Kyoto Continental Hotel, 20th floor.
There, the two families, Fujiwara and Saionji, who could be called the representative noble families of Kyoto, were holding an engagement ceremony for their children.
Even though only close relatives were invited, all 500 seats were already filled.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting the appearance of the two main characters of the day.
“The two families reconciling after 50 years—it’s truly a historic moment.”
“I saw Young Master Sai for the first time since he was a child, and he’s grown up splendidly.”
“Kumiko looks ready to be married off now.”
“It’s truly the birth of a couple of the century.”
The banquet hall was noisy with the chatter of the guests.
Amidst the commotion, someone shouted loudly from the entrance of the banquet hall.
“The Chairman is entering!”
Silence.
At that moment, the banquet hall, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, fell silent as if by magic.
Chairman.
There was no need to explain who the word referred to.
Saionji Harunobu.
He became chairman at the age of 34 and has been holding the position for almost 50 years, the head of the Saionji Group.
He was also the current head of the Saionji family, a noble family with a long history.
As Harunobu slowly walked on the carpet, the members of the Saionji family stood up and bowed their heads in unison.
“Yes, yes, it’s been a long time.”
Speaking in a gentle voice and waving his hand, Harunobu then headed to the seat prepared in the front row of the banquet hall.
Waiting for Harunobu there was Fujiwara Yoritomo, Sai’s father and the head of the Fujiwara Group.
As their eyes met, Yoritomo bowed first and spoke.
“It’s been a long time, Chairman Saionji.”
“Yes, it’s been a long time, Yoritomo. Was the last time we met at the previous chairman’s funeral?”
“We met once at the Korea-Japan Business Conference three years ago.”
“Ah! That’s right, that’s right.”
Harunobu clapped as if he had just remembered and agreed with him.
‘Pretending not to know even though he does—what a sly old fox.’
Thinking that to himself, Yoritomo shook hands with Harunobu and then sat at the same table.
“Still, I’m glad to see you again for such a joyous occasion. Honestly, I thought the two families would never reconcile in my lifetime.”
“I used to think so too. But you never know what will happen in life.”
“Yes, indeed. I never thought I’d be standing shoulder to shoulder with my father’s friend like this.”
“Hahaha, you still have a long way to go.”
After exchanging pleasantries with meaningful undertones, they began to ask about each other’s recent activities as if nothing had happened.
Of course, they weren’t asking because they were genuinely curious.
It was merely to maintain the formality and decorum suitable for the occasion.
While the two heads were chatting and laughing, without any warning, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went out.
“Oh...”
“It looks like it’s starting.”
Immediately, the host standing on the podium grabbed the microphone from its stand and spoke.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, thank you for coming all the way here today! The moment you’ve all been waiting for! The appearance of the couple of the day, Fujiwara Sai and Saionji Kumiko!”
At the host’s signal, dazzling lights shone on the central red carpet.
Along with it, a man and a woman in white attire appeared.
“Wooow!!”
With loud cheers, applause poured in from all sides.
Having waited in the waiting room all along, Fujiwara Sai and Saionji Kumiko finally appeared, standing side by side at the entrance.
Perhaps due to their good genes, both were strikingly handsome and beautiful, making them a perfect match even to an outsider.
With a smile in his eyes, Fujiwara Sai said.
“Shall we go?”
Then, Saionji Kumiko replied with a stiff face.
“
When she extended her white-gloved right hand, Fujiwara Sai took it and escorted her.
Soon, the two began to walk forward slowly.
‘Yu-seong-kun...’
The stage was getting closer.
Naturally, Saionji Kumiko recalled the face of the person she adored.
The promise they made on a deserted island last summer.
‘I’m sorry.’
Even though she confessed first, she couldn’t wait half a year, and now she was having an engagement ceremony with another man.
Even if he despises her for being fickle, she couldn’t help it.
This was something she had been prepared for a long time.
As a child born into a prestigious family, dating and marrying the person she wanted was a luxury.
Since ancient times, marriage or engagement had been one of the best strategic tools for the powerful.
“Miss Saionji.”
At that moment, Fujiwara Sai, who was walking arm in arm with her, suddenly spoke.
“What is it?”
“Smile. There are many eyes watching.”
“...I’ll take care of that myself.”
A fake smile.
She could usually manage it, but somehow, it wasn’t coming today.
It must be because of her complicated feelings.
But as he said, being expressionless in public could tarnish the family name.
So she forced a smile.
Seeing Kumiko’s smile, Fujiwara Sai finally turned his head with a satisfied expression.
As the two stopped in front of the podium, the host, who was a former comedian, began to speak energetically.
“Wow~ Both of today’s main characters are such a handsome couple. If my girlfriend looked like this lady, I’d carry her around every day!”
Hahahahaha!
As the audience burst into laughter, the host, gaining confidence, started to tease even more.
“When did you two first meet? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 20 years ago? Oh, if it was 20 years ago, you wouldn’t have been born yet.”
,
Immediately, the host standing on the podium grabbed the microphone from its stand and spoke.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, thank you for coming all the way here today! The moment you’ve all been waiting for! The appearance of the couple of the day, Fujiwara Sai and Saionji Kumiko!”
At the host’s signal, dazzling lights shone on the central red carpet.
Along with it, a man and a woman in white attire appeared.
“Wooow!!”
With loud cheers, applause poured in from all sides.
Having waited in the waiting room all along, Fujiwara Sai and Saionji Kumiko finally appeared, standing side by side at the entrance.
Perhaps due to their good genes, both were strikingly handsome and beautiful, making them a perfect match even to an outsider.
With a smile in his eyes, Fujiwara Sai said.
“Shall we go?”
Then, Saionji Kumiko replied with a stiff face.
“
When she extended her white-gloved right hand, Fujiwara Sai took it and escorted her.
Soon, the two began to walk forward slowly.
‘Yu-seong-kun...’
The stage was getting closer.
Naturally, Saionji Kumiko recalled the face of the person she adored.
The promise they made on a deserted island last summer.
‘I’m sorry.’
Even though she confessed first, she couldn’t wait half a year, and now she was having an engagement ceremony with another man.
Even if he despises her for being fickle, she couldn’t help it.
This was something she had been prepared for a long time.
As a child born into a prestigious family, dating and marrying the person she wanted was a luxury.
Since ancient times, marriage or engagement had been one of the best strategic tools for the powerful.
“Miss Saionji.”
At that moment, Fujiwara Sai, who was walking arm in arm with her, suddenly spoke.
“What is it?”
“Smile. There are many eyes watching.”
“...I’ll take care of that myself.”
A fake smile.
She could usually manage it, but somehow, it wasn’t coming today.
It must be because of her complicated feelings.
But as he said, being expressionless in public could tarnish the family name.
So she forced a smile.
Seeing Kumiko’s smile, Fujiwara Sai finally turned his head with a satisfied expression.
As the two stopped in front of the podium, the host, who was a former comedian, began to speak energetically.
“Wow~ Both of today’s main characters are such a handsome couple. If my girlfriend looked like this lady, I’d carry her around every day!”
Hahahahaha!
As the audience burst into laughter, the host, gaining confidence, started to tease even more.
“When did you two first meet? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 20 years ago? Oh, if it was 20 years ago, you wouldn’t have been born yet.”
Hahahahaha!
The host looked proud as the laughter from the guests continued.
After lightening the atmosphere with a joke, the host began to officially proceed with the event.
“Now, for the first part of the engagement ceremony, let’s start with a congratulatory address. The person giving today’s address is Mr. Fujiwara Hatsuhiko, Japan’s Minister of Finance! Please welcome him with applause!”
With the host’s call, an elderly man in a neat suit stood up from the front row.
Although he was a relative, having the Minister of Finance himself, not just a deputy, give the congratulatory address showed the power of the two families.
“Ah, ah, mic test.”
The Minister of Finance, standing on the podium, checked the mic as if he was used to it, then began to speak.
“Autumn is the season when ‘heaven is high and horses grow fat.’ I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Chairman Saionji and Chairman Fujiwara for inviting me to this joyous occasion and start the congratulatory address...”
At that moment...
Bang!
A huge sound suddenly came from the ceiling of the banquet hall where the guests were seated.
“Kyaaa!”
“Is it an earthquake?!”
“What’s happening?! Check it out right now!”
The guests collectively fell into a panic.
And the same was true for the security guards who were tightly guarding the 20th floor.
Bang!!
But before they could grasp the situation, another loud bang echoed.
Now, thinking that they had to protect the VIPs first, the security guards rushed into the hall.
Saionji Kumiko hurriedly grabbed a passing security guard and asked.
“What is happening?”
The security guard stammered as he replied.
“I’m not sure either. I just heard the captain say he was going down to the 21st floor...”
Crash!!!
At the third unknown loud noise, a large sinkhole-like hole finally formed in the ceiling of the banquet hall.
Falling debris like rain and rising dust clouds.
“Protect the Chairman and the VIPs!”
“Kyaaa!”
The hall turned into chaos due to the sudden situation.
“Cough! Cough!”
In the situation where it was hard to see ahead, coughing repeatedly and trying to figure out the cause of the sudden hole in the ceiling, Kumiko was startled.
And for good reason, as two human shadows were seen on the debris of the collapsed ceiling.
As the dust clouds cleared, the people in the banquet hall could see the identities of the two, and some guests were shocked to see their faces.
Hattori Hanzo, who was called the strongest man in Japan after Fuma Kotaro disappeared 10 years ago, was lying like a corpse.
And a man in black, who was standing next to his unconscious body, slowly walked down from the debris and said.
“I’ve come to save you, Senior Kumiko.”
At this time, people still didn’t know.
That the man standing before them would later be known as the 18th Fuma Kotaro, the Benevolent King, and the strongest in Japan.