It must be said that Leon's method of taking the initiative with a show of force did genuinely shock the Yuuki family.
After calming down, weighing all the pros and cons, and considering all possible routes of retreat and advance, the Yuuki family ultimately accepted the conditions Leon proposed, allowing Yuuki Asuna to transfer schools to Chiba, specifically to Sōbu High School.
Initially, Yuuki Kyouko still objected, arguing that even if Yuuki Asuna had to transfer to Chiba, there was no need for her to live in Leon's house. Her worry was evident, but Leon simply repeated his previous statement.
"Your daughter is already my person. Whatever I do is to be expected."
Leon's slow, deliberate words made Yuuki Kyouko frown deeply and caused Yuuki Asuna's pretty face to flush slightly.
As a prominent family from Tokyo, these people probably never expected to encounter someone like Leon—unyielding and yet someone they were utterly powerless against—leaving them no choice but to swallow the bitter pill entirely.
Seeing the Yuuki family still looking uncertain, unable to fully accept the disparity in power, Leon spoke plainly.
"From the moment Asuna became my familiar, she detached from the world you belong to."
"She is destined to walk a path completely different from your world in the future. Even if she didn't become a devil, she would be recruited by one of the Three Factions."
"Because she is a natural Sacred Gear user, and the Sacred Gear she possesses is extremely powerful. Once the Sacred Gear within her awakens, even if dangerous stray devils don't come after her, more dangerous devils or fallen angels will. It's even possible she could be abducted by some shady evil organization. Do you want to see that happen?"
These words plunged the three members of the Yuuki family into complete silence.
After a long time, they finally and reluctantly accepted all of Leon's arrangements, completely entrusting Yuuki Asuna to him.
"A wise choice." Leon nodded with satisfaction, saying, "Don't worry, I will take good care of Asuna. I will let her return to see you whenever she has time."
The conversation could essentially be declared over at this point.
At least, it was concerning the topic of Yuuki Asuna.
However, what surprised Leon was that Yuuki Shouzou cautiously asked him a question afterward.
"Mr. Leon, is there any way for ordinary humans like us to master supernatural power without being reincarnated as a devil like Asuna?"
This nationally renowned capitalist actually asked such a question, causing Yuuki Kyouko and Yuuki Kouichirou to hold their breath involuntarily.
"Quite the ambition, Mr. Yuuki." Leon looked at Yuuki Shouzou with a playful gaze. "What? You're very eager to gain power?"
"...If possible." Yuuki Shouzou hesitated repeatedly, finally deciding to speak the truth. He said to Leon, "Since there are beings like you in this world, and supernatural powers exist, it proves that everything we possess could potentially be easily overthrown."
"But humans are still the dominant life form in this world, and even if it's only on the surface, there must be some reason for that."
"For example, the Church you mentioned. Since they can fight against devils and fallen angels alongside angels, they must possess supernatural powers no weaker than the latter, right?"
"And they are humans too, aren't they?"
When Yuuki Shouzou said these words, he didn't show any expression of craving or greed; instead, he conveyed a sense of worry.
From his demeanor, rather than wanting to gain supernatural power, he seemed concerned that everything he currently possessed might be destroyed by such power.
Leon's unrelenting strength and absolute certainty had made him feel both helpless and given rise to an intense sense of crisis.
He couldn't help but wonder what he should do if he encountered the same situation again in the future.
Should he simply accept it helplessly, as he did today?
But not every supernatural race that possesses supernatural power merely wants their daughter, as Leon did.
What if the next person who comes wants more? What if they want everything he has?
Yuuki Shouzou inevitably developed such thoughts and such a sense of crisis.
This is the kind of deliberation a person in power should have—to be mindful of danger in times of peace—not waiting until things happen to react, which would only push oneself into a corner.
From this, it was evident that Yuuki Shouzou was indeed a man of some foresight.
"I'll enlighten you for the sake of you being Asuna's father." Leon picked up the tea that Yuuki Asuna had brewed for him nearby and, while drinking it, said calmly: "Humans can indeed master supernatural power, and fighting against devils and fallen angels is not a dream."
"Sacred Gears, magic, immortal arts... as long as they master the correct methods, humans can also gain their own supernatural power through cultivation."
"It is precisely because of this that everything humans possess has not been easily overthrown, as you suggested, and they maintain their surface dominance."
"The Church is one place where this power can be obtained. Beyond that, various hidden organizations of magicians are also a destination, though the quality is inconsistent. If you accidentally join an organization with bad intentions, you will only suffer the consequences."
Leon saw the members of the Yuuki family listening intently. He thought for a moment and finally decided to give them a bit of a chance.
"If you are genuinely interested in supernatural power, I suggest you try to reach out to the indigenous hidden families."
This sentence made the members of the Yuuki family pause, and then their spirits lifted.
"Indigenous hidden families?" Yuuki Kouichirou hurriedly asked, "Are there hidden families in this country that possess supernatural power?"
"That's right." Leon nodded. "Since ancient times, this country has had a group of people specializing in hunting aberrations—exorcists, sorcerers, and other individuals with special abilities."
"They maintain the orthodoxy of Shinto sects while simultaneously slaying demons and suppressing local yōkai, preventing them from harming the human world."
"Some of them are secluded, but others maintain close ties with the secular world, keeping contact with many important figures, secretly protecting them and the safety of the nation."
"Frankly, your Yuuki family has considerable influence in Tokyo. I originally investigated you to see if you had any connections with any hidden families, but the result is clear: the Yuuki family has not yet made contact with those beings."
Hearing this, Yuuki Kyouko, whose expression had been sullen, didn't care about anything else and asked Leon for advice.
"Are there any prominent families who have close ties with these hidden families?"
This question was quite interesting. It seemed the university professor wanted to know if she could use her connections to reach out to these people and have them introduce her.
However...
"That question stumps me somewhat, as I haven't paid much attention to this area." Leon glanced at Yuuki Kyouko, then said: "I only know of one family that definitely has ties with those hidden families and has many capable people serving them."
"Who?"
The members of the Yuuki family immediately asked in unison, and even Yuuki Asuna showed a curious expression.
Then, Leon spoke a name.
"The Shinomiya family."
Hearing this name, the faces of the Yuuki family members changed.
Shinomiya—this is a surname that anyone who lives in this country could not possibly be unaware of.
It is a zaibatsu (large Japanese conglomerate), and a very, very large zaibatsu, rumored to own over a thousand subsidiary companies, with total group assets exceeding 200 trillion yen. It is a behemoth whose slightest movement can make the country tremble, and whose actions through the global financial system could potentially trigger chain reactions that affect the entire international market.
Compared to the Shinomiya family, the Yuuki family is merely a minor player on the periphery.
At the very least, if the Yuuki family were to fall, there would be plenty of capital ready to replace it. But if the Shinomiya family were to fall, the country itself might suffer a massive loss of vitality.
Therefore, the Shinomiya family is also known as the nation's heart, the prominent family among prominent families, and the top-tier existence.
In this country, the only larger power than the Shinomiya family is the state itself, which illustrates how formidable this zaibatsu is.
"I once heard someone say that the Shinomiya family has ties with many hidden families, including the Five Great Clans."
Leon's voice slowly rang out.
"Doumon, Kushihashi, Shinra, Himejima, Nakiri... These are the leaders of all the supernaturally-gifted individuals in the industry of this country. It is said that the Shinomiya family has maintained good relations with them for a long time, and has even secretly funded them. As a result, many people from the Five Great Clans have been recruited and hired by the Shinomiya family, specifically responsible for the personal security of important Shinomiya figures."
This was something Shinra Tsubaki once told Leon, or else Leon wouldn't have known.
And as for why Shinra Tsubaki knew this... one glance at her surname reveals the answer.
Shinra Tsubaki is a member of the Shinra family, one of the Five Great Clans.
Leon merely relayed this information that Shinra Tsubaki had once mentioned to the Yuuki family, essentially giving them a useful tip.
As for why Shinra Tsubaki told him this, it was due to a directive from Sona Sitri.
"I don't want you one day suddenly running off to the Shinomiya family to take a familiar and ending up clashing with the people from the Five Great Clans."
Those were Sona Sitri's original words.
"You can try talking to the Shinomiya family. Perhaps you might gain something."
Leon ended the topic with this sentence, not continuing the discussion.
The members of the Yuuki family exchanged glances, firmly committing Leon's words to memory.
Regardless, they had to try, didn't they?
Although the Yuuki family was insignificant compared to the Shinomiya family, as they were both in the business world, there would inevitably be some channels to establish contact.
If it succeeded, the Yuuki family could also gain access to supernatural power.
That might allow the Yuuki family to ascend to the next level.