Volume 5 Chapter 28 The Great Villain of the World, Offering A Strategy To Rotaimei
──Tenhou's Perspective──
After Rotaimei finished speaking, silence continued for a while.
He shared what he knew about Kiryou's town and Mō Etsu-sama.
Rotaimei himself was an absolute supporter of Mō Etsu-sama.
"It's good that you cooperate with Mō Etsu-sama's guests."
Eventually, Shuu-sensei spoke.
"Yuuri-sama also wishes for Kiryou's town to remain peaceful. But I have something to ask you, Kikou."
"Ask away."
"Did the ones who attacked Mō Etsu-sama's daughter a few years ago use suspicious martial arts?"
"...No?"
Rotaimei tilted his head.
"The criminals I fought were just bandits. None of them used martial arts."
"I see."
"That's why I survived. If strong martial artists had been there, I would have been killed before help arrived."
"Understood. Sorry for asking such strange questions."
Shuu-sensei bowed politely.
Probably, Shuu-sensei thought Rotaimei fought someone who used the Four Fiends techniques.
If so, the enemy has been targeting Mō Etsu-sama since then.
But it seems the person Rotaimei fought wasn't a martial artist.
Then maybe he was just a thief, or perhaps... from another faction.
"I have one request as we cooperate."
Shuu-sensei continued.
"If possible, I want to see the security plan for the martial arts tournament."
"Understood. I will bring the documents later."
"Please. Rumors might cause strange things at the tournament, so we need to be ready."
Shuu-sensei thought for a moment,
"The enemy might target Mō Etsu's daughter too."
"Is that because the 'child of the dragon' is the 'girl with red hair'?"
"Yes. Some might kidnap her to fulfill the prophecy. I want to confirm the security plan for the VIP protection."
"Shuu-sensei, I have something to say."
Shouou spoke up.
"I have knowledge of VIP protection. I might be able to help with Mō Etsu-sama's daughter's security."
"Ah, indeed... Your knowledge could be useful."
Shuu-sensei nodded in agreement.
It was natural for Shouou to have knowledge of VIP protection.
She was a princess of Souma Country, someone who needed protection.
She should have knowledge of both protecting and being protected.
"You... were Shuu-dono's disciple, right?"
"Yes. I am Shisui."
Shouou used the alias she had during her travels.
"This child has stepped into places where nobles gather."
Shuu-sensei continued Shouou's words.
"She knows about VIP protection and how nobles behave in high society. I think she can give good advice."
"Understood. Then, I would like your advice for Gen Shuuyoku-dono and his disciple as well."
Rotaimei sat down and bowed his head to the floor.
Shuu-sensei and Shouou were surprised by this.
Shouou is Shuu-sensei's disciple.
Rotaimei, on the other hand, is a guest of the lord of Kiryou.
Positionally, Rotaimei is above Shouou.
Yet, he bowed his head to the floor, which was surprising.
...To Rotaimei, such hierarchical relationships did not matter.
Mō Etsu-sama prioritizes protecting everyone, and bows to anyone for that.
Rotaimei is that kind of person.
I trust this person.
Then──
"Shuu-sensei. I have a proposal too."
I bowed once and spoke my words.
"The plan is to drag enemies out during the martial arts tournament. May I make this suggestion?"
"I don't mind. Please go ahead."
"There are two proposals."
I chose my words carefully,
"How about giving the guards at the venue cats and pigeons?"
That was the first proposal.
Seirei can talk to animals.
Even now, Seirei uses a cat as a liaison officer.
If we can establish a cooperation with cats and birds in Kiryou town... a network centered on Seirei will form.
If Rotaimei and Mō Etsu's subordinates take those cats and birds, information will spread quickly.
They can respond faster.
To do that, we need to place cats and pigeons near Rotaimei and others.
I wanted to check if that's possible.
"I, and Haku-sama, love animals very much."
Rotaimei nodded easily.
"Cats and pigeons nearby are fine. But, disciple-sama."
"I am Shuu Rikuhou, a disciple of Shuu-sensei."
"Then I will ask Lord Shu. Having animals nearby connects to protecting Mō Etsu-sama and Haku-sama, right?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Then I won't ask further. I will talk to Mō Etsu-sama about it."
"Thank you very much."
"Please tell me your other proposal."
"But first, let me confirm."
I look at Rotaimei.
"Among the guests of Mō Etsu-sama, are any participating in the martial arts tournament?"
"Yes, I am."
Rotaimei shows a confident smile.
"There may be a risk of fighters causing chaos during the tournament. I decided to monitor them on-site as a participant. Is there a problem with that?"
"...To be honest, I'm not sure if I should even say this."
I mumbled.
What I'm about to propose is not something a martial artist should be praised for.
In fact, it's even disrespectful to Rotaimei.
But... as a strategy, it's effective.
If it works, the enemy might come to me.
Then, I might be able to figure out who the enemy is and capture them.
"This is not the right path for a martial artist. But, if it's a strategy that might capture the enemy..."
"It's fine. Go ahead and say it."
"I want to hear it too."
"Yeah. Say it. Shuu-san... no, Shuu Rikuhou-kun."
Rotaimei, Shuu-sensei, and even Shouou, who almost called my real name, nodded.
"Alright, I'll say it."
I took a deep breath and then,
"What if I become the bait to lure the enemy?"
"Rikuhou-kun as bait? What do you mean?"
"I will arrange for Master Mō Etsu to have me and Rotaimei-sama face off in the martial arts tournament. Then, I will lose to Rotaimei-sama."
After saying that, I looked at everyone's faces.
Shuu-sensei seemed to have understood something and nodded.
Shouou tilted her head.
Rotaimei had a complicated expression.
I continued to explain.
"After I lose to Rotaimei-sama, Shuu-sensei, please scold me harshly in front of everyone. Something like 'the shame in front of Yuuri-sama.' Make it so intense that I can't stay as a student anymore. After that, I'll leave everyone and go to a teahouse in town to complain. I can even pretend to be drunk. That way... the enemy might come into contact with me."
──A martial artist under Yuuri-sama loses in a tournament and gets scolded by their master.
──Getting treated like an outcast and leaving the master's side.
──After that, making a scene while drunk in a shop in Kiryou town.
If the enemy is targeting Yuuri-sama, they might see me as a perfect target.
They might try to use me to get information about Yuuri-sama... or even Ryougen-kun.
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