed the katana.

Though his voice was soft, to Kazuhiko’s ears, it was as deafening as a thunderclap.

‘Damn it, where was the leak? Who the hell is trying to screw me over!!!!’ Kazuhiko thought, his head bowed, his face a mask of rage.

With the family head missing, Kouzou Asagami’s current wife—Fujino’s mother, Kazuhiko and Masahiko’s stepmother, Miyuki Asagami—was the most likely candidate to take control of the family.

Legally and in terms of influence (the remaining power of the Asakami family), she was the first in line to become the highest authority in the Asagami family.

But in Japan, women in powerful families had virtually no status.

So even when she had the chance to take control of the Asagami family, the eternally meek Mrs. Asagami didn't dare make a move.

Otherwise, after her husband's death, Kouzou Asagami never would have been able to manipulate her into that sham remarriage, dragging Fujino along with her.

After all, as a demon-slaying family, even if the Asakami clan was broke, their supernatural abilities meant they could have just taken the Asagami family's wealth by force.

Why the hell would they let themselves get swallowed up by some branch family?

To put it bluntly, it was all because of their stubborn-ass leader (Miyuki Asagami) that the Asakami family had no choice but to accept being absorbed by a lesser branch.

However, if Kazuhiko, as the second son, could use Fujino to get in Miyuki's good graces, he'd go from having the weakest position in the family to becoming the biggest power player overnight.

Taking down his brother and claiming the family leadership would just be a matter of time after that.

But now it looked like his brother had figured out his scheme before it even got started. This was seriously fucked up.

Kazuhiko, with his pathetic influence, was no match for his yakuza brother.

————

Realizing this, he quickly scrambled to explain: "Brother, here's the thing. Fujino's been stuck at that boarding school for a month without coming home once. With Father gone missing, this whole situation is way too delicate. So I took the initiative and had the old butler bring her back.”

“That’s right. Though we’ve absorbed the main branch, those old geezers still have some power. To prevent them from using the exclusion of the main branch’s eldest daughter as a pretext to interfere in family affairs, it’s only natural to bring Fujino back. You’re very thoughtful.”

Masahiko put down his katana and nodded, his words laced with a hidden meaning.

“It’s what a younger brother should do,” Kazuhiko said, his tone a mixture of arrogance and obsequiousness.

Masahiko gently patted his forehead, as if he had just remembered something. “By the way, Fujino should be almost eleven, right? It’s about time we found a husband for her. She’s a big girl now,” he said with a look of guilt.

“Exactly, exactly!” Kazuhiko nodded like a bobblehead.

‘What era is this? Eleven years old is a big girl? Which family these days doesn't wait until their daughters are sixteen to marry them off? He’s just afraid I’ll team up with my stepmother.’ Kazuhiko cursed in his heart.

“I remember the eldest son of the Ryougi family is about to come of age,” Masahiko said, gently picking up the green tea that had been placed before him, his tone flat.

“According to the invitation we received recently, it’s next Saturday. What a coincidence, Fujino happens to be free,” Kazuhiko said with a fawning smile.

As a long-standing family like the Asagami, the Ryougi family, the overlords of the City, would naturally send them an invitation to their eldest son’s coming-of-age banquet. To put it bluntly, it was just a reason and a place for the upper class to network.

However, it seemed the Ryougi family didn’t intend to make their eldest son the heir, so the banquet wasn't being held as a matchmaking event.

Of course, that didn't mean you couldn't bring a ‘Vase’ over.

After all, the eldest son of the Ryougi family, even if he was a good-for-nothing, was still a channel for networking. Some small families, hoping to climb the social ladder, were still willing to give it a try.

“Since you agree, Kazuhiko, then let’s do it. Oh, damn, I think I sent the reply an hour ago.” Masahiko said, a look of apology on his face.

“Heh heh, brother must have been too busy lately. It’s a good thing I don't have to interfere in family affairs,”

Kazuhiko said. He knew that with these words, his brother had reached his limit. If he didn't formally state his position, there would be another block of concrete at the bottom of Tokyo Bay.

‘Farewell, my position as family head.’ Kazuhiko thought, tears streaming down his face.

Just then, an exceptionally fawning voice came from outside the door.

“Please, come in. The eldest son and the second son are both inside. They’re both here.”