Chapter 36
When Kazuma Hagoromo and Satoru Gojo returned to Kyoto, it was already April.
Although the clan territories of the three main families are all in Kyoto, they are separated by a considerable distance from each other, resembling a three-way balance of power in the world of sorcery, yet also subtly at odds with each other.
Everyone wants to hold that "unique" power in their own hands. However, since their power is relatively balanced, they can barely sit down and discuss things. For thousands of years, they have jointly maintained the General Headquarters' absolute ruling position in the world of sorcery.
However, holding high positions for a long time means that they are beneficiaries of the system, and it also means the solidification of their mindset and class.
Not only do newly emerging sorcerers accept the inevitability of the Directorate's existence and obey any orders from higher-ups, but the Directorate itself has long been as stubborn as a block of iron, refusing any change.
Getting such people to willingly relinquish the power and resources they have already acquired is incredibly difficult.
When faced with Gojo Satoru's attempt to initiate reforms, they would spontaneously band together to exclude and isolate the very few who supported the reforms, until the entire administration became a one-man show dominated by conservatives.
However, Gojo Satoru's "strongest" is a double-edged sword.
His overwhelming power left the Directorate helpless against him, forcing them to tolerate his repeated challenges to their authority and make concessions. At the same time, this power also set him apart from all other sorcerers, leaving them only able to look up to him, stay away from him, or even fear him.
Therefore, outside of missions, Gojo Satoru not only refrains from taking action unless absolutely necessary, but also needs to demonstrate his harmlessness and approachability to the younger generation of sorcerers.
But perhaps this move, in the eyes of the higher-ups, is like a snow leopard, whose temperament is unpredictable, turning its belly up at them—
Will it bite off my head in the next second, or will it wrap its tail around me?
They were both afraid of the snow leopard's sharp teeth and despised its docile nature, so they began to take it for granted that they should order it around.
Perhaps behind the scenes, they would even feel smug about their ability to command wild beasts.
“But you seem to have forgotten that I am not Gojo Satoru.”
Kazuma Hato sat on the inner side of the main hall of the Kamo family, on the deliberately elevated seat.
He changed back into a very solemn black patterned hakama, and when his hands were on his knees, the wide cuffs of his sleeves would fall softly onto the tatami mat, and when unfolded, the rounded pattern printed on the inner side could be clearly seen.
This is a family crest with a very clear meaning, and it is also one of the customs that has been passed down since around the Heiji period, making it convenient for people who go out to show their family affiliation.
However, Kazuma Hatori specifically compared the patterns on this garment and found that they were not the same as the sunflower pattern that has been passed down in the Kamo clan.
It is closer to a bird of spirits and monsters, perhaps capturing the posture of spreading its wings, which makes it look quite majestic and awe-inspiring.
However, at this moment, no matter what equipment he is wearing, it does not affect the fact that he is the current head of the Kamo family.
Just like the elders kneeling below, who quietly lowered their heads to listen to the instruction, not daring to utter a sound.
It was all done by Kazuma Hatori, who called everyone to the meeting by counting heads according to the list of senior executives in the management department that Noriyoshi Kamo had given him.
This is called a true transformation of offense and defense.
“Wu has his own way of doing things, and I support him.”
Kazuma Hatake's voice was icy, and when his black eyes swept downwards, no one dared to look him in the eye.
"But that doesn't mean I'll make myself harmless and not fight back if I'm ambushed."
Just like when he strode directly into the Kamo family's house, his steps were both steady and quick, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and his cold gaze made the group of people who were hoeing the ground feel scared and avoid his eyes—the panic and fear revealed in their eyes were the direct evidence of Hagoromo Kazuma's attack at this moment.
"You all seem really afraid of me coming back."
Kazuma Hatori propped his head up with his hand, his tone indifferent.
"What, are you even more afraid than Kamo Chokichi was back then?"
No one dared to answer.
The main reason was that they didn't dare to look up and answer the two [Blood-Stained Fighting Guns] placed in front of them.
The air was so still that even Kazuma Hatori frowned impatiently.
Even if these old men stubbornly refused to speak to him, adopting a non-violent and non-cooperative stance, he still couldn't do anything about them.
Currently, the people you have had contact with are listed below in order of favorability:
Gojo Satori: 72;
Fushiguro Megumi: 46;
The Way of the Night Moth: 36;
Kenki Kamo: 8;
Kamo Chokichi: -100 (deceased);
Kamo Noyoshi: -85;
Yasuo Maeda: -87;
Kamo Heishichi: -93;
...
"Kamo Yamato, speak."
He opened the favorability rating interface and started calling names from the bottom at -100 favorability rating upwards.
Anyway, the favorability ratings of these NPCs have already dropped to the lowest possible level, so killing them won't hurt.
When his name was called, Kamo Yamato trembled slightly. "T-what did you say?"
Only after the other party spoke did Kazuma Hato realize that he had been so focused on threatening them that he had forgotten to ask a question.
"Tell me, who is it that wants to use the opportunity of the Level 2 mission assessment to harm my colleague through a natural disaster?"
"Ichima Hatake said calmly."
"Name a person and I won't kill you."
Having too low a level of favorability also has its downsides.
Characters like Fushiguro Megumi, whose favorability rating has been raised high enough, become closer to him and will proactively reveal many clues, and may even trigger hidden requests.
But the old NPCs in front of him now all have a negative affinity towards him, which means they will not reveal any information to him on their own initiative and only have the minimum obedience to commands.
"…………"
Kazuma Hatori remained expressionless.
See? This old man was stubborn to the death. He even made the threat at the beginning, so I thought he wouldn't dare to do anything.
With a heavy thud as the object swayed and suddenly collapsed onto the tatami mat, everyone in the main hall felt a jolt in their hearts.
Those who were close by had their clothes gradually stained with flowing blood—but at this moment, the panic of the crowd finally reached its peak.
Those people's scheme failed, and now they are the ones suffering...!
This patriarch had been gone for many days, and upon his return, he still killed without hesitation, just like before!
The God of Evil... He is the truly terrifying and cruel God of Evil, who has even developed a technique to apply [Crimson Blood Manipulation] to firearms!
After witnessing the shooting several times, they finally realized that this shot was not simply a firearm, but a combination and compression of high-concentration magical power and blood, which was then released at an ultra-high speed with the help of the gun's kinetic energy. Ordinary sorcerers simply could not resist it.
Amidst the pervasive atmosphere of terror, Kazuma Hatori put down the [Bloodstained Fighting Spear] and brought up the affinity interface again.
He was obedient and well-behaved towards the handsome Dawu, but he was ruthless towards the group of old men.
"Just to let you know, I don't care if I kill everyone in this hall,"
Kazuma Hatake spoke casually, but the content of his words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, sounding both like a threat and a temptation.
"But you can think about it yourselves. Are those colleagues who are always scheming against you really worth sacrificing for, even at the cost of your lives?"
After saying this, he didn't really give these people time to think. He paused for a moment and then began the ruthless roll call that everyone saw as the King of Hell.
"Next up, Kohei Kamo."
"I'll tell you, I ...!"
Before Kazuma Hatake could even reach for the gun placed in front of him, Kohei Kamo was already so frightened that he almost screamed.
“It was the Chief! The Chief summoned us to make these arrangements. He said he had a way to get rid of… uh, you! He also told us to take turns keeping a close watch on the Kamo family, and to immediately tell him if you send any messages back. He said this little thing wouldn't count as disobeying your orders…”
"oh?"
Kazuma Hatori's dark eyes flickered slightly, landing on Nokichi Kamo.
He had indeed asked Kamo Nokichi for a list of senior executives before, and the other party had readily provided it at the time—now he was a little curious whether Kamo Nokichi had told the head of the directorate about it.
Kamo Nokichi, who was being targeted, was like a rabbit being watched by a ferocious beast, and dared not move an inch.
“Kamo no Yoshikichi,” Hagoromo Kazuma said.
"…………"
Unable to withstand the deathly pressure from those lifeless black eyes, Kamo no Yoshikichi finally spoke, "I didn't say it, but the chief should have guessed it."
Kazuma Hatake: "Hmm?"
Kamo Nokichi revealed with difficulty: "There are also people watching Fushiguro Megumi's hometown in Saitama Prefecture."
With Fushiguro Megumi returning safely and Gojo Satoru remaining quiet, it basically means that the Kamo family head is also fine, he just hasn't shown his face yet.
As for the fact that the chief sent a distress message to someone... Kamo Nokichi did not reveal it.
After all, the person had maintained contact with them before, but this family head had severed it with extremely brutal methods—if they were to reveal it now, it would only implicate him and make it difficult for him to explain.
Look at that corpse lying on the tatami mat; nobody wants to be shot by this devil.
After a moment's hesitation, Kazuma Hatake chose to believe the other party's explanation.
Anyway, he walked into the Kamo clan's gate openly and honestly all the way. Even if they hadn't discovered he was still alive before, they should have found out by now.
"I'll settle the score with the chief later."
Now that the instigator (tentative name) has been identified, Tokichi put the matter aside for the time being, took out the piece of paper with the [mark] pattern drawn on it from his pocket, and unfolded it in front of these people.
This is what he really came to Kamo's house to do.
"This is what I'm currently investigating. Whoever can find relevant clues first—I mean, any clues."
He looked around and said, "I'll let whoever gets a month off, without having to do any work."
"?!!"
With just one sentence, everyone's expression instantly changed, and their eyes were fixed intently on the pattern drawn by Gojo Satoru, afraid that if they were a moment too slow to remember, their precious month-long vacation would be snatched away by someone else.
This is a time when everyone else has to work 16 hours a day, while I can leisurely enjoy flowers and tea!
"There is no time limit; you are allowed to find clues by any means necessary."
Kazuma Hatori continued to entice them—even though he was the one who set up the 16-hour workday that made them complain every day.
"If I determine that the clues are valuable enough, I can even add up my vacation time."
It actually works! Accumulation!!!
"I remember seeing it in a book about the application of techniques,"
One of them couldn't sit still any longer. After working himself to the bone for nearly three months, 16 hours a day, no one could resist the allure of the word "vacation."
"I'll go check right away!"
"Wait, I remember too!"
"Let me go look for it too!"
"I'm sure I've seen this somewhere before!"
With Kazuma Hatake's permission, the old men who were sitting in the main hall suddenly became nimble and rushed to the library.
Only Kazuma Hatori remained, sitting in the main seat, watching the group's figures quickly disappear into the distance.
See, finding things definitely requires the right method.
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