Chapter 10 — Perfect Play
Tokinada's strike stopped just a centimeter from Kaito's face.
Kaito was genuinely shocked — he hadn't expected Tokinada to be that fast.
Even with the memories of the spiritual clone destroyed in the previous experiment, the danger had still been real.
But now, he was satisfied.
Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
His strategy had been simple — almost trivial.
Provoking a lunatic like Tokinada didn't require genius, only courage and composure.
Kaito disguised himself as a servant.
He created the illusion of having a rare spatial movement ability and presented himself as a special subordinate, supposedly important to the Tsunayashiro patriarch.
To Tokinada, he looked like just another arrogant servant — an easy annoyance to deal with through violence.
But that was the trap.
If Tokinada attacked a servant, fine — at most, house arrest.
But if he attacked a real noble — and not just any noble, but the direct heir of the Kasumiōji family — the punishment would be severe.
And Kaito needed Tokinada to be arrested.
It was the only way to complete the mission.
He had calculated every detail:
> Who would be able to stop Tokinada at the moment of the attack?
---
Sōya Azashiro.
The only one in that hall with enough power and coldness to react instantly.
That's why Kaito sat as close to him as possible.
And when Tokinada erupted, as predicted, Azashiro grabbed his wrist — his hand still trembling from restrained fury.
Tokinada gritted his teeth and snapped arrogantly:
— "Azashiro... release me."
But before the command could echo, a voice charged with spiritual pressure interrupted:
— "What is the meaning of this?! Is the Tsunayashiro family attacking the heir of the Kasumiōji clan?!"
Raien Kasumiōji had risen, his voice booming like thunder.
The patriarch of the Tsunayashiro family furrowed his brow, thinking.
Not out of fear.
But because he was analyzing the situation.
His gaze moved over Azashiro, then Kaito, then Raien.
He spoke coldly:
— "This was an isolated act by Tokinada.
Kenpachi, take him to the prison.
Raien, Central 46 will judge this fairly."
The subtext was crystal clear:
> "Tokinada is being discarded."
---
Tokinada understood immediately: he had walked into a trap.
But something still left him genuinely confused.
"Why?"
"I'm the last of the branch family…
There's no profit for the Kasumiōji in taking me down…"
"Even the patriarch discarded me without hesitation…"
None of it made sense — unless everything had been orchestrated to fulfill some hidden goal.
Even so, Tokinada took a deep breath.
It was too late.
Escape? Impossible.
His eyes met Azashiro's again.
Sōya was no ordinary captain.
He was a Kenpachi.
Not even Tokinada's ego could imagine escaping from him.
And so, he calmed down.
Not from guilt or regret —
But because he understood the game.
"Central 46 would never execute me...
My last name is still Tsunayashiro."
Even abandoned, he was still a piece on the board.
---
At that moment, Kaito's System notified him of his success:
> [Character Login: Tokinada Tsunayashiro — Complete]
Condition: Have him arrested
Reward: Skill: Touch of Corruption
Kaito felt a dense, dark, and twisted energy invade his body.
The skill had activated — though he'd have to study it later.
His eyes then shifted to Tokinada, being led away by Azashiro.
Everything had happened just as he planned.
And before he could savor the victory…
> [Second Character Login: Tokinada Tsunayashiro]
Condition: Create a candidate for Soul King
Reward: Skill: Demon Summoning
---
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
— "Create… a Soul King candidate?
Now that is interesting."