7 am, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
A fine drizzle fell, dampening the ground.
A pale yellow oil-paper umbrella tilted upwards, revealing Hagoromo Gitsune's beautiful face.
She raised her head, slender fox-like eyes narrowing as she gazed at the six-storey commercial building ahead, focusing on a third-floor window.
"Sister!" Kyokotsu, dressed in a black sailor uniform, followed closely behind Hagoromo Gitsune, stepping carefully.
"What is it, Kyokotsu?" Hagoromo Gitsune's elegant, unhurried voice came as she remained facing away.
Kyokotsu gulped upon hearing this, then asked:
"Are you really going to meet that man?"
There was a faint trace of worry in Kyokotsu's tone, as if meeting that man would inevitably cause harm to Hagoromo Gitsune.
Before, when Kyokotsu knew nothing about the current factions in Japan, she wouldn't have felt this way. But the more she learned, the more fearful she became.
The actual power-holding directors of the SDS all possessed combat capabilities at the Great Yokai level or above. Whether this strength was achieved through Abyss Artefacts or other external means, Kyokotsu only remembered one thing.
That was, such individuals already had the possibility of killing her sister, and this possibility wasn't small at all.
Hence, Kyokotsu was now worried and didn't want Hagoromo Gitsune to meet Luo Shu.
"Kyokotsu."
Hagoromo Gitsune, holding her umbrella, asked softly.
"Here." Kyokotsu quickly responded, then gazed longingly at Hagoromo Gitsune's back as if yearning for something.
Hagoromo Gitsune remained silent for a while. Just as Kyokotsu couldn't resist speaking up, she finally murmured:
"Do you think... I can truly safely give birth to that child, Seimei?"
Kyokotsu opened her mouth upon hearing this, then lowered her head without uttering a word.
In the past, when Japan only had the Nura Clan as their opponent, Hagoromo Gitsune had already failed several times. Now, in this world with so many powerful factions, Kyokotsu genuinely thought the likelihood of success wasn't high.
Admittedly, Kyokotsu could say some comforting words, but she clearly understood that what her sister wanted now was an answer, not gentle lies.
Yet, to bluntly say it to her face was impossible...
Kyokotsu couldn't bear it. Thus, things were stuck at this impasse.
Under the drizzling rain, the two figures holding umbrellas stood on the street, remaining still for a long time.
Finally, Hagoromo Gitsune sighed lightly, having evidently understood Kyokotsu's answer long ago:
"Kyokotsu, do you know?"
"That man, Luo Shu, once told me to my face that without his permission, I could never give birth to Seimei."
"Do you understand what this means?"
"This..." Kyokotsu's eyes widened slightly, her expression one of disbelief.
"Sister, could it be..."
"Indeed. I initially thought it was that man's threat against me. But after obtaining intelligence and calmly reflecting, I no longer think so."
Hagoromo Gitsune held her umbrella as she gazed at the commercial building in the distance.
"Perhaps... it might have been an invitation for cooperation."
Even after a night, Hagoromo Gitsune still found it unbelievable.
The realisation that the child she believed to be hers might not actually be her own had made her thoughts no longer purely dark as before.
Last night, she kept wondering: if Abe no Seimei wasn't truly her child, would she still be willing to assist in his birth?
The answer was: no.
Hagoromo Gitsune knew herself well. She was willing to help Abe no Seimei because he was her child, the continuation of her bloodline.
Without this relationship, Seimei would hold no meaning for her.
Moreover, if Abe no Seimei was truly an impostor and Hao Asakura was actually her child, then the two might even be enemies.
Under such circumstances, Hagoromo Gitsune would rather halt all plans than continue forward.
Because to her, reviving Abe no Seimei wasn't truly important. What mattered was that her own child needed her help.
"Sister, are you saying that Luo Shu wants to cooperate with us?"
Kyokotsu's face showed surprise. After all, what kind of cooperation method was Luo Shu employing?
Ruining sister's plan to assassinate Nura Rihan, only to propose cooperation as his goal?
Who sought partnerships in such a manner?
Thinking this, Kyokotsu couldn't help but glance at Hagoromo Gitsune and ask:
"Sister, do you intend to agree to him?"
"Because I wish to know everything." Hagoromo Gitsune's ink-black eyes radiated calmness.
Ever since last night when she failed to gather any intelligence on Hao Asakura at the information broker's, she had realised that child was likely a taboo subject among Japan's major factions.
The only efficient way to obtain information about that child was to seek cooperation with a major organisation.
And due to that inexplicable noblewoman kidnapping incident yesterday, the Hagoromo Group's potential partners had dwindled significantly.
Among these limited options, the SDS was the most powerful faction.
Hagoromo Gitsune didn't have many choices.
Of course, she wasn't without her suspicions.
For instance, she had wondered whether the SDS, under Luo Shu's orders, might have orchestrated that bizarre kidnapping.
But suspicion remained just that - without meeting the man himself, Hagoromo Gitsune wouldn't make hasty judgements.
"Let's go, Kyokotsu."
Hagoromo Gitsune lifted her umbrella and advanced towards the commercial building ahead.
Seeing this, Kyokotsu immediately quickened her steps to follow, both women entering the Hidden Management Department's surveillance perimeter simultaneously.
...
The moment Hagoromo Gitsune stepped into the monitoring barrier's range, Luo Shu - currently near Ikebukuro - suddenly sensed something.
He raised his head slightly towards Chiyoda's direction and remarked in surprise:
"Coming to find me this early in the morning? Is Hagoromo Gitsune really this impatient?"
Luo Shu had considered when Hagoromo Gitsune might approach him, but his estimates had all pointed towards evening or late night - times when her powers peaked. Early morning hadn't really crossed his mind.
Yet from her timing alone, Luo Shu understood Hagoromo Gitsune was already desperate.
Therefore, he needed to make her wait even more.
Even the Tang Monk endured eighty-one trials to obtain scriptures.
People never treasure what comes too easily.
So should he send someone to turn Hagoromo Gitsune away?
"It's only 7 a.m. Yukino Yukinoshita won't arrive until at least 8, and the others even later."
"Oh? She's already come out? That saves me the trouble."
...
Suddenly, a feminine voice whispered in Hagoromo Gitsune's ear.
"My, my, such a lovely fox lady—but we're not open for business just yet."
Hagoromo Gitsune froze mid-step. She tilted her umbrella ever so slightly, her gaze narrowing on the figure before her.
There stood Kurumi Tokisaki, clad in a school uniform, brushing her bangs aside to reveal the golden glow of her Time Eye.