Chapter 239: Making Friends
Seireitei, the new residence of the Shiba Clan.
The brightly lit hallway was eerily silent. At this moment, Gyōkaku Kumoi stood by the window, gazing quietly at the luminous full moon in the night sky. Under its glow, his figure appeared particularly ominous.
As a true schemer, Gyōkaku understood the value of power and status all too well.
After years of effort, he had finally won the trust of Rurichiyo Kasumiōji's parents, and following their deaths, he successfully seized control of the main family's authority. Under his careful manipulation, the strength of the main household had steadily grown, even to the point of suppressing the elder faction that once held real power.
Gyōkaku gently stroked his beard, calculating his next move in silence. He knew that to fully solidify his hold, there were still some troublesome obstacles to eliminate. And the most vexing of them all was Rurichiyo herself.
"My lord..."
A soft footstep suddenly broke the eerie silence of the corridor.
A figure clad in black hurried forward, dropping to one knee and lowering his head in deference.
"What's the situation? Have you found Rurichiyo-sama?"
Gyōkaku turned, his brows furrowing as he fixed a sharp gaze on the kneeling man. These assassins were personally trained by him—his most trusted and reliable subordinates. Yet at this moment, he found himself dissatisfied with their performance.
"She has been found," the man in black replied, his voice carrying a trace of nervousness. He did not dare to lift his head, knowing full well they had nearly made a grave mistake.