“Archbishop Nishimura.” Su Mo imitated Sakurai Mii’s manner and bowed.
Nishimura Koishi put down the jade watering can in his hand and walked toward the house. “Come in.”
If he hadn’t learned about it in advance and known this man’s power was as high as B-rank, Su Mo might have instinctively mistaken him for an ordinary wealthy person.
His home was just too extravagant. Su Mo felt that calling him ‘wealthy’ wasn’t even adequate; ‘nouveau riche tycoon’ was more like it.
The moment they stepped inside, several beautiful young maids guided them to their seats and poured each of them a glass of liquor Su Mo didn’t recognize.
“Please wait a moment, ladies. The master is changing his clothes.”
Whether to keep them from getting bored or for some other reason, several men and women in formal attire immediately entered the living room and began performing music…
Su Mo, like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, kept his mouth slightly agape the whole time, his shock written all over his face.
Sakurai Mii smiled beside him. “Don’t be nervous. Archbishop Nishimura is actually very approachable (by billions). No need to rush; you’ll understand gradually in the future.”
Su Mo nodded stiffly, feeling like if he just scraped off a bit from anywhere here, he’d be set for life back home.
Just then, Nishimura Koishi walked down from the second floor in formal wear, smiling gracefully as he descended. “Chiyo, you’ve suffered all these years outside. Welcome home.”
Su Mo hurriedly stood up. “It wasn’t hard… it was my duty…”
He had never been this nervous before.
“All of you, leave us.” Nishimura Koishi waved his hand, and the performers immediately withdrew.
Sakurai Mii spoke up then. “Archbishop Nishimura, Chiyo has never seen such a grand display before, so it’s natural she’s a bit tense. Please don’t hold it against her.”
After hearing this, Nishimura Koishi laughed heartily. “A small matter. Just come visit often from now on. All these things are merely worldly possessions. To me, they’re no different from garbage. As human beings, what we value is inner cultivation, right, Mii?”
“Yes, yes, absolutely right…” Sakurai Mii agreed on the surface, but inwardly she was cursing—Pah! What nonsense, such a poser!
Su Mo gradually adapted to the unsettling feeling of being surrounded by wealth, and his own composed temperament began to resurface. Seeing this, Nishimura Koishi showed an appreciative look.
“Chiyo, if I remember correctly, you have an older sister working under Archbishop Uesugi?”
Su Mo’s mind raced, and he replied, “I only know she’s with the Samurai Sect, so I suppose she works for them.”
Nishimura Koishi raised an eyebrow. “You’ve met Archbishop Uesugi as well. In your opinion, which of us is more qualified to inherit the Archbishop position?”
Su Mo inwardly spat: You old geezer, always giving me these life-or-death questions!
He replied calmly and unhurriedly, “Having lived in Xia Country for twenty years, I’ve learned some of their history. In ancient times, when monarchs achieved success and rewarded merits, they often ranked ministers who managed supplies and logistics during wartime as the foremost contributors, rather than the generals who fought campaigns everywhere.”
Nishimura Koishi was visibly delighted by his words and immediately waved a grand hand. “Well said! I particularly enjoy collaborating with insightful young people like Chiyo on great endeavors.”
With that, he called a servant and instructed, “Bring me box number 317 from warehouse thirteen.”
The servant obeyed and left, returning shortly to the living room with box 317.
Nishimura Koishi opened the box. Inside was a blue gemstone jade hairpin, not only exquisitely crafted but also faintly emitting spatial fluctuations—clearly a spatial artifact.
“I have a habit of giving a gift to everyone who pledges loyalty to me. Consider this jade hairpin a meeting gift. Though humble, please don’t disdain it. After all, you haven’t yet achieved merits. I can’t give anything too valuable, or those below would say I’m unfair in rewards and punishments.”
“This…” Su Mo showed a troubled expression.
“Since Archbishop Nishimura is giving it to you, just take it. Don’t be shy,” Sakurai Mii reminded from the side.
Su Mo had no choice but to reluctantly accept it.
Just then, someone suddenly requested an audience outside.
“Come in,” Nishimura Koishi said, still wearing that approachable expression, not at all like someone in a high position.
The person seeking audience was a plump middle-aged man. The moment he entered, he threw himself to the floor with a thud and began pleading: “I beg Archbishop Nishimura to give me one more chance! This time I will definitely get the job done!”
Nishimura Koishi looked puzzled. “If I recall correctly, this is the third time you’ve messed up the task, isn’t it?”
The middle-aged man replied tremblingly, “Please give me one more chance, I can do it…”
“Answer me, yes or no!”
“…Yes.” The kneeling man’s body began to twitch from fear. Only then did Su Mo notice—the man was missing his little finger, as if bitten off by something.
Looking at the teeth marks left by the wound, Su Mo felt a chill run down his spine.
“Oh, then what more is there to say?” As he said this, Nishimura made a sucking motion. The kneeling man’s body suddenly began to twist grotesquely. His throat made “huff, huff” sounds, but no voice came out.
In just over ten seconds, the middle-aged man stopped moving. Servants immediately carried him away, to who knows where.
And this approachable Archbishop Nishimura—the smile never once left his face.
After dealing with the middle-aged man, he immediately turned to Su Mo to clear up any doubts. “Ah, Mii probably hasn’t told you yet. For those working under me, there are a few rules.”
Su Mo held his breath and listened carefully.
“First, for every task successfully completed, I grant a substantial reward. The better the job, the greater the reward. Second, everyone gets two chances for mistakes. The first time, no consequences. The second time, a little punishment. The third time… well, just like him.”
Then he handed Su Mo a business card. “Take this and find this person. He will arrange your first task for you.”
Su Mo took the card. On it was clearly written a string of phone numbers—nothing else.
…
After leaving the villa, Su Mo subconsciously let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if an invisible net that had been draped over him had finally been removed.
Sakurai Mii asked with a smile, “How do you feel?”
Su Mo glanced back at the villa behind him and said calmly, “Archbishop Nishimura is a very good man. From him, I see an extremely bright future for development.”
Sakurai Mii showed a surprised expression. “Not bad, your awareness is quite high. Then work hard.”
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she leaned close to Su Mo’s ear and asked, “Do you know how that man’s finger got broken earlier?”
Su Mo shook his head.
Sakurai Mii’s voice was sweet. “Bitten off. And he bit it off himself.”
Although he had already guessed, having Sakurai Mii confirm it still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Has no one ever tried to run away, waiting to receive punishment?”
“Some have. But their families all died.”
“Wasn’t there anyone with no family?”
“Let me correct that. What I mean is, on top of them being killed, their families don’t survive. Those with no family… are simply disposed of.”
Su Mo felt as if a huge rock were pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Suddenly, he paused his steps, his whole body trembling slightly.
So that’s why they wanted me to live as an ordinary person for a month first—to form bonds with the Chiyote Sankei family!