Suddenly, a strong gust of wind flung the window open, snuffing out the candlelight on his desk.
Kujo Takayuki looked outside, but the night was calm and still—certainly not windy enough to justify the sudden draft.
Feeling puzzled, he dismissed the thought and relit the candle, intending to get back to his paperwork.
Yet, when he sat back down, there was an unfamiliar letter on his desk.
Kujo Takayuki immediately scanned the room, but there were no signs of intrusion. Warily, he picked up the letter and began to open it.
Hmm? Why does it smell like a woman's perfume? Did a woman deliver this letter?
And why does it feel... damp?
Setting aside the strange thoughts, he began to read the contents.
As he read, his expression grew darker. This was no ordinary letter—it was a detailed accusation, outlining his orders to drown the refugees.
So, the missing samurai... had they been captured?
Who would do this?
The Yashiro Commission had always been kept in check by the Kamisato Clan, but they never meddled in the power struggles between the Commissions, preferring to focus on their own development.
As for the Kanjou Commission, they were far away on Ritou, busy managing their own affairs. Even if they dismantled the Kujo Clan, it would only pave the way for the Tenryou Commission to be taken over by the Tengu family, which offered them no advantage.
Could it be the Tengu Clan behind this?
As Kujo Takayuki pondered the possible culprits, a man's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Well, Kujo-sama, how do you find the weight of the evidence in that letter? Do you think it's enough to bring the Kujo Clan down from the Tenryou Commission?"
Kujo Takayuki's gaze snapped to the source of the voice.
Seated at the tea table, as if he had always been there, was a hooded man with his face partially covered. The stranger casually poured himself a cup of tea.
"Did you capture those samurai?"
Kujo Takayuki's expression tightened as he noticed a dark golden emblem hanging at the man's waist.
He recognized it. He had seen a similar emblem on the woman from the Fatui who had once approached him with an offer.
"You're... with the Fatui!"
"Well, it seems Kujo-sama has some knowledge after all," the man said with a calm smile, taking a sip of tea. Luo Qing was secretly relieved—the Kujo head recognizing him meant he didn't need to introduce himself.
After all, the best way to make an impression is to have others recognize your importance.
"Hmph, we established an alliance not too long ago, and now, within just a few months, you seek to betray me?" Kujo Takayuki's gaze sharpened, and he spoke with a cold tone. "Do you really think a simple accusation will be enough to control me?"
"Don't get the wrong idea, Kujo-sama," Luo Qing replied, still smiling as he sipped his tea. "I happened to come across a few lost samurai. They had this letter with them, and since you're our esteemed partner, I thought it best to bring it to your attention."
"Hmph, are you saying those samurai are in your custody?"
"That's what you said, not me."
"Then tell me, what do you want?"
Kujo Takayuki sat back, dismissing the contents of the letter. He knew this was a play for leverage, and that Luo Qing wouldn't be here if he didn't want something in return.
"How can you say that, Kujo-sama? We're partners. When one of us faces a challenge, naturally, we lend our support."
Luo Qing stood and walked over to Kujo Takayuki, tapping the letter with a finger as he smiled.
"Rest assured, those samurai are being well looked after. You don't need to worry about them. Just pay a bit more attention to our partnership going forward."
As he finished speaking, Luo Qing's golden eyes locked with Kujo Takayuki's. In a blink, he vanished, leaving the room eerily silent.
"Filthy bastards without a shred of honor."
Kujo Takayuki's hands clenched around the letter as he cursed under his breath.
That momentary eye contact with Luo Qing had sent a chill down his spine, like he was being stared down by a predator.
He'd heard enough about the Fatui to know that they were dangerous individuals.
First, there was that arrogant woman who treated him with contempt, and now this mysterious man, appearing out of nowhere to issue veiled threats.
Laughable. Do they think that with the Tenryou Commission under their sway, they can take over Inazuma?
Inazuma has the Raiden Shogun.
Anyone foolish enough to threaten Inazuma would meet their end beneath the Shogun's blade!
Seething with anger, Kujo Takayuki tossed the perfumed and damp letter into the candle's flame, watching it burn to ash.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing had never intended to extract anything specific from Kujo Takayuki during this visit.
His goal was simply to rattle the Tenryou Commission's leader. Negotiations were best left to La Signora.
He strolled past Yae Publishing House once again. It was late; the night market at Hanamizaka had long since packed up, and the "Closed" sign hung outside the teahouse.
Though the shop had shut down for the evening, light still filtered from the upper floor windows.
Luo Qing glanced up, noticing the slight gap in a second-floor window.
There, leaning against the sill, was Kamisato Ayaka, her chin resting on her arms as she gazed at the full moon.
She seemed lost in thought, her face tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Suddenly, as if sensing his gaze, Ayaka looked down and spotted Luo Qing standing in the street, staring back at her.
"Huh... Why is Mr. Luo Qing here...?"
Caught off-guard, Ayaka scrambled to stand up, accidentally bumping her forehead against the window frame with a dull thud.
"Miss Kamisato, are you alright?"
Luo Qing chuckled, having witnessed the scene.
He had to admit, her flustered reaction was rather adorable.
"I-I'm fine, Mr. Luo Qing, don't worry about me," Ayaka stammered, wincing as pain throbbed at the back of her head. With Luo Qing watching, she couldn't even rub the sore spot.
"It's so late... Why are you still out on the street, Mr. Luo Qing...?"
"Well, it's late, and I couldn't find a place to stay, so I thought I'd look for a spot to rest," Luo Qing said casually, his playful side tempted to tease her a bit more.
"O-Oh... I see..."
Ayaka hesitated, biting her lip. If it weren't for Sayu's warning, she would've immediately invited Luo Qing inside to stay.
But with her brother's instructions in mind, no matter how much she wanted to help, she just couldn't bring herself to extend the offer.
"T-There's an Adventurers' Guild not too far from here. They're open all night and have places to rest. Mr. Luo Qing can stay there..."
She trailed off, barely able to finish.
As his friend, she should have invited him inside. But instead, all she could offer were distant directions.
"Alright, I'll check it out. Goodnight, Miss Kamisato."
"Goodnight..."
Watching Luo Qing's figure disappear down the street, Ayaka's lips curved into a small pout, her expression falling.
Back at his resting quarters, Luo Qing was overcome with fatigue. After washing up, he didn't think twice and slipped under the covers, ready for a good night's sleep.
But as soon as his face hit the pillow, he felt something wet.
Blinking in confusion, he sat up and touched the blankets.
"What the... Why the hell is this blanket wet?!"
...
---
T/N: Theresa girl... you have problems
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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