The Mibuomi Aoi family is a thousand-year-old lineage, and naturally, some members of the family are involved in politics.
If Ayanokoji Fugang were still active in politics, he would have immediately associated Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's name with the candidate who almost became prime minister the moment he heard it.
But Ayanokoji Fugang had been too dormant for too long; most people had forgotten his existence, and Mibuomi Aoi, who had been trained as a politician since childhood, was no exception.
After all, while people surnamed Ayanokoji are not numerous, they are not few either.
If Ayanokoji Fugang hadn't suddenly and conspicuously announced his "return" this time, even if Mibuomi Aoi were given another ten years, he might not have guessed that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was related to that "old senior."
Originally, in his eyes, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was just a gambling "pawn," important but not indispensable.
When he met Ayanokoji before, although he was polite, he always looked down on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, as if he felt his own status was more noble.
Now, after learning Ayanokoji's background, he re-examined Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. He now regarded Ayanokoji Kiyotaka as being on the same level as himself, and even subtly lowered his own posture.
"Mibuomi Aoi, just tell me directly, what do you want from me?"
"Didn't I say before, I hope you join Zenshoukai…" Mibuomi Aoi said with a gentle smile.
"Mibuomi Aoi, stop wasting my time with such rhetoric."
Ayanokoji watched him, arms crossed, directly interrupting him with an impatient expression.
"We both know that you want me to join Zenshoukai only because you don't trust me. Just tell me directly what you want me to do. I hope you can be sincere and not waste each other's time; it's better for both of us."
Just last week, after both of the executives Mibuomi Aoi sent failed, he even had Miharu Taki Sakura personally come to persuade Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to join Zenshoukai.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't believe that he would expend such great effort just to simply have him join Zenshoukai; he definitely wanted to use him to achieve some goal.
"... In that case, I won't beat around the bush."
Mibuomi Aoi, now aware of Ayanokoji's identity, naturally couldn't treat him with the same condescending attitude as before. He weighed the pros and cons, then solemnly stated his ambition.
"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka... I hope you can represent the Zenshoukai and gamble against the Student Council President, defeat her, and let the Zenshoukai replace the Student Council in ruling the school."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was greatly surprised.
Mibuomi Aoi had long coveted the Student Council President's seat; this was something Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already noticed, so he wasn't surprised by that point.
What surprised him was that Mibuomi Aoi actually wanted him to gamble against the Student Council President on his behalf... What exactly was he thinking?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sneered, "Hey, Mibusakaomi, are you joking? Do you think I can defeat the Student Council President?"
"I believe you can." Mibuomi Aoi nodded without hesitation, "The reason I've been having the Zenshoukai executives challenge you is to test your abilities."
"Your gambling skills, your luck, your mindset... all the essential elements for gambling are of the highest caliber. Even in this school, your talent in gambling is among the very top.
In my mind, you are the best candidate to gamble against the Student Council President!"
At first, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt Mibuomi Aoi's idea was absurd, but upon closer thought, it was true; he had shown this intention from the beginning.
He had been having executives gamble with him not to win back the money they lost, but to find an excuse to gamble with him and observe if his gambling skills met his requirements.
He wasn't joking; he truly believed he could defeat the Student Council President.
This was why he was so fixated on him...
From a probabilistic standpoint, his idea was indeed correct. With Ayanokoji Kiyotaka using the guaranteed win mechanism, even if the Student Council President's gambling skills were superb, she couldn't win against him.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wasn't swayed by his strong praise; instead, he smiled and shook his head, "Mibusakaomi, you really overestimate me. I don't believe I can defeat the Student Council President.
Even if I could defeat the Student Council President, what does that have to do with you? What does that have to do with the Zenshoukai? I'm the one who wins against her. What benefits can you give me? Why should you share my victory?"
Mibuomi Aoi had already anticipated Ayanokoji Kiyotaka saying this. He smiled and recited his prepared lines.
"Momobami Kirari is very discerning; she only gambles with those she deems worthy and won't waste time on ordinary people, let alone a high-stakes gamble for the Student Council President's seat."
"To get her to agree, you must use the [livestock] privilege to force a gamble with her.
There are a hundred [livestock] in the school, and more than half of them are in my Zenshoukai. If you want to gamble with Momobami Kirari, you must use them and gamble with her as their proxy.
Of course, you could also choose not to pay your tribute and become livestock yourself, but that would have to wait until next month."
Mibuomi Aoi paused, then added, "When gambling with Momobami Kirari, you must, of course, put up gambling money of equal value to the Student Council President's position. I can pay this money for you, and I will not ask for it back, win or lose."
Gambling money of equal value to the Student Council's position, and the "livestock" who could force a gamble—these were the things Mibuomi Aoi offered Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"As long as you agree to gamble with Momobami Kirari, the gambling money will be entirely provided by me. After you defeat her, you will give me the Student Council President's position, and this gambling money will become your prize."
Mibuomi Aoi said confidently, "How about it? Is this reward enticing enough? You don't need to give up anything; as long as you're willing to gamble with her, you'll have a chance to get a huge sum of money."
Mibuomi Aoi indeed had courage.
He took all the risk of failure upon himself; even if Ayanokoji Kiyotaka lost the gamble, he wouldn't lose a single thing.
For Ayanokoji, this was a no-lose gamble; anyone in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's position would definitely be tempted.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression also seemed to waver, "Indeed, this certainly sounds like a good idea. I don't need to take any risks at all..."
Sure enough, the reason he hadn't been swayed before was that the money offered was too little. He had originally thought he'd have to pay a lot, but it turned out his backup plan wasn't needed at all...
Mibuomi Aoi felt that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was already tempted and seemed about to agree in the next moment, a smile gradually appearing on his face.
However, just then, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka added the latter half of his sentence.
"This deal is indeed beneficial to me... but I refuse."
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