Kidomaru bowed.
"Your subordinate understands."
He exited the hall, and in the play of light and shadow, ferocious patterns appeared on that aged face.
...
Meanwhile.
Suruga Province, Imagawa Clan main camp.
This was the center of the Imagawa Clan's territory, a castle built against a mountain.
Inside the castle, within the Honmaru—the highest and furthest Palace atop the Tenshukaku that served as the main keep.
The figure of a young woman, one who could even be called a girl, sat kneeling on the tatami mats.
She wore a magnificent Junihitoe kimono, with a headpiece carved from gold on her head. Her dark brown hair fell smoothly like a waterfall, framing her delicate and exquisite face as well as her petite and slender figure.
Imagawa Yoshimoto.
The head of the Imagawa Clan.
Though she was a woman, she was also a feudal lord, a Daimyo ruling over a region.
In this chaotic Sengoku era, female clan heads were not rare.
Imagawa Yoshimoto was among the most outstanding of them.
At this moment, her brow was tightly furrowed.
"What are the movements on the Hojo side?"
She asked.
"Reporting to my Lord."
A samurai knelt on one knee: "The Hojo army is massing its forces; it looks like they are preparing for a large-scale offensive."
"Are our forces sufficient?"
"If it's a frontal confrontation..."
The samurai hesitated for a moment: "They should have been enough."
"But—"
"But what?"
Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned.
"A few days ago, an urgent report came from the front lines."
The samurai swallowed hard: "Both our army and the Hojo army have been attacked."
"Attacked?"
"Yes."
The samurai nodded: "A mercenary organization calling themselves the 'Band of Seven' has been slaughtering indiscriminately near the battlefield."
"They make no distinction between friend and foe, killing everyone they see."
"Our army has lost over three hundred men, and it's said the Hojo side is about the same."
Imagawa Yoshimoto's expression darkened.
"Band of Seven?"
She had heard of this name.
The most brutal mercenary organization in the Kanto region, they would dare to do anything as long as they were paid.
But the problem was—
"Who hired them?"
"It's unclear."
The samurai shook his head: "We've investigated, and the Hojo Clan is also looking into it, but there are no leads."
"This group seems to have popped out of nowhere, specifically creating chaos in the areas where the two armies clash."
Imagawa Yoshimoto's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
This wasn't right.
The Band of Seven were mercenaries; the employer who hired them must have a purpose.
But if they were killing indiscriminately, then what was their goal?
"Pass down the order."
She spoke: "Assemble more troops and prepare to suppress this Band of Seven."
"Their numbers are few; as long as we find their location, our numerical advantage can crush them."
"Yes!"
The samurai was just about to leave.
When another messenger rushed in.
"Report—!"
"Urgent report from the front!"
Imagawa Yoshimoto looked up.
"Speak."
"The Band of Seven... the Band of Seven has been repelled!"
The messenger panted: "According to eyewitnesses at the scene, they encountered a very powerful yokai and a priestess."
"The other party killed four members of the Band of Seven, and the rest fled."
Imagawa Yoshimoto was stunned.
The Band of Seven was actually defeated?
She stood up and walked to the window.
Outside was the camp, where soldiers were training.
While this was a good thing—with the Band of Seven defeated, her army had one less threat.
But—
An existence capable of defeating the Band of Seven was itself another threat.
And he's a demon.
"Pass down the order."
Imagawa Yoshimoto turned around: "Have the Intelligence Team immediately investigate the background of this demon and the shrine maiden."
"Where he is now, where he went, and what his purpose is."
"Everything must be investigated clearly."
The samurai bowed.
"Yes!"
Imagawa Yoshimoto sat back down in her seat.
She looked at the markings on the map, her brow furrowed.
The chaotic Sengoku era was already messy enough.
Now the factor of demons has been added...
"I hope no more chaos breaks out."
She whispered.
She also looked into the distance outside the hall, where lightning seemed to intertwine on the horizon, and Demonic Qi was spreading!
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