Chapter 69: One-Star Hunter?
Rat-a-tat-tat—
Flames spat out as the state-of-the-art heavy weapon, the Gatling gun, operated by General Kubo, wildly sprayed bullets forward.
At such close range and with such concentrated firepower, coupled with the surprise attack, the hall immediately echoed with cries of agony.
Samurai and ninjas fell one after another, struck by bullets, while crimson blood splattered everywhere as if it cost nothing.
Although Mord warned him in time, at such close quarters, even with Hanzo's exceptional agility and speed, he couldn't completely evade the barrage.
He could only use human shields to minimize the damage to himself, but how could flesh possibly withstand such ferocious firepower?
A body could be blown to shreds in the blink of an eye.
Hanzo never expected that the enemy would even attack their own allies.
Standing at the outermost part of the hall, Mord glanced over, then thrust his Zanpakutō into the ground and forcefully lifted it, flipping up a massive stone slab.
Mord kicked the slab, sending it flying straight toward General Kubo in the distance.
Hearing the noise, General Kubo immediately swung the gun barrel around.
The overwhelming firepower actually shattered the stone slab.
Debris flew and dust filled the air, obscuring General Kubo's vision. Yet, he showed no sign of retreat, acting like a madman as he raised the machine gun and wildly fired into the dusty haze.
A single round of shooting dispersed most of the dust.
"Die, all of you must die today!"
At that moment, the intense gunfire suddenly ceased. General Kubo froze, wondering why it had stopped.
He looked down and saw that the barrels at the front of the heavy Gatling gun had been cleanly split in two.
Immediately after, he felt a chill in both his arms, followed by excruciating pain.
His hands gripping the machine gun were severed cleanly at the forearms.
The cut was smooth and precise.
A ghostly figure appeared beside him, holding a katana that dripped fresh blood.
A cold gleam of steel flashed.
General Kubo's head flew straight off, crimson blood gushing forth like a fountain.
Mord watched coldly, sheathing his blade.
...
"Are you alright?"
Hanzo hid behind a broken stone pillar, his face deathly pale. This mental doppelgänger's body had begun turning translucent, as if it might vanish at any moment.
Seeing the newcomer, Hanzo shook his head and said, "I won't die just yet. What about you?"
Mord was drenched in blood, looking far more terrifying than Hanzo.
But Mord knew well that aside from the solid blow Bat's claw had landed on his left shoulder, he hadn't really been injured elsewhere.
The amount of blood was just visually shocking.
Hanzo peeked out, gazing at General Kubo lying in a pool of blood in the distance, his expression complex.
"Kubo, that traitor, was once a renowned sword master. I never thought he'd end up like this."
"I need to ask you for a favor."
"Speak."
"Help me to where my true body is hidden. I must release my ability immediately to heal," Hanzo said weakly.
Following Hanzo's guidance, Mord finally saw the target of this mission: the princess of Jappon, a delicate-looking young girl.
...
...
"Uncle Hanzo, you're finally back! I was so worried. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Hanzo reached out and patted the little princess's head. "The traitor Kubo has been executed. This is Mord, the great hero who saved this nation."
"I need to release my ability now. If anything unexpected happens, listen to Uncle Mord, understand?"
"Uncle Hanzo, you'll definitely be alright."
Then, under the little princess's concerned gaze, Hanzo's mental avatar returned to his true body. The moment they merged, multiple wounds on his body began bleeding.
He fell into unconsciousness, but fortunately, he still had a pulse.
Mord stepped forward, tore open Hanzo's clothes, and bandaged his wounds one by one. After working for a long time, he stopped only when Hanzo's breathing stabilized.
"Uncle, are you alright?" The little princess brought a silk scarf, approached Mord, and carefully began bandaging the wound on his left shoulder.
Mord didn't refuse, though the bleeding had long stopped.
...
After General Kubo's death, his followers scattered like rats abandoning a sinking ship.
The common people of Jappon had long been discontent with his oppressive rule. With Hanzo's assistance, the little princess ascended the throne, becoming the first female daimyo in Jappon's history.
The new regime was freshly established, its foundations unstable, needing a stabilizing presence.
At the strong request of Hanzo and the little princess, Mord didn't rush to leave Jappon, instead choosing to stay in Kyoto to recuperate.
As for court politics and such, it had nothing to do with him, and he had no desire to get involved.
Instead, he took advantage of this period to visit various dojos in Kyoto one by one, continuing to refine his swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, the new regime gradually stabilized. The little princess's benevolence and wisdom earned her support from nearly everyone in both the court and the public.
It was time to leave this place.
Mord felt no attachment as he embarked on his journey away from the country of Jappon.
To commemorate Mord, a great hero who saved the nation in its time of crisis, the little princess erected a statue of him in Kyoto Square, allowing the people to honor and admire him.
At the same time, she conferred upon Mord the title of Sword Saint.
...
"I haven't officially congratulated you on successfully completing the mission."
Hearing the familiar voice on the other end of the phone, Mord replied irritably, "If I had known this trip would be so dangerous and troublesome, I might as well have stayed and confronted the Terrio family head-on."
Listening to Mord's words, Lippo felt somewhat guilty and quickly changed the subject: "But you're fine, aren't you? According to news from Japan, you've even been posthumously honored as the Sword Saint. You should know, that's the highest honor for a Jappon warrior."
"Who cares about that?"
"What about the One-Star Hunter title then?"
"????"
Mord was taken aback and asked, "Didn't you say that only hunters who achieve success in a certain field and leave behind significant accomplishments can be rated as One-Star Hunters?"
"Jappon will open its borders soon," Lippo said, stopping abruptly.
If this achievement were credited to Mord, then the One-Star Hunter title would indeed be well-deserved.
"How is Chiyo doing?" Mord fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking.
"Don't worry, she's fine. I will absolutely keep my promise to you. I found her a teacher, and she is now undergoing her own training," Lippo replied.
"Is that so? Then let's talk another time." Mord hung up the phone directly.
On the other end, listening to the dial tone, Lippo's veins bulged on his forehead. This kid always did this—he had been planning to discuss with Mord how to deal with the mafia next.