Late at night.
The Yukinoshita estate.
Urgent knocking startled Madam Yukinoshita awake in her room.
"What is it?"
Madam Yukinoshita sat up, her lazy voice tinged with weariness.
"Miss Yukino has transformed into a cat again and attacked two servants. She's fled the premises."
The panicked voice of the housekeeper came from outside the door. Madam Yukinoshita's lingering drowsiness vanished in an instant.
"What about Haruno?"
"Miss Haruno has already contacted Miss Awashima and is searching for Miss Yukino."
Only then did the slight furrow in Madam Yukinoshita's brows ease a little.
"Understood. Come back once Haruno returns."
"Yes, Madam."
The footsteps faded into the distance. Madam Yukinoshita remained leaning against the headboard.
The warm yellow light of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows over her cold, beautiful face, which now looked deeply troubled.
She wasn't worried about the safety of her two daughters.
With Seri Awashima involved, she was confident there would be no problems.
After all, Seri Awashima was the strongest force currently under the Yukinoshita Conglomerate.
But that was precisely the problem.
Aside from Seri, the Yukinoshita Conglomerate had virtually no other decent powerhouses.
Even Seri only followed her because Madam Yukinoshita had once helped her as a child.
"A flower raised in a greenhouse can never survive the cruel world outside…"
She sighed deeply.
In recent years, the Yukinoshita Conglomerate had developed at breakneck speed—like pouring oil onto fire or laying brocade over blooming flowers.
It had rapidly grown from a small landholding business into a powerful financial group.
To outsiders, Madam Yukinoshita was known for her iron-fisted management.
But only she knew the truth. She was indeed skilled in business—but she was still only human.
This world… was full of hidden supernatural forces.
It was commonplace for corporations to encounter attacks from hostile supernatural powers during expansion.
That's why every major conglomerate had its own supernatural faction.
Yet the Yukinoshita family had never faced any major issues of that sort.
Because Madam Yukinoshita had once made a deal—with an organization known as the House of Evolution.
The House of Evolution would eliminate any threats blocking the conglomerate's path, while the Yukinoshita group was to focus entirely on commercial growth.
Their ultimate goal was to become a top conglomerate, join the Hero Association, and collect all data related to S-Class heroes.
That was what the House of Evolution truly wanted.
"I must quickly recruit and nurture a supernatural faction loyal to the Yukinoshita family…"
Madam Yukinoshita's eyes glinted sharply.
Dealing with tigers comes at a price. A single misstep, and even she could be devoured.
.......
Kuzeha was a little surprised when he got a good look at the figure.
Yukinoshita Yukino, in her white cat form, tilted her head and stared at him.
"You're one of my master's classmates, right? I remember you…"
Though it was Yukino's body, the voice had a slightly different tone.
"Possessed by an aberration?"
"A bakeneko?"
Kuzeha frowned, but her state didn't match a typical one.
Bakeneko were low-level monsters that betrayed their hosts and attacked them.
Yet this one referred to Yukino as her "master," possessed her memories, and even recognized him…
"Is it a merged personality with the bakeneko?"
Kuzeha's eyes sparkled with insight.
The white-cat-form Yukino circled around him curiously.
"You have very pure life energy. If I absorb it all, the master will definitely be happy."
She grinned, revealing sharp fangs.
Suddenly, she pounced at Kuzeha.
But before her claws could touch him, a terrifying pressure crushed her flat against the ground.
The white cat collapsed, dazed and dizzy, seeing stars.
"She's not unconscious," Kuzeha let out a breath of relief.
He was worried he might have accidentally knocked her out with a bit of his Conqueror's Haki.
He reached out and stroked Yukino's head, activating Undying Grasp.
Her silver-white hair was soft and fluffy, just like real cat fur.
"Huh… her positive emotions are being suppressed to the minimum."
Kuzeha looked down at her thoughtfully.
He could sense violent rage, sorrow, pain—negative emotions pushed to their limit.
This version of Yukino's inner personality was fully blackened.
She had all of Yukino's knowledge and memories—but her thinking followed that of a cat.
"Alright, I'll just call you Black Yukino."
Kuzeha tried to adjust her emotions and senses.
It worked.
Like teasing a cat, he scratched under Black Yukino's chin. Her flawless, delicate face blushed with delight.
She even nudged his hand with her head, rolled over to show her pale, flat belly, and grabbed his hand to make him pet her.
"Nope, now she's way too sensitive. She's turned into a cat that only knows how to enjoy being spoiled."
Kuzeha shook his head.
This would take more tuning.
And the moment he removed his hand, the effect of Undying Grasp would vanish.
"Hm?"
Just then, Kuzeha detected a strange spiritual energy inside her body.
"Well, this just got interesting…"
Before he could investigate further, he heard the sound of approaching vehicles.
Looking off into the distance, flashing lights were converging from all directions.
"The Yukinoshita family's people, huh…"
"Looks like their supernatural response capabilities aren't nearly as strong as their business acumen."
He wasn't the type to play hero uninvited.
Especially not for the Yukinoshita family.
But this time, he saw a perfect opportunity—to easily seize control of them.
Glancing down at Black Yukino, who was docilely snuggling against him, Kuzeha let out a quiet laugh and waited for their arrival.
A few minutes later.
Yukinoshita Haruno rushed over.
The moment she saw her catified, utterly unhinged sister—who normally showed hostility toward everyone—now curling up beside a young man like a tame pet, letting him tease her, even purring…
Yukinoshita Haruno was completely petrified on the spot.