The evidence is in hand, and for Chongzong and the others, time is of the essence.
If they cannot seize the initiative, strike first, their chances of defeating Bai Yaxin are close to zero.
After being discharged from the hospital, the first thing Chongzong thought of was calling Manranyama Souren.
But Manranyama Souren did not give Chongzong the opportunity.
As Chongzong walked out of the hospital, he saw Manranyama Souren waiting outside.
"How are you feeling? No major issues, right?" (Manranyama Souren)
"Yes, I'm fine. Feeling great." (Chongzong)
Chongzong and Manranyama Souren exchanged a smile.
"Let's talk in the car." (Manranyama Souren)
Manranyama Souren gestured with his eyes to a car parked not far from the hospital entrance.
Through the car window, Chongzong could faintly see that Van was the driver.
It seems she was also fine.
"Okay." (Chongzong)
There are many advantages to exchanging information in a car, and throughout history, many confidential discussions have taken place in vehicles.
The privacy is good, no need to worry about eavesdropping (in their own vehicle), and it's more mobile, making it much better than fixed locations (like cafes), for example.
Once in the car, Chongzong first inquired about Van and Manranyama Souren's well-being, then quickly got to the point.
"Why were the police involved?" (Chongzong)
Although without the police's intervention, Chongzong would not have known his own fate, he was still concerned about this third-party support outside of the plan.
From the timing of their appearance and the size of the team, it was evident that they had prior knowledge and were well-prepared.
In other words, Chongzong suspected that Manranyama Souren had arranged this privately with the police.
"Sorry, that was the support I arranged on the spot through an acquaintance. It was urgent, so I didn't have time to inform you." (Manranyama Souren)
"Understood. It was urgent, so it couldn't be helped." (Chongzong)
Chongzong accepted this explanation, as the police had saved him. Complaining at this point would be inappropriate on moral grounds, feeling somewhat ungrateful.
"Then, can we use the materials we obtained from Yasaka Shrine?" (Chongzong)
After confirming his doubts, Chongzong transitioned to the second phase of the Unadon operation.
"It's doable, no problem," (Van)
Van, who was driving, casually threw out those words without even looking back (and indeed, he shouldn't have looked back).
It was in line with her previous straightforward and brisk style.
"So, what do we do next?" (Chongzong)
Chongzong turned his gaze to ManranyamaSouren.
"The main work ahead will be in my hands, but it doesn't mean you all are off the hook," (ManranyamaSouren)
ManranyamaSouren's expression turned somewhat serious, his brows furrowing, the brightness that Chongzong had just seen in his eyes dimming.
"By now, Bai Yaxin must have already caught wind of our movements. I don't know what he will do, so you all must be extra careful and not let him succeed," (ManranyamaSouren)
What ManranyamaSouren said was exactly what Chongzong was worried about.
If it were just him alone, it would have been okay.
But he had the Uesugi family; they were both his strong driving force and his compromising weakness.
If Bai Yaxin were to target the Uesugi couple, Uesugi Yui, Uesugi Yuki, or Koga Mizuo, Chongzong would be defenseless.
Seeing Chongzong's concerns and unease, ManranyamaSouren laughed lightly, feigning ease. "This expression doesn't suit you, Uesugi-sama," (ManranyamaSouren)
ManranyamaSouren said, patting Chongzong's shoulder.
"If we can't defend, then we must attack quickly, fiercely, and precisely. There's an old saying, isn't there?" (ManranyamaSouren)
"Angriff ist die beste Verteidigung." (ManranyamaSouren)
"Attack is the best defense," (Chongzong)
