I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 165 Utterly Destitute
"You are the Emperor?"

"Hi, I am [your name], [your name]."

With his greyish-white pupils scanning the 1.62-meter-tall middle-aged man before him, Hyuga Toneri frowned slightly.

"His bloodline is mixed and chaotic, and he has no spiritual power in his body."

"just you?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man bowed his head and said with practiced ease:
"terribly sorry."

"Ahem, Hyuga-sama, it's like this."

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, the palace official kneeling beside him had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak.

"Your era is approximately a hundred years in the future. The Taira and Minamoto clans, along with the Emperor, waged a great war for power. During this time, the Three Sacred Treasures were thrown into the sea. Although the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi was salvaged by the soldiers, the other two treasures..."

The Yasakani no Magatama and Yata no Kagami were not large to begin with, and at that time, a large number of Taira clan women, including the young emperor, jumped into the sea.

It's quite normal that the Genji soldiers couldn't salvage them in time and lost two sacred artifacts.

Although they later claimed they were all 'rescued,' it's clear that they weren't.

"Later, due to the North-South civil war, the Three Sacred Treasures were once again..."

"As for Naruhito's lineage, there are detailed records within the palace. However, due to the decline of spiritual energy over the past thousand years, coupled with intermarriages with various families, therefore..."

Of course, it's also possible that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, in the chaos of two emperors ruling the Southern Dynasty, the legitimate line was broken. But what do those things have to do with him, an official in the Imperial Household Department? They are all things from hundreds of years ago.

"So, she's the next emperor?"

Hyuga Toneri's gaze fell on the woman in her twenties beside the middle-aged man:
With small eyes, a wide nose, and a slightly chubby face, she's just an ordinary woman from an island nation.

"Ahem, not yet confirmed."

In response, the Imperial Household Ministry Secretariat coughed.

Unfortunately, the royal family of this island nation has had a difficult time producing offspring over the past few generations.

The current emperor has only one daughter: if nothing unexpected happens, she may very well become the island nation's first female emperor.

"Lord Hyuga, you possess noble blood; please, have mercy and spare my son!"

Seeing that the extraordinary being's attention had fallen on his daughter, the middle-aged man gritted his teeth, disregarded any notion of 'royal dignity,' and knelt down with a thud.

"Perhaps you can't imagine,"

"But today's island nation is no longer what it was a thousand years ago."

During the Heian period, the emperor's power was still undisputed: at least during the time of this 'Hyuga Toneri'.

A century later, the Taira clan brought swords to the palace, symbolizing the rise of the samurai class: in the Battle of Taira and Genpei, regardless of who won or lost, the power of the imperial family would fall into the hands of these samurai.

From then on, the Emperor gradually became a symbol, a mascot, with virtually no real power. It wasn't until modern times, with the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration, that the Imperial Family briefly regained power, supported by the restorative army. And now:
"Don't be afraid of being laughed at by adults,"

"My family will not and cannot interfere in any of the country's affairs, big or small."

"I'm just a salaried civil servant. When I'm hospitalized, I can't use blood donated by others; I can only use the blood I've stored before."

Takamagahara, the Three Sacred Treasures, and the Eye of God have absolutely nothing to do with their family!
The so-called "Three Divine Artifacts" were only seen once by the middle-aged man when he ascended the throne.

And it was completely wrapped up!

As for what's inside...
He didn't know, and had no interest in knowing.

Reality isn't a novel; the so-called 'Emperor' is just a title.

The development of science signifies the decline of divine authority: even with Yahweh, the West merely pays lip service to the idea of ​​God; how many truly believe in Him?

Their interference in worldly affairs is extremely low; they cannot influence government decisions, nor do they have any special forces exclusively for the royal family. The people in the Imperial Household Department next door are both their caretakers and their 'guardians'.

Every word and action must conform to the Royal Code.

It's not even a puppet; it's just a facade.

Even his daughter, "Aiko," was bullied at school, and he could only blame himself for not being able to "read the room."

Because of the strict royal regulations, the wives and daughters of middle-aged men often suffer from "adjustment disorder." It just goes to show: times have changed!

The throne?

No dogs!

After hearing the middle-aged man's reckless words, the face of the man named 'Hyuga Toneri' flashed with anger and then melancholy.

It's like the expression on a young man's face after years of honing his martial arts skills in a storybook, only to find his enemies all dead.
"Since you are all mortals, I will not make things difficult for you."

With a flick of his sleeve, the boy with the disdainful eyes turned to look at the palace offices:

"It is said that the Eight-Foot Magatama is in the hands of the Sea Kingdom?"

"Yes,"

When the other party flew towards Tokyo, the entire Imperial Household Agency had already done its 'homework'.

The questions, attitudes, and behaviors the other party might raise, etc., have been predicted by numerous psychology experts, with the three key elements naturally being of paramount importance.

"Several months ago, Suzukayama Chief Minister 'Kaminari' struck Yokosuka with a typhoon."

"At that time, he unleashed the 'Eight-Foot Magatama,' rendering all the extraordinary beings in the entire island nation powerless to resist."

This is just self-aggrandizement. Given the island nation's extraordinary level at the time, attacking "Sea Roar" would have been suicide: they probably didn't even realize how many ants their attack's aftershocks had wiped out.

Even now,
Only Kafka Lu could barely hold his own against the opponent.

"Humph,"

Hyuga Toneri snorted coldly.
"The Yasakani no Magatama suppresses all power in the world, and my 'Eye of God' can do the same!"

Ah, right, right, the 'Yasakani no Magatama' can suppress the entire island nation from a distance; you need to make contact to suppress it.
The palace officials quickly lowered their heads, afraid that the other party would see their expression.

"You don't take my bloodline power seriously?"

However, under the opponent's 'eye of God', how could one possibly dodge by simply lowering one's head?

“Private Marseille with red bean paste!”

The palace official was drenched in sweat and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

The instinctive thought that flashed through my mind was about to become a fatal disaster!
"I will go to Mount Suzuka to retrieve the Eight-Span Curved Jewel."

"Tell those in power, whether they're called Kanpaku or Shogun—mobilize all available manpower and retrieve the remaining divine artifacts!"

"If I don't see the artifact when I come next time, I'll kill them."

finished,

With a flick of his sleeve, the young man leaped lightly onto the white crane.

"Whew...Whew...I'm saved!"

After Hyuga Toneri disappeared into the sky, the middle-aged man collapsed to the ground.

To be honest, this "Emperor" is really inferior to an ordinary wealthy businessman: the rules and regulations are absolutely the best in the island nation, yet his power is practically zero; his eating, drinking, and even his personal hygiene are all controlled by the Imperial Household Agency. He can only hope that one day he will become an "Emperor Emeritus," free from the sensitive political status, and thus be able to do as he pleases a little more.

"Your Majesty, please be mindful of your manners."

As soon as Hyuga Toneri left, several members of the Imperial Household Agency came forward to remind him that his posture was indecent.

Damn it, you guys didn't even dare to fart just now?!

"It was I who lost my composure."

As a puppet—no, a facade—the middle-aged man had no choice but to stand up 'elegantly'.

If that Hyuga Toneri had told him to get lost, he would have happily packed his bags and gone to his wife's house to live off her!

This godforsaken place, let whoever wants to stay stay here.

Especially in this world where the extraordinary has arrived,

Who knows when it might be used as a 'sacrifice'?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"So, that Hyuga Toneri went to cause trouble for the 'Sea Kingdom'?"

When Director Takeya returned with Iori Kazuka, they heard this 'great news'.

What else could this be but good news?
Although there is the sacred tree bestowed by the Inari god, and the divine messenger 'Hakuzosu' in charge, if that Hyuga Toneri were to fire a few shots from afar and then run away, it would be adding insult to injury for the already tense island nation.

Fortunately, everyone here is a 'civilized person,' so we can sit down and talk things over.

Of course, the premise for negotiation is that the strength is comparable: when facing Inari, Hyuga Toneri can pay a respectful visit; when facing them, it's a fight outright—

"In any case, it can be considered as solving a major problem." The Imperial Household Agency official who came to receive Director Takeya smiled wryly at her words.

"I'm afraid it's not that optimistic,"

"Director Zhuya, please come with me. The other ministers are waiting for you at the Prime Minister's official residence."

When Director Takeya brought Iori Kazuka to the Prime Minister's office, they saw all the cabinet members who had been holding meetings there for most of the day.

"Director Zhuya, please have a seat."

The situation was urgent, and the two of them still smelled of gunpowder: especially Iori Kazuka, who was wrapped in bandages.

"Thanks for your hard work,"

The prime minister, seated at the head of the table, began to speak.
What are your thoughts on the extraordinary being 'Hyuga Toneri'?

?

Sitting and watching, standing and watching, what else can you do to watch?
"Very strong,"

"Terrifyingly strong."

From her own perspective, Director Zhu Ya offered this assessment.

"Kafka Lu will be no match for him."

"The American fleet and nuclear weapons cannot get close to him."

However, Kafka used the power of 'Ibaraki', and not in its complete form: if it were Ibaraki in its prime, perhaps it wouldn't be afraid of Hyuga Toneri?
As for the nuclear bomb, judging from his initiative to intercept it, even if it couldn't kill him, it would at least cause him some trouble.

"Adept at fighting humanoid targets,"

"The 'Divine Eye' bestowed by its bloodline possesses an ultra-long-range vision of hundreds of kilometers, a 360-degree unobstructed perspective, and:"

The great demon 'Ibaraki' mentioned that he could see through time and space, and foresee the fates of others, etc.
Of course, such incredible divine means are most likely the source of the 'eye of God,' which only Amaterasu Omikami can possess.

"Indeed very strong,"

"Director Zhuya, what do you think of this proposal—"

The other senior cabinet officials present nodded in agreement, and then their gazes turned to:

The Minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories and Regional Revitalization.

This string of titles reveals that this cabinet minister is responsible for the peripheral regions of the island nation, and is considered a marginal figure within the cabinet. Therefore:
Facing the gazes of his colleagues, the cabinet minister gritted his teeth and spoke, taking over the Prime Minister's words.

"Since Lord Hyuga Toneri possesses the Amaterasu bloodline,"

"Then let's bring him into the Imperial Palace as the 127th Emperor, what do you think?"

? !
"inappropriate,"

Director Zhu Ya immediately objected.

It wasn't that he had any loyalty to the current emperor, but rather because:

"The great demon 'Blood Hakama' once mentioned that they want to charge into 'Takamagahara' again."

"This shows that the relationship between that person and the island nation's main deity is mostly one of hostility—"

Amaterasu is the lord of Takamagahara, the sacred land of the island nation. Since the other party intends to invade Takamagahara, they are undoubtedly enemies. Even if one possesses her bloodline, what would Amaterasu think if she welcomed him back as emperor? A solar flare attack would send the entire island nation to feed the fish in the Pacific Ocean.
"Rushing to take sides now is the worst possible strategy."

After speaking, Director Zhu Ya pushed up her non-prescription glasses.

"Don't forget, the sacred tree and shrine of Inari-sama are all in Tokyo."

"I heard about Hyuga Toneri's visit to the shrine. Judging from the fact that he didn't go on a killing spree, he at least gives Inari some face."

Regardless of whether Inari and Tamamo-no-Mae had any personal relationship, on the surface, they were both righteous gods of Takamagahara: at most, they would remain neutral. But if someone of Tamamo-no-Mae were to sit in the position representing 'acting on behalf of Heaven,' that would be a complete break with the facade.

When the divine tree moves,
The island's cabinet was collectively "forced" to commit suicide.

"Um,"

"That's what we're thinking too."

The Prime Minister nodded, as if the suggestion had not come from him.

"The second question:"

"Hyuga Toneri asked the government to find the other two 'Three Sacred Treasures'."

"Judging from his words, it seems that he wants to defeat the royal bloodline in a fair and square manner. Or rather, the royal bloodline that possesses the 'divine artifact'."

This is not hard to understand. After all, Hyuga Toneri keeps referring to his mother, clearly indicating that he is a descendant of Tamamo-no-Mae. Perhaps in his time, he suffered a great loss at the hands of the royal family, and even a thousand years later, he still harbors resentment and longs to avenge his humiliation.

However, what is there about the current island nation's royal family that warrants his attention?
Not a single one has awakened the 'Eye of God'.
The three magical artifacts have been switched countless times!
In this situation, how could Hyuga Toneri, whose personality is clearly arrogant, possibly let it go?

"If we cannot find the Three Sacred Treasures when he returns next time, we will have to confront the Cabinet."

A killing spree!
Is it too late for me to resign now?
For a moment, Director Zhuya even had the urge to quit.

"In other words, we must find the missing 'Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi' or 'Yata-no-Kagami'?"

"right,"

After the Prime Minister finished speaking, the eyes of the cabinet members turned to Director Zhu Ya.

"I"

He took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

"This kind of thing shouldn't be left to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology or the Minister of Reconstruction."

"No, no, no," X2
The two cabinet ministers, disregarding their image, shook their heads vigorously.

"We don't even have a single artificial superhuman under our command, how dare we take on such a heavy responsibility?"

? !
Ah, what kind of supernatural power do I need to find this thing?
You better explain this to me!
Director Zhu Ya, who had just returned from the battlefield, took a deep breath, feeling that even her 'extraordinary power' was about to give way to the mental strain of this period.

"I don't have any superhuman abilities to locate objects among my subordinates."

Besides, those are the Three Divine Artifacts!

It's obvious to anyone with a brain that a 'magical artifact' would block all kinds of object-finding abilities.

Otherwise, after the Genpei War a thousand years ago, the imperial family should have retrieved the real sacred artifacts instead of creating a bunch of fakes to fool future generations.

"Director Zhuya, the fate of the nation rests in your hands."

"Please don't refuse. Our entire cabinet fully supports you."

"I'll think about it when I get back,"

Since the Prime Minister has spoken, Director Zhuya can only wait for now.

During this period, although these people have not accomplished much, at least they have not been a drag on the team.

Besides: do you think that if he resigns now, Hyuga Toneri will let him off the hook? Impossible—

"Ugh, my head hurts."

As she walked out of the Prime Minister's official residence and sat in her bulletproof car, Director Zhu Ya looked worried.

Looking for the three magical artifacts?

This thing has been stolen and taken away countless times throughout the history of this island nation!
Although he was the head of the police system, he had no clues. Where could he find ancient artifacts from a thousand years ago?
Should we dig up the entire island nation?

"Forehead"

Seeing his boss looking worried,

After thinking for a moment, Iori Kazuka, who was sitting by the window, finally hesitated before speaking:
"Director Zhuya,"

"You're even using honorifics now? Speak up if you have something to say—"

The armored car started and headed towards the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters; Chief Inspector Takeya leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.

"If... I mean, if,"

Iori Kazuka, who is usually decisive and efficient, suddenly became hesitant and stammering.

"There's someone whose eyes are also grayish-white, just like Hyuga Toneri's; and who also possesses extraordinary dynamic vision, you say—"

Bang! !

He suddenly stood up as the seat behind him exploded.

Director Zhu Ya, who was also an extraordinary individual, gripped her subordinate's shoulders tightly with both hands.

"Where is that person?!"

(End of this chapter)