NOVEL NEXT Chapter 351: Actually a Star Plasma Vessel?
If they had known earlier that Amanai Riko was the Star Plasma Vessel, the Yagyū family and the Gojo family would have searched for her far more carefully.
Who could have imagined that the person they were looking for was so important to Lord Tengen?
Who could have thought that the Gojo family had already been searching for the Star Plasma Vessel?
Thinking back to the way Gojo Kumaen and his own clan head, Yagyū Yusuke, had conveyed this information, Yagyū Hidetsugu could only smile bitterly. It seemed even Kumaen himself did not know that Amanai Riko was the Star Plasma Vessel.
"I had no idea that this girl, Riko, was the Star Plasma Vessel."
Yagyū Hidetsugu immediately refuted the accusation.
"Oh? Is that so?" Zenin Ogi looked at him with a sinister expression and tossed a record onto the table.
"Then can you explain why the Yagyū family has been secretly searching for a girl named Amanai Riko?"
Faced with Zenin Ogi's questioning, Hidetsugu shook his head. Even the Time Vessel Association had managed to obtain this information, so it was not surprising that the Zenin clan, one of the three great sorcerer families, knew as well. But he truly did not know the truth.
"Then please take a close look at when the Yagyū family began seeking news about Amanai Riko, Lord Zenin Ogi. If I remember correctly, the Yagyū family started looking for this girl before the Tombs of the Star even issued their order, correct?"
"Do you think the Yagyū family has a stronger ability to predict the future than Lord Tengen? It is only Lord Tengen who can sense the existence of the Star Plasma Vessel."
"The ninety-nine Special Grades were only known in advance because Lord Tengen publicly announced them. This time, Lord Tengen gave no such information."
Yagyū Hidetsugu's tone was calm but firm. This incident may have been an accident, but he still felt justified. After all, he truly did not know Amanai Riko was the Star Plasma Vessel.
Zenin Ogi's expression froze at the rebuttal. This was indeed something he could not explain. Why had the Yagyū family started looking for Amanai Riko so early?
Kamo Shinji shook his head and asked, "Yagyū-san, think carefully. Why did the Yagyū family start searching for Amanai Riko? Was it without reason?"
"Obviously, you obtained this news from somewhere. So, where did it come from?"
Kamo Shinji's tone was sharp.
Although the leak of the Star Plasma Vessel's identity was damaging to the Directorate, if they could use this opportunity to remove the Yagyū family, a thorn in their side, it would be a huge step toward the Zenin and Kamo families jointly controlling the Directorate's power.
The Yagyū family acted as agents for the Gojo family. They could not be allowed to remain.
Zenin Ogi pressed the attack. "Yagyū Hidetsugu, where did you get this information? Was it from the Gojo family?"
"Did Satoshi betray Lord Tengen? Was it because of his previous relationship with her that he learned about the Star Plasma Vessel in advance?"
It was only speculation, but it struck dangerously close to the truth.
Yagyū Hidetsugu could only remain silent. In this situation, he knew the more he spoke, the more mistakes he might make. Without another word, he left in anger, disappearing from the meeting.
He had to deliver this news to Kumaen immediately. If the Zenin and Kamo families truly took advantage of this situation, it would place the Gojo family in a very unfavorable position.
As they watched Hidetsugu leave, Kamo Shinji and Zenin Ogi exchanged a satisfied look. With their main target gone, there was no reason to continue the meeting.
"It looks like Yagyū Hidetsugu is heading straight to the Gojo family," Kamo said with a smile, lighting a cigarette.
"Yes, it seems he truly didn't know that Amanai Riko is the Star Plasma Vessel."
Zenin Ogi narrowed his eyes but still held some doubt.
"Who cares?"
Kamo exhaled a smoke ring. Missing such a good opportunity would be a crime.
Zenin Ogi nodded. "Indeed, who would care? The Yagyū family's timing was just too coincidental, and the Time Vessel Association really did spread this news."
It was pure coincidence and a mistake.
As for how the Time Vessel Association obtained the Star Plasma Vessel's identity, they neither knew nor cared.
...
At the Gojo family residence.
As soon as he left the Directorate, Yagyū Hidetsugu went straight to report the situation to Kumaen.
"What? Amanai Riko is actually the Star Plasma Vessel?"
Kumaen was visibly shocked by the news.
Seeing his reaction, Hidetsugu knew that Kumaen truly had not known the girl's identity.
"Could it be that the Zenin and Kamo families knew about the Time Vessel Association's actions and deliberately forced the person we were looking for to be labeled as the Star Plasma Vessel?" Kumaen, an experienced veteran, quickly suspected political maneuvering.
After all, how could the Time Vessel Association know something like this? Even the Gojo family did not know who the Star Plasma Vessel was.
Hidetsugu admitted the possibility existed, but it was small. After all, falsely labeling someone as the Star Plasma Vessel would not benefit the Zenin or Kamo families.
"Kumaen-sama, so this Amanai Riko is the person Satoshi asked us to find? If so, perhaps Satoshi..." Hidetsugu asked quietly.
"Yes, it was Satoshi who instructed us to search. He didn't give any specific explanation at the time, so I didn't tell anyone to keep it secret."
Kumaen frowned slightly, glanced at Hidetsugu, and decided he would have to inform Satoshi about this matter.
Although Satoshi seemed busy and had been staying in the forge, if this was not handled properly, the impact could be serious.
At the very least, they had to confirm Amanai Riko's identity through Satoshi before deciding on the next step.
(To be continued.)
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