"Snap."
A faint cracking sound rang out.
The thin wire snapped.
Sikong's expression changed, and the Qi of Seven Awakenings surged out.
All five women were blasted away at once.
"You only knew my routine? Didn't you check that I never messed around with women outside before a year ago?"
Sikong Jian's earlier shock vanished. He teasingly touched the wound on his neck. "You didn't all think I got this far on brute force alone, did you?"
"My sister is Chun Prefecture's Female Strategist. Do you think I'm a fucking idiot?"
Kantarō, who had been smug just a moment ago, underwent a drastic change of expression.
The man was too calm.
After breaking free, not only had he not run, he hadn't even called his men for backup.
"Take a look downstairs."
Sikong Jian grabbed a cigarette from the table and tossed it into his mouth.
Facing Kantarō and the five assassins, he showed no fear whatsoever.
Standing stark naked in the room, he pointed imperiously outside the window.
Kantarō gripped his Tachi warily to prevent him from escaping as he edged toward the window.
Downstairs.
The street, bustling just moments earlier, was utterly silent.
The entire street was packed with underlings carrying weapons.
Seeing someone poke his head out, the Minister under Sikong roared, "Motherfucker! You came to the Southwest to stir up trouble? Do you think the tens of thousands of us are dead?"
"Seal the city! Fucking flay everyone who can't speak the Dragon Kingdom's language!"
"You..." Kantarō shuddered.
Even a fool could have guessed that Sikong Jian had lured them into a trap.
"How did you know we would try to assassinate you?"
"I didn't." Sikong Jian shrugged with a guileless look. "I deliberately started coming to this place every week a year ago, just to