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

Seeing Yin Pan'er's mysterious demeanor, Xiao Ce didn't press her for details, figuring he'd find out eventually anyway.

Okamoto Juzo did indeed send Night Cat to see him several times during this period.

It seemed like Okamoto Juzo was about to lose his temper, since Xiao Ce had gone after getting his permission.

The reason he agreed so readily was that he was certain that even if Xiao Ce was very capable, those members of the Illuminati were not so easy to deal with.

Xiao Ce might be valued by them, but he wouldn't be trusted or given important responsibilities.

Unexpectedly, after Xiao Ce went to Yin Pan'er's place, he never returned.

Moreover, he had heard that Yin Pan'er seemed to genuinely consider him a confidant.

During several interrogations, Okamoto Juzo saw Xiao Ce standing next to Yin Pan'er, and Yin Pan'er seemed very close to him when she spoke to him.

This is really alarming.

After all, the more he knew about Xiao Ce's strength, the more inseparable he became from Xiao Ce.

If such a precious gem were given to the Illuminati, it would be a huge loss for him.

After Xiao Ce bid farewell to Yin Pan'er.

So they went to Lord Okamoto XIII's place. In order to support Xiao Ce, Yin Pan'er specially arranged for several Illuminati guards to protect his safety.

Xiao Ce was also somewhat surprised.

However, Xiao Ce felt that Yin Pan'er's desire to protect him was only one aspect; more importantly, she probably wanted to monitor him.

Sure enough, he headed towards Okamoto Juroku's residence.

The Okamoto family was initially terrified when they heard that a group of Illuminati members was coming.

So, they hurriedly waited at the door.

They thought something had happened.

When they saw that it was Xiao Ce who stepped out of the carriage, Okamoto Jūzō and Okamoto Jūroku breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Okamoto Juzo excitedly stepped forward: "Ichisaku... Mr. Ichisaku, you're back?"

Okamoto Juro grabbed Okamoto Juro and said, "Big brother...big brother..."

Okamoto Juzo looked at Okamoto Juroku pulling him along and said somewhat displeasedly, "Why are you pulling me like that?"

Okamoto Juroku hurriedly said to Okamoto Juroku, "Brother, please pay your respects..."

“I am his lord, why should I bow? What nonsense are you spouting?” Okamoto Jūzō said to Okamoto Jūshō.

Okamoto Juro quickly said, "Times have changed... Look at his posture..."

Just as the two were talking, Xiao Ce smiled and said to them, "My two lords, are you saying something bad about me?"

Okamoto Juro quickly bowed at a 90-degree angle, performing a standard Japanese-style bow.

Seeing this, Okamoto Juzo also wanted to bow.

"Lord Yice...we..."

Xiao Ce naturally rushed forward, putting on quite a show.

"My two lords, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill me? Absolutely not... absolutely not..."

"And why are you all calling me 'Sir'...? Who am I to you that you're not satisfied?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Okamoto Juzo readily agreed: "I knew it... Mr. Ichisaku isn't that kind of person."

He then tried to pull Okamoto Juro up.

Okamoto Juro slowly raised his head and saw that Xiao Ce was indeed not putting on airs.

"Mr. Yice... are you sure you don't need to bow?"

Xiao Ce gave a wry smile: "Of course not. Since ancient times, it has always been servants who bow to their masters. How could a master bow to a servant..."

Okamoto Juroku said, "You were before, and you aren't anymore..."

Xiao Ce said, "How could it not be... I've always been..."

As he spoke, Okamoto Juzo pointed at Okamoto Juzo and said, "Juzo, you're overthinking it... Come here... He's called Okamoto Ichisaku, we're family."

He then pulled Xiao Ce inside, saying, "Mr. Yi Ce, I knew you could do it. Sure enough, you're very reliable in everything you do... Judging from your demeanor, you've gained the approval of the Illuminati's agents."

Xiao Ce nodded, then replied to Okamoto Juzo, "Lord, I'm so grateful to you for taking me under your wing, otherwise I wouldn't have had this opportunity. Before, when you sent Night Cat to find me, I wanted to come back. But when I'm under someone else's command, sometimes I have no choice in what I do."

Xiao Ce looked embarrassed and helpless as he spoke.

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Okamoto Juzo said, "It's alright, it's alright... We were just worried about you. We're glad to know you're alright now."

Xiao Ce nodded, still speaking very politely to Okamoto Juzo, "Thank you for your concern, Lord. Rest assured, I am still a member of the Okamoto family... Even if I can't come back, I can still offer advice. These past few times, it's just that you haven't encountered any trouble. But if you were in any danger, I would definitely come back immediately without hesitation!"

Xiao Ce was full of sweet talk, which made them extremely happy.

Okamoto Juzo nodded: "Yes, yes, I knew it. I never make a mistake in choosing someone."

Okamoto Juro then said to Xiao Ce, "Mr. Yice, you must have come here for something. Otherwise, the Illuminati seems quite busy..."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "That's right, I had to beg and plead to get this opportunity to come out. I came here with you to deliver a message."

Okamoto Juzo and Okamoto Juro both stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ce, their faces full of curiosity.

Xiao Ce put on a mysterious and rambling expression, then looked at the people around him.

Okamoto Juzo and Okamoto Juroku immediately understood.

Then he sent everyone away, leaving only Da Lei and Ye Mao.

Okamoto Juzo asked Xiao Ce, "Ichice, we don't need to let these two people go, right?"

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded: "Of course, then they don't need to leave..."

Okamoto Juzo then asked Xiao Ce in a cryptic tone, "Mr. Yice, what is it?"

Xiao Ce stated directly, "The agent has already investigated the Tokugawa Heiyasu family's rebellion and identified the person who instigated it. Those who instigated the rebellion have been eliminated... Now, the goal is to kill the entire Tokugawa family..."

"Kill them all?" Okamoto Juro said with a look of surprise.

Okamoto Juzo, on the other hand, seemed to think it was all perfectly reasonable: "Of course we should kill them all! When have the Illuminati ever been able to tolerate such injustices..."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "That's right. I came here to tell you that although those representatives are dead... the people behind them who want to sow discord within the Illuminati are still there. Now, in Japan, only our forces and the Tojo family remain as the two largest powers... So, those with ulterior motives are very likely to come looking for you... I want to tell you, no matter what they say, don't believe their lies. Those people are ultimately a minority..."

Okamoto Juzo nodded: "Don't worry about that, we know! We're not stupid. What would happen to the Tokugawa family? Wouldn't it be stupid for us to fall for their trick?"

Okamoto Juroku couldn't help but say, "Big brother, don't be so sure of yourself... If Mr. Ichisaku hadn't come back, what would your attitude have been... You must have been worried sick."

"You must hate the agent for stealing Mr. Yice away, right? If someone had flattered you back then, would you have fallen for it?"

Xiao Ce wasn't stupid; he realized that Okamoto Juroku's words were deliberately meant for him to hear...

Xiao Ce understood what Okamoto Juro meant, but Okamoto Juro did not.

Okamoto Juzo, still nonchalant and embarrassed, said, "Hehe, that's certainly possible... but now you can be absolutely certain that this won't be a problem. Ichisaku, once you say this with me, I won't say another word, I definitely won't fall for it!"

After hearing Okamoto Juzo's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's good. My two lords, I'll say it again... You only need to trust me... I will definitely make you stand at the pinnacle of Fusang. And even at the pinnacle of the future Xiao Kingdom..."

Xiao Ce brainwashed them with spittle flying everywhere, and the group was almost completely swayed by his words.

"Yes, yes, yes! I can't promise you anything else, but you can rest assured. You tell us what to do with the Okamoto family, and we'll do it... I wouldn't even flinch if you asked me to die." Okamoto Juzo thumped his chest loudly.

Hearing what Okamoto Juzo said, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's not necessary... If I asked you to die, you still wouldn't go..."

Xiao Ce's joke eased the tension for everyone.

Okamoto Juro then said to Xiao Ce, "Mr. Yice, we have no problem on our side... but we still need to be wary of the Tojo family."

“Now that you’re one of us, the Tojo family is bound to feel uncomfortable… so they’re easy to bribe. After all, they feel neglected and disappointed. That’s when they’re easily taken advantage of.”

"Wasn't that the case with the Tokugawa family back then? After all, their family was very powerful before, one of the top families in Japan. But after several major defeats, they were severely weakened. That's when others had another opportunity to take advantage of them."

"Therefore, it's now quite clear that the Tojo family is more easily..."

Before Okamoto Juroku could finish speaking, Okamoto Juroku interjected, "By the way, Mr. Ichisaku, those Tojo family members are quite cunning... In fact, they bear the main responsibility for how our country has become like this..."

"Could you perhaps tell your agent... to include them this time as well..."

Okamoto Juichi was quite shrewd, making a snapping gesture.

He really is a ruthless person.

Before Xiao Ce could speak, Okamoto Juro hurriedly waved his hands: "No...no...Big brother, what are you thinking...how can you do this..."

Okamoto Juzo said indignantly, "Why can't we do that? If we don't trust them, killing them is obviously the best way! That way, the people from the Illuminati won't have to be afraid anymore, after all, we and Mr. Ichisaku are family. As for the Tojo family, with them dead, we'll be the only ones left, and the whole of Japan will definitely listen to us."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's true! My lord, I've actually considered that as well. But, my lord, you still don't understand those people."

Okamoto Juzo asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Okamoto Juro chimed in, "I'm afraid it won't be that easy. Even without the Tojo family, they'll support another family... That's the tradition of the Illuminati. It's like how even with our Fusang country, they still need a Slavic country. They're playing a game of checks and balances; they won't let us become the only dominant family..."

"Instead of the other families, why not let the Tojo family stay? We can still know our enemy and ourselves."

Xiao Ce nodded and then said, "That's right, the Sixteenth Lord is absolutely right. That's what I was thinking too. So, I think after I've told you, you should go and tell the Tojo family about my sentiments. Wouldn't that be doing them a favor?"

They listened and nodded repeatedly.

“Good, good! That makes sense! Then, Mr. Yice, we will do as you say.”

As they were talking, they took Xiao Ce to dinner again. At the dinner, Xiao Ce could clearly feel their respect for him.

Xiao Ce also acted very humbly, and they were not in a hurry to leave.

Instead, they stayed.

After all, they and Da Lei Ye Mao are like brothers.

Watching the three of them leave, Okamoto Juzo said to Okamoto Juzo, "Juzo, I told you so. Our worries were unnecessary. I knew he was quick-witted to come along, which is why I was willing to take him on as a friend!"

"Furthermore, I can tell he knows how to be grateful, and based on those two points alone, he's a useful person!"

Okamoto Juro nodded: "That's right, brother, you're right this time, he is indeed trustworthy..."

"When should we go to the Tojo family? Now? Or after he leaves?" Okamoto Juzo asked.

Okamoto Juzo waved his hand and said, "No rush, it doesn't matter..."

Okamoto Juro watched their departing figures again, then asked, "By the way, big brother, should we send some people to eavesdrop on their conversation?"

Okamoto Juzo waved his hand: "Eavesdropping my ass! Our men are trained overnight. Do you think they wouldn't know if they were eavesdropping? They would know immediately!"

Okamoto Juro nodded: "That's true..."

Okamoto Juzo smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, since we've chosen to believe him, let's go wash up and go to bed."

Seeing this, they nodded and left.

After arriving at Night Owl's place, Xiao Ce looked around and asked, "Our third uncle hasn't returned yet?"