As Hagoromo Gitsune entered the quiet forest, rustling sounds emerged from the shadows.
Hearing this, she paused and turned towards the source.
Almost immediately, a small head popped out from the bushes.
"Ah~ It's the young mistress~"
With a somewhat childish voice, a kimono-clad girl emerged from the bushes. She had wavy black hair, golden serpent-like vertical pupils, and wide eyes, cradling a skull in her hands.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Hagoromo Gitsune's expression softened slightly as she said:
"So it's you, Kyokotsu."
"Hi~ It's me, elder sister."
Kyokotsu, who stood only slightly taller than Hagoromo Gitsune in her current form, hugged the skull to her chest as she trotted over and threw herself into the older yokai's embrace.
With a soft thud, Hagoromo Gitsune caught Kyokotsu, ruffled her curly hair, then asked:
"Kyokotsu, is Minagoroshi Jizō here? I have something to ask him."
"That one-eyed nuisance?" Kyokotsu blinked, then pouted. "He never left. When are you going to get rid of him, elder sister~"
Though Minagoroshi Jizō had always been a senior member of the Hagoromo Group, Kyokotsu found him utterly detestable for some reason - especially his lack of respect towards her beloved elder sister.
Consequently, Kyokotsu never bothered hiding her animosity towards Minagoroshi Jizō in Hagoromo Gitsune's presence.
"Not yet," Hagoromo Gitsune answered vaguely before releasing Kyokotsu. "Take me to Minagoroshi Jizō now."
"As you wish, elder sister."
Kyokotsu turned around and raised the skull in her hands. Instantly, a green snake slithered out from the empty eye socket, its gleaming serpentine eyes glowing faintly.
Suddenly.
The dense bushes dissipated like mist, revealing a forest path within.
At the end of the path stood an old, weathered shrine.
"Please follow me, elder sister."
Leading the way, Kyokotsu guided Hagoromo Gitsune along the mossy stone path until they reached the shrine courtyard.
Just as they arrived, a raspy chuckle echoed through the air:
"Hohoho, Lady Hagoromo Gitsune, what brings you back?"
Hagoromo Gitsune turned towards the shrine's main hall entrance.
There stood a hunched figure clad in yellowish monk robes, his elongated, cylindrical head and aged features now visible before her.
Minagoroshi Jizō.
Hagoromo Gitsune's impression of her subordinate was the mastermind behind using Yamabuki Otome to scheme against Nura Rihan.
Upon seeing Minagoroshi Jizō, Hagoromo Gitsune spoke coldly, "The plan failed, Minagoroshi Jizō."
"What?" Minagoroshi Jizō was startled, asking in disbelief, "You failed to kill Nura Rihan? That's impossible."
As Nura Rihan's old enemy, Minagoroshi Jizō knew the half-yokai's temperament all too well.
Once Rihan saw Hagoromo Gitsune in her current form, he would inevitably reveal a weakness.
Unless... Nura Rihan had known of Hagoromo Gitsune's existence from the start and taken precautions.
"How did Nura Rihan see through your disguise?"
Hearing this, Hagoromo Gitsune flicked her wrist, sending a business card flying towards him.
Minagoroshi Jizō hastily caught it and glanced at the name: "SDS Hidden Management Department, Luo Shu?"
"Who is this?"
"The one who exposed our plan." Hagoromo Gitsune eyed Minagoroshi Jizō suspiciously.
Before coming here, she had privately wondered if Minagoroshi Jizō had leaked the plan—after all, like Kyokotsu, she didn't fully trust him either.
But now, his reaction clearly didn't seem feigned.
So who had betrayed them?
Kyokotsu?
Impossible. Kyokotsu was the least likely to betray her. She had raised that child herself.
None of her children would ever betray her.
"SDS? Luo Shu from the Hidden Management Department?" Minagoroshi Jizō hesitated, taking a moment to recall. "That guy who supposedly united forces from all walks of life to exterminate an entire race? The one they call the Black Reaper?"
"You know him?" Hagoromo Gitsune frowned, then commanded, "Tell me everything you know."
Minagoroshi Jizō replied uncertainly,
"All I know is that he seems to be a newcomer favoured by the SDS's Supreme Chairwoman. Within just a month, he was rapidly promoted to the Director of a new department. Rumour has it he possesses extraordinary illusion techniques."
"Aside from that, he apparently collaborated closely with the Nura Clan in exterminating the Ghouls."
"That's it?" Hagoromo Gitsune's expression turned icy. "Is that all you know?"
"Yes." Minagoroshi Jizō was embarrassed. "The SDS mainly operates in eastern Japan, clashing with local factions in Tokyo. They have almost no connection to our Hagoromo Group."
No connection at all. If not for the SDS's recent extermination stunt, Minagoroshi Jizō wouldn't have even paid attention to this foreign organisation.
The factions he feared were the Onmyoji and the Nura Clan—local supernatural powers. At most, he kept an eye on the Bujin-shū fanatics. But foreign organisations that relied on so-called technology to subjugate humans?
What kind of power was that?
Could technology allow free passage between hell and the human world?
Minagoroshi Jizō admitted modern technology was formidable and prosperous, but it was still far from matching the mystic side's arts.
It was this disdain that led him to neglect gathering much intel on the SDS. After all, with no conflicting interests, he never considered them a threat.
Yet now, according to Hagoromo Gitsune, this new SDS Director had apparently foiled their plot against Nura Rihan.
This meant he, Minagoroshi Jizō, had formed a deadly feud with him.
At that moment, Hagoromo Gitsune said coldly:
"The plan has been leaked. If nothing unexpected happens, Nura Rihan must already know of our scheme."
"In that case, the plan to assassinate the second head of the Nura Clan using Yamabuki Otome's body is hereby scrapped."
Minagoroshi Jizō wanted to say something upon hearing this, but ultimately remained silent.
Because, given the current situation, cutting their losses was indeed the only option.
Meanwhile, Kyokotsu, standing nearby, suddenly understood and said, "So, elder sister, you're planning to abandon this current vessel?"
Minagoroshi Jizō's heart sank at these words.
It was then that Hagoromo Gitsune stated coldly:
"This vessel still seems to retain fragments of its original owner's memories. Moreover, it's too immature, greatly limiting my power."
"Therefore, I shall discard this body and create a new one more suited for battle... and for bearing children."
Hearing this, Minagoroshi Jizō was dumbstruck.