Meanwhile, back in the quiet, historic heart of Japan.
The Commander lowered his phone, the encrypted line disconnecting with a soft beep. He sat motionless on a polished wooden bench overlooking a serene, rock-lined koi pond, watching the colorful fish glide beneath the stagnant surface. He let out a long, heavy sigh, taking a deep breath of the cool morning air to center his mind.
"Heyaaa!" a voice suddenly boomed from behind.
The Commander didn't even flinch. He slowly turned his head, his face hardening into an expression of pure, unadulterated exhaustion.
"You again," the Commander muttered.
Hayato strode forward with a dramatic flourish, eagerly extending his hand. "Big fan,"
The Commander ignored the hand entirely, turning back to the pond. "Do you truly have nothing better to do with your time?"
Unbothered by the rejection, Hayato casually sat down on the bench right next to him, shaking his head. "Well, since you sent your brilliant daughter off to the Third Branch, I'm completely bored out of my mind. It's just not the same around here without her."
The Commander sighed in quiet defeat. "I sent her there because she is the only asset capable of ensuring the safety of your sister, Himari."
Hayato shrugged the explanation off with an easy, careless grin. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, by the way, have you gathered the courage to visit the Family Head again?"
The Commander's posture stiffened as he gave a sharp shake of his head.
"Good call. Even if you did go, he'd probably just lose his mind and yell at you for three hours straight. HAHAHA!" Hayato laughed, throwing his head back.
"Young man," the Commander warned, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "Do not test the limits of my patience."
"Right, right. Anyway, I actually came back today to formally ask for your daughter's hand in marriage," Hayato said, flashing a charming smile.
"Absolutely not," the Commander replied instantly.
"Oh, come on, old man! That is the third time you've shot me down this week!" Hayato complained, throwing his hands in the air.
"Listen to me, kid. In our world, marriage is not a joke," the Commander said, his eyes locking onto the water. "For a union like that, you need the blessing of the Family Head himself."
Hayato winced, letting out a sharp sigh. "The Family Head? Man, if I went to him for a blessing, I don't think he'd even bother yelling at me. He'd just execute me on the spot." He paused for a moment, staring blankly at the rocks. Suddenly, his face lit up. "Wait! I have an idea!"
The Commander glanced sideways, deeply regretting asking. "What?"
"Why don't we just find a way to fix the Family Head's problems first?" Hayato suggested eagerly.
The Commander's brow furrowed. "How!?"
"Think about it! Right now, the old man is completely depressed," Hayato explained, gesturing wildly. "But if we introduce him to a legendary beauty, it'll completely break him out of his settings! He'll forget all about his depression, and then—"
Before Hayato could utter another syllable, the Commander reached out with lightning speed, grabbed him firmly by the collar of his traditional robes, and violently hurled him sideways into the center of the koi pond.
SPLASH!
"Hey! I was just kidding! I can't swim! Help me!" Hayato yelled, flailing wildly as water splashed everywhere.
The Commander casually sat back down, completely ignoring the drowning man.
I just hope you survive out there, he thought, his mind drifting back to his daughter. Bring back the intelligence we need on Hideki Yamamoto.
The Commander stood up, brushing off his uniform as he turned to leave the courtyard. He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
Hayato had finally managed to haul his soaking-wet body out of the shallow pond, shivering as he looked up at the older man. "Hey... Mister. Can you tell me the real reason you sent your daughter to the Third Branch?"
"I already told you," the Commander stated flatly. "To assist your sister."
He turned and began to walk away down the stone path.
"Oh, so that part was actually true," Hayato muttered, wringing out the sleeves of his robe. "See, I honestly assumed you sent her out there to act as a stealth reconnaissance asset... to dig up something on that Hideki dude."
The Commander froze mid-step. He slowly turned his head back, his eyes narrowing to lethal slits. "How exactly did you come across that name?"
Hayato merely offered a mysterious, knowing smile, refusing to elaborate.
Before the tension could break, a woman dressed in the traditional maid attire of the main estate suddenly materialized from the shadow of the corridor. She bowed gracefully, her expression disciplined. "Greetings, Commander."
The Commander gave a curt nod. "Speak."
"The Family Head has requested your immediate presence in the inner chambers," she reported smoothly.
The Commander took a deep, heavy breath, bracing himself for the upcoming lecture.
"HAHAHA!" Hayato burst out laughing from the grass behind them.
The Commander sharply whirled his head around, fixing Hayato with a gaze so terrifyingly cold that the boy's laughter died instantly, his expression turning dead serious as he looked away.
The maid cleared her throat, continuing her report. "Commander... The Family Head specifically requested that you bring that Blade with you."
The Commander nodded grimly. "Understood."
"Commander, if I may ask a question?" the maid requested, bowing her head slightly.
The Commander gave her a slight nod of permission.
"I wanted to ask about the nature of that specific Blade," she said softly. "It seems to hold an immense amount of historical importance to the lineage."
The Commander opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, Hayato suddenly intruded, stepping between them despite dripping wet. "Hey there, gorgeous. Since the Commander is clearly a very busy man, why don't you and I go grab a drink instead?"
The maid's eyes shifted toward the Commander, waiting for his instruction. The Commander merely let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Do whatever you wish," the Commander told the maid dismissively before turning on his heel and walking briskly toward the Family Head's private pavilion.
The moment the Commander's figure vanished around the corner, the maid's polite demeanor completely vanished.
With a fluid, practiced motion, she swung the heavy wooden broom she had been carrying, striking Hayato squarely across the face with devastating force.
CRACK!
The impact sent Hayato flying backward, splashing headfirst into the koi pond for the second time that morning.
"You dare to embarrass me in front of the Commander?" she hissed, resting the broom against her shoulder as she glared down at him.
"Forgive me, milady!" Hayato gasped, coughing up pond water, but the apology fell on deaf ears as she turned and walked away.
A few minutes later, another young man stepped into the entrance of the courtyard garden. He wore the sleek, dark tactical uniform appeared to be waiting for someone.
He spotted the maid walking out, her face flushed with anger, holding a slightly splintered broom.
The guard's brow furrowed in confusion. He walked past her, stepping into the garden perimeter, only to stop dead in his tracks.
Hayato was currently sprawled face-down on the grass by the water, looking entirely pathetic and soaking wet. He tilted his head up, spotted the guard, and offered a weak wave. "A little assistance would be highly appreciated right now, Shisui."
Shisui stared down at him, his face completely expressionless. "Did you seriously just get thoroughly beaten by a maid?"
"What? No, of course not," Hayato stuttered, pushing himself up. "We were just... playing an intense game of tactical hide-and-seek. I fell."
Shisui let out a slow, judgmental breath, turning his back on his companion. "Now I completely understand why literally everyone in the clan refers to you as a Clown."