Chapter 259: The Audience with Mizuō Ja
Two days later.
Natsuba Genryū and Kamishiro Hime, as well as Tamamo-no-Mae and three tengu loyalists, arrived at the Natsuba main residence.
Although Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae had been here once before, and with their memory, even if it was just once, remembering the route was not difficult at all.
However, now Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae had to pretend it was their first time.
Under the guidance of a Natsuba steward, Natsuba Genryū fell half a step behind Kamishiro Hime and walked side by side with Tamamo-no-Mae.
A thousand thoughts raced through Natsuba Genryū’s mind. He was thinking about how to seize the initiative in this plan later.
After all, Kamishiro Hime’s strength was not only higher than the Kujō family’s back then, but the foundation of the Kamishiro imperial family was also several times higher than the Kujō and Natsuba families.
Leaving aside whether Natsuba Genryū could use pressure to make Kamishiro Hime obey his lead…
Leaving aside Kamishiro Hime’s background…
Just Kamishiro Hime herself, in the palace in Kyoto, Natsuba Genryū had felt her powerful and suffocating aura. Although it was a step weaker than his killing intent…
But it could undoubtedly resist the power of Natsuba Genryū’s killing intent.
In this way, Natsuba Genryū simply could not use this move to seize his own initiative.
Of course, although Kamishiro Hime’s aura was only a step weaker than his, in terms of real strength, if they were to fight, Natsuba Genryū was also confident he could kill her in half an hour.
However, to really act against Kamishiro Hime was absolutely not possible.
Once Natsuba Genryū acted, it would not just be a matter of initiative, but would be to push the Kamishiro imperial family to his enemy.
At that time, even if Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin were healing in Takamagahara, if they knew that their only A-rank descendant had been bullied by the Natsuba family…
The situation Natsuba Genryū would face was not what he wanted to see.
Although with Susanoo’s protection, the Kamishiro imperial family could not do anything to the main residence, the industries outside would probably all be finished.
Not only that, but with the revival of the gods…
Although Susanoo was known as one of the strongest gods a thousand years ago, the Kamishiro imperial family’s Amaterasu was a god who had almost removed the “one of.”
In the records, Amaterasu was the undisputed strongest.
If Natsuba Genryū were to be an enemy of the imperial family, at that time, not to mention the prosperity and decline of the Natsuba conglomerate, whether it could exist was a big question.
So, to attack Kamishiro Hime and force her to submit was undoubtedly the most foolish thing.
And…
What Natsuba Genryū could kill was also just the most ordinary Kamishiro Hime. After all, she was now also carrying a divine artifact.
If the divine artifact were to be activated, even with the help of Susanoo’s unconscious divinity…
But facing the strongest god’s divine artifact, Natsuba Genryū also had no confidence in stopping Kamishiro Hime’s escape.
So, this idea was completely unfeasible.
A brainstorm of thoughts went through Natsuba Genryū’s mind, and he was always thinking.
But there was no effective way to obtain the initiative of this operation.
And the initiative was clearly crucial. It affected the direct profit, could arrange everything, and could arrange the most important but least safe things for Natsuba Genryū’s own supernatural users, thus reducing casualties and gaining more.
After all, the Natsuba conglomerate had been through a round of B-rank supernatural user deaths before. They could not continue to weaken the conglomerate’s foundation.
As for arranging the supernatural users Kamishiro Hime had brought into a place with a high mortality rate for cannon fodder…
That had nothing to do with Natsuba Genryū.
With the education of the Natsuba conglomerate, Natsuba Genryū was an extreme egoist.
Even if they were allies, they were not his own people. Their life and death had nothing to do with him.
Just as Natsuba Genryū was tossing and turning, thinking about how to discuss with Kamishiro Hime and seize the initiative, and could only try with his eloquence…
Kamishiro Hime was the first to speak.
“Lord Natsuba.”
“The Natsuba conglomerate has fought Summer Harvest Mountain many times, and has even allied with the Kujō family to fight them together.”
“So many battles…”
“And with your long experience, in terms of the plan against Summer Harvest Mountain, I am surely not as good as you.”
“Moreover, this is the territory of the Natsuba main residence.”
“I think the initiative of the plan should be left to you.”
Hearing this, Natsuba Genryū’s pale golden pupils widened slightly, and then a hint of joy appeared.
Natsuba Genryū had not expected that the initiative he had been racking his brains for, and had even thought of pressuring Kamishiro Hime to obtain, would come so easily and effortlessly.
It was not a snatch, but Kamishiro Hime had taken the initiative to give it up.
This was simply an unimaginable thing.
After all, for Kamishiro Hime, to have the initiative was a great good thing.
From Kamishiro Hime’s perspective, with the initiative, once they eliminated a powerful organization like Summer Harvest Mountain, the prestige of the imperial family would be further enhanced.
And Kamishiro Hime’s personal power in the imperial family would also reach its peak.
After all, even Kamishiro Take and Kamishiro Sōshin, in their youth, had never had the feat of eliminating an organization with more than three A-ranks.
But if Kamishiro Hime gave up the initiative, it meant that the credit for eliminating Summer Harvest Mountain would mostly fall on the Natsuba conglomerate, and not the imperial family.
Of course, Natsuba Genryū was extremely eager to obtain this initiative.
But then, a thoughtful look appeared in Natsuba Genryū’s pale golden pupils. He wondered if this was Kamishiro Hime testing him.
Thinking of this, Natsuba Genryū’s eyes narrowed slightly, and like an old fox, a narrow eye corner was revealed. He said respectfully,
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Lady Hime’s big-picture view has always been famous. It’s better to have you control the initiative of the plan.”
Hearing Natsuba Genryū’s words, Kamishiro Hime’s pure white beautiful eyes glanced at him slightly.
She of course knew what Natsuba Genryū was thinking.
And she had no time to exchange pleasantries with him. This was not her style. So Kamishiro Hime said straightforwardly,
“If I say you’re in charge, then you’re in charge.”
“No need to test my intentions.”
“The credit for solving Summer Harvest Mountain is not so important to me now.”
“It’s better to have you, who are experienced in fighting, to ensure a complete victory.”
As for what tricks Natsuba Genryū wanted to play…
Kamishiro Hime was not worried at all.
Thinking about it, at most Natsuba Genryū would be superior to her own people in terms of layout, maximizing the reduction of losses, and also getting enough supernatural materials.
Only these two points.
But for Kamishiro Hime, this simply didn’t exist.
After all, what area Summer Harvest Mountain would attack was up to her… her mother to decide. Summer Harvest Mountain would accurately attack Natsuba Genryū’s men, and would not go to attack the easier-to-attack imperial family men.
After all, after confirming that her father and grandfather had very likely been poisoned by Amaterasu…
The current Kamishiro imperial family could already be said to be her mother’s asset.
Kamishiro Hime and Natsuba Genryū, in a single sentence, had quickly arrived at the guest room Natsuba Genryū had prepared.
The standard was also different from the previous Kujō family.
Although it was still a Japanese-style residence’s guest room, it was inlaid with jade. Whether it was the tea or the supernatural aura floating in the air, both were exceptionally dense.
A hazy color rose, and it was dreamlike.
The surroundings were all exquisitely carved screens, and the atmosphere was elegant.
The tengu loyalists and the Natsuba stewards all stood outside the door.
Tamamo-no-Mae, however, followed Kamishiro Hime in, and Natsuba Genryū followed closely behind.
After all, although Tamamo-no-Mae’s strength was only at peak B-rank, in terms of identity, she was the master of the Ryūko Shrine, this national shrine.
In terms of rank, Tamamo-no-Mae was on par with Natsuba Genryū.
Naturally, she had the qualification to go in and discuss matters together.
The three of them knelt down.
A rich and pleasant tea fragrance rose, and a faint fragrance filled their nostrils.
The specific content of the plan began to be discussed step by step.
Natsuba Genryū’s old voice slowly echoed. He said,
“My plan is not complicated.”
“To be ashamed, although the Natsuba conglomerate is an enemy of Summer Harvest Mountain, my daughter, Natsuba Rinrei, joined them early on and is my enemy.”
“When we were cooperating with the Kujō family, Natsuba Rinrei caused us a lot of interference.”
Natsuba Genryū thought of the matter at the Hero Association. There, he had found a lot of traces of Natsuba Rinrei’s fighting. Clearly, on the side of Summer Harvest Mountain, Natsuba Rinrei had helped a lot.
After all, after returning from the Hero Association, Natsuba Rinrei had advanced to A-rank.
If Natsuba Rinrei had advanced at the Hero Association, then between Natsuba Taiga and the Kujō head, she had at least entangled one of them.
And that was why the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain had killed Natsuba Taiga, and the Kujō head had fled.
Otherwise, with the strength of the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain’s A-rank, and Natsuba Taiga’s “White Tiger” ability, which also controlled the element of wind, this speed, Natsuba Taiga should have also had a hope of running out.
Not to mention…
The one on Natsuba Taiga’s body could greatly increase his strength.
After speaking of Natsuba Rinrei, Natsuba Genryū continued,
“Not only that, but at the meeting a while ago, my second daughter, Natsuba Hanae, was also found by me to have joined Summer Harvest Mountain.”
Hearing this, Kamishiro Hime’s pure white beautiful eyes were slightly taken aback, and her right hand subconsciously clenched.
“Oh?!”
This news was clearly beyond Kamishiro Hime’s understanding.
Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae looked at each other, and they could both see the astonishment in each other’s eyes.
Clearly, both of them had not expected this.
Could it be that Natsuba Genryū had discovered that Kamishiro Hime’s mother (my Lady) was the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain?
If this information were to be leaked, although it would not have a great impact, it would be somewhat unfavorable.
And Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae’s expressions were seen by Natsuba Genryū.
He was a little confused why Natsuba Hanae joining Summer Harvest Mountain would cause such a reaction from Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae. After all, this was not a big deal.
A confusion arose in Natsuba Genryū’s heart, and he prepared to ask.
And Kamishiro Hime’s next sentence solved Natsuba Genryū’s confusion and shut his mouth.
“We hadn’t expected that Natsuba Hanae, as an ordinary person, could also join Summer Harvest Mountain. It’s a little surprising.”
Kamishiro Hime had naturally also sensed that their reaction had been a little big.
And she had skillfully given a reasonable explanation.
Hearing this, Natsuba Genryū nodded.
Indeed, with the strength of Summer Harvest Mountain, but to recruit an ordinary person was strange.
Of course, Natsuba Genryū admitted that Natsuba Hanae had some means and intelligence to be able to hide her true personality under his own nose for so long.
And had even used some scheming.
If Summer Harvest Mountain lacked a strategist, to take Natsuba Hanae in was a completely reasonable thing.
Thinking of this, Natsuba Genryū continued,
“Yes, I was also surprised for a while before.”
“Not only that, but Natsuba Hanae was given divinity by a newly awakened god of Summer Harvest Mountain. Although she possesses a strength comparable to a peak A-rank, she has already been taken down by me.”
“But from the fact that Natsuba Hanae could get divinity, it can be seen that Summer Harvest Mountain also values her very much, and has not let her simply be a strategist, but has a certain attack means.”
“Besides Natsuba Hanae, I’ve also found out that Chikari Makoto of the Chikari branch is also a member of Summer Harvest Mountain.”
“So, my plan is to use the two of them as bait.”
“And to wipe out the Master of Summer Harvest Mountain and its numerous members in one fell swoop.”
“Of course, if the god of Summer Harvest Mountain personally comes, in the territory of the Natsuba main residence, under the lightning of Susanoo, and with the strongest divine artifact of the Kamishiro imperial family, we can even…”
“—Kill a god!”
Hearing this, a strange light appeared in Kamishiro Hime and Tamamo-no-Mae’s eyes, but they both nodded.
Kamishiro Hime pursed her lips slightly and tasted the tea.
Then she said softly,
“Although it’s a simple plan, from the fact that Summer Harvest Mountain values its members, it might be surprisingly effective.”
“What’s worth noting is…”
“Lord Natsuba, the First and Second Young Masters of the Natsuba family are both dead, and the First and Second Misses are both under the command of the enemy.”
“And you are already old.”
“The Kamishiro imperial family cooperates with a top-tier conglomerate, not some declining afterglow.”
Kamishiro Hime’s words were originally to sting Natsuba Genryū’s heart.
But it had made Natsuba Genryū think of something else. He said,
“Lady Hime need not worry. My son, the heir to the Natsuba conglomerate, there is still my third son, Natsuba Yosuke.”
“The Natsuba conglomerate will not decline, but will always be among the top-tier conglomerates.”
“It just so happens that there is this opportunity.”
“It’s not bad to have my third son meet you.”
At this, Natsuba Genryū’s voice grew a little louder, and he shouted,
“Someone.”
With that, a Natsuba steward pushed open the door and entered. He knelt on both knees and said,
“Yes, sir.”
Natsuba Genryū did not waste any words and said directly,
“Call Natsuba Yosuke to this guest room. Tell him to be quick.”
Natsuba Yosuke had followed Natsuba Genryū’s arrangements and should have been in his room in the Natsuba main residence during this period. The time it would take to get here, with a supernatural user’s speed, would be at most five minutes.
And after Natsuba Genryū had finished speaking, that Natsuba steward had not yet left…
And a slightly hoarse and shrill voice was heard outside the door.
“Family Head, I, Mizuō Ja, request an audience.”
“I have something important to present to you.”
HERE IT COMES