Chapter 93

The fish soup with rice was delicious, and Gojo Satoru said he would like to have it again next time.

This is the reward he deserves after working so hard to catch the fish!

Imagine if he used [Azure] to stir up all the nearby river water, the fish in it would scatter like hail, and he could catch a huge pile of them instantly.

However, Gojo Satoru certainly didn't do that.

Outside of Gojo's house, he strictly follows the rules—fishing is fishing, how can you cheat?

Besides, there was also Yizhen sitting quietly by the river with him, never complaining no matter how long it took.

Of course, not believing that he could only catch one or two small fish all afternoon and evening, the defiant Xiao Wu started wearing a sun hat and carrying a red plastic bucket when he had free time, and would sit by the Kamo River.

Kazuma Hatori carried the fishing rod and accompanied him throughout the entire trip.

Only Gojo Tatsuo and his companions were so enraged by the next head of the family's neglect of his duties and his constant fishing that they nearly fainted. They slammed the calligraphy brush they were writing with onto the table in a fit of anger.

Playing games at home is fine, at least no outsiders will be watching.

They tolerated the TV appearances and interviews, and could even explain it away as promotion for the Gojo family.

But fishing?!

Gojo Tatsuo was about to unleash a torrent of curses.

What good would fishing in the Kamo River do for the Gojo family?! It would only make them a laughingstock—the heir to the Gojo family, the next head of the family, dressed like he was going to play in the mud by the river, practically running around barefoot!

Fishing is something that comes to mind when you're in a leisurely mood. You can sit in the fishing hall and feed the fish some treats, or enjoy the breeze and the scenery of the dry landscape garden for a while. I can understand that.

Even if those koi fish worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars were simply turned into dishes by the kitchen with a wave of his hand, Tatsuo Gojo would understand.

But Gojo Satoru, that kid, refuses to fish for all the artificially bred koi in the fishing hall. Instead, he insists on going fishing in the wild by the Kamo River with others, and he often doesn't come back for most of the day!

It was definitely a good thing that the black-haired boy was out of sight, allowing Tatsuo Gojo to finally stand up straight and start cursing.

"I have truly reached my limit!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, he uttered lines from the first playthrough that he himself didn't recognize, yet were strangely familiar with.

"This kid really doesn't respect anyone, treating this place like his playground! And that bastard, this time I'll definitely..."

—He didn’t finish his sentence because he saw that terrifying boy, that black-haired, black-eyed demon, slowly step into his study!

Before Gojo Tatsuo could finish venting his anger, he suddenly became like a chicken with its neck stuck, unable to utter a single syllable.

"What do you really want? Come on, tell me more."

His voice was cold and calm, even with a slight hoarseness characteristic of a young boy who hadn't completely finished puberty—yet for some reason, it made him shudder reflexively.

"You...how did you get here?"

Unlike Kazuma Hato, who was calm and indifferent, Tatsuo Gojo's response was tinged with a slight tremor.

Just like he still doesn't understand why they are so terrified of the black-haired boy.

Even if it's rejection or disgust, it shouldn't be mixed with such a deep-seated fear!

Not to mention that he had a smooth life for decades, and his power and status after entering the Director's Department rose step by step with the help of his [Six Eyes] and [No Limits] strength, and he was highly valued by the Chief.

Who could have left him with such a terrifying fear, as if death were always with him?

Upon seeing this unfamiliar black-haired boy, the emotions that erupted instantly made Tatsuo Gojo instinctively want to find something to cover himself completely.

When he asked the others, they all had the same idea as him.

This is absolutely absurd!

Gojo Tatsuo and his gang racked their brains but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation, and they couldn't hire someone to get rid of him—because that lord still needed him!

They didn't even dare to show it on their faces—afraid that the other party would complain to that important person that they were hindering the plan.

Tatsuo Gojo felt that they had never experienced such frustration before.

At this moment, it was already painful enough that he could only swallow his anger, but the other party actually took the initiative to come to him!

Since they dared to come looking for him, then he... he... he couldn't do anything about it.

"I was just joking."

Tatsuo Gojo swallowed his anger and had to clean up the paper stained with ink himself.

The suffering that the Kamo family endured in the first playthrough is now being borne by the Gojo family in the second playthrough.

"Oh, is that so?"

Kazuma Hatori knew all too well what they were afraid of, and spoke calmly upon hearing this.

"I thought you thought Gota and I were in your way and were planning to get rid of us."

Tatsuo Gojo, caught red-handed venting his frustrations: "…………"

Gojo Tatsuo, bearing the humiliation, said, "How could I do such a thing, let alone that you are a key part of the plan?"

Even if one becomes a high-ranking member of the sorcery world and joins the ranks of "rule-makers," one must not forget that the true rule-makers are someone else entirely.

And that person will secretly and gradually eliminate any groups or forces that disagree with him.

Since you've chosen to sit at the head table for the meal, it means you have to abide by these unspoken rules and not even think about doing anything to go against that person.

Upon hearing Gojo Tatsuo's words, Hato Kazuma's dark eyes flickered slightly.

Just as he guessed, the "patriarch" who controls the Panxing Sect and "that person" who controls the senior management of the General Affairs Department are most likely the same person.

Alternatively, it could be the same group, quite secretive and with very few members.

But in short, he deliberately came over while the pretty little Wu was taking a nap, not just to relive the old NPC's complaints.

He had heard these clichés countless times during his first playthrough.

Anyway, these old NPCs only dared to complain verbally.

"That's good. After all,"

Kazuma Hatori spoke slowly, his slightly narrowed black eyes appearing extremely assertive at this moment, and even his deliberately lowered voice was extremely cold, enough to make Tatsuo Gojo tremble with fear.

"If you try to hinder my mission, I'll have no choice but to kill you."

Gojo Tatsuo's brow twitched, and his murky gaze met that of Hatori Kazuma.

"Kill...kill me?" he asked in disbelief.

Yes, just like this.

Kazuma Hatake slowly raised his hand, pointing it at Tatsuo Gojo's forehead rather than as if it were a real gun—the latter, in a moment of daze, seemed to have a real gun pressed against his brow, his expression revealing an undisguised panic.

This was purely a fear ingrained in his DNA; it was Kazuma Hatori who deliberately made the old NPC, who had witnessed the "Director-General's Living Yama Arrives," even more frightened.

As for Kazuma Hatake himself, he had no qualms about bringing up the patriarch and using his banner to intimidate him.

"When the time comes, I will report to that official that you have ulterior motives and are trying to satisfy your selfish desires by hindering my mission; I am merely someone who discovered this unexpected situation in advance and eliminated it in time."

"I am the Holy Son of the Panxing Sect, its successor. Do you think that lord believes my words more, or yours, an outsider?"

Although Kazuma Hato is no longer the head of the Kamo family and is only at level three, he can't even use spells, so he seems like a complete noob.

However, in some ways, his identity card in this cycle is much more useful than that of the Kamo family head in the first cycle.

For example, you can use the guise of a mission to intimidate these old NPCs and enjoy their powerless rage, yet their inability to kill you.

He can even kill them without paying any price when necessary; unlike last week, when he was always being secretly plotted against by these old NPCs and villains.

After all, in this timeline, he has become a member of the villainous camp—and an executor of the plan!

Kazuma Hagoromo stared intently at Tatsuo Gojo with his dark eyes, slightly raising his eyebrows in a half-smile.

The meaning conveyed by his expression was quite obvious.

If you're so capable, you can try and see if I dare to kill you. In any case, you'll be the one who pays the price with your life.

Tatsuo Gojo choked up, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

After all, that person has insiders all over the directorate. To implement any policy or decision, all that's needed is the support of the majority of the upper echelons.

Compared to Kazuma Hatori, a key figure in the plan, he was utterly insignificant.

Even if he were really killed, that lord would not punish him for it; at most, he would reprimand him a couple of times and then let it go.

Besides, even if that person really killed the black-haired boy, so what? Could he be brought back to life on the spot?

What do you want me to do?

Gojo Tatsuo's face was pale, and when he spoke again, he had lost all his momentum.

"During my stay at Gojo's house, I discovered some problems."

Hatake Kazuma spoke casually, as if he had come incognito on the orders of the cult leader.

"For example, I've noticed that many members of the Gojo family seem to be influenced by your remarks and are dissatisfied with Satoru, who is the next head of the family."

"Are you deliberately excluding the next head of the family because you're actually planning to secretly band together, sideline the current head, seize power and resources, and thus rebel against that person's will?"

Having such a huge pot placed on his head startled Tatsuo Gojo so much that he almost jumped up on the spot.

"Of course, of course not! Absolutely not! But that Wu simply won't listen..."

"Um?"

Kazuma Hatori spoke coldly, and Tatsuo Gojo immediately fell silent, stammering and not daring to say anything more.

How could he forget that this black-haired boy is on very good terms with Gojo Satoru!

In a flash, Gojo Tatsuo suddenly understood.

Could it be that Kazuma Hatori's close relationship with Satoru Gojo was also at the behest of that person? Since Satoru Gojo, who will succeed as the head of the Gojo family in a few years, doesn't listen to them, they should replace him with someone who can make him listen, so that they can also firmly control the Gojo family.

The black-haired boy in front of us came with that very purpose.

He, who is openly active in the world of sorcery, is essentially that person's proxy!

In other words, he not only could no longer be hostile towards Gojo Satoru, but he also had to fully support his rise to power, and incidentally help to bring Hagoromo Kazuma and Gojo Satoru closer together.

Only in this way can that person's goal be achieved.

Having figured this out, Gojo Tatsuo quickly pledged his loyalty to Hagoromo Kazuma and the person behind him.

"I know what to do. Please trust my loyalty!"

"very good."

Kazuma Hatake withdrew his hand, his voice returning to its usual calm.

Every day, I see pretty Xiao Wu doing something at home, and every time she does something, this old man complains and that old man grumbles at her—it's just outrageous!

Through the information gathered in his first playthrough, he learned that these old men were inextricably linked to the [mastermind].

I might as well give them a good talking-to; if they don't listen, I'll just secretly take them out.

He can't kill the cowardly "patriarch," but can't he kill these old men who always make Wu unhappy? A few [Black Flash] shots and he'll see if they can even breathe.

However, the results of the discussion with Tatsuo Gojo were quite satisfactory.

He wouldn't mind observing them for a while longer before giving them a suspended death sentence.

When Kazuma Hatori walked back down the long corridor to Satoru's bedroom, the latter, who had been sleeping under a blanket, had already woken up.

He rubbed his eyes, stretched and yawned while lying on the tatami, and rolled around in a particularly relaxed manner, even pulling his loose short-sleeved shirt up a bit to reveal a small section of his slender and well-defined waist and abdomen.

Kazuma Hatake's dark eyes lingered on that for a moment before silently withdrawing them.

That's the advantage of a big room; no matter how much Gojo Satoru rolls around, he won't bump into the furniture.

At that moment, Gojo Satoru rolled around several times—the thin blanket that had only covered one corner of him turned into a towel roll, wrapping him up completely—and tilted his head towards Hato Kazuma, who was sitting in the original spot, and asked bluntly.

"Where did you go just now? Be careful not to bump into those old guys who hate me and get a scolding."

"They are afraid of me and dare not rebuke me."

Kazuma Hatake picked up the controller and answered.

Even if you threaten them, they have no choice but to obey.

It rained heavily today, so Gojo Satoru didn't go fishing. Instead, he dragged him to play video games.

As a result, he fell asleep without realizing it, which gave him the time to go out and look for Gojo Tatsuo.

Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru chuckled and reached out to poke Hagoromo Kazuma's unusually serious, expressionless face.

"You really dare to say that, even though you're clearly a sorcery idiot."

He didn't take Kazuma Hatake's explanation to heart, thinking the other person was just joking seriously.

It's just too strange to think about. Those elders are already in high positions, so it's one thing for them to be frightened by Kazuma Hatori, but how could they possibly obey him?

When it came time for dinner, Gojo Satoru had to meet with Gojo Tatsuo again, and when the latter spoke to him in a surprisingly pleasant manner, Gojo Satoru was almost startled to the point of exploding.

What? Has this old man been possessed by someone??

"It is said that the sister school exchange meeting between Tokyo Vocational College and Kyoto Vocational College will begin next month. This time it is being held at Kyoto Vocational College, and we have been invited to visit."

Tatsuo Gojo spoke to Satoru Gojo with a smile, completely unconcerned that Satoru Gojo was startled and leaned back, as if he were a kind and benevolent elder giving instructions to a junior.

“We old folks aren’t very mobile, so we don’t plan to join in the fun. You’re the next head of the family, and you happen to be studying at Tokyo College, so why don’t you go with your friend to take a look?”

Gojo Satoru: “…………”

Gojo Satoru did not answer immediately, but instead narrowed his blue eyes suspiciously, scanning the other person back and forth.

"...You're Gojo Tatsuo? Really? Are you possessed by a demon?"

He never imagined he would hear those words from Gojo Tatsuo.

Gojo Tatsuo barely managed to maintain his smile: "..."

That kid really knows how to make you angry with his words!