Chapter 101: Coming Out?!
"So, Kagura," Gin Tsumugi said, his smile gentle enough to look harmless, "are you interested in developing your future within the Myriad Law Supernatural Department?"
The question was not casual.
He had not said it on a whim, nor was he merely teasing Yomi for fun. The moment he saw Tsuchimiya Kagura, Gin had already weighed the matter seriously.
Kagura's aptitude in Onmyodo was by no means inferior to Isayama Yomi's. More importantly, Byakuei was sealed within her body.
That spirit beast was an extremely valuable combat force.
If handled properly, Byakuei alone could rival an ordinary National Level Onmyoji. Even if it could not compare to Gin himself, that still meant one more National Level fighting force under his command. For the newly established Myriad Law Supernatural Department, which was desperately short on reliable high-level personnel, Kagura was exactly the kind of talent they needed.
Of course, if he could use Kagura as the starting point and drag Yomi over as well, that would be the perfect outcome.
Unfortunately, that was probably wishful thinking.
With Isayama Yomi's personality, getting her to leave Bunkyo Ward and quit the Super Disaster Countermeasure Office would be far from easy. Asking her to join the Myriad Law Supernatural Department might be even harder than asking Shishiō to become a kitchen knife.
And sure enough, the moment Yomi understood what Gin was implying, she bristled.
She slammed both hands onto the stone table.
"You bastard! And you still dare say you were just asking? You're blatantly trying to poach from our Super Disaster Countermeasure Office!"
Technically speaking, Tsuchimiya Kagura had not officially joined the Super Disaster Countermeasure Office yet.
The reason she had helped with supernatural incidents before was mostly because Yomi had brought her along to gain actual combat experience. But whether it was Yomi, the other members of the office, or even the director himself, everyone had long since treated Kagura as one of their own.
And not just an ordinary member.
With Kagura's talent, potential, and status as the current head of the Tsuchimiya family, she was considered a core member in all but name. Much of the Super Disaster Countermeasure Office's intelligence had already been shared with her directly.
Yet now, this traitor from Bunkyo Ward, this shameless fox who had run off to Shibuya Ward and built his own nest, was openly trying to steal their future core combat force.
That was too much.
Absolutely too much.
Yomi's hand had already moved to Shishiō's hilt.
For a brief moment, she seriously considered whether cutting him once would count as self-defense.
Gin acted first.
"Spirit Speech: Still."
A wave of spiritual power flowed from his words, calm and absolute.
Yomi froze.
Her fingers remained on Shishiō's hilt, but her body was locked in place. Even the spiritual power in her limbs became sluggish, as if invisible threads had sewn her to the air.
Her eyes widened.
"Gin Tsumugi, you dare bind me?"
"Sister Yomi!"
Kagura was startled and shot to her feet. Almost by reflex, she pulled out a talisman, intending to dispel the Spirit Speech cast on Yomi.
"No need to rush."
Gin raised a hand and stopped her.
"Don't worry. I'm only asking her to quiet down for a bit. If I let her continue like this, we'll end up having an Onmyodo duel in the Shinomiya family's garden."
He glanced at Yomi, then added mildly, "Of course, if she insists on arguing, I don't mind adding another Spirit Speech to seal her mouth properly."
Kagura froze, talisman still in hand.
She looked at Gin.
Then at Yomi.
Then back at Gin.
For a moment, she had no idea what to say.
Yomi, on the other hand, looked ready to burn a hole through Gin's skull with her eyes alone.
Unfortunately, she really did not dare to keep arguing. If this bastard actually sealed her mouth next, she could only stand there and watch Kagura get dragged into his carefully laid fox trap without even being able to warn her.
That would be too humiliating.
"Kagura," Gin said, turning back to the girl opposite him with a pleasant smile, "let's continue where we left off."
Kagura suddenly felt a little restrained.
Compared to a moment ago, the atmosphere had changed too quickly. She could not help glancing at Yomi, who was still immobilized beside her.
How did things become like this in the blink of an eye?
Gin continued as if nothing had happened.
"The Myriad Law Supernatural Department is in Shibuya Ward, so it is some distance from Bunkyo Ward, where you live. But if you join us, Kagura, the department will naturally provide you with a residence."
"Um, Brother Yumo, that isn't really what I meant..."
Kagura hurriedly tried to explain.
Even if Gin had spoken to her normally, she most likely would not have agreed so easily. Leaving the familiar Super Disaster Countermeasure Office and going all the way to the Myriad Law Supernatural Department in Shibuya Ward was something she had never seriously considered.
And now, with Yomi bound beside her, Kagura's mind was even more chaotic.
Her first instinct was to politely refuse.
Gin, however, continued as though he had not seen the resistance in her expression.
"The benefits, salary, hazard compensation, talisman support, training resources, and medical protection are all quite generous. I can guarantee they won't be worse than what the Super Disaster Countermeasure Office can offer."
"Hmph. Gin Tsumugi, stop trying to steal people from our office."
Yomi's voice was filled with contempt.
"As far as treatment and resources are concerned, the Super Disaster Countermeasure Office has more capital than your newly established Myriad Law Supernatural Department. Don't try to swindle Kagura with cheap promises."
In Yomi's view, even without her warning, Kagura would not be fooled by this guy.
Was Gin sleep-deprived? Did he really think salary and benefits would move Kagura?
Impossible.
"Is that so?"
Gin smiled faintly.
Then his hands formed a seal.
In the next instant, Kagura's expression changed.
The spiritual power inside her body surged without warning. It rippled violently, no longer flowing according to her will. Her face paled, and she pressed a hand against her chest, as if desperately suppressing something within.
Yomi saw it immediately.
Her eyes sharpened with fury.
"Gin Tsumugi!"
Her voice was almost a snarl.
"When did you become this shameless? Kagura doesn't want to go with you to Shibuya Ward, so you use such despicable methods? How is this any different from what a yokai would do? And you call yourself one of the Twelve Divine Generals?"
If she had not been bound, Shishiō would already be out of its sheath.
Unfortunately, Spirit Speech cast by Gin at the level of a National Level Onmyoji was not something Yomi, who had only recently entered the Professional Level, could break through by force.
"No, Sister Yomi!"
Kagura shook her head with difficulty.
Her breathing had grown unsteady, but she still hurried to explain.
"It isn't like that. It's Byakuei. Byakuei suddenly went out of control. It wants to come out."
Yomi froze.
"Kagura, didn't you say Lord Garaku purified Byakuei's malice? Didn't you say it wouldn't backlash for several years?"
Kagura's lips pressed together. Her face was pale, and spiritual power churned around her like disturbed water.
"It's not attacking the seal. It's not backlashing."
She gritted her teeth and tried to keep her voice steady.
"It's more like... it wants to come out."
A tremor ran through her body.
"It's trying to come out on its own."
.....
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