Shen Feng and Yue Hengyi quickly left the conference room. Shortly after, someone led the two to a villa within the city. The villa had just been vacated, and to accommodate Shen Feng and Yue Hengyi's demands, the original owner was unceremoniously evicted.
Of course, it was also highly probable that this villa was previously owned by the seven leaders, and its repossession was entirely reasonable.
Shen Feng lay on the sofa, immediately feeling its softness. He couldn't help but say, "Little Yue, you're still too soft-hearted. It seems you're not naturally suited to being a bandit; your methods aren't ruthless enough. Asking for forty catties of gold? What is that? It's laughable!"
Yue Hengyi's face flushed as he sat beside Shen Feng. "Well, I haven't seen much of the world. I thought forty catties of gold was already a considerable sum, so I stated that price."
"Tch, this is a major city! It's densely populated, and its industries seem quite comprehensive. What is forty catties to these prominent families? You could ask them for a hundred million, and they'd hand it over without batting an eye. So, you need to watch more anime and broaden your horizons!" Shen Feng said with a smile.
Yue Hengyi pondered for a moment, then recalled a previous action of Shen Feng's. He asked, "By the way, Brother Feng, why did you give an orphan an ability-enhancing potion? Don't you know how precious this stuff is? Even if it's a useless ability, you shouldn't just give it away so casually!"
"What do you know? I'm sowing the seeds of hatred, allowing this child to grow up and seek revenge on society. Learn from this!" Shen Feng replied, lounging on the sofa.
Yue Hengyi was perplexed. "What can this little brat do? Besides, he's only a few years old. Will he really seek revenge as you say when he grows up? I think that's unrealistic!"
"This is where you're mistaken! Let me tell you, this island nation operates on a bloodline theory. It's all over their manga. So, the sons of the wealthy remain wealthy, the sons of politicians remain politicians, and the sons of artists remain artists. Therefore, these people ostracize the common folk. Think about it: a child with no foundation, no background, suddenly becomes an ability user. How do you think he'll be treated?" Shen Feng asked.
"What else can happen? Of course, they'll kill him and steal his ability! You've wasted another ability-enhancing potion for nothing!" Yue Hengyi said, pointing at Shen Feng with a helpless expression.
"Hmph, we're still in Kagoshima. Do you really think these people would dare to act? It's unrealistic. Once this child becomes an ability user, I'll remind him of this. Afterward, he'll face all sorts of schemes and conspiracies. Even if he wants to integrate into society, he'll be rejected by those hereditary nobles. Ultimately, he'll seek revenge on society!" Shen Feng stated earnestly.
"I think you're just daydreaming. By the time this kid grows up, it'll be at least ten years from now. I don't believe he'll develop according to your predicted trajectory!" Yue Hengyi remained stubborn, absolutely refusing to believe Shen Feng's nonsensical ramblings.
Shen Feng shrugged and began to sleep on the sofa. The soft sofa was much better than the wooden floor he had slept on before. It seemed that having power made things convenient; one could have whatever they desired. No wonder the ancients said that strength could break all techniques. As long as one's strength was sufficient, no scheme or conspiracy could harm them!
Yue Hengyi, however, felt a sense of worry. He was fine with recovering from his injuries, but what about Qin Kewei in China? He knew nothing about her situation.
...
In the secret chamber of the manor, surrounded by dark stone walls, only a single candle illuminated the room. Inside, more than a dozen people were seated. The person in the lead wore a kimono, and it was Fujino-ko. The others in the secret chamber were all individuals of high status and influence.
"Thank you for saving my life, Fujino-ko. I am eternally grateful!" Matsushita bowed respectfully to the old man. After all, the other had sacrificed himself in his stead; such a debt could never be repaid.
Fujino-ko, the elder, inquired, "Have the casualty figures for the city been tallied?"
"They have been tallied. Over five thousand deaths, most of whom were killed by Yi Hengyue. Over ten thousand injured, and countless others with minor injuries. In short, our losses this time are immense. Afterward, our strength in the surrounding areas will be greatly diminished, possibly falling behind other prefectures!" someone replied.
"Then, have the identities of these two ability users been ascertained? Such powerful ability users must not be unknown individuals!" Fujino-ko continued to ask.
Everyone could only shake their heads and reply, "We have not found any information on these two individuals. Searching based on their appearances has also yielded nothing. Perhaps these two have never appeared in public before!"
"Impossible!" Fujino-ko stated directly. "I have reviewed the research results from the institute. Anyone capable of wielding such powerful abilities must have undergone multiple evolutions. Such individuals cannot have remained in seclusion the entire time. You must investigate their true identities by focusing on their abilities."
Everyone quickly agreed.
Many people saw the sixty-something-year-old man still worrying about the city, and they couldn't help but feel sympathetic, especially knowing that he would be leaving them forever tomorrow. The thought made everyone feel uneasy.
"Fujino-ko, after you pass, we will certainly build a temple for you and worship you eternally. We will never forget that you died for Kagoshima!" Matsushita quickly said.
However, Fujino-ko did not directly answer this statement. Instead, he pointed to the young girl in plain clothes standing behind him and said, "Now, my Fujino family only has this one descendant left. After I die, please, for my sake, treat my granddaughter kindly. Ranzi, come and pay your respects to these uncles!"
Ranzi quickly stepped forward and prostrated herself before the people in the secret chamber. A look of sorrow was evident on her face, clearly unable to accept that her grandfather was about to commit suicide as atonement. But now, she could not change anything. Ultimately, she could only follow her grandfather's instructions, bow to the uncles and her grandfather present, and hope for their future help and support.
Ranzi's tearful appearance was truly endearing. Although only sixteen, her figure was already enough to make one covetous.
"Fujino-ko, please rest assured. We will certainly take good care of our niece. We will guarantee the continuation of the Fujino family!" everyone quickly promised. In reality, this was merely an unwritten rule: when someone made a sacrifice, their family would be looked after by those remaining.
Afterward, the group exchanged pleasantries for a long time before leaving the secret chamber.
Fujino Ranzi helped her grandfather walk around the manor. It was already dark, but the city was still illuminated by lights. Cries echoed throughout the city because too many people had died in the day's battle. Not only were there many casualties among the soldiers, but some ordinary citizens had also perished.
"Grandfather, why did you choose to step forward? The Fujino family is already reduced to just the two of us. If you commit suicide, what will become of me and the entire Fujino family?" Ranzi asked with deep concern.
Fujino-ko did not answer. Instead, he walked to the edge of a garden where a cluster of roses was planted. The previous typhoon had caused petals and withered branches to fall to the ground and rot. New flower buds were appearing in the rose bushes. Perhaps, in a few days, the roses here would bloom again, releasing their fragrance.
"Look, my life is like these withered flowers. Although they are still clinging precariously to the branches, they could fall to the soil at any moment. And you are an unopened bud that needs nourishment. Therefore, my only choice now is to fall to the soil and become fertilizer so that you can bloom!" the old man said, using a metaphor instead of directly answering.
Ranzi was confused and asked, "But Grandfather, you don't need to die. As long as you are here, the Fujino family will be safe. But tomorrow, you will leave me. This choice doesn't seem rational!"
Fujino-ko pointed to the roses and said earnestly, "Because you only see what's in front of you and not the longer term! I can live for a while longer, but I can only protect the family for a few years. However, if I die now, I will receive the help of other families. You will not be in any danger in the short term. Afterward, through manipulation, the family can gain greater benefits. Do you understand?"
"I don't understand!" Ranzi replied seriously.
Fujino-ko could only shake his head helplessly and say, "It's a pity that your father and uncles all died in the doomsday. Otherwise, the responsibility of protecting the family would not fall to you. Since you haven't studied these matters before, it's normal that you don't understand. Listen to me, and I'll tell you what you need to do next!"
Ranzi listened quietly. No one dared to approach them in the courtyard, so their conversation could not be overheard.
"Next, when tomorrow comes, I will die! Nominally, I am dying as atonement. However, secretly, you must mobilize the family's influence and let everyone in the city know that I was a hero who stepped forward to protect Kagoshima! In the future, build a temple for me and have people come to worship annually, so that the Fujino name can spread. This way, the family's status will naturally be stable, and countless people will protect you!" the old man's weathered voice echoed in the courtyard, as if recounting his experience.
Ranzi nodded. "I understand. I will definitely do it."
"Then, you must curry favor with these two ability users. Although they are our enemies, they are very powerful! In their hands, there are many ability-enhancing potions. They are certainly not ordinary people. I suspect that even the ability users in Tokyo might not be able to defeat them! Your goal is to obtain ability-enhancing potions from them at all costs!" the old man continued to indoctrinate.
"Alright, at all costs, obtain the ability-enhancing potions!" Ranzi quickly said.
"Investigate the identities of these two ability users and obtain more intelligence from them. If necessary, you can open the laboratory to these two! I discovered that they are carrying a meteorite. Although it may not be a meteorite from the sea, it still needs to be studied closely!" the old man continued.
"Alright, I understand!" Ranzi kept this in mind. She had long heard that the appearance of the doomsday was due to meteorites, especially the virus that spread from the sea to the entire globe. Its reproduction and transmission speed were unimaginably fast.
Moreover, meteorites were also the source of abilities. Whoever controlled meteorites would have the ability to create ability users. Besides nuclear bombs, ability users were undoubtedly the most powerful. With enough ability users to form an army, it would not be impossible to dominate the world!
Next, the old man continued, "Furthermore, you must be very careful of enemies lurking in the shadows. These two Chinese ability users will not stay here long. They are merely recuperating, and they will leave sooner or later. Your true enemies are those who covet our family's assets, the Fujino branches, and people from other families. You must be careful guarding the family's property alone, and this requires you to become an ability user!"
"But, I am the only one left. Who can help me? Otherwise, Grandfather, find a death row inmate and let him die in your place! Aren't there many old men imprisoned? Grandfather, you can hide and help me strategize!" Ranzi could no longer suppress her grief and confusion and quickly said.
"It's impossible. Shen Fuyao is not a simple person. If he doesn't pay a price, he won't give up so easily! Yi Hengyue, who is by his side, is relatively easy to deal with; his schemes are not deep enough. The only one to be wary of is Shen Fuyao! Be extremely careful when you acquire the ability-enhancing potions!" the old man finally said to Ranzi.
Ranzi had no choice but to patiently listen to her grandfather's instructions. Every time she thought about living alone in the family in the future, with everyone around possibly coveting her family's assets, her anxiety was unresolvable. She could only nervously follow her grandfather's instructions, hoping that everything would proceed smoothly.