"Yoimiya, rope."
Before Muramasa had even finished speaking, a rope was tossed to him.
"What are you doing!"
"I'll sue you for violating my human rights, I tell you!"
"Mr. Samurai over there, do something—"
The man on the ground kept shouting, proclaiming his innocence as a good citizen.
"Heave-ho—" Yoimiya landed beside Muramasa, looking pleased with herself. "This guy was already trying to run the moment you shouted. And he's still playing dumb~"
Muramasa didn't comment. Though he was 100% sure the man was up to no good, a conviction required evidence. Especially physical evidence. If they handled this wrong, they could be the ones in trouble. But Yoimiya was beside him, smiling, her face clearly saying, I did a good job, praise me.
"You were a big help this time, Yoimiya."
"Heehee~" Satisfied with his answer, Yoimiya's smile grew even brighter.
She's so easy to please…
"You. What are you doing." The samurai who had been ignored for so long finally spoke.
"Ah, you're back? Good, I have a question for you." Muramasa pointed to the man on the ground. "Do you know this guy?"
Naoe Hisamasa stared at the man for a long time. "No."
"As I thought…" It was to be expected that they wouldn't leave such an obvious loose end. So, Muramasa changed his tack. "Then, can you answer my previous question?" The one about it not being his own idea.
"Correct." He nodded, then added, "Tenryou Commission. Doushin. He said. I don't know him. Came from headquarters."
Seeing that the samurai wasn't going to help him, the man on the ground grew desperate. "Mr. Samurai! Are you really going to stand by and do nothing? They'll torture me—"
Under normal circumstances, it would be fine. But now… Muramasa glanced around. The curious onlookers had not dispersed. After a long moment of thought, Naoe Hisamasa spoke. "Cannot. Pretend I didn't see." Meaning, there were too many witnesses. He was the face of the Shogun.
"Then, our match isn't over yet, is it?"
"Let's just consider this a continuation." In other words, he wasn't letting the man go, and he wasn't going to be taken into custody either.
Thoma was still hesitating whether to use the Yashiro Commission's reputation to protect them. The man on the ground was a hot potato for everyone. But from what they'd said, the Tenryou Commission was likely involved with this man. Letting him go would be a disadvantage for them.
"Okay." Naoe Hisamasa nodded. But this time, the nature of the fight had changed. He didn't use his elemental power. His massive body charged forward again, strangely reminding Muramasa of a term he wasn't familiar with—a semi-truck, and one on the highway at that.
"…"
Muramasa didn't speak, didn't even make any unnecessary movements. His magical energy spiked for an instant. An instant that could be divided into ten moments.
CRACK!
First moment: Naoe Hisamasa's body nearly engulfed Muramasa, like a predator catching its prey.
Second moment: The prey vanished. It was as if he and the prey were on different planes, as the prey named Muramasa took a single step to the side.
Third moment: Muramasa raised his arm, his palm a target, the bullet being the samurai's forehead. But the target was placed directly in the bullet's path, ensuring a bullseye.
Fourth moment: Muramasa didn't move. His arm and palm remained perfectly still, as if they had felt no force.
Fifth moment: The semi-truck-heavy bullet deformed against Muramasa's palm. He had, in fact, exerted force.
Sixth moment: The semi-truck's body overshot its head. Literally. The head was still in place, but the neck, body, and feet were trying to move forward.
Seventh moment: The forward-stepping foot left the ground, the body embracing freedom, face-up to the sky. The only thing connecting him to the earth was his face, in Muramasa's palm.
Eighth moment: Muramasa's palm gradually turned downwards. Naoe Hisamasa's body and head finally synchronized, parallel to the ground.
Ninth moment: The hand gripping the semi-truck suddenly exerted force, making Hisamasa's body embrace gravity, and making up for the parts he had missed earlier.
Tenth moment: Dust flew up from the ground. Muramasa released his grip and stood up. The fight was over.
The ten combined moments had barely lasted a second. The mana consumption was within an acceptable range. The people around didn't know what had happened. The two blonds had only managed to catch a faint trace of the movement.
"I'm not good at fast attacks. You did me a favor by charging right at me," Muramasa said. By standing still, he could control his mana consumption, so his thanks were genuine.
Seeing this result, Thoma finally made a decision. "How about this, Mr. Muramasa. You don't seem to trust the Tenryou Commission. Considering it was a Tenryou Commission doushin who instigated this duel, we can understand that. As a retainer of the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato Clan, I can supervise and investigate this suspicious individual on your behalf." He no longer had his previous playful tone. He spoke loudly, so that everyone around could hear. "But if, after our investigation, we find that you have misunderstood this gentleman, we will require you to apologize and compensate for any damages."
He had defused the situation and extended an olive branch, while also emphasizing his own legitimacy to the public and using the "Kamisato Clan's" reputation as a guarantee. This guy's quick on his feet…
Seeing Naoe Hisamasa defeated in an instant, the onlookers were stunned. The man on the ground couldn't believe it. Realizing escape was hopeless, he immediately tried to bite down on his back teeth and end his own life. No matter what you say, if I die, it will be twisted to look like you were trying to silence me!
Bite—
Bite…
Eh?
His jaw muscles wouldn't work. He looked down and realized his jaw was dislocated. His entire lower jaw hung open, revealing a row of not-so-clean teeth.
"This is a ninja's specialty, isn't it?" Muramasa retracted the hand that had struck his jaw, looking at him with a certain disgust. Then he turned to Thoma. "This guy will probably try to kill himself—all ninja know this trick. You should know more about traps and such than I do."
Since he had handed the man over to the Yashiro Commission, it was logical that the rights to interrogate, torture, or whatever else were also transferred.
Thoma understood perfectly. In front of everyone, he began to check the man for "ninja" characteristics.
"I'll leave that to him." Muramasa looked as if he had been through too much and was mentally and physically exhausted.
"What's wrong, are you okay?" Yoimiya asked with a concerned look.
"It's nothing. I just didn't expect so many things to happen. Honestly, I don't know whose toes I've stepped on."
Thinking about the day's events, Yoimiya could only give a helpless smile and pat Muramasa's back comfortingly. "Look on the bright side, at least it's all over now…"
"Not yet." Muramasa looked at the unconscious Naoe Hisamasa on the ground. "There's still this guy…"
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