Dragon Clan: Force me to be reborn and slay dragons

Chapter 246 Bloodline and Responsibility
What does it mean when bad news comes down from the sky while you're sitting at home?

Genji was still wondering if Sakura would do something funny during his candlelight dinner with Erii, like touching her hand or trying to get a hug.

Before he could figure it out, a crow rushed in with a look of horror, saying that Chateau Joel Robuchon had been vandalized.

Many people at the scene saw an old man wearing a mask smash through a wall to perform an aerial acrobatic act, covered in blood, with his eyes shining like light bulbs.

Angers happened to be passing by when he was ambushed by an attacker hiding in the shadows and fired a burst of bullets.

Yuan Zhisheng initially thought that Lu Mingfei had lured Herzog out, but after hearing the raven's description, he felt it was unlikely, since the masked old man seemed to know Angers and had been taken away by the latter.

Upon learning that the Inuyama family had accepted the situation there and that the police who had rushed over had been informed, and that there wouldn't be any major problems in Ebisu, they finally felt a little relieved.

Since it wasn't Sakura who was knocked away, it means Erii is still safe.

However, that kid beat up people, smashed up the shop, had someone fire a magazine of bullets at the principal, and left behind a headless corpse, which put a lot of pressure on the Snake Clan.

After all, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Metropolitan Police Department have been keeping a close eye on them these past few days, fearing that they might cause some serious trouble again. They had finally behaved themselves for two days, but now that they have caused this incident, Genji Heavy Industries will likely be put on a team-building trip by all departments again.

And it's very likely tonight.

However, these issues are irrelevant to Genjiro. The real headaches are for Fuuma Kotaro and Ryoma Genichiro, who will be responsible for dealing with the government's questions.

With a sigh, Genji felt that that bastard Sakura was really too bewitching. No matter what he did, the Hebi-hachi family would always be the one to suffer in the end.

Just like the night before last, when that kid blew up the headquarters of the Oni Clan in Osaka, the result was that the governments of both places were furious and the high-ranking members of the Snake Clan were targeted for retaliation.

No wonder the female ninja specifically reminded him to stay home unless absolutely necessary when she delivered the message yesterday; she was worried he might get accidentally injured.

Speechless, he couldn't help but start to ponder the ins and outs of the matter. He wanted Kaguya to access Chateau Joel Robuchon's surveillance footage, but was told that the cameras in that area were all malfunctioning and could not be taken over via the network.

They sent the crow to investigate again, and finally managed to piece together a clue.

Herzog lived with them for so many years as Tachibana Masamune that he knew them almost better than they knew themselves.

Chateau Joel Robuchon is one of Erii's must-visit restaurants when she goes out, and it's like a canteen to her. Since she's in Shibuya, Erii will definitely go there to share the delicious food with Sakura.

Although she didn't know the way, she did know the name of the restaurant, and Herzog used that to set up an ambush.

Thinking of this, Yuan Zhisheng's expression darkened slightly.

Both siblings had undergone brain surgery, so it goes without saying what Herzog would do—it would definitely be that damned clapper sound again.

Once bitten, twice shy. Sakura had prepared headphones when he was in Shikatori Town, and although they weren't very useful, after so much time, he and his team must have found a more effective solution.

So, the last question is, what is the identity of the old man who was knocked away?
What did he do to make Sakura so angry that she almost exposed the secret of being a half-blood?
……

"When I saw that Erii was not in a good condition, I thought that the kid had done something wrong, so I rushed over in a moment of impulsiveness."

In the passenger seat of the Maserati, Uesugi, looking disheveled, leaned back in his seat, his tone revealing an unspeakable bitterness.

Angers drove his car without looking to the side, but his words hit the mark with the precision of bullets:
"You noticed the music playing was off, so why can't you use your brain?"

After listening to Uesugi Koshi recount the whole story, Angers was speechless. It was clear that the old man had been used.

"You don't have a daughter, how could you understand how I felt back then?" Uesugi Yue held a half-empty bottle of mineral water, the blood and grime on his face already wiped clean, his expression full of resentment as he spoke.

"You would never understand the feeling of having your precious child stolen and ruined by some good-for-nothing hoodlum if you're not careful!"

Angers couldn't help but glance at him sideways upon hearing this: "You talk as if you raised that child."

After leaving Ebisu, because Uesugi Koshi's identity was very sensitive, they did not go to the Hebi-Hachi family's properties, but went to Bunkyo Ward instead.

Uesugi Kotsushi said that his defeat tonight was simply because the knife he picked up at the restaurant wasn't good enough, and he needed to go home to get a knife.

Angers felt that the old man was making excuses, but he didn't call him out on it. He also wanted to see what Uesugi Koshi had been doing all these years since he disappeared, and how he was doing now.

Uesugi Kotsuya briefly revealed his situation: he has no wife, no children, and lives a solitary life. During the day, he volunteers at a community shrine, and at night, he pushes a ramen cart to the back gate of Tokyo University to earn money for his retirement. His life is monotonous and boring.

That's why Angers asked this question.

Uesugi was at a loss for words. After all, if it weren't for that rich young woman the night before, he would never have known until his death that he actually had descendants.

But this did not prevent him from feeling that he had finally outmaneuvered Angers.

From their first meeting, he had never beaten Angers in any area. Even with his unparalleled bloodline, he couldn't outrun the shameless Zero Time and ended up getting beaten up.

Now I finally feel a sense of relief and triumph.

But the thought that it was Angers' younger generation who had kidnapped his daughter and beaten him up made him unhappy.

So he changed the subject, asking, "Just who is that kid?"

“His name is Lu Mingfei, and he is Kassel College’s most important recruitment target this year.” Angers’ voice was calm, revealing nothing unusual.

"What do you mean? Is that kid some kind of wildly raised mixed-race person?" Uesugi hadn't been in contact with the world of mixed-race people for many years, but he still made a living near the University of Tokyo, so he had a comprehensive understanding of university affairs.

And because of his mother, the overseas news he pays the most attention to is from France and China.

I know that the other side of the sea uses an exam-oriented education system, and many things can only be accessed at the university level.

"The moves he showed me could only have been learned in a few years of training. Don't tell me that kid learned his kung fu at the children's palace."

“What’s wrong with the Youth Palace?” Angers glanced at him. “We have a Youth Palace Sword Saint in Kassel. He trained at the kendo training center for two years and immediately earned the title of invincible in close combat when he entered the school.”

Uesugi Koshi hadn't expected that China's youth palaces would be so valuable, but he quickly discovered the key point, much like a blind person discovering a crucial element:
"You're saying he's a target student for Kassel College, which means you haven't been able to recruit him yet?"

He turned his head, his eyes fixed on Angers: "Even the mighty Hilbert Jean Angers has moments of rejection?"

Angers maneuvered the Maserati through the traffic, his gaze fixed on the rapidly receding streetscape outside the window, without giving an immediate reply.

Lu Mingfei's incident was indeed an accident. That seemingly ordinary boy harbored too many mysteries, which even he, who knew some of the inside stories, could not unravel.

"Furthermore, even if he rejected the invitation from Kassel College, he should still be in school. Why would he suddenly come to Japan to seduce my daughter?"

how could I know?

“With the internet so developed now, it’s normal to make friends across borders.” Angers casually made up an excuse, “Young people are bold and daring, they just impulsively come to meet offline.”

Uesugi Koshi, having been through similar experiences, knows that Japan's pen pal culture has a long history, and that once the relationship is established, they will indeed meet up.

It's still hard to accept, though.

"Whose descendant is he? His bloodline is so strong that even I... couldn't gain the upper hand?"

Uesugi Koshi looked down at his hands, which had regained control, and gently touched his still aching chest, his voice lowering. He didn't know much about the situation in China, only that the elite troops sent to the battlefield by the Snake Clan had indeed encountered many powerful opponents.

However, the White King's bloodline is too overpowered. The awakening of their bloodline is like the Uchiha in Naruto opening the Sharingan, and their speed of becoming stronger is unbelievably fast.

In addition, they possess advanced weaponry, giving them a comprehensive advantage.

and so……

It is said that the land of China is blessed with outstanding people and resources. After so many years of recuperation, could it be that they have truly nurtured an extraordinary Eastern dragon?

“The level of secrecy surrounding him is very high.” Angers’ gaze deepened. “I can only say that his bloodline rating is S-class because the highest rating at Kassel College is S-class.”

If Lu Mingfei joins Kassel College, then the bloodline rating system of the college and even the Secret Party will see a breakthrough.

Yes, it's about breaking through upwards, not like Fingel who swooped all the way down to F-class.

"I see." Upon hearing this, Uesugi Kotetsu's pupils contracted slightly, and he nodded without saying anything more. The carriage fell silent again.

Gazing at the streetlights flashing past the window, he suddenly asked when he counted to the fifth streetlight, "What are you doing in Japan?"

"Your reaction time is far too long."

Angers inwardly grumbled that time waits for no one; even the mighty emperor of the Snake Clan had become a slow-witted old man. Indeed, no one can escape the ravages of time.

Although he had just been beaten up by a child, Uesugi Kotsuki was still a figure standing at the pinnacle of hybrid races. In case the God-Slaying Plan went wrong, he would be a powerful ally.

So he briefly explained the situation regarding the resurrection of the Demon Clan, the Snake Clan, and the White King, and waited for Uesugi Kotsugi to offer his opinion.

“White King…” Uesugi Kotsushi frowned, racking his brains but still couldn’t understand how that kid named Lu Mingfei could cause such a commotion in just a few days after arriving in Japan.

Sure enough, those who catch Angers' eye are all troublemakers.

However, those things are no longer relevant to him.

The current Uesugi Koshi is no longer the emperor of the Snake-Headed Eight Families, but just a decrepit old man selling ramen. His only wish in life is to return to the church outside Lyon, France, to listen to the glory of the Lord and fall into eternal sleep.

Of course, he now has another wish in his life.

Angers could tell from his silence that he definitely didn't want to get involved in this troublesome matter. After all, it did take some courage to step back into that vortex that could condemn someone to eternal damnation after being out of the spotlight for so many years.

This old guy chose to run away back then, which was shameful, but it was indeed effective.

"Tell me, your child."

"The information I received indicates that the head of the Uesugi family is likely the daughter of the previous patriarch, Tachibana Masamune."

Angers heard Tachibana Masamune's last words from Inuyama He, and they differed somewhat from Uesugi Etsu's account.

"Bullshit! Erii is a spitting image of my mother when she was young. What is this guy surnamed Tachibana? Does he even deserve to be called one?"

Uesugi Koshi looked at him with utter disdain. If Tachibana Masamune hadn't been completely bewildered, he would have gouged out the other man's eyes to make him see reality.

Under Angers' probing gaze, Uesugi Etsuya sighed deeply and began to recount his past.

"My father was the last heir of the Uesugi family, yet he became a Go master through his obsession with the game." Uesugi Echizen's voice was low, tinged with a mixture of sarcasm and wistfulness.
"He's a complete idiot. His obsession with Go stems from his loathing of his own bloodline, which he uses to escape reality. Unexpectedly, he wins my mother's favor by chance."

"My mother was a French nun who fell in love with my father during a blind chess match. They eloped to Lyon, but were hunted down by the Wind Demon family."

"The tragedy of 'Madame Butterfly'?" Angers asked.

“No, it’s a story of a stallion escaping.” Uesugi Kotsushi shook his head. “My father was forced to return to Japan to work as a breeding machine, and my mother raised me in anonymity at a church.”

Angers noticed the change in his address—from the distant "father" to the affectionate "mother".

Uesugi continued telling his story. He grew up in France and often went to church to pray, just to see his mother from afar. In his heart, his mother was as holy as an angel.

But his peaceful daily life was shattered one afternoon when his bloodline awakened, his Word of Power erupted and went out of control, turning three city blocks into ruins.

Just when he was filled with anxiety, the priests of the Snake-Headed Eight Families found him and said that he was the emperor and that they wanted to welcome him back to Japan to ascend the throne.

Upon arriving in Japan, he received a grand welcome and a coronation ceremony. He had seven Japanese wives and indulged in debauchery every day, completely forgetting the manners he had maintained in France and ignoring his mother's admonitions.

When World War II broke out, the Snake Clan advocated war, hoping to profit from the war and suppress mixed-race Europeans.

He lived a good life in the early stages of the war, until France surrendered. He was worried about his mother's safety and was only relieved to learn that she had left France and her whereabouts were unknown.

However, as Japan suffered defeat after defeat and the Emperor announced unconditional surrender, Angers came to take over the mixed-race Japanese. After his assassination attempt failed, he received testimony from the Tokyo Trials sent by the Japanese, only to discover that his mother had died in that horrific massacre and that her body had been desecrated.

The war criminal who desecrated his mother's body was revered as a hero and received incense offerings at the family shrine.

Enraged, he stormed into the shrine, chopped down Fujiwara no Katsu's spirit tablet, kicked over the eternal flame, scattered his ashes, and set the shrine ablaze, killing countless people in a fit of rage.

There were people who wanted to stop him, people who wanted to subdue him, and innocent, pitiful people who longed for forgiveness.

But he spared none of them. His mind was filled with violent desires, and he remained silent, only wielding his knife to kill.

Finally, he killed his seven wives as well. Looking at their bodies floating on the water, he suddenly realized that his mother had committed suicide because she could not bear his involvement in the war and his role as the spiritual leader of the mob. The person his mother cursed in the end was himself.

From then on, he lived in anonymity as an ordinary ramen chef, and whenever he had free time, he would volunteer at the community church to cleanse himself of his sins.

He had no children in his life, all so that the curse of the imperial bloodline would end with his generation.

Unexpectedly, the gene samples extracted by the Snake Clan actually produced offspring, and his bloodline was eventually continued, while the curse of the royal bloodline continued.

Angers also knew that Tachibana Masamune's death was related to Minamoto no Wakana, but he sensed that Inuyama He hadn't told him everything when he told him these things, and there must be something hidden.

“I’ve been retired for over sixty years, Angers,” Uesugi said in a hoarse voice. “I thought my life would end peacefully, but fate has not spared me.”

"including me?"

"including you."

"I will not return to the Snake Clan, nor will I help you slay gods." Uesugi Kotsuki said coldly. "I hate Japan. This country has taken too much from me."

"But... I do owe those children."

Just like he was back then, Genjiro is now in danger of being thrown to the front to take the blame and shoulder the responsibility at any time. As a father, he doesn't want to see a similar tragedy repeat itself in his child.

Therefore, he will do whatever he can.

(End of this chapter)