Chapter 10 Auction 2
After dinner, Hasebe delivered the investigation results that Kanshu had requested. He knocked politely on the door first, and only after hearing a "Come in" from inside did he push the door open and enter.
Excuse me.
Han Zhou, who was in her office arranging the team for tomorrow's match, didn't look up and simply said, "Just put it on the table."
The tsukumogami, with its excellent eyesight, could easily see the deployment list in Hanshu's hand, and its own name was listed as the captain. Among the team members were Mikazuki and Ichigo Hitofuri, who had just arrived at the citadel.
Despite his inner elation, Hasebe maintained his composure in front of Hanshu, putting down what he was holding and leaving. But the moment he left the office and closed the door...
He couldn't help but let out a soft cheer.
Meanwhile, in his office, Han Zhou looked helplessly towards the door. It was rare to see Hasebe so happy. He decided to just pretend he didn't know.
To avoid worrying anyone, Kanshu used the excuse of redesigning the Honmaru's architecture to take Higekiri to the general store. They might return quite late.
The message was delivered by Kitsunenosuke, and Mikazuki smiled thoughtfully upon hearing the reason.
"What's wrong, Lord Mikazuki?" Kitsunenosuke didn't understand Mikazuki's meaningful smile.
Mikazuki picked up Kitsunenosuke and asked seemingly casually, "When will my lord return?"
"My lord didn't tell me this, but he did instruct me to take good care of you and Prince Ichigo today!" Kitsunenosuke proudly puffed out his chest as he was given the task.
Ichigo Hitofuri had just arrived in the courtyard when he heard Kitsunenosuke's words. Behind him were the twin short swordsmen, Maeda and Hirano, who were also going into battle.
"Is that really what my lord said?" Ichigo Hitofuri asked with a smile. This didn't sound like something my lord would say.
Mikazuki froze, staring at Kitsunenosuke in his arms, then looked like a punctured balloon.
"Alright, what the lord actually said was: Mikazuki and Ichigo have relatively little experience in battle, so he asked me to research relevant historical data before the battle and provide suggestions to the captain."
Kitsune-no-Suke secretly glanced at Hasebe, who was walking towards them. Actually, Kanshu had given Hasebe some instructions, but Kitsune-no-Suke dared not say them in front of him. Otherwise, the controlled Hasebe would nag him for a long time.
On the other side
Such auctions did not allow sword spirits to be brought in, so Han Zhou made them return to their original forms. She then stored them in her earring.
The pair of teardrop-shaped blue earrings bore her imprinted magic circles, which held a large space. For ease of movement, she wore a simple yukata.
Upon seeing her, the owner of the casual clothing store greeted her with a smile and led the way, saying, "You've arrived! Here's your number. Someone will escort you to a private room once you go inside."
The black paper revealed the number 12 upon contact with Han Zhou; this was a method to prevent the leakage of customer information. Without any intention of chatting with the owner, Han Zhou directly stepped into the teleportation array.
The moment Han Zhou landed, he sensed that the entire venue was surrounded by a magic array that suppressed spiritual energy. There weren't many people here, but everyone's spiritual energy was extremely impure, without exception.
The staff waited outside the door as they led Han Zhou to the private room. Despite the room's luxurious decor, the surveillance equipment inside was still present.
A pale golden power slowly emanated from her body, enveloping the entire private room. This not only prevented outsiders from peeping but also created an illusion to deceive them. Only after ensuring she wouldn't be exposed did Han Zhou resummon the three sword spirits.
As soon as the three appeared, they instinctively placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, wary of their surroundings.
"Relax, the auction hasn't started yet. The entire venue is protected by an array that suppresses spiritual energy, but it won't work on you."
Spiritual power originates from the pure power of the soul, but this world contains more than just spiritual power. The fact that the array here is ineffective against Han Zhou is enough to prove that the power within her is not "spiritual power." Even with the shikigami, Kitsune-no-Suke, she cannot detect her true power.
"General, someone's here!" Yagen stared at the door of the private room; he had been on high alert ever since he arrived.
“With the illusions and barriers I’ve set up, those outside are only seeing phantoms,” Han Zhou said as he sat down. Through the specially designed glass in front of him, he could clearly see what was happening on the auction stage.
Higekiri and Hizamaru stood behind Kanshu, their hands still on the hilts of their swords. Yagen stood to Kanshu's side and slightly in front, both of them watching the auction stage.
They could sense the power emanating from the cold boat and guessed that their lord was investigating the situation. A moment later, they noticed the cold boat suddenly stop.
"Master? Have you discovered something?" Higekiri asked, tilting his head with a slight smile.
They noticed a slight fluctuation in Han Zhou's usually calm tone: "I never expected... no, rather, it's precisely because of him that I've fallen to this state."
"So, who did the general find out about?"
After answering Yagen's question, Kanshu continued, "Tsurumaru Kuninaga, like Higekiri Hizamaru, is a sword from the Heian period, and it's one of the swords I've used before."
Upon hearing Han Zhou mention this, Hizamaru also recalled something, "I remember, there's a famous anecdote about Tsurumaru Kuninaga: 'Under the moonlit night, a figure in white, graceful as a crane.'"
Higekiri tapped his chin with his index finger, recalling some things after Hizamaru's reminder. He added what Hizamaru hadn't mentioned.
"Ah...you mean that person who possesses Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who, like the White Night Rasetsu, slaughtered several nobles?"
Hizamaru's expression was serious; he nodded.
"Yes, brother. After that, although many people sought out White Night Rakshasa, they all fell to him. Tsurumaru Kuninaga thus earned the title of 'Invincible Blade'."
This matter was widely known within the Genji clan at the time, which is why Hizamaru and Higekiri knew about it. While Yagen was eager to learn about his lord's past, he also noticed Kanshu's unusual behavior.
Although it wasn't outwardly apparent, Yagen felt...
The general seems a little down.
"General?" he called out anxiously.
"That's true. That white robe was a gift from an old man when I came to Kyoto. When I went to visit him with a thank-you gift, all I found were several corpses. The old man and his family had not escaped the nobles' slaughter."
Yagen watched Kanshu recount the past in a calm tone, his feelings a mix of emotions. These weren't happy memories, and just as he was about to speak, Higekiri stopped him with a look.
They were all Han Zhou's swords, and they all understood that Han Zhou was not a fragile person. Even if Han Zhou didn't say anything, they could guess what would happen next.
In order to avenge the old man, the general/head of the family slaughtered all those nobles.
This is the origin of the anecdote about Tsurumaru Kuninaga, the "Invincible Blade".
After their brief chat, the auctioneer, wearing a mask, walked onto the stage.
A note from the author:
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