Inside the medium-sized bus travelling along the road.
The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.
Due to the Bujin-shū and the SDS's involvement, the Onmyou Agency had decided to go all out, directly inviting multiple factions to join this investigation of the anomalous abyss.
Because of this invitation, Japan's monsters and demons have only now learned about the major incident in Itō City.
This shifted the attention of numerous factions still reeling from the Ghoul incident towards Itō.
After all, this time it was the Bujin-shū who broke protocol by calling in their 'American daddy' to screw over their own people.
Completely disregarding the camaraderie forged just days ago during the Ghoul extermination.
In response, the Onmyou Agency chose to exploit their victim status by inviting big and small factions to share their 'rice bowl' – clearly adopting a 'if I can't have it, I'll make sure you don't enjoy it either' approach.
Given the special circumstances, some factions sent personnel in the hope of reaping some benefits.
After all, with the SDS taking the lion's share, so many people could surely share the scraps.
Moreover, the small SDS might not even get to eat the meat.
With such calculations in mind, the bus full of people remained silent.
In the heavy silence, a lazy female voice spoke up:
"The weather in Itō is really quite hot."
The speaker was Yukari Oikawa, the Nura Clan's representative.
Reportedly, a Yuki-onna among the Nura Clan's officers.
Even though it was nearly April, this snow woman still wore a thick kimono with a dark scarf around her neck, her red eyes filled with languidness.
In contrast to Yukari Oikawa, the tall Aotabō sitting beside her in a monk's robes remained quiet, steadily releasing his oppressive Demon Power.
At the very back of the bus, a brown-haired girl gazed admiringly at Yukari Oikawa:
"Is that one of the Nura Clan officers under Lord Nurarihyon of the Hyakki Yagyō?"
"They all look so impressive!!"
"San-chan, you should say less of such things, or your father will scold you when we return."
Mr. Masa, sporting an afro and sunglasses, adjusted his shades while cautioning Sun Seto beside him.
As the Seto Group's young mistress, Sun might be here just for experience, but openly expressing admiration for the Nura Clan in front of multiple factions would surely drive the Seto Group's boss, Gōzaburō, mad.
Mr. Masa was somewhat worried that the daughter-obsessed Gōzaburō might come beat up Nurarihyon in person.
"I understand, Mr. Masa. I'll behave."
Sun Seto, who had just entered junior high school, hadn't yet reached the rebellious or chuunibyou phase, so she easily took Mr. Masa's advice to heart.
Compared to the now-quiet Seto Group, as operatives from the Ministry of Environment this time, Yomi Isayama and Noriyuki Izuna were feeling utterly overwhelmed.
The yokai underworld of the Seto Inland Sea - the Seto Group and two executives - were local forces clearly just here for the spectacle.
Yet the Nura Clan had actually dispatched Yukari Oikawa, that retired veteran who could freeze people to death on a whim. Furthermore, the Vampire faction dispatched two established nobles to intervene in the affairs.
Not to mention, the Onmyou Agency had mobilised its connections to drag in the head of an Onikiriyaku Family who'd just returned from Europe.
Thinking this, Yomi Isayama gazed solemnly at the silver-haired woman, who occupied the two seats at the front left of the bus.
Though 'occupying' wasn't quite accurate - no one could sit beside her under that terrifying magical pressure.
—Kuesu Jingūji.
The head of the Jingūji Family, the leading clan of the Ministry of Environment. While Ayame Jingūji headed a branch family, this woman was the current head of the main house.
Originally, Ayame had wanted to recruit her into the Ministry, but the Onmyou Agency's director had somehow convinced her to serve as their external consultant instead.
This left the Ministry in an awkward position - Ayame especially.
But what Yomi feared more was Kuesu's power.
After all, this was the Magician classified as a high-risk individual even in England - a heretic among heretics, a witch among witches across Europe.
Feeling the bus's oppressive atmosphere, Noriyuki kept soothing his restless pipe fox while muttering:
"Yomi... I've got a bad feeling about this mission."
Yokai, Vampires, Onmyoji, Bujin-shū, and SDS... Among all these factions, their Ministry of Environment seemed the weakest...
Being under-resourced was one thing, but having their supposed ace working for the opposition?
What kind of joke was this!
Yomi couldn't even blame Noriyuki for his cowardice.
As a low-combat reconnaissance agent, he was holding up reasonably well given the circumstances:
"The Director told us before departure to play it by ear and not worry about responsibility."
She left it at that. 'Play it by ear' and 'no responsibility' basically meant Ayame had zero expectations of their success.
Truthfully, Yomi suspected the Onmyou Agency's invitation might be deliberate.
First securing the Jingūji head, then inviting the Jingūji-led Ministry...
The move reeked of intentional provocation.
If refusing hadn't left them isolated from other factions, Ayame probably wouldn't have touched this mess with a ten-foot pole.
But with most major organisations sending representatives, the Ministry couldn't afford to abstain - the Agency would've loved that excuse to stir trouble.
What a damned situation.
Just then, Noriyuki asked in a trembling voice:
"Speaking of which... the SDS probably sent their operations division, right?"
"Indeed, the only personnel the SDS can deploy in Japan are from the Operations Division branch."
Yomi Isayama first responded to Noriyuki Izuna before turning her head curiously to ask:
"What's the matter? Why bring this up suddenly?"
At that moment, Noriyuki Izuna, seated by the window, pointed ahead with a grim expression.
Yomi Isayama leaned over and immediately spotted the black-clad figure standing expressionlessly on the steps of the shrine.
Seeing Luo Shu's utterly emotionless face, Yomi Isayama's expression froze.
Noriyuki Izuna then wailed miserably:
"Why did Operations send this harbinger of doom along? Wasn't he supposed to be promoted to division head?"
Yomi Isayama remained silent at this remark.