[A/N: From the next chapter, I'll update around Webnovel Publishing time, i.e. GMT +8 which is 21:30 PM/9:30 PM according to Indian Standard Time(IST).
Hope you like this chapter and please vote.]
(2207)
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Hmm...
After thinking for a while.
He dialled another number.
"H-ello Sir.."
A trembling voice came through the speaker.
30 seconds later..
"U-Understood, sir... You can count on me. I will definitely not disappoint you, Sir."
Izumi hung up, with an indifferent expression.
Coupled with his past life and this life experiences, he had seen many kinds of people and heard lots of flattery.
So, he didn't have many mood swings.
Except for his family and his close people, no other things could make his mood fluctuate.
Remember that this is a cannibalistic world...If you don't eat people, people will eat you before you can.
Without any further ado, his figure gradually mixed in and disappeared into the darkness.
(Note: I won't write about Myu's party promise. The party is over and this is the follow up pace.)
______
A beautiful young woman who had thigh-length, salmon-pink hair that was tied back on top while the rest was tied at the bottom with two small hair strands hanging in the middle and two medium ones resting on her shoulders, sharp purple-pinkish eyes that had long eyelashes, pink lipstick and small, round eyebrows.
She had a slender figure and an extraordinary temperament.
(Pic Here)
She was seen in a traditional Japanese kimono, wearing a dark-colored cardigan and donning a traditional fan.
She was sitting on a tatami futon with a hot, steaming cup of tea with a tea pot kept in front of her.
She had this unusual habit of drinking tea even at night.
"It's been a while since I heard your voice..."
A slight murmur broke out from her mouth as her fingers caressed the ring on her left hand tenderly.
Surprisingly, it was a familiar ring. Silver coloured pentagram ring.
Only Izumi Miyamura has authority over it.
And, you all know what it stands for.
Her eyes were a little complicated remembering past events.
She knew why Izumi was a little embarrassed to face her because of what happened during their last interaction.
The day she becomes a woman again.... I'm sure you understand the underlying meaning, right?
With the ongoing trends about Nakiri's, she was well aware of his plans, but did nothing to stop him.
Because from the beginning she was on his side.
*Sigh*
Sipping the tea, she let out a big sigh.
"Tomorrow is going to be hectic."
"Anne! Go inform our WGO's media as well as those who have close relations with us to come tomorrow. I've something important to announce."
"Hai! Mana-sama."
A figure bowed respectively and left the room.
Anne had long, dark, flowing hair that extends to her knees. Her outfit consists of a white, frilly, long-sleeved top, a dark layered skirt with white frill accents and black slippers.
(Pic here)
She was there from the beginning. It's just that you, readers didn't notice it.
(A/N: This pot, I won't carry it.)
Meanwhile, seeing Mana's weird behaviour, she doesn't seem to be that surprised.
These days, she had been used to her and knew the reason behind it, and even genuinely felt happy for her master.
And, it's not that Mana was hiding it anyway. Anne was her most trusted servant after all.
Furthermore, she was also a little curious about her master's order.
What kind of Storm will be set off tomorrow?
Is it related to that person??
.
.
.
.
(Note: Izumi has already cured Mana's sickness. Did you all forget his cooking Mastery?)
_____
Next Morning, 7:00 am.
Inside W.G.O. Hall.
At this moment, it was very lively.
There were dozens of reporters with their respective cameramen from famous media channels of Japan who could be seen discussing with an eager expression all over their faces.
After all, it was very difficult to get an interview from the World largest gourmet organization known as W.G.O. for short.
This is an organization both respected and feared by chefs and people in the culinary industry.
Yesterday midnight, out of nowhere, their media station suddenly received an invitation, stating that the current Book Master, Mana Nakiri can satisfy their long lasting appetite.
Just like no one could sit still when a fully cooked favorite meal was placed in front of them.
A successful journalist must have a keen sense of smell.
So, the major media, regardless of their condition, swarmed towards the W.G.O. headquarters like sharks that smelled blood.
They had their own abacus in their hearts, even prepared 100 questions by taking advantage of the fire to let Mana Nakiri bleed slightly.
Don't forget!
According to the rumour, the head of Nakiri Clan still hadn't come out from the shadow of his wife's death.
Even though there was some voice saying that, his wife's death was indirectly related to him.
Just don't know who spread such rumours and whether it's true or not, they don't care.
What they care about is fortune.
Turning a rumour into a fact is their, Media's job.
For that, mixing black and white is just a matter of words.
They do not want to miss any opportunities to hype.
Now, anyone with discerning eyes noticed that Nakiri Clan situation isn't as good as before and as an eldest daughter of Nakiri, she must have known a lot of information. So, how could they let the fish slip easily?
This is the true face of journalists.
When you're on top, they'll complement you everywhere. But, once you fall, they'll kill you with their words without blinking.
Also, the essence of a human's heart.
What a big clan! What a big man! Even if the Emperor stood in front of them, they wouldn't hesitate to pull him down the altar.
So, the famous saying isn't wrong.
"Journalists today are like sharks. If you're not moving forward, it's over."
Otherwise, there won't be many slogans like - Media Supremacy, People's Voice, etc.
Journalists/Media are now the voices of the people.
Little do they know...That all their calculations are within someone else's expectations.
That's why many, billionaires are trying to enter social media platforms like Elon Musk(Not happened in my story), Mark Zuckerberg who despite being the leader of Facebook and WhatsApp, still not satisfied and tried to acquire Instagram.
Unfortunately, Izumi was a step ahead of everyone and grabbed an ordinary iron which would become one of the strongest swords in his hands.
Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.
Izumi and others understood this sentence loud and clear.
Cough...Cough...Back to the topic.
____
*Tap*Tap*Tap*
The whole hall suddenly quieted down as everyone's attention was on the source of the noise.
Two women with dozens of bodyguards around them, ready to block if the situation goes out of control.
It's here.
All reporters eyes lit up seeing the woman in the front, like seeing a peerless treasure.
Without hesitation, they rushed forward with their microphones.
Etiquette? Manners?
Sorry, what are those?
"Mana Nakiri, words are that Nakiri's current head is in depression and is likely to select the next head, who happens to be your husband, what's your opinion?"
"Not long ago, we found a piece of information that your various clansmen are prime suspects in various illegal fund transfers, what's your statement on this?"
"Is it true that there's some conflict between your siblings? If not. Then, where's your elder brother, Naozumi Nakiri? Why didn't he attend his mother's funeral? Please say."
"Lately, Izumi Miyamura has been in the limelight for his victory over the famous Mark Zuckerberg for snatching Instragram. What do you think of this? Do you think it's possible to create another platform like Facebook or Twitter? "
"Miss..."
The reporters flocked to Mana Nakiri with barrages of questions that didn't stop and each one of them was tricky.
There's no friendship or relationship between business.
Some reporters, even tried to squeeze the bodyguards with their meager strength to put the microphone close to Mana's face.
Anne, who was behind Mana Nakiri was overwhelmed by the reporter's current behaviour.
She had been with her lady for many years and this was the first time, she found out that these reporters were different from the past.
'No wonder Mana-Sama said to me to keep quiet....She has already anticipated this situation.'
Even so, she couldn't help, but be a little aggrieved about these shameless journalists.
Only Mana Nakiri was surprisingly calm, despite being surrounded and cornered.
There were no worries in her face as she knew in her heart that Izumi wouldn't let her be in a losing position even after she said that she could handle it.
Sure enough, her guess was correct.
A middle aged female reporter squeezed out of the crowd with a panic expression all over face.
Her lips were slightly trembling, trying to utter something.
Just now, she remembered what her superior told her before coming.
"Remember to look out to her left hand before the things get out of control. If not..both you, me and our company will come to an end..."
At that time, she thought that her manager might have found some black material on Mana Nakiri.
Perhaps, she was very excited that time and didn't find anything abnormal.
Who'd have thought that the results were beyond her imagination?
She did notice something in Mana's left hand, no, her ring finger to be exact.
!!!
That ring!
Impossible!
Just thinking about her manager expression, she now basically understood.
This was indeed a black material because Mana Nakiri was currently married, but her ring symbolised something else.
If it was an ordinary person, she's sure that he/she reputation will be degraded to the point of no scum left.
On top of that, Nakiri was one of the pillars of Japan and their influence reached all over the world in the gourmet industry. This high profile scandal would have definitely ruined everything.
However, the problem was exactly the opposite.
A figure of a man appeared in her mind, and her forehead oozes sweat and her breathing becomes heavy.
This pressure wasn't something she could or the people behind her can afford to deal with.
Not to mention, this ring means, Mana Nakiri...she..
It's impossible to copy it as countless experts tried it many times, but every time it ended up in failure.
Receiving the news, Tio Miyamura sued them for trying to imitate their property and in the end, it was declared to be the only heirloom of Miyamura family.
Although their household wasn't established, everyone had already acknowledged it inside their hearts.
Since then, everything has been silent. Only a brain-dead would try to continue unless he/she is ready to be killed.
So, she's sure that the ring on her finger was....genuine.
Now, she felt a little bit of gratitude towards her manager.
If it weren't for his reminder, she'd really...
She shuddered just thinking about this.
The female reporter had complex eyes looking at the woman standing with a calm face.
Nowadays, who is not afraid of such a monster?
Even though, her actions didn't slow down at all.
The ironclad rule of journalism which was established just for 'him', she knows it very well.
She tightened her hold and asked loudly.
Instead of a compliment, it sounds like a reminder to the other reporters.
"Madam Nakiri! Your ring is very beautiful!"
Um?
Her loud voice managed to stop the barrages and everyone around her looked at her with confused eyes.
As if asking, why did you shout for such a thing? Haven't you seen any beautiful things in your life? Why are you behaving like a little girl when you've passed that age?
Of course, no one pointed out as they knew who she was and it was impossible for her to make a simple mistake.
Bribed by a Nakiri? Hahaha! Unless her superior is a fool.
So, what's the situation?
Curiously, all the reporters present, shifted their attention towards Mana Nakiri's left hand.
!!!
Immediately, their complexion greatly changed and their pupils widened, full of shock and fear.
Some even staggered back due to the amount of shock. If it wasn't for the crowd, they would definitely fall directly on each other.
How's this possible???
"This...."
"...Impossible."
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