Chapter 361: The Fact of Powerlessness
"Save the apologies for when this is over. What everyone needs to consider now is how to deal with those two from the Isayama family and the true culprit behind them."
As an ally, a single sentence from Tsuchimiyaka Gaku effectively postponed the punishment of the Isayama family indefinitely. Despite such blatant protection, no one—including the Isayama branch families—raised a single objection. The reason was simple: the man standing before them was the strongest existence among Tokyo's spiritualists.
"The Isayama family will dispatch a subjugation team to hunt them down."
Though his heart bled, Isayama Naraku had no choice but to expel his daughter and niece—two of the clan's most outstanding members—from the family and issue the order to kill.
"Isayama Yomi and Isayama Mei were already the finest of their generation, and their strength has reportedly reached Special Grade. Does the Isayama family truly have the ability to subjugate them?"
The moment Naraku finished speaking, a discordant voice rang out. Naraku looked toward the source and saw the head of a family that had long been at odds with the Isayamas. Facing his gaze, the opponent did not flinch.
'He's telling the truth...'
Naraku suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion. As the family head had noted, Yomi and Mei were the elite youth meant to take over from the older generation. Now that the clan had lost them both, their combat strength was severely diminished. However, facts aside, the Isayama family could not afford to lose their momentum at this meeting.
"The Isayama family will subjugate those two at any cost. Rest assured on that point."
Naraku's words essentially meant he had decided to stack the lives of his clansmen to bring down Yomi and Mei. Hearing this stance, those present were somewhat moved; they could no longer find a suitable excuse to continue attacking the Isayama family.
"Since the Isayama family will handle their internal cleanup, will the rest of the families join me in preparing to face the mastermind?"
Naturally, no one objected to Gaku's proposal. As he declared the meeting adjourned, the family heads rose and returned to their respective clans to prepare for war.
"Naraku, wait a moment."
As Isayama Naraku rose to organize the subjugation team, Tsuchimiyaka Gaku called him back.
"Is something wrong, Gaku?"
With everyone else gone, the two reverted to their informal way of addressing each other.
"Let Kagura go with you."
Gaku fell silent for a moment, let out a sigh, and called out Tsuchimiyaka Kagura, who had been hiding behind the scenes.
"How can that be allowed?"
Seeing his friend entrust the heir of the Tsuchimiyaka family to him, Naraku tried to refuse without thinking. The Isayama main house had lost its heirs, the Isayama main branch had been wiped out, and of the Three Great Families, only the Tsuchimiyakas remained intact. If something happened to Kagura, wouldn't the legacy of the three families be finished?
"Uncle, please let me go. My strength is already sufficient," Kagura pleaded. If she joined the team, Yomi and Mei might have a sliver of hope for survival. If she didn't...
"But..."
Naraku understood Kagura's thoughts, but Yomi and Mei were now both Special Grade. Although Kagura was a genius, taking on both at once...
"Kagura's strength has already reached General Grade."
Gaku dropped a bombshell on the hesitant Naraku.
"What?"
Naraku's first reaction was disbelief. Even before he lost his hand, reaching General Grade was something that happened in his thirties. He remembered Kagura only reaching Special Grade a few months ago. How could she have broken through again so quickly?
"It's true, Uncle. My strength has reached General Grade."
As Kagura spoke, she released the aura belonging to the General Grade.
"It really is true..."
Feeling that unmistakable pressure, Naraku sat dazed on his cushion for a good while before suppressing the urge to ask how she had progressed so rapidly.
"In that case, can Uncle agree to my request?" Kagura asked again, retracting her aura.
"Are you truly willing to risk this?"
Naraku didn't answer her directly but looked toward Gaku in the seat of honor. Reaching General Grade at such a young age meant the Emperor Grade wasn't impossible in the future. One might even dare to guess that the Exorcist Lord might take notice of her and pass on his mantle.
"What is there to be unwilling about? Kagura is no longer a child; she has her own ideas. Besides, my time is running out..."
Gaku coughed twice, and fresh blood stained the floor.
"So, you've almost reached your limit?" Naraku looked at his friend with a complex expression. No wonder he was willing to send his daughter on such a mission now.
"As the 'strongest,' if the person in the shadows moves, they will definitely strike the Tsuchimiyaka family first."
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Gaku looked at his daughter with affection. Traditionally, he should be passing Byakuei to her now. But as a father, how could he push his daughter into that fire pit with his own hands?
"It is almost certain that Byakuei will be snatched away. By doing this, at least the Tsuchimiyaka family can retain some hope, can't we?"
"Then who will handle the current crisis?"
If all three Great Spirit Beasts were taken, Tokyo's spiritualists would completely lose their capital for resistance. At that point, who could stop the catastrophe?
"Haha..."
Hearing Naraku's worry, Gaku suddenly laughed.
"It seems you still don't understand the Exorcist Lords well enough, Naraku."
"Do you really think they didn't anticipate this?"
"They simply feel that the current problem is far from being considered a 'nuisance,' so they don't want to bother with it. Once the incident ferments to a certain degree, and people like us are mostly dead, the hidden measures those Lords left behind will likely activate..."
Gaku's tone was filled with bitterness and helplessness. Even if he saw through the intentions of the Exorcist Lords, what of it? As ants seeking the protection of giants, a price must always be paid.
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