Kujo Mutsumi chuckled: "What, the education she's received since childhood, is it something that everyone in Japan enjoys? There are many girls her age, but who is as intelligent as her?"

He knew what Fushimi Roku was about to say next and preemptively added: "Even if her intelligence is innate, it's still because the Kujo Family has good genes. Her blood, her bones, her flesh, they all come from the Kujo Family. Without the family's generations of choosing excellent spouses for arranged marriages, how could they produce such outstanding offspring?"

Saying that, Kujo Mutsumi also cast a fish bait: "The imperial family may have the freedom to love, but look at them, they are either handicapped or fools. If Little Wei hadn't married a sickly one, Tamako should have grown taller."

Fushimi Roku truly had no rebuttal to that.

He understood Kujo Mutsumi's implication. Now Kujo Mutsumi gave him two choices: either prove his worth or give up and stop aiming too high.

Fushimi Roku gazed at the water surface and said: "To get your investment back, there must be a price, right? How wealthy a businessman does Tamako have to marry to consider it a return? How high a government official would count as a gain? You can't possibly expect her to marry the President of the United States."

Kujo Mutsumi said: "To be honest, my expectations for her are neither too high nor too low."

Fushimi Roku's tone became less courteous: "Then it's quite high."

Kujo Mutsumi candidly admitted: "Perhaps so, I hope she can find an ambitious, capable young man. Ideally, this young man is solitary, without power or influence, estranged from blood relatives, and willing to change his surname to Kujo."

As he spoke, he tossed another bait into the water: "The Kujo Family is just a name after all. If you bear the surname Kujo, you carry the blood of the Kujo Family."

Fushimi Roku finally understood why this old man was willing to chat with him for so long.

Holding the fishing rod, he asked: "Why not consider an alliance with another big family?"

Kujo Mutsumi said: "She's a Genji. No matter whom she marries, it's a loss. If Little Wei is willing to marry out, then we'll gain. Marrying her off, at least she won't be bullied."

Fushimi Roku asked again: "Do you have someone in mind?"

Kujo Mutsumi clicked his tongue twice and shook his head: "It's hard to say. There's one guy who seems alright, but he lacks ambition. In the future, he might not be willing to work for the Kujo Family. His body is here, but his mind is not. What's the use of having him?"

He was unsuccessful once, the fish bit off the bait but didn't get hooked.

Kujo Mutsumi wasn't frustrated, leisurely rebaited, cast the hook, and said: "I'm not afraid of ambitious men, just worried about those who want nothing but Tamako's body."

This old man was making veiled accusations, and Fushimi Roku felt like his every move had been seen through.

"Maybe that person is biding his time, waiting for the right price?" he joked around.

Kujo Mutsumi raised his eyebrows, glanced at Fushimi Roku, and retorted: "Is that so? Then help me pass a message, just say the Kujo Family has something to ask for his help with. We can talk about the reward afterward."

He paused and added: "Of course, it has nothing to do with Tamako, nor with future marriages or relationships. It's just the Kujo Family outsourcing a business affair."

Fushimi Roku vaguely sensed the smell of intrigue. He actually didn't want to stir up trouble at this point, but he couldn't help but ask: "What business?"

"A week ago, a northerner came to Sapporo and ended up dead on the streets."

Kujo Mutsumi wasn't discussing business or family matters with Fushimi Roku, but instead opened with a murder case: "The police department is currently hunting for the killer. I've sent people to inquire several times, but there has been no progress."

He leaned slightly toward Fushimi Roku, staring into his eyes, and lowered his voice: "Find the real killer and bring him to the Kujo Family, 50 million yen for alive, 10 million yen for dead."

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