Fushimi Roku nodded in greeting and took the opportunity to introduce himself.

Then Kujo Mutsumi started with the fatal three consecutive questions: 'How much is your salary', 'Do you have a car or house', 'What are your future plans'...

Fushimi Roku truthfully answered and casually mentioned that he made a lot of money from stocks, enough to buy a car and house in Tokyo, and plans to work part-time as a financial advisor in the future.

Kujo Mutsumi, a bit curious, asked more, wanting to know how a civil servant acts as a financial advisor. There was no need to hide it since it was originally arranged by Kujo Yua, he didn't need to keep it from Yua's father, so he spoke truthfully.

After listening, Kujo Mutsumi nodded, made no comment, and then asked Fushimi Roku if he had any hobbies.

Fushimi Roku's previous hobbies were reading case files, but now his interests are 'playing games', 'watching dramas', 'watching the fun', 'finding amusement', and 'teasing Tamako'.

However, what he said was another matter: "I like fitness, practicing Sword Dao, negotiation and debate, and investigating cases. My biggest hobby should be work..."

In response, Minamoto Tamako and Taira Sakurako both glanced at Fushimi Roku.

Neither of them spoke, they merely pinched their fingers silently.

Kujo Mutsumi seemed interested and said, "If that's the case, try to convince me to entrust my granddaughter to you."

"She's not an object, I believe she has her own judgment." Fushimi Roku said.

Kujo Mutsumi sized up Fushimi Roku, still wearing a kindly smile. He suddenly stood up, leaning on a cane, and said, "Mr. Deer, accompany me to fish."

Minamoto Tamako wanted to follow, but Kujo Mutsumi motioned for her to wait in the room, suggesting that if she felt bored, the butler could show her around.

There's something he wanted to say to Fushimi Roku alone.

Minamoto Tamako had to relent, watching the attendants support Kujo Mutsumi away, Fushimi Roku followed behind him, turning back to give Tamako a reassuring gesture.

Beside the residence was a fish pond, and as Kujo Mutsumi stepped onto the veranda, the waiting attendants immediately handed over two black bamboo fishing rods. The two took them, sat by the corridor, and started to bait the hooks, while the attendants helped to chum the water.

Kujo Mutsumi cast his rod skillfully and sat cross-legged, looking like a seasoned fisherman:

"I heard from Little Wei that Mr. Deer is very good at solving cases?"

Fushimi Roku also cast his rod, sitting beside waiting for the fish to bite. Honestly, the weather outside was indeed perfect for fishing, not too hot or too cold, with the breeze feeling quite pleasant on the body.

"So-so," he said.

Kujo Mutsumi hummed and asked again, "Is Mr. Deer interested in solving cases?"

Fushimi Roku only thought the old man was trying to understand him, so he responded casually: "Not very interested, but Tamako is very interested, she loves solving cases a lot."

"I know that," Kujo Mutsumi said, "Maybe she takes after her mother."

"Chief Kujo is also a very outstanding woman; I genuinely admire how you cultivated such an excellent daughter." Fushimi Roku began to flatter.

The old man was basically his father-in-law now, flattering him wasn't embarrassing; who hasn't flattered their father-in-law?

"Indeed, before Minamoto Tamako brought you back, I was worried you might be like her father, also a sickly person."

As Kujo Mutsumi spoke, his hands didn't move, keeping the fishing rod steady, with not a ripple on the water: "Now I'm half relieved, at least you weren't lying about fitness and sword practice."

Fushimi Roku caught his meaning: "And the other half? Do you still have concerns?"

Kujo Mutsumi gazed at the float on the water, slowly speaking: "She carries the blood of the Kujo Family, she is ultimately part of the Kujo Family, and must contribute to the family. If she marries you, what does the Kujo Family gain?"

He glanced sideways at Fushimi Roku, whose expression was calm, focused on fishing, so he continued, "Don't blame me for being blunt, some things have to be laid out... The Kujo Family doesn't need a criminal police officer, nor a financial advisor. Marrying you is equivalent to wasting a valuable daughter."

"Marriage isn't a transaction," Fushimi Roku said.

"To the Kujo Family, marriage is indeed a transaction." Kujo Mutsumi paused and gave an example: "Little Wei eats from my resources, uses my assets, and utilizes the family connections to enter the Police Department as the Director; she must contribute back to the family, right?"

"Hasn't she done anything?" Fushimi Roku asked.

"She can't do much. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Road Police are separate and independent; she can't manage Hokkaido."

Kujo Mutsumi sighed: "Had she married a politician and relied on herself to obtain that position, I'd respect her more. But she made the family spend a lot, raised her status, then married someone terminally ill; all that the family invested went down the drain... Tell me, don't you think the Kujo Family lost out?"

Fushimi Roku understood his point; once Kujo Yua became the Police Chief, she was no longer just a daughter, but a 'daughter with power', enabling the Kujo Family to unite with even stronger families.

There are financial and aristocratic families in Tokyo; only by marrying Kujo Yua into a suitable great family could the Kujo Family realize Kujo Yua's potential.

The rationale is there, but voicing it sounded awfully cold.

"They did lose," Fushimi Roku said, "but you couldn't oppose her."

Kujo Mutsumi lamented: "You can't defy age, each generation has their own calculations. I understand, nowadays it's about free love and human rights... but with all the children having freedom, is the family still needed? There's no such thing as only enjoying benefits without contributing; the Kujo Family isn't the Emperor's family, we can't just give without receiving."

Just as he finished speaking, Fushimi Roku's fishing rod trembled slightly, Kujo Mutsumi was taken aback, only to see him reel in a carp.

Fushimi Roku took the hook off, tossed the carp into a nearby basket, baited again, and said: "Tamako is different from Chief Kujo, she doesn't rely on the Kujo Family."

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