Approaching 8:30 pm, a light drizzle began falling.
Inside a fugu speciality restaurant, the welcoming voice of a staff member rang out.
"Welcome!!"
"My my, it starts raining the moment we arrive in Kyoto, really..."
Chisato Nishikigi folded the white, transparent umbrella rented from the convenience store and handed it to the middle-aged waitress approaching them:
"Table 8 reservation, for two people."
Hearing this, the waitress's expression changed slightly before she assumed a respectful smile:
"Please follow me, honoured guests."
As she spoke, Takina Inoue pushed open the door and entered.
"Takina, let's go."
"Right."
The two followed the waitress to the innermost private room.
As the sliding door opened, the scene inside came into view.
Apart from classical decorations, the most striking feature of the private room was the long, low Japanese-style dining table.
Extremely lengthy, it was formed by joining two large tables together, easily accommodating 24 diners.
Currently, the long, low table was laden with fugu dishes.
Paper-thin slices of fugu, bubbling fugu hotpot, sake brewed with fugu fins, charcoal-grilled fugu milt and other delicacies were arranged on various plates.
Through the transparently sliced fugu meat, Chisato could clearly see the vibrant patterns on the plates beneath.
"Wow!! A full fugu feast!!"
Unlike Chisato's delight, Takina's attention was drawn to those already present upon entering.
The two handsome young men seated at the far right of the table were Kaname Kuran and Hanabusa Aidō, representing the Vampire Elder Council.
At the centre of the dining table, standing opposite each other, were the Nura Clan's second-generation leader, Nura Rihan, and the Bujin-shū's Fumonshichi.
To their right sat Keikain's thirteenth-generation head, Hidemoto, and the cold-faced Shin Natsume.
At the far right end of the table, Tatsuya Shiba sat expressionlessly with perfect calm.
Each person maintained a considerable distance from the others. Aside from the mingled pair of Nura Rihan and Fumonshichi, the seating arrangement clearly segregated everyone else, creating an atmosphere of mutual non-interference.
'It seems there's absolutely no foundation for cooperation here...'
Just as Takina Inoue was thinking this, Nura Rihan, chewing on a toothpick, casually called out:
"Yo, if it isn't the two young ladies from the SDS Operations Department! Been a while, hasn't it?"
Hearing this, Chisato Nishikigi shifted her gaze from the fugu meat and looked at Nura Rihan before exclaiming in realisation:
"You're... that yakuza uncle from the Nura Clan~! You're here too? Oh, wait, you're supposed to be here, aren't you?"
"Yakuza uncle?" Nura Rihan touched his face. Did he really look that old?
Fumonshichi burst into loud laughter upon hearing Chisato's description of Nura Rihan:
"Hahahaha, uncle? That's spot on!"
"Hey now, at least save me some face here?" Nura Rihan gave Fumonshichi a deadpan look.
'You, a high schooler who looks thirty, have the nerve to laugh at me?'
At this moment, Chisato noticed Fumonshichi. Upon seeing him, she instinctively covered her nose and took several steps back.
Witnessing this reaction, Fumonshichi's face turned bright red as he protested:
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean? I took a shower and even wore cologne today! No fox stink here!"
Hearing this, Takina silently grabbed Chisato's arm, and they both retreated into the corridor.
Fumonshichi looked utterly bewildered, lamenting:
"Hey, at least give me some dignity!!"
His wailing drew a glare from Shin Natsume nearby:
"Shut up, Fumonshichi. Keep it down."
After this cold rebuke, he turned his icy gaze towards Chisato and Takina before asking:
"Has Director Luo not arrived yet?"
"The Director is handling other matters. He'll be here shortly."
Takina responded before inquiring:
"Before that, what's the situation with the Hagoromo Group?"
At this question, Tatsuya Shiba, Kaname Kuran, Nura Rihan and Shin Natsume all glanced at her.
Silence lingered in the private room for three or four seconds.
Finally, Fumonshichi rubbed his chin and said with a grin:
"What else? The assassination failed. Only a few Small Yokai died on their side. None of their key members were lost."
He then glanced pointedly at Tatsuya Shiba:
"Including our Cabinet's elite task force members, who returned empty-handed."
Tatsuya Shiba's expression remained completely unchanged at Fumonshichi's remark, still sitting calmly in place.
Seeing this, Fumonshichi raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. Instead, Kaname Kuran spoke up:
"Though the operation failed, we've at least gathered preliminary intelligence about some members' capabilities. It wasn't entirely fruitless."
Before Chisato Nishikigi and the others arrived, the gathered individuals hadn't completely lapsed into silence. Instead, they exchanged some information and cross-referenced it with the intelligence compiled by the Cabinet that morning, largely confirming the identities of last night's opponents.
Apart from Tatsuya Shiba's habitual silence, the others managed to ascertain the enemy's methods and circumstances.
However, when Kaname Kuran spoke, Fumonshichi deliberately provoked:
"Oh? Can the Kuran family head confirm that what we've probed represents the full strength of both the Hagoromo Group and the Gokadoin Family?"
"What did you say?" Hanabusa Aidō immediately glared at Fumonshichi upon hearing this.
Witnessing this, Kaname Kuran merely said calmly:
"Aidō, compose yourself."
Hearing this, Hanabusa Aidō, though still displeased with Fumonshichi's attitude, quietened down.
To this, Fumonshichi responded with a grin:
"How wonderful, Family Head Kuran, to have such obedient subordinates."
"Enough, Fumonshichi, don't stir unnecessary trouble." Shin Natsume warned his companion with exasperation.
Although the Bujin-shū didn't intend to take leadership of this operation, Fumonshichi's deliberate provocation still left Natsume speechless.
'This guy... first deliberately mingling with Nura Rihan, now intentionally provoking both Tatsuya Shiba and Kaname Kuran... isn't he taking his role a bit too seriously?'
'While the Bujin-shū leadership had assigned us the task of gathering intelligence on participating members beforehand, wasn't this behaviour excessive?'
'Are you sure you're helping the Bujin-shū investigate rather than causing trouble for them?'
Meanwhile, Takina Inoue, who had observed Fumonshichi's actions throughout, remained composed entirely.
'The Council's representative appeared relatively calm and restrained, in stark contrast to the blonde Vampire beside him. However, the latter seemed to hold high status among Vampires... a Pureblood perhaps?'
'On the other side, members of the Cabinet's direct action team hadn't spoken at all, appearing to be exceptionally rational types. Moreover, they came alone, suggesting individuals with great confidence in their own abilities.'
Through Fumonshichi's behaviour, Takina had gleaned some insights into the personalities of the attendees and began mentally labelling those present.
Just then, a male voice came from behind Takina:
"Isn't this Takina? Why are you blocking the entrance?"
Hearing this, Takina turned her head to see Luo Shu approaching with Miya Yotsuba and Suzuka Dairenji.
Spotting Luo Shu, Chisato raised her hand in greeting:
"Yo, Luo Shu! You're late this time!"
"Don't fool me, I arrived exactly on time."
Luo Shu chuckled in response, then looked past them towards the private room. Seeing everyone inside, he smiled brightly:
"But judging by this, I am indeed the last one here~"
"This works out perfectly. Let's begin this so-called strategy meeting straight away!"