The sunset sank into the sea level, leaving only a streak of dark red on the horizon, like dried blood.
The "hill" in front of the Tenryou Commission estate looked particularly hideous in the dim light, and the strong smell of blood could be smelled even from far away.
King stood on the steps, the night wind blowing the hem of his windbreaker, his face expressionless.
"One more family left."
He spoke, his voice not loud, but the content made everyone's heart skip a beat.
Hiiragi Sarutobi silently took a step forward, bowing his head to wait for instructions.
Arataki Itto immediately leaned over, rubbing his hands: "My Lord! We're going to the Yashiro Commission, right? I'm familiar with that road, please follow this way..."
"Idiot!" Kuki Shinobu punched him in the head, the veins on her forehead throbbing, "Can you settle down for a bit? The situation at the Yashiro Commission is different."
As she spoke, her eyes involuntarily glanced at Lumine and Paimon on the side.
The atmosphere at the moment was a bit subtle.
Lumine stood in place, his eyes filled with hesitation, his lips pressed tightly.
Paimon was spinning in the air in a panic, his small hands waving wildly:
"Wait, wait, King, the Yashiro Commission..."
"The Yashiro Commission can't be like just now!"
He flew over and grabbed King's head, his small face full of panic: "Ayaka, the Demoiselle of the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato Clan, is a very good person who often helps the poor in Inazuma; everyone calls her the 'princess shirasagi'! She's not like those bad guys!"
Lumine also took a step forward: "The Yashiro Commission is in charge of culture and etiquette and is relatively clean. Ayaka and her brother Kamisato Ayato have a very good reputation among the people of Inazuma. During the Vision Hunt Decree period, she even took great risks to help those who lost their Visions, spending her own money and effort to organize rescues and comfort the people."
It was different from the fragile friendship between those two love-brains in the Tenryou Commission and the Tenryou Commission.
Their friendship with Kamisato Ayaka was very deep.
Not only were they comrades-in-arms who fought against the Vision Hunt Decree together, but they were also friends who had shared desserts and secrets.
King pulled the face-hugger Paimon off his face and tucked him under his arm.
"There's no problem with the Kamisato Clan, but there's a big problem with the Yashiro Commission."
After saying this, King turned to Hiiragi Sarutobi: "Lead the way."
"Yes." Hiiragi Sarutobi bowed without asking a single question... The atmosphere in the courtyard of the Yashiro Commission was completely different.
No smell of blood, no wailing.
Moonlight spilled over the meticulously trimmed dry landscape garden, the white sand like snow, the moss quiet and serene.
Kamisato Ayato had already received the news and was waiting at the door with his sister Kamisato Ayaka and a group of trusted retainers.
"The Great Guardian of Fontaine, Lord King, has come from afar. Please forgive us for not welcoming you earlier."
Kamisato Ayato bowed slightly, his posture impeccable, his voice gentle.
"I wonder what instructions you have for visiting late at night, My Lord?"
His gaze swept behind King—
Clorinde with fanatical eyes, the expressionless Lynette, Arataki Itto looking around, Kuki Shinobu holding her forehead, Lumine and Paimon with complicated expressions, and Zhongli, who had an extraordinary air and was holding a teacup.
Paimon flew forward and waved his hand: "Ayato! Ayaka! Don't be nervous, King is here to talk sense..."
"Uh, he should be talking sense..."
Lumine took a step forward, his expression serious: "Ayaka, I have seen everything the Yashiro Commission has done in the past, there is no need to worry."
Hearing this, the tension in Kamisato Ayato's eyes dissipated slightly as he forced himself to speak.
"I see. I have been busy with official duties and failed to..."
King had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with him.
Instead, he directly pulled a list out of his robe and flicked his wrist.
"This was confessed by those people from the Tenryou Commission."
"Names, crimes, evidence—it's all in there."
A bitter smile appeared on Kamisato Ayato's face.
"Mr. King is indeed vigorous and resolute."
He wiped his face hard with his hand and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Only then did he unfold the list, his eyes quickly scanning through it.
The courtyard was very quiet, with only the slight rustling of paper being turned.
Kamisato Ayato looked very carefully.
The more he looked, the fainter the smile on the corner of his mouth became.
Although he still tried to maintain his grace, the temperature in those eyes that were always smiling was rapidly fading, replaced by a cold killing intent.
The crimes recorded on the list were far more than he had imagined.
Using the organization of festivals to over-report budgets and line their own pockets.
Utilizing cultural censorship powers to demand bribes from bookstores and theater troupes and suppress dissidents.
Secretly colluding with the Kanjou Commission to divert 'public welfare funds' intended for disaster relief and housing repairs to other uses... Every single case was shocking.
Although the amount of a single transaction might not be as much as those parasites in the Kanjou Commission, when accumulated, it was also a staggering amount of wealth.
Kamisato Ayato put down the paper roll and looked up.
The smile on his face was gone.
"For My Lord to be willing to hand this list to me is truly a great honor for the Kamisato Clan."
Kamisato Ayato turned around with eyes as sharp as knives, facing a middle-aged retainer whose face was pale and body was trembling slightly. His voice was still gentle, but carried an unquestionable chill:
"Heizou, the first one on the list is someone from the Tenryou Commission named Guobeng. He seems to be your son, right?"
"H-Head of the house..." The retainer named Heizou fell to his knees with a thud, old tears streaming down his face, "That child was momentarily confused, he..."
"Confused enough to sell Inazuma women to Snezhnayan merchants?"
Kamisato Ayato interrupted him, his tone light, but the killing intent within it was chilling.
"You actually shielded him and opened up routes for him?"
"Do you know how much he deserves to die?"
"I..."
"Take him away." Kamisato Ayato waved his hand, his tone indifferent, "Deal with him according to the family rules."
"Yes!" Two ninjas appeared silently and dragged the slumped old retainer away.
Kamisato Ayato picked up the list again.
"Next," he read, his voice clear, "Mikawa Densuke."
In the crowd, a well-dressed middle-aged fat man trembled violently and fell to his knees: "Head of the house! I..."
Kamisato Ayato didn't wait for him to finish, his gaze sweeping over coldly as he interrupted: "Mikawa, you were involved in human trafficking, right?"
The retainer surnamed Mikawa turned pale, his lips trembling.
Finally, he bowed deeply: "This subordinate was momentarily confused, please... deal with me according to the rules!"
Kamisato Ayato nodded and waved his hand gently.
Two more Shuumatsuban ninjas appeared silently, covered his mouth, and dragged him away.
The whole process was clean and efficient, not even letting the fat man make any unnecessary noise.
King watched quietly.
He sat on a chair Lynette had brought over at some point, with a cup of hot water by his side. The cup was clean, and it was unknown where this cat-eared maid had found it.
Kamisato Ayaka was carrying a tray with a cup of fragrant black tea, intending to walk toward King.
Lynette's pale purple cat ears twitched slightly, and his gaze immediately swept over, a hint of dark aura appearing in his eyes.
Kamisato Ayaka's footsteps paused, and she wisely turned the tray around, silently placing it on the low table by her brother's side.
Kamisato Ayato acted as if he hadn't noticed and continued reading the names.
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