Chapter 119: I Like You In Glasses
At the inn, Aries reported on the reconnaissance of the past few days.
“Captain, the Great General of the Left Imperial Guard of the Land of Rivers returns to his mansion only once every half month, and has always been guarding the west city gate of Tenshu Castle.
Even when he returns to his mansion in the noble district, he is accompanied by over a hundred samurai as guards.
Among those samurai, there are at least 8 Sand Ninja hidden.
As for the Minister of the Palace, he lives directly within the Grand Council.
After the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha went to war, these officials became even more cautious.
Please give me more time, Captain, and I will definitely find more information about them.”
Yoru said, “You continue your investigation. I will find a way to create an opportunity to lure those two out of Kyoto.”
“Lure them out of Kyoto? How?”
“Just wait for my news.”
Yoru left the inn and got into the Daizo-in’s carriage.
This carriage took Yoru outside of Kyoto, and he changed carriages outside the city. He then boarded the carriage of Koizumi Chisa, the Lord of the Treasury.
The carriage of Koizumi Chisa was filled with fragrance, with four sachets hanging in the corners.
“Mr. Miqu, please forgive me for rushing you so much. Since the Land of Lightning invented electricity, Kyoto has become reliant on all sorts of electrical appliances.
The coal reserves are running low. In a month, not only Kyoto, but even Tenshu Castle will have no electricity.
The blueprints you gave me, I had craftsmen from a coal-fired power plant look at them, and they said it’s indeed possible to generate electricity using river water.
Today, I’ve asked you and the craftsmen to discuss on-site, determine the scheme and location, and see where it’s suitable to build a hydroelectric power station.”
Miqu was a fake name given by Yoru.
Yoru said, “I can’t just take one million ryo for drawing a few blueprints. This is what I should do.”
He was calculating in his mind, thinking of a way to persuade Koizumi Chisa to invite some nobles to the foundation ceremony, thereby luring the two targets out of Kyoto.
Walking downstream along the Jishui River, Yoru chose a valley. Yoru said:
“The earth in the Land of Rivers is special. After the river flows through, it constantly scours downwards, carving out deep gullies.
These deep gullies can be utilized to build hydroelectric power stations.
This place is very good. As long as a dam is built here, an artificial lake can be created, and electricity can be generated using the gravitational potential energy of the lake water.”
Koizumi Chisa looked at the map and couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Miqu, why not build the dam upstream of Kyoto? That way, we can both generate electricity and regulate Kyoto’s water flow.”
Yoru shook his head and said:
“If a dam is built upstream of Kyoto, and someone were to blow it up, then Kyoto would be finished.
Do not overestimate the morality of ninja. If I were a Sand Ninja, in order to sabotage the Land of Rivers, which is protected by Konoha, I would not hesitate to blow up the dam, even if the flood would kill thousands of Kyoto residents.”
Koizumi Chisa’s expression turned somber.
The destructive power of ninja was too great. Ordinary people carefully maintained their living environment, and a few ninjutsu from passing ninja could destroy everything.
“I didn’t expect Mr. Miqu to understand ninja so well.”
“Through killing and being killed, I’ve gained some insights.”
Koizumi Chisa found Miqu to be quite optimistic.
“Mr. Miqu, would you be willing to settle in the Land of Rivers? I am willing to apply to my brother to grant you the official post of Governor of Kawachi, to construct and manage the dam and hydroelectric power station.”
Koizumi Chisa was the sister of the Land of Rivers Daimyo. She was unmarried and helped her brother manage the important Grand Council.
Yoru’s heart stirred. Wouldn’t this make it easier for him to approach the nobles? He said:
“Is the Grand Council of the Land of Rivers facing difficulties? If I become Governor of Kawachi, will I not receive the reward of one million ryo?”
Koizumi Chisa smiled and said, “I will send the bounty tomorrow, along with the official seal of the Governor of Kawachi.”
For several consecutive days, Yoru worked at full capacity in the Grand Council, all for the sake of starting the foundation ceremony as soon as possible.
Koizumi Chisa had already agreed to invite nobles to the foundation ceremony, holding a grand event.
Koizumi Chisa was increasingly moved. A rogue ninja from the Land of Lightning was working so hard for the hydroelectric power station in the Land of Rivers.
After a moment’s thought, she could no longer regard Miqu as a rogue ninja. He would settle in Kyoto in the future and become the Governor of Kawachi.
The feelings between the two heated up rapidly. Yoru deliberately cultivated this relationship, and Koizumi Chisa was also attracted by Yoru’s engineering talent.
—
The full moon was like a silver plate.
Moonlight shone into the deep courtyard of the Grand Council.
With the power outage and no electric lights, relying on moonlight and candlelight instead made it even more romantic.
In the boudoir, the window was open, and moonlight streamed in.
Koizumi Chisa bathed in the moonlight. Her face flushed as she asked, “Why do you insist that I keep wearing glasses?”
Yoru looked at Koizumi Chisa, her body snow-white under the moonlight, and said, “I like you wearing glasses; it has a unique contrasting beauty.”
“But… the glasses keep shifting, it’s uncomfortable.”
“You must wear them.”
As the sister of the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, Koizumi Chisa had never met such an assertive man, and instead became more compliant.
Outside the boudoir, a maid waited in the corridor, ready to be summoned at any time to serve Miss Chisa.
The maid’s eyes flickered, and she occasionally glanced towards Miss Chisa’s study, where the preliminary blueprints for the hydroelectric power station were kept.
She had already transmitted everything that happened here to the Stone Ninja spy. She didn’t know what choice the spy leader would make.
If the Land of Rivers successfully built the hydroelectric power station, it would no longer buy coal from the Land of Earth, and coal was an important economic pillar for the Land of Earth.
Half a month later, after the equipment blueprints were drawn, the foundation ceremony for the dam began.
Yoru, dressed in the official uniform of the Land of Rivers and wearing a tall hat, sat on the presidium.
Aries, wearing sunglasses, blended in with the craftsmen.
His eyes under the sunglasses occasionally glanced towards the noble resting area to the side.
He hadn’t expected the squad leader to actually lure the assassination target outside of Kyoto City.
The hydroelectric power station was too important for the Land of Rivers. The Great General of the Left Imperial Guard and the Minister of the Palace both attended the foundation ceremony as special invited nobles.
The two nobles were surrounded by heavy guard of samurai, making it difficult to make a move.
Aries glanced at the captain. The captain was sitting next to the tall and beautiful Lord of the Treasury, chatting and laughing about something.
For two people who had been intimate, their sense of boundaries was different from others. Unintentional glances, occasional touches, were all different from ordinary friends.
Aries guessed that to complete the mission, the captain must have compromised himself to the sister of the Land of Rivers Daimyo.
The Root’s training never taught him about honey traps.
So, honey traps were this effective.
Alas, he was covered in insects, and it seemed he would never be able to use a honey trap in this lifetime.
The foundation ceremony was held under the auspices of the Lord of the Treasury, Koizumi Chisa.
“Distinguished nobles and craftsmen, the foundation ceremony for the Kyoto hydroelectric power station officially begins.
The hydroelectric power station is the project most valued by His Lordship the Daimyo, and it will solve the electricity shortage caused by insufficient coal burning…”
Yoru looked with a smile at the profile of Koizumi Chisa, who was wearing a long dress.
His peripheral vision swept over the guards of the Great General of the Left Imperial Guard.
He wondered which of those guards was a Sand Ninja.
The war between Konoha and the Hidden Sand Village had not yet been decided, and these fence-sitters couldn’t wait any longer.
He wondered if the fence-sitting behavior of the Great General of the Left Imperial Guard and other nobles was their own initiative or if the Daimyo had secretly ordered it.
Perhaps the Land of Rivers Daimyo also feared the Hidden Sand Village winning.
Amidst Koizumi Chisa’s crisp announcement, four craftsmen suddenly jumped up and charged towards the presidium!
“Kill the Governor of Kawachi! We absolutely cannot let the Land of Rivers build a hydroelectric power station!”
“Earth Release: Rock Iron Bullet Technique!”
The four simultaneously spat out pebbles from their mouths. The pebbles grew larger in the wind, turning into boulders one to two meters in size, flying towards the presidium.
Yoru was taken aback. I’m planning to assassinate nobles, why is someone coming straight for me?
Koizumi Chisa was startled, then immediately drew a thin sword and swung it repeatedly, cleaving three stones with her sword.
She actually possessed decent sword technique.
She quickly gave the samurai an order: “Protect the Governor of Kawachi!”
After saying that, she pulled Yoru and fled to the side.
“Stone Ninja spies want to sabotage the hydroelectric power station for the sake of coal,” Koizumi Chisa said anxiously, but tried to comfort him:
“Don’t worry, Miqu, I definitely won’t let anything happen to you.”
Yoru said, “I know, nothing will happen to me.”
Chaos erupted.
Yoru signaled to Aries, telling him to act.
