Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 388: Night of the King’s Assassination (4)

Dragon Raja 3

He was a sensitive person, especially attuned to the malice of the world. He didn’t easily trust anyone. The people he had trusted could be counted on two hands, and each one was as precious to him as his own fingers. Tachibana had been like his right-hand index finger—the most agile, reliable, and trustworthy. Chisei could accept betrayal from Yasha, Crow, or even Sakura, but he couldn’t accept being deceived by Tachibana. It was like being betrayed by his own family, by his own parents.

But reality doesn’t care whether he accepts it or not—reality is reality, existing in solemn silence.

After the discovery of the Death Servitor farm, Chisei had chosen to trust Tachibana but still secretly listened to his calls. It wasn’t because he wanted to uncover any secrets, but simply to reassure himself that Tachibana was still the same man, someone he could trust.

The moment Osho’s call came through last night, the voice recording was sent to his phone. Sitting by Erii’s bedside, watching her sleep, he quietly listened to the conversation between the old comrades from Black Swan Bay.

He couldn’t decipher Osho’s cryptic words, but Tachibana ordering the clearance around Tokyo Tower couldn’t be hidden from the head of Yamata no Orochi, Chisei.

In the end, the truth proved that he was wrong. His mentor, Tachibana, was far more inscrutable and deep than he had imagined. Beneath the aging body was a soul of immense strength. He was still the agile Major Bondarev of the past, the cunning fox walking hand in hand with danger, willing to make deals with the devil to achieve his goals.

Both Chisei and Erii were merely pawns on the chessboard.

Many years later, Chisei found himself becoming that lonely boy again. In this world, he had no one to turn to, no one to confide in, because that person had betrayed him. All the ideals of protection and responsibility that person had taught him were lies.

He felt exhausted, but this wasn’t the time to rest. Now, as the head of Yamata no Orochi, he had to fulfill his duties, and that included cleansing the traitors.

Tachibana had violated the family’s code of honor, and Osho, as the leader of the Oni Clan, was also a target that needed to be eliminated. As the “Emperor,” Chisei was the most suitable executioner.

“Damn it! How did the elephant tortoise end up here?”

“Brother!”

Caesar and Ruri spoke almost simultaneously, both sounding alarmed, but their tones conveyed entirely different messages. Ruri’s reaction revealed a moment of loss of control; while he wasn’t exactly the kind of devoted younger brother who’d forgive all just because it was his “dear brother,” Chisei was clearly someone special to him. On the other hand, Caesar was worried about the plan being disrupted by this unexpected intruder. They hadn’t yet completely sealed off Tokyo Tower, and the “void sanctuary” hadn’t become a true trap—Osho and Tachibana still had escape routes.

“Damn it! Isn’t he supposed to be an elephant tortoise? The most important thing about being a tortoise is knowing when to retreat!” Caesar cursed.

“Hurry! Seal off the elevator and the iron stairs! Brother might not stand a chance against Osho! He’s underestimated him!” Ruri urged, his tone frantic.

Caesar felt a chill run down his spine. There was no need for Ruri to downplay Chisei’s combat abilities. If even the Emperor couldn’t defeat Osho, it was hard to imagine if there was any way left in the world to kill him.

Caesar and Chu Zihang trudged through waist-deep water, searching for the entrance to the cable ducts. Time was running out; they had to reach Chisei to assist him.

“Calling Ruri! Plan change! We’re heading up the tower to intercept Osho now. Be ready to take the shot!” Caesar shouted into his headset.

There was only static in his earpiece. Ruri’s voice had vanished. Caesar switched channels, but no matter which one he tried, Ruri didn’t respond.

Ruri had either turned off or discarded his communication device. He had disconnected from the network.

“I knew it! You can’t rely on any of those pretty boys!” Caesar yelled in frustration.

Ruri had pulled out of the cooperation. Now, no one could be trusted, and no one could be relied on. But the three of them were Cassell College operatives, and they had to fulfill the Secret Party’s mission. Both Osho and Tachibana had openly admitted their intentions to revive the god, committing a crime against all humanity. They had to be eliminated immediately. Even if they had to fight alone, they would charge into battle.

“Lu Mingfei! Get ready to snipe!” Caesar ordered.

Chu Zihang had already crossed the parking garage and found the entrance to the cable ducts, hidden behind a large electrical panel, secured with an ordinary padlock.

A flash of blade light, and the padlock split in two, falling into the water with a splash. Chu Zihang pulled open the metal door but quickly retreated, dodging backward. A terrifying gust of wind rushed out of the cable duct—cold and reeking of stench, as if the passage led to a nest of serpents.

In the darkness, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened, something in the cable duct staring at Chu Zihang. Then it let out a chilling screech and lunged with such speed that Chu Zihang couldn’t see clearly in the dark.

He instinctively swung his sword, slashing into the creature’s mouth. The blow wasn’t strong enough to sever its tough jawbone, but it barely managed to block the attack.

The creature’s strength was immense, shoving Chu Zihang backward. He instantly lowered his stance to keep from falling. The second attack came immediately, the sound of sharp claws tearing through the air from both sides.

Chu Zihang’s counterattack had been ready the moment he blocked. His Uzi submachine gun jammed into the creature’s maw and fired. The half-foot-long muzzle flash illuminated the rows of thorny teeth inside the beast’s mouth.

Although its body was tough, its mouth was still vulnerable. The steel bullets pierced through its upper jaw, destroying its brain. The malformed, powerful arms had already gripped Chu Zihang’s shoulders but could no longer tear him apart. Chu Zihang kicked the creature’s face, sending its heavy corpse splashing into the water. He wiped his blade and changed the magazine without a trace of pity for the dead. When he first smelled that foul wind, he had already confirmed the identity of his enemy—a Death Servitor, specifically a snake-type one. These creatures were driven by nothing but the desire to slaughter and devour, no longer worthy of being treated as human.

All around, the sound of water splashing could be heard. Caesar quickly shone his tactical flashlight, revealing grayish-blue spines momentarily breaching the water’s surface before vanishing again. The sound of crying infants echoed in the enclosed underground parking lot.

They were surrounded by Death Servitors. Slowly, the creatures sank into the water, their distorted human faces twisting beneath the trembling surface, sharp fangs protruding through their lips. They were preparing to attack, like crocodiles stealthily approaching their prey underwater.

Caesar drew his Desert Eagle from his waistband as Chu Zihang stood back to back with him. Both of their golden pupils glowed, their blood boiling silently in anticipation.

Through their battles in Genji Heavy Industries, they had learned some of the Death Servitors’ weaknesses. With human ingenuity, dealing with these beasts wasn’t too difficult, but in a waterlogged environment, it was hard to say. The Death Servitors, straddling the line between human and reptile, behaved much like water pythons or crocodiles.

The plan had further deteriorated, although it had already fallen apart beyond repair. Now, they were the ones being surrounded. This “old friends’ reunion” was clearly a trap, though it was still unclear who was scheming against whom.

Fortunately, they remained calm, with plenty of ammunition at hand. In such situations, two calm individuals stood a far better chance than two who panicked. If it were Lu Mingfei and Finger here, they’d likely be sobbing and clutching each other by now.

“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m so calm?” Caesar asked, scanning his surroundings with his gun, his Kamaitachi domain fully activated, locking onto the submerged enemies.

“Did you come up with a way to deal with them?”

“Nope. But in this damned place, Japan, any misfortune can happen. I’ve just gotten used to it,” Caesar shrugged.

Blinding white lightning split the sky, illuminating the ground for a moment. In that instant, Osho saw the figure clad in black crossing the square below.

His pupils contracted to needle-like points. “Another guest? Did you invite him?”

Tachibana swiftly turned his head, his long brows trembling.

Chisei strode through the storm, his windbreaker billowing like a battle flag in the fierce wind. He looked up at the towering structure, molten colors swirling in his eyes. There was no need for him to sneak in—he was the Emperor, the one and only. He would simply crush everything before him with overwhelming force.

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