The envelope arrived just before dusk, sleek and black with an embossed golden sigil that seemed to shimmer in the fading light. The insignia was unmistakable—the mark of the Keiretsu, the most powerful corporate conglomerate in the world, its tendrils reaching into every sector, every shadowed corner of influence. It had been hand-delivered with a precision that spoke volumes: an unspoken invitation, a message laced with both opportunity and threat.


    Ash sat in his study, fingers tracing the delicate edges of the envelope. The paper felt impossibly smooth, like something more than just ink and pulp—an invitation to enter a world that spun with power, wealth, and a quiet danger lurking beneath the surface. A gathering of the Keiretsu heirs. Sons and daughters of the most influential dynasties, their families'' legacies carefully crafted through ruthless mergers, acquisitions, and silent wars fought behind closed doors.


    Kaito stood at the doorway, arms crossed, his usual relaxed posture a mask for the tension flickering beneath the surface. "You''re not seriously considering going, are you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.


    Ash exhaled slowly, keeping his gaze fixed on the invitation. His mind was already working through the possibilities, the danger, the reward. "They wouldn''t invite me if they weren''t curious. Curious about what I can do... or what I know."


    Kaito''s eyes narrowed. "Curious about whether you''re a threat or a pawn." He pushed off from the doorway, taking a step toward the desk. "You step into that party, you step into their world. Their rules, their game."


    Ash''s lips quirked into a slight, sardonic smile. "Then I''ll make sure they regret inviting me," he said, his voice calm but tinged with an edge of confidence.


    Kenshiko''s voice crackled from the speakers, smooth and composed, her usual tone of calculated precision. "Accepting the invitation would allow you deeper insight into their internal dynamics. You''ll have access to the network of Keiretsu heirs—powerful individuals who can either become allies or enemies. However, it also significantly increases the risk. Do you require contingency protocols?"


    Ash placed the invitation down with deliberate slowness, his fingers tracing the sigil once more before he met Kaito''s eyes. "Always," he replied, his tone flat but resolute.


    The moment stretched for a beat before he turned to Kaede, who had been leaning casually against the wall, listening from the side. Her expression was unreadable as she observed the exchange.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "You''re coming with me," Ash said flatly, his voice cutting through the silence.


    Kaede blinked, surprised, then scoffed. "Excuse me?"


    Ash didn''t look up, already returning his focus to the invitation. "The party''s for Keiretsu heirs. If I show up alone, I''ll be an easy target. If I bring you, they''ll be too busy wondering why you''re with me to focus on anything else."


    Kaede''s lips curled into a grin, and she took a step forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, so I''m your distraction now?"


    Ash sighed, his patience thinning. "Do you want to come or not?"


    Kaede tapped her chin as if mulling it over, the playful glint never leaving her eyes. "Fine. But I''m picking your suit."


    Ash groaned inwardly, knowing full well the implications of that statement. He''d regret it later, but right now, there were bigger matters at play.


    "You''re sure about this?" Kaito asked, still uncertain. "The Keiretsu... they don''t play nice."


    Ash turned his gaze to Kaito, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "And neither do I." He stood up, collecting the invitation. "Let''s get ready. The clock''s ticking."


    Kaede shot Ash a knowing look. "This should be fun."


    Ash paused at the door, a momentary thought crossing his mind. The game he was about to step into was dangerous—no, it was lethal. But in this world, alliances were as fragile as glass, and Ash wasn''t one to break easily. He would play their game, and if they didn''t like it, well, that was their problem.


    The Keiretsu heirs would soon learn that Ash Shirogiri wasn''t just another pawn—they''d soon regret ever considering him one. And when the time came, they''d find out exactly how dangerous it was to invite him into their fold.


    As Ash left the room to prepare, Kaede lingered behind, her curiosity piqued. She quickly activated her private comm-link, slipping into a quiet corner to send a message to her father.


    Is this for real? she typed, her fingers hovering over the screen.


    Kaito''s response came almost immediately, calm and unbothered as always. Ash, before he became the heir, had no social life. He was constantly bullied by the other clans. He had no time for anything but training with Kenshiko.


    Kaede stared at the message for a moment, taking it in. She couldn''t help but feel a little sympathy. No one deserved to live like that, but she also couldn''t help but wonder how it shaped the person Ash had become.


    She glanced at the door where Ash had disappeared, her mind racing. So, he''s really trying to figure this out?


    Kaito''s words resonated with her as she thought about what Ash was stepping into. It''s not a game to him, Kaede. For him, this is survival.


    Her fingers hovered over the comm again, but she didn''t send a follow-up message. Instead, she exhaled, her thoughts settling into something deeper. Ash was more than just a strategist and a fighter. There was a history there, one that Kaede was only beginning to understand.


    Understood. She replied, before deactivating the comm.


    With a final glance toward the door, Kaede smirked. Well, let''s see if he can survive this one.