Kujou Kamaji was completely baffled by the question, but he still said very firmly, "The glory of the Kujou Clan, I always keep it in my heart."
"Is that so? First, introduce yourself. My name is Uchiha Mikage. You might have heard my name. It can be said that the Kujou Clan's current predicament is all due to my orchestrations."
"It's you?!"
"The Raiden Shogun will announce the judgment for your Kujou Clan at tomorrow's meeting. I can tell you in advance: the Kujou Clan will be stripped of its authority to govern the Tenryou Commission, its assets confiscated, and its noble title revoked. As for the members of the Kujou Clan, all direct descendants of Kujou Takayuki will be implicated, and the remaining individuals will serve sentences based on the severity of their crimes."
"Is that so? I had already anticipated it. The Kujou Clan's centuries of glory, is it ending here? Then, Lord Uchiha, what brings you to me today?"
"After carefully reviewing your dossier, I found that as the second young master of the Kujou Clan, you were completely unaware of this matter. From beginning to end, only your father and your elder brother were involved, which is quite an oddity.
Furthermore, a Demoiselle named Hiiragi Chisato, managed to accurately find me through connections within these few short days, hoping I would show you leniency.
Haha, the Hiiragi Clan's situation isn't much better, and yet, with the Kujou Clan in a position where others would be lucky not to kick them while they're down, someone is still willing to speak up for you despite the danger. It truly makes me envious."
"You mean... Chisato? I... I'm sorry to her."
"Don't be so quick to apologize. After the Raiden Shogun learned that you were completely unaware, she also felt that the Kujou Clan had served her for centuries, and even without merit, they had toiled hard. She couldn't let the Kujou Clan's bloodline be completely severed. Plus, since Hiiragi Chisato found me, I also put in a few good words with the Raiden Shogun, and so she decided to give you a chance."
"What? Really?" This feeling of finding hope in a desperate situation filled Kujou Kamaji's heart with complex emotions, his face showing both joy and sorrow.
"However, it's just a chance, not a direct pardon. Whether you can seize this opportunity to survive and escape this calamity will depend on your own fortune."
"Lord Uchiha, can my elder brother also..."
"Kujou Kamaji, understand your current situation. Giving you a chance is already the Raiden Shogun's greatest leniency. Don't be ungrateful!"
"Yes... Kamaji was presumptuous. Thank you, Lord Uchiha."
"Rest well tonight, prepare yourself, and perform well tomorrow." With that, Yuto patted his shoulder and left directly.
However, as Kujou Kamaji watched him leave, he suddenly thought of something: he said to prepare himself, but what should he prepare? And what was the chance the Raiden Shogun spoke of? He seemed to have forgotten to ask all of it.
When the meeting was held the next day, the people from the Commission Office brought him to the Tenshukaku, where he quietly stood at the very back of the line, attracting no one's attention.
The Kujou Clan, once immensely powerful, was now represented only by himself and Kujou Sara at this meeting. The remaining Kujou clansmen were all imprisoned, awaiting the Raiden Shogun's judgment.
When he heard the Raiden Shogun personally pronounce the Kujou Clan's death sentence, even Kujou Kamaji, who had prepared himself, felt as if his heart had been struck by a great hammer, leaving him somewhat breathless.
"Very well, what about you all? Whether it's Takatsukasa or anyone else, if someone can defeat me, he will be the new head of the Tenryou Commission. Does anyone dare to step forward?"
When the Raiden Shogun said these words, Kujou Kamaji, standing at the back, suddenly felt a strange gaze, specifically from the young man sitting on the high platform, directed at him.
What does this mean? Make me duel the Raiden Shogun? Is this the chance the Raiden Shogun spoke of? This isn't a joke, is it? How could I possibly defeat the Raiden Shogun? Isn't this just seeking death?
As the second young master of the Kujou Clan, Kujou Kamaji, though not highly regarded, still possessed some political acumen, having been influenced by Kujou Takayuki. He quickly perceived the hidden opportunity for survival in this duel.
He didn't actually need to win the duel against the Raiden Shogun; that was unrealistic, and the Raiden Shogun wouldn't deliberately concede, as it would do her rule no good. What he needed to do was to demonstrate his loyalty to the Raiden Shogun during the duel, and then, simply be defeated.
But, drawing his sword against the Raiden Shogun, that kind of thing, it was truly difficult.
"Is there no one who dares to step forward? Alas..."
Hearing the Raiden Shogun's disappointed sigh, Kujou Kamaji realized that if he didn't step forward now, his only chance at survival would be lost. He gritted his teeth, trying to muster more courage, and finally, he stepped forward and declared loudly, "I... I want to challenge you, Raiden Shogun!"
Kujou Kamaji's words were like a stone thrown into a calm pond, creating a thousand ripples. When the crowd saw that the speaker was Kujou Kamaji, they were even more astonished. How could he be here? Weren't all members of the Kujou Clan supposed to be confined in the Commission Office's prison?
When the Raiden Shogun saw Kujou Kamaji step forward, she instinctively glanced at Yuto, who gave her a knowing smile.
Then, she said in a cold voice, "Descendant of the Kujou Clan, I regret to say that even if you defeat me, the mistakes committed by the Kujou Clan cannot be simply erased."
"No, I don't believe I have any chance of winning, and I am well aware that my father committed such grave errors, and the Kujou Clan's legacy within the Tenryou Commission should rightfully end.
During the Vision Hunt Decree, I always harbored doubts about my father's intentions, and I also felt that I was doing the wrong thing. But I just kept doubting, kept reflecting, clearly understanding everything, yet taking no action, and saving no one.
Now that the Kujou Clan has fallen to this state, it is my punishment. It's not that I failed to accomplish anything, but that I failed to do anything at all."
"Hmph! To be brutally honest, your power couldn't have accomplished much anyway."
"Yes, my power is very weak. My father wouldn't listen to me, my elder brother couldn't help me, and sometimes even the servants could scold me. It has always been this way.
But at least now, in the Kujou Clan's final moments, I must also fulfill my duty as a Kujou clansman. Just as the Shogun said, my ancestors proved their will with swords, so please, allow me, Kujou Kamaji, to end it in this manner. This is my last chance to do something!"
"Meaningless, perhaps. However, I accept. Give him a sword, and step forward."
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