The black car carrying Chikichi Ogiwara and Shin Natsume crossed the cordon and pulled over by the roadside.
Behind them, the minibus transporting various supernatural beings also came to a gradual stop.
With a thud, Shin Natsume was the first to alight, cigarette dangling from his lips as he approached Luo Shu and muttered in a low voice:
"Five factions in total - the Nura Clan, Seto Group, Vampire Elder Council, Ministry of Environment, and reinforcements invited by the Onmyou Agency."
"The troublesome one is Kuesu Jingūji, current head of the Jingūji family brought in by the Onmyou Agency."
"Reportedly quite renowned in England, she secured the family headship immediately upon returning."
As the Bujin-shū and the SDS were currently allied, Shin Natsume promptly briefed Luo Shu on the situation.
"Kuesu Jingūji? I thought the Jingūji family led the Ministry of Environment... yet the Onmyou Agency invited them?"
By now, Luo Shu had grown numb to this chaotic world.
Even as his system continuously beeped with notifications about potential Familia recruits, he merely flicked his eyelids dismissively.
After all, most arrivals were already affiliated talents.
Rather than personally expending effort to poach them, it would be more efficient to follow Maya Natsume's approach - extending SDS collaboration invitations, which would undoubtedly yield better results than his individual efforts.
"Anyone else?" Luo Shu asked from the shrine steps, tilting his head toward Shin Natsume.
"The rest are still en route, probably arriving next wave."
Shin Natsume glanced at his watch, then looked up at Higurashi Shrine's sacred tree.
According to Onmyou Agency intelligence, the sacred tree triggered an Abyss Descent approximately every hour, each lasting five minutes.
Calculating the timing...
"About six minutes until the next descent. Our group will enter first - others must wait for the subsequent wave."
Nodding at this information, Luo Shu observed the disembarking faction members and instructed:
"Notify everyone to prepare. We'll enter the Abyss together shortly."
Shin Natsume acknowledged and turned, locking eyes with the approaching Fumonshichi.
"Yo, Shin. Your sister's getting along famously with those two girls over there."
Fumonshichi grinned around his cigarette:
"Women certainly forge connections faster than we do."
"Shut it," Shin Natsume shot back before adding, "Abyss Descent in six minutes. Get ready."
"Six minutes? Got it."
After finishing his instructions, Shin Natsume walked straight towards Maya Natsume's direction.
Having given brief orders, Fumonshichi glanced at Luo Shu. Noticing that Yukari Oikawa, who had just stepped out of the vehicle, was approaching Luo Shu with Aotabō in tow, he halted and stood aside.
"Are you Director Luo Shu?" A stunning woman, covering her lips with her kimono sleeves, approached Luo Shu gracefully.
"Supreme Commander Nurarihyon asked me to convey his greetings to you."
Hearing this, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow slightly:
"And you are?"
"Yukari Oikawa, executive of the Nura Clan. You may call me Yukari."
After Yukari Oikawa introduced herself, the tall monk-like man behind her spoke gruffly:
"Aotabō."
Seeing Nura Clan members paying respects immediately upon arrival, Luo Shu softened his expression somewhat.
Of course, this wasn't due to Yukari Oikawa's mature charm, but rather Luo Shu's friendship with Nurarihyon.
"Understood. Please inform old man Nurarihyon that I've received his greetings."
After exchanging pleasantries, Luo Shu shared some intelligence with Yukari Oikawa and Aotabō:
"The Abyss at Higurashi Shrine is somewhat special. It erupts approximately every hour, each time lasting five minutes. There are six minutes left until the next eruption, and so far, no one has successfully returned. Be careful."
Hearing this, Yukari Oikawa and Aotabō exchanged glances before nodding:
"Thank you for the warning. We've already prepared Emergency Escape Devices."
Luo Shu nodded in response, well aware of what the so-called Emergency Escape Devices were.
The Emergency Escape Device was an aluminium key-shaped artefact with a simple function: to provide an emergency exit from the Abyss back to the designated entrance.
The setup method was straightforward—just throw the lock paired with the key near the entrance.
Though powerful, these devices were typically single-use.
The reason for this? Naturally, it was because the SDS Research Department needed to make money.
Indeed, this so-called Emergency Escape Device was a piece of black technology developed by Verde.
With Luo Shu's clearance, he knew it was a disposable tool derived from research on the Demigod Rank Abyss Artefact, Star Gate.
With this device, the risks of exploring the Abyss were significantly reduced, which was precisely why the Onmyou Agency, despite losing a Divine General, was still willing to increase investment.
After all, with proper preparation, if personnel failed to return, they were most likely trapped.
And anything—whether person or object—capable of trapping a Divine General undoubtedly held immense value.
Where there was profit to be made, stakes would naturally rise. Such was human nature.
As Luo Shu conversed with Yukari Oikawa, he suddenly sensed a gaze upon him. Turning his head, he spotted a silver-haired gothic girl with a crescent moon mark on her forehead, scrutinising him with a grave expression.
'Kuesu Jingūji?'
Luo Shu gave the girl a puzzled glance, wondering why she seemed so wary of him.
Noticing Luo Shu's awareness of her stare, Kuesu Jingūji said nothing, merely standing coldly by the roadside, waiting in silence.
Luo Shu observed her briefly, mentally labelling her as 'suspicious' before turning his attention to the group listening to Chikichi Ogiwara's briefing.
His gaze paused briefly on Yomi Isayama, and he couldn't help but murmur in surprise:
"Huh? The aura of misfortune has weakened slightly? That's... interesting."
Meanwhile, Noriyuki Izuna, who had been listening to Chikichi Ogiwara's explanation, shivered and stole a glance toward the steps before hissing under his breath:
"Yomi, that guy's staring at us."
"...I know," Yomi Isayama replied calmly. "We've met before. It's normal for him to look."
Noriyuki Izuna grew visibly nervous:
"No, this isn't normal. He's staring right at you. Damn it, are we about to become the sacrificial lambs here?"
"Out of all the factions joining this operation, why is he singling us out?"
"..."
Yomi Isayama ignored the overly dramatic man and closed her eyes.
Time passed minute by minute.
Just as Chikichi Ogiwara finished his lengthy explanation, his throat dry—
An imperceptible tremor rippled through the air.
All eyes turned toward the towering sacred tree.
In their Spiritual Vision, everyone could clearly see the pitch-black mist spreading across the canopy of the sacred tree.
Luo Shu quietly activated his spiritual perspective, observing the flickering flames representing vitality above everyone's shoulders and heads.
—The Abyss Descent had begun.