Inside the white plastic bag held by Luo Shu, three large crimson goldfish swam aimlessly, appearing completely oblivious to his earlier words.
"Planning to play deaf, are we?"
Seeing this, Luo Shu suddenly understood. Without another word, he glanced sideways at Yukino Yukinoshita.
Catching his look, Yukino promptly retreated, stopping only after putting five meters between herself and the scene.
Once she was at a safe distance, Luo Shu turned back, narrowed his eyes, and tossed the plastic bag high into the air while fixing his gaze on the goldfish within.
In the next instant, misfortune coiled around the anchored goldfish.
Abruptly, one of the three goldfish underwent a transformation in its eyes.
The previously vacant, lifeless gaze suddenly brimmed with myriad emotions.
Then, from its small fish lips emerged a scream-like roar:
"AAAAAH—!!!"
Amidst the agonised cries, the three-inch-long fish body abruptly began expanding, simultaneously bursting the plastic bag with a loud POP.
"AAAAH—!!"
The pained wails continued as the goldfish's body swelled to a length of 1.2 meters, its crimson skin developing black segmented patterns that bulged with muscular texture.
Simultaneously, the once milky-white pectoral and ventral fins transformed into human-like limbs that repeatedly clenched into fists, pounding the ground with thunderous BOOMs.
"...So this is a yokai?"
Witnessing this monstrous transformation firsthand, Yukino Yukinoshita's complexion paled as she instinctively moved behind Luo Shu, her nervous eyes fixed on the wailing, ground-pounding Fish Demon.
Although she had seen members of the Operations Department delivering remnants of yokai to be sealed in the Hidden Management Zone during the day, this was her first time encountering a living yokai.
Luo Shu observed the screaming Fish Demon with calm detachment as he remarked:
"Yokai from the Abyss Warring States World and those from the present world may both be demons, but their development paths differ."
"Yokai from the Abyss Warring States cultivate Soul Power, typically using it to enhance their physical forms, undergoing continuous mutation and gigantism."
"This Demon Power serves as the foundation for their dominance."
"In contrast, modern yokai are different. While they also cultivate spiritual energy, they don't rely on it to strengthen their Demon Forms. Instead, they employ intricate techniques to fuse with the psychic energy of other lifeforms, creating what's known as Fear."
"Compared to Demon Power, cultivating Fear is easier and requires minimal cost. Small Yokai can grow stronger quickly simply by frightening humans and harvesting their psychic energy, employing bizarre methods in the process."
"However, this comes at a price—yokai who cultivate Fear generally have weaker physiques. Ordinary blades can pierce their defences, and even the rare Great Yokai can't withstand blades enhanced by Onmyoji spells. It's a trade-off."
Of course, Luo Shu wasn't particularly concerned about a yokai's physical strength.
No matter how robust the physique, kidney stones would still bring excruciating pain.
In the face of illness, all beings are nearly equal—even yokai.
Seeing the goldfish transform into a demon, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned:
"Why would a yokai target the current minister?"
"That is indeed unusual."
Luo Shu also found this curious:
"While all current Cabinet Bureaucrats have mystic-side personnel assigned to their security details, the protection level is generally low unless it's the Prime Minister."
"And bureaucrats, being extremely fearful of death, cannot tolerate anything that threatens their lives."
"Thus, the Special Security Management Regulations were established."
"Among these regulations is a clause prohibiting major factions from deploying mystic-side personnel to surveil public officials. Additionally, higher-ranking officials with clearance undergo regular inspections at shrines and temples to ensure they haven't been cursed..."
At this point, Luo Shu rubbed his chin, eyeing the wailing Fish Demon meaningfully:
"Normally, only reckless Small Yokai would attack public officials, let alone a Cabinet Minister. Yet here we are—with the added peculiarity of it disguising itself as an ornamental fish."
"Was the fish recently delivered to Minister Fujiwara?"
Luo Shu explained casually:
"It was sent by the Fujiwara family head in Kyoto. According to their account, it arrived yesterday afternoon, prompting the minister to clean the fish tank several times."
"So the issue lies in Kyoto... Should we notify the Operations Department there?"
In response to Yukino's question, Luo Shu simply shook his head and smiled:
As he spoke, Luo Shu stepped forward, pinning one of the Fish Demon's hands underfoot to stop its thrashing.
Instantly, the misfortune was absorbed by Luo Shu, and the previously agonised demon returned to normal—though it remained frozen in place, drenched in cold sweat.
"If you want to suffer less, you'll answer my questions!"
After speaking, Luo Shu didn't wait for the Fish Demon's consent before asking:
"Which yokai commanded you to infiltrate the Fujiwara household?"
The Fish Demon remained silent.
Immediately, it screamed in agony again, but upon seeing Luo Shu's cold gaze, it forcibly suppressed the cry and gritted its teeth:
"Lord Hao... will avenge me!"
As the words fell, the Fish Demon's body convulsed, its eyes scattering once more as if veiled by shadow.
"Hao?!"
Hearing this name, Luo Shu's heart jolted violently.
Having previously encountered Faust from the Shaman King universe, he knew all too well who 'Hao' referred to.
An overpowered character so formidable that the author had to forcibly write him out - in Shaman King, Hao's status paralleled Yoriichi Tsugikuni's in Demon Slayer.
'Why would such a monster target the Fujiwara family? Simply because they shared the same name with Fujiwara no Muchimaro? But Muchimaro and Hao Asakura weren't even contemporaries...'
As Luo Shu wrestled with these thoughts, Yukino Yukinoshita approached and inquired curiously:
"Who is Hao?"
"A troublesome man."
Luo Shu replied with a grave expression, adding:
"Help me collect its scales, blood and some tissue samples. I need to perform divination using the Mysticism Encyclopaedia."
Muttering to himself, he continued:
"If it's truly that Hao... then we're in serious trouble."