Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 205: Boy in the Thorns (8)

Dragon Raja 3

“Class of ‘83, Department of Dragonology, graduated from Cassell College. I had the honor of taking your ‘Introduction to Alchemy’ course, which greatly benefited me.” Ryoma Genichiro bowed deeply while seated.

“And the Miyamoto family head, Miyamoto Shio,” Inuyama gestured toward the younger man.

“Class of ‘95, Department of Practical Alchemy, and I had the privilege of receiving your commendation and a scholarship from the Principal,” Miyamoto Shio also bowed deeply.

“Just a few days ago, you were my subordinate. Miyamoto Shio, Director of the Iwaryu Institute, Japan Branch,” Anjou chuckled. “Do we really need introductions as if we haven’t met in years?”

“A few days ago, I was the director. Now, I am the head of the Miyamoto family.”

“Oh!” Anjou smiled. “This is starting to feel as formal as a diplomatic banquet. Agawa, why don’t you start by introducing me to your collection?”

“Indeed, indeed. Allow me to show off to the Principal first; we have plenty of time to discuss business later,” Inuyama waved his hand, and the girls kneeling in a line rose gracefully, one by one walking toward Anjou as Inuyama introduced each of them.

“This is Mimi, 19 years old, the most promising new talent on TV. She’s getting calls from four or five networks every day.”

“This is Kazusa, a young musician, specializing in electric violin. She’s performed at the Golden Hall in New York.”

“Konno is a professional Go player, ranked 5-dan! She hosts a Go program on Asahi TV… Setsuko! Hey, Setsuko! Come here, stand in front of us, and give us a nice spin!”

Setsuko, with her high ponytail reminiscent of a kendo girl, bore a striking resemblance to Ryoko Hirosue. She took off her high heels, set them aside, and, after bowing deeply to Anjou, gracefully spun like a swan.

“Bravo!” Anjou clapped his hands.

“An absolute ballet genius. I’m planning to send her to Russia for training. One day, she’ll take the world by storm,” Inuyama smiled.

As sushi chefs brought out a one-meter-long wooden boat laden with sashimi, the lineup of stunning girls was still being introduced, and the room was already filled with the aroma of sake.

“Grilled kuchiji! Ah, Agawa, you still remember my tastes,” Anjou raised his glass. “Let’s drink, gentlemen.”

Ryoma Genichiro and Miyamoto Shio exchanged silent glances before raising their glasses in response.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became lively as the girls crowded around Anjou. Seated on the floor, he put his arms around their shoulders, drinking boldly in the manner of an ancient Japanese aristocrat.

“If you like anyone, just say it, Principal! Don’t be shy!” Inuyama laughed, squeezing Mimi’s cheek.

“You’ve got all these pretty goddaughters, placing them in different industries and grooming them to become stars. Agawa, you’ll never change!” Anjou laughed along.

“My dream has always been to be a man like Maeda Keiji! But alas, it’s no longer the age of warhorses and spears. Now, my ambitions are only realized in wine and women!” Inuyama shouted, his voice full of exuberance.

Miyamoto Shio and Ryoma Genichiro clinked glasses with Inuyama while quietly exchanging looks of concern. The feast had completely derailed from its original purpose, and they found themselves excluded from the conversation, left to observe Anjou and Inuyama Ka’s drunken banter.

Meanwhile, at the Source Heavy Industries headquarters, on the terrace of Shinkoushin-ji Temple, Chisei and Tachibana sat facing each other, drinking sake. Yasha stood in the corner, serving as a bodyguard. The low-hanging clouds pressed down over Tokyo, and the skyscrapers seemed to almost pierce the dark, heavy sky. Below, the commercial districts shimmered with neon lights, and the traffic on the overpasses whizzed by, giving the scene a surreal, almost dreamlike quality.

Chisei gazed at the storm clouds gathering overhead. “The situation in Japan now is like this city itself. As a Chinese poem goes, ‘black clouds loom over the city, ready to destroy it.’ Your office is full of people waiting to report to you, yet here you are, drinking with me.”

“‘The way of a general is to first cultivate his mind; even if a mountain collapses before him, his expression should not change. Even if deer frolic to his left, he should not blink.’ That’s another Chinese saying,” Tachibana replied calmly. “Don’t let a flood of tasks make you frantic. When you feel overwhelmed, pause everything and quiet your mind, just like now. It’s advice from an old man. Someday, you’ll understand.”

“I doubt it. In the future, I’ll be selling sunscreen, so I won’t need to learn about military strategy.” Chisei shrugged.

“Sorry, I forgot about that again,” Tachibana smiled. “The family has already declared all-out war on the Oni Clan. Seventy percent of the gangs in major cities have already pledged allegiance to us. The situation is in our favor. I don’t need to listen to all those reports. As long as we advance steadily, everything will be fine. I’ve spent nearly ten years preparing for this war. The Oni Clan, having been caught off guard, are the ones scrambling. When a general panics, their formation crumbles, and defeat is inevitable. Of course, we’ll still need you for the final blow — to wipe them out completely.”

“You mean at the Elysium Hall?”

“Yes,” Tachibana nodded slightly. “Osaka is the Oni Clan’s headquarters. Most of the gangs there support them, and their companies and assets are concentrated there. They’ve even bribed many local politicians. Elysium Hall is their most crucial stronghold in Osaka. It’s not just a casino; it’s also their hub for international money laundering. Every day, hundreds of billions of yen flow through it. If we take down Elysium Hall, it’ll be like stabbing them in the heart. The person in charge there is codenamed ‘Ryoma,’ also known as Sakurai Kogure. She’s said to be an unparalleled beauty, a seductive enchantress. You must capture her alive — she’s the key to reaching the Oni Clan’s leader.”

“Understood.” Chisei nodded. “Anjou arrives in Tokyo today. I assume that’s what’s really worrying you?”

“You saw right through me,” Tachibana smiled, but his expression quickly turned serious. “Yes, more than the Oni Clan, it’s Anjou that worries me. Without the intervention of the Secret Party, I’m confident we have a 90% chance of winning the war against the Oni Clan. But if Anjou enters the equation…”

“A guest of the Principal’s caliber — would it be disrespectful for us not to greet him personally?”

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