Starting from the Dragon Tribe! - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: “Welcome” Feast

However, that fire was extinguished in a flash. The old man respectfully nodded to Gen Chisei, who returned the gesture.

“This is Inuyama Katsu, the head of the Inuyama Family, and also the minister of the Japanese branch,” Chisei introduced.

Lu Chen froze. He did not expect that this old lecherous yakuza leader would also be the minister of the Japanese branch. Not that he had preconceived ideas about the other person, but that extravagant shit outside could only be dreamt up by an old pervert. He thought that if the vice principal were to come here, he’d definitely get along really, really well with that old man.

“Cassell College Class of ‘08, Lu Chen, pleased to make your acquaintance.” Damn, in this retro-style environment, Lu Chen unconsciously switched up the way he talked.

Inuyama Katsu also froze, obviously not expecting Lu Chen to talk like that.

Immediately after, Caesar and Chu Zihang also introduced themselves and took their seats after Inuyama gestured for them to do so.

The room was silent after they had seated. Even Caesar did not know what to say for a while. He had heard that the Japanese were into tea and told Chu Zihang and Lu Chen about it on the plane in order to avoid making a fool of themselves in front of the Japanese.

But looking at this atmosphere, was this not some sort of Hongmen Feast*?

*TL Note: a meeting contrived as a trap. Originated historically when the warlord Xiang Yu tried to kill his rival, Liu Bang, by inviting him to a banquet set up to kill him.

“Is Principal Anjou well?” In the end, it was Inuyama who opened his mouth. The heavy atmosphere finally lightened up a bit.

“The principal is doing very well. I heard that he still often attends dances. His youthfulness still seems to be there,” Lu Chen replied. He was actually poking Caesar under the table to tell the “social flower” to say something to liven up the atmosphere, else he won’t be able to contain it anymore and pull out his sword and start cutting.

“It seems that the principal is still the same as always… yet I’m already old and halfway in the ground,” Inuyama’s tone was sentimental, with a few traces of hurt.

Gen Chisei was somewhat nervous. He felt the atmosphere was slightly off. He had heard a little about the pasts of the Inuyama family head and Principal Anjou. Could there be trouble today?

But they, the Yamata-no-Orochi, were at a stage where they direly needed more time. Even if the Secret Party caught their tails this time, they couldn’t just show their true colors. Thus, not only was this welcome feast meant to demonstrate their might, but also to entertain the visiting delegation of “swordsmen.”

But in the next moment, Inuyama lifted the sake jug in front of the cups—then poured. The girls on either side of him obediently passed the glasses to Lu Chen and Chisei and the others. He then lifted the cup, “To the legendary dragonslayer, Hilbert Ron Anjou.”

Lu Chen and the others secretly exchanged a look, then also raised their glass, “To the principal.”

This was the “enemy’s” territory. Lu Chen naturally would keep an eye on Inuyama, his every move, and the girls who passed the alcohol. Though he did not think the Japanese branch would dare poison the headquarters’ visiting delegation’s drinks, he couldn’t just not take precautions.

After downing the glass, everyone seemed to relax a bit. Inuyama also started to introduce the girls on both sides.

Though Lu Chen didn’t know much about many things, he was surprised with the power the Inuyama family held in the entertainment industry.

The girls here were either rising stars, national players within the chess world, or geniuses in the dance world…

These girls, who were desired by many, were sitting on their knees on both sides, attentively serving everyone with alcohol, as if what they were pouring down their throats wasn’t sake, but a more intoxicating power and force.

The atmosphere at the table warmed up. From time to time, Inuyama Katsu asked Lu Chen and the others about their studies in the college, like a caring elderly relative. In this sort of atmosphere, even Chu Zihang would sometimes say a word or two.

It seemed like the host and guests were having a good time.

***

[Translator – cheiftanin]

[Proofreader – Karane]

***

…Up until Inuyama finished another cup of sake. His gaze swept across the table to the three young men, “The Lionheart President, the Student Union President, and this solemn young man. It seems the headquarters did indeed send the most outstanding young people here, hm.”

Inuyama’s gaze was playful. Lu Chen and the others also put down their sake cups.

Gen Chisei also sensed that something was wrong. He felt that the originally docile “ladies-in-waiting” suddenly became hostile.

“Sensei is as ‘young’ as ever, yet still as conceited as ever. Did he think he could scare the current Japanese branch with just a few children?” Surely enough, in the end, hidden intentions were revealed in the end. Inuyama Katsu was never going to just have a drink and chat.

“Inuyama family head,” Gen Chisei warned aloud. If the visiting delegation was killed here today, then tomorrow the Secret Party will declare war on the Yamata-no-Orochi, which was not what they wanted. What they needed right now was time.

“I’m merely changing the method of welcome. I believe the young people of the headquarters are not that interested in drinking and talking either. This is only sparring,” As Inuyama finished that last part, the girls who were sitting on both sides stood up, pulling out katanas from the back of their kimonos. No wonder they were sitting so upright even when they were refilling the drinks for the guest—the hilt was hidden at the nape, and the blade tips below the hips. The guests being entertained would never have thought that the girls were hiding weapons behind their fragrant bodies.

No, today’s guests were different from the rest. The three “swordsmen” did not look surprised—the one in the middle even smiled.

“Kotono,” the chess player Kotono reintroduced herself. The air was filled with the smell of sashimi, because they were in the way of the famed blade Kiku no Tekisuto’s slash, yet this graceful and ethereal cut was blocked nonetheless.

The part of the table in front of Caesar split apart. Each clash between Dictator and Kiku no Tekisuto created numerous sparks. He laughed playfully, “I told you the Japanese love to engage in sneak attacks.”

Kotono bent down, and the tatami was raised up on one side from the instantaneous force generated against it. This advantage gained by making the first move forced Caesar, who was still seated, to retreat back to the railing.

On the other side, Chu Zihang wasn’t even able to stand fully and was forced to draw his sword against the kendo girl named Setsuko. The girl’s ponytail became parallel to the floor with this sudden advance. Accompanied by the sound of collisions, Chu Zihang and Caesar were almost knocked off the second floor at the same time. The sound of weapons clashing below resounded through the entire area!

Gen Chisei raised his hand to stop Sakura’s intent to move and looked at Inuyama Katsu. With him here, he didn’t think this old man would be so reckless. Since he said it was a sparring match, he thought the other would at least hold back.

“I heard you can climb to fifth order Split Second,” Inuyama Katsu continued sitting at the other end of the table and drank another cup of sake.

“Who’d you hear that from?” Lu Chen smiled. He had only revealed the latest “limit” of his “Split Second” to the principal.

“The principal.” Inuyama was blunt, causing Lu Chen to freeze momentarily. The principal was still in secret contact with this old man?

“Sensei is obviously fond of you, a new student, which is why he suddenly remembered me, his old sword hidden for over sixty years, to test against his new beloved sword,” Inuyama Katsu’s tone was clearly not friendly. With those words, he pulled aside his kimono, revealing the sword beneath.

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