Minagoroshi Jizō shot the wild boar yokai a foul look, a murky black energy swirling at his fingertips like a serpent writhing through the air before slithering into the boar's nostrils.
Having done this, he turned and left without hesitation.
At that very moment, the wild boar yokai shuddered. Its eyes glazed over briefly before refocusing, scratching its head in confusion:
"Eh? What am I doing here?"
Just as the bewildered boar stood there clueless, a fully armed tactical squad silently closed in on the apartment building.
"Just as I thought!"
Watching the approaching squad, understanding flashed in Minagoroshi Jizō's eyes.
How could the authorities not deploy elite operatives for such an operation?
Though he'd managed to extract the yokai from the hideout amidst the chaos, their trail had still been picked up by the officials' experts.
Now they were following the scent to encircle him.
Realising this, Minagoroshi Jizō immediately abandoned the rooftop yokai and studied the encircling team members instead.
Taking some time, he used his memory manipulation ability to insert himself into the identity of a Metropolitan Police Department Special Operations member, successfully infiltrating their ranks.
Through this manoeuvre, he circumvented the encirclement and made his escape.
After hiding in a forest in Adachi Ward, Minagoroshi Jizō frowned while reviewing memories harvested from several field commanders.
"Daughter of a cabinet minister kidnapped repeatedly... Director of Metropolitan Police orders manhunt... target identified?"
"Why would this happen so suddenly?"
As a yokai well-versed in schemes, Minagoroshi Jizō smelled conspiracy.
Though he held Japan's official forces in contempt, he wasn't foolish enough to provoke them without cause.
Even for Abe no Seimei's resurrection requiring noblewomen's livers, he'd only discreetly planted operatives nationwide to identify vulnerable targets rather than making overt moves from the outset.
If he were truly taking action, he'd never choose this unready period before Hagoromo Gitsune's preparations were complete.
Normally, he'd wait until Hagoromo Gitsune reached the critical stage of bearing Abe no Seimei, then activate all sleeper agents among noblewomen to abduct sufficient targets at once for immediate consumption - ensuring Abe no Seimei's smooth birth.
That was the proper strategy.
After all, target selection mattered.
Noblewomen with shallow backgrounds, weak connections, and who were easily intimidated took priority. He knew better than to touch daughters of sitting ministers or financial conglomerates.
Abe no Seimei sought resurrection and dominion over the land, not to make enemies of the entire world.
This pattern of ill-timed abductions targeting only a few high-profile daughters of powerful figures clearly aimed to turn the world against them!
As for who possessed both motive and capability to frame the Hagoromo Group so flawlessly...
Minagoroshi Jizō immediately thought of one individual, his teeth grinding in fury:
"Rihan Nura, you again?!"
"How many times is this now?!"
The thought of that damned half-yokai who'd been thwarting his plans since the Edo period made Minagoroshi Jizō seethe with frustration.
Yet despite his anger, he knew the situation had become troublesome - even the Hagoromo Group was in danger now.
When Rihan Nura made his move, it would never be limited to just destroying a few of their Tokyo bases.
A greater storm was undoubtedly brewing.
This realisation made Minagoroshi Jizō think of those so-called kidnapped noblewomen:
"The authorities' power... using others to do your dirty work? So this is your scheme, Rihan Nura!"
"It seems my effort to erase all Hagoromo Group references from that boar yokai's memory was wasted."
There was no way Minagoroshi Jizō could order all Tokyo members to go into hiding at such short notice.
As a Kyoto executive rather than Hagoromo Gitsune herself, he knew Tokyo's underlings wouldn't obey him anyway.
Under these circumstances, their plan's exposure became inevitable.
If just a few kidnapped noblewomen appeared at Hagoromo Group bases, with the base leaders fully aware that Hagoromo Gitsune needed noble livers to resurrect Nue...
The motive was established, the evidence planted - who else could take the blame?
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Minagoroshi Jizō nevertheless quickened his pace, reaching the suburban forest within minutes.
After passing through the forest's silencing barrier, he arrived before the ancient shrine.
"Minagoroshi Jizō? Why have you returned?"
Kyokotsu, holding her skull, eyed the panting returnee with suspicion.
"Where's Lady Hagoromo? I bring urgent news." His tone carried unmistakable urgency.
"Big sister just finished crafting her new body and is preparing to bathe and rest..."
Kyokotsu studied Minagoroshi Jizō's anxious expression before relenting:
"I'll announce you."
With that, she turned and entered the shrine.
Minagoroshi Jizō hesitated but resisted barging in.
Hagoromo Gitsune would be weakened after body transference.
If he intruded now, she'd suspect assassination attempts.
Did she think he didn't notice her wariness?
Apparently, replacing the Great Tengu via memory manipulation still had flaws.
'I'm fundamentally different from that oaf. Behavioural discrepancies were inevitable, making suspicion and alienation natural consequences.'
Originally, Hagoromo Gitsune merely managed the Hagoromo Group for Nue. While she trusted its executives by extension, the awkward truth remained - Nue had died a millennium ago despite his subordinates' protection.
Now, when a familiar subordinate acted strangely, suspecting disloyalty after the master's death became perfectly reasonable.
Frowning, Minagoroshi Jizō decided to wait.
After five minutes, Kyokotsu reappeared to usher him inside.
There, seated on the inner chamber's tatami, the raven-haired woman parted her cherry lips:
"Have you gathered intelligence... about that man?"
Gazing at Hagoromo Gitsune, whose damp hair clung to her black sailor uniform as she reclined on the tatami, exuding both mesmerising allure and terrifying malevolence, Minagoroshi Jizō hastily lowered his head in deference:
"My lady, there's trouble."
"Hmm?" Hagoromo Gitsune slightly raised an eyebrow. "Elaborate."
Minagoroshi Jizō promptly recounted his observations and suspicions, then bowed his head, awaiting Hagoromo Gitsune's judgment.
After a full half-minute of silence, Hagoromo Gitsune began laughing coldly:
"Nura Rihan... Heh... Using others to do one's dirty work. What a clever move."
While Minagoroshi Jizō suspected Nura Rihan was using official forces to eliminate the Hagoromo Group, Hagoromo Gitsune's thoughts ran deeper.
Could this Nura Rihan, attempting to use others as his blade, himself be someone else's weapon?
Remembering Luo Shu's earlier threats, Hagoromo Gitsune didn't need to think hard to guess who might be holding Nura Rihan's blade against her throat.
'Is that man demonstrating his capabilities to me?'
Recalling Luo Shu's declaration that Nue wouldn't be resurrected unless he permitted it, Hagoromo Gitsune's eyelids lowered.
"Kyokotsu."
"Here." The curly-haired Kyokotsu, cradling a skull, responded softly.
"Abandon all yokai stationed in Tokyo. Have the Kyoto executives temporarily leave the capital and go into hiding. Be quick about it."
"Yes, elder sister."
As Kyokotsu hurried away, Hagoromo Gitsune turned her head to address Minagoroshi Jizō:
"Minagoroshi Jizō, your mission remains unchanged. Continue gathering intelligence on the SDS, especially regarding that man called Luo Shu."
"My lady?!" Minagoroshi Jizō hesitated, but upon seeing Hagoromo Gitsune's cold expression, he lowered his head. "This old man understands."
Hagoromo Gitsune merely glanced at him before falling silent.
Only after Minagoroshi Jizō withdrew did Hagoromo Gitsune narrow her eyes:
"What exactly is that man planning?"