Ch.307[Chapter 307] Eastern Union

“This place is truly mysterious beyond words.”

“Indeed. It feels like we’ve come to a different world.”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica arrived at the Eastern Alliance’s forward base, passing through the five-colored, iridescent mist and clouds.

Sir Dominic thought that the Eastern Alliance was quite a large clan, larger than he had expected.

Though called a forward base, the scale of the fortification was beyond imagination.

The oriental-style fortress and walls looked exotic yet sturdy, and the wooden structures inside the walls were intricately built despite their wooden construction.

Cherry blossoms and pine trees were planted between buildings, and as if to announce that this was the frontline, targets and scarecrows were set up in the courtyards.

Five-colored, iridescent mist and clouds settled in various places creating a mystical atmosphere. On the mountain, a dragon lay coiled around itself; in the river, a dragon god wearing a golden crown led a school of fish upstream against the current while floating on the water’s surface; and in the fields, an oni with an iron plow was tilling the soil.

It was truly a space filled with oriental fantasy.

“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”

When Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica were standing there dumbfounded at this mystical scenery, a person appeared before them.

He was a man in a suit with his face hidden behind a mask, and Sir Dominic knew him well.

“Master Musashi is waiting for you all.”

It was the ninja butler of the Unryu family.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Is that so? I believe this is our first meeting.”

The ninja butler responded to Sir Dominic’s words with a jest.

Yet the ninja butler sent Sir Dominic a signal with his eyes, which meant to please keep quiet about their previous meeting.

After all, their previous meeting with Unryu Musashi had been conducted without anyone’s knowledge.

“That can’t be. Weren’t you at the Tycoon City amusement park opening ceremony?”

“Ah, that time. Now I remember. Sir Dominic, you have an excellent memory.”

Yet Sir Dominic brought up their meeting from that day.

In fact, since the Unryu family had been active publicly, he thought it would be strange to deny their meeting.

The ninja butler seemed to realize this and quickly corrected himself.

“Well, I suppose when we met isn’t really important, is it? What matters now is that you’ve been dispatched here, and we need to work together to defeat Qingwen. Anyway, Sir Dominic, Sir Dominica?”

The ninja butler changed the subject as if there was no time to waste.

“Let’s quickly go to Master Musashi. He said he has something to say about the operation plan and timing.”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica nodded at the ninja butler’s words.

…

Eastern Alliance Forward Base Headquarters.

In the interior of a fortress with a vague oriental feel, Unryu Musashi was looking at a map of the battlefield.

His armor, dyed with red seal ink to give it a luxurious crimson glow, sparkled like new as if it had been waiting for this day. Behind him, a massive wheel of suffering with hellfire burning on it was turning.

The combination of the red-dyed oni mask and the wheel turning with hellfire attached made Musashi look like a yaksha from hell.

Truly a hell yaksha slaughtering enemies.

“Darling. Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica have arrived.”

Ichiko appeared like smoke from the shadows behind Musashi.

She was still wearing an elaborate kimono which appeared ordinary from the outside, but if one looked inside, there were hidden weapons totaling one hundred geun, 60kg.

It was amazing that she was carrying such weight, but even more astonishing was that she didn’t shed a single drop of sweat, as if it were nothing.

Above all, Musashi hadn’t heard her approach or sensed her presence despite her coming so close.

The ultimate mastery of stealth and infiltration.

However, Musashi, as if accustomed to such situations, continued to look at the operation map and nodded.

“I understand. I’ll prepare soon.”

“…Working hard is good, but please be careful not to hurt yourself.”

Ichiko gave Musashi these concerned words and then disappeared back into the darkness.

Perhaps Ichiko had come in person just to deliver those words to Musashi.

Just as she had appeared without sound or presence, she scattered like mist into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.

“Be careful not to hurt yourself…”

Musashi pondered Ichiko’s words and briefly took his eyes off the operation map.

Then, looking at where Ichiko had just been, he muttered quietly.

“Don’t steal the words I was about to say. Darling.”

…

“It’s here.”

The ninja butler guided them to the fortress with the highest tower in the forward base, and then stopped at one spot.

“This is Master Unryu Musashi’s quarters.”

After saying this, the ninja butler bowed to Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica.

“My role ends here. Well then, please.”

After saying that, the ninja butler instantly soared into the sky and disappeared.

“…A bit unfriendly.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s not just anything, but a clan war, so he must be busy.”

Sir Dominica frowned at the ninja butler’s sudden disappearance, but Sir Dominic thought it was understandable.

Of course, Sir Dominic knew it had been like this the last time too, but he was just making empty words, being careful with his speech since this was essentially the Eastern Alliance’s main base.

He didn’t want the ninja butler to suffer any disadvantages.

“Well, even so—”

“It seems our butler has caused you trouble. I apologize.”

“…!”

Sir Dominica was about to respond to Sir Dominic’s words, but had to cut off what she was saying due to someone’s sudden interruption.

Sir Dominica turned her head, wanting to see who had interrupted their conversation.

And Sir Dominica inhaled sharply in surprise.

A shadowy red oni face was right in front of her.

“…Lord Musashi.”

Sir Dominic calmly called out to Musashi.

Unlike their secret meeting before, this was an official meeting, so he addressed the other with more respect.

“I apologize. I knew you had arrived, but you didn’t come in no matter how long I waited.”

So I came out first in a hurry, Musashi said.

Sir Dominic observed Musashi carefully.

Musashi was wearing red armor that looked brand new, a red oni mask, and had a burning wheel attached to his back. He had been imposing when Sir Dominic saw him before, but now he was even more so.

An intense presence like a fiend from hell, a yaksha, a demon.

Sir Dominic instinctively placed his hand on his scabbard but then relaxed his posture, remembering that Musashi was an ally.

“…You seem to have grown stronger since last time, Sir Dominic.”

Musashi spoke just loud enough for Sir Dominic to hear.

“Thanks to you. After being sick for a week, my mind became clearer.”

“Did you gain some enlightenment?”

Musashi asked Sir Dominic playfully.

“Enlightenment, huh.”

Sir Dominic stroked his chin at Musashi’s words.

“In a way, it might be enlightenment.”

At Sir Dominic’s words, Musashi, who had been carefully observing him, turned his head with a pleased expression.

Of course, it wasn’t visible behind the oni mask, but one could infer from the atmosphere.

“By the way, this lady must be Sir Dominica.”

“That’s right.”

Sir Dominica nodded at Musashi’s words.

Sir Dominica had already regained her composure while Musashi and Sir Dominic were conversing.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Tsuki. As a warrior, she quite… ‘admires’ you.”

“As a warrior…?”

Sir Dominica tilted her head at Musashi’s words.

If he was talking about Tsuki, it must be that warrior girl with the iron helmet.

If Sir Dominica’s memory was correct, she was a master swordswoman whose skill was extraordinary.

The trajectory of her sword, which Sir Dominica’s poor eyesight could hardly follow, was an art form in itself.

Such a girl admires me as a warrior?

To begin with, Sir Dominica could hardly be considered a warrior.

Her swordsmanship wasn’t particularly high, and she relied heavily on her musket.

“Well, that’s not what’s important.”

Musashi clapped his gloved hands together, making a sound.

With the clanking of armor and the clap sound, everyone’s attention was focused.

“What’s important is the operation plan and timing, isn’t it?”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica nodded at those words.

“Let’s go inside. The operation map is in there, so we can talk while looking at it.”

Saying that, Musashi entered the room first.

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica briefly looked at Musashi’s back as he entered the room, then stepped into the room without deciding who should go first.