We agreed to be in a band for life, what the heck is Dragon Raja?

…………

…………

at the same time,

In the study,

Toyokawa Shoko looked at her grandfather and fell silent for a moment.

She suddenly recalled her childhood. There was a time when the atmosphere in her family was far less tense than it is now. Back then, her mother was still alive, her father was still young, and she was carefree.

Even the most stern grandfather would smile when he returned home, and the maid would prepare delicious meals on time in the evening. The whole family would sit neatly around the dining table, and countless long hours would pass by.

Unfortunately... if we want to recapture those times, we can only find them in our dreams.

Since her mother's death, Toyokawa Shoko has rarely had a warm atmosphere at home.

Toyokawa Sadaharu, who could initially tolerate his son-in-law, could no longer endure it after his daughter's death. The conflict between the two continued to escalate until it reached an irreparable point.

Even now, recalling those past times, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but have her eyes redden slightly.

After an unknown amount of time, she finally spoke softly:

"grandfather."

"Xiangzi, I don't blame you."

Toyokawa Sadaharu shook his head.

He had recovered from the oppressive aura emanating from Uesugi Kotsugi, but his face still inevitably showed signs of aging.

"As the head of the family, there are some things I should have told you earlier. Looking back now, I realize that my attitude was not firm enough."

After what had just happened, his tone softened considerably:

"That person is your master? Not bad. It's better to have such a strong master as your master than to be taught by your father, who is only half-baked."

"Kassel College... still has many truly capable hybrids."

"As for bloodline advancement..."

Toyokawa Sadaharu said slowly:

"What your master said just now is basically correct. The secrets of the Toyokawa family seem infinitely tempting, but the risks involved are enough to make almost anyone back down."

"That's why the family has been able to keep this secret all these years."

"Don't try it now... Wait until later, when you can obtain better dragon bone remains, and your strength can truly support the reputation of an A-grade hybrid... then try it."

He sat back down wearily on the sofa in his study.

"Let's go, isn't Kassel College in Chicago, USA?"

"Did you come back to the Old Ancient River Garden this time just to ask me about your mother?"

"I've explained everything you wanted to know. You've chosen your own path, and you need to forge your own way."

"Wait until you graduate from Kassel College before considering taking over the Toyokawa Group."

Toyokawa Shoko remained silent for a very long time.

She had expected to feel immense anger when confronting this elderly man who showed no regard for family ties.

But after she confronted her grandfather, she felt an emptiness in her heart, as if something had pierced through her.

In fact, just a few minutes earlier, Toyokawa Shoko had wanted to question her grandfather about her father, denouncing his ruthlessness and hypocrisy.

However, upon seeing the signs of aging on his face, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly didn't want to say a word.

"If my mother hadn't died so young, if my father and grandfather had been able to sit down and have a proper conversation sooner... would everything have been different?"

Toyokawa Shoko's thoughts were churning.

But she understood that dwelling on these things now was pointless; much of what had happened was irreversible.

To imagine what might happen on another timeline is, at best, just seeking a little comfort for one's own heart.

She will never forgive her grandfather for what he did, even though he kept saying it was for the family.

Shoko Toyokawa did not tell her grandfather the truth about his belief that Uesugi Koshi came from Kassel College.

Finally, she whispered:

"I'm leaving."

"I will return."

After saying that, Toyokawa Shoko left the study without looking back.

The purpose of this trip has been achieved; as for bloodline advancement, she plans to leave that for later.

With her current strength, if she were to try this path, it would only lead to certain death.

"Perhaps Ugetsu and Master Uesugi... have other methods to increase the chances of success."

Toyokawa Shoko thought.

The methods mentioned in the conversation overheard in the study that could increase the success rate all seemed quite difficult.

The Toyokawa family alone could not find any other suitable approach.

Given the current unpredictable situation in Japan, coupled with the lingering mark of 'Odin' on her body, Toyokawa Shoko also feels a strong sense of crisis.

"We must find a way to improve our strength as soon as possible."

"We can't let Yuyue fall too far behind..."

…………

…………

now,

Outside the study,

As Nangumo Ugetsu looked up, she saw Toyokawa Shoko, who had just walked out of there.

She looked somewhat down, and her eyes were slightly red.

Despite this, a smile still appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's face:

"Thanks……"

Although she was filled with resentment before returning to the old Furukawa Garden, she ultimately could not bring herself to take revenge on her grandfather, and resolutely left the place where she had lived for more than ten years.

"Let's leave here."

Toyokawa Shoko said.

"No rush... It's best to investigate the situation in the basement first."

Nanyun Yuyue Road,

"Based on what I've detected, your grandfather is most likely hiding something."

…………

…………

In the study,

Toyokawa Sadaharu breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't experienced this feeling of utter helplessness in a long time.

"Kassel College has actually extended its influence directly to Japan without relying on its Japanese branch."

After thinking for a few minutes, Toyokawa Sadaharu decided to find a piece of paper and write down what had happened that day.

However, he concealed a great deal of detail, including the secrets of the Toyokawa family and the affairs of Toyokawa Shoko.

After finishing the first draft, Toyokawa Sadaharu deleted a lot of content before looking at the rest.

"Heh... Why make it so complicated? Just report that someone from Kassel College is hiding in Tokyo and secretly participating in the Snake Clan's operations. That's enough."

Chapter 177 Exploring the Secrets of the Basement, the Suddenly Appearing Golden Eyes

Reporting is indeed a difficult problem.

Toyokawa Sadaharu originally intended to report everything he had encountered in detail, but after only a moment's thought, he noticed many loopholes in his report.

"There's too much to explain and too much to hide... Let's just report that someone from Kassel College is hiding in Tokyo and operating covertly."

Toyokawa Sadaharu's mind.

"Besides, we can't tell the patriarch about this directly. Just remind Akechi Asuya once."

After careful consideration, he deliberately omitted the details of the matter and simply sent a message to the head of the Kanto branch:

[It seems there are high-ranking agents from the Kassel College Executive Department secretly operating in Tokyo recently, and your Kanto branch happens to be stationed there. Remember to keep an eye on them and see if they're doing anything detrimental to the family.]

I suspect that Toyokawa Kiyotaka's escape was related to them.

After sending these messages, he deleted the message history and turned off his phone.

"That night, four group leaders of the Kanto branch died. Asuya was furious about this incident. He probably suspected that foreign forces were secretly involved and took this opportunity to add fuel to the fire."

Toyokawa Sadaharu let out a long sigh.

"I never imagined that in just a few decades, the family would decline to such an extent... Although we have achieved success in the business world, we are ultimately still at the mercy of others."

"It's really strange. They all went to Kassel College to study, so why are these people from the Kanto branch so loyal to the family... while Toyokawa Kiyotaka is always causing me trouble."

"Ugh."

"Thank goodness he's already dead."

Toyokawa Sadaharu had never felt so tired.

He shook his head, his face bitter.

"Some plans...we'll have to find another way."

…………

…………

the other side,

basement.

Before leaving, the three of them made a point of going to the spot that Nan Yun Yuyue had just discovered.

Nangumo Ugetsu, Toyokawa Shoko, and Uesugi Kotsu stood at the entrance to the basement.

The cardboard boxes that had been piled up together had been moved aside, leaving enough space at the doorway.

"right here."

Nanyun Yuyue said.

"Xiao Xiang, when you came here before, did you notice anything unusual?"

Toyokawa Shoko shook her head:

"No."

“I came here several times when I was a child and went to many of the basement rooms. The rooms were mostly filled with furniture that was not currently in use and some old books. I did not find anything related to the dragons.”

"Moreover, my parents never told me about being mixed-race when I was a child. If there was any danger hidden in the basement, they certainly wouldn't have allowed me to go near it."

"However... I've only been here once in the last few years, and I should be going back soon."

"I don't quite remember why I came here, but I'm sure I didn't encounter anything extraordinary."

Nan Yun Yu Yue seemed lost in thought:

"Did they only move here in the last few years?"

Uesugi asked:

"The transfer of this kind of ritual is more difficult than imagined, Xiangzi. Has the Old Ancient River Garden been renovated in the past few years?"

Shoko Toyokawa pondered for about three or four seconds, then said:

"No, the last renovation of the old Furukawa Garden was when I was very young. I don't even have any memory of it. I only found out about it from my mother."