Dear Master Fafnir,
We have received rather worrying news from one of our customer who came from the capital. From his account, the second prince of the Heaven Dou Empire has passed away and his death, although appearing to be an accident, is believed to have been a deliberate act. The imperial family are currently conducting an investigation in the capital and all major nobles and figures, including even Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, are being searched and interrogated. Multiple passing nobles who have come to enjoy our services have talked about the matter among themselves and conclude that the likely culprit is either the First or Third prince, stating that the measures being taken by the emperor are nothing more than a facade of formality.
We've also eavesdropped on the conversation of passing disciples from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They seem to be looking for you master, but they've been delayed due to the problems in the capital. After getting them drunk enough, one of my girls was able to get some information. They were apparently sent as a scouting party to go to Shrek Academy and look for a supposed genius with a Dragon Type Martial Spirit. Their purpose was to keep an eye on said genius and make sure that the information they received about him is accurate before reporting back to the clan. If I had to guess, they haven't gone to look for you yet because of the lockdown that was placed on Heaven Dou City. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan lean more towards the Heaven Dou empire and have interacted with the imperial family in the past, so they most likely were kept busy by the ongoing investigation. I leave future steps to your discretion master.
May your desires be heard by the Evil God and may he guide your way,
Sincerely,
Sakura.
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After having finished reading the encrypted letter, I let out some of my Evil Attribute to corrode it and turn it to dust.
I petted the Sonic Swallow that had delivered the package, opened my window and allowed it to return back to base.
As the small bird type spirit beast chirped and returned to the sky, I couldn't help but ponder the information I had just got.
It doesn't make sense.
Qian Renxue's plan having begun is expected, the Donghua made her actions clear enough and it's around that time. She probably replaced Xue Qinghe around four or five years ago giving her ample time to adapt to the role of prince and initiate her plan.
The confusing part is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
How do they know about my existence?
I haven't left this city since my arrival a year ago and during my matches at the Great Spirit Arena, I only use my body type self created spirit skills, so they may have heard about a genius, but the fact that they know what my martial spirit is would exclude the possibility of them having gotten the information from someone I've faced before.
I trust in the Yamigan (Organization name, means dark eye, inspired by the Akatsuki). I trained them and provided them with the strength they possess now. I know that they are loyal to me without a doubt so they can be ruled out as well.
Helps that I've never sensed anything from them that would indicate such thoughts when I visited them last.
The only other option is someone from Shrek...
Flender.
Goddamn it!!!
As the thoughts clicked, I raised a fist and smashed it onto the desk where I was sitting, creating a large dent in it.
Thank god it was made from the wood of a plant type spirit beast, or I would've broken it in half.
I fumed in anger as my thoughts raced for a solution, but I was just so...angry.
I wanted to kill him right then and there.
As I kept spiraling down, my mind cleared slightly and I realized the abnormality in my thinking.
This wasn't right.
It wasn't me.
I pulled out my zither and instantly injected my spirit power into it before I started playing.
If anyone from the Douluo Continent heard what I was playing, they would've called me a devil or a beast.
I let my fingers flow naturally, and a tad bit more violently than I was taught back at the Pavilion, plucking string after sting, allowing my spirit power to act as the frets and the amp.
As the last note of Burial at Night rang out, I took a deep breath and finally calmed down.
The stress of leading the Yamigan and trying to keep it hidden from prying eyes at the same time has caught up to me it seems. I've been having more episodes recently and the Evil Attribute has been more of an issue then before.
I let out a sigh as I opened the drawer of the now damaged desk and pulled out my dear old diary/notebook and a map.
Where to go now?
I can't stay at Shrek, not when it's going to soon be under surveillance by those bastards.
I just need to get away for a while and then I'll come back.
Looking at the map on my desk, I started writing options on where to go.
Star Luo City.
Xilu City.
Silves City.
My eyes trailed over Heaven Dou City and I couldn't help but let out a scoff. Going there right now would be useless even if there are...certain...items...
That's it!
The city is in lockdown now, but by the time I get there...
I scribbled over the previous names I had written and started writing up a plan.
The most useful resources present to me in Heaven Dou City are the immortal herbs and the Strength Clan.
Even if the strength clan worships the ground Uncle Hao walks on, that doesn't mean that I can't recruit them. After all, I'm his nephew.
In addition, the city is filled with beggars that I can recruit into Yamigan and turn into effective agents that'll keep an eye on what's happening in the city.
And of course, the biggest prize there is, the auction house.
A place that could net me a large amount of faith from those in power.
I had a plan now and it was time to act on it.
I pulled out two paper parchments and began writing the letters that I needed to.
I'm gonna miss Shrek.
It's grew on me, to the point where I even invested money to get it renovated to the point where it now looks like a proper academy, even if a poor one that can't afford mimicry training spaces, marble buildings or even an arena.
I'm going to miss Hongjun and Oscar whom I've come to see as little brothers.
I'm going to miss old man Li and the sparring sessions we had.
I'm going to miss that old trickster Lu Qibin and his superiority complex over his chess skills.
Even the rather subpar food of grandpa Xiao Shin, as he insists we call him, will be hard to live without.
But this is the best option.
I've come to this conclusion long ago, but Shrek has held me back. I can't grow while staying here and facing the same opponent again and again and fighting against subpar spirit masters in the Great Spirit Arena.
This is the best, for my growth and for my safety.
As those thoughts ended, I signed the final letter and began preparing my bags.
Tomorrow will mark the beginning of a new journey or rather, the return to where it all began.
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Dear Sakura,
Thank you very much for your hard work and the information, it will aid me greatly. Compensate the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's disciples by granting them a discount. Doing so will make them hesitate to find trouble with you in the future for fear of losing a good establishment to help them...release their urges. It's better to be safe than to have them return later on, claiming that you were responsible for "distracting" them from their mission, as absurd as that sounds. Trust me on this, for the disciples of such sects are petty, and will find even the smallest loopholes to avoid trouble with those stronger then them within it.
I have decided to head to the capital. Do not try to send a letter to dissuade me for my mind is made up. If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is planning on searching for this genius in Suotuo City then they will not suspect that same genius to be present so close to them. I will be careful and avoid the use of my martial spirit which should be enough for me to escape their detection.
Send some of our best operatives to the Capital and make it so they arrive in groups of between 2 and 5 and don't do it all at the same time. Space out their arrival time by at least 4 days, just to be safe. I will attempt to recruit some of the beggars, prostitutes and shop owners there and bring them into our fold. You've been the best help I could ask for in creating this organization and I will miss these little exchanges of ours and the visits I pay to you ever so often,
Stay safe and may your desires be heard by the Evil God so he can guide your way,
Sincerely,
Your Grandmaster,
Fafnir.
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Dear Dean Flender,
If you are reading this letter, then that means that I have already left. I have decided to graduate from Shrek as I had met the requirement even before registering. That does not mean that I will be gone forever but on the opposite, I will return as soon as I can. Hopefully by that time, I will be strong enough to join you as a teacher who is capable of guiding the future students of the academy.
Do not search for me or attempt to discover the reasons for which I have left as you did when I first arrived. You will find nothing. I hope you can forgive me for this but the current matter I must take care of is private and I'd rather not reveal such information yet.
Please send my heartfelt regards to my little brothers. I have attached two papers to this letter that I hope you can deliver to them. Tell old Li, Old Lu and Grandpa Xiao Shin that I will miss our little interactions and their presence. I will always be grateful to this Academy that has given me a home and has introduced me to such interesting people.
Stay Safe and I will see you later,
Siegfried.
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Author's note:
Hey guys, so first chapter of today.
I'm really proud of this one and I feel the format with the letters fits. For those who think this progression was fast, the next chapter will be from the POV's of Sakura(who's identity will be explained), Flender and the two Shrek devils, so the effect the MC has had on each of them will be shown in that one.
Not much to say here honestly.
As you guys have seen through this chapter, Yamigan is the organization the MC built during that on year he's stayed in Suotuo City. He mainly targets beggars and prostitutes and such for those he recruits because they're the ones most likely to agree with the views of the Evil God the MC is spreading.
Sieg is planning to go to Heaven Dou City to reap the benefits that Tang San would receive in the future so that's going to be the focus of the next few chapters.
That's all for the explanation.
Now something more important, this was my first time writing without the use of AI so this is completely me.
Was it good?
How did you guys find it?
All opinions are appreciated.
By the way, Sakura here is not based on Naruto but the flower since cherry blossoms are usually used to represent feminine qualities like beauty and fragility. Also, the song Burial At Night is from the game Metal: Hellsinger for those wondering.
That's everything, one more chapter today and we'll be done,
Enjoy.