The Owari Group had been operating underground for many years, and centered around the hot spring where Oda Nobunaga lived, the underground passages had long been dug into a vast network, resembling a huge spider web.
Of course, other places didn't have as much space as Oda Nobunaga.
Shiraishi was led to a small, single room in a passageway. The room was decorated in a cool blue-green color. In one corner, there was a straw mat, a neatly folded quilt and pillow, a small table, and a futon.
"If you need to use the restroom, just go straight ahead from here, turn left at the intersection, and dinner will be delivered shortly."
Kichō gave him a brief introduction to the environment here.
Shiraishi didn't have high demands. He had slept in the wilderness before. He only cared about one thing. "If I want to leave here, where can I get to the surface?"
Kichō's face flashed with surprise as she asked, "Why are you leaving?"
"How could a man as free as the wind possibly spend all his time underground, where there's no sunlight?"
Shiraishi made up a story on the spot, mainly because he was underground and had no chance to encounter Xu.
If you don't kill Void Spirits, you won't gain experience; without experience, you can't level up; and without leveling up, how can you become stronger?
It is important to understand that strength is the foundation for survival in the world.
When he becomes powerful enough to not even care about Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Central 46 Chambers's warrant for his arrest will naturally be lifted.
Kichō's face darkened, as if she had thought of something bad. She sighed, "You rest first. I'll go ask Nobunaga and see if he wants to tell you."
"No need to ask, he will definitely agree to my request." Shiraishi answered confidently. He hadn't spent much time with Oda Nobunaga, but he had a general idea of the other's personality.
I have to ask.
Kichō gave this answer, turned around and left along the passage, returning to where Oda Nobunaga was.
Glug glug, Oda Nobunaga was still tilting his head back and drinking the hot spring water, some food residue overflowing from the corners of his mouth, as if he were washing his stomach.
But the heat showed no signs of abating.
Kichō felt a pang of heartache watching this, and quietly clenched her fist, softly saying, " Nobunaga."
Hmm.
Oda Nobunaga lowered his head, spitting out large mouthfuls of murky hot spring water, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is he settled in properly?"
Kichō Kaidō respectfully, "He didn't say anything about the environment, he just asked how to leave this place. He doesn't want to stay underground for the rest of the time before the operation begins."
"Then tell him about the export."
Oda Nobunaga wasn't worried that Shiraishi would leak the secret; if he had any malicious intentions, he would have already taken action from the very first meeting.
Tormented by the heat of the fire year after year, he became incredibly fast, so fast that the moment he drew his sword, the battle was over. Therefore, his sword was never sheathed; it was embedded in the cliff face beside him, within easy reach.
Kichō didn't try to persuade him; she never questioned Nobunaga's decisions. She continued, " Nobunaga, you didn't seem to ask me why I brought him here."
You must have your reasons, and I believe you.
Oda Nobunaga's words contained a heavy weight of trust.
Kichō's face showed emotion, and Shikai, "It's like this..."
I'm sorry, Saito House is at risk of being exposed, and I can no longer act as your eyes and ears in the open.
At this point, Kichō looked full of self-reproach, feeling that even her only purpose had been lost.
"You don't need to apologize. You've done enough for me over the years. Besides, the snow lotus is almost in our hands, and I don't need to hide it any longer."
Oda Nobunaga didn't blame her; he was very understanding. "If anyone should apologize, it's me. I've really wronged you by having to accompany those Shinigami all these years."
"No, it is an honor to serve Nobunaga. I would not feel wronged at all. If it weren't for you, I would still be living a life worse than death under the rule of the nobles."
Kichō will never forget that Daxue night when the man swung his sword and severed that nightmarish head, asking in a flippant tone, "What's your name?"
"You lowly servant, chamber pot." Lifeless eyes, a deathly expression, pure white and filthy liquid slowly flowing down her body.
"Tsk, what an unpleasant expression. From now on, your name will be Kichō, which is my favorite woman's name."
In that instant, she was given the meaning of life; she saw the light, and for Nobunaga's words, she was willing to give everything.
"Tsk, you still remember those little things."
Oda Nobunaga's thoughts returned to that day. There wasn't really any particular reason; he just found it too boring to watch a woman make that kind of expression, so he gave her a name.
Who would have thought that the little girl would become attached to him and do so many things for him?
"Once I've conquered the world... never mind."
Oda Nobunaga didn't say it aloud, because if he had, it wouldn't have been a surprise. "Go back and tell Shiraishi where the exit is, don't keep him waiting."
"Hi." Kichō lowered her head, a sense of curiosity rising within her. What did Nobunaga intend to do after conquering the world?
She thought about it a lot, but couldn't come up with an answer, so she gave up.
No matter what, she would be content as long as she could stay by Nobunaga's side as a servant.
She has no right to ask for anything more, given her filthy body.
Kichō returned to the private room where Shiraishi was staying. Dinner had already been delivered: two saury, a bowl of rice, and miso soup.
"Too little."
Upon meeting, Shiraishi complained that such a small amount of food was not enough for two people, and even he himself felt unsatisfied eating it all.
Kichō slapped her forehead and said, "Sorry, I forgot to tell them you have a big appetite."
Shiraishi pointed to Nemu Kurotsuchi lying behind him, "And her food, straw mat, blanket, and pillow."
Kichō crossed her arms and said, "Isn't this creating an opportunity for you? A lone man and a lone woman, sleeping together under the same covers."
"I usually appreciate beautiful women."
Shiraishi spoke up to explain.
It's fine if he likes beautiful women; how many men would dare to boast that they dislike women with large breasts?
However, using force to seize women, especially women like Nemu Kurotsuchi who are completely clueless about matters of love and sex and are 100% obedient, is unacceptable.
Such behavior is no different from that of beasts.
He couldn't do it.
"Okay, I'll arrange it." Kichō agreed to his request, but couldn't help asking, "Have you fallen in love with her?"
"What nonsense are you thinking?" Shiraishi rolled his eyes. The most important reason he kept Nemu Kurotsuchi by his side was because he was disgusted by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
In the past, when watching Shinigami, he had some fondness for the character Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He was an absolute scumbag in the early stages, but his performance in Hueco Mundo and the Blood War arc became more reliable.
The problem is that these kinds of people seem great from another dimension, but if you actually meet one, it's really hard to feel any goodwill towards them.
I just want to beat him up, or even kill him, but killing him is too difficult.
Shiraishi couldn't kill her, he could only leave Nemu Kurotsuchi alive so that Mayuri Kurotsuchi would always remember the shame of defeat.