019. Masamune Tokisaka

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Mutsumi Wakaba came back to her senses. Fortunately, Nagumo Uzuki was sitting right across from her, which gave her some comfort. He spoke in his usual calm tone:

“Why don’t we stop playing for today? We’ve practiced quite a while already.”

As he said this, Nagumo Uzuki stretched his shoulders.

“Alright.”

Wakaba lowered her head, gently hugging the guitar in her arms, her voice soft. Her thoughts were still somewhat hazy, the boundary between reality and illusion blurred. She wanted to grasp something solid, yet, like the “Poem of the Wind,” she felt light and airy now.

After sitting a while longer, she quietly stood up holding her guitar, placed it back on the stand in the corner, then turned around and gave Nagumo Uzuki a slight nod.

Nagumo Uzuki noticed her strange demeanor but didn’t ask further, simply waving with a smile.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

Wakaba nodded faintly.

“Mm.”

They parted with a simple farewell.

——————

Tokyo, night.

When Nagumo Uzuki returned to his apartment, the sky had already darkened. He skillfully opened the door, tossed his backpack onto a chair, unbuttoned his shirt casually, and stretched.

“Phew…”

After a full day of classes plus teaching Wakaba guitar, he felt unexpectedly tired. But it was a fulfilling day nonetheless.

He went into the kitchen, rummaged through the fridge for ingredients, and prepared a simple dinner.

While eating, he browsed the news on his phone, casually skimming recent hot topics. Japan remained calm today; nothing major had happened.

Even the rumors offered no surprises—just the price of gold rising, oil increasing, and even rice going up…

After finishing his meal, Nagumo Uzuki cleaned the dishes and returned to his desk to work on his manuscript.

By the time he typed the last sentence and closed his laptop, night had grown deep.

Thanks to his royalties, he could survive in Tokyo. After all, paper is precious in Luoyang, and rice is expensive in Japan; life in a big city is never easy.

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Nagumo Uzuki rubbed his brow and then got up to wash up.

The hot water streamed over his body, washing away the fatigue accumulated during the day.

After his shower, he returned to his bedroom and looked out the window.

The distant skyscrapers still shone brightly, the traffic on the streets flowed endlessly, and the city continued its sleepless rhythm.

Leaning by the window for a while, Nagumo Uzuki then slipped under the warm covers.

His consciousness blurred with drowsiness, his thoughts drifting.

His final thought was about the golden pocket watch that had appeared in his mental space.

He had many questions, but none had answers, and his eyelids grew too heavy to keep open.

Nagumo Uzuki closed his eyes, his breathing steadying, finally drifting into sleep.

——————

Unlike Nagumo Uzuki, who had gone to bed early, at the old Tokritsu Furukawa Garden Western-style villa—

This had once been the residence of a Meiji Restoration statesman, designed by a distinguished British architect.

Though its current owner no longer wielded the old authority, he remained among the elite at the pinnacle of Japanese society.

Kiyosuke Toyokawa, just off work, entered the villa now belonging to the Toyokawa family and quietly ascended the stairs.

After a day of hard work, and even a battle using his “Dragon King” with 64-fold “Instantaneous” and the “Phantom Horde,” anyone would feel exhausted.

But thankfully… the family’s objective had been achieved.

Thinking this, Kiyosuke Toyokawa relaxed a bit.

The Toyokawa family, a branch of the eight great Saki families, though not as powerful as the true underworld emperors, still commanded considerable commercial strength.

Those who understood the secrets of the Toyokawa family knew that all this was granted by the clan patriarch.

As long as the patriarch wished, he could replace disobedient subordinate groups at any time.

A few days ago, at a major meeting discussing the family’s business territories, Kiyosuke Toyokawa met the patriarch for the first time.

The patriarch appeared aged, but his eyes remained sharp; his silver hair was neatly combed, and his facial features were as sharply carved as from a blade.

He looked imposing, yet when speaking to an individual, he was warm and approachable.

He told Kiyosuke:

“Ah, you’re the son-in-law of the Toyokawa family, right? I’ve met little Mizuho before. It’s a pity things ended so soon, and I know it’s been hard on you.”

“How’s Principal Ange? I’ve long felt a spiritual connection with him and have wanted to meet, but never had the chance.”

“Though you graduated from Kassel Academy and the Executive Department might speak ill of us at times, we are all hybrids. The sorrow of our blood unites us. Now that you bear the Toyokawa name, you’re part of the family—don’t always think of yourself as an outsider…”

This highest leader of the eight Saki families, the current patriarch, chatted with him at length.

From everyday matters to Kiyosuke’s student days at Kassel before marriage, then back to his years in the Executive Department and family life.

Originally, Kiyosuke had buried the pain of his wife Mizuho’s death deep inside, unwilling to reveal his scars, but meeting this patriarch inexplicably made him want to confide, as if he naturally inspired trust.

“No wonder the patriarch commands such respect in the family,” Kiyosuke marveled.

Toward the end, Kiyosuke spoke of his daughter:

“Forgive me, Patriarch, but honestly… I don’t want her involved in the hybrid society’s conflicts any longer.”

“That’s your choice,” the patriarch said gently.

“The family never restricts anyone, but the fate of the ‘Sorrow of the Blood’ inevitably brings us together…”

“I have children too, though adopted, and I treat them as true kin.”

“One wishes to be a partner of justice; I intend to groom him as my heir.”

“Another cannot freely speak her mind—I worry if I pass, whether her brother can care for her properly…”

Like old friends bridging generations, they talked for a long, long time.

Finally, the patriarch said:

“Kiyosuke, there’s a task I need you to undertake.”

“What is it? I won’t refuse anything within my power.”

“There’s a Phantom Horde stronghold in the industrial zone. We’ve been investigating for some time. The Executive Bureau says they’re moving something. We must seize it.”

“There are many powerful hybrids in the family, and since graduating from Kassel Academy, I’m almost a househusband now. How could I shoulder such a duty?”

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Kiyosuke. Though some have higher Words of Power serial numbers, for this mission, your ‘Instantaneous’ is undoubtedly the best fit.”

“What about the leader of the Inuyama family?”

“He has even more important matters. The family will not forget your contributions.”

Kiyosuke agreed silently, also committing the patriarch’s name to memory—

Masamune Tachibana.

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