Chapter 49: Orochimaru's Confidence – Recruiting New Members!
Ding~
Ding~
The clear sound of bells echoed.
The two girls approached the hideout.
Orochimaru sensibly left some insurance measures behind before calmly stepping out from inside.
"You again, huh~"
He extended his long tongue and slowly licked his lips.
His cold, snake-like gaze fixed on the girls before him.
"Just what is your goal!?"
"Orochimaru, so you really didn't die after all~"
Ringo Ameyuri bared her sharp fangs slightly as she looked at him.
"We came here for only one thing — to take Guren with us."
"Take Guren!?"
Orochimaru froze for a moment.
Then, a thought flashed through his mind.
What if I let Guren go in as a spy? She could gather information about this organization for me… Maybe I could become much stronger because of it…
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
The Black-Robed Organization was simply too powerful.
He both feared and coveted it.
So.
He smiled and nodded.
"Of course you can.
Wait just a moment.
I'll call her out for you."
With those words, he turned and walked inside, casting a glance at Kabuto.
"Kabuto, entertain our two honored guests properly."
"Yes, sir!"
Kabuto was also extremely curious about this Black-Robed Organization.
After all, this was the terrifying group that had forced Orochimaru into such a sorry state!
…
While walking deeper inside, Orochimaru kept thinking.
What a pity.
If I had known earlier that the Black-Robed Organization wanted Guren,
I would have endured a little longer and waited until she arrived before using Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Orochimaru felt genuine regret.
His injuries this time were far too severe.
He had no choice but to use Living Corpse Reincarnation immediately to alleviate the damage.
So he had summoned Guren to this hideout,
intending to use her — his first-choice spare vessel — to perform the technique.
However… Guren was too slow.
The longer he waited, the weaker he felt.
In the end, he simply couldn't hold on any longer.
So he selected a fairly decent experimental subject and performed Living Corpse Reincarnation with that body instead.
Because Living Corpse Reincarnation has a cooldown period between uses,
Even now, he couldn't use it again even if he wanted to.
Then let her be a spy.
In any case… she's extremely loyal to me.
Orochimaru was very confident in Guren.
After all, this woman had voluntarily offered herself to become his vessel.
Her loyalty was extraordinarily high.
This kind of willing subordinate was completely different from one controlled by genjutsu or curse techniques.
He wasn't worried about Guren betraying him.
And the facts proved him right.
The moment Guren heard Orochimaru's arrangement, she agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"Orochimaru-sama!
I will definitely complete the mission perfectly!"
Looking at the resolute expression on Guren's face, Orochimaru gave a slight nod of satisfaction.
Then he led her out to where Rin and Ringo were waiting.
"Although I'm quite dissatisfied with your organization…
I still believe cooperation between us is possible."
Orochimaru gestured toward Guren.
"This person — I'm giving her to you.
Consider this my show of sincerity.
So… what do you think?
Can we work together?"
"The Holy Master has given no such instructions."
Ringo shook her head.
"If the Holy Master wanted to cooperate with you,
he would have done so long ago.
Since he hasn't yet…
it means the Holy Master has no intention of working with you."
"You could report it upward~" Orochimaru said, refusing to give up.
"I am, after all, quite an excellent scientist~"
"The Holy Master knows everything."
Ringo shook her head again.
"There is no need to report."
"We're leaving."
Rin gave Guren a quiet glance.
Then turned and walked away.
Watching the three figures gradually disappear into the distance,
Orochimaru unconsciously licked his lips once more.
Sooner or later… I will obtain information about all of you.
He still had considerable confidence in his loyal subordinate.
…
Ringo and Rin quickly flew toward the Fire Country stronghold with Guren in tow.
At the same time,
After entering Fire Country territory,
they began deliberately searching for truly heinous criminals.
Surprisingly, they actually found one.
A merchant named Itō Hiroshi.
The man sold prohibited goods everywhere, kept gangs on payroll, bullied men and violated women — committed every evil imaginable.
So.
They knocked him out without a second thought and brought him along to the stronghold.
…
"We've arrived~"
Not long after, the three women plus one captive reached the hideout.
"This… is the organization's headquarters?"
Looking at the pitch-black, perfectly ordinary cave, Guren asked in confusion.
She felt that if such a powerful group like the Black-Robed Organization really chose a place like this as their headquarters… it would be terribly low-class.
"How could it be?"
Ringo rolled her eyes at Guren.
Then continued striding inside.
"This is just a forward base with a teleportation circle.
Later you can go see the Holy Master by yourself with that man.
We still have other missions."
With those words,
Ringo and Rin led Guren deeper into the cave.
Then.
The originally plain, dark cavern suddenly changed after Rin performed a hand seal.
From a pitch-black hole, it transformed into a magnificent hall in the mountain lit by countless glowing night pearls.
In the center of the hall was a magic circle radiating soft blue light.
Around the edges were a few sofas and a small bar counter.
Simple, yet filled with mystery.
"Stand in the center of the teleportation circle. We're going to activate it."
Rin said calmly.
Then she and Ringo stood on opposite sides of the array.
"Alright!"
Guren nodded, grabbed the unconscious man, and walked to the center.
Rin and Ringo swiftly formed hand seals.
The next instant, the magic circle blazed brightly.
In the blink of an eye—
Guren felt the world spin.
When her vision cleared again,
she found herself standing in a rather spacious room.
And right in front of her stood a handsome, expressionless boy who appeared to be only about twelve years old.
"Welcome to the Spirit Pavilion.
You may call me… Holy Master."
"Spirit Pavilion!?
The Black-Robed Organization is actually named that!?
And the Holy Master… is this young?!"
In that moment, Guren felt she had grasped a huge amount of top-secret information that almost no one else knew.
If I tell all this to Orochimaru-sama… he will definitely be ecstatic!
Just as this thought crossed her mind—
The "Holy Master" across from her suddenly spoke.
"If you intend to tell these things to Orochimaru…
you will die immediately.
Of course… if you believe sacrificing your life for a tiny ant like Orochimaru is worthwhile,
then I have nothing more to say."