Chapter 1422. Next Mission / Inequivalent Exchange

Is it okay for us to meet our Grandfather?

While were inside the limousine heading to the hotel in front of the station

Matsumoto Maki-san asks.

I believe in Takahata Marika-san, and I can see now that you have the power to convince Grandfather with your power

Maki-san speaks timidly.

Im sure that Torii-sans the daughter of the president of Torii electronics, and I also believe that shes the daughter of the Kouzuki house

She figured out that we were not lying during our conversation.

She was still half in doubt when Marika brought her to our school.

But after meeting Margo-san, Mariko, then Rei-chan, Mitama, Kinuka, Rie and Eri who appear on TV.

She performed in front of Minaho-neesan.

Then, show the mansion where we live.

Miki-san, what about you?

I also asked Maki-sans sister, Miki-san.

I also believe it now. Uhm, I think that you could help us

Shes not confident, but shes believing in the possibility.

What about you? What do you feel?

While at it, I asked Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi who forcibly came along with the Matsumoto siblings.

Seems like she likes Matsumoto Maki-san as a woman.

I dont even know whats going on! Im just honestly scared of you people. I only think that I might be involved in something dangerous

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis forced disguise with the Miko power and sing the national anthem at the school swimsuit judo tournament.

Her fear is stronger.

During our first meeting, she was so high-handed and talked so much, but now shes not talking at all.

The truth is, shes a timid girl.

For now, well do what we promised. Marikas a part of our family, and Matsumoto Maki-sans a friend of hers. Then Maki-sans little sister too, both of you will continue to study music

I tell the sisters

Leave the negotiations with your grandfather to us, or should I say that we brought the best people in our family who can deal with this

I look at the car in front of our limo.

Minaho-neesan, and Kyouko-san disguised as Chemin Koda.

The two of them can surely persuade Matsumoto-sans grandfather.

Theyre dangerous people who will take the situation as they see fit no matter what.

And its too late to stop at this point. We already have multiple people moving for us

Minaho-neesans using her underworld connections to set up an appointment with Matsumoto-sans grandfather.

Its not just one or two people that will have to stop.

Even the hotel in front of the station. Minaho-neesan owns it, but people are waiting for us, and Matsumoto-sans grandfathers arrival is contacted in advance.

The meeting is ready.

Doesnt it cost a lot too?

Matsumoto Maki-san says after seeing the overly luxurious limousine interior.

It is as you imagine

I replied honestly.

We even went to the trouble of preparing a fancy limousine.

Even having Ruriko, the daughter of Kouzuki put on a dress.

Even I put on my best suit.

Kyouko-san and Minaho-neesan directed all these.

Meaning

If we want to overwhelm the Matsumoto Elder, who built up a drugstore chain in his lifetime, then we have to show that were wealthy, that we belong to the upper cla.s.s.

Elder Matsumoto said that he wont fund Matsumoto Maki-san and Miki-sans music studies.

Telling Maki-san to leave her school and go to an ordinary one.

Forcing Miki-san to sell the violin her father left for her.

If we want to oppose that old man

We have to say that well guarantee Maki-san and Miki-sans tuition and living expenses.

We must show that we have the money and power to make it possible.

We have to show them from the start that were far bigger than the chairman of the drugstore chain.

But, weve got nothing we can repay everyone

Matsumoto Maki-san holds Marikas hand while saying.

Miki-san feels nervous about what her sister said.

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi looks confused.

Thats whythis is indeed what we asked for, but were afraid

Thats

Are you afraid that things are moving for real? Thats understandable

Mariko smiled and talked to Maki-san.

Thats right, I think so too. Neither Miki nor I are professionals yet, and we dont have the beginnings of a professional either. Im just a student. I dont know if Ill ever make it as a performer, and I know its going to cost a lot to get to that point

Maki-sans performance in the piano is at the top in their school.

I heard Miki-san play the violin.

I dont know much about music, but Minaho-neesan saw potential in these sisters.

Even so.

Whether or not they can become professional performers is still unknown at this stage.

Were still immature, and yet, everyones doing everything to help us, so we dont know if its good or not. Is this okay?

Miki-san, after hearing what your sisters opinion is, what do you think?

I asked her sister again.

Im still in middle school so I agree with Maki-oneesan

Miki-san looks at me with moist eyes.

So, if your sister says that shes backing off, youre just giving up on your violin?

Thats

Miki-san hugs the violin case.

She cant give it up, but she also cant make her own life choice.

Err, in short, what you worry about is that you dont have anything to give back to Ruriko and Ruriko-san who helped you, so you dont know what you should do?

Mariko asks.

Maybe, are you thinking that youll have to bow your head to us for the rest of your life as payback? Or serving us eternally because we have your weakness?

I ask while peeking into their eyes.

Thats likely to happen. Matsumoto-san

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi tells Maki-san while trembling.

I

Yes, thats possible, or maybe not. Either way, that depends on you

The sisters look at me in surprise.

Matsumoto-san, do you really believe that you should return equal value to others when they do something for you

Thatsif possible, then it has to

The elder sister replied.

I thought of the same before. There was that time, but I dont think the same way anymore

Err.

You know that Im selling pastries at school since you came during our school festival, right? Then you also heard that I also sell pastry even when its not the school festival, right?

I first met the Matsumoto siblings at the cafeteria and fed them our pastry.

Someone in the mansion shouldve told them that I usually sell pastries.

The Matsumoto siblings had been waiting in the mansion for quite some time before I returned.

Im told that Agnes and the girls were doing their best talking to the Matsumoto siblings during that time, so they definitely reached pastry as the topic.

Yes, I heard about it

Maki-sans face is asking Why are we talking about this? she replied.

I bake pastry every day as business, and I always think about it, but

Thats

Are 100 yen pastries really worth that much?

Maki-san, Miki-san, and Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi dont understand what I say.

Theyre looking dumbfounded.

Their tension loosened up.

No, Ive been thinking about this from the start. The pastry you sell at 100 yen must be worth a hundred yen to the customer who buys it. Its worth a hundred, and so selling it for a hundred is correct. And itswhat do you call it?

Its the equivalent exchange, Onii-sama

Ruriko tells me right away.

That. Equivalent Exchange. When I started selling pastries, I thought thats the right way to do business

Isnt that the right one?

Igaras.h.i.+ Izumi asked.

No, thats not the case

I.

If you want your customer to be pleased with their purchase, then you cant just sell a pastry worth 100 yen for 100. For the customers, they should be able to buy something worth more than 100 yen for that price

If they buy something that should be worth 150 or 200 yen for 100, then they will be happy.

If 100 yen worth item is sold at the same price, then its boring. Theres no feeling that you just made a bargain. Thats why you have to develop your business that way. I realized that early

Ive learned a lot since I first started selling pastries after the end of summer vacation.

I mean, for the customers, whats worth 100 yen and whats worth more than 100 yen, is a sensory thing, not their real value. In fact, the cost of making them is less than 100. If you dont make a profit, then your business wont last. So if youre selling something for 100 yen, then it shouldnt cost you 100 yen

The siblings and Igaras.h.i.+ Izumis dragged along with my story.

And so, you have to make a product that makes the customer feel like Is this really worth 100 yen? I feel like its actually worth 150

Values are a relative thing, right?

Mariko said.

No, its something even more halfhearted. All you have to do is make the customer feel like its more than its worth. Even if its actually just 80 or 70 yen

In short.

What you need is to satisfy the customers senses, and theres no point selling something worth 100 yen for 100 yen

Satisfy your customer with their purchase.

Thats everything.

I see. Kous saying that Marxian economics is wrong

Mariko smiled wryly.

Marx what?

I dont get it.

You dont know? Its Marcus Aurelius Antonius. One of the five sage emperors and the philosopher emperor who wrote the book of self-reflection

Kinosh*ta-san whos listening to the conversation joins in happily.

It is said that An Dun, King of the State of Great Qin, who appears in the Book of Later Han Dynasty, is the same Marx!

I see.

Yep.

I dont get it.

Either way, the payback that Matsumoto-san can give us isnt equivalent exchange either

I said.

That means, you can give anything in return as long as it satisfies us. You dont have to worry about the money spent or the labor

Rather.

Rather, theres something I want to be clear with you

Yes, I want to clarify something before we get to the hotel.

Matsumoto-san, are you serious that you want to continue studying music? Are you willing to accept whatever it takes to keep it going?

I need to get it clear before facing her grandfather.

You can think about the repayment later. Were giving you the opportunity. The question is whether you want to jump at that opportunity or will you let it pa.s.s?

Matsumoto Maki-san and Miki-san look at me with a startled faces.

If youre not reaching for it, then we cant help you. We wont do anything. Those without courage cant get anything

Were not helping those who dont ask for it

Were not going to be that easy.

I want to continue playing my violin. No matter what

The younger sister answered before the elder.

M-Me too, I dont want to stop playing piano now

Maki-san followed her sister.

Im sorry. Were the ones asking, so we shouldve said it with the conviction that well do anything in return

Maki-san bows her head.

No, thats where youre wrong

I

These sisters need to join the family.

Furthermore, Maki-san loves Marika.

Im taking her in not as my s.e.x slave, but as Marikas lover.

Then be greedy if you want to become a professional musician

I told the sisters.

You should do anything for your dream, but, you must not forget your happiness. Theres nothing but suffering if you feel obliged to me. You have to think about how to make yourselves and the people around you without suffering, and move forward with that kind of thinking

Saying I helped you, so youre my slave for the rest of your life

Im not giving such orders to Maki-san.

If you want to be a professional, then be freer, more tactful, more greedy

I need to brush off the darkness wrapping these sisters first.

Indeed. If you want to be a musician, then be a bit more egoistic. But of course, there are some lines that you shouldnt cross, and you need enough strength to make the people around you happy, even if its a little selfish

Mariko told the Matsumoto siblings with a smile.

Either way, you need to have your resolve to let us take care of it, right? Youll figure out the rest later

I too

Margo-san told me when I joined the Black Forest.

For now, eat the food in front of you, just think about later, later

Its important to jump in without thinking even if you end up regretting later. Nothing begins from idling around. Thats what I believe in

Back then, I jumped in and raped Yukino.

I had some worries back then.

But, I dont regret it now.

If I didnt jump in back then, then I wont be my current self.

Indeed. Ready yourself. For now, think about continuing your music studies

I agree with Onee-san

The sisters said.

Im thinking of cutting off relations.h.i.+p with Grandfather

Its inevitable

Then.

Thats where you got it wrong

Luna, who had been quiet until now, speaks to the sisters.

The greed Nii-sans talking about is much deeper. If Onee-san doesnt just desire to continue playing music, but also reconcile with your grandfather, then

Luna reads the minds of the sisters.

Then, you should make that wish real. You should put on some effort into obtaining your wish

I remembered what Tsukiko told me earlier in the dining room.

Tsukiko said that the case of the Matsumoto siblings is trivial.

I was thinking of twisting the elder Matsumotos will using Tsukikos Miko power, so the sisters would be free to continue playing music.

But, Tsukiko told me that she doesnt need to go, that Lunas enough for that.

In short.

You seem to think that going against your grandfather, and continuing to play music, means that you have to say goodbye to him for the rest of your life, but

Luna said.

But is that really the case? Getting along with your grandfather and still playing music, is the best outcome, isnt it? Isnt that what you wish for?

But thats

Thats impossible

The siblings said, but

Its not. If you ask, then Kou-kun will do something about it

Marika speaks to the Matsumoto siblings gently.

All you have to do is ask, say help us,