In the following days, Inoue You was surprised to find that Inoue Ki didn't take the opportunity to give him a hard time. Instead, he was publically announcing that he wanted to avenge the former Clan Leader and was searching for the assassin who killed the Clan Leader.

"Something's not right, definitely not right!" Inoue You knew very well that a person of Inoue Ki's calibre, typical of a petty man who has come into power, would never miss an opportunity to suppress him!

However, he soon understood. Inoue Ki was using the authority of the Acting Clan Leader to constantly pull out personnel to investigate the assassin, and all those who were pulled out were from Inoue You's camp!

"So that's his plan!" Inoue You felt somewhat troubled.

Seeking revenge for the former Clan Leader was a just cause, and there was no fault to be found with Inoue Ki's actions in principle, leaving Inoue You dissatisfied but without any grounds for complaint.

Moreover, Inoue You had a feeling that Inoue Ki's methods were not just limited to this; he must have other cards up his sleeve.

"If I were the Acting Clan Leader, what would I do?" Inoue You paced his study with a furrowed brow.

Suddenly, a look of horror appeared on his face, "Framing and setting up, it must be framing and setting up! If Inoue Ki were to pin the death of Inoue Kawaio on me..."

At that thought, Inoue You felt a chill all over his body. If that day truly came, Inoue You would definitely become the traitor and criminal of the entire Inoue Family, and even those Elders who supported him would abandon him like discarding a worn-out rag!

"No, I absolutely cannot sit by and wait for death!"

As Inoue You was becoming increasingly anxious, a knock suddenly came from outside, "Lord Inoue You, there are visitors from the Kuroto Family outside!"

People from the Kuroto Family? What are they doing at the Inoue Family's place? Inoue You frowned and said, "Bring them to the reception room, I will be there shortly!"

A few minutes later, Inoue You arrived at the reception room and saw the representatives from the Kuroto Family.

"So it's from Kurofujidera. May I know what brings you to the Inoue Family?" Inoue You said indifferently.

The Inoue Family and the Kuroto Family had deep-seated grievances, and naturally, neither side had the patience for pretenses and flattery.

"Heh, Lord Inoue You, I think the Inoue Family should now be under Inoue Ki's control, not yours, right? Therefore, wouldn't your statement about the 'Inoue Family' be somewhat laughable?" Kurofujidera looked at Inoue You with a sneer on his lips.

Inoue You's brow furrowed, and he said coldly, "Kurofujidera, if you've come here just to mock me, then please leave. If you continue to stay, I can't guarantee that you will be able to leave unharmed!"

Kurofujidera laughed heartily, "Inoue You, I've come to help you, but it seems you are not appreciative!"

"Help me?"

"Exactly!" said Kurofujidera. "What is Inoue Ki but an idiot with more brawn than brains? If the Inoue Family falls into the hands of someone like him, I imagine it will soon be stripped from its status among the three great families."

Inoue You looked around warily, "What exactly are you trying to say!"

Kurofujidera stated each word distinctly, "My meaning is simple. If Lord Inoue You intends to fight for the position of Clan Leader of the Inoue Family, the Kuroto Family is willing to lend you our support!"

Inoue You regarded the Kuroto Family with the look one reserves for a fool and said with a trace of scorn, "Help me? The Kuroto Family can barely protect itself, and you have the ability to help me? What a joke!"

Kurofujidera let out a slight smile, "Mr. Inoue You must have heard about the extermination order that the China Dragon Group has issued against our Kuroto Family, right? You must think that our Kuroto Family is in dire straits, unable to protect itself, right? I must say, your view is utterly ridiculous!"

"What's so ridiculous about it?" Inoue You said, "Although I'm reluctant to admit it, the strength of the China Dragon Group is in no way inferior to organizations like the Church of Light and the Dark Cathedral, which have thousands of years of heritage! Being targeted by the Dragon Group, what confidence does your Kuroto Family have to respond?"

Kurofujidera confidently said, "On our own, the Kuroto Family's strength naturally wouldn't suffice, but what if we add the power of the Sakura Group, the Matsushita Family, the Alliance of Gods, and other underground forces?"

Inoue You was greatly surprised, he had not expected the Kuroto Family to be able to unite so many forces. Although Inoue You believed the Kuroto Family would certainly have to pay a heavy price, this was enough to illustrate that the Kuroto Family's foundation was much deeper than that of the Inoue Family!

"However, I didn't come here to talk to you about these things, I just want to ask Mr. Inoue You one question, do you really wish to lose to someone like Inoue Ki?" Kurofujidera said indifferently.

Wish to lose? Not by a long shot! After Kawaio Inoue died, Inoue You considered the position of family head to be within his grasp, with his intelligence, emotional intelligence, leadership, and cohesion all being more than just a level higher than those of Inoue Ki. However, to his surprise, Inoue Ki had actually become the acting clan leader.

Although Inoue You knew that this was the Great Elder's trickery, he still felt a burning anger inside him.

"What are your demands?" After a long silence, Inoue You raised his head and asked with an intense gaze.

Kurofujidera let out a slight smile, saying this meant that the cooperation between the two parties was gradually coming to fruition.

"Our demands from the Kuroto Family are quite simple," Kurofujidera said. "After all, we are one of the three great families of the Fusang Empire, and there was a time when we fought side by side to fend off foreign insults! Our family head doesn't want to see our three great families continue to fight among ourselves, so, if you agree to a few of our requests, we can fully support you in becoming the family head of the Inoue Family."

"A few requests?" Inoue You's brow furrowed. The Kuroto Family sure had a big appetite.

Kurofujidera said, "Don't worry, they are all very easy to fulfill! I hear that Miss Inoue Kaoru's daughter has returned to the family?"

"That's correct!"

"Then the first condition is that you betroth Miss Sakura from your family to the son of the Kuroto Family head," Kurofujidera stated.

Inoue You was momentarily stunned, "Betroth her to Kuroto Youichi?"

"No, to the eldest son of the family head, Kurofuji Youshun!"

Inoue You thought for a moment and made his calculations.

If he could facilitate this matter, not only could he send away the troublesome Inoue Sakura but also curry favor with the Kuroto Family—it seemed like a profitable deal! As for who Inoue Sakura married, Inoue You didn't care at all; even if she married into the Kuroto Family as a female slave, what would it matter to him?

"If there's a first, there's a second; state your second condition," Inoue You said.

"The second condition is that after you become the clan leader, the Inoue Family's Family Head's Token must be handed over to our Kuroto Family!" Kurofujidera chuckled as he said this.

Inoue You instinctively shouted, "Impossible! That's wishful thinking!"

Kurofujidera said indifferently, "Mr. Inoue You, there's nothing impossible in this world. The Family Head's Token is merely a symbol, after all. To trade such a useless thing for the position of a family head, I think that's a very worthwhile exchange, isn't it? Besides, when it comes down to it, does the Inoue Family's Family Head's Token really have anything to do with you? The blood in your veins, after all, is not that of the Inoue Family, is it?"

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