I'm having fun in Tokyo

What I want is a private meeting.

Maki Hojo frowned even more deeply.

"Why, father?"

"Because I can't let Priestess Ryoko know what I want to say right away."

Takehiro Hojo tapped his fingers on the table again.

"But don't worry, Maki, I'm not going to do anything to harm him."

"I just have some questions I'd like to ask him for answers to. If he doesn't want to talk about them, I won't press him further."

He looked at Maki Hojo's expression and, seeing that her complexion had improved slightly, continued.

"You know what happened yesterday, right?"

"The head of the Uesugi family, Uesugi Yoritada, was murdered at the Metropolitan Police Department, and his younger brother, Uesugi Tokuji, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department's Second Investigation Division, was also executed by him."

"He went a bit too far."

"The Metropolitan Police Department does not belong to the shrine, and Uesugi Tokuji is not his retainer!"

"We could overlook the fact that he killed Uesugi Yoritada, but for him to come to the Metropolitan Police Department and kill a mid-level officer so brazenly is to slap the faces of everyone in the Metropolitan Police Department to the ground."

"Those old guys from Kasumigami contacted us last night, demanding that we take responsibility for this and get an explanation from the shrine."

"But what explanation can we ask the shrine for?"

You know Masao Kondo, right?

"He is your Aunt Ryoko's child, and like me, he is a Superintendent of Police, and also the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department."

"He disagreed with continuing the investigation and even wanted to dismiss the head of the General Affairs Section of the Criminal Investigation Department and expel him from the Metropolitan Police Department."

"But his support for the shrine doesn't mean others share the same attitude."

"Although the director didn't want to pursue this matter, Superintendent Hakuba of the National Security Bureau disagreed, and the old guys at Kasumigaka didn't give up either, so the pressure fell on me, the deputy director."

"I'm in a difficult position too."

"So what do you want to do, Dad?"

Hojo Maki listened for a long time, her eyes filled with annoyance.

She didn't want to know about the power struggles among these people; she only wanted to know what her father wanted to do.

What else can we do?

Hojo Takehiro did not answer his daughter's question, but instead asked a question in return, his eyes filled with a mysterious depth.

"The best approach is, of course, to do nothing and wait for the Kasumigami and the shrine to reach a conclusion."

"why?"

Maki Hojo was surprised to hear this answer.

"Because I suspect that what happened yesterday was deliberately arranged by Priestess Ryoko."

Takehiro Hojo stood up, went to the window, looked out, and gazed down at the view below.

"This incident stems from a cold case from eight years ago."

"The key person in this case is a guy named Furuno Tsugawa."

"This guy is very cautious; he didn't even dare to use the yakuza guards sent by the Uesugi family to protect him when he was making the arrest."

"But he was still killed, and your student even traced the trail all the way back to the Uesugi family."

“When you came to the Metropolitan Police Department for information, I wasn’t originally going to give it to you, because eight years ago, the shrine didn’t pursue the Uesugi family; it only issued a warning.”

"But Superintendent Kato had the person you contacted give you the information."

"He is a man of Priestess Ryoko, so Priestess Ryoko must be behind this."

"Then, before many people could react, your student came to the Metropolitan Police Department and killed Uesugi Yoritada and Uesugi Tokuji."

"This was very sudden and completely unnecessary."

"Shrine Maiden Ryoko could easily put pressure on Kasumigami and force Kasumigami to handle the Uesugi family's affairs themselves, making them hand over Uesugi Yoritada."

"But the result is like this, which really makes one wonder."

Chapter 70 Like daughter, like father

"Of course, you might think I'm overthinking it."

"But sitting in this position, I have to think about a lot of things."

He turned his head and sighed.

"The relative importance of Kasumigation Hall and the shrine has been changing over the years."

"I've heard that before the Kasumigaku existed, the shrine priests of various regions were the new gods who emerged after the end of the Age of Gods."

"It was only over time that they relinquished some of their power."

"The current balance of power is the result of the efforts of the shogunate hundreds of years ago and the Kasumigami Academy today."

"Judging from the arrangements made by Priestess Ryoko, she may abdicate in a few years."

"The transfer of the throne will definitely bring some changes."

"The fact that she sent her successor to the Metropolitan Police Department to commit murder at this time is most likely an attempt to escalate her leverage, make a show of force, and facilitate future negotiations."

"However, she wanted to pave the way for her successor without considering the feelings of those of us caught in the middle."

"I don't know whether this successor did these things at the behest of Lord Ryoko or because it was his own idea; I can't be sure of his true style of doing things."

"So I want to meet him and see what kind of person your student really is."

"Although Chief Shrine Maiden Ryoko will definitely make arrangements later, it will be too late by then."

"Maki, do you understand what I mean?"

"I know, and I understand."

Maki Hojo stood up, but her eyes were troubled.

"But I refuse."

"If I go to Morikawa about something like this, he'll definitely hate me."

So, no.

Takehiro Hojo frowned.

"Maki, I'm not asking you to just tell him directly and plainly."

"Didn't you just give him my Tsurumaru Kuninaga a couple of days ago? This is a perfect excuse."

"That's not OK"

Maki Hojo refused outright, her eyes filled with displeasure.

"Since Tsurumaru was just sitting there with you, Father, I took him from you."

"I've already given it to Morikawa, so it's none of your business now."

"And if you want me to live an easy life, then don't drag me into your fight."

She turned around and waved her hand.

Hojo Takehiro watched his daughter's resolute refusal and her retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and a flicker of emotion finally appeared in his usually calm eyes.

But remembering his wife's last words, he finally didn't ask his daughter to come back, and instead sighed inwardly.

Oh dear, what if I accidentally spoil my daughter?

Do I still have a chance to correct it?

After a while, Hojo Takehiro shook his head and stopped looking at the door.

He waved his hand, dismissing the secretary who had just entered, and then made a phone call.

"Hey, Kyoko"

"Go check with the old man's dojo to see if he still has his Mikazuki Munechika."

"Let me know if you're there."

"Still there? That's good."

Yes, I'm useful.

"Hmm? What if the old man finds out?"

"Then you don't need to worry. His knife is just sitting there anyway."

"Even if you're angry, you won't say anything if I take it."

"Okay, I'll hang up now when I get back..."

......

Sakuragawa Academy, Kendo Hall.

Morikawa Yu, holding a bamboo sword, parried the bamboo sword of a member in front of him, then passed by him, the bamboo sword striking the other's armor.

The other person paused for a moment, covered the spot where he had been hit, cried out in pain as if to cooperate, and then lay down on the ground, looking like he was bravely going to his death.

Beside him, people lay scattered about in a similar mess.

They closed their eyes and pretended to be dead, or simply stopped pretending altogether, staring at the people still standing in the dojo, seemingly waiting for them to be "killed" as well, much like friends in a battle royale game who, after dying, wait to see when the other person dies and then restart the game.

Morikawa Yu didn't keep them waiting long. He swiftly and decisively took care of the last two guys, then brandished his sword with "Blood Shake" and shook his head.

"No, you guys won't do it."

"I haven't sensed even the slightest bit of determination from you."

"If things continue like this, it will be difficult for you to make any progress in kendo."

"Everyone get up!"

"Think about why you want to practice kendo, and find your own determination!"

On the other side, Sakurai Emi sat on the tatami mat at the edge of the dojo, looking at her captain's annoying yet somewhat dashing appearance, and pouted.

She had just arrived at the department when she saw the minister asking the already arrived department members to spar with him, saying that he wanted to cultivate their determination.

Everyone felt that no matter how strong the minister was, he couldn't possibly deal with so many people by himself, so they agreed.

The result is what we see now.

She shook her head, looking at her members with pity.

She had heard from her grandfather before that she knew the minister was very powerful, so she didn't get involved.

Moreover, with the minister acting like this, who knows what he's up to? It's best to stay away from him.

Morikawa Yu stood in the middle of the field, unaware of Sakurai Emi's inner thoughts about him.

He was just looking at his experience bar, dissatisfied with the snail-paced increase in experience.

The members of his own club actually gave him less experience than he had when he soloed the Kagami-shiki-ryu Dojo a few days ago.

So worthless, it has absolutely no value as a sucker.

He sighed, looked at the group of members who had stood up again, his gaze sweeping over the senior students and finally settling on a freshman.

The other person's name seemed to be Maki Kousaka. When he was teaching the new students Kiei, I questioned him, but in the end I was persuaded by his reasonable arguments.

Morikawa Yu approached Kosaka Maki, waving to the others to go about their business before looking at him.

"Kousaka-kun, is there anything you don't understand about kendo lately?"

"Ah, Minister."

Kosaka Maki subconsciously took a step back, a little nervous.

"It's alright, it's alright, there's nothing I don't understand, thank you for your concern, Minister."

"Tsk, why are you so scared? I'm not going to eat you."

Morikawa suddenly felt a little bored.