At the base of the stone steps leading to Higurashi Shrine, near the wall.
"Eh... The Ministry of Environment is coming too?"
Chisato Nishikigi sat on a silver metal case, hands behind her head, letting out a whistle.
Takina Inoue walked over slowly and relayed the news she had just heard:
"It seems the Onmyou Agency invited the Ministry of Environment to participate in this search."
Maya Natsume, crouching on the steps with her back against the stone wall, couldn't help but comment:
"The Ministry of Environment... According to Shin, those guys really love swooping in to take credit after others do the work."
Chisato blinked in surprise:
"Oh? They have~ that kind of habit?"
"You've never had those guys swoop in on you?"
This time, it was Maya who was surprised.
Hearing this, Chisato and Takina exchanged glances, then shook their heads.
Seeing this, Maya couldn't help but feel envious:
"As expected, organisations from America really have it good. No one dares mess with you."
"Well..." Chisato didn't quite know how to respond, only glancing at Maya.
Earlier, with the helicopter and the crowded vehicle, Shin Natsume and Fumonshichi had been too intimidated by Luo Shu's presence to speak, making the atmosphere rather tense. That had prevented them from talking much with Maya.
But now, it seemed the eldest daughter of the Natsume family was... quite easy to fool.
At this thought, Chisato Nishikigi glanced at Takina Inoue.
As long-time partners, Takina immediately understood Chisato's intentions.
She simply wanted to drag a friend along for fun while fishing for information - well, the information part was purely incidental.
While Chisato and Takina were exchanging looks, Maya Natsume watched Luo Shu continuously making phone calls with some curiosity:
"Speaking of which, is that man who looks younger than me really your Director? The legendary ruthless figure who wiped out an entire species single-handedly?"
"He doesn't seem like it at all!"
Hearing Maya's clumsy attempt at fishing for information, Chisato and Takina exchanged glances.
They'd seen people try to extract intelligence before, but for such basic information... Was this girl really the Bujin-shū's operative for this mission?
Just as Takina was feeling suspicious, Chisato waved her hand and said:
"He does look very young, but Luo Shu really is a Director - though not of the Operations Department, but of the Hidden Management Department."
"Mm, they specialise in containing Abyss Artefacts and managing them, as well as overseeing and monitoring extraordinary species."
"So that's why Luo Shu handled that mission last time with those... what were they called... Ghouls?"
"As for why he's so young..." Chisato hesitated and looked at Takina: "Um, Takina, Luo Shu is 18 this year, right?"
Takina shook her head: "No, he's 17 now, but his birthday is May 8th, so he'll be 18 after that."
Chisato froze at this, pointing at her own face:
"You're kidding, he's only four months older than me?"
Beside them, Maya looked awkward: "I'm only 15, born February 22nd."
Hearing this, Chisato and Takina looked at Maya's at least E-cup figure and nearly 170cm height, then down at themselves.
This is fifteen years old?
"Um, Miss Maya, it's okay to call you that, right?"
Hearing Chisato's words, Maya, who was squatting on the steps, looked up:
"Ah, sure, what's up?"
Then Chisato leaned in seriously:
"Do you have a secret recipe?"
Beside them, Takina pricked up her ears.
"Huh?" Maya blinked, not understanding the situation.
At this moment, Chisato suddenly squatted down and solemnly grasped Maya's hands:
"The secret recipe! For improving your figure! You must have one!! Right?!!"
Hearing this, Maya paused before realisation dawned: "Oh, you mean the medicinal bath?"
"Yes, yes, that's the one." Chisato crept closer and whispered: "Would you sell the recipe?"
Maya's expression immediately changed, looking indignant as she said:
"This is my Natsume family's exclusive secret recipe..."
Hearing this, Chisato and Takina's hearts sank.
But the next moment, Maya added:
"So it'll cost extra!"
"Trade me for your Director's information."
Saying this, Maya looked quite pleased with her cleverness.
With intelligence on an SDS Director-level figure, surely Shin would agree to grant her the License of Full Transmission and let her officially participate in external operations?
Hearing Maya's demand, Chisato opened her mouth, but ultimately gave up.
Though she really wanted that so-called medicinal bath secret formula, selling out information was a line she couldn't cross—it was a matter of principle.
At that moment, Takina Inoue, beside her, unexpectedly pulled out her phone, glanced at the screen, and said:
"Chisato, go ahead and trade, as long as it doesn't involve core secrets."
"Eh? But—" Chisato Nishikigi tried to protest, but was silenced by Takina's meaningful look.
Seeing this, Chisato felt somewhat puzzled, but trusting Takina, she turned to Maya Natsume and said:
"Fine, fine. What do you want to know?"
Hearing this, Maya's eyes curved like a weasel that had stolen chicken, smiling slyly.
Meanwhile, on the steps nearby, Luo Shu's ears twitched as he casually closed his phone's messaging function.
Before closing it, the recipient field clearly showed Takina Inoue's name in romaji.
'A medicinal bath for breast enhancement and skin nourishment... I'll have Utaha and Kisara try it first when we get back, then use it as a favour later.'
Mulling over these trivial thoughts, Luo Shu scrolled through his phone before looking up at the approaching Fumonshichi:
"Has the Ministry of Environment arrived?"
"They have."
Fumonshichi had a cigarette dangling from his lips, his mood seemingly foul:
"The Onmyou Agency folks are really cunning. Not only did they invite the Ministry, but they even invited those yokai."
Hearing that even yokai were invited, Luo Shu let out a scoff: "Who exactly did they invite?"
"The Nura Clan from Tokyo, the Hyakki Yagyō from Shikoku, the Seto Group from Seto Inland Sea, plus some Onmyoji families..."
"The Onmyou Agency is clearly determined to muddy the waters this time."
Fumonshichi listed off the newly received information before baring his teeth:
"Timing-wise, most should be arriving soon."
As Fumonshichi finished speaking, a horn sounded and a medium-sized bus came into Luo Shu's view.