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

If he had left earlier, he was certain he would have survived.

But now that he knows about Tokugawa Heiyasu's death, can he still live?

After thinking about this, his legs involuntarily went weak.

"Um...Agent...Sir...I...I..."

Seeing his stammering and hesitant manner, Yin Pan'er could tell that he was frightened.

Yin Pan'er interrupted directly, saying, "I said this matter has nothing to do with you, and it has nothing to do with you... Go and call Okamoto Kazusaru here."

Tojo Seisuke listened and nodded repeatedly, then practically ran away from the area.

After leaving, Xiaoyue looked at Yin Pan'er and said, "Master, you don't seem surprised at all?"

Yin Pan'er smiled slightly: "Because that Okamoto Kazuya just now repeated what I said..."

Xiaoyue looked at Yin Pan'er with a puzzled expression: "You told me? What did you say?"

Yin Pan'er recounted what Okamoto Ichisaku had said to Xiaoyue. Xiaoyue had been following Yin Pan'er since the time of the Northern Desert King's Mansion.

Therefore, for Yin Pan'er, Xiao Yue is someone she can absolutely trust...

After hearing Yin Pan'er's words, Xiaoyue looked at Yin Pan'er with a surprised expression and said, "Master, did we do something wrong?"

"How can Okamoto Kazusaku be so amazing? Is he really that capable? How can he just be a mere strategist? And he spoke so directly, it's obvious he just wants to get close to you... Isn't his purpose a bit too obvious? What's his real motive...?"

Seeing Xiaoyue's anxious expression, Yin Pan'er smiled and said, "Alright, your worries are unnecessary... It's not that bad yet. Let him come over first, see if he can help us out of this predicament..."

Xiaoyue nodded and said to Yin Pan'er, "Master, you say that person is so scheming, do you think he might sell us out while we're still counting money for him?"

Yin Pan'er was taken aback by Xiao Yue's question. After a moment, she said to Xiao Yue, "We shouldn't be that stupid, right?"

After hearing Yin Pan'er's words, Xiaoyue laughed out loud: "Haha, what you said makes a lot of sense...it's really true."

Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Yue, "No rush. Whether or not we use that person is up to us."

Xiaoyue nodded.

...

Just as Xiao Ce returned, he was restrained by Okamoto Juzo.

Seeing Okamoto Juzo's unpleasant expression, Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile and then said to him, "Lord, are you angry? I wasn't trying to show off... I was just thinking of you... Think about it, with Tojo Seisuke dead, if their force is also destroyed, then you'll be left alone, and we won't be able to hold on alone..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Okamoto Juzo gave a wry smile and waved his hand, saying, "You brat, what do you think I'm worried about?"

Xiao Ce listened to Okamoto Juzo and gave an awkward smile: "Aren't you worried that I'll betray you? I'm not doing this to curry favor with the Tojo family... I already told Tojo Senichi that I'm only loyal to you..."

Okamoto Juzo smiled at Xiao Ce and said, "Haha, of course not. Although we haven't known each other for very long, I know you very well... I trust you. I'm angry because you don't value your own life... We only have hope if you live. If you die, with our brains, aren't we finished?"

Okamoto Juzo didn't actually have such profound thoughts before...

When he was in Siam, he was very happy to be a local emperor, feeling that everything was under his control.

However, it wasn't until he arrived in the Kingdom of Sulu that he suddenly realized his brain wasn't up to the task.

He only realized after arriving here that his time in Siam was purely due to good luck.

He felt that if it weren't for Xiao Ce, he would have been played to death by them.

Xiao Ce smiled as he looked at Okamoto Juzo's anxious expression.

However, he was still very clear in his heart...

This Okamoto Juzo doesn't actually have any feelings for him; he's just afraid of what will happen after he dies.

They had no one to offer advice.

Okamoto Juzo and Okamoto Juro had secretly discussed what would happen if Xiao Ce hadn't been there.

They couldn't even handle the Illuminati, let alone the Illuminati...

"Thank you for your concern, Lord. Please rest assured. I will definitely take good care of myself... Actually, I'm doing this not only to help Tojo Seisuke. I'm actually helping ourselves."

Xiao Ce's words left them all somewhat stunned.

"Help ourselves?"

Xiao Ce nodded, just about to speak.

All that could be heard was a hurried cry from outside: "Something's wrong...something's wrong..."

Okamoto Juzo and Okamoto Juro were both surprised to see Tojo Seisuke in such a panic.

Because they had never seen Tojo Seisuke so flustered.

In fact, not to mention Okamoto Juzo and Okamoto Rokujo, even Tojo Seisuke himself had never been so flustered.

He had never been this flustered when he left Fusang before.

Tojo Seisuke had always believed that although they had lost, they would eventually turn the tide and win...

He remained steadfast in his convictions.

However, after a while, he realized that something was wrong.

The people in the Illuminati no longer seemed to be as steadfast in their support; he was well aware that the Illuminati was now supporting the Slavic people.

Meanwhile, their emperor died, and Tokugawa Heiyasu also just died.

He had always believed that the Emperor, who was high above and had close ties with the Illuminati, would not die...

The result was death.

Tokugawa Taira no Yasushi, who had fought him for most of his life, was fine before... but now he is also dead, and his death was completely unexpected.

Especially in front of that Illuminati agent just now, he had never felt so insignificant...

He even felt that he would die the moment that Illuminati representative opened his mouth.

Seeing Tojo Seisuke's expression, Okamoto Juzo quickly asked, "What's wrong... what's wrong? Are the Illuminati going to wipe us out? Are they going to start attacking us?"

Before Tojo Seisuke could answer, it seemed like Okamoto Juzo was about to call for backup...

Tojo Seisuke waved his hand and said, "No...no...it's not that the Illuminati's agents want to attack us. It's that Tokugawa Heiyasu is dead!"

Okamoto Juzo was genuinely surprised and exclaimed, "What! Tokugawa Heiyasu is dead? Didn't he run away? How could he be dead?"

Tojo Seisuke shook his head: "I don't know either..."

Okamoto Juro followed up with, "So what does this mean now? Is that Illuminati agent trying to take us down?"

Tojo Seisuke gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Not really... The Illuminati's representative wants to summon Okamoto Kazusaku."

Okamoto Juzo frowned: "Tojo Seisuke, what do you mean? What does this have to do with our Mr. Ichisaku? You're not trying to shift the blame to Mr. Ichisaku, are you?"

Tojo Seisuke guessed Okamoto Juzo's expression and said, "Don't be nervous...don't be nervous...I didn't say anything! Don't misunderstand, I don't think the Illuminati's representative meant any harm...he just admires Mr. Ichisaku..."

Okamoto Juzo waved his hand: "No...no...we're not going...whoever wants to go, can go...Tojo Seisuke, don't try to fool me like I'm stupid, okay? Do you think I'm stupid? Are you jealous that I have a plan, and you want to use the Illuminati's agent to get rid of me, right?"

Tojo Seisuke said awkwardly, "Thirteen, what do you mean by that... I..."

Xiao Ce, who had been silent until now, said to Tojo Seisuke, "Head of the Tojo family, would you mind stepping aside for a moment... I'll speak with our lord?"

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Seisuke nodded: "You've been in contact with that agent. You should know whether you're in danger or not... Just keep up with Thirteen and tell me."

Xiao Ce was really not used to Tojo Seisuke addressing him with such formality.

After watching Tojo Seisuke leave, Okamoto Juzo's expression turned ugly as he spat at Okamoto Juzo's departing figure.

"Pah... Do you think I don't know what you're up to?"

Then Okamoto Juzo said to Xiao Ce, "Yi Ce, don't worry, I'm here. Nobody can force you to go... Don't worry, you'll be fine..."

Looking at Okamoto Juzo's expression, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Lord, of course I'll go... Besides, I fought for it. Do you even need to finish what I was saying earlier?"

Okamoto Juzo asked in confusion, "Which sentence?"

Okamoto Juro, with his good memory, reminded him, "Big brother, look at your brain! Didn't Mr. Ichisaku just say that the reason he went to see that Illuminati representative wasn't just to help Tojo Seisuke, but also to help us..."

Okamoto Juzo nodded: "Oh, I know... Didn't you say we're in cahoots with him? What do you mean by 'in the same boat'? Didn't you say that?"

Xiao Ce smiled slightly at Okamoto Juzo, then said, "No, no, no, my lord, those nice words were for the Tojo family. Not for telling us... Anyone who believes that is a fool."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Okamoto Juzo felt like he had been insulted, but he didn't say anything...

Xiao Ce didn't notice that his words had been cursed by many members of the Okamoto family present.

Instead, he continued, "Between us and the Tojo family, whoever is stronger will be the boss. If we want to be strong, who can we rely on? We can't rely on ourselves... We need the support of the Illuminati... Only with the support of the Illuminati can we have the last laugh."

"And that person is the Illuminati's agent... the future agent. If we get on good terms with him, we can do whatever we want in the future... So, I was already trying to curry favor with him earlier."

"Right now they are very dissatisfied with the Tojo family, but very fond of our Okamoto family. With this shift in their favor... wouldn't we be more likely to gain the favor of the Illuminati?"

After Xiao Ce said that, everyone here had a look of sudden realization.

Okamoto Juzo said to Xiao Ce, "So, you've already won over the Illuminati's agents?"

Seeing this, Xiao Ce gave a wry smile: "My lord, how could it be so fast... No... no... But, I thought I'd give it a try. Actually, this is both a crisis and an opportunity..."

Seeing this, Okamoto Juro nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad... Big brother, we're not very bright. But Mr. Ichisaku is a smart man... What's the point of us competing with Tojo Seisuke and his gang? No matter how powerful we are, aren't we still living under the thumb of those Illuminati members!"

"That representative was a woman, and she sounded quite young. Our First Strategy is good-looking and smart... I think it's a good fit! If our First Strategy gains attention, the Illuminati will definitely support an emperor on our side... In that case, who else but us could be the emperor..."

Okamoto Juzo beamed upon hearing this: "Not bad...not bad...that makes sense...that makes sense. I was a little worried before, but now it seems that my worries were completely unnecessary..."

Looking at their faces, which changed so quickly, Xiao Ce smiled helplessly: "My two lords, don't have too high hopes right now... I can't guarantee it'll be completely successful... We can only give it a try... After all, which of those who can enter the Illuminati is simple? They are all extraordinary..."

Okamoto Juzo nodded repeatedly as he listened: "Ichi-se... we understand. You don't need to force yourself... do whatever you want from now on... we'll support you!"

Xiao Ce had been waiting for Okamoto Juzo to say this, and smiled slightly: "Then, my lord, I want to curry favor with them. The best way would be to have them take me by their side... Only by becoming her confidant will she believe my words..."

Seeing Okamoto Juzo's embarrassed expression, Xiao Ce continued, "Of course, if you're unwilling, then forget it..."

Okamoto Juzo waved his hand and said, "I'm willing... I believe you... Just go ahead... I definitely believe you."

Xiao Ce said, "Really? My lord, don't worry. I'm just going there in person, but my heart will always be with you... If there's anything, you can have Xiao Ye come to me. Xiao Ye is my brother, and even if that agent finds out, he won't say anything."

Before they could speak, Xiao Ce continued, "These are all things for later; it's too early to say anything now. Maybe she doesn't even fancy me."