Zozo Communications Outpost, Ema — An hour later. At his bar, Zozo was currently faced with another busy day. Delivering messages of both the magical and electrical variety, a line was beginning to form as another customer was transported into the building.

The blue demon began to sweat as his fingers typed as fast as possible.

“Looks like I’m gonna need some help… Just one second, ma’am!” Zozo said to a female yokai he was currently processing a transaction for.

Squinting his eyes, Zozo focused as two blue balls of energy burst from his sides. In midair, the spheres almost immediately transformed into fully-formed copies of Zozo; complete with identical uniforms and sunglasses.

“Boss!” the two copies said in unison, landing stylishly on the floor. They stood up and saluted the Zozo that had produced them.

“Get on the other computers, boys! Come on!” Zozo rallied.

The two dim copies hopped on their empty terminals and logged in, making beeping sounds with their mouths as they typed.

With extra hands aiding him, the line quickly dissipated until only one customer was left in the building.

“Can I help you, mister?” Zozo asked, looking up at the approaching shadow.

It was Naraka, flashing the imperial insignia on his lapel.

“Retract your copies, I’ll need only one of you,” Naraka said.

Zozo gulped and nodded.

“W-What can I do for you today, L-Lord Naraka?” Zozo smiled with nervous optimism. He knew better after centuries of business with such a figure that he was to be referred to by full name and title only.

“This is a matter of life and death, I need you to relay a message for me.”

Zozo blinked behind his sunglasses and grinned slightly.

“W-Well, such an urgent message would require expedited delivery… Which we could offer, of course, at a handsome price—”

Naraka calmly placed his hand on the counter, leaning over the surface. His eyes glimmered like amethysts in the dulled light, piercing into Zozo’s soul.

“U-Um, of course we could take a r-raincheck for such a loyal customer, milord!” Zozo stammered.

“That won’t be needed,” Naraka stated. “The cost for this message is worth more than any I’ve delivered to you thus far. I’ll have it personally transferred to your progenitor’s bank account; a sizable donation to his company.”

Zozo’s smile grew wide as he gripped his suspenders in surprise.

“Hoo-boy! That’ll make President Zozo a very happy man indeed! Thank you for your charity, milord!”

“You won’t be thanking me once you discover who it’s to,” Naraka said bluntly.

“W-What?”

“I need this message delivered to Mura.”

Zozo looked at Naraka with a blank expression. Then, when he realized Naraka was serious, the blue demon burst into laughter. Zozo cackled and wheezed until he nearly fell out of his chair. Looking back up to see Naraka’s expression again, Zozo’s laughter intensified at seeing Naraka’s unamused face.

With tears streaming down his childish face, Zozo clutched his chest.

“Y-You can’t be serious, truly not! Heeheehee, but you are! You must be pretty desperate, huh? Well, this Zozo values his life! No way, not gonna happen. My business would be in jeopardy just talking about such things!”

Zozo waited for a reply, but Naraka still held the same unmoved expression while looming over the counter. At this point, it was becoming intimidating to Zozo and any remainder of his mirth quickly died out.

“I-I mean, how on Earth would I even know where to send it to?! He’s on the run, see??”

Zozo grabbed his television remote, turning a monitor on that was located above and behind Naraka at the opposite end of the outpost. On the screen was the news currently in Yomi, still updating on the news of Mura’s assassination attempt on Mara’s life. Below on the news ticker was a statement saying the government would be making an official statement soon.

“Too dangerous, far too dangerous!” Zozo cried out.

“Finished?” Naraka said, folding his arms. “I know this will sound unbelievable, but I have a feeling where Mura is. But before I go on, I need to speak to the President.”

Zozo turned his head down nervously, as if contemplating the benefits versus the negatives.

“I… I can contact the President…” Zozo stammered quietly.

Holding onto his seat, Zozo’s body suddenly went still and rigid. Within a few seconds, movement returned to his form. However, Zozo’s body language changed. He crossed his legs and leaned back in the seat before looking at Naraka with a changed demeanor in his eyes.

“This one tells me of the ludicrous plot you’ve commissioned, Naraka,” Zozo spoke with an older, more wizened tone. Whereas before his voice was that of a child, it now belonged to an elder who had existed for countless eons.

“Old friend…” Naraka smiled. “I recall you owing me a favor back from the 16th century. I’ve come to cash in, but not without some collateral.”

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“I fail to see how becoming involved with a fugitive benefits me, Lord Advisor. I owe you a favor, yes. However, this far exceeds what you did for the company back in Pharis.”

Naraka cocked his head, his face unchanged.

“Don’t pretend this is any different than transactions you commit every day with members of Goetia and crime-lords like Asmodeus.”

“This is different, Naraka! We’re talking about another assassination attempt not even a year after the last emperor was killed. Now here I have the emperor’s advisor and right hand, asking me to contact his wanted killer. That far surpasses relaying dead drop coordinates or coded instructions.”

“You’re a privately owned company, Zozo. You don’t have ties to any nation, government or person. You’ve provided me and the other Jikininki with discretion in the past, as you have with the others.”

Zozo sighed and shook his head.

“It’s discretion with all of my customers, Naraka. Why do you think I never let anyone see the real me or know of my true location? It’s to prevent things from reaching back to me. These people… They have the power to screw me hard on this if they tried enough. At the least, I'd be facing a suspension of business…”

“Like I said, Zozo… I’ll be offering you compensation for your aid, along with protection. Why do you think I’m here asking in the first place, the advisor of the emperor?” Naraka said with a serious look in his eyes. “Contact Hurr Nidar through ouijagram if you want the full story, but I can tell you one thing. The man who committed that attack isn’t my apprentice.”

Zozo gripped his chin between his slender fingers, absorbing Naraka’s words. After a handful of seconds, he nodded to himself and chuckled grimly.

“I see… Very well, I’ll contact the good judge after this. If what you’re alluding to is true, then you have my sympathy. I’ll remain quiet on the entire thing… and I’ll offer you whatever I can manage this one time. After today, all debts are even. Additionally, for every time you need my services to reach your kid again, the cost will be a percentage of whatever bounty lies on his head.”

Naraka exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes to absorb the information of the terms.

“Thank you, friend. As I said, you have my protection and wealth at your side. I greatly appreciate your help.”

He bowed to the possessed copy of Zozo as his comrade bid farewell.

“This copy will be your stooge for whatever you have planned. Try not to get him killed; re-staffing is a pain in the ass,” Zozo said as the President’s cognition faded. “Don’t make me regret this...”

Zozo’s body went stiff momentarily, then limp. Naraka smiled with a sigh of relief. All he had to do now was pinpoint Mura’s location. He had an idea, but only that.

Shaking his head briefly, Zozo adjusted his glasses and looked up at Naraka.

“Oof, it’s never a fun time when the President does that, milord. Never fun at all…”

“Are you alright?” Naraka questioned.

“Oh yes, I will be,” he confirmed. “It looks like you got the A-OK then to go ahead with your plan, yes? Finding Mister Headband?”

Naraka nodded and picked up a shopping bag he had lying on the floor. With a swift toss, he threw the bag over the counter; resulting in it landing on Zozo’s lap.

“What’s this, a present for me?” Zozo chirped, rifling through the contents.

“It is, I’ll require you to wear it. This is a personally-delivered message after all.”

Zozo pulled a wig out of the bag, along with the clothing of a girl.

“You could have gotten something more masculine, at least…” Zozo whimpered.

“Don’t fret, you’ll make for a pretty lass,” Naraka smirked. “Mura is within the city, I can sense it… Undoubtedly, he’s made contact with a schoolgirl named Tomoe at Sekien Academy. You know of the place?”

“Only a little bit, but you think he’s there?” Zozo blinked with a shrug.

“Yes, I do. Either that, or he could have found the aid of the old man who lives by the shore, here. I’ve heard tales of him delivering help to stranded yokai and demons, so that’s your next best guess. Scout out both locations and look for him, his friend Lilith won’t be far behind.”

Zozo threw his small hands down on the chair in a mild fuss.

“What about my outpost?! I can’t just drop everything!”

“Your outpost will be closed, by you of course. Can’t attract attention by saying it was closed on imperial business. Make up some excuse, but it needs to remain closed until you locate them. Okay—”

Naraka’s sentence was cut short by a blare of sound from the television, announcing a breaking report. Naraka turned around to see what the update entailed.

On the screen was Laz Larsa situated behind a podium with a multitude of cameras in front of her. Behind the superintendent was a row of armored guards. It was one of the few times Naraka had seen Larsa without her sunglasses, revealing the pale salmon-colored eyes underneath. Her gaze was cold and devoid of emotion, with a slight crease from stress lined below her eyelids.

“As you all know, a terrible event recently befell us. Mura, Tenth of the Jikininki attempted to claim the life of our beloved Emperor yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, His Majesty survived the attack and is stronger than ever.”

Larsa paused as the audience began to immediately clap, prompting Naraka to fold his arms in disgust.

“However… eight of the brave and fearless men and women who make up the imperial guard lost their lives in the following attacks by the assassin. Mura quickly fled the scene, warping away to what we later discovered to be a teleportation receiver located at the DIS Maximum Security Institution.”

The crowd remained silent as Larsa took a deep breath, as if preparing herself to deliver the worst possible news.

“We can now confirm that Mura used the device to teleport himself and his Thrall, Lilith to the human archipelago Japan. Unfortunately, Mura killed five more guards before his escape,” Larsa said with a subdued anger in her voice. “The Council of Princes has deliberated along with the Imperial Police and Minister of Defense…”

Naraka felt his heart sink. This was the moment he had been dreading. Hopefully, all of his preparation wouldn’t be in vain.

“We find the assassin Mura of Gakidō guilty of thirteen counts of murder against officers of the Empire, attempted regicide, high treason, conspiracy and assault against a holy figure. His Thrall, Lilith, is charged with conspiracy and aiding a fugitive of the Empire.”

—A “holy figure”, eh? Emperor and kings always love to claim that one.

Within the deepest slums of Gakidō to the high courts of Yrdl’var, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t listening to the charges being read out. Bounty hunters stopped loading their guns to pause and wait for the price on Mura’s head to be announced, while other assassins and warriors sharpened their blades and chose their Thralls wisely. Patriots and bandits drank themselves into a stupor, taking bets on who they thought could kill Mura while listing the ways they’d accomplish the feat.

Whether through a radio, television or magically-produced broadcast, Larsa’s voice rang out for all the realms to hear.

“Henceforth, the accused are stripped of all titles and awards. The criminal known as Bloodstrider Mura is wanted dead. A bounty of one-hundred million sols will be delivered by the Empire of Yomi to whoever brings him to justice,” Larsa declared. “His accomplice Lilith is wanted dead or alive with a bounty of one million sols leading to her arrest or death.”

Naraka had to catch his breath. He never thought they’d place such an astronomical price on his student’s head, maybe a single million dead or alive but this was something else. The Empire was done playing around and this was their trump card.

“Anyone looking to confront Mura is advised to take extreme caution. He is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. Bounty hunters or officials who wish to travel to Japan can go to their nearest police station for the proper forms and passes required for teleportation. In closing, His Majesty couldn’t be here today but has prepared a message to be read in his stead.”

Larsa exhaled and looked directly at the camera, her pink eyes piercing through the screen and into Naraka’s.

“Remember, we are always with you, our good and loyal subjects. Continue to uphold the strength passed down by your ancestors, foster the spirit of our people within your hearts and unite against those who would lead you astray. I humbly ask this of you, brothers and sisters, so as you may enhance the innate glory of this divine Empire and its natural place as the apex of worlds.”