Volume 4 Chapter 20 Crown Prince Rouen, Convincing Ryougen-Kun
Chapter 148: "Crown Prince Rouen, Convincing Ryougen-kun"
──A Few Hours Ago (Crown Prince Rouen's Perspective)──
After researching the town of Toukaku, Rouen visited Ryougen-kun's mansion.
"I'm sorry. His Royal Highness the King's younger brother is still in a long discussion with a guest..."
The mansion's steward bowed apologetically.
"I will inform him that the Crown Prince has arrived. Please wait a moment──"
"I see. Then I will wait in the next room."
"I cannot allow such a rudeness to His Royal Highness."
"It's fine. My uncle must have his own circumstances."
"Y-Yes, understood!"
Crown Prince Rouen was guided by the mansion staff to a separate room.
He had been here many times before. It was a room for guests to wait.
As he waited while drinking tea, he heard a voice.
It was a clear voice.
Perhaps it was filled with 'ki' energy.
(I've heard that there are martial arts masters among my uncle's guests. Is that one of them?)
Unconsciously straining to listen, he caught the conversation.
"──Please allow Gen Shuuyoku and Raikou to head to the town of Toukaku!"
"──Please! Your Royal Highness the King's younger brother!!"
Rouen finished his tea and nodded.
"I want to send a message to my uncle."
Then he called out to the house servant who was waiting in the corner.
"Please tell him this: 'I apologize for being rude, but I overheard something. I, Rouen, would like to discuss the matter of Toukaku. May I join the conversation?'."
The house servant bowed and quickly headed to the next room.
Permission was granted right away.
Crown Prince Rouen was now going to join Ryougen-kun, Raikou, and Gen Shuuyoku in their conversation.
"There are suspicious people coming and going in Toukaku... Is that so? It's hard to believe."
After Rouen moved to the next room, Ryougen-kun explained the details of the conversation.
It was about a document sent by Kou Tenhou.
──There have been reports of suspicious individuals appearing in Toukaku. There were also accomplices outside the town.
──The suspicious person seemed skilled and managed to enter the town.
──Kou Tenhou fought against this person and drove them away.
──It seems an investigation about the suspicious individuals will be conducted in Toukaku.
That was all.
(I can't believe Kairyou's brother would tell a lie. But if the report is true... what is happening in Toukaku?)
Toukaku was a town governed by Chou Shoukatsu.
If something unusual is happening there, it cannot be ignored.
Also, Ryougen-kun's 2 guests want to go to Toukaku.
If an investigation is to be done, now is the perfect time.
"I will inform you, uncle."
Rouen thought about this and said to Ryougen-kun.
"I want to see the situation in Toukaku with my own eyes. Can I ask for your cooperation?"
"That's a sudden request, Your Royal Highness."
Ryougen-kun replied in a calm voice.
"May I ask why?"
"There are differences between the records about Toukaku and the actual situation. I want to confirm directly why that is."
"That is something a subject should do. It is not the duty of Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"This Rouen is the Crown Prince! To properly run the country, isn't it necessary to know the situation on the ground!?"
"Judging based on reports from the field is also the duty of Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It is impossible for a king or a prime minister──those who run the country──to check every situation themselves. Listening to reports from subordinates and drawing out the truth is your duty, isn't it?"
"...You're as strict as ever, Uncle."
Rouen unconsciously clenched his fist.
──It's not enough to convince Ryougen-kun with words.
──I'm still hesitating.
──There are words I am avoiding saying without realizing it.
Knowing this, Rouen made a bitter face.
He couldn't convince Ryougen-kun while hiding his true feelings.
Thinking this, Rouen made up his mind.
"Understood. Then, let me speak clearly."
Rouen faced Ryougen-kun, hands clasped together.
"I, Rouen, do not want to look away from the actions of the Chou Family."
With that, Rouen clearly stated.
"Chou Sekimei let a prisoner die. Because of that, we lost clues to an organization called the Golden Feather Syndicate. Also, under the orders of the Chou Family, the strategist Haku Kan went out of control and put Kei Koshou's unit in danger. As a result, Kei Koshou was demoted, and Haku Kan had to pay for his crimes."
Rouen took a breath and continued speaking.
"I have punished the Chou Family itself. But maybe that wasn't enough."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I must not look away from what the Chou Family has done. I need to find out the truth."
Rouen told Ryougen-kun.
Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku were nearby, but it didn't bother him.
Since Rouen is the 'Cursed Crown Prince,' looking away from the 'ominous' would be shameful.
Thinking this, Rouen spoke on.
"They say the Chou Family governed Toukaku well. Then, it's strange that they allowed intruders to come in. I want to know why that happened... what the Chou Family was doing in that place."
Chou Family is a relative of Rouen.
If Rouen becomes king, the Chou Family will gain even more power.
In that case, the responsibility will fall on Rouen.
So, before that happens, he should see with his own eyes what they have done.
──With that thought, Rouen spoke to Ryougen-kun.
"If the Chou Family is causing trouble in Toukaku, I must confirm it myself. Others might hold back when dealing with the Chou Family. If I, Rouen, take action, I might be able to uncover the truth."
After saying that, Rouen continued,
"I don't want to take credit for this. In fact, it's the opposite. The sins of the Chou Family are also the sins of Rouen, who has spoiled them. People might once again call me the 'Cursed Crown Prince.'"
"......"
Ryougen-kun listened carefully to Rouen's words.
Seeing that, Rouen went on.
"Still, I think it's better to face the ominous truth than to keep turning away from it. What do you think, Uncle? Would you help me go to Toukaku?"
With that, Rouen wrapped up the conversation.
Rouen kept his eyes down, waiting for Ryougen-kun's response.
For a while, no one spoke.
Ryougen-kun, along with Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku, remained silent.
Then, after a brief silence──
"I believe Your Royal Highness Rouen's thoughts are truly noble."
──Ryougen-kun nodded with a calm expression.
"I understand. I will arrange for Your Royal Highness Rouen to secretly go to Toukaku."
"Is that alright? Uncle?"
"Since Your Royal Highness has made the decision, as your uncle... no, as your most loyal subject, it is only natural for me to assist."
"Subject? You, Uncle, are the most loyal subject of Rouen?"
"I'm just thinking that way on my own. I want to be your most loyal subject. After hearing what Your Royal Highness just said, anyone would feel the same."
Ryougen-kun clapped his knees and laughed.
Then he looked at Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku.
"You heard him. Raikou, Gen Shuuyoku. You will accompany Your Royal Highness Rouen and investigate Toukaku."
"Understood! Your Royal Highness the King's younger brother!!"
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness Rouen and Your Royal Highness the King's younger brother."
Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku bowed to Ryougen-kun and Crown Prince Rouen.
"Your Royal Highness Rouen. Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku are both skilled in martial arts and medicine. Raikou is a bit injured, but she could easily defeat an average martial artist. Until Toukaku, these two will protect Your Royal Highness."
"I understand. Thank you for your help."
"Your Royal Highness will stay at our home for a while."
Ryougen-kun smiled confidently and said,
"As for the excuse... let's see. Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince will visit our home and become unwell, needing to rest. After that, Your Royal Highness will appear in Toukaku, and we will say that 'the health has recovered, so a trip was taken'."
"This is to hide that this Rouen is going to Toukaku, right?"
"They say that a good plan is one that is kept secret."
"Understood. And what about Father?"
"I will persuade His Majesty the King."
"I don't want to trouble my uncle."
"As a loyal subject, it is my duty to assist Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Ryougen-kun bowed deeply and clasped his hands.
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, please do what you must. With Your Royal Highness now, there should be no mistakes."
"Stop overestimating me. This Rouen is still inexperienced."
"Then, I will include that in my assessment."
"As expected... you are strict, Uncle."
"Are you dissatisfied?"
"No, being strict is just right for this Rouen."
Rouen looked straight at Ryougen-kun and nodded.
"I will head to Toukaku immediately. Raikou, Gen Shuuyoku, please lend me your assistance. It would help if I could also hear from your disciples."
Thus, Crown Prince Rouen set off for Toukaku.
And then, a few days later.
Waiting for Rouen's arrival in Toukaku town were the captain of the defense, Ri Kai, and the vice captain, Kou Tenhou.
Kou Tenhou was riding a black horse.
It was a familiar horse. It should have belonged to the Crown Prince of the Jinkyo Tribe.
That horse was now following Kou Tenhou.
Feeling the change in the situation, Rouen began to nod towards Kou Tenhou.
What was unusual was the person next to Kou Tenhou.
Rouen recognized the face. It was Ri Kai, the captain of the defense in Toukaku.
But why is he wearing casual clothes?
Kou Tenhou has told his subordinates and Ri Kai to inform them that Rouen is coming. Then, the captain of the defense should greet him in formal attire.
In fact, Kou Tenhou is doing just that. His subordinates behind him are too.
So why is the captain of the defense the only one in casual clothes?
Why is he tying his hands in front of his body?
Why does he look down as if waiting for judgment?
Rouen doesn't understand.
"I came as a messenger from Ryougen-kun. It's Raikou and Gen Shuuyoku."
The voice that spoke was the martial artist Raikou.
Right now, Rouen is in the form of a martial artist.
Only Kou Tenhou, Ri Kai, and a few others know he is coming.
That's why Raikou is greeting them as the representative of the group.
"I thought I asked the captain of the defense and the vice captain to welcome us... but what's with that person? He looks like a criminal... Tenhou, what's going on?"
Raikou's tone becomes softer.
It seems she doesn't keep a formal tone in front of her disciples.
In front of Raikou, Kou Tenhou clasps his hands.
While looking at Rouen, he says,
"The captain of the defense, Ri Kai-sama, wishes to confess a sin. Therefore, he has come here as a criminal."
"...A sinner, you say?"
"Yes. It's about a matter related to the noble house that serves Ri Kai-sama."
The captain of the defense, Ri Kai, serves a noble house.
It can only be the Chou Family.
Rouen's eyes widen in surprise.
(...As expected, Kairyou's brother is not to be underestimated.)
Suppressing his agitation, Rouen looks at Raikou.
At his nod, Raikou says,
"I understand the situation. First, could you take us to a place where we can calm down? Then we can talk."
"Understood. This way, please."
Guided by Kou Tenhou and his subordinates, Rouen and the others head to the town of Toukaku.
There, Rouen will hear the hidden circumstances of this town from the captain of the defense, Ri Kai.
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