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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 10 Chapter 4.3

Yukihime was hoping she wouldn’t be here.

「Why are you here?」

「Well, even though I’ve been ostracized, this was originally my building. Ruri is now filling in for me but that’s all.」

Yukihime’s expression hardened as Sansa continued to provoke her.

「Don’t worry, Fugi-san. I won’t let Anego have any say in this. I’ll make all the decisions myself.」

Sansa looked displeased at Ruri’s smile.

「You’re right, Ruri.」

「Anego, you’re retired. Please don’t come on business trips.」

「Well, I’m curious about what kind of company a member of the Phantom Thieves, <<Matsuri>>, aren’t you?」

Yukihime couldn’t help but react. Ruri glanced at her and signed.

「See, you are trying to take over my job. You’re being too overprotective, Anego. I, at least, don’t need you anymore. You can go do that for Kira.」

「You really are a caring one-chan.」

「I understand, ok」, she says as she closes her mouth and looks out the window.

「Well then, let’s hear what you have to say」, says Ruri while leading Yukihim to the sofa reserved for guests.

Yukihime sat down and immediately handed the company profile document she had prepared to Ruri, who was sitting in front of her.

「I see, so the job involves volunteer support activities.」

As Ruri begins to look over the documents, Yukihime begins to explain her proposal.

「Students at Nanaejima are involved in a wide variety of activities. The range is wide, and I believe that by creating horizontal connections within these activities, we can create even more opportunities for them to shine.」

「So, how do you plan to link this to the company’s profits?」

「Rather, I would like to use this organizational management as a test case to see how we can link this to profits.」

「I see. So, what you’re saying is, ‘I’ll act like a company, so you need to provide me with the funds and space to do so’.」

Ruri smiles mischievously, and Yukihime nods without changing her expression.

「There shouldn’t be any problem. This is part of the Tanabata Festival. You’re granting the students’ wishes, after all.」

「Profit aside, as long as you have the appearance of a company, that’s all that matters.」

「What I’m looking for isn’t revenue, it’s experience.」

「I see. If you say so, there’s no reason for us to refuse.」

Ruri skimmed through the documents and then placed them on the table.

「Well, I have a few qualms, let’s start with this one. It says when this company is established, we will prepare to invite technical instructors from outside the island.」

Yukihime’s cheek twitches.

「Well, I have an acquaintance of mine…」

「When it comes to this kind of management, there are many talented people from nanaejima. We can provide them for you. Of course, it’s free of charge.」

「So, I have someone in mind who could do that…」

「I hope this isn’t some underhanded way of trying to lure some members of the Phantom Thieves to Nanaejima, right Yukihime Fugi?」

Ruri’s words hit the nail on the head, but she doesn’t show it on her face.

「Then, what do the people you’ve selected excel in that makes them worthy of being invited to this island?」

She was at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Ruri chuckled.

「What I’m trying to say is, Fugi-san, your plan was so poorly conceived that it was ruined this easily.」

「…..」

「If I were in your position… I would become an advertising agency to promote Nanaejima.」

「An advertising agency?」

「The Phantom Thieves <<Matsuri>> are involved in many other industries in addition to their main business. Their main activities are volunteer work and charitable donations. I’m sure this proposal was made with that in mind, but of course, there’s not much benefit to us in that regard. So, we should create a company focused on introducing Nanaejima. It might be a good idea to organize tours on weekends for students on the mainland who are interested in Nanaejima. In this case, we would, of course, send former and current students. However, if we were to actually operate on the mainland, our own resources alone would be insufficient. That’s where your talent comes in. If you were to provide such people, of course, they’d need to explain the good points of Nanaejima, so they’d need to come to Nanaejima in advance and tour the island. If you’re going to be doing the work, wouldn’t that sense?」

As Yukihime listened to Ruri presenting an alternative with a smile, she realized that everything about her background and the Phantom Thieves <<Matsuri>> had been thoroughly investigated. Who is this person? Ruri Kanna? Is she with the Three Skulls? No, it was probably Sansa Kurosu. Yukihime was once again astonished. That’s how well Sansa Kurosu knew the other side of the world.

Sansa Kurosu. Nanaejima’s most evil villain, and the gatekeeper of Nanaejima’s dark side. On Nanaejima no one else can call themselves evil when standing next to Sansa.

On this island students hold a special privilege. Ruri concludes her lecture, making Yukihime realize this.

「Yugi-san, your fatal mistake was looking down on me, your negotiating partner. You thought you could talk your way out of it, didn’t you? You should have at least been prepared for any counterattack. I don’t mean to label you  as incompetent though. The reason you lost lies in your lack of foresight and lack of determination.」

Yukihime felt like Ruri was a teacher admonishing her as a student. She hands back the documents Yukihime had prepared.

Sansa Kurosu can see into the minds of others and thoroughly torture them. Using poison, she paralyzes the thoughts of others and leads them in the direction she desires. In the <<game>>, Yukihime experienced this firsthand more than she cares to admit.

In contrast, Ruri Kanna is also skilled at seeing into the thoughts of others. However, she admonishes them with sound reasoning. She only harbors animosity towards Sansa Kurosu. However they aren’t the same. Even though the underlying way of thinking is the same, the way they utilize it is different. She has Sansa Kurosu’s observational abilities but motivates people from a different perspective.

Though they are of the same species, they are completely different creatures. Not a subspecies, but a form of evolution. This is Ruri Kanna, the next ruler of Nanaejima.

「So, what will you do, Fuugi-san? If you still want to form a volunteer company, that’s fine. Or will you come up with a plan that will convince me? Of course, you can adopt my proposal exactly as it is. However, since your intentions are already known, I will thwart them in other ways.」

「…You already know our objectives, and yet you still ask?」

「That doesn’t really matter. The only thing that matters is whether it benefits us or not. If it benefits us, I’ll tolerate any evil. Conversely, if it doesn’t, I’ll spit on any good deed.」

Dark values could be seen everywhere. Perhaps this was also the reason for her connection to the Sansa Kurosu lineage. And that’s why she couldn’t help but think Juugo’s assessment was correct after all.

「I’m sorry, but would it be a problem if I made a call?」

「? A problem?」

「I’ll call one of them here now, so would you like to meet him?」

Ruri narrowed her eyes at Yukihime’s words, but her mouth relaxed.

「What’s the purpose?」

When asked, Yukihime honestly expressed her feelings.

「I want to get revenge.」

「Thank you.」

Less than ten minutes later, Juugo Yama arrived. The reason he was so quick was because he’d been waiting nearby.

「I’ll hear what you have to say. So, what do you have to tell me?」

Ruri smiles as she sits on the guest sofa, and Juugo smiles back.

「No, I don’t have anything in particular to say to you.」

Suddenly, Ruri’s expression hardened.

「But I heard you were called in as Fugi-san’s hero.」

Juugo glanced her way, and Yukihime quickly looked away. Of course, her ears were bright red.

「No. I’m not even remotely thinking about defending Yukihime-neesan.」

I couldn’t help but glare at her. I was very irritated.

「Because Yukihime-neesan is the type of person who doesn’t need someone to defend her.」

But Juugo’s words brought those thoughts back to his senses.

「Oh, of course!」

Realizing that he’d been relying on someone younger than him, he reflected on his actions. He then reminded himself. What on earth had he been thinking, when this was something that needed his care. Who should have been leading this?

「The reason I came here is something completely unrelated.」

Juugo then turned his back on Ruri and walked in the other direction.

「Well, I figured she wouldn’t be here, but this will save me the trouble of having to call her.」

Juugo stood before a woman yawning and leaning back in her desk chair.

「Sansa-san, I have something to tell you.」

「So, you’re saying Ruri isn’t up to the task?」

「Yes, that’s right.」

「See, now that you say it so bluntly, Ruri’s staring daggers into your back.」

「Well, it’s the truth.」