[Ch. 31] A Feral Cat Finds a Mouse

Panzram sat back and looked at Ryu carefully, "How did you know they were mercenaries?"

Ryu shrugged, "The Minamoto clan is always sending mercenaries after me. It happens quite often."

Panzram's scowl deepened in disapproval, "It happens often?"

Ryu nodded, "Oh yeah. The Minamoto clan is always trying to kidnap me or kill me. Anytime I'm in a place for too long, the mercenaries find me."

Panzram looked at Ryu in disbelief at his nonchalant nature. "You don't seem too concerned about it."

Ryu shrugged, "They are pretty bad at it, so I'm not concerned."

"You didn't even try to dodge the knife."

Ryu hesitated for a moment before smiling, "I was curious to know if they wanted to kill me or kidnap me."

Panzram clicked his tongue, "Well they seemed to want to kill you."

Ryu chuckled lightly and shook his head, "No, they intended on kidnapping me."

Panzram hesitated and raised an eyebrow, "They threw a knife at you."

Ryu nodded, "That's true. However, they didn't aim for any major arteries or any fatal areas. A mercenary of their skill level wouldn't make that mistake."

Panzram just stared at Ryu with a sharp look. Ryu shifted uncomfortably under his intense stare. Panzram eventually spoke in a disappointed tone, "I guess you're not completely stupid."

"Haah?" Ryu pouted and started tugging on Panzram's sleeve, "Who said I was stupid! I'm not stupid!"

"Hmm." Panzram looked at Ryu as if he didn't believe him. Then he changed the subject before Ryu could complain more, "Why would the Minamoto clan want to kidnap you?"

Ryu frowned as he tapped his chin trying to think, "I haven't been able to figure that out yet. I may be the Fourth Young Master from the Taira clan, but the Minamoto clan could not use me as a bargaining chip. It is not like I could be used to extort money either. Although I may be considered the darling of the family, my family is notorious for not caring whether I live or die if it means bowing to another family. Especially the Minamotos."

Somehow Panzram could not believe this. He had seen the way Ryu's eldest brother treated him. He had treated him as if Ryu were some kind of god he had to appease. Furthermore, no one would dare go against Ryu. Even his own family members. So how could his own family not negotiate with the Minamoto clan for his safe return?

"How can you be sure?" Panzram asked after thinking about it.

Ryu smiled solemnly as he whispered, "Because it's happened before…"

Panzram raised his head, "What did you say?"

Ryu shook his head and quickly dispelled his previous mood. He smiled ear to ear, "That does not matter. However, I can't help but feel like the Minamoto clan is planning something else."

Panzram's face turned serious at this. Since this was a reoccurring thing, perhaps it really was not just about the Minamoto clan blackmailing the Taira clan.

Suddenly, a younger handsome man rushed in. He had dark blue robes with a lotus insignia expertly crafted onto the back. He looked exceedingly rich and did not have a disagreeable face either. His eyes widened, "Ah! Who is making trouble in my tea house?!"

Ryu turned to the tea owner and had on his notorious fake smile, "Ah! My friend! It's been so long!"

The man noticed Ryu and smiled back. When he smiled, he had two dimples on his face making him much more alluring. "Ah! If it isn't the Fourth Young Master. I should have known it was you behind this mess."

Ryu chuckled awkwardly and scratched his cheek, "Forgive me, Nezu. I did not intend to destroy your wall or railing. However, some mercenaries pretended to be your workers and then attacked me. I had no choice but to fight back."

Nezu waved him off, "Pay it no attention. If it was you, then I could not possibly be upset." He then gave Ryu the side-eye, "But young master Ryu, usually your tactics are not so… Rugged."

Ryu chuckled at this and nodded, "Ah, that is true. I usually like to play tricks with my mind and not my fists. However, it wasn't me who fought off those mercenaries."

Nezu was surprised by this, "It wasn't?"

Ryu shook his head and motioned to Panzram, "It was him."

Nezu glanced at him and was instantly startled. He saw such an imposing man who was huge with a permanent scowling looking face. He was so terrifying that Nezu couldn't help but gulp and step back unconsciously. He looked back to Ryu, forcing a smile, "A-And this is?"

"This is Pan-" Ryu stopped himself abruptly.

Panzram looked at him with an expression that said: Really? Again?

Ryu blushed, "This is Pan... He is a cousin..."

...To someone.

Panzram shot him a glance, but Ryu averted his eyes.

Panzram realized that while Ryu told the truth, it still wasn't necessarily the truth.

Nezu looked at Panzram carefully, "Cousin Pan?"

Then he averted his eyes away immediately noticing Panzram's intense stare.

He rushed to Ryu and looked him over, "Did you get hurt? Surely you didn't?"

As Panzram watched Nezu carefully fawn over Ryu, he felt the sour taste in his mouth return. Earlier, he had imagined the tea house owner to be some old man with an average face. However, the man in front of him was actually quite handsome and young. He was also elegant and held himself highly.

Many women would swoon over this kind of person.

So why wouldn't Ryu?

Ryu smiled as he allowed Nezu to look him over. This only angered Panzram more. How could this flamboyant man allow Nezu to be so close? Did Ryu perhaps like it? Were they actually more than friends?

Panzram growled at the thought of this.

Nezu noticed the murderous aura and yelped when he looked over to see Panzram with killing intent his eyes.

Nezu jumped away from Ryu quickly and rubbed his hands nervously. Nezu thought to himself: Are they really cousins?! Why does this atmosphere feel so strange?!

Ryu yawned and clicked his tongue sleepily, "Ah… Well, it seems they must have laced the knife with a sleeping drug… Wow… This one seems to be more potent than their previous attempts…"

Ryu swayed before collapsing on the ground.