Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Just as they were whispering to each other, a discordant sound was heard.

"Something terrible has happened...something terrible has happened..."

Hearing the sound, I looked in the direction of the sound.

Then Tojo Takeyama came running over, his face ashen.

Seeing Tojo Takeyama's pale face, Tojo Seisuke asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

He knew very well that Tojo Takeyama had always been quite calm...

The urgency must mean something serious has happened.

Tojo Takeyama said to Tojo Seisuke, "Master, something terrible has happened! Tokugawa Heiyasu has disappeared!"

Tojo Seisuke's face was grim. "Gone? What? How could they be gone? They were perfectly fine over there. How could they just disappear?"

Tojo Takeyama's face was extremely grim as he said, "I don't know the specifics either, it just... just vanished into thin air..."

"How could it just vanish into thin air? Could it be like Xiao Ce before, digging a tunnel?" Tojo Seisuke asked anxiously.

Tojo Takeyama shook his head: "No... Given Xiao Ce's example, how could we let the same mistake happen twice..."

"Where did that person go? They were perfectly fine, how could they just disappear into thin air..." Tojo Seisuke was clearly getting anxious.

His anxiety is understandable. After all, there have been two missing persons in his area already.

The first time went relatively well; we managed to find it.

The importance of Tokugawa Heiyasu in this matter is self-evident.

If the Illuminati's agents found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He didn't know how to deal with them.

He didn't even have time to listen to what Tojo Takeyama was saying before rushing over there to see.

But there has been no further news.

Tojo Seisuke's expression clearly showed that he looked rather unpleasant.

He looked at Okamoto Juzo almost pleadingly.

Okamoto Juzo naturally looked at Xiao Ce, who then went to ask Tojo Takeyama and the others.

Tojo Takeyama told him everything he knew.

Actually, everything was fine last night until this morning. The problem probably occurred when Tojo Seisuke and his group went to find the Illuminati's representative.

Tojo Takeyama simply stated that they were not letting their guard down at all...

People just vanish into thin air.

Xiao Ce smiled slightly as he listened to him say this repeatedly, and then said, "Alright, Lord Zhushan, don't be nervous. I didn't say I trusted you... the person just disappeared into thin air."

Looking at Xiao Ce's expression, Tojo Takeyama wanted to say something, but before he could speak...

Xiao Ce then said to Tojo Seisuke, "Lord Tojo, why don't you just tell the Illuminati's representative whatever you know?"

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Seisuke gave a bitter smile: "What I say only works if someone believes me... If they don't, then it's all for nothing, isn't it? Besides, people have to believe me. If they don't believe me, there's nothing I can do... I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Ce said, "Head of the Tojo family, I assure you, you just need to tell the truth, and I guarantee there won't be any problems."

Hearing Xiao Ce's confident assertion, Tojo Seisuke instinctively asked, "Really? Are you sure?"

Okamoto Juzo seemed a little impatient at this point: "How can you be so sure or not sure... Didn't I tell you? If you don't believe me, use your own method..."

As he spoke, Okamoto Juzo muttered to himself, "What's wrong with your people? Why did they just watch and leave... In broad daylight, they even let someone run away..."

After hearing Okamoto Juzo's words, Tojo Takeyama looked at Okamoto Juzo with a gloomy expression and said, "Head of the Okamoto family, what do you mean by that?"

Okamoto Juzo was never known for his good temper, not to mention he now had top-tier combatants like Night Cat and Big Thunder by his side.

"What's wrong? I suspect there's something fishy going on among you, can't I say it? Before, when Xiao Ce was stolen, there was a hole, which at least made sense. Now you're just saying he ran away? Aren't you going to offer any explanation? Just say you don't know either?"

"What, you think you're absolutely right?"

Tojo Takeyama looked grim and tried to explain, but Tojo Seisuke stopped him with a look.

Tojo Seisuke said to Okamoto Juzo, "Juzo, you're right. We will definitely conduct a thorough internal investigation. We should first inform the Illuminati representative about this matter."

After hearing Tojo Seisuke's words, Okamoto Juzo said, "Alright, you should go now."

Tojo Seisuke looked at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce then said to Tojo Seisuke, "I'll go with you."

Okamoto Juzo was about to refuse when he realized he felt the matter had escalated.

A slight mistake could cost you your life.

Xiao Ce, of course, had his own thoughts. He said to Okamoto Juzo, "My lord, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry, I'm not willing to die."

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Okamoto Juzo smiled and said, "Alright... as long as you have a plan in mind, that's fine."

Xiao Ce then said to Tojo Seisuke, "Then please."

Tojo Seisuke looked at Xiao Ce with some emotion.

This feeling of being moved is real.

It's true that the Japanese are usually arrogant, but it's also true that they are inherently timid towards the Illuminati.

Being able to go with him is truly like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

After they had walked for a while, Xiao Ce noticed that Tojo Seisuke was clearly very nervous.

Then Tojo Seisuke said, "Head of the Tojo family, don't be nervous. I'll go in first and speak for you... You wait outside for a while. If you see that I haven't come out alive, then you should run away quickly. There's no need to go in."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Seisuke was clearly very surprised.

"What? You're going in first? Didn't you just say so confidently..."

Xiao Ce gave Tojo Seisuke a bright smile: "Head of the Tojo family, you should know our head of the Okamoto family's personality better than I do. If I had said that from the beginning, would he have let me come with you?"

"Moreover, if I hadn't spoken in a nonchalant manner, he wouldn't have been at ease at all."

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Seisuke's face grew even more surprised.

"Xiao Ce, do you think she'll be angry?"

Xiao Ce shook his head: "I don't know. I don't know how she will react, but she certainly won't be happy. She might even be angry, so I need to go and see her first."

Tojo Seisuke nodded: "Why are you helping me?"

Xiao Ce gave a wry smile: "It's not so much helping you, but helping our lord. Actually, you should know that our lord's strength is not above yours! Your future achievements will far surpass our lord's. So, if you become successful in the future, please don't forget about our lord!"

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Seisuke gave a wry smile: "Mr. Xiao Ce, you're thinking too far ahead. Besides, with you here, Okamoto Mirai certainly won't be any worse than us..."

Xiao Ce noticed that Tojo Seisuke's form of address had changed from "you" to "you" (formal).

This person's mind works pretty fast.

He didn't continue the topic, but instead said to Tojo Seisuke, "Let's not be so polite. Remember what I said. If I die later, you take your men and subdue the person inside. Then kill the people outside. After that, don't go here, go straight to Siam. Our lord is doing very well there... You should have a chance to protect yourselves."

Xiao Ce deliberately made it sound very serious, mimicking their explanation.

At this moment, Tojo Seisuke had no doubt whatsoever that Xiao Ce's journey there would be dangerous.

Once they reached the door, Xiao Ce said to Tojo Seisuke, "Head of the Tojo family, if anything happens to me, please take good care of my two younger brothers."

Tojo Seisuke said with a serious expression, "Don't worry, their safety is entirely in my hands."

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he turned away with a look of resignation to his fate.

Now, thanks to Xiao Ce's embellishment, Xiao Ce's action seems somewhat heroic.

After Xiao Ce walked over, he spoke to the guard at the door.

Yin Pan'er was reading a book at the moment, listening to the guard's words.

“My lord, there’s a Japanese man outside who says he has something extremely important to tell you.”

Yin Pan'er slowly put down the book, then said, "Who is it? Is it Tojo Seisuke, his son Tojo Senichi, or someone from the Okamoto family?"

The guard bowed to Yin Pan'er and said, "Reporting to the agent, they claim to be Ichi-se, Okamoto Ichi-se."

Immediately, an image popped into Yin Pan'er's mind: the intelligent man who followed behind Okamoto Juzo.

"It's him?"

A servant standing nearby said to Yin Pan'er, "Master, they must have already discovered that Tokugawa Heiyasu is missing. That's why they sent someone out to apologize to you. They must be afraid of dying."

Yin Pan'er smiled meaningfully, then said, "Oh? Afraid of death? Then isn't Okamoto Ichisaku afraid of death? Go and have him come over."

The servant nodded.

Xiao Ce stood at the door, completely calm.

He came here not to die, but to get close to Yin Pan'er.

Although he already knew Yin Pan'er's identity, he still didn't know what was going on with her now.

He needs to figure out what Yin Pan'er is doing.

Only when we are enemies or friends can we be truly honest with each other.

Just as Xiao Ce was lost in thought at the door, the door creaked open.

The servant who came out was the one who was standing next to Yin Pan'er.

After the servant came out, he said to Xiao Ce, "Okamoto Kazusaku, our agent requests your presence."

Xiao Ce smiled slightly and nodded to go inside.

After entering the house, Yin Pan'er had already put on her mask.

After Xiao Ce stepped forward, he could see that Yin Pan'er still had a condescending expression.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Ce smiled slightly: "Agent."

Yin Pan'er didn't beat around the bush, but went straight to the point: "Why is it you? Weren't you supposed to be Tokugawa Heiyasu? Where is he?"

Seeing Yin Pan'er's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Agent, are you asking a question you already know the answer to?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er stared sharply at him.

A servant standing nearby shouted angrily, "Insolence! Is this how you treat the acting lord?"

Xiao Ce still had a smile on his face: "What? Are you feeling offended? I'm just stating the facts!"

Yin Pan'er watched as Xiao Ce was reprimanded by the servant beside him, but he showed no expression whatsoever, not even a hint of fear.

He was even quite calm.

Looking at Xiao Ce, Yin Pan'er began to feel a little curious.

He even felt that Okamoto Kazusaku in front of him resembled someone he knew.

Yes, they all have the character "策" (strategy) in their names.

Yin Pan'er's thoughts drifted, and she waved slightly at the servant who was still about to reprimand Xiao Ce, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

Just then, Yin Pan'er asked Xiao Ce, "What did you mean by what you just said? I didn't understand. Are you asking a question you already know the answer to?"

Seeing that Yin Pan'er was still pretending to be stupid, Xiao Ce said, "Agent, in the following conversation, I am only speaking on my own behalf. I did not speak on behalf of anyone else."

Seeing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er smiled faintly: "Alright, go ahead and say it. But you should know that if you say something I don't like to hear, you will surely die."

Xiao Ce nodded with a smile.

Yin Pan'er raised her hand, signaling Xiao Ce to speak.

Xiao Ce remained calm and composed, then said to Yin Pan'er, "Agent, Tokugawa Heiyasu is no longer here. Didn't you know that?"

Yin Pan'er naturally knew, because it was she who had taken Tokugawa Heiyasu away.

However, Yin Pan'er pretended not to know.

"Oh? Tokugawa Heiyasu is missing? What do you mean? Was he kidnapped? So you're implying that we did it?"

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan'er, "Besides you, I can't think of anyone else who would do this?"

Yin Pan'er looked at Xiao Ce with a surprised and curious expression and asked, "Oh? What do you mean?"

Xiao Ce asked Yin Pan'er, "Since the agent is unwilling to tell the truth, then I will just share my guess. We don't need to ask a question and I will answer it, right?"

Yin Pan'er smiled and nodded at Xiao Ce: "Okay."

To be honest, Yin Pan'er was indeed curious about how far Okamoto Kazuya could possibly guess.

After all, only a few people knew about her plan. And she was quite certain that the people around her would not betray her.

She didn't believe anyone could guess her plans without knowing anything about her.

Of course, there is still one person who might be able to do it.

However, she knew very well that the person in front of her could not be the one.

Even the person in front of her bore a striking resemblance to the one she had imagined.

Seeing that Xiao Ce did not speak.

Yin Pan'er thought Xiao Ce was a little scared, so she smiled and said, "Alright, don't be scared, just say it. I won't blame you if you're wrong, so you dare to say it now?"