Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, Sakuradamon.
Director Ito, dressed in a white suit with a black tie, sighed and clasped his hands on the table as he surveyed the attendees of this small meeting.
In order of seniority, on the right sat Deputy Director Hakuba of the Metropolitan Police Department, Toshiro Odagiri—Chief of Tokyo's Criminal Investigation Bureau, and Kiyonaga Matsumoto—Head of the First Investigative Division.
Figures like Hyoue Kuroda, who once supervised characters like Juzo Megure and now managed several police inspectors, could only occupy the lowest seats in this meeting room.
The meeting room was hazy with smoke.
A group of high-ranking police officials sat enclosed, smoking.
After a while, Director Ito glanced at Hyoue Kuroda at the end and said sternly:
"The second daughter of the Minister of Agriculture, the daughter of the Financial Services Agency Commissioner, and the eldest daughter of the Foreign Minister—three high-ranking officials' daughters kidnapped within a single day!!"
"Gentlemen, this is war!"
"It's the enemy declaring war on our nation!"
Director Ito roared.
After his outburst, Director Ito seemed to transform completely as he turned his fury towards Toshiro Odagiri, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Bureau:
"Odagiri-kun, what exactly is the Criminal Investigation Bureau doing? Why haven't we received any concrete leads yet?"
Hearing Director Ito's scolding, Toshiro Odagiri actually felt relieved and quickly stood up to bow:
"My deepest apologies!!"
"Apologies? If apologies worked, what would we need you for?"
Director Ito slammed the table and stood up, his face dark:
"I need results within 24 hours."
"Whether you contact the SDS, the Onmyou Agency, the Nura Clan, or whoever else—within 24 hours, you must bring those kidnapped young ladies back safely!!"
"If it's terrorists, shoot them dead. If it's yokai, crush them. If it's Vampires behind this, drain their blood!"
"Do you hear me, Odagiri-kun?"
"Understood!" Toshiro Odagiri straightened up and responded loudly.
Noticing this, Director Ito glanced at Ryōko Yakushiji sitting towards the middle-back but said nothing, only remarking calmly:
"Odagiri-kun, I'll help you withstand the pressure from the cabinet. I trust you'll deliver satisfactory results."
"Meeting adjourned."
With that, he left the table and strode out of the conference room.
After he stood up, Vice Director Hakuba, Bujin-shū leader Dogen Takayanagi, and a series of other high-ranking officials left the room one after another.
Soon, the conference room was left with only Toshiro Odagiri, whose forehead was beaded with cold sweat, and the Criminal Division commanders under his leadership.
Once everyone else had departed, Odagiri—who had just been berated like a child—turned his head with a dark expression, glaring at Kiyonaga Matsumoto and Hyoue Kuroda:
"I shouldn't need to spell it out—you both know exactly what situation we're in."
"Let me make this clear. If I fall, none of you will survive either."
Matsumoto and Kuroda's faces turned ashen, but neither offered any rebuttal.
Both were Odagiri's long-time subordinates and knew he wasn't wrong.
Within the organisation, the consequences of losing one's backing were something these seasoned veterans understood all too well.
After berating his subordinates, Toshiro Odagiri asked:
"Who's currently in charge of this case?"
Upon hearing this, Kiyonaga Matsumoto and Hyoue Kuroda exchanged glances before Matsumoto replied:
"Currently, it's Juzo Megure's First Investigative Division, Third Violent Crimes Section investigating in Beika Town. As for Public Security, it's Kuroda's former subordinate Bourbon, who's infiltrated the Black Organisation."
"According to surveillance footage, the culprits who kidnapped Minister Fujiwara's second daughter appear to be Black Organisation executives codenamed Gin and Vodka."
"Have they been apprehended?" Odagiri's eyes burned with murderous intent.
"They have," Kuroda said with a cowed expression. "But interrogation and alibi checks confirm the actual kidnappers weren't them - someone else disguised as them."
"Any leads on who?" Odagiri frowned.
At this, Kuroda lowered his head:
"None."
Odagiri closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then turned his gaze to Ryōko Yakushiji, who hadn't left with Director Ito.
"Miss Yakushiji, is there something you wish to discuss by remaining?"
Though Yakushiji held the rank of director under Odagiri's jurisdiction, there were many directors in Criminal Investigations beyond his authority.
The Nura Clan's leader Nurarihyon, the Princess of Yokai Kotoko Iwanaga, the Vampire Elder Council's Asato Ichijo, and even the SDS's Luo Shu - all held director titles while reporting directly to Director Ito.
Though Yakushiji was merely a security company heiress, when provoked, she rivalled those mystic faction leaders in influence, capable of challenging Director Ito himself.
Odagiri had noted Ito's meaningful glance when departing - clearly instructing him to seek Yakushiji's assistance.
After all, arms dealers were notoriously resourceful.
Yakushiji's unexpected attendance at this meeting she needn't have joined clearly signalled she had solutions.
Director Ito understood this perfectly, but knew approaching her himself would incur greater costs - hence delegating to Odagiri.
As a subordinate, sharing his superior's burdens required no deliberation.
When addressed, Yakushiji remained impassive, replying coolly:
"Are you familiar with divination, Odagiri-san?"
"You mean..." Odagiri frowned. "The Onmyou Agency Director isn't someone my humble self could possibly summon."
Though historically subordinate to Japan's cabinet, the modern Onmyou Agency functioned more like an upper house controlled by shrine-aligned old nobility.
Odagiri considered requesting the Agency Director's divination services less feasible than petitioning the Emperor for an apology.
At least the latter seemed marginally more plausible.
Yakushiji took a slow drag from her cigarette:
"The Agency Director excels at astrology, but he's not the only skilled diviner."
"Oh?" Odagiri's eyes lit up. "You're referring to...?"
Yakushiji smiled faintly:
"Hasn't the head of the Jinguji family just returned home?"
"I see~"
Toshiro Odagiri quickly thought of the corresponding person:
"Kuesu Jingūji..."
"The legendary witch..."
Odagiri's eyes immediately gleamed.
"As I recall, the Jingūji family is the hidden power behind the Ministry of Environment Countermeasures Office."
Hearing this, Ryōko Yakushiji understood her task was complete.
Thinking of that existence that projected commands across dimensions into her mind... Yakushiji fell silent for a moment before quietly rising and leaving the conference room.
Kiyonaga Matsumoto found this rather odd:
"Chief Superintendent Odagiri, Director Yakushiji..."
Why did it feel like Yakushiji had come purely to help without demanding any benefits? That wasn't like her at all!
This was the woman who'd nearly come to blows with the SDS's Operations Director over conflicting interests!
Odagiri showed no surprise, merely hinting meaningfully:
"Bonds don't necessarily mature on the same day, do they, Matsumoto?"
"Ah!" Matsumoto suddenly understood - Yakushiji's payment would come later.
In that case, it was a matter for future consideration, not immediate concern.
At this point, Odagiri smiled and turned to Hyoue Kuroda:
"Contact Director Jingūji at the Ministry of Environment Countermeasures Office for me."
"Yes, sir!"