I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

That's a good decision.

The situation is still uncertain. In order to avoid so many people becoming food for illness and suffering, it is best to let most of the foot soldiers wait for a while, and only let the captains and samurai who can stand alone enter Mikawa Province.

Once things have settled down, a large number of foot soldiers will come to clean up the mess.

As for how to deal with illness and suffering.

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the Key of History in his storage backpack—the Special Affairs Department must have a lot of relevant information; he could definitely get it by asking Nanjo-nee.

However, as long as it involves the eight sufferings, no matter what the current situation is, it is definitely not a trivial matter.

Even Nanjo Manami would definitely ask him what happened and why he asked her that.

—Let things take their course in the end.

Sakata continued speaking, drawing Uesugi Tetsu's attention back to him.

"The death toll in the Mikawa Kingdom began to rise rapidly from that time onward, and the situation in various cities and villages began to deteriorate significantly."

He said slowly, "In many places, it's practically no different from 'hell'."

"—So I quickly escaped from the Three Rivers Kingdom and, by chance, became the leader of this band of mountain bandits, operating on the country roads and official roads in this area."

On one hand, he wanted to get some food for himself and the others.

Sakata looked at the man still kneeling on the ground and snorted unhappily.

"On the other hand, it's also good to send those who still want to go to the Three Rivers Kingdom back home, so they don't die there for nothing."

The middle-aged man, who had brought most of his belongings to do business in the Kingdom of Three Rivers, stared blankly, not expecting there to be such a reason behind it all.

Sakata hadn't finished speaking when...

"Even though Sanhe has become like this, those bald monks from the Buddhist sect haven't stopped their usual actions; in fact, they've intensified them..."

“It’s my fault.” Imagawa Yoshimoto gently closed his eyes. “From the first day I ruled Mikawa, I should have wiped all the demonic sects off the map.”

After all, this is the essence of Buddhism.

Rather than being monks who spend their days chanting sutras and praying for the souls of others, they are more like war merchants who control resources, a group of scavengers disguised as benevolent beings.

She turned her head silently again and saw Uesugi Tetsu's brows furrowed into a tight knot, and his face as silent and cold as cast iron.

This was the first time Imagawa Yoshimoto had ever seen Uesugi Tetsuya with such an expression.

Before this, whether facing demons, elders, or the Sanhe riots, Chejun always appeared calm, unhurried, and in complete control.

Therefore, the situation in the Kingdom of Sanhe must be extremely dire, far worse than she could have imagined.

She bit her lip, suddenly remembering that afternoon at the Imagawa-kan.

So he asked,

"Mr. Che, um... is the Divine Fortune Sticker still usable?"

Uesugi Tetsu blinked, his thoughts interrupted.

Yes, there's still the divination sticks we haven't used yet.

He almost forgot that the divination sticks' cooldown period was long over... Now, before making a crucial decision, isn't this the perfect time to use the divination sticks?

Uesugi Tetsuya took out the divination tube from his storage bag and solemnly handed it to Imagawa Yoshimoto.

He said slowly,

"Lord Yiyuan, among the great demons we are about to face, there are at least those who suffer from 'illness and suffering'. Please make your plans based on this premise."

"The suffering of illness..."

Imagawa Yoshimoto had never heard of this name before.

Even though it was only the first time she heard it, the first time she uttered those two words, she inexplicably felt a chill and disgust that went deep into her bones.

She gripped the fortune-telling tube tightly, closed her eyes, and waited for a dozen seconds before slowly shaking the tube in her hand.

pat.

A few seconds later, a divine token landed on a protruding stone on the road.

Just as Uesugi Tetsuya was about to bend down and pick it up, his breath caught in his throat.

There was no need to pick it up; Uesugi Tetsuya could already tell what the suffix of the blood-red divination slip that had fallen to the ground meant.

But in the end, he still picked up the blood-red divine divination slip.

Under the gaze of Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had just opened his eyes, the description of the divination slip with the two square characters "Great Misfortune" engraved on its back popped up—

【God's Lot·Big Bad】

Natural disasters, famine, plague, evil spirits, man-made calamities... boundless darkness and despair breed in the Kingdom of Sanhe.

Uesugi Tetsuya did not speak.

He looked at the girl who had received the crimson divine talisman.

Imagawa Yoshimoto remained silent.

Upon seeing the blood, Sakata, who was not far away, also lowered his hand, silencing the bandits behind him.

The atmosphere around was as calm as a still pond.

A moment later, Uesugi Tetsu remembered another function of the divination sticks.

Rebooking.

But before that, he told Imagawa Yoshimoto the complete and word-for-word description of the divine divination slip.

The latter stroked the divination slip with his blood-stained fingertips, lost in thought.

Uesugi Tetsu continued,

"You have one more chance to reschedule, Lord Yiyuan."

Imagawa Yoshimoto said softly, "Then let's give it a try, Mr. Tetsu."

Uesugi Tetsu touched the fortune-telling container, mentally activated the effect of changing the fortune, and then placed it back in the girl's hand.

"Please, Lord Yiyuan, shake the yoke again."

Imagawa Yoshimoto did as instructed.

Surrounded by onlookers, some solemn and others puzzled, she shook the divination stick for a full half minute before the second stick slid out of the narrow opening.

This time, Uesugi Tetsu caught it before it hit the ground and held it in his palm.

Then, under Imagawa Yoshimoto's earnest gaze, he slowly opened his palm.

is black.

The divination slip was pitch black, without a single blemish, except for the blood-red characters "Great Misfortune" on it, which were displayed in everyone's eyes.

【God's Lot·Big Bad】

—There was disease ahead, there was death ahead.

Uesugi Tetsuya took a deep breath and, in the most indifferent and calm tone, explained to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "There is disease ahead, there is death ahead."

Imagawa Yoshimoto took the black fortune slip and placed the two fortune slips together.

Upon hearing this, Sakata quickly took two steps back, afraid that Uesugi Tetsu's blood might splatter at his feet.

—To dare say such a thing to the current head of the Imagawa family, he must really think he has too little time to live!

A deathly silence permeated the air.

The blood-red divine divination slip, and the black divine divination slip obtained after changing the slip.

In short, Imagawa Yoshimoto would face a "very ominous" situation whenever he went to Mikawa.

Uesugi Tetsu couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

—Compared to Imagawa Yoshimoto, is the first phase of the "Lord of the Tokaido" mission really that important—whether or not to suppress the Mikawa Province?

The answer is no.

The task of suppressing the Mikawa Uprising was indeed important, but if Imagawa Yoshimoto were to die of illness in Mikawa Province, then all of this would be in vain.

For now, we must prioritize Imagawa Yoshimoto himself.

Moreover, Mikawa Province borders Owari and Mino, so even if left unattended, the disease could still have a serious impact on the Oda clan.

Perhaps, after some time, the Oda clan will be affected even more than the Imagawa clan!

The mission of the Lord of the Tokaido cannot be completely failed just because of the failure of a stage mission—there is still time to accumulate after two million koku.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Tetsu said to the girl who had been silent for a long time, "Then, Lord Yoshimoto, there is a way right now."

He tried his best to remain indifferent as he spoke.

“Abandon Mikawa Province, withdraw the troops that were dispatched, and then build a tight defensive line at the border of Mikawa and Suruga, so that the calamity caused by the disease can spread to Oda Nobunaga’s territory.”

After listening silently, Imagawa Yoshimoto looked up and shook his head when he realized that Uesugi Tetsu seemed to genuinely think so.

Without even the slightest hesitation.

She replied just as calmly, her tone resolute: "Che-jun, I could never do that."

Uesugi Tetsu had already anticipated this answer, so he brought up his second plan: "Then, Lord Yoshimoto, you should return to Sunpu Castle and the Imagawa Residence first, and let me and Motonobu handle this..."

Imagawa Yoshimoto stood on tiptoe, raised his fingers stained with warm blood, and pressed them against Uesugi Tetsuya's mouth, silencing the words of a coward and a weakling that she would never forget.

Blood trickled down the wound on his palm, leaving a glaring mark on his snow-white skin. Imagawa Yoshimoto was extremely serious.

"Just like you said before, Chejun, my role is not about what I do or how much help I can provide."

"—It lies in symbolism!"

Her tone was calm, but Uesugi Tetsu felt that her words were almost a roar.

"Proclaim this to the people of Mikawa, to my subjects, and to those great demons who lurk in the shadows, spreading death and despair!"

"—I, Imagawa Yoshimoto, the lord of Mikawa Province, have arrived!"

The head of the Imagawa family stared into his eyes, took a deep breath, and his dark eyes were silently ignited by fire, like iron forged from lava.

"The people there need me, Che."

Uesugi Tetsu didn't know how to answer for a moment.

That is indeed what Yoshimoto Imagawa said.

In such a desperate situation, if Imagawa Yoshimoto were to take the initiative to stand in the sight of the people of Mikawa Province, the benefits and hope that would come would be immeasurable.

Her popularity will skyrocket as a result.

But at the same time, she will inevitably come into the view of illness.

Because of this, he was targeted by one of the eight sufferings.

does it worth?

As Uesugi Tetsu felt the heat on his lips and the girl's will, which was far more resolute and unyielding than steel, he fell into deep thought.

However, if Imagawa Yoshimoto were to return now, the possibility of her existing in the Mortal World in the future would be reduced.

How to choose...?

After a long while, Uesugi Tetsuya slightly opened his mouth and grasped Imagawa Yoshimoto's hand.

It seems we've overlooked a problem.

He smiled helplessly and said, "Lord Yiyuan, is it true that no matter what I say or what answer I give, it won't change your mind?"

"Well, no."

Imagawa Yoshimoto replied in this way.

"Although I said before that I would do whatever you wanted, the situation is slightly different now, and I have come to understand my own thoughts."

She bowed slightly to Uesugi Tetsuya and said softly,

"Che-jun, please forgive me."

—If I were to knock out Imagawa Yoshimoto here, then my relationship with her would probably come to an end, whether as lord and subject or as friends.

"Lord Yiyuan, your bad temper is really giving me a headache."

That's why I apologized.