volitional or conjectural of かつ (勝つ, katsu)

-u infinitive of かたい (硬い, 固い, 堅い, katai)

-u infinitive of かたい (難い, katai)

oligarch

a surname

Synonym of フルクトース (furukutōsu, “fructose”); fruit sugar

of low rank; of low quality; inferior

low rank; low quality; inferiority

question, problem on homework etc. / a question; a matter (of time etc.) / a problem (something that needs to be dealt with); a trouble / an issue; a matter

(と〜) thinking that […] (with the next clause explaining that the truth is contrary to expectations)