Taking Action (Thanks to CyanSu for the Alliance Leader)

Did they really think the Ivory Tower's ways would work in Yingzhou?

Inside the departing car, Tadara Morimi ended the call and sneered.

Soon, the phone lit up again.

"Mr. Tadara, this is Da Nei." A deep voice came through the phone. "How did that Mr. Huai Shi respond?"

"He's young, after all. Still the same arrogant, self-important type—reckless and combative. That sort of temperament won't change without a few setbacks. That style will only make more people dislike him."

Tadara Morimi replied, "Just as Lord Da Nei expected, he isn't easy to approach."

"Then he really is Russell's student."

Da Nei sighed from the other end of the line. "Exactly like Russell fifty years ago—sharp-edged and aggressive, never leaving anyone room. But Tanba's problems can't be solved through brute force. No matter how great the Ivory Tower's authority is, it has to be discounted when applied on Yingzhou soil.

The Present Realm? If the Present Realm were so easy to establish oneself in, we wouldn't have had to wait until today."

The Present Realm was vast, but not an inch of land was surplus.

This was not something that could be settled through murder and arson.

Blind arrogance, without understanding compromise or cooperation, would only lead to self-destruction.

Besides, this was Kyoto, a stronghold of the Archipelago Lineage. How could they possibly allow an outsider to throw his weight around?

"Should we take further action?" Tadara asked.

"There's no need." Da Nei said, "The delineation of the Tanba Inner Circle is already a foregone conclusion. There's no need for us to oppose the Astronomical Society, nor do we need to give anyone grounds for criticism."

He said, "We don't need to oppose him. As long as we don't support him, he won't be able to take a single step."