Chapter 253: Okiya Subaru Listens In
And Genta had just called her… Grandma?
Natsume struggled to suppress a smile, patting Genta's head gently. "Even though Ei is an elder to Ayato and the others, she doesn't actually look old," she corrected, her voice warm and patient. "You see how Mr. Zhongli looks quite young too, right? So, you can call her Auntie Ei, or even Big Sister Ei."
"Let's go with Auntie," Mitsuhiko decided after a moment's thought. It seemed more appropriate. After all, Mr. Zhongli didn't seem to be from the same generation as Sister Natsume. Since Miss Ei was friends with him, calling her 'Auntie' felt right.
Nearby, Okiya Subaru's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly behind his glasses. He had latched onto two specific words in Natsume's explanation: "doesn't look."
The phrase implied that this "Ei," much like Zhongli, was in fact far older than her appearance suggested. The parallel was immediate and unsettling, drawing his thoughts to the Black Organization's own master of disguise and eternal youth—the "Witch of a Thousand Faces," Vermouth.
'Could it be?'Okiya mused, his mind racing.'Are Miss Ei and Mr. Zhongli just like her, possessing an age that defies logic? If so, is this longevity connected to their special status within the Teyvat Organization?' The questions piled up, each one more intriguing than the last.
"Is that Miss Ei really that powerful?" Ran asked, her eyes wide with surprise. "Even stronger than you, Natsume?"
Having spent so much time with her, Ran had a deep appreciation for Natsume's formidable strength. The idea that someone existed who surpassed her seemed almost incredible.
"It's perfectly normal," Natsume said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'm no grandmaster. I've been sent flying by her more than a few times."
Her casual admission sent a ripple of shock through the children. Even Haibara couldn't hide her astonishment. They simply couldn't fathom what a person even more powerful than Sister Natsume would be like.
"Alright, we can talk about these trivial things later," Natsume announced, clapping her hands together. "It's getting late. Children should be in bed; we have to be up early tomorrow."
Seeing that they needed to go to the preliminary round to cheer for Kazuha and Barbara, she shooed the young detectives off to sleep.
The adults, however, were not so lucky. Sonoko promptly corralled Heiji Hattori and Okiya Subaru, keeping them behind to help her, Ran, and Natsume make cheering materials.
Originally, the plan had been to make signs just for Kazuha, a task the three girls could have handled easily. But after learning that Natsume's other friends, Barbara and Nilou, were also competing, the scope of their project had expanded. Thus, Heiji and Okiya were conscripted as extra labor.
When the crafting session was nearly finished, Okiya Subaru excused himself. "I'm just going to use the restroom," he said smoothly, before slipping out of the room.
As he walked down the corridor, he took the opportunity to carefully observe his surroundings. The Kamisato Estate was a masterpiece of traditional Japanese architecture. The overall design was one of simple elegance, emphasizing exquisite detail and the masterful use of space. From the main gate to the inner courtyard, the entire structure was integrated with natural elements—rich wood, sturdy bamboo, and smooth stone were everywhere, framed by the countless cherry blossom trees that dotted the grounds.
Okiya possessed a keen familiarity with the layout of such buildings. It allowed him to make an educated guess as to the locations of the clan head's private room and study.
He cast a cautious look around the empty hallway. After confirming no one was watching, he moved with practiced silence, deftly sidestepping the blind spots of the surveillance cameras and turning down a secluded path shrouded in shadow.
Okiya had his bearings. Lightening his footsteps until they were utterly silent, he made his way toward the area he had identified as Kamisato Ayato's study.
As he neared his destination, a faint light emanating from within one of the rooms sent a flicker of satisfaction through him. Someone was inside. He paused, melting into the shadows of a manicured bush, and scanned the area to ensure he remained undiscovered.
He spotted two servants standing guard at the study door. A direct approach was impossible. With a light, silent turn, Okiya changed his course, circling around to the side of the building. His new goal was to reach the window and glean what he could from there.
The study window was closed, but a thin sliver of warm light bled through a gap in the shoji screen. Okiya approached with extreme caution, his every movement calculated to avoid making the slightest sound. He pressed his body flat against the cool exterior wall. Peering through the narrow opening, he could see the head of the Kamisato Clan, whom he had met earlier, speaking with the man who called himself a housekeeper, Thoma. Their voices were faint, but they carried through the gap in the window.
"Have the culprits who sabotaged the finals venue been found?" Kamisato Ayato's voice was smooth as silk, yet it carried a distinct, chilling edge.
"Not yet, my lord," Thoma replied, his tone deeply respectful. "However, with the assistance of the Takano Group, we have already narrowed the list down to several suspects with competitive relationships to the event."
"Mm, very good," Ayato acknowledged. "Confirm which of them were involved as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord," Thoma responded crisply. He hesitated for a fraction of a second before asking, "Once we identify the culprits… should we notify the police?"
Hearing the question, Okiya Subaru's eyes narrowed again. He leaned in ever so slightly, intensely interested in what Kamisato Ayato's answer would be.
A soft, almost amused chuckle drifted from the study.
"Heh," Ayato's voice was low and laced with something dangerous. "There's no need for that. I have my own ways of making them pay the price… twofold."
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