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Tokyo, Setagaya Ward.
In one of the city's old-money neighborhoods, the Yukinoshita family had bought a house.
The head of the family, Yukino's mother — a true power woman — sat there in refined elegance. She was a beautiful, mature woman, the type who seemed like she could overflow with charm at the slightest touch.
Right now, she was calmly grinding tea powder with deliberate grace.
Not far from her, Yukinoshita Yukino sat upright and proper, not allowing the slightest breach of etiquette in front of her mother.
On the coffee table in front of them, the TV screen showed a live feed from surveillance — the figure of Yukinoshita Haruno.
Yukino frowned slightly, a look of concern on her face.
She didn't get it.
Why would her mother approve of her sister doing something so reckless?
Cozying up to a religious figure?
And putting herself in actual danger while doing it?
Was it really worth it?
…Was it?
• "Yukino, you could stand to learn a thing or two from your sister," her mother said, slowing her movements with the tea whisk, clear disapproval in her tone.
• The Yukinoshita family might look big and prosperous to normal people, but to the real upper crust, they were barely a step above being disposable pawns.
• And Yukino's mother was ambitious.
• If she weren't, she never would've left the comfort of Chiba Prefecture to try and expand the family's influence in Tokyo.
• Everyone knew the story — a rich provincial landowner comes to the capital hoping to become a glittering socialite.
Had she succeeded?
Obviously not.
And probably never would.
The pie was only so big, and to climb higher, Yukinoshita would have to pull someone else down.
And who was going to sacrifice themselves for her?
Exactly — nobody.
So the Yukinoshitas were stuck holding ground in Setagaya instead of advancing into the far more elite Minato Ward.
As for why Haruno was taking such a dangerous gamble…
➣First, the Metropolitan Police Department wasn't as dangerous as people imagined.
➣Second, in the eyes of high society, the Yukinoshitas were already a bit of a joke. If you're already a joke, might as well roll around in the mud a bit — and maybe, just maybe, you'll win the bet.
➣Third, the Yukinoshitas had no real backing in Tokyo. And if you don't have a background, you make one for yourself.
Chitanda, religion, the police.
Add Yukinoshita to the mix, and that night the Tokyo Metropolitan Police was in the crosshairs of four different powers.
The police — no need to explain, the government's hands and feet. Being noticed by them was a jackpot.
Religion — even more influential than the police. Japan was a land riddled with religious groups, and they always stuck together. United, they were a force just below the great financial conglomerates.
And Chitanda…
On the surface, just a country landowner. But in reality, landlords controlled the lifeblood of Japan — food.
Like the religious groups, landowners also had a tradition of solidarity. Anyone who underestimated them would soon see food prices crash overnight.
So no, Haruno wasn't all that interested in Mitsue Takeda personally. That was just incidental.
Her real move was to show all three factions that Yukinoshita was willing to take their side.
"Heh heh heh… what an exceptional young lady…"
Across Setagaya, in another villa, a similar live feed was playing.
The old men watching had mixed reactions — some indifferent, some impressed.
Among them, representing the religious faction, was the treasure of the Onmyōryō — the last great onmyōji of the modern era and the man overseeing all its affairs, the Shibu-kan— Grand Officer of the Four Divisions (an ancient high-ranking Onmyōryō title) himself: Kyōmei Hashimoto.An old man well into his seventies.
Opposite him sat the Chitanda family head — the face of the landowner class — with his daughter Eru Chitanda. The two were having a not-so-private talk with Hashimoto.
The Chitanda head wasn't taking this lightly.
Hashimoto's title alone — Shibu-kan — said everything. The Onmyōryō had been dissolved and reorganized long ago, but this man had rebuilt it himself and reclaimed an ancient position that hadn't existed in centuries.
Rumor had it he knew Mitsue Takeda — the "Granny Mitsue" in question.
Behind Hashimoto, Mitsue's son and daughter-in-law sat.
The son's face was red with embarrassment, unable to find words.
The daughter-in-law's expression was sour, like she wished she didn't know the woman on the screen.
They had rushed over after seeing a strange email from the old lady, only to find her publicly humiliating herself.
What kind of twisted public execution was this?
The son noticed that the high priest standing beside Hashimoto kept glancing sideways at them.
Clearly, he thought the Takeda family had disgraced their religious faction.
Why couldn't she just quietly do a favor for the police? Why make a spectacle now?
If Mitsue weren't such a respected senior, they probably would've started chewing her out already.
The daughter-in-law even subtly shifted her chair away from her husband — as if to distance herself from Mitsue's scandal.
Her face was like thunder.
Because who could guarantee this footage wouldn't get out?
She was sure it would.
The upper class wouldn't care, but rival religious factions would love to see a new stain on their reputation.
Meaning Mitsue was about to get famous — for all the wrong reasons.
And she might just drag her son and daughter-in-law down with her.
The daughter-in-law was seriously considering divorce.
And yes, in Japan, that wasn't even strange — people had divorced for pettier reasons. There was once a wife who beat her husband for years before leaving him… because his farts smelled too bad.
The son, however, knew exactly why Hashimoto had called him here — to protect him.
With the old man's backing, he probably wouldn't get dragged into Mitsue's mess.
"They're here."
The live feed's alert made everyone in the room look up.
Whether they were there to watch a train wreck or out of genuine concern, tonight Mitsue was undeniably the star.
…
Higurashi Jūzō wanted to ask one thing.
"What's here?"
The tightly guarded police officers and the secret surveillance hadn't noticed any—
BOOM!!
What the—?!
A deafening explosion nearly stopped Haruno's heart.
Bomb? Gunpowder?
Was the attacker really this bold?
In the feed, the rich occupant of Room 1 was screaming for help in panic.
In one corner of the supposedly secure room, a massive hole had appeared out of nowhere.
Outside the hole — nothing. Just rubble and the normal exterior view.
Where was the person?
Where was the attacker?
"It's not over yet."
The calm voice made Haruno even more tense.
Her eyes kept flicking to Mitsue Takeda beside her.
That utterly serene face… it was like she'd already seen everything coming.
Like she was completely in control.
Haruno clenched her fists.
This…
This wasn't quite how she'd imagined things turning out…
"....."