"What do you kids like?" Shigeo asked, turning his gaze toward the two children.
They were Cheng Da's son and daughter—the older three, the younger two. Both blinked at him, silent for a long time, not daring to speak.
"I'm talking to you. What do you like?" Over the years, Cheng Da had earned plenty of money under Shigeo's command. In some ways, Shigeo owed him thanks.
"Waaah…" The little girl burst into tears. Her brother, though, was braver. "I want a dragon!"
Shigeo laughed softly. Extending a hand, he formed a single seal—Mokuton (Wood Release).
A massive wooden dragon surged to life, majestic and imposing, coiling through the entire living room.
Everyone froze in awe. None of them had expected their lord to summon such a sight with a mere gesture. The little boy's eyes went wide, his spirit practically leaving his body as he stared at the dragon.
The wooden dragon solidified in place, becoming a magnificent sculpture that stretched from the floor up to the ceiling.
"Papa! Papa, look—it's a real dragon!" the boy shouted, trembling with excitement.
Shigeo turned to the little girl. "And you? What do you want?"
The child sniffled for a moment before finally managing, "I want a crown."
"Alright." Shigeo reached into a large scroll, carefully selecting one suitable for a child, and handed it to her.
The mother, Cheng Da, and Cheng Mei'er all gasped, sucking in cold air. They might have come from humble origins, but years of business had taught them to recognize value—and that crown was no toy. It was genuine royalty's property, encrusted with countless jewels that shimmered with dazzling brilliance. Its worth was beyond measure.
"This is far too valuable! No, no, Mei'er, get her toys—quick!" Cheng Da stammered, his voice trembling. His wife clutched the child tightly and shook her head over and over. "Thank you, my lord, but this is too precious—we can't accept it!"
Shigeo's tone chilled. "You look down on me?"
"N-no! Not at all!" Cheng Da blurted, bowing low before tremblingly handing the crown to his daughter.
Then he pointed toward the dragon still standing tall in the room. "My lord, we live in the small villa behind this manor. This is your main residence, so… should this really stay here?"
Only then did Shigeo realize that Cheng Da's family hadn't occupied the estate for themselves at all. They had preserved it, hired caretakers, and protected it in his absence.
To spare them embarrassment, he asked casually, "Which villa?"
"The two-story one," Cheng Da replied.
"The smallest one?" Shigeo recalled it clearly. "You really see yourself as just a hired hand, huh? This manor's huge. Pick a better one."
"Oh no, my lord," Cheng Da quickly explained. "We've made plenty of money under your service. Though we own no fields here, we've purchased property elsewhere. Rest assured, we're well off. That little villa suits us fine. This estate will always be your home."
Shigeo nodded. "Good."
With a light flick of his finger, the wooden dragon sprang up, soared into the air, and flew outside. The boy cheered and chased after it gleefully, his sister and mother hurrying after him, followed by Cheng Mei'er.
Soon, the grand room was quiet—only Cheng Da and Shigeo remained.
Silence hung in the air.
On the dining table lay a photo of Deidara with his clay bird. Cheng Da's eyes dropped. "Forgive me, my lord. I shouldn't have kept that from you."
Shigeo had intended to scold him earlier, but after seeing the man's sincerity, he understood Cheng Da had hidden it only to avoid troubling him. "Bring me all the information."
"Yes, yes!"
After reviewing the reports, Shigeo confirmed it—it was indeed Deidara.
"How often does he attack?"
"The first and second attacks were ten days apart, the third and fourth five days apart, and the last one was three days ago. He doesn't only hit Higashihime Island—sometimes he steals money… sometimes he… he…" Cheng Da trailed off.
"Speak."
"My sister, Mei'er…"
The realization struck Shigeo instantly. No wonder Deidara, who could have leveled the whole island in one blast, had been making repeated small attacks—it was because of her.
"How far have things gone between them?" Shigeo asked.
"Nothing too serious," Cheng Da answered quickly. "He just grabs her now and then, scares her a bit, then lets her go. He hasn't… gone too far."
Shigeo's lips curled slightly. "I see. One more thing—can I take your sister with me?"
He already had a plan to bring Deidara to heel.
"Eh? Of course! If my lord favors my sister, I'll gladly offer all my property as her dowry! So long as you're pleased—heh, heh, heh…" Cheng Da broke into an awkward, delighted laugh, as if he'd just heard the best news of his life.
"Do you think I'm marrying her?" Shigeo's eyes went cold. What did he take him for—a man who fell for every woman he met? He had standards.
Flustered, Cheng Da stammered, "S-sorry! I got too excited. Whatever my lord wishes to do with my sister, she'll cooperate willingly—I'm sure of it."
The way he said it carried quite the… ambiguous tone.
Shigeo shook his head faintly. "Relax. I'll make sure she returns safe and sound. Go tell her."
Deidara, you've taken a liking to Cheng Mei'er? Fine. Then I won't kill you—yet.
That night, Shigeo took Mei'er with him. As for Higashihime Island, he had Cheng Da send Deidara a letter: She's in my hands. If you want her back, meet me in the Land of Rivers.
He'd thought it would be a simple resolution.
But to his surprise, events soon spiraled far beyond his expectations.
For instance—the Akatsuki.
At the Blue Gate headquarters, Shigeo waited several days. Deidara never showed. Nor did he return to Higashihime Island.
Just as Shigeo began to wonder about his whereabouts, a secret report arrived—from Uchiha Itachi.
"The Akatsuki's plan has been moved up. Deidara and Sasori have already gone to Sunagakure to capture the One-Tail. The others have also set out, but their locations are unknown."
(End of Chapter)
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