Bab 31: 31
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After the cook off got to a bad start, the other cooks all took a shot at impressing empress Barbie and her kids. Which turned out badly for them. It turns out that the royal children didn't like fancy foods at all, that the chefs of Totsuki culinary school are trained to make. While Kronk Pepikrankenitz the royal cook and owner of his own restaurant makes, as the kids will eat the fancy food but like plainer food more.
So, in the end the Japanese cooks lost to Kronk, but could still try to act as moles by being cooks at some restaurants around San Francisco. After the cooks were grilled by Abelia over the radio in the reason why they lost, with her blaming Hisako Arato for ruining things by trying to behead a live turtle, which is now named Zack the new royal pet turtle. Abelia called in the backup plan, if the first plan in getting someone into the staff of the royal family failed.
They brought in teams of ninjas to handle things. Not the warriors of the night but ninjas who actually collect information and only fought when they needed to. There were too many ninjas who were only ninjas in name only and didn't do what real ninjas did. But they could fight when they need to. Thanks to years of careful selective breeding and having children with those who still have powers in this world.
The first group are Kouga ninjas.
Kouga Gennosuke the heir and strongest member of the Kouga ninja. His special power is a "Do Jutsu" (Fierce Ability) in his eyes, that allows him to send an attacker's killing intent back at them.
Okoi a large, well muscled girl who a tomboy, but she's ready to take advantage of her large breasts if needed. She's a human-leech who can drain people's blood from her skin, causing also physical pain.
Kisaragi Saemon he's a short and sneaky guy whose eyes are always shut. He's Okoi's older brother. His powers allow him to transform into anyone, simulate voices and even change his size.
Muroga Hyouma he's Gennosuke's maternal uncle and he taught him everything he knows, including the Dojutsu. He appears to be blind and has an excellent hearing but he can actually use the Dojutsu. In fact he can't turn it off, hence why he always keeps his eyes closed. Till he was fitted with sunglasses that block the power, as it turns out that the person the Dojutsu is used on, has to be able to see the user's eyes to work.
Kagerou a feminine woman with black hair and red lips. When she's aroused, her breath becomes a poisonous miasma.
Kasumi Gyoubu a large and massive ninja of Kouga. Always seen around Hyouma and Saemon. He's very strong and can merge with any solid surface, allowing him to move around unseen.
Then there are the Iga ninjas.
Iga-no-Oboro a very sweet and clumsy person. She can't fight, but her eyes have the power of cancelling any ninja power or technique seen.
Yashamaru a pretty boy who can use the hair of deceased women, treated with animal oils, as deadly garrote wires.
Hotarubi Kunoichi she is Yashamaru's lover. She can summon and control insects and snakes to do her bidding. She's only sweet and gentle with Yashamaru and tends to be violent and rude to anyone else.
Akeginu Iga kunoichi, she's a beautiful woman who serves as Oboro's maid and actually cares for her plea. She can expel blood from her skin and use it in battle along with daggers and shortswords.
Chikuma Koshirou a skilled warrior and shinobi, he's very protective towards Oboro and possibly in love with her. Can fight with two kama sickles and use his breath to form a deadly Razor Wind attack.
"Alright seeing how the first two plans failed. You all are to spread yourselves around the city and keep your eyes and ears open. I brought you couples along to make it look like you are all just here to start up new lives. Gennosuke, Oboro you two are going to live in an apartment that's close to the Norton's home. Yashamaru and Hotarubi you two will be living near the school the royal children go to. Okoi, Saemon, and Gyoubu you three are going to be working at Ginger Norton's factory. The samething for you Koshirou. Hyouma, Kagerou, and Akeginu you three are going to be working at the embassy. With Hyouma you still be Gennosuke uncle who checks up on him time to time, and Akeginu you'll act as Oboro's cousin who tries to steal..... What?" Abelia said reading the plan in front of her. "Tomoko why did you write this?"
"What? Seeing how often that happens around here there be something like that happening," Tomoko voice said.
"Forget it. We don't need anything like that happening. They just need to collection information and keep us inform about what's happening there. And not having something out of a manga happening there. We need them to keep a low profile and not draw attention to them," Abelia said.
"But doesn't Norton have ninjas working for her already?" Tomoko said.
"Yes, and why they need to keep themselves out of sight of them," Abelia said. "The Russian prince is going to be staying with the royal family. Security will be tighten while he's here. And the higher ups want to keep an eye on things."
"Worried that the prince will form a relationship with one of the young princesses?" Hyouma ask.
"Of course, they are," Abelia said. "The Norton's are both rich and powerful thanks to all the connections that empress Norton has done. Our royal family hearing about the plan the Russians came up with are thinking of doing the same thing."
"Sending a royal member here as well?" Hyouma ask.
"Yes, but you and the other ninjas are going to learn all you can about the youngest members of the Norton family. So that we have a good idea of what both the girls and boys like so that it won't end up with, the kids fighting all the time. And we also have to screen the boys and girls here, especially the girls. Seeing how empress Norton won't accept a girl hitting any of her sons calling them pervert. Like what happens around here," Abelia said. (1)
"You mean like how somehow even with them fighting all the time, back in their world. They're seen as being in love?" Tomoko said.
"I have no idea how that even works? They clearly hate each other and fight all the time but will end up being married?" Abelia ask. (2)
"That does happen with arranged marriages," Gennosuke spoke up.
"True but most that come to my mind has the couple doing it on their own free will," Abelia said.
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Russia -
The crown prince Alexei Nikolaevich waited in the privet train car that would take him across the other countries of Europe till he gets to France where he'll be flown to America. He's being guarded by Lara Croft who is coming along to continue to teach him how to use his powers. Leading the soldiers coming with the crown prince is Sergei Dragunov who was a Spetsnaz officer before coming to this world by an event. And now is working for the Russian royal family, along with Aleksandra "Zarya" Zaryanova a former member of Overwatch is also a member of the prince's escort. While that train is still being loaded, Talzin is with empress Alexandra who came to see her son off.
"From what I have been hearing this plan you came up with is causing a lot of other houses to try to setup the same thing with the other children," Alexandra said to Talzin.
"Till then, your son has his pick with 3 princesses. Both Tara and Jade have been living with the royal family for nearly a year now. And from how long it took Norton to adopt her other children, she takes this long to make sure that the kids won't be a problem," Talzin said. She showed the empress pictures of the two new princesses of the Norton family.
"These two do show promise of growing into lovely ladies," Alexandra said.
"Your son just has to make friends with all 3 princesses and hopefully one will end up as your daughter in law. Of course, those two aren't officially adopted yet but it doesn't hurt to have a backup plan," Talzin said.
"I read stories of how Norton took in children and quickly abandon them after they cause her problems," Alexandra said. She remembers the story of the Dee Dee girl who was pathological unable to see what she was doing in breaking Princess Ginger's things was wrong. Forcing Norton to commit her to a mental ward where it took shock treatment just to make her get the idea of her breaking something for fun, is wrong.
There was also a news story about a young man who claimed to be one of Norton's sons that she abandon in another state making him live in a children home. Which Norton revealed that she gave him a chance and he repaid her kindness by bullying her son Diego. And with him physically hitting Diego, she kick him out and sent him to live out of state. She refuses to have any child in her family that finds enjoyment in hurting others, especially family. And seeing she hadn't adopted him during his stay with her, she didn't abandon her son, she kicked out a guest who outstayed his welcome.
"She does only adopt children, so she's can pick and choose instead of being stuck who she gives birth to," Talzin said.
"I hope my son will do well," Alexandra said.
"He has been schooled in talking with girls his age and Lara has taught him what not to do. He needs to be their friends first and once they hit that age where they start noticing the other sex. It's best to just let them decide for themselves. Seeing how that just ruin things with other pairings. Sunset is already in a relationship, Charlie thanks to girls throwing themselves at him for years shows no real interest in any relationship, both Peppermint and Penny are the same, Ginger deals with lots of men trying to get her to fall for them for her money, while Lila being not human has made it hard for any suitors to get close to her, and Diego seems to be getting close to that young woman for that world with robot animals. The young children are the best bet into getting into the Norton household at this point," Talzin explains.
"I wonder how long it be till the royal houses and other nobles be sending their kids overseas copying this plan of yours," Alexandra said.
"It already started. Plans are already in the works to send young family members to get close to the children of the Norton family," Talzin said.
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Author's Notes -
1 - Finding a anime or manga where a couple have a good relationship is the exception not the norm. Not counting the romantic settings where that is normal.
2 - The husband and wife who clearly hate each other you find in fiction. Most never showed how up they ever ended up with each other in the first place.
First appearances of fictions in this chapter -
Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls
Overwatch
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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