Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 209: Boy in the Thorns (12)

Dragon Raja 3

Inuyama waved his hand, and the girls quickly retreated, kneeling against the walls on either side. This was the rule in Japan: when men talked business, women had no place in the conversation.

“Principal, the family sent me, Ryoma, and Miyamoto here to greet you because we were all once your students. This was meant as a gesture of goodwill. The family doesn’t want to resolve things through violence.”

“Do you think I fear violence? In 1946, I came to Japan alone, and this time I’m alone again.”

“Are you saying that you alone are enough to deal with the Orochi’s Eight Houses?”

“The Eight Houses would be difficult, but I could probably wipe out three or four,” Anjou smiled. “I’m old now.”

“Hilbert Ron Anjou!” Inuyama’s anger finally erupted as he slammed the table. “Your arrogance is utterly ridiculous! Do you think the Yamata no Orochi of today is the same as in 1946?”

“Even someone like you, a pimp, has become a talent agent for celebrities—of course, things have changed a bit,” Anjou said lazily. “But don’t think that rubbing elbows with movie stars makes you superior. Young people always act like this. They have dinner with a second-rate celebrity and start bragging everywhere, as if they’ve slept with an Oscar winner. They say, ‘I’m not the same as I was before,’ when in reality, all they’ve done is make a few powerful friends and attended a couple of high-end social events, thinking they’ve gained the keys to the world. Oh right, Katsu, what year were you born?”

Inuyama’s eyes twitched, as if a venomous snake was wriggling beneath his skin. Anjou’s words had struck a nerve. Inuyama was the family’s emissary, here to negotiate with Anjou, but in Anjou’s words, he was nothing more than a rebellious child. Anjou could give him candy or slap him across the face.

“Katsu, you accidentally revealed what’s on your mind. You set up this luxurious scene, surrounding yourself with women, playing the role of an old scoundrel talking about friendship, then suddenly turning hostile and aggressive. Are you trying to prove to me that you’ve grown up, that you have a voice of your own now? After all these years, you’re still so desperate to show me you’ve matured,” Anjou said, picking up a piece of tuna belly. “But you’re old, nearly dead.”

Inuyama fell silent. He realized his mistake—he had been too eager. After receiving the assignment from Tachibana, he had rushed to arrange this feast, preparing the most lavish venue owned by the Inuyama family, gathering the most beautiful women under his wing, and ordering Emimi, Kazusa, and Kotono to halt all their entertainment work and report home. He wanted to use the grandest ceremony to welcome Anjou, impress him with the current strength of the Inuyama family, shake Anjou with their power, and then discuss terms.

But Anjou had grown too old—so old that he had become a sly fox, immediately seeing through the flaws. Anyone who needed to don fancy attire and surround themselves with an entourage before daring to speak loudly was undoubtedly hiding fear deep within.

“Principal, we’ve been submitting to you for decades. Sixty years isn’t enough?” Inuyama said quietly. “Your students are still alive. We owe the Secret Party nothing. We just don’t want the Secret Party meddling in our affairs. Isn’t that reasonable?”

Anjou smiled. “Your affairs? You call those your affairs?”

“No comment. The family’s secrets aren’t for outsiders.”

“Then let me tell you about your family’s secrets—maybe I know more than you do,” Anjou said, exhaling smoke. “The Hybrids of Japan have always been a mystery because Japan is an island nation, with little contact with the outside world. Since ancient times, the Yamato people have ruled this island, and Japan has remained isolated. Traditional Hybrid societies didn’t even include Japan. Before the Meiji Restoration, we hadn’t even heard the name ‘Yamata no Orochi.’ How could a powerful Hybrid family emerge in such a closed-off country? Could it be that Japan had remnants of the Dragon Raja? Genetic comparison technology has answered this question. We spent decades researching your genetics, and the results were shocking—your genes are completely different from those of Hybrids in Europe or China. Your Dragon bloodline comes from an unknown Dragon King!”

Miyamoto Shio and Ryoma Genichirō’s faces paled, but Inuyama placed his hand on their shoulders.

“Dragon bloodlines are typically divided into four categories: earth, water, wind, and fire, corresponding to the elemental mastery of the Four Sovereigns. But your Dragon bloodline belongs to a never-before-seen fifth category,” Anjou fixed his gaze on Inuyama. “Katsu, which Dragon King did I overlook?”

“So, you knew all along,” Inuyama said, his voice low.

“The White Emperor’s descendants, you really exist. We’ve been searching for you for thousands of years,” Anjou said slowly.

The silence was suffocating, with heavy breaths breaking the stillness. The secret was out, like a drawn sword. For a long time, the term “White Emperor” had been a taboo within the Yamata no Orochi, and they used other phrases to refer to the White Emperor, lest their secret be discovered by the Hybrids from Europe. Among the Dragon Kings, aside from the exalted Black Emperor, the White Emperor held the highest status. It was said to be the Black Emperor’s greatest creation, a being on par with the Black Emperor itself. When the White Emperor rebelled, the Black Emperor faced near-extinction. Though the Black Emperor ultimately prevailed, the White Emperor remained the only Dragon King who could challenge it. Its descendants were seen as superior to all other bloodlines.

“The White Emperor’s blood that the Yamata no Orochi have inherited is incredibly precious. Once this secret gets out, it will ignite the greed of all Hybrids across the world!” Inuyama took a deep breath, slowly calming himself. “What is it you want from us?”

“Everything.”

“Everything?”

“Takamagahara is the Dragon Raja’s treasure vault, and so is the White Emperor’s blood. These are things far beyond your control. By hoarding these, you’re like children holding loaded revolvers, ready to misfire at any moment.”

“And you, Principal, think you’re the responsible adult who should be in charge of this secret?”

“You’ve already made a mess of things. Takamagahara may be destroyed, but the god buried there has already left, hasn’t it? Your catastrophe is just around the corner. Tell me the truth while there’s still time.”

“And after knowing the truth, will the Principal save the Yamata no Orochi?” Inuyama asked, his voice heavy with skepticism.

“Listen, Katsu. You have no idea what you’re up against. It’s far beyond your imagination. Its awakening will bring disaster, and even Japan may not survive the calamity! This is a nation-destroying demon, something you cannot possibly handle!”