-287- A chance

Before, when revealing each other's identities, it was said that although Nanaya Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka were both cultivated as the most outstanding talents by the Nanaya clan's thousand-year-old cultivation system, there was still a world of difference between them.

The reason for this so-called world of difference lies here.

The core inheritance that only those who inherit the name of Nanaya can obtain is the assassination technique that the Nanaya clan prides itself on.

Only by inheriting this assassination technique, which has been passed down for a thousand years, can one possess the ability to freely and silently enter and exit military strongholds.

Otherwise, if anyone could easily have such an ability, the clan leader would be merely nominal and might have been overthrown long ago.

Therefore, this assassination technique, which was once perfected by the Assassins and can now be called an art, has been continuously accumulated and improved over a thousand years. It is the world's most unique and strongest assassination technique, only learned by those who inherit the name of Nanaya and ascend to the clan leader's position.

And this fact is known only to the successive generations of Nanaya and a few elder figures within the clan.

When Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father left the Nanaya clan, he was barely in his thirties and fell just one step short of the Nanaya throne. How could he have known this?

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father didn't even know that the secrets of the Nanaya assassination technique were such that no single Nanaya in history has ever fully mastered it, only learning two or three tenths before growing old.

After all, besides Hori, the youngest of the successive Nanayas was in their thirties before inheriting the name of Nanaya and ascending to the clan leader's position. Even with another forty or fifty years to live, they still couldn't fully master this thousand-year-old intricate assassination technique.

Even Nanaya Kiri, to this day, has only grasped about one-tenth of the technique and cannot fully master it.

But even so, Nanaya Kiri still has the ability to infiltrate military strongholds.

Under such circumstances, how could a man who abandoned the Nanaya, joined the secular political arena, and has yet to fully control a single country compare to Nanaya Kiri?

"If it weren't for the fact that you currently pose no threat, the people in the clan wouldn't have kept you alive. Do you think you could still be barking right now?" Hori spoke with extreme sarcasm.

"Or do you have confidence that your guards can be more stringent than a military stronghold, senior?"

These sarcastic remarks made Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father's face turn extremely ugly.

This fact should also be clear to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father, right?

In his current state, he has no power to resist the Nanaya clan, which dominates the entire underground world.

Guards more stringent than a military stronghold?

Unless he could truly dominate the entire world, this man could not possibly achieve that.

Currently, to the Nanaya clan, he poses no threat at all.

If it weren't so, the White Room wouldn't have been destroyed overnight.

However, although Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father's face was unpleasant, he didn't show fear.

"Even if the clan has a higher level of technique, it's just assassination techniques."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father said coldly.

This is indeed the case.

The true core of the Nanaya clan is its assassination techniques, and everything else doesn't make a big difference.

Regarding pure knowledge, academics, social skills, and strategic planning, Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka don't have a huge difference.

Precisely because of this, under the restriction of the "rules," which prevent Hori from fully utilizing his assassination techniques, he and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka each have their strengths.

One excels in eyesight, insight, and sharp senses.

The other excels in planning, strategizing, and laying out plans.

The most they differ in is their knowledge base.

For instance, because Hori once had to survive in the tropical rainforest for a whole year, he learned how to make herbal medicines, a knowledge Ayanokouji Kiyotaka lacks due to not having such an experience.

Similarly, due to his own experiences, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka knows things that Hori might not know.

So, between Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who is stronger and who is weaker, it's still not very clear under the restriction of the "rules."

Naturally, the same goes for the situation between Nanaya Kiri and this man. Apart from the assassination techniques, who is stronger and who is weaker in other areas is still unknown.

Since that's the case…

"Since that's the case, it proves that the path I chose is correct. As long as I dominate the entire surface world and make the guards around me more stringent than a military stronghold, even Kiri himself won't be able to do anything to me. Then, I can slowly conquer the underground world where the clan resides."

This man wasn't shaken by Hori but instead became more determined.

This made Hori raise his eyebrows slightly, secretly sighing.

As expected, this man is not someone who can be dealt with in a few words, no wonder his adoptive father acknowledges him as an opponent.

However…

"Wait until you realize your delusion before saying these things."

Hori laughed indifferently.

Indeed.

Dominating the surface world?

That means he must conquer the entire world and control all countries, right?

He hasn't even fully controlled this country, so saying these things now is nothing but delusion, right?

At least, Hori doesn't believe the man in front of him can achieve it in his lifetime.

Precisely because of this, this man wants to cultivate the most outstanding talents to replace and surpass himself, ultimately achieving this goal.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is the one he chose.

Thus, the man looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka again.

"It seems you really intend to defy me to the end." The man said this while pondering, then suddenly said, "I'll give you a chance."

"A chance?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's expression changed slightly.

"Yes." The man said coldly, "If you can defeat the current Nanaya beside you, I will grant you freedom and never interfere in your affairs again."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

The principal was suddenly shocked.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's eyes flashed and he fell silent.

As for Hori, he narrowed his eyes slowly.

In the next second, Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka exchanged glances.

In their eyes, a strange light flashed.

"This conversation doesn't seem to be entirely fruitless."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father finally showed a cold smile.

Then, the man stood up and prepared to leave.

"Let me see you off, Ayanokouji-sensei."

The principal immediately stood up as well.

"No need."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father left with these words, ignoring the principal, and directly walked out of the reception room.

In the room, only Hori, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and the principal remained.

The atmosphere in the reception room became extremely heavy.