Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"You incorrigible old pimp," Angers said with a laugh, then punched Inuyama He lightly on the shoulder with his fist.

Inuyama He laughed heartily and returned the punch. Then, the two elderly men, whose combined age exceeded a century and a half, opened their arms and embraced each other tightly, patting each other's backs. In that embrace, there was a sigh that transcended time, an unspoken affection between men, and perhaps, a touch of something heavy that only they themselves understood.

At the end of the corridor, a delicate paper-covered wooden lattice door was gently pulled open by two kneeling girls. Soft, bright light poured out from inside, accompanied by a gentle breeze carrying the delicate scent of incense and the girls' bodies.

"Welcome!" A soft, melodious female voice greeted us from inside the door.

Angers and Inuyama He parted ways, and Inuyama He stepped aside to indicate, "Principal, please."

This is an extremely spacious yet exceptionally simple Japanese-style room. The four walls are covered with white paper-covered wooden lattice screens, and the floor is covered with brand-new tatami mats, exuding the fresh scent of dried straw. In the center of the room is a long, low cypress wood table, its surface sparsely decorated except for a large, crystal-clear copper basin filled with water. A few delicate cherry blossom petals float quietly on the surface, their tips still tinged with a hint of crimson. The ultimate simplicity borders on Zen.

However, this simplicity is not empty. Because at this moment, the most luxurious and touching "decoration" in the room is the dozen or so girls kneeling neatly along both sides of the long table.

They were unlike the girls downstairs, whether lavishly dressed or simply elegant. They all wore the standard uniforms of Japanese high school girls: dark blue blazers over crisp white shirts, red or dark blue bow ties, and knee-length pleated skirts. Black stockings encased their slender, straight calves. The same uniforms, worn by them, presented completely different temperaments and beauties. Some had eyes as cool and aloof as distant snow-capped mountains, some had smiles as sweet as early summer roses, some possessed an intellectual air with a scholarly air, and some had eyes that sparkled with innocent charm… It was as if all the most beautiful shadows of youth and first love that a man had encountered in different times, places, and dreams throughout his life had been gathered in this room. Compared to them, the sexy or elegant dancers and musicians downstairs instantly became vulgar cosmetics, devoid of their souls.

Angers' eyes lit up slightly. He walked to the head seat at the end of the long table, sat down on the floor with a graceful and natural movement, without the awkwardness often seen in people his age. He habitually took out an exquisite silver cigar box from his inner suit pocket, opened it, took out a thick, dark brown Havana cigar, and then casually tossed the entire cigar box onto the clean table with a soft "tap".

Almost the instant the cigar box hit the table, a warm flame lit up in front of him. The girl closest to him—a girl with short, black hair and a clear, spring-like demeanor—had risen, approached him in a standard and elegant half-kneeling posture, and steadily lit Angers' cigar with a long match in both hands.

Angers took a deep drag, letting the thick smoke swirl in his mouth before slowly exhaling. The bluish-gray smoke rose in wisps, blurring his face and making his light gray eyes appear even more unfathomable. His gaze pierced through the smoke, settling calmly on the two men already seated upright across the long table.

Besides Inuyama He, there were two other guests in this Japanese-style room.

Chapter 564 The Inuyama Family's Hospitality (Part 2)

Inuyama He sat down to Angers' left and gestured to introduce him, saying, "Principal, please allow me to introduce you. This is Mr. Ryoma Genichiro, the current head of the Ryoma family."

Sitting directly opposite Angers was a man around fifty years old, with a serious, even somewhat old-fashioned, face. He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and his hair was meticulously combed; he looked more like a senior executive of a large corporation or a rigorous scholar. Upon hearing the introduction, he immediately leaned forward in a standard posture and bowed deeply to Angers, his voice rigid and clear:

"I graduated from the Department of Dragon Genealogy at Kassel College in 83. I was fortunate enough to take the course 'Introduction to Alchemy' taught by you, Principal, and benefited greatly from it. I still remember it to this day."

Inuyama He then pointed to a man sitting to Ryoma Genichiro's left, a man who looked much younger, around thirty years old, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and with a slightly shy and scholarly air: "This is the new head of the Miyamoto family, Mr. Miyamoto Shio."

The younger man quickly followed suit with a bow, his tone revealing a hint of nervousness compared to Ryoma Genichiro: "I graduated from Kassel College in 95 with a degree in Practical Alchemy. I once... I once received an award from the college for my research project and was awarded a scholarship by the principal. I have always been grateful to him."

Angers' gaze lingered on Miyamoto Shio's face for a moment, then he suddenly smiled, a smile that held a deeper meaning: "Just a few days ago, weren't you my subordinate? Miyamoto Shio, the director of the Ganryu Research Institute, under the Japanese branch." He flicked the ash from his cigar. "Is it necessary to introduce yourself so formally? As if we were old friends who haven't seen each other for years."

Miyamoto Shigeo's body tensed almost imperceptibly. He adjusted his glasses, his voice still respectful, but with an added firmness: "A few days ago, I was here as the director of the Ganryu Research Institute. Today, I am here to pay my respects to the principal as the head of the Miyamoto family."

The atmosphere seemed to freeze subtly for a moment because of these two sentences.

“Oh—” Angers drew out his words, his playful smile deepening. He glanced around the elegant yet subtly luxurious Japanese-style room, and the beautiful and poised girls in uniforms on either side of him, raising his cigar. “The atmosphere is so formal, it’s practically a formal dinner at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He turned to Inuyama He beside him, casually changing the subject. “He, let’s not rush things. Shouldn’t you first give me a proper introduction to your dazzling ‘collection’? I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time.”

Inuyama He immediately broke into a smile, a smile that mixed pride, boasting, and tacit understanding between men: "Yes, yes, yes! Look at my memory, I was so focused on talking about business that I almost forgot what you, Principal, are most interested in! We can talk about business anytime, but this opportunity to show off your treasure is rare!" He laughed loudly and clapped his hands vigorously.

As applause erupted, the girls kneeling on either side rose in unison and with graceful elegance, as if on command. One by one, with trained steps that were neither overly flamboyant nor lacking in girlish lightness, they walked to the front of the long table to face Angers, where Inuyama He introduced each of them. His introductions were not merely about names, but rather about showcasing the origins and unique characteristics of each rare treasure.

"This is Mimi, nineteen years old. She's currently the most promising newcomer in the television industry. She has a natural talent for acting, and four or five directors from various TV stations call her every day to ask her to act in their shows." She was a girl with a sweet smile and bright eyes, and when she bowed slightly, she showed just the right amount of shyness.

"Kazusa, a young musician. Don't let her young age fool you; her specialty is the electric violin. She even performed at Carnegie Hall in New York last year and was very popular." The short-haired girl with a cool and aloof demeanor nodded slightly, her eyes focused.

"Kotono is a professional Go player! She's already reached the fifth dan! She also hosts a Go lecture program on TV Asahi, which has a large audience..." She was a quiet and intelligent-looking girl wearing frameless glasses.

Inuyama He, in high spirits, pointed to a girl who had just walked up, with a high ponytail, a fresh and pretty face, and a resemblance to a certain famous actress, and shouted in a loud voice: "Sezuko! Come here, come over here, turn around in front of the principal, the prettiest one!"

The girl named Sezuko obediently responded, first bowing deeply to Angers, then taking off her small black leather shoes and placing them neatly to the side. She stood barefoot on the smooth tatami mat. Taking a deep breath, she lightly touched the ground with one foot, twisted her waist, and began to spin gracefully like a swan. Her skirt fluttered, her long hair drew beautiful arcs, her movements fluid, natural, and rhythmic, clearly demonstrating her profound dance skills.

“Bravo! (That’s fantastic!)” Angers clapped enthusiastically, his eyes revealing genuine admiration.

"An absolute ballet prodigy!" Inuyama He proudly introduced, "I'm planning to send her to the Vaganova Academy in Russia for further studies. I believe it won't be long before she's standing on the world's top stage and amazing everyone."

During the introduction and demonstration, the side door of the Japanese-style room was silently opened. Several sushi chefs, dressed in pristine white uniforms and top hats, respectfully carried in a boat-shaped vessel, a meter long and carved from a single piece of white wood. Inside the "boat" was crushed ice, upon which were neatly arranged various top-quality sashimi: tuna belly (Otoro) glistening with an enticing pink and snow-white sheen of fat, translucent botan shrimp, scallop adductor muscles, sea urchin… all like works of art.

At the same time, the rich aroma of sake began to fill the room. Someone filled the ceramic sake cups in front of Angers, Inuyama He, Ryoma Genichiro, and Miyamoto Shio with sake. It was a rare "shochu," the liquid slightly cloudy, but the aroma exceptionally strong.

“It’s yakitori,” Angers glanced at the contents of his glass, then at the bright red, exceptionally delicate-looking fish sashimi in the “ship,” and laughed. “Aga, you really do remember my taste.” He raised his glass to Ryoma Genichiro and Miyamoto Shio across from him, his voice cheerful, “Well then, gentlemen, shall we have a drink first?”

Ryoma Genichiro and Miyamoto Shio exchanged a silent glance, their eyes conveying a complex and unreadable message. Then, they simultaneously raised their glasses in return to Angers, drinking their wine in one gulp.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to come alive with that glass of wine, the temperature rising. Inuyama He laughed heartily, gesturing for the girls to relax. Soon, these beautiful young women, each with their own unique charm, surrounded Angers, pouring him drinks, serving him food, and speaking softly. Angers accepted all the invitations. He sat on the floor, relaxed and natural, sometimes laughing loudly with his arm around the shoulder of the girl beside him, sometimes talking loudly with Inuyama He, drinking heartily—a complete departure from the debonair and heroic figure of ancient Japan's Warring States period, utterly different from the refined gentleman he had been in the customs hall.

"Which one do you like? Principal, please don't be shy! If you like one, just take it!" Inuyama He was clearly a little tipsy, pinching Mimi's pink cheek beside him, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"You old codger, you've taken in so many beautiful 'adopted daughters,' placing them in the entertainment, music, and cultural circles... turning them all into stars. After all these years, your 'pimping' nature hasn't changed at all!" Angers laughed loudly, patting Inuyama He's back forcefully.

"My wish is to become a man like Maeda Keiji, the 'Greatest Kabukiman of the Warring States Period'! Alas, Principal, this is no longer the era where one could roam the world freely and settle scores with just a fine horse and a red spear!" Inuyama He tilted his head back and downed a cup of wine, his face flushed, and his eyes revealed a hint of wildness and melancholy. "That heroic spirit, that untamed nature, can now only be entrusted to these flowers, wine, and these beautiful girls!"

Miyamoto Shio and Ryoma Genichiro sat to the side, maintaining their upright posture, merely raising their glasses frequently with polite smiles on their faces. Their eyes, however, would occasionally meet subtly in the air, conveying an anxiety and helplessness that only they understood.

Chapter 565 Tachibana Masamune: Chisei, you are our sharpest sword

The Genji Heavy Industries Building, located in Chiyoda Ward, resembles a giant, black sword piercing straight into the low-hanging night sky. However, near its top floor, a completely different world unfolds.

The Shinshin-ji Temple is not a real temple, but a huge terrace courtyard located on a suspended structure extending from the side of the Genji Heavy Industries main building.

The ground is paved with ancient, greyish-white stone slabs from Kyoto, their cracks covered with velvety moss. Several simple stone lanterns, weathered by time, stand silently, their interiors emitting a soft, warm glow. In a corner, a meticulously pruned black pine tree grows, its gnarled branches rustling softly in the night breeze. A clear, man-made stream meanders along a stone trough, its murmuring waters bringing a touch of mountain coolness.

The height here is enough to overlook most of the city. The edge of the terrace is a low black stone railing, beyond which lies a dazzling void and a sea of ​​brilliant lights.

At this moment, dark, heavy cumulonimbus clouds were pressing down on Tokyo, so thick they seemed almost within reach. The spires of skyscrapers, gleaming with lights or advertising, seemed to reach into the churning inky blackness.

Beneath the clouds, the neon lights of the commercial district still burn tirelessly, outlining the bizarre contours of the buildings. On the elevated highways, car headlights converge into rivers of gold and red light, ceaselessly rushing and flowing.

Above was an apocalyptic oppression, below was a carnival-like splendor.

Yuan Zhisheng stood on the edge of the terrace, his back to the warm indoor lighting, facing the bizarre and fantastical world. He wore a black Executive Bureau uniform, his jacket casually draped over the stone bench beside him, and only a shirt with the top button undone at the collar.

The night breeze, carrying dampness and the city's distinctive dust, ruffled his slightly disheveled hair. He held a small, plain ceramic cup in his hand, filled with clear, refreshing sake, but he forgot to drink it, gazing instead at the dark cloud overhead that seemed poised to collapse at any moment.

“The current situation in Japan is just like this city before us,” he suddenly said. “To describe it with an ancient Chinese poem, it would be quite fitting: ‘Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it.’” He turned around and looked at the center of the terrace.

There was a low cypress wood table with simple wine glasses and a few small dishes to accompany the drinks: salt-roasted ginkgo nuts, edamame, and a small dish of pickled plums.

Beside the table, Tachibana Masamune knelt peacefully. He wore a navy blue casual kimono with a dark gray haori over it, his gray hair was neatly combed, and his face was serene, even with a hint of leisure, as he poured himself a drink. Compared to Genji's slightly tense demeanor, he seemed more like an ordinary old man enjoying tea in his own backyard at night.

“Your office is probably packed with people by now.” Yuan Zhisheng walked back to the table, sat down in a kneeling position, and drank the already cold wine in his glass in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, bringing a brief burning sensation.

“The heads of each branch, the intelligence section, the operations section… are all waiting to report the battle situation to you, analyze the trends, and request the next instructions. The entire family is like a fully drawn bow, stretched to its limit.” Genji put down his cup and looked directly at Tachibana Masamune. “But you, on the other hand, still have the mind to invite me here for drinks and to watch the clouds.”

Upon hearing this, Tachibana Masamune chuckled softly. He picked up the sake bottle that was warming in hot water and refilled Genji's sake cup, his movements slow and steady, the sake stream perfectly smooth.

“Young man, the way of a general is to first cultivate one’s mind. Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, your expression will not change; even if a deer runs past on your left, your eyes will not blink.” He slowly recited these two Chinese sentences in a voice with the unique magnetism of an elderly person, his pronunciation was standard and his meaning profound.

"This is also Chinese wisdom, which is older than the saying 'dark clouds loom over the city.' Don't be overwhelmed and flustered just because you have a lot of things to do. If you feel like you're about to be crushed and can't breathe, that's precisely when you should temporarily stop all the work you're doing."

Tachibana Masamune pointed to his heart, then to the stone lanterns, pine shadows, and flowing water around him. “Let this place quiet down. Just like now. Listen to the sound of the water, watch the drifting clouds, and drink a cup of wine without rushing. This is the wisdom of the old man. You may think it’s old-fashioned now, but one day you will understand.”

"The future?" Genjiro twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint smile that was almost self-deprecating, and his shoulders shrugged slightly.

"They wouldn't understand. My future is clearly planned: I'll be on a beach in the south of France, selling sunscreen and recommending which SPF value is best for the Mediterranean sun. In that kind of life, I won't need to understand the principles of military strategy or how to govern a general."

Tachibana Masamune paused for a moment while pouring the wine, but quickly resumed his normal expression. A perfectly timed apology flashed across his face, the forgiving look of an elder towards a junior for an occasional slip of the tongue.

"Sorry, sorry, look at my memory, I forgot again." He shook his head with a smile and put the wine pot back into the hot water. "When people get old, they always unconsciously want to pass on their limited experience to young people, but they forget that young people have their own world and way of life."

Tachibana Masamune skipped over that topic and turned to business, speaking calmly: "It's no secret that our clan has already launched a full-scale war against the Oni Clan. According to the latest reports, nearly 70% of the local gangs in major cities across Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, and other regions have explicitly expressed their support for us, or at least remained neutral. The situation is very favorable for us."

He picked up a salt-roasted ginkgo nut, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly. "So, whether you listen to the reports from those people below or not doesn't really matter. What we need to do now is to advance steadily, like a bulldozer, just roll over the predetermined route. I've been preparing for this battle for almost ten years, and I've thought of every possible contingency plan."

"Aren't the Demons ready?" Genji asked.

Tachibana Masamune looked at Genjiro, his eyes gleaming with a confident light of strategic mastery: "On the other hand, the Oni Clan was forced into a hasty response by us. It's like two people playing chess. One side has carefully considered and laid out the strategy, even calculating the opponent's reaction ten moves ahead; while the other side is suddenly pulled onto the chessboard, their vision blurred, and can only make random moves based on instinct. Tell me, who will be more flustered?"

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a knowing look into people's hearts, "Once the commander-in-chief becomes flustered and unsettled, the offensive and defensive formations will begin to collapse from within. In fact, the defeat is largely determined at the very beginning of the war."

“Of course,” Tachibana Masamune changed the subject, “the most crucial final blow, the one that is utterly devastating and uproots everything, still requires your personal intervention. You are our sharpest sword; once drawn, it must be a fatal blow.”

Genji met his gaze, his face expressionless, and calmly asked, "Target? Is it Gokurakukan?"

Chapter 566 Tachibana Masamune: Wakasa, go and conquer Gokurakukan!

“Yes.” Tachibana Masamune nodded, his expression solemn. “Osaka is the headquarters of the Demon Gang, which has been operating there for many years. Most of the local thugs there have been firmly controlled by them with money, violence, or leverage. Their core companies, shady businesses, and most important pools of funds are all concentrated in Osaka. Even many local councilors have become their protectors, being fed to the point of being bloated.”

He paused, then emphasized, "And Gokurakukan is their most important and deadliest stronghold in Osaka, and even in the entire Kansai region of Japan. It's not just a luxurious casino or a den of iniquity. It's a massive and efficient international money laundering center. Every day, tens of billions of yen in illicit money flow through there like blood, are cleaned up, and then injected into their legitimate bodies to nourish the monster that is the Oni Clan."

“Hmm,” Genji said calmly.

Tachibana Masamune looked directly into Genji's eyes: "Taking down the Paradise House is like stabbing the heart of the Demon Clan with a red-hot iron rod. It's not just a matter of a broken funding chain; it's a devastating blow to their morale, reputation, and even the very foundation of their survival."

Tachibana Masamune put down his chopsticks and placed his hands folded on his knees. "The person in charge of the Pleasure House, codenamed 'Ryoma,' whose real name is Sakurai Kogure. According to the intelligence we have, she is an extremely dangerous and peculiar woman. Not only is she ruthless and exceptionally capable, but more importantly, we've heard that she possesses unparalleled beauty and is the most trusted and closest woman to the leader of the Demon Clan. She is the most crucial key to reaching the highest levels of the Demon Clan, especially to that mysterious leader."

"Capture alive?" Genji sighed.

Tachibana Masamune leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more forceful, each word crystal clear: "Yes. Therefore, Chisei, you must bring her back alive. Bring her back unharmed. Her value far exceeds the destruction of ten Pleasure Houses."

“I understand.” Genji nodded, picked up his glass and took a sip. As the wine went down his throat, his gaze drifted to the distant clouds, and he asked, “Today, Principal Angers arrived in Tokyo. Is that what you’re really worried about? The Demon Clan is the open enemy, while the principal is an unexpected variable.”

The smile on Tachibana Masamune's face faded, replaced by a sigh, and he frankly admitted, "You saw through me."

He frowned slightly, his expression turning serious. "Yes, compared to the Ghost Clan that's out in the open, this uninvited principal makes me even more uneasy. If the Secret Party hadn't suddenly intervened, I'm confident I have a 90% or higher chance of winning this war against the Ghost Clan. But..."

He traced his finger along the rim of his glass. “On the chessboard, the worst thing is when a piece appears that is completely unpredictable and doesn’t follow the rules. Especially when that piece itself represents a huge force capable of overturning the board.”

"With a guest of the principal's caliber arriving, it's rather impolite of us, as the patriarchs and future patriarchs, not to step forward to greet him," Yuan Zhisheng asked, his tone unreadable, whether it was a suggestion or simply curiosity.

"Excuse me?" Tachibana Masamune smiled, a complex expression on his face. "What good would it do for the two of us to intervene? Drink with him, exchange a few pleasantries? Angers' purpose in coming here is clear: he wants the Snake Clan to return to the absolute control of the Secret Party, to submit to them, and then for us to reveal all the secrets we've kept for thousands of years—everything about gods, about demons, about the White King's bloodline. We cannot do either of these things, and we will never do them."

He picked up his glass but didn't drink, only gazing at the clear liquid within. "That's why I asked Inuyama-kun to receive them. The purpose is simple: to buy time and ease the tension. First, stabilize Angers, using fine wine, delicious food, and perhaps even beautiful women to slow him down. Once we've dealt with the Oni Clan with lightning speed, completed internal integration, and have no more worries, then it won't be too late to turn our attention back to dealing with Kassel College."

Genjiro was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his eyes and looked sharply at Tachibana Masamune: "Dad, you don't actually completely trust Mr. Inuyama He, do you?"

Tachibana Masamune was somewhat surprised and asked, "Oh? Why do you say that?"

“I don’t know much about the family’s past grievances and entanglements, but I’m not completely ignorant either. I’ve heard some old stories. Inuyama He was the first branch manager after the establishment of the Japanese branch, and it was Principal Angers who helped him get to that position. In the eyes of many old-fashioned people, Inuyama He was a puppet personally promoted by Angers, and the representative of the earliest and most pro-Secret Party faction within the family.”

Tachibana Masamune listened quietly, his face showing no embarrassment or anger at being exposed, but rather an expression of knowing understanding.

He nodded slowly: "What you said is true. For a considerable period of time, the family was not a monolithic entity; it could even be described as a disorganized mess. The heads of the eight families each acted independently, and for the sake of interests, territory, and even some old grudges, they fought each other openly and secretly, and vendettas did not not occur."

"The Inuyama family was originally the weakest of the eight families. Their traditional sphere of influence was the sex industry. To put it bluntly, they started and maintained their business by selling women's smiles and bodies. In those days, this was considered a lowly profession and was despised and ostracized by other families that considered themselves samurai, artisans, or merchants."

"In 1945, Japan was defeated, social order collapsed, and traditional industries suffered a devastating blow. The Inuyama family was the first to be hit and almost reached the brink of extinction. Inuyama He was the last male member of the Inuyama family at that time, a boy who was not yet twenty years old and saw no future."

“And at that very moment,” Tachibana Masamune’s tone turned cold, “Angers, as a lieutenant commander and staff officer in the U.S. Navy, arrived in Japan aboard a powerful cruiser, posing as a conqueror and savior. He negotiated with the remaining high-ranking members of his family, adopting a condescending attitude and demanding that the entire Hebi-Hachi family submit to the Secret Party and accept its leadership. It was an absolute crushing of the weak by the strong.”

"Inuyama He, this young man on the verge of despair, with his keen and cruel insight, saw through the drastic changes that were about to take place. He believed that joining Angers and the powerful outsider party, the Secret Party, was the only and best opportunity to revitalize the Inuyama family. So he made his choice. He took the initiative to join Angers and even treated the blond, blue-eyed foreigner as a student and recognized him as his teacher."

Tachibana Masamune's voice was devoid of praise or criticism. "He used the power of the Secret Party to suppress the other families within the organization, and with the support of the Secret Party, he eventually became the first head of the Japan branch. You have to understand that during that special transitional period, the most powerful person in a family was often not the nominal patriarch, but the head of the Japan branch appointed by the Secret Party and holding real power."

Yuan Zhisheng pondered, "So, he really is a confidant personally cultivated by Principal Angers?"

"A confidant?" Tachibana Masamune shook his head, his expression somewhat subtle. "Being a confidant and having previously served are two different things. Chisei, you studied at the Kassel College and attended Angers' classes. Based on your observations and understanding of him, what kind of person do you think he is?"