Okamoto Yuji's face instantly streamed with tears:
"Lord Tanaka, it was my fault, I beg your pardon!"
Tanaka Ken'ichi's gaze was as chilling as ice:
"Beg my pardon? You should atone to the entire Sakura Nation!"
"There is still one way to salvage some of the situation, and it depends on whether you cherish it or not..."
Okamoto Yuji was no ordinary man. He immediately understood, instantly stopped his tears and snot, stood up, and replied with resolve:
"Yes!"
With that, he turned and stepped off the stage, walking towards Tanihiko Tanikawa.
Tanihiko Tanikawa was still in a state of deep dread. Seeing his master approach, he immediately put on a fawning smile:
"Mas... Master, why are you here?"
Okamoto Yuji didn't answer his question, but gently placed his hand on his shoulder:
"How long have you been following me?"
Tanihiko Tanikawa paused. Although he didn't know why Okamoto Yuji was asking this, he still answered truthfully:
"Master... this subordinate has been with you through thick and thin for about twenty-five years."
Okamoto Yuji nodded, sighing:
"Yes, twenty-five years..."
"With fifteen years of settling in, let alone a living person."
"Even a dog would develop feelings after fifteen years."
Tanihiko Tanikawa's face creased into a smile like a chrysanthemum:
"Yes, yes, Master, I am indeed a good dog that you have raised!"
Okamoto Yuji suddenly put on a stern face and shook his head seriously:
"No, you are not..."
"Initially, I thought that after raising you for so many years, I should have raised a good dog. At most, you were a bit greedy and liked to pocket some money on the side, but you wouldn't endanger the overall situation."
"But I never imagined that what I had actually raised was an ungrateful, brain-damaged, white-eyed wolf!"
Tanihiko Tanikawa's smile froze on his face. He hurriedly waved his hands in distress and explained:
"No, no, no! This must be slander!"
"I have always been loyal, devoted, and willing to go through fire and water for the Master, and have never harbored any disloyal thoughts!"
"Master, we have a twenty-five-year master-servant relationship, you must believe me!"
After speaking, Tanihiko Tanikawa even wagged his non-existent tail like a lapdog, seeking favor.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Okamoto Yuji laughed in anger.
"Believe you? What can I use to believe you?"
"For your own selfish desires, you can disregard the interests of the entire Sakura Nation, let alone my humble Okamoto family?"
"I'm afraid if I let you continue with me for a few more years, you'd start thinking of replacing me?"
"And perhaps take this opportunity to rise in power and change the Okamoto family to the Tanihiko family?"
"Hmm? Am I right?"
Tanihiko Tanikawa was immediately scared pale by Okamoto Yuji's words:
"You're framing me! Master! You're framing me!"
"I... I have never had such thoughts!"
"This... this... I... I..."
Due to extreme fear and haste, Tanihiko Tanikawa could barely speak coherently.
Okamoto Yuji's killing intent was finally unleashed without reservation:
"Your words are getting more eloquent by the day, but your actions are becoming dirtier and dirtier!"
"Causing shame to our Great Sakura Empire with all sorts of bizarre operations is one thing, but you sold me out in an instant without a second thought when questioned!"
"Not loyal to the nation, nor filial to the family! What use are you to me?!"
"Hurry up and roll to the road to the Yellow Springs, and join your brothers from the Hong Hongye Nation you were trying to stand up for!"
With that, Okamoto Yuji lost his final shred of patience. He thrust out a palm, piercing through Tanihiko Tanikawa's chest with a *splat*, and grasped his heart.
Before Tanihiko Tanikawa could even let out a scream, his heart was fiercely crushed, leaving him no chance for further explanation.
As Tanihiko Tanikawa's cultivation level was very low and he was completely unable to contend with Okamoto Yuji, the damage to his heart was undoubtedly a fatal wound.
Thus, his gaping mouth could not utter a single sound, only letting out a gurgle of blood.
*Swish!*
Still not appeased, Okamoto Yuji directly kicked Tanihiko Tanikawa's corpse away and ignited a azure flame on his body.
This forceful kick and the sudden, unknown blue flame caused the corpse to explode into mist upon hitting the air, leaving no skin, flesh, or remains...
Oh? One of our own killed another?
After enjoying the Sakura people's dramatic performance, Lin Ran silently retracted the King's Treasury behind him.
Since they had dealt with the troublemaker themselves, he didn't need to gloat further. He could obediently return and wait for the next match.
However, before Lin Ran could take two steps, a sturdy figure blocked his path again.
Are they really going to keep doing this to me?
It seems that if I don't properly show them what it means to be desperate, crazy, and cruel, this matter will never end!
Lin Ran directly activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan, looking forward with his mismatched eyes.
The person blocking him was none other than Okamoto Yuji, who had just killed Tanihiko Tanikawa.
Even though Okamoto Yuji was an awakened one at the peak of the ninth tier, as soon as Lin Ran's eyes met his, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
What terrifying eyes and gaze!
Coupled with Lin Ran's inherently extreme, mad aura and his world-defying demeanor...
Okamoto Yuji had no doubt that if he said two wrong words, Lin Ran would strike directly!
Moreover, when facing Lin Ran, whose displayed strength was only that of a sixth-tier awakened one, Okamoto Yuji felt an immense threat.
This guy might have a way to kill me!
Under the other's terrifying gaze, his instincts as a strong individual were causing his scalp to tingle incessantly.
This uncomfortable feeling was something he only experienced when facing a furious Tanaka Ken'ichi, or their new leader...
As expected of someone Tanaka Ken'ichi favored, who boldly declared that this child would surely become an unparalleled hero in the future, possessing the talent to lead a certain nation to stand tall at the apex of the world.
At first, when Tanaka Ken'ichi praised Lin Ran with such exaggerated words, he was somewhat dismissive.
Now, it seemed he had indeed been careless!
Shaking his head to clear his mind of these continuous thoughts, Okamoto Yuji immediately knelt on one knee, his forehead parallel to the ground:
"Respected Lin Ran-sama, on behalf of the Sakura Nation's event organizers and all members of our Okamoto family, I offer our sincerest apologies for the offense caused to you!"