Taking Over

The elders began grumbling to each other about their failure, another one in a long line while Mui just kept silent, his eyes closed as if pondering.

However, the very next instant they shot open . . . Just in time to see the heads of all the elders fall from their shoulders and onto the ground and blood sprayed out of their severed necks.

Mui immediately got into his battle ready state but what good would that do to him against Shiki who could handle any non Otsutsuki opponent with ease?

The answer was patently obvious . . . nothing.

And so, without the slightest of difficulties, Shiki removed Mui's head, with the poor man never having even laid eyes upon his enemy, much less having any chance to defend himself.

Such was the unfairness of this world. Those with power can get away with almost anything. AFter all, who in the world could stop Shiki if he suddenly decided to murder the entire world?

Shiki however, was not one to entertain such philosophical thoughts for long. He sealed the box up in a container he had already prepared previously and disposed of the bodies, only keeping the heads of his targets to hand over to his "client", the Kusakage.

Just before he struck, the barrier he had set up around Kozuki Castle was activated so no inmate could escape. Not for a lack of trying though.

The whole Blood Prison was in a riot. Noticing the much dreaded cursed seals of Mui's, Fire Style: Heavenly Prison were gone, most prisoners immediately tried to escape, brutally assaulting their guards as they ran for their lives with foolish hopes of freedom.

Their meager abilities however, could do nothing to breach Shiki's barrier so, despite the overthrowing of their captors, the prisoners were all still trapped in the castles with no escape.

Unfortunately, the barrier was not going to last forever, since it lacked a reliable power source, it would only remain active for a certain amount of time before it fizzled out.

Still, the solution was simple, as part of the deal, Mugetsu would now control Hozuki while the prison remained affiliated with Kusagakure, officially at least.

As such, shiki called Haku who brought Kahyo along with specially made prison guard automata that would secure the Blood Prison.

Kahyo had already been informed of her new duties by Haku and had learned from her how to effectively command the automata she would be given.

Due to the short notice of this assignment, she still had some things to learn which was why Haku would continue to train Kahyo side by side with the kunoichi's warden duties.

After a day of work, the girls were settled in and all the prisoners were back in line and stuck with Kahyo's Ice Style: Chains of Earthen Ice to keep them honest.

Shiki then deactivated the barrier and replaced its energy source while giving an activation tag to Kahyo along with some words.

"This paper tag can activate the barrier I used to surround the castle but its just a safety measure to act as a failsafe in case of disaster." SHiki explained.

"Thank you my lord." Kahyo accepted with Haku keeping her signature smile in the background.

Shiki then turned to her and gave Haku a quick kiss before saying.

"Well, time to wrap up on the Kusakage's side and finish the recruitment process for our new member."

"Good luck, Shiki-san." Haku said with a slight blush from the sudden kiss.

"Never needed it." Shiki cockily said before disappearing in a flash of black light.

"New member?" Kahyo asked haku after Shiki left.

"Yes. Our "tether" to Kusagakure if you will, she was the one the Kusakage and elders elected to become liaison between us." Haku explained.

'She?' Kahyo thought before asking.

"If it's someone elected by Kusa won't she be loyal to them and thus a problem for us?" Kahyo explained her worries, well her less personal ones at least.

"Don't worry Kahyo. Shiki has his ways and if he is making this girl a core member, it's because he knows he can turn her." Haku assuaged Kahyo's worries.

Alas, while Haku's words lessened her professional worries, they made her personal worries flare up even more. Kahyo couldn't let someone who joined the race later than her get ahead now could she.

'Maybe I need to be more proactive while still not being insolent.' Kahyo pondered.

Reading Kahyo's mind like an open book since it was something that all the girls in Mugetsu's core member roster thought, Haku simply said.

"Good luck."

Despite first being confused by the words, Kahyo immediately realised their meaning before trying to stutter out a response as she furiously blushed.

But Haku just left the room while giggling, before she could justify herself.

Shiki on the other hand swiftly returned to Kusagakure to finish his business. He was far more interested in studying the Box of Ultimate Bliss rather than dealing with the the village leadership so he was planning on being curt.

"Well met Reaper. Is the mission already accomplished?" The Kusakage spoke as Shiki just appeared in his office.

Shiki placed a bag on his desk as a response.

"Is this . . ." The Kusakage trailed off.

"Proof of termination." Shiki explained.

"Ah! I see . . ." The Kusakage said.

"What about Hozuki Castle?" He asked.

"Secure and ready for you to send someone to visit if you want confirmation." Shiki replied.

"Excellent. We'll be sure to fulfill our end of the bargain then. Please await the good news." The Kusakage declared.

"Very good. My people will be in contact." Shiki replied before disappearing in his signature flash of black light.

The whole conversation was a necessary formality. Right now, the Kusakage would be extremely pliable to all of Shiki's "suggestions" but everything needed to be taken care of in an official manner in order to prevent the arousing of suspicions.

With all of that taken care of, it was time for Shiki to fulfil his end of the deal he made with Ryuzetsu, after which he could start making use of the Box for what he intended. A facility was already prepared beforehand and just needed the Box to start operating.

Meting with the Kusagakure kunoichi, he laid things out for her.

"We'll now to a place where I can open the box without fear of it going out of control a doing something I do not wish it to. This will also be your chance to speak to your friend." Shiki explained.

Ryuzetsu took a deep breath before replying.

"Okay. Let's do this."

"Very good." Shiki said a he held out his hand for her to take.

Knowing he was just going to teleport them to their destination, Ryuzetsu unhesitantly too it. Seeing Muku again, even if just for a final farewell, was something she desperately wanted.

Even though she had though all of those feelings were behind her, the moment Shiki asked her that questions, they all rushed back. All the closure Ryuzetsu though she had was gone and meaningless but now . . . Now she might be able to actually put all of this behind her.

She knew that's what Muku would have wanted and maybe, just maybe, after having the goodbye she never got would make her finally want to move on too, not just her mind but her heart as well.

The facility they went to was far removed from civilization, deep underground and with no entrance or exit other than by means of teleportation with countless barriers making sure one could not enter or leave without permission.

It was Shiki's personal prison for irredeemable characters that were just a waste of oxygen and were more trouble than they were worth.

"Is this a prison?" Ryuzetsu asked as Shiki led her to the room where he would put the Box.

"That's right. Only the most heinous and irredeemable criminals are held here though." He replied.

"I'd have thought of you as someone who would kill people without any use so long as they are not innocent civilians at least." Ryuzetsu commented.

"Oh? And why would you think that?" Shiki asked with interest.

"Well, you do have a reputation you know. And I have made my research after being assigned to you as Kusagakure's liaison." Ryuzetsu explained.

"That makes sense. And Kusa does have a great information network due to its many diplomatic relations." Shiki considered.

"Exactly. Although you are notorious for your ruthless efficiency. Civilian casualties are pretty much nonexistent for oth your missions and the majority of Mugetsu's operations." Ryuzetsu further added.

"Good point." Shiki conceded.

"And to answer your initial doubts. I have not killed the fools in this place because, irredeemable as they are, they do indeed still have a use for me and Mugetsu." He continued.

"How so?" Ryuzetsu asked.

"Tell me." Shiki said.

"Do you know how the Box of Ultimate Bliss actually works?"

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P.a.t.r.e.o.n is officially up!

The link is: https://www.p.a.t.r.e.o.n.com/lusoba without the extra dots of course.

You'll get to read up to FOUR week ahead, a full month, but I'll still post here.

There's also my other novel Archon of DanMachi, do check it out!

I would greatly appreciate any support since this is going to be my breadwinner.