Chapter 1022: Chapter 36 The Beginning of a Perfect Trade!

A banquet?

So, you mean to say a feast?

Jason seemed to envision a round table before his eyes, and then, delicacies from land and sea appeared on the table like flowing water.

Suddenly, the anger in the bottom of Jason’s heart flashed and vanished.

Despite feeling angered by being interrupted during his meal, Jason would find such an interruption forgivable if there was compensation involved, especially an adequate one.

Jason was a man of such principles.

“Mhm.”

Jason nodded.

Then, he placed the grilled beef into a small dish, flipping it with his chopsticks, and the hot, greasy beef immediately became coated in cumin and sesame seeds, coarse salt, and chili powder.

Once in his mouth, the beef’s distinct thickness enveloped his taste buds with salty and spicy flavors.

The saltiness was like a sword, cutting fiercely.

The spiciness was like a bomb, exploding in an instant.

Coupled with the beef itself, the sense of thickness was like armor wrapped around Jason’s body, making him unafraid of the slashing and bursting; on the contrary, his body shook from the impact of the slashes and explosions, over and over again.

After the whole body trembled, it was a sigh of satisfaction.

Sesame and cumin were the adornments in that sigh.

Crunchy and aftertaste.

A natural second sigh following the resonance.

Gone was the initial impulse.

But it became even more enduring.

“Delicious.”

Jason silently critiqued in his heart.

Not only was the quality of the beef quite high.

But also because the seasoning was just right.

Next, Jason’s gaze turned toward Hui Lijing.

Hui Lijing immediately began to grumble non-stop: “I’ve been grilling constantly, I haven’t had a single piece of beef–ten times now! It’s been ten times!”

However, even as she grumbled, Hui Lijing still picked up the plate and placed slices of beef on the grill.

Sizzle! Sizzle, sizzle!

The concerto of fat and charcoal sounded once more.

At this time, Jason finally turned his attention to the young member of the Hanakaiin Family.

Instantly, the young man bowed again in a respectful salute.

“I’m very sorry, I was too disrespectful before.”

“It was exactly as you deduced.”

“The recent attack was merely a cover-up for assassination and silence.”

As the young man spoke, he raised his hand and took off a bracelet strung with a pebble-sized stone, holding it in his hand.

“As per our agreement.”

“This ‘amulet stone’ is yours now.”

After finishing his words, the young man presented the bracelet with both hands to Jason.

Jason did not hesitate and took it straight away.

After all, it was his rightful due.

Moreover, the ‘food’ scent emanating from it informed Jason that this ‘amulet stone’ probably tasted pretty good.

Even with the continuous aromatic fragrance from the beef on the grill, it was incredibly distinct.

Although this item wasn’t the strongest smelling on his person, it certainly wasn’t the worst.

This made Jason slightly move, conjecturing in his heart.

But Jason did not dwell on it.

It already took quite an effort for Jason to maintain his usual state in front of ‘food’.

In fact, had there not been strangers around, Jason would probably have swallowed the ‘amulet stone’ in one gulp.

The young member of Hanakaiin Family was relieved to see Jason accepting the ‘amulet stone’.

He had been genuinely worried that Jason would refuse it.

Should that have happened, he wouldn’t be able to bring up the subsequent matters.

But now?

“Mr. Jason, are you familiar with the Hanakaiin Family?”

“About the matter of a branch family member entering the main family.”

The young man asked with a deliberate pause, not out of hesitation, but organizing his speech.

He needed to use more tactful language to convey to Jason what had happened.

As for being straightforward?

Sorry.

The pride inherent in his big family lineage made it difficult for him to speak so directly.

Or rather, things hadn’t reached the truly dire straits just yet.

Not yet… fatal.

Only very troublesome.

As just verified through investigation, everything was as Jason had said.

The person assassinated was Hanakaiin Akira; the one who assassinated Hanakaiin Akira was Hanakaiin Shuu.

Both were companions he had sought out for this test.

What Hanakaiin Haru hadn’t expected was that a supposed ally would stab him in the back.

Such betrayal made it clear to Hanakaiin Haru that he could no longer find helpers within the family.

Not that everyone in the family had become unreliable.

But that he could no longer trust these people.

Quite simply, would the person who went to such lengths to eradicate traces and silence others do so just so he had to select two new companions?

Of course not.

Hanakaiin Haru could guarantee.

The moment he chose two new accomplices, two individuals more suitable than Hanakaiin Akira and Hanakaiin Shuu would immediately appear, and at a critical moment, these two would surely betray him.

Because that was the task of these two individuals: to ensure his failure to enter the main family from the branch family.

Within these branch families, there were around three to five individuals capable of such deeds.

He was not yet certain who.

But one thing Hanakaiin Haru was sure about.

He had to follow through with the original plan.

This wasn’t just his ambition.

It was also his parents’.

It was the expectation of everyone in his branch family.

Therefore–

He needed to find external allies.

Conveniently, there was one right in front of him.

“I know a bit.”

Under Hanakaiin Haru’s gaze, Jason nodded.

There was no need to deny such a matter.

He indeed knew a bit.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu had brought it up.

The Monk of Tongshou Temple also mentioned it.