The Dog Shogun

After Kama broke down and left, Ritsuka and the others arrived at the first floor and received the flower cards that Bai Mo had found. Seeing Bai Mo's relaxed demeanor, as if he were just going out to buy a drink, Ritsuka couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

"Didn't that Kama come out to stop you, Brother Bai?"

"They've come out, and I've taken care of it. Also, could you please tell me in advance next time that Kama has turned into a woman? It gave me quite a shock when we met."

After handing over the flower cards, Bai Mo then recounted his entire encounter with Kama. Upon learning that the key to their final victory lay in his dark past of being burned to ashes by Shiva, Parvati was somewhat overwhelmed with emotion.

"That's fine... but thinking about it carefully, verbal attacks are indeed a kind of attack. Even if we don't count curses, words have a lot of power."

You can't just say anything carelessly in India, or you'll get into big trouble.

As Parvati spoke, she examined Bai Mo carefully, as if Bai Mo had some hidden ailment.

"What's wrong? I haven't sensed anything like the Tokugawafication you mentioned. I consider myself quite vigilant against mental attacks."

Thanks to the olive branch bestowed by a certain goddess, Bai Mo naturally became extremely wary of this subtle influence.

At the same time, he also harbors a deep sense of protection for Abigail. If Kama were to truly use the Tokugawafication to deal with him, it would likely require a great deal of effort.

Parvati nodded, acknowledging Bai Mo's words.

"That's true, there was practically no perceptible erosion. It's a real shame; if this were in India, neither Bai Mo nor Ritsuka, as people with merit, would have to worry about such things."

Parvati chatted casually for a bit, but the thought of the situation in Kama still made her somewhat worried.

"Something big must have happened in India. Mara is usually guarded by my husband, but he's here now. Something must have happened in the India Lostbelt, leaving him no time to attend to this."

Upon hearing this, Bai Mo looked at Parvati with a serious expression, his words tinged with doubt.

"Parvati, may I ask Ms. Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone? To be honest, I'm a little puzzled as to why Kama chose the Ooku."

If the goal is merely to entice people into depravity, then there are many more suitable places in the world. There's no need to choose a harem in an island nation, not to mention that there are no India elements here other than Kama."

Bai Mo's question made everyone realize that it was indeed true. Putting aside everything else, the East across the ocean was, at this moment, a more suitable place for people to degenerate than the Ooku Palace, both in terms of scale and era.

Because the Ooku was not only a harem, but also served educational and other functions, the pleasures and enjoyment of the Tokugawa Shogunate there were only a part of the Ooku.

Parvati's light shifted, transforming into Kasuga-no-Tsubone, her face showing considerable confusion.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand why such a terrible thing would happen in the Ooku. Logically speaking, the Ooku shouldn't have any connection with the India god of love."

"If there are some strong desires, then perhaps it might attract beasts..."

Ritsuka also joined in the thinking, but no matter how she thought about it, Kama, as the goddess of love, had no reason to come here.

"By the way, I've collected some inro before, and they all seem to belong to the Tokugawa Shogunate. If we can understand them further, we might be able to find some clues."

Ritsuka took out the inro (a type of Tokugawa Chinese cloth) that she had found on this floor. When she touched it before, she seemed to see the inner thoughts of those generals, along with a strange female voice.

"That's all. Aside from learning about the Tokugawa Clan shoguns' ulterior motives, there's nothing else. But that woman's voice was a bit strange."

"Ritsuka, can I take a look?"

Upon hearing Bai Mo's request, Ritsuka handed him the inro without hesitation. Bai Mo had previously come into contact with Chiyome's family crest, and this thing was similar in structure.

After Bai Mo closely, Shiroto channeled his power into it, but he did not sense the general's ulterior motives that Ritsuka had mentioned.

"You can try this."

Bai Mo drew Raven Runes on the top of the incense burner, and a raven quickly flew out of the incense burner.

"What is this? Magecraft?"

"Runes, you could say they're Magecraft, you could think of them as the Magecraft of Northern Europe."

While answering Kasuga-no-Tsubone, Bai Mo used his power to control the raven. Soon, the raven split open, and a scene was displayed directly in front of everyone.

A middle-aged man in his forties dressed as a shogun was sitting in a courtyard surrounded by dogs. He was feeding one of the dogs with a whole boiled hen.

"Ah, so it's Dog Shogun."

Bai Mo recognized the man as Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun, just by looking at him feeding the dog.

Upon hearing Bai Mo's address, Ritsuka covered her face and chuckled, while Kasuga-no-Tsubone was completely stunned.

"Dog Shogun... He was the Tokugawa Shogunate Shogun in later generations, right? He seems... quite kind-hearted. Well... if he just liked keeping pets... he wouldn't have earned such a nickname, would he?"

"This is not just a simple matter of liking to keep dogs. In order to protect stray dogs, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi built a 25,000-square-meter kennel on the outskirts of Edo and had people feed them every day."

Furthermore, an order was issued prohibiting anyone from abusing dogs, and they even registered domestic dogs.

Upon hearing Bai Mo's explanation, Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone nearly choked on her breath, her mind went blank for a moment, and she swayed as if she were about to collapse.

Ritsuka, being Japan, also showed a mocking expression upon learning this, and said:

"Wow, what a kind heart! I bet Cú Chulainn would really like him."

"No, no, no, this isn't just about having a kind heart, is it? A 25,000-square-meter dog kennel? Isn't that bigger than the Ooku?" Kasuga-no-Tsubone said, somewhat frantically, clutching her hair and calculating how much this would cost.

Is Tokugawa Tsunayoshi really good at making money?

"So... what do these dogs eat?"

"Annual tribute!"

Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed, thankfully being caught by Mata Hari. Only then did she finally understand why Bai Mo had no goodwill towards the shogunate ruling class.

Is this human?

If you love dogs so much, why not just dismiss all the Ooku palace and let the dogs live there instead?

Kasuga-no-Tsubone took deep breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart. Luckily, she was already a dying person possessed; if it had happened ten years earlier, she probably would have been driven to death by anger.

She wanted to say something to this dog lover, but was momentarily speechless. Then, she laughed. Today she realized that you can actually laugh when you're angry to a certain extent.

In the scene, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi is stroking the puppy's head, saying with a somewhat sullen expression:

"What's wrong with those people? Protecting animals is a wonderful thing, a virtuous act, how can these fools not understand?" He lifted the puppy up and said to him:

"A normal meal is enough for a dog for a whole day. Skipping one meal won't kill it... Isn't it worth exchanging a meal for the opportunity to do good? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kasuga-no-Tsubone felt that she would die with her eyes wide open in disbelief the moment Parvati left this body.

Just then, the female voice Ritsuka had mentioned appeared. It was an incredibly gentle and sweet female voice, but it didn't sound like Kama; it sounded more like Kasuga-no-Tsubone.

"No, of course you are not wrong. Having compassion for all living beings is wonderful. Only I understand you, so I will love you and your kindness forever—"