Chapter 15: Oath under the Rising Sun

Part 3: Into the Fox's Den

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(((Narrator)))

Ryuu secure the thigh holster to hold the small handgun, along with several throwing daggers. She test out the wrist blade mechanism, Assassin's Creed, Soren had came to call it. That man came up with ingenious inventions sometimes but his naming sense sure is odd.

Liliruca secure the belt of her kimono, and Ryuu check herself out in front of the mirror.

"Hihi, Miss Ryuu beauty will make Lord Soren speechless. It will be a nice date!"

"We have a mission.", Ryuu tries to deny it.

It's been months since Soren randomly proposed to marry her, however neither of them had try to talk about it further. Ryuu is too awkward to broach about it herself while Soren probably just forgot about it. His brain being a jumbled mess at times.

Ryuu didn't think she wants to say yes but she doesn't want to say no either. So she ended up running away from the issue and busy herself with managing their worker force and keeping an eye to the Sanjouno's movement.

As she head out, Soren is already in their carriage. He had bought some luxury equipment to be used for occasions such as this but personally he lives as frugal as ever. According to him, he just doesn't really know how to live rich, content to just spending money to run some farms as a hobby and eat regular food as anyone. For Soren and in return, White Raven Agency, luxury is just another tool to be used, nothing more.

"You look stunning, Ryuu."

Ryuu sheepishly looks over to the right.

"I'm just a regular looking girl as anyone."

"And I look like a hobo. Just take the compliment Ryuu.", Soren teased her cheekily. "Now come in. Kyuubi is waiting for us."

"Kyuubi?", asked Ryuu as he come up the carriage and the coachman muster the horse to move. "What nonsensical names you give up to your enemy this time?"

Having living with Soren for a year now, Ryuu came to know that Soren never ever give a nickname to anyone he's close to or at least respected. Unless their name is too long like Takemikazuchi and Liliruca, which he cut short to Take and Lily. He always calls everyone by their given name.

It's when you get actual nickname from Soren that you know he really doesn't like you. There's Diane (Dian Cecht), Herpes (Hermes), Buzz Lightyear (Apollo) and so much more he had blurted out on occasions. One time she heard he called Zeus as Serial Rapist.

Ryuu can only pray for Soren's soul with all the blasphemy she keep doing.

"Dude's a fox. I can't exactly call him Daji Ren when he has a dick. So eh, he'll have to settle with Kyuubi."

"Sure, Soren."

They then have a silent ride, arriving to the Sanjouno Estate after half an hour. They were greeted by the servants and lead to the dining hall for guests.

There, Lord Sanjouno Kyuubi, as there is no official name for this dude so we will just assign Soren's nickname here instead, had wait for them by the head of the table. He looks quite young, perhaps in his early 30s. He has a stern face, and hardly concealing his distaste for his supposed guest.

"Soren Ravencroft, you have arrived. I have heard… things about you."

"So, you have Gojou spies looking up my background?", Soren replies to him in return.

Sanjouno Kyuubi hide his grimace. While the Gojou clan is known for their clandestine profession, such fact is not common knowledge outside in Far East, let alone a faraway city like Orario.

"Have a seat, Ravencroft. And can I know of who your companion is?", Kyuubi invited them, ignoring Soren's remarks.

"Ryuu Lion of the Ryumilua Forest.", Ryuu

"I see.", Kyuubi gestured to the food that had been served by the servants. "Please, enjoy the feast."

Kyuubi observes the child called Soren Ravencroft as he ate. According to the information which his contact from Orario had reported to him, Ravencroft is an Adventurer that had made his appearance over a year and half ago. Supposedly, his Familia is held by an unknown god named Malsumis, however there is no sign of a god in their company. Aside from writing a beginner manual for the early floors of the dungeon, Ravencroft's only significant achievement is the selling of a weapon design that landed him over 500 million Vali.

Money he is now spending to takeover his territory.

Despite his poor background, Ravencroft dine with the poise and table manners of a noble. There is grace in his movement that no petty actor could imitate. It was as if he had never spent a single day in the slums.

Even Ryuu had noticed this change of demeanor. Had she not known about Soren, she would had never guess that Soren was a street rat.

Kyuubi filed down this observation in his mind. For now, let's converse.

"So, Ravencroft-dono, how do you find your stay in Osaka?"

Soren swirl the sake in his cup. It is no Sukunabikona nor Inari Okami brand of sake, but it is still quite an expensive bottle he had procure for his guest.

"I had not travel across the entirety of Far East, but I find the view to be quite exquisite. Though, the wandering refugees do tainted the view I suppose.", Soren drank the sake with grace, perfect in his etiquette.

"Indeed, the civil war is a problem. It is a shame that a guest had to view our nation like this."

"It is simply bad timing, Lord Sanjou. I have long desire to move here, but we cannot control fate.", Soren picked his meals with chopsticks as if he is a native, there is no awkwardness in his movement. "Tell me, Lord Sanjou. To what do I owe you the pleasure to meeting your lordship?"

Kyuubi sips his sake as he thought. He had intended to embarrass the Gaijin with Far Eastern traditional, cutleries and even table manners, but instead Soren Ravencroft had impressed even him. Along with his beautiful face and his subtle yet expensive kimono, it was as if he is meeting a prince from a foreign land.

My contact must have been fooled. There is no way this man is a mere street rat. Only someone who is born in aristocracy can exude such a noble aura.

"Well, I would like to thank you for your contributions to Osaka. Many people had been saved through your generous donations. As Lord of Osaka, I would like to reward you for your deeds."

"Is that so, Lord Sanjou?"

"Indeed."

"Hmm…", Soren mull over this reward being offered to him. "Tell me, Lord Sanjou, what form of reward you wished to give me?"

"Well, I had heard that Ravencroft-dono is a warrior from Orario. A blade is a warrior most prized tool, and so I wish to give you a famed blade forged by Masamune, our nation most prized and famed blacksmith. It will surely aid you greatly in your endeavors back home."

Ah, there it is. The take this and fuck off bribe.

Soren smirked. While he is not that sure if he wants to settle in Far East, he has intention to leave anytime soon especially since the redevelopment project is still ongoing. The failed Raven District project back in 2nd Playthrough still leaves him a bad taste. So, Soren has no intention to leave Osaka any time soon.

"A Masamune blade? I heard of it's legends. Surely a priceless treasure such as a Masamune Series wouldn't be entrusted to an outsider like me?"

Kyuubi nearly flinched when he mentioned the Masamune Series exactly. What he had intended was to gift him a failed Masamune blade, which while still a blade superior to most, it is still not at the level of quality which Masamune etched his very own brand as proof of quality. The Ravencroft is well informed. He had definitely caught his message, and countered with expecting a Masamune Series instead, a series of blade so powerful and priceless that no one in their right mind will offer it to outsiders and have the blades leave their country.

Sanjouno Kyuubi has declared his intention to have Soren leave. Soren Ravencroft has declared his intention to stay.

Ryuu Lion is not stranger to highborn battle of wit and subtext. What she did not expect was to see it from Soren himself. This is the guy who just yesterday taken a shit in the bushes because he had no time to run back home. High etiquette and political wit is not something anyone normally associate with him.

"True.", refusing to lower himself in a battle of class, Kyuubi is forced to be… polite. "I'm afraid I cannot award you with our national treasure. What I will present you is a Masamune Rejects, which despite the name is I assure you is still a peerless blade."

"Ah.", Soren gives him a radiant smile. "That makes sense, Lord Sanjou! Silly of me to think I am worthy to receive a divine blade such as a Masamune Series. Please, my lord. Forgive me for my misunderstanding."

Kyuubi maintain a polite face, holding back his veneer of contempt. This Gaijin is toying with me!

"There is no need for forgiveness, Ravencroft-dono. Servant, bring in the gift!"

A servant then bring in a katana. It has a sheath that seems to be carved from actual sapphire, while holding a blade with white handguard. At the pommel, a short chain of silver hang as a tassel.

"I had several Rejects in my possession. Since this one had never been used by any of my family for three generations since my great-grandfather bought the blades, I will let you name the blade for yourself."

"hmmm.", Soren stood up to receive the blade with honor. He draw it a little bit, inspecting the blade. The blade is polished to perfection, reflecting his image like a real mirror. "I shall name this blade Yamato. I thank you, Lord Sanjou for this great gift. I will surely make this blade famed across the lands."

"I sincerely look forward to that, Ravencroft-dono."

(((Soren)))

"What a dick."

We're in our ride home now, the whole dinner made my neck stiff.

But hey, at least I get a cool sword.

"Soren, be clear with me. Are you actually a noble?"

Ryuu had control herself well, her being stoic is her default mode afterall. But yea, seeing a street baboon like me suddenly going Gatsby must be quite confusing.

"I don't know, Ryuu.", I just point to my face and circle it. "I have a face of a prince charming. For all I know my mom was a prostitute that get impregnated by some tourist noble fuckboi and she tossed me to the streets right after. So eh, maybe it's just in my blood."

Ryuu looked away. Well, I can't exactly tell her that I had done so many possible routes in my endless timeloops that the experiences were etched to my very soul. I didn't even realize that I had switched to an aristocrat mannerism until midway through the dinner.

"Soren, do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Then, are you really an amnesiac slumdog just a year and a half ago?"

"as far as I'm aware, yes."

"Then, I'll believe you."

We went quite afterward. Feeling awkward, I fiddle around the blade. Then, I think about it.

Crap, did I start using Katana around this time or was it later? I can't really remember. It's gonna look weird if I suddenly get better with a sword right? I didn't even swing any since we moved here.

"Hey Ryuu, you used katana right?"

Ryuu's ears perked as I hear I asked.

"Not exactly. To be exact, I mostly used ninjato aside my wooden sword."

"Welp, how about we spar the next morning. I think I'm getting rusty after so long of not fighting monsters."

"Sure thing, Soren.", Ryuu had a faint smile on her face

(((Sanjouno Kyuubi)))

I had expected a buffoon but instead I am greeted by a highborn.

"I answer you summon, my lord."

The Gojou House may have been the clan that produce the bulk of assassin and spies for the capital, but that doesn't mean the other clans does not nurture their own personal spies.

"Join the workforce of White Raven Agency. Observe them for any suspicious activity, aside the training of Takemikazuchi's children. I want to know if there's even a speck of dust on their table."

"As you wish, my lord."

If he had just been a buffoon, the he would just pay him to leave and be done with it. But instead, he got a highborn who brazenly disguised himself as a mere peasant who achieved fortune in Orario and now acting like a generous Gaijin helping the people with his immense amount of money.

With the civil war going rampant in the east, the nation is unstable. This make it a prime opportunity for a foreign invasion.

He has to be a nobility from Rakia. Only someone who received a tutelage of warfare from a God of War can pull a subtle yet ingenious infiltration campaign such as this.

Soren Ravencroft, if that's even his real name. Sanjouno Kyuubi now has his eyes on you, and he will stop whatever nefarious plan you have!