You don't even want to call me godfather

Koshe was surprised by the appearance of the man in front of him.

It was at that moment when he saw him that Koshe instantly realized Lisa's identity.

He had never imagined before that an uncle he had only met as a child would be a blood relative of his cousin Lisa.

"Ah... I haven't seen you for nearly ten years." The man called Tamamo looked Koshe up and down, and said with some emotion, "You have grown up so much, and you look quite like your father when he was young."

Koshe's lips moved, but he didn't speak.

Although Tamamo's act was unintentional, and perhaps he would have been proud of it in the past, he doesn't know how to feel about it now.

"Please sit down, Uncle Tamamo," Koshei forced a smile, and said to Azazel, "It's okay, Azazel, he's someone I know."

"I didn't expect that you have grown up to the point where you can go abroad as a representative to attend the International Conference." Tamamo sat down in the seat opposite Koshei and asked, "How is your father's health now? I remember that he was often busy with family affairs and exhausted. He was not a worry-free guy."

"My father..." Koshei's eyes could not help but look down, as if he couldn't bear to say this, "My father has passed away."

Upon hearing this, Tamamo paused.

The smile that was on his face gradually disappeared, but soon returned to normal.

"Ah... that's such a pity, such a capable person."

Tamamo simply expressed regret about this and did not mention it again.

The scene of the relatives meeting was not as good as imagined. Both Koshei and Tamamo seemed to remain silent because of something.

"So, you are now the godfather of Syracuse?" After a long while, Tamamo was the first to break the silence. "Is that what you call it? I haven't been to Syracuse for a long time, so I can't remember it clearly."

"Yes, Uncle Tamamo," Koshe nodded, pretending to break away from the previous topic, "It has been four months since I succeeded to the throne."

"Time flies. The last time I saw you, you were still a child of six or seven years old. You were with your sister and you were very shy," Tamamo followed the topic. He pointed at the ghost guard standing behind him and continued, "Since you are attending the International Conference, you should also bring your deputy or guards. Is it your sister?"

"My sister... has also passed away."

Tamamo took a deep breath and leaned back involuntarily.

For a moment, he even doubted why he had such a mouth.

"So...where's your mother?"

"disappeared."

"Where's your silver-haired friend?"

“Exiled.”

"Those people in the government..."

"All dead."

For a moment, an awkward atmosphere filled the air between the two of them. Even Azazel and the Knight who were watching felt so embarrassed that they wanted to dig their toes into the ground.

Even the demon guard brought by Tamamo couldn't bear to look at this scene.

"Look...it seems like a lot of things happened during this period..."

Tamamo silently made up her mind not to ask Koshe any questions about Syracuse again.

But at the same time, he also realized what Koshe had been going through during this period of time.

It must be... very difficult.

"Let the past be the past," Koshei was more relaxed than Tamamo. "We always have to look to the future, don't we?"

"Well, that's true." Seeing Koshe gave her a way out, Tamamo took it over, "But we don't know what will happen tomorrow."

"I don't care about the past or the future. I just want to live well in the present, and that's enough."

Koshe picked up the teacup, took a sip of the already cold tea, and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Remember when I first met you, I told your father that one day this child would become an extraordinary figure," Tamamo said, seeing Koshe's attitude, "Perhaps no one thought that that day would come so soon."

"You're joking, Uncle Tamamo," Koshe poured the remaining tea in the cup into the waste liquid outlet and placed the cup on the tea table. "Compared to you, a citizen of the East Country, what am I?"

"What's wrong with being a god's people? We still have to be led by the nose," Tamamo waved her hand, looking unimpressed. "Today we have to think about the country, tomorrow we have to think about the people, and now we have to travel thousands of miles to attend a meeting that may not last even half a day. We might as well spend this time looking after our wife and children."

"Wife and children?" Koshe caught the key point in Tamamo's words. Although he knew some of the truth, he still asked knowingly, "What happened to Uncle Tamamo's wife and daughter?"

"Oh, this is a long story..."

"Lord, isn't it inappropriate to speak openly about this matter?"

Just as Tamamo was sighing, the ghost guard behind him suddenly spoke.

"Don't be so nervous, Chi," Tamamo said to the guard wearing a red Prajna mask, "Koshei is my nephew, we are all family, there is no need to be so formal."

"Yes, I understand."

The ghost guard named Chi lowered his head slightly. Judging from his figure, he should be a woman about 1.7 meters tall.

"You were still young at that time, Koshei, and you probably didn't know about this," Tamamo returned to the topic. He looked at Koshei and said, "You may not have seen my daughter, Lisa. When I met you, she had just learned to speak."

"Lisa... a nice name." Koshe nodded and continued to pretend to be ignorant. "Is it a Wolper with nine tails like you?"

"Well, Lisa inherited the good genes of the Tamamo family, but because of this, according to tradition, she will also be the one who inherits my position as a god in the future." Tamamo's eyes gradually became a little blurred, as if she was reminiscing, "but my wife, your aunt, firmly opposed Lisa becoming a god. For this reason, she even took Lisa away from home."

"So there's no news after this?"

Koshei asked.

"I sent people to search the entire East Country, but couldn't find the mother and son. They may have left the East Country," Tamamo nodded and continued to explain, "I originally thought that she would bring Lisa back to Syracuse, but at that time Syracuse was in turmoil between the government and the family. I wrote to Ulysses and Christina, but never received a reply."

"I see……"

Koshe already had a rough idea in his mind, which could explain why Lisa appeared in the orphanage, but he didn't know why Lisa's mother disappeared.

"Koshei, my nephew," seeing Koshei deep in thought, Tamamo asked him with some hope, "Can you tell me, since you can remember, until today, have you ever seen Lisa or heard about Lisa?"

It was true that Tamamo's eyes were filled with urgency, but Koshe was in a state of hesitation.

If Lisa was sent to an orphanage and was always protected by Iris, then it is impossible that her parents were unaware of this.

Rather than trusting Tamamo, whom he hadn't seen for nearly ten years, perhaps he was more inclined to trust his parents' choice.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Tamamo," Koshe replied after a brief thought, "As far as I know, not yet."

Chapter 56 International Friendship

"Alas, over the years, I often wondered if I was too strict with Lisa, or if I attached too much importance to so-called traditions and ignored the feelings of my family."

Tamamo's head tilted to one shoulder, as if she was blaming herself.

"Sometimes, traditions always conflict with current worldly ideas. This is not something you should blame yourself for, Uncle Tamamo," Koshei sighed secretly and comforted him, "People have very rich ideas. This is a very natural thing. Even I once felt repulsive about succeeding to the throne."

"You... have really grown up, Koshe," Tamamo looked at him in disbelief after hearing what Koshe said, "If Ulysses were still alive, he would definitely be proud of this..."

His expression became somewhat relieved, as if Koshe's comfort had worked.

"There are always some things that will linger in our hearts, and there are always some experiences that we can't let go of. I will pay more attention to your wife and daughter in the future. I hope you don't worry too much."

Sometimes, Koshei felt that if the most important skill in life was lying and pretending, then he should have mastered it.

"I'd be very happy if you're willing to help, Koshe," Tamamo nodded and said, "I'll also send people to investigate your mother Christina after returning to the East Country."

"Thank you very much, Uncle Tamamo."

Koshe raised the corners of his mouth symbolically, making a smiling expression that he had done countless times.

"Mr. Cascade," Viviana came back to the reception room from outside just as the two were about to finish their conversation, "I have calmed down Sister Iris."

"This is..." When Tamamo saw Viviana, he glanced at Koshei and stood up from his seat. "So you already have someone to chat with, so I won't bother you any more."

Just then, Iris followed Viviana into the reception room.

Her eyes slowly moved upwards from the ground, and as she looked at Koshei, she noticed Tamamo standing up in front of him.

Looking at the nine pale yellow Wolper tails behind Tamamo, Iris's expression changed from depressed to dull, and finally to shocked in a few seconds.

"iris?"

Looking at Iris's changing expression, Koshe was confused, but he immediately thought of Tamamo's identity, combined with the relationship between Iris and Lisa, and Lisa's mother...

"you--"

Before Iris could say anything, Koshei immediately chose the stupidest way to stop her.

He quickly stood up and walked towards Iris, grabbed her shoulders with one hand, put his arm around her body, took a few steps forward, pushed Iris back repeatedly, and used his body as a shield, covering her mouth with his other hand, until the two of them retreated to the door of the reception room and out of Tamamo's sight.

Azazel looked back at a few people in confusion. He had no idea what was going on.

"That child is..."

Tamamo had never seen an iris before, so he was very confused and wanted to go see what was going on.

But unexpectedly, Viviana moved slightly to the side and stopped Tamamo.

"That's Mr. Cascade's guard. I don't know what your relationship is with Mr. Cascade, but it's better not to get involved in other people's private affairs."

Viviana smiled, and although her words were full of tenderness, they revealed an invisible threat.

Tamamo was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly heard a sound behind him. He turned around and saw that the Knight had stood up with one hand on the hilt of the sword.

It was obvious that Viviana's attitude determined the actions of the Knights of the Cross, and this was no exception even in Lateran.

"...Ah, that's right. I'd better not get involved in what happens between kids." After a moment, Tamamo pretended to be nonchalant and laughed. "Ah, it's good to be young. I won't bother you anymore. Chi, let's go."

He took two steps back and patted Chi, who had his hands behind his back.

Chi was silent, her eyes under the mask scanned Viviana and the Knight several times, then she put away the two long swords that were half unsheathed and hanging behind her.

After watching Tamamo and Aka walk deeper into the reception room and strike up a conversation with another representative, Viviana let the Knight of the Arc lower his guard.

"I don't like him, miss," the Knight retracted his gaze and said to Viviana frankly, "Although he is Mr. Cascade's uncle, he gives me a cunning feeling, like a fox, and as cunning as a snake."

"Since he is a relative of Mr. Cascade, this matter has nothing to do with us either," Viviana sighed, walked to her previous seat and sat down, looking at Knight Qiong, "Speaking of which, Qiong, how was your conversation with Mr. Cascade when I was away?"

……

Outside the reception room, Koshe pressed the irises against the wall.

He listened to the noise inside, and only released his hand that was covering Iris' mouth after confirming that Tamamo had indeed left.

"Koshei! You——"

"Shh..." Iris was about to question Koshei, but he made a gesture to silence her, frowned, and stared at her, "He wants to bring Lisa back to the East to inherit the throne of the gods. If Lisa's affairs in Syracuse are exposed, how will you explain to her mother?"

After hearing what Koshei said, Iris gradually calmed down.

Koshe was right. The reason why "Mother" brought Lisa from the East to Syracuse was to prevent Lisa from becoming a god's citizen.

Such an important matter was almost ruined because of her impulsiveness.

"I see..." After a moment's thought, Iris took a deep breath, "Sorry, I was too impulsive."

"Don't mention Lisa's affairs in Lateran anymore," Koshe reminded again when he saw that Iris had finally started to think rationally. "The friendly relationship between the East Country and Syracuse was also established through my mother and your 'mother'. Even if it's not a true international friendship, at least don't let it break."

"Well... that being said..." Iris lowered her head slightly, her eyes a little evasive. After she calmed down, she discovered something else. "But, Koshe... can you please stay a little further away?"

After Iris's reminder, Koshe also realized that the posture of the two was inappropriate.

He turned around and saw some Sakota employees passing by in the corridor looking at them strangely.

"Ahem..." Koshe quickly withdrew the hand that was pressing Iris against the wall and coughed awkwardly, "Um...you...are you...not hurt?"

"Hmm... probably not..."

After moving away from the serious topic, the atmosphere between the two of them became inexplicably subtle for a moment.

Chapter 57: The Pope's Gunners

“Crack, crack.”

Just when Koshe and Iris were in an awkward situation, the sound of armor colliding reached their ears.

Koshe turned his head and saw a Sakta in white plate armor walking towards them.

He wore a long red scarf with the Lateran coat of arms tied to his plate armor, and in each hand he held a...cannon?

He walked straight up to Koshe and Iris, then immediately turned around and faced the conference room.

"Boom."