21st Century Necromancer-Chapter 445 442: The Elder (Request for Monthly Tickets, Request for Subscriptions)

Within the Tashiro Family mansion, Tashiro Nanaori and Qingdai were both dressed in very traditional, plain-colored kimonos, kneeling in a dim partitioned space, waiting for the summoning of Nanao's great-great-grandfather.

"I never expected you to fumble as well," because they were the only two people in the room, Tashiro Nanaori couldn't resist glancing at her nominal older cousin and couldn't help but make a mocking comment.

However, Qingdai remained unflustered, and after looking at Tashiro Nanaori, she shook her head slightly, unperturbed as she said, "Success or failure isn't something I can achieve just by wishing for it, Professor Chen Yu's lack of cooperation isn't something my efforts alone can accomplish."

"Is that so? I feel like you're not taking this matter to heart at all," Tashiro Nanaori said with a sneer on her face after hearing Qingdai's words.

"Whether I take it to heart or not is neither discernible by you nor within your rights to judge," Qingdai responded without looking at Nanao, still sitting in the most perfect traditional etiquette posture, her face expressionless, yet her words popped out from between her lips, "On the contrary, you've been by that Professor Chen's side for so long with no results, aren't you the one who's not taking the family's mission seriously and being negligent in your duties?"

"You!" Hearing Qingdai say this, Tashiro Nanaori's facial expression immediately changed, as if she were quite angry, yet she suppressed her rage and said, "You better think about how you're going to explain yourself to our great-great-grandfather later! My dear, older, cousin!"

Tashiro Nanaori enunciated each word when referring to her as 'older cousin', as though she was purposefully emphasizing this title.

Yet, upon being addressed this way by Tashiro Nanaori, Qingdai's face remained unaffected as she very calmly said, "Explain to grandfather? Why should I explain anything to grandfather? To him, whatever we the younger generation do is within his expectations; what could possibly happen in this house that he doesn't know about? If one fails, there is no need for explanation, if one succeeds, explanations are unnecessary; excuses are nothing but the recourse of the incapable."

Left speechless by Qingdai's retort, Tashiro Nanaori flared her nostrils, seemingly very angry, but she quickly regained her composure, kept silent, and readjusted her sitting posture, quietly awaiting the summoning of her great-great-grandfather.

Perhaps, just as Qingdai had said, nothing could be concealed from the former head of the Tashiro family who was more than two hundred years old. Within a few minutes after the two women ceased their squabble, they heard the call.

Both of them stood up and walked out of the partition with small, traditional steps into a tea room, where they knelt down very respectfully and paid their respects to the elderly figure who was preparing tea.

The old man was clearly very old, his skin covered in wrinkles and brown age spots, and his hair was thinning, not bound in a bun but left loosely falling at the back of his head, which, together with his bald crown, seemed even sparser.

His emaciated body was draped in a kimono embroidered with the Tashiro family crest and looked like a skeleton clothed in garments, the shrunken limbs unable to support the shape of the clothing, a complete collapse that made one think the old man might have died a long time ago, his corpse already decaying.

But neither Qingdai nor Tashiro Nanaori would believe that, for they both knew all too well how terrifying the old man who looked barely a breath away from death truly was.

"How is the matter progressing?" the old man asked the two, speaking with an Edo Period accent of Edo dialect that, while not much different from modern Japanese, carried with it an outdated scent that seemed to convey the stench of decay.

The old man's voice was as unpleasant as two rough pieces of wood rubbing together, and the shadowy tea room, archaic tone of voice, gloomily colored clothes, and ancient etiquette all served to make Tashiro Nanaori intensely feel as if she were inside a coffin. There was not a shred of the tranquility or refined simplicity of the Way of Tea, only decay and stuffiness.

However, since the old man had already asked, she and Qingdai naturally did not dare to delay their response. Following the order of seniority, Qingdai spoke first, "Reporting to Grandfather, that Professor Chen Yu is truly impervious to all approaches. I've attempted numerous times but still cannot undermine the relationship between him and his girlfriend. I have failed in my task, please punish me, Grandfather."

After speaking, Qingdai placed both hands in front of her knees and prostrated herself on the ground, forehead pressed tightly against her hands, displaying a posture that left her at the complete mercy of the old man for punishment.

Hearing Qingdai admit her fault, a flicker of surprise couldn't help but pass through Tashiro Nanao's eyes, but she knew all too well that there could be no breach of etiquette in front of the old man. No matter the surprise she felt inside, she could only restrain herself, waiting for the old man to speak. Yet she couldn't help but wish inside that the old man would punish Qingdai severely.

However, to her disappointment, the old man did not say much, merely waving his hand slightly to indicate Qingdai to rise, before he spoke, "It's just an ungrateful boy, Dai-chan, it's normal that you look down on him. Let's leave it at that for this matter. An ungrateful boy, truly a wild card who can't seize even the opportunities in front of him."

The old man's decision seemed to relieve Qingdai, who thanked the old man before finally lifting her head and sitting back down properly.

Seeing Qingdai get through, Tashiro Nanao couldn't help tensing up. Qingdai was the old man's most cherished junior. Even if she really made any mistake, the old man wouldn't punish her, but Nanao didn't have such treatment.

After taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Tashiro Nanao proceeded to bow to the old man, "Your great-great-granddaughter Nanao greets you, great-great-grandfather!"

"How did the task I assigned to you turn out?" The old man paid no heed to Tashiro Nanao's bow, nor did he ask her to rise, merely asking her indifferently. His demeanor seemed casual, as if the person kneeling before him was not a living being, but merely an object.

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However, Tashiro Nanao did not dare harbor any resentment and reported her progress submissively to the old man, "Regarding the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug, Professor Chen Yu is not willing to loosen his grip on the patent. However, based on the information I've collected, I am currently working on reverse-engineering the formula, and I have some leads on several of the main ingredients."

"A mere formula, does the Tashiro Family not have formulas of our own? Humph! Putting the cart before the horse," the old man huffed coldly, causing Tashiro Nanao to shudder involuntarily. But soon the old man added, "Since he's ungrateful, there's also no need to beat around the bush with him. Have your grandfather go meet him. Submitting to the Tashiro Family is the only path he can take."

"This... I urge great-great-grandfather to reconsider. Professor Chen Yu is currently highly regarded by the hospital and The University of Tokyo. Given his firm stance, if things become too tense, it might harm the family's interests and reputation!" Tashiro Nanao hastily tried to dissuade the old man, not wanting her own grandfather to face Chen Yu's wrath.

"Are you teaching me how to handle affairs?" the old man snapped coldly, his formidable presence instantly bearing down on Tashiro Nanao, causing her to lie flat on the ground.

"Grandfather, please calm your anger. What Nanao said is not without sense. Even if Professor Chen Yu is ungrateful, our Tashiro family is an illustrious name for generations. Why should we clash with The University of Tokyo over a minor character? Allow me another chance to persuade him," seeing Tashiro Nanao upset the old man, Qingdai suddenly spoke up to argue on her behalf.