Kaito swallowed hard as Isamu snapped at him; he could only sit there and listen.“I promised the late King Sora that I would serve the kingdom and all its people. If anyone dares to tarnish the kingdom’s good name—whether an outsider or an insider—I’ll make sure they feel the blade of my machete!”“Commander Isamu! I’ve made a huge mistake. I had to crown myself king just to fill the vacancy on the throne—I did it to stop our enemies from the Amagi Kingdom from attacking us!” said Tatsuya.“Do you really think your reasoning is sound? Do you think the Amagi Kingdom would attack us once they found out this kingdom had lost its king? The king of the Amagi Kingdom isn’t as foolish as you think.”Tatsuya gave a thin smile. He had counted on an empty throne frightening the Council more than it frightened Amagi.Tsukigawa’s commanders still held their posts. Its knights and soldiers had not vanished with Sora’s death.Against a neighboring army of comparable strength, Amagi would still have

“I heard what Isamu said about the Black Star Organization and its twenty Guards. If it is the order I know, its members worship the Dark Emperor.”“The Dark Emperor? Who is he?” asked Kazan.“A deity of darkness, an enemy of the gods and the Buddha. His body cannot be destroyed by ordinary strength.”Kazan studied the small spearhead. A moment ago they had been discussing palace officials; now Shigure was speaking of an immortal enemy of the gods.“His darkness threatens more than this kingdom. If living beings abandon the Dharma and turn from the gods, that darkness could spread throughout the universe.”“If he’s really that powerful, is there anyone who can defeat him?” asked Kazan.“Of course there is! But ordinary strength alone won’t be enough to destroy him. There is, however, one weapon that can!”“What weapon is that?” Kazan grew even more curious.“The fully reforged Nirvana Spear!”Kazan stared at the spearhead in his hand, curious about its true power.“If the Nirvana Spear

“Mr. Jian, shouldn’t we follow them to that house?” one of the Yingwei asked Jian.Jian, who was observing Enjou’s house, immediately turned toward the Yingwei who had asked the question.“They’re locating the rooms first. Do you want to send the whole street running before they find the boy?”“If they find him or meet resistance, someone will come back.” Jian returned his attention to the house.He had kept the rest of his party back after sensing the older knight and the masked youth arrive that afternoon. Let the scouts find an opening first.“Looks like someone’s coming!” one of them exclaimed upon seeing a figure dressed in black heading toward them.“That must be one of them who’s already found our target’s location! Step aside—let me meet him face-to-face!” said Jian, then he stepped forward to wait for the figure he was certain was one of his own.The figure approached without the expected signal. Jian narrowed his eyes.Assuming the figure was one of his men, Jian immediately

Kazane embraced Kazan when she saw him arrive, but this time he wasn’t alone—two people from Fengrui were with him.“I thought you were leaving Mom again.” Kazane held him so tightly that he could not answer at once.“Kazan, are you okay?” Enjou asked, glancing at the two people behind Kazan.Kenzou looked at the two of them and could sense their respective levels of power.“Kazan, why did you leave me alone in the room?” Rika protested.“I’m sorry, Rika!” Kazan held his own ears in apology.“Kazan! Who are those two?” Enjou asked.“Oh, they helped me fight the Yingwei earlier. This is Mr. Jian, and this is his fiancée, Miss Sheng!” replied Kazan.The two bowed. Kazan kept Jian’s earlier role to himself; Kazane’s hands were still trembling against his sleeve.Kenzou was already watching the strangers’ hands. A word about who had led the attack might bring another fight into the hall.“Thank you both for helping my son. My name is Haruki Enjou, Kazan’s father, and these are my wife and

“Knight! Can’t we stay here? Please, let us repay your kindness by protecting the Haruki family!” Jian pleaded, unwilling to leave after Kazan had spared his life.Jian stood beside Sheng rather than behind her now. Both waited for Kazan’s answer.“I’m sorry—it’s not that I don’t appreciate your good intentions, but you yourselves aren’t safe yet!” said Kazan.“We know there’s no safe place for us. Eventually we’re bound to face that problem—as long as Lei Zhen is still here and alive, he’ll mobilize all the Knights at his disposal to track us down!” said Sheng.Kazan’s answer stalled. Lei Zhen knew Taiga; Taiga knew the Demon Forest. The old house might conceal the couple only until someone thought to search it.“So why did you choose to stay at my house?” He wanted to make sure their good intentions were genuine.“The two of us discussed this earlier this morning. We’re certain that Lei Zhen and everyone working with him won’t sit idly by! They’ll send more Knights to harm this famil