Inside the Metropolitan Police Department, within a lounge.
Director Ito, Vice Director Hakuba, and Dogen Takayanagi, leader of the Bujin-shū, sat on separate sofas arranged in a triangular formation.
"The Commissioner threw his report in my face today."
At Director Ito's words, Vice Director Hakuba frowned beside him.
Takayanagi leaned on his cane, giving Hakuba a meaningful look.
As seasoned bureaucrats, they all understood that while Director Ito was the de facto head of the Metropolitan Police, the Commissioner held only nominal authority as second-in-command.
After all, the Police Director was the highest rank they could achieve through promotion. In contrast, the Commissioner position was appointed by the Prime Minister, typically replaced with every cabinet reshuffle, rarely lasting more than eleven months.
Usually, the second-in-command wouldn't clash so openly with the director, let alone throw reports. Such boldness clearly came from instructions at the highest level of the cabinet.
Director Ito continued calmly:
"The PM is furious about this minister's child kidnapping case. The opposition leader also expressed dissatisfaction to me."
With the opposition being the PM's direct rivals, today's opposition could be tomorrow's ruling party, a very real possibility in Japan.
Yet now, opposition and ruling parties were jointly applying pressure. The bureaucrats present fully grasped the severity.
Normally, the opposition and the cabinet would argue over the slightest issue. Their current united front was unexpected.
But considering a minister's daughter had been kidnapped, everyone understood.
After all, both current and future ministers would fear someone targeting their families!
At this moment, Director Ito turned to Vice Director Hakuba beside him:
"Hakuba, I'm about reaching retirement age."
"Ito-san."
Vice Director Hakuba, a kindly-faced man with a thick beard, had beads of sweat on his forehead:
"Surely it hasn't come to that yet?"
Though Director Ito's resignation was practically an open secret among those present, and Vice Director Hakuba being his successor was the general consensus.
But stating it outright like this wasn't something done by convention.
At the very least, bringing it up at this moment was rather awkward.
With the outgoing Director Ito clearly being set up as the scapegoat, Vice Director Hakuba felt a heavy weight in his chest.
"Even without this incident, I wouldn't have lasted long in this position, Hakuba-san."
Director Ito sighed softly:
"After all, compared to an old fossil like me who stubbornly refused SDS interference in Metropolitan Police Department affairs while secretly supporting Bujin-shū against the Onmyou Agency, the SDS and the cabinet, someone gentle and hands-off like you is what everyone prefers in a leader."
Vice Director Hakuba broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this.
Though it sounded like praise on the surface, wasn't this practically accusing him of colluding with those factions?
With Director Ito stepping down, he stood to benefit the most from the succession!
Director Ito sighed again and said to Vice Director Hakuba:
"Hakuba-san, I'm old now. It's time I learned to let go of many things."
Hearing this, Vice Director Hakuba - actually a year older than Director Ito - suddenly realised something. His expression relaxed as if a burden had been lifted:
"Ito-san, perhaps we should discuss something less heavy."
With a slight smile, he continued: "After retirement, have you thought about how you'll spend your golden years, Ito-san?"
"Ah~" Director Ito tilted his head slightly, his face breaking into a smile of approval.
Leaning back into the expensive sofa, he said:
"I haven't given much thought to retirement life, though I do quite enjoy NHK's dramas."
Vice Director Hakuba produced a notepad and pen from his breast pocket, writing:
"Honorary chairman of NHK's association would be quite a challenging position."
"But Ito-san, perhaps you might consider concurrently serving as vice president of Suzuki Bank?"
The slightly rotund vice director smiled broadly:
"Mr Shirō Suzuki mentioned to me earlier that the Suzuki conglomerate urgently needs a seasoned police veteran for legal guidance."
"Guidance! That does sound necessary." Director Ito smiled before adding, "However, Sentarō has grown up. As a father, I'd like to spend more time with him."
"Sentarō Itō-san?"
After brief consideration, Vice Director Hakuba chuckled:
"Ito-san, this is one request I can't accommodate. With someone as capable as Sentarō-san, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, I've already prepared to appoint him as chief of the General Affairs Division in Criminal Investigations. I can only express my regrets on this matter."
"That is indeed regrettable."
Director Ito's lips twitched before he quickly controlled himself, shaking his head:
"Truly most regrettable."
Turning to the Bujin-shū commander Takayanagi on his left, Director Ito nodded:
"Takayanagi-san, Hakuba-san is an excellent friend. I hope you'll get along well in future."
Vice Director Hakuba remained silent, as this wasn't his place to speak.
Takayanagi raised an eyebrow at this before smiling slightly:
"Vice Director Hakuba, it seems we'll be working together a great deal from now on!"
"The feeling is mutual!"
Upon hearing this, Vice Director Hakuba exchanged a glance with Dogen Takayanagi, and the two men shared a knowing smile.
The atmosphere in the break room instantly became more lively.
...
Abyss Warring States.
Kaede's Village, Kikyo Shrine.
"Divination?"
Kuesu Jinguuji, who had just finished drawing a sigil beneath the Tree of Ages, turned her head to glare coldly at the paper doll Familiar hovering in mid-air.
It was the Familiar Spirit belonging to Ayame Jinguuji, Director of the Ministry of Environment Countermeasures Office.
"I don't have time for such trivial matters."
After speaking, Kuesu Jinguuji glanced at Kikyo, who had finished drawing the talismans and was now meditating in seiza, then turned her head to look at Kaguya, who was still drawing talismans, and said:
"Kaguya, do a divination for me and just throw the result at her."
Kaguya, already exhausted from the talisman work, immediately darkened her expression:
"Why should I take orders from you?"
"Hmm?" Kuesu Jinguuji glared at Kaguya.
The latter shrank her neck, remembering the other's methods, and guiltily walked over, scowling at Ayame Jinguuji's Familiar Spirit:
"What do you want divined? Hurry up and say it, I have plenty of other things to do!"
Hearing this, Ayame Jinguuji quickly stated her request, and before long, received the answer she sought.
Observing this with partial attention, Kuesu Jinguuji seemed surprised: "I didn't expect your divination as a yokai to be quite decent?"
Kaguya's expression turned peculiar: "Rather than me doing the divination, it's more like someone is feeding the result directly into my head."
After a pause, Kaguya added:
"This... feels a bit like master's power?"
Hearing this, Kikyo opened her eyes and glanced at Kaguya:
"Did Luo Shu do something again?"
Kaguya couldn't answer, nor dared to.
At that moment, Kuesu Jinguuji coldly interjected:
"Never mind that lazy fellow, come and help immediately. The transformation is only half done."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Amidst these two responses, the busy work resumed once more.
...
In the Ministry of Environment Countermeasures Office.
Having obtained her answer, Ayame Jinguuji looked at the six addresses from the divination, sighed in relief, and handed the note to Yomi Isayama and Noriyuki Izuna:
"Yomi, Noriyuki, take Chief Superintendent Odagiri's team and search these addresses. Ensure those esteemed individuals are safely rescued."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama, holding her greatsword, silently stepped forward to take the note and turned to leave.
Beside her, Noriyuki Izuna followed woodenly behind Yomi Isayama as they both exited the office.
After the two had left, Ayame Jinguuji flicked her wrist, producing another note.
Seeing the words 'Kyoto Hagoromo Group' written on it, she frowned:
"The Hagoromo Group in Kyoto... collecting noblewomen... It seems necessary to communicate with the Onmyou Agency about this!"
...
Adachi Ward, atop an apartment building.
Minagoroshi Jizō watched as the temple, now surrounded by numerous police cars with armed helicopters circling overhead, twisted his face in displeasure.
Observing the temple's broken gate and the yokai being escorted out one by one, Minagoroshi Jizō turned to a minor yokai responsible for the outpost's security, whom he had managed to rescue, and asked:
"What did you lot do to make the authorities go so mad?"
The red-skinned boar-like yokai whispered:
"They barged in, saying we were exposed and demanded we confess."
"Then what exactly did you do recently to provoke them?" Minagoroshi Jizō questioned.
At this, the boar yokai burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably:
"We didn't do anything! We just stole a new album by Utau Hoshina from the video store this morning—the Black Diamond one."
"Lord Minagoroshi Jizō, we only took one disc!!"
"They came with hundreds of people to smash our doors, killing any yokai they saw! Where's the justice in that? Is it a crime to chase stars now? They really won't let yokai live!"
Minagoroshi Jizō: "..."
At this moment, Minagoroshi Jizō honestly didn't know what to say.
What the hell was this nonsense?!