Same as before, Rowan was not in a hurry.
The one in a hurry was Tanaka Asahi.
Right now, he had lost that sheet of paper, and it was in Rowan's hands. Rowan could take his life at any time.
So Rowan was the one sitting firmly in control.
After quite a while, Tanaka Asahi's voice sounded again.
"I'm very sorry. I can't tell you."
"I see."
Rowan drew out his tone and said, "Then I suppose I should apologize to you too."
"Huh?" Tanaka Asahi froze.
Rowan said, "Because I've already written your name on it. But don't worry. For now, I've only written the two characters 'Tanaka.' I haven't written the last character yet, so I can give you three minutes to think it over."
"Also, I'm currently designing your cause of death."
"What kind of death do you want? Killed by a yokai, falling from a high building, or getting hit by a car the moment you step outside?"
Tanaka Asahi felt terrible all over. The hand holding the phone trembled violently. Just imagining those methods of death made his whole body uncomfortable, and goosebumps rose all over his skin.
"Devil! You devil!!!"
At that moment, Tanaka Asahi completely broke down.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Rowan's gaze fell on his fingernails, as if there were a flower on them. His tone grew increasingly casual.
"To think you'd call me a devil. I'm truly flattered. It's been a long time since someone praised me like that."
"Also, let me remind you. You still have one and a half minutes."
"I've already decided your cause of death."
"And it will be recorded and uploaded to every major video platform."
When Nakiri Senzaemon heard this, he immediately felt a chill. His hair stood on end.
This was not even letting the man rest in peace after death.
Killing someone was one thing, but this method was far too vicious.
Putting himself in Tanaka Asahi's place, he would rather smash his head against a wall and die right now than suffer such humiliation.
One must leave one's innocence in the world.
Before Tanaka Asahi could react, Rowan's voice urged him on like an evil ghost.
"You now have thirty seconds."
"Mm, now fifteen seconds. Your name only lacks its final stroke."
"Ten seconds. Nine seconds. Eight seconds. Seven seconds. Six seconds. Five seconds. Four seconds. Three seconds. Two seconds. One second!"
"Huh? You still won't talk?"
Rowan was a little surprised, because even after he counted down to the final number, the other party gave no response.
If not for the heavy breathing still coming from the phone, Rowan would almost have thought the man had fainted from fear.
"I admire you, Tanaka Asahi. I originally thought you were a despicable villain who liked killing people from the shadows. I didn't expect you to actually be a man of iron."
Rowan said seriously, "Then I'll see you in your next life, Tanaka Asahi."
"Wait!!!"
At that moment, Tanaka Asahi suddenly roared.
At this moment, fear had completely crushed his heart and lungs.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! That paper was given to me by the leader of the Time Vessel Association! It was him! He gave it to me!"
Time Vessel Association?
Rowan raised an eyebrow. If he hadn't watched Jujutsu Kaisen, he really would not have known what this thing was.
In Jujutsu Kaisen, the Time Vessel Association originated a thousand years ago.
At that time, three great families appeared in Japan's jujutsu world. At the same time, an immortal female jujutsu sorcerer named Tengen appeared and used her immortality technique to become a barrier protecting Japan's land.
However, she needed to periodically offer ordinary people with special constitutions, known as Star Plasma Vessels, to assimilate with herself and maintain her human form. Otherwise, she would transform into a cursed spirit.
The ordinary people who worshiped Tengen established the Time Vessel Association because of this.
Later, this thing was violently seized by the modern jujutsu sorcerer Suguru Geto.
Suguru Geto became the leader of the Time Vessel Association.
But in this world, Rowan was not too sure whether the origin of the Time Vessel Association had changed.
After all, this world had all kinds of demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits. Even male and female protagonists had died several times.
It would be perfectly normal if the origin of the Time Vessel Association had changed.
"Time Vessel Association?"
When Nakiri Senzaemon heard this name, his eyes could not help becoming grave.
Rowan glanced at him and asked, "You know this Time Vessel Association?"
Nakiri Senzaemon nodded.
"The Time Vessel Association has a long history. According to legend, it is connected to Abe no Seimei, the great onmyoji who wrote the Senji Ryakketsu."
"At its peak, this sect once influenced the decisions of His Majesty the Emperor."
"However, later on, the sect was classified as an evil cult and suffered an unprecedented purge."
"From then on, the Time Vessel Association moved from the open into the shadows."
"Throughout history, every time the Time Vessel Association appeared, it caused enormous unrest."
"According to legend, many major historical events were deeply connected to the Time Vessel Association."
"There are even rumors that the death of Oda Nobunaga back then was related to the Time Vessel Association."
"So those in power are extremely wary of the Time Vessel Association. Once they control the country, they spare no effort in suppressing the Time Vessel Association."
"This also caused the development of the Time Vessel Association to suffer repeated setbacks."
"It is only in recent years that the Time Vessel Association has shown signs of resurgence."
Hearing this, Rowan couldn't help clicking his tongue. The Time Vessel Association of this crossover world had indeed changed drastically.
It had nothing to do with Tengen and was instead connected to Abe no Seimei.
More importantly, why did the Time Vessel Association's development path suddenly feel like the White Lotus Society?
Was this right?
Rowan said into the phone, "So, you got that paper from the Time Vessel Association?"
"That's right."
"Then tell me how you obtained that thing from the Time Vessel Association. Why would the Time Vessel Association give something so powerful to you?"
Facing Rowan's questioning, Tanaka Asahi did not hesitate at all. His psychological defenses had already been completely pierced through, so he simply gave up and told Rowan everything he should and should not say.
"I am actually a member of the Time Vessel Association."
"About ten years ago, I had just founded Asahi Heavy Industries and was still worrying about business when a major figure came to me and introduced many business opportunities to me."
"Because of that, my Asahi Heavy Industries developed at an astonishing speed."
"But this affected the interests of many people, so Asahi Heavy Industries was harassed by many yakuza members."
"So that major figure introduced the Washimine Group to me."
"With the help of the Washimine Group, my business immediately got on the right track."
"Three years ago, I accidentally discovered that this major figure was actually a member of the Time Vessel Association."
"At the time, I was very afraid. Unfortunately, I could no longer withdraw, because I was already too deeply connected to the Time Vessel Association. With a slight movement of their finger, they could make sure I died without a burial place."
"I could only submit."
"To put me at ease, that major figure not only brought me into the Time Vessel Association, but also gave me that sheet of paper."
Rowan turned to look at Nakiri Senzaemon.
The other party nodded, indicating that Asahi Heavy Industries had indeed risen ten years ago and was an upstart that could not appear on the proper stage.
Rowan asked curiously, "Then tell me, who is this major figure?"
Tanaka Asahi fell silent.
Rowan said with interest, "At this point, don't tell me you still want to keep his secret. Do you think what you said just now doesn't count as betraying him?"
After quite a while, Tanaka Asahi's trembling voice came through.
"No. It's just that… I cannot say that major figure's name."
Rowan raised an eyebrow and instantly understood.
"Someone placed a gagging curse technique on you, right?"
"Yes," Tanaka Asahi said.
"Very good. Let's meet."
Rowan finally revealed his goal and said with a smile, "I'll help you break the gagging curse technique, and you'll tell me everything."
After another silence, Tanaka Asahi spoke again.
"Fine."
"Then tell me, where are you right now?"
"I'm on my way back to the company. I can return to the study in about ten minutes."
"Good. Then I'll go to your company's study to find you in ten minutes."
After saying that, Rowan hung up the phone and returned it to Nakiri Senzaemon.
Nakiri Senzaemon reached out and took the phone, then said calmly, "Lord Rowan, do you believe what he said?"
Rowan smiled faintly.
"I don't believe a single word he said."
"You think he lied?"
"Doesn't matter."
Rowan picked up a piece of steak, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed.
"Whether he lied or not, once I meet him, I can dig out all the information he's hiding."
"Is Lord Rowan not afraid he might set a trap for you?"
Nakiri Senzaemon felt Rowan was being somewhat overconfident.
If Tanaka Asahi truly had colluded with the Time Vessel Association, then this matter would be troublesome.
The Time Vessel Association was not simple.
This sect had been constantly suppressed and purged by those in power, yet stubbornly survived all the same. No one knew exactly how powerful it was, but one could imagine it was absolutely a deep-water crocodile.
Was being this overconfident really fine?
"Umu. There will be no problem."
At the same time, Nero, who was enjoying the delicious food, smiled proudly and reservedly.
"No matter how powerful my Praetor's enemies are, as long as I take action, there will absolutely be no problem."
She waved the knife and fork in her hands, making a chopping motion. She cut the steak in front of her into evenly sized pieces, displaying extremely high skill.
Rowan smiled and rubbed Nero's head.
"Thanks. But this time, there won't be a problem."
"I can handle it alone."
The current Rowan was no longer the powerless person he had been during his first crossing.
Now he had gathered multiple Devil Fruits into one body, had been injected with the Superhuman Serum, and his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes.
A mere Tanaka Asahi was nothing.
Even if there really was a trap, it could not hold Rowan. That was Rowan's true confidence.
Nero knew this clearly.
After all, even her Thrice-Setting Sun had been copied by Rowan. There was truly no need to worry about Rowan's safety.
"Time's up. I should get going."
~~~
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