Hearing Luo Shu's question, Fumonshichi rubbed his hands together like a bandit and said:
"Heh, we ran into this guy who could actually talk on the way. The three of us had a quick discussion and decided to pull off a little job."
Takina showed no reaction to this, but Yukari Oikawa's gaze grew even more contemptuous.
Not wanting Fumonshichi to continue his crude explanation, the aloof Yuki-onna calmly clarified:
"This Abyss has a strange environment. Yokai have been actively attacking humans. Because of this anomaly, we couldn't find anyone suitable to communicate with. Unfortunately, this half-yokai happened to cross paths with us."
"So you just went ahead and nabbed him?" Luo Shu listened to Yukari Oikawa's explanation with a somewhat peculiar expression.
He lowered his head, looking at Inuyasha, who had been placed on the ground by Fumonshichi.
At that moment, the poor half-yokai boy lay there like a dead salted fish, his eyes vacant, mouth hanging open unnaturally, drool dripping uncontrollably—utterly broken.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, Luo Shu might have suspected Inuyasha had been played to death.
'But for Inuyasha to appear near Kaede's Village during this time... could he be after the Shikon Jewel?'
As Luo Shu pondered this, Yukari Oikawa reached into her sleeve and pulled out a palm-sized block of ice. Encased within was a small yokai—a flea with a handlebar moustache and four arms.
"We caught this little yokai along the way. It seems to call this half-yokai 'Young Master Inuyasha.'"
"I sensed the aura of a Great Yokai from this little pest. I suppose this half-yokai must hail from some organisation in this era?"
At this, Yukari Oikawa also seemed doubtful.
Among yokai, the term 'organisation' generally referred to groups that formed yokai communities, even those capable of Hyakki Yagyō.
Normally, half-yokai, despite having only half yokai blood, were still members of such organisations, often the children of high-ranking members. It was rare for them to be alone.
Take Rikuo Nura, the young master of the Nura Clan, for example. He was usually accompanied by several yokai members, with high-ranking ones occasionally stepping in to protect or look after him.
A young master like Inuyasha, with only one small yokai for company, was something Yukari Oikawa had never seen before.
"If we're talking about a Dog Demon organisation, it would have to be the Dog Tribe of the Western Country."
A calm voice spoke up from behind. Luo Shu turned slightly to see Kikyo, clad in a miko outfit, walking gracefully towards him.
"The Dog Tribe of the Western Country, a half-yokai... the only one who fits that description would be the youngest son of the late leader of the Dog Tribe, Tōga, also known as the Great Dog General."
As she spoke, Kikyo glanced at Inuyasha, who lay sprawled on the ground without a shred of dignity:
"Currently, the Dog Tribe of the Western Country seems to be managed by Tōga's first wife, Senhime Rin Getsu. Her son, Sesshōmaru, has been leading the tribe in battles to consolidate their position in the Western Country."
"If the rumours I've heard are correct, this half-yokai should be the child of that human princess said to have caused Tōga's downfall, no?"
Humans, as the dominant force in this war-torn era, naturally placed great importance on intelligence regarding yokai factions.
Information about a faction like the Western Country's Dog Tribe, which boasted a Great Yokai, was naturally top priority—so much so that even Kikyo, who stayed in the countryside, had caught wind of it.
Of course, for Inuyasha, this wasn't exactly pleasant news.
Especially when he heard Kikyo mention his mother as the one who caused Tōga's death, the previously lifeless Inuyasha suddenly glared at her with fiery rage, as if his gaze alone could kill.
Fumonshichi, standing nearby, eyed Kikyo curiously and glanced at Luo Shu. "And this is...?"
"This is Kikyo, the shrine maiden who guards this village." Luo Shu gave a brief introduction before adding, "She's sort of an SDS reserve member, for now."
Hearing this, Fumonshichi and Yukari Oikawa immediately wore expressions of understanding.
They weren't unfamiliar with SDS's habit of recruiting talent from the Abyss.
Not just the SDS, but major factions often engaged in such practices.
After all, those from the Abyss had no attachments and clean backgrounds. As long as the recruitment methods were proper and their character acceptable, they were undoubtedly the best fresh blood.
"I see. So, according to Miss Kikyo, this Dog Demon is actually a discarded piece?"
Fumonshichi stroked his chin, somewhat suspicious.
Based on Kikyo's account, the current leaders of the Dog Tribe were Tōga's first wife and eldest son, both of whom were clearly full-blooded yokai.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha's mother, in Kikyo's words, seemed to be a key figure in Tōga's demise.
Thus, a dramatic scenario formed in Fumonshichi's mind: humans sending beauties to seduce Tōga, his unfortunate death, and his furious wife and son subsequently banishing Inuyasha from the tribe.
"Then it seems we needn't hold back when dealing with this half-yokai."
Recognising the cruelty beneath Fumonshichi's casual tone, Kikyo glanced at him and said coolly:
"I don't know what you're imagining, but from what I understand, the Dog Tribe actually issued a call for Inuyasha's return. Why he didn't go back remains unclear to me."
Hearing this, Yukari Oikawa covered her mouth with her sleeve and remarked indifferently:
"Regardless, a half-yokai is still the leader's child. Any competent organisation wouldn't let its leader's offspring wander homeless."
"Is that so..." Fumonshichi scratched his head, then turned his gaze to Luo Shu, awaiting his opinion.
Noticing Fumonshichi's hesitant expression, Luo Shu shifted his attention to Takina Inoue and Chisato Nishikigi, who were nearby.
After regrouping, the pair had clustered together and engaged in some secret discussion.
Though they deliberately kept their voices low, Luo Shu's enhanced physical abilities allowed him to clearly catch their conversation, which revolved around keywords like Tōga, Tessaiga, and Abyss Artefacts.
Seeing Fumonshichi's look, Luo Shu immediately understood his concern:
"So you've learned about Tessaiga then?"
Fumonshichi grinned: "As expected, nothing escapes Director Luo!"
Luo Shu shot him a glance. Takina and Chisato had kept their voices deliberately soft - otherwise Yukari wouldn't have remained completely unresponsive.
Yet Fumonshichi had still managed to overhear. His physical capabilities were likely second only to Luo Shu's among them.
As Luo Shu looked over, Fumonshichi cheerfully produced a cigarette pack:
"You know how it is, Director Luo. Our purpose in coming here is for Abyss Artefacts."
"These artefacts might be ordinary in the Abyss, but once brought to the human world, they become something else entirely."
The exact principles remained unclear to organisations in the human world, but normal mystic side items obtained from the Abyss would undergo strange transformations upon entering reality, becoming Abyss Artefacts with various side effects.
While the mechanism behind this change remained unknown, the profits from Abyss Artefacts were undeniably substantial.
Fumonshichi offered Luo Shu a cigarette, and when refused, lit one for himself before exhaling a smoke ring:
"According to the information I just overheard, this half-yokai is connected to the Sacred Sword Tessaiga, which Tōga commissioned someone to forge. What do you think we should do about this?"
Whether Inuyasha lived or died wasn't actually important—what mattered was Tessaiga.
Currently, three factions had discovered it.
That was the real problem at hand!