Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 93: Genji Heavy Industries (5)

Dragon Raja 3

Tachibana Masamune had a straight nose, deep-set eyes, and facial features carved sharply like a sculpture, differing from typical Japanese elders. Still, he had pure black irises, and his every movement carried a distinctly Japanese flavor.

‘I am only half Japanese. The other half is Russian,’ Tachibana Masamune answered.

Caesar frowned slightly, and he couldn’t help but think of that Soviet icebreaker.

‘I’ve been in Japan for many years, and most people can’t tell that I have Russian heritage. How did you, Mr. Gattuso, manage to see it?’ Tachibana asked.

‘Your accent. There’s a Slavic influence in your pronunciation—you distinguish between hard and soft palatal sounds, which is typical for Russian speakers,’ Caesar replied. ‘You don’t just have Russian blood—you’ve also lived in Russia.’

This wasn’t something Lu Mingfei or Chu Zihang could comment on. Both of them were native Chinese speakers, and Chu Zihang, though less reticent than Lu Mingfei, only had slightly better English pronunciation. But Caesar had noticed it from the first sentence Tachibana spoke. Caesar had grown up with tutors in different languages. Besides Italian, he could also speak English, French, and Spanish fluently and could distinguish languages from every European country.

Even Fūma Kōtarō and Chisei showed surprised expressions, indicating that even the other family heads were unaware of this detail.”

“‘I didn’t expect that after all these years, this matter still couldn’t be kept a secret,’ Tachibana Masamune smiled, ‘Yes, I lived in Russia for about 30 years, back during the Soviet era. People ate rationed food, and children took pride in wearing military uniforms.’

Caesar hesitated for a moment and chose not to pursue further questioning. The fact that Tachibana Masamune had lived in Russia didn’t necessarily mean he was related to Lenin’s ship. Japan and Russia had fought in Northeast China before, and there were quite a few Japanese-Russian mixed descendants after World War II. Besides, Tachibana Masamune seemed open and forthright, without any signs of hiding a secret.

The water boiled. Tachibana Masamune lifted the iron kettle and poured the boiling water into the teacups, only to empty them again. This was a standard part of the Japanese tea ceremony—the first round of hot water was only meant to warm the cups. Next, he used a wooden tea scoop to measure out two scoops of tea powder, placing them in the teacups. Then he added a large scoop of hot water from the iron kettle into each cup and began stirring gently with a bamboo whisk. His movements were light, and his expression was solemn. The wide sleeves of his linen kimono fluttered in the breeze, like a musician playing an invisible instrument, the soundless melody spreading like a vast ocean.

‘Check the reference guide. What’s the proper way to respond to this?’ Caesar leaned close to Lu Mingfei’s ear and lowered his voice.

‘I got it! In the appendix of my “Japanese Mythology and History: 100 Lectures,” there are instructions for tea ceremony etiquette!’ Lu Mingfei said, flipping through the book beneath the table.

‘Here it is! When serving tea, the person will face the decorated side of the teacup towards the guest… Then… We need to use the fukusa cloth, rotate the cup clockwise twice to face the design towards the tea maker as a sign of respect… Then, um, drink the tea, rotate the cup counterclockwise twice after drinking, and look down to admire the cup’s design, showing appreciation—you can also praise it.’ Lu Mingfei whispered. Luckily, the table was wide and large enough that their murmuring was likely inaudible to those across from them, who could only see the three of them whispering.

Both Caesar and Chu Zihang said nothing, each memorizing the steps internally. Since entering the building, they had realized that the Japanese Branch was a dragon’s den, but unlike Lu Mingfei, who kept praising it, Caesar and Chu Zihang were determined not to be overwhelmed by the imposing atmosphere. The leaders of their respective societies—the Student Council and Lionheart Society—did not want to appear intimidated by their opponent, so every move and gesture was given extra thought. In a game of wits, each move had to be countered. The other side used the etiquette of serving tea as an attack, and they would use the etiquette of drinking tea as a defense—to let the Japanese Branch members know that the main college was cultured and not just a name.

As expected, Tachibana Masamune took out a gold fukusa cloth, using it to hold the teacup while gently rotating it so that the design featuring bamboo and sparrows faced Caesar. He bent down and presented the tea. Caesar had already noticed that there was also a golden fukusa cloth in front of him. Without changing his expression, he bent down and accepted the cup, also using the fukusa cloth to hold it as he rotated the bamboo sparrow design clockwise twice to face Tachibana Masamune, as a sign of respect to the tea maker—just as described in Lu Mingfei’s guidebook. Caesar made sure not to make any mistakes; he knew that the tea ceremony was a formal Japanese tradition, and errors would be considered disgraceful.

Tachibana Masamune then served tea to Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei, who both meticulously followed Caesar’s example.

The three of them simultaneously lifted the cups to drink, pausing briefly before slowly setting their bodies back upright. They then rotated the cups counterclockwise twice to face the design towards themselves again, lowering their heads to admire the teacup’s decoration, their faces showing an appreciative expression.

‘Brewing tea is one of my few specialties. I offer it as a gesture of respect to distinguished guests. I won’t take up any more of your valuable time; I will take my leave along with Mr. Fūma and Inuyama. The affairs of the college will be handled by Gen and Miss Sakurai, as well as Ryoma.’ Tachibana Masamune rose to leave. ‘I hope you have a pleasant stay in Japan, and that your mission proceeds smoothly.’

Caesar’s group stood up and returned the gesture as Tachibana Masamune departed with Fūma Kōtarō and Inuyama Katsu.

After the sliding door closed behind them, Fūma Kōtarō stepped forward and spoke in a lowered voice, ‘Mr. Masamune, can they handle it?’

‘Though Gen says they are unreliable kids, I believe in their excellence. Caesar’s bloodline is outstanding even among “A” levels. Anjou values him not just because he’s from the Gattuso family; and Chu Zihang, too, isn’t as uncontrollable as the reports say. When I faced him, I didn’t sense any killing intent leaking out. That means that even though his dragon blood level is high, his self-control is even stronger—able to restrain the dragon blood, which is a rare quality. The only one I’m uncertain about is Lu Mingfei, but if Hilbert Ron Anjou trusts him, then the entire world has to trust him!’ Tachibana Masamune said in a deep voice. ‘Their arrival presents us with a rare opportunity, one we must not miss!’

‘I feel similarly. They know we are yakuza, yet they showed no fear and responded appropriately, even understanding tea ceremony etiquette,’ Fūma Kōtarō frowned. ‘But, Mr. Masamune, you served them boiling tea, and they drank it all at once—how… how was that not scalding?’

On the terrace, Caesar’s group sat silently in the wind, backs straight, watching as Chisei pulled out charts and various documents.

‘I saw tears in your eyes,’ Caesar whispered.

‘But they weren’t from overwhelming emotion,’ Lu Mingfei whispered back. ‘Did that damn book of yours not say anything about letting the tea cool first?’

‘Not a word…’