Beneath Nijo Castle.
Chamber of Nue.
Within the black lake, a raven-haired beauty submerged beneath the inky surface resembled an empty doll.
Another raven-haired beauty with a similar yet more ethereal appearance, clad in a black sailor uniform, coldly addressed the uninvited guest:
"It's not yet time for you to make your appearance."
Hearing this, Luo Shu—dressed in a black suit with a perpetual smile on his face—simply replied:
"Is this any way to treat someone who cares about you?"
"Cares?" Hagoromo Gitsune scoffed before coolly stating, "Those invaders outside—didn't you lead them here?"
Hagoromo Gitsune hadn't forgotten Luo Shu's framing of the Hagoromo Group in Tokyo.
If not for Luo Shu collaborating with the Nura Clan to fabricate the noblewomen kidnapping incident, the Cabinet of this country wouldn't have moved so swiftly to eradicate the Hagoromo Group.
Yet in response to Hagoromo Gitsune's accusation, Luo Shu merely chuckled:
"When did you become so naive, Hagoromo Gitsune?"
"Do you truly believe the Cabinet wouldn't have resolved to deal with Abe no Seimei without my involvement?"
"A Great Onmyoji attempting resurrection, one who appears closely tied to the Onmyou Agency in the eyes of outsiders."
"Did you think the Six Buddhist Sects and the Cabinet would tolerate the Onmyou Agency gaining another powerhouse?"
At this, Hagoromo Gitsune's expression darkened, but she offered no rebuttal.
She glanced at Luo Shu before speaking again:
"Did you come here just to say this?"
"You may consider it concern for your safety—at least for now, that is."
As Luo Shu spoke, he snapped his fingers.
A misty white haze began to spread through the Chamber of Nue.
Soon after, white stone stools and a table materialised along the shores of the black lake.
Upon the table stood a full-length black bronze mirror.
Seeing the mirror, Hagoromo Gitsune frowned:
"How did Tenkai Gokadoin's Surveillance Mirror end up in your hands?"
Hagoromo Gitsune knew the Surveillance Mirror was a Yin-Yang Arts tool paired with Tenkai Gokadoin's barrier techniques, capable of monitoring any location within a barrier.
But this was Tenkai Gokadoin's treasure—how had Luo Shu obtained it?
"I had Kurumi ask him for it. He handed it over—simple as that."
Luo Shu gestured to the mirror on the table with a smile. "Care to watch the show together?"
After a moment of silence, Hagoromo Gitsune took a step towards the stone table.
By the lakeshore, Luo Shu and Hagoromo Gitsune sat together.
The two perched on white stone stools crafted from mist-forged rock, gathered around the white table bearing the black bronze mirror, their gazes fixed on the scene displayed within.
At this moment, scenes reflected upon the mirror's surface appeared in both their eyes.
Watching Yoko, who wielded black fireballs like a bomber relentlessly assaulting Kaname Kuran, Luo Shu remarked with some surprise:
"An ageless, undying puppet... the daughter of the Great Yokai Fox. So this is why the Onmyou Agency's Twelve Divine Generals all have age restrictions for the new generation?"
"Is this what they mean by 'new generation'?"
"With people like these, my concerns seem rather unnecessary."
Hearing this, Hagoromo Gitsune—dressed in a mysterious and dangerous black sailor uniform—crossed her legs and cast a sidelong glance at Luo Shu:
"Pointless worries."
"Although the Gokadoin Family doesn't fully obey me, their strength should be sufficient to stop these vanguard troops."
"Surely you don't believe the Gokadoin Family would betray Seimei's will and stab me in the back?"
"That's not certain."
Luo Shu leaned against the rough stone table, propping his chin with one hand as he smirked and pointed at the bronze mirror before him:
"This bronze mirror is linked to the grand barrier covering Nijo Castle, which is how it monitors the situation inside."
As he spoke, Luo Shu casually brushed his hand across the mirror's surface, revealing the western bridge battlefield where Shin Natsume, Fumonshichi and Tenkai Gokadoin were engaged. Then he continued:
"Now, here's the question."
"Why would Tenkai Gokadoin, as the barrier's creator who should be guarding the Inner Citadel Palace, go out to intercept the enemy?"
"As the barrier's guardian, he should have the ability to dispatch other Gokadoin members to face the enemy, shouldn't he?"
Luo Shu shifted the image to show another Gokadoin leader, Hiruko Gokadoin.
This Onmyoji, who called himself the strongest man in Gokadoin, was currently sitting bored in a room within the Inner Citadel Palace, playing with a sixth-order Rubik's cube.
His location was the rest area for Gokadoin family members - the same place Tenkai Gokadoin had been before heading to the western bridge.
Seeing this, Hagoromo Gitsune's eyes flickered as her expression turned cold:
"...Are you trying to tell me that even within the Gokadoin Family, not everyone supports Seimei?"
Though Hagoromo Gitsune herself had begun distrusting Abe no Seimei, the thought that her child's descendants might be feigning compliance still angered her.
"I'm merely suggesting the possibility."
Luo Shu spread his hands before calmly stating:
"After all, to me, all Gokadoin members are enemies. In that case, I must consider the worst scenarios."
"..."
Hearing this, Hagoromo Gitsune fell silent before remarking meaningfully:
"To appoint someone like you as Director of the Hidden Management Department... that SDS Chairwoman has excellent judgement."
Hagoromo Gitsune didn't believe Luo Shu only speculated with maximum malice towards enemies - she suspected this man maintained strong wariness towards everyone.
Dealing with such people was particularly taxing, as you could never be certain of their true intentions.
Yet judging by the Hidden Management Department's responsibilities overseeing Abyss Artefacts and dangerous lifeforms, someone as vigilant as Luo Shu was actually the most suitable director candidate.
After all, people like Luo Shu rarely made mistakes - the perfect secret-keepers.
Ignoring Hagoromo Gitsune's ambiguous praise that could be either flattery or criticism, Luo Shu turned to observe the barrier space within the Inner Citadel Palace.
Watching Hidemoto Keikain fleeing through the space pursued by the Eight-Headed White Phosphorus Serpent, and Nura Rihan lurking in Shin Kyōka Suigetsu to deliver occasional sneak attacks on Abe no Orochi, he raised an eyebrow slightly:
"The third Gokadoin leader, Abe no Orochi?"
"A Great Onmyoji who inherited part of Yamata-no-Orochi's power... no wonder she can suppress Nura Rihan."
Hearing this, Hagoromo Gitsune glanced at the image, her face showing a faint smile:
"Though Orochi-chan has a rather fierce appearance, she's actually the most diligent and responsible of my children."
"Facing her as an opponent, that Nura Clan's son is likely to have a tough time."
Hearing this, Luo Shu didn't point out the obvious. Though Abe no Orochi was powerful, Nura Rihan was no pushover either.
The reason for the stalemate was simply because Nura Rihan hadn't brought his Hyakki Yagyō to unleash his unique skill, Matoi.
There was a world of difference between Nura Rihan with and without Matoi.
The former was merely a competent Great Yokai, while the latter became the Lord of Monsters and Spirits who dominated Edo.
Luo Shu glanced at the probing battle between Abe no Orochi and Nura Rihan before shifting his view to the bronze mirror, where figures of Shin Natsume, Fumonshichi, Kaname Kuran and Hanabusa Aidō flashed by. He then remarked:
"Do you think these three groups are the only ones in this first wave of probing?"
Hagoromo Gitsune paused at these words, suddenly looking up towards the long secret passage connecting to the Chamber of Nue.
She could already hear approaching footsteps from the tunnel.