Sitting in his wheelchair, Gozo coughed furiously from anger.
The sight nearly terrified Ran. What if he coughed hard enough to tear open the stitches that had just been sewn?
The moment they saw Gozo awake, the Hatamoto family's group of hypocrites rushed over and surrounded him so tightly that there was barely any room to breathe.
Mariko was especially shameless. She immediately squeezed Ran out of the position behind the wheelchair where she had been pushing him.
Only the people who genuinely cared about the old man, such as Natsue and the others, stayed back.
They knew he had only just regained consciousness and needed fresh air. If they all crowded around him chattering like sparrows, it would only irritate him.
Afraid that Gozo would become even angrier, Ritsu quickly stepped forward and pushed through the crowd.
"Gozo-san just woke up. Stop making so much noise and take a few steps back. Unless you want to get yelled at."
Gozo gave the young man an approving look.
Earlier, he hadn't thought much of this white-haired young detective, who looked like a delinquent with his dyed hair.
But now?
This kid was by far the most reliable person present. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
If his own children had been even half as dependable as Ritsu, he wouldn't have had to worry so much.
Instead, in his old age, he had ended up suffering through this ordeal and taking a premature stroll to the gates of the afterlife.
Straightening his back in the wheelchair, Gozo slowly swept his sharp gaze across the room before speaking.
"Hmph. By now, I'm sure you've all heard the rumors.
It's true. Once we arrive in Tokyo, I intend to announce my retirement and hand complete control of both the Hatamoto Group and the Hatamoto family over to Natsue."
The instant those words left his mouth, Mariko practically stomped her foot in place.
Throwing all the manners expected of the eldest daughter of a prestigious family out the window, she shouted:
"Dad, how can you do this to us?! Natsue's just a child! What does she know about—"
A cold gaze suddenly landed on her.
Mariko froze.
Turning her head, she found Ritsu staring at her with a chilling expression. The rest of her words immediately died in her throat.
Before anyone else could react, Ritsu smoothly switched expressions and put on a gentle smile.
"Mariko-san, there's no need to get upset. Why don't we first hear Gozo-san's reasons for entrusting everything to Natsue-san?"
Gozo shot his daughter a dissatisfied look.
"Hmph. If I handed my assets over to you wastrels, then by the time I died, you'd probably spend even the money needed for my gravestone!"
"Grandpa, what are you saying? Tatsuo and I would definitely—"
Before Akie could finish, the old man impatiently cut her off.
"Hand it over to you? One of you only knows how to buy luxury goods and indulge in a materialistic lifestyle. The other has a head full of straw and can't even make a career out of music.
You think I'm senile enough to entrust the Hatamoto Group to the two of you? What a joke!"
The pair, who had just been reduced to absolutely nothing, instantly fell silent.
They may have had plenty of schemes and bad ideas, but neither possessed the courage to argue with their explosive-tempered grandfather.
Both lowered their heads and kept quiet.
Gozo didn't dwell on the subject any longer. Instead, he turned toward Takeshi.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Takeshi... I've always thought highly of you. And I know your feelings for Natsue are genuine. The things I said earlier were simply a test.
"I wanted to see whether you'd betray her."
"I still haven't forgiven you, Grandpa."
Having already explained everything to Natsue, Takeshi tightly held her hand and spoke seriously.
"But my feelings for Natsue are absolutely genuine. I want to make her happy."
The smell of romance was overwhelming.
No, this wasn't romance anymore. This was a married couple openly showering everyone with affection.
Ritsu's eyes narrowed into half-moons as he looked away.
Meanwhile, two innocent underage teenagers nearby had turned red as tomatoes just from hearing those words.
He couldn't help shaking his head. Their experience level was truly pathetic.
"I'm deeply saddened by your father's death. The truth about what happened back then was something I never intended to tell you.
But now you've grown into someone capable of judging right from wrong."
Gozo pulled a letter from inside his coat.
It was obvious that the letter was old. The paper had already yellowed with age.
"Takeshi. Read the letter your father left for you."
Receiving it with both hands, Takeshi opened the envelope. The moment he saw the handwriting, he recognized it as his father's.
Then, after reading the contents, his eyes widened in disbelief.
----
Takeshi,
By the time you read this letter, your father will likely have been settled in another world for many years.
My death has nothing whatsoever to do with Gozo-san. He was the only person willing to play the villain and help me at the very end.
What I'm about to tell you, I hope you'll forget after reading.
When I was a hot-blooded young man, I joined an organization. It was an organization shrouded in black. At first, I thought it was merely an ordinary criminal syndicate, but I eventually discovered that they truly took lives. I became afraid and ran away.
For a long time afterward, I lived under an assumed identity. Then I met your mother. I pulled myself together and started a business, only to discover that I still couldn't escape the net they had cast around me.
I knew there was no escape. All I wanted was to protect my family.
Gozo-san helped me arrange for your mother to reclaim her maiden surname and erase the traces of her connection to me. He was also the one who helped me give you the new name Nakahara Takeshi.
So don't hate the Hatamoto family anymore. And don't investigate that organization. Live a good life. Take care of your mother in my place.
With all the Love, Your Father.
----
"How... How could this be...?"
Takeshi couldn't believe it.
Only now did he remember that after his father's suicide, he and his mother had briefly moved into a luxury apartment.
He should have realized it much sooner. How could a bankrupt man possibly afford a luxury apartment?
That must have been Gozo's doing.
With a heavy expression, Gozo said, "Takeshi... listen to your father's words. Live your life. Don't investigate that organization. It's not something ordinary people like us can stand against."
'A massive organization?'
Ritsu's body stiffened slightly. Frowning, he asked, "May I see the letter?"
After taking it, he quickly read through the entire thing. Almost immediately, he understood the true reason behind Zaijo Isamu's death.
He had most likely been a low-ranking member of the Organization. After betraying them, he became a target. In the end, he chose suicide to protect his family.
Ritsu never expected that a random cruise ship trip would uncover traces of the Organization.
Still, Isamu had only been a low-level operative. After his death, the Organization would never waste resources investigating the people around him.
And after all these years, they had likely forgotten that a defector named Isamu had ever existed.
"So your father's death really had nothing to do with Grandpa?" Natsue immediately picked out the most important detail.
This matter had always weighed heavily on her heart. She had constantly felt indebted to Takeshi because of it.
Gozo nodded. "Isamu was my student. He was also one of the few true friends I ever found. How could I possibly harm him?
"What a pity... He was still so young when he left us."
Raising his head, he looked at the assembled members of the Hatamoto family.
"The reason I'm handing the Hatamoto Group over to Natsue is because she's the only one who would distribute everything fairly among all of you. As for the rest of you money-obsessed fools, ask yourselves honestly,
"If you inherited everything, would you share it fairly?"
Those words struck home.
Mariko and the others lowered their heads in shame. Every one of them was selfish. Especially when money was involved.
If any of them inherited the estate, they would undoubtedly keep it all for themselves.
"Suzuki, take me back to my room so I can rest. As for that unfilial son, Shoji..."
Gozo snorted coldly.
"Let him stay in prison. And don't provide him with a single lawyer."
"Yes, sir!" Suzuki immediately responded.
Ichiro repeatedly blinked as he watched his grandfather's departing figure. Biting his lower lip, he still couldn't summon the courage to apologize.
He was afraid Grandpa would scold him again without considering his feelings. He was also afraid Grandpa would refuse to support his dream of studying art abroad.
Ritsu couldn't stand watching any longer.
Without warning, he raised his leg and kicked Ichiro squarely in the backside.
Caught completely off guard, Ichiro flew forward and landed face-first on the carpet in a textbook belly flop.
"???"
Clutching his rear, Ichiro was about to protest. But Ritsu beat him to it.
"What are you still standing around hesitating for? If you're a man, then go. Say everything you want to say."
Ichiro climbed to his feet. His eyes had become noticeably firmer. Bowing deeply to Ritsu, he hurried off in the direction his grandfather had gone.
With both hands in his pockets, Ritsu glanced to the side. Sure enough, a certain overly curious detective was deep in thought.
Anyone could guess what was on his mind.
He was fixated on the phrase "a massive organization" mentioned in the letter. Walking over, Ritsu patted Shinichi on the shoulder.
"Let's get some rest, Kudo."
"Huh? Ah, okay, Sensei."
Shinichi nodded and followed after him.