The room froze in stillness as none of the people present dared to make the first move.

Kansei slowly swallowed, feeling the sharp steel scraped unpleasantly against his Adam's apple.

The situation clearly needed saving.

"Girls, why be so hasty? What's with all the extremes? Any situation can be resolved peacefully. Let's all relax and try to talk. It's so simple," Kansei, encouraged that no one had shut him up or slit his throat, continued.

"Believe me, I'm open to any conversation. Perhaps I've crossed paths with someone important? I'll atone for my fault and reform. And if I die now, who would benefit from that?"

"I don't understand," Kaede said slowly, keeping her bewildered gaze on Katsuya.

"What exactly don't you understand, lady?" Kansei quickly interjected, keeping the dialogue going.

"Why you..." Kaede began, but was abruptly interrupted by the ash-haired woman.

"Shut up!"

"But..."

"Not another word, or you risk dying," Katsuya spat out the words with fury, but an experienced ear could hear a note of panic in her voice.

"Stop shutting me up!" protested the Kuchisake-onna. "You act like that and then try ordering me around. What do you even want from this man when you yourself..."

"No!" The young woman growled and took a decisive step forward, prompting the two newcomers to brace for battle.

"Stop!" Kansei shouted quickly, not wanting irreparable harm to be done. "Katsuya, stop!"

The ash-haired woman hesitated, looking at the merchant with a strange gaze.

Now, all eyes were on Sly, and he urgently needed to say something.

He sighed heavily and looked straight into the eyes of his companion.

"Katsuya, there's no point in this fight because..." he gathered his courage. "Because I already know everything."

Silence descended upon the room.

"What are you talking about?" the young woman asked softly, looking away.

"I know that you, Katsuya, are not a human but a yokai."

Mari made some indistinct noise, and Kaede just nodded. Although the stranger hid her true form, any disguise was ineffective at such close range.

"Yes, I figured it out not immediately," Kansei continued his confession, feeling wildly uncomfortable. "But little by little, I started to sense it. Besides, over all these years, you haven't changed a bit. Then again, your love for birds and eggs..."

"And why didn't you tell me then?" the yokai's fiery eyes fixed on the flustered merchant.

"How could I?" he muttered tiredly. "You've kept this secret for so many years. How was I to know how you'd react if you found out I knew? Besides, as I read, Kumo, spider shapeshifters, rarely harbor goodwill towards humans."

"So you were with me only out of fear?! You were afraid I'd eat you, so you tolerated my presence?" Katsuya spoke slowly, but it would have been better if she had screamed.

At that moment, four crimson eyes opened on her forehead, and her human eyes, too, shone with a red glow. If anyone looked at her fingers, they would notice her nails turned black and suspiciously sharpened.

"No," Kansei's words made the Kumo flinch. The glow slightly diminished. "I know that you, like some strong yokai, can sense lies. So listen carefully to what I'm going to say. Yes, I was afraid of your reaction, afraid you'd eat me or leave, but..."

Kansei took a deep breath.

"But at the same time, I didn't want you to leave. Not just because I was successful and became a wealthy merchant with you by my side. But because I felt good with you. I enjoyed talking to you in the evenings. I find your jokes endearing and your food the most delicious. These years have been some of the happiest in my challenging life. And I don't regret a single day spent with you. That's why I was afraid to tell you. Because I didn't want all this to disappear."

With each word, the crimson glow diminished - until it disappeared completely. Katsuya listened silently and motionlessly to the man's words, trying not to miss a single one.

"Forgive me for this weakness," Kansei smiled. "And please, don't eat me, okay?" The last part sounded quite uncertain, causing an involuntary chuckle from the Kumo.

"I swear to you, I will never treat you that way," the spider woman said resolutely. "No matter how our destinies unfold."

"Ah, so sweet," Kaede nodded contentedly. She probably would have crunched popcorn if she knew what it was. "But while you were sweetly talking, the one we all gathered here for has arrived."

Clap-clap-clap.

Stas, who entered the room, clapped his hands several times.

"A beautiful spectacle, a peaceful union of man and yokai. It is for moments like these that life is worth living," a serene expression was on Ordyntsev's face.

"Who are you?" the Kumo turned half around to keep an eye on both the girls and the newcomers.

Behind Shiro, there was movement, and Leviathan, displeased, slowly slithered in. Since the inn was made of wood, and the meeting took place on the second floor, she had to forego her favorite tactic of swimming in the stone and honestly crawl up the stairs.

The snake nostalgically recalled how her master used to carry her in his arms.

Those were bright times.

Shiro smiled and looked straight at the bewildered Kansei.

"Don't you recognize me? You'll be rich, Kansei!"

"I already am, sort of," the man muttered involuntarily, trying to remember the stranger before him. However, the blade still pressed against his neck restored his respectfulness. "I'm sorry, master, but I can't seem to recall you..."

"How can you not?" Stas, discarding formality, demonstratively sat on the colorful cushions to the side and began to list methodically.

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"Four and a half years ago. A terrible, bloody battle. A fallen samurai and two ashigaru fighting with their last strength, stabbing with poor spears, and then honestly sharing the looted goods."

Kansei's mouth formed a clear "o."

"It's you?! What was it... Shiro?!" The merchant's gaze shifted slightly and froze for a few seconds as he looked at the massive white snake sprawled in the room. "What? Is that the little snake that saved your life?! What on earth did you feed her to grow so big?"

Sly's voice broke when Leviathan's bloodthirst forced him to fall silent, as she ve-e-ery slowly turned her head towards Stas, as if checking whether he had heard.

"You're right," Ordyntsev nodded in agreement. "I've been saying that she has put on a lot of weight lately."

Snap!

A tail, charged with natural energy, whizzed by where the earthling's head had just been. If he hadn't ducked in time, he would have been sent flying forward.

"I didn't mean that," Kansei quickly corrected himself, meeting Leviathan's fiery, indignant gaze.

"Enough of this, girls; let my friend go," Ordyntsev drawled lazily.

Mari and Kaede obediently stepped back, leaving the merchant rubbing his neck.

Now, Stas looked at the hitherto silent Katsuya.

"Sorry that this was all so rough. My name is Shiro the Serpent, and you are? As you can see, one of my subordinates is one of you. So you can be sure - I have nothing against your kind."

"You can call me the Gray Widow, Shiro-san," she nodded to him. "I would very much like to know what you want from us?"

Stas was about to speak, but now Kaede interrupted him.

"Wait, the Gray Widow? The Gray Widow Ketsumi?" Kaede clarified with a feverish gleam in her eyes.

"Do you know me?" the Kumo stretched doubtfully. "You are too young to have lived when legends about me roamed this land."

"Not me," Kaede quickly shook her head. "But my teacher knows. Tell me, does the name Minoru mean anything to you?"

"It can't be," the Kumo squinted skeptically. "Minoru was long ago defeated, captured, and imprisoned by an alliance of onmyodo and warmasters."

"Yep," the Kuchisake-onna was strangely happy. "But that's just it, she WAS imprisoned. Then she was freed by..."

"Ahem," Ordyntsev coughed loudly, throwing a meaningful look at the hushed yokai.

"Then she was freed, and I became her apprentice," Kaede quickly recovered. "She told me about you. How you studied together..."

"Enough. I believe you," the Kumo hurried to interrupt the Kuchisake-onna, who knew too much for her own good. "How life is indeed amazing. To meet the apprentice of my old friend and learn that she has been freed. I take it you're also aware of all this, Shiro-san?"

"Somewhat," Ordyntsev replied vaguely. "But I'm glad we all know each other so well."

"Am I the only one who doesn't understand anything here?" Kansei exclaimed irritably.

"Believe me, this knowledge is useless to you anyway," Stas got up and, pulling the cushions together, sat opposite the merchant.

"I see you've risen high, Shiro-san," Kansei began. "And since you're still called by that name, your memory hasn't returned?"

"Unfortunately," Stas agreed. "Kansei, as we've known each other for so many years, can we drop this unnecessary politeness and talk like old friends?"

"If you want it that way," Sly nodded cautiously.

"As for 'risen,'" Ordyntsev continued. "You're right. Where have I not been? I even became a warmaster and joined the main family of a great clan. They're called Sumada; heard of them?"

With that, the earthling's tongue hung down, licking his lips and, at the same time, sensing the fear of his interlocutor intensifying in the air.

And it just so happened right at the mention of "Sumada."

"Yeah, I've heard, of course," Kansei smiled pretentiously. "Listen, Shiro, why don't we have a good time celebrating our meeting since fate has brought us together? Let's reminisce about the old days and tell each other stories from life?"

"We'll definitely tell them," Stas smiled warmly at Kansei, flashing serpentine eyes. "But first, we need to discuss a certain serious matter."

"Ah... What matter? Does Sumada want to establish trade with me? Or did I accidentally take what they wanted? I'll give it back!"

"No, no," Ordyntsev watched the sweating Kansei like a cat eyeing a tasty mouse. "I'm more interested in your close cooperation with Mizuno. Remember?"

"What? Mizuno? Yeah, I think I sold them some trinkets, but I've never been to them myself," Kansei began to deflect. And he did it so skillfully that not a hint of falsehood could be felt in his words.

But Stas didn't need it.

The serpentine tongue licked the air again, causing Sly to flinch.

"You know, my friend, I might have believed you," Ordyntsev noted with slight regret. "But the problem is that right now, I can feel your fear very well. And let me tell you, you are utterly terrified."

For a few seconds, Kansei kept silent, then...

"Damn it," he closed his eyes in defeat.

"Why so glum?" Stas spoke sympathetically. "It's not that bad. Life isn't over yet. But if the Shadow Stone had stumbled upon you, then yes, you would have all the reasons to worry."

"Is there a difference?" the sarcasm in the man's voice was palpable.

"You are still joking, that's good," Ordyntsev smirked. "As for the difference, trust me, it exists. After all, you're my friend, aren't you?"

"Really?" Kansei raised his head and looked at Stas with a probing gaze, trying to figure out if he was mocking or serious and to what extent.

"Of course, true! It was you who helped me get my first money, gave me a name, fed me, and introduced me to the right people. Because of you, I managed to become a healer and met the prince, whom I later helped escape from captivity. And that led me to training as a warmaster and joining a clan."

The listening Kansei's expression changed several times.

"And now, my friend, it hurts me to see you ruining your life," Ordyntsev shook his head sadly. "Working for Mizuno is a big mistake. Why? Because they don't appreciate you. If necessary, they'll dump you when they feel you're useless."

"And will I be better off with Sumada?" Kansei snorted, but it was clear that he was listening carefully.

"Definitely. As you've already figured out, I have very close relations with the rescued prince, who, by the way, was appointed treasurer of the entire great Sumada clan just over a year ago. Get it?"

Judging by the raised eyebrows of his interlocutor, he got it.

"Moreover, my sensei is the brother of a person who knows the head of the Shadow Stone very well[1]. Should I, for instance, seek a favor for a friend of mine, he would be met with opportunities far beyond the role of a mere agent under Mizuno. What do you think?"

"You're right. This person would indeed be lucky," Kansei cautiously agreed, looking at Stas with completely different eyes now.

Sly could not even suspect that the bewildered lad he met on that battlefield would go so far!

"And in the end, you're a Mizuno agent, and I've been ordered to get rid of these agents. And the fact that I'm talking to you and offering such a lucrative way out happened only because of my kind feelings towards you."

"What will be required of me?"

"Just a trifle," Stas replied readily. "You'll be a double agent, continuing to work for them and secretly informing us of the movements and plans of the Mizuno fighters."

"But then they'll quickly realize I'm the one giving them away!" Kansei protested.

"I've already thought about that, my friend," Ordyntsev smiled. "To protect you, we'll make sure all possible blame falls on other Mizuno agents. And for that, you'd better tell me about them - it's in your own best interests. So, what will you choose? A magnificent future and influential friends or a sad end because of people who openly despise you? Believe me, warmasters are quite predictable in this regard. And no, this doesn't apply to me, as I've been a warmaster for not that long."

Ordyntsev gave a warning look at the tense Katsuya.

In his time, Stas had diligently searched for any facts about the peculiarities of various yokai. And he learned something about Kumo. This type of spirit preferred tactics of ambush and surprise attacks. In direct combat, they were quite weak.

Of course, the Gray Widow here was by no means powerless, being a contemporary of Minoru. But her strength was still insufficient to guarantee killing all three of them in the blink of an eye. Because otherwise, Kansei might get hurt.

"Katsuya, what do you think?" the merchant suddenly asked his companion.

She thought seriously.

"It's your choice, beloved," at such an address, Sly involuntarily dropped his jaw to the floor. "But I can say that this man has almost not lied to you. Even when he called you his friend."

"I agree," Kansei said seriously, turning to Stas. "And I hope you weren't lying to me about Sumada not abandoning me like Mizuno."

"I'll take care of it," Ordyntsev assured the man without jokes. "You can believe me - I do care for my people. And from this day on, you work with me. But why are we all sitting here so sad? Mari, be so kind and have them bring us something to eat, a lot and delicious, and something good to drink."

"Will do, Shiro-sama," Mari's departure was a gesture of trust from the earthling. And, apparently, it was appreciated.

"You said you needed agents?" Kansei shook his head uncomprehendingly. "But how did you learn I know any? No one has that information. Where did I slip up?"

"It's simple," Stas smirked. "I know what kind of person you are. You would never have been satisfied with the role of a mere agent. Therefore, you most likely play an important role in the Mizuno network."

"So... You didn't even know?!" Kansei was outraged by such a cavalier attitude.

"I didn't know," Stas laughed, then winked playfully. "But you confirmed my suspicions, didn't you, my friend?"

At the merchant's expertly chosen swear words, Ordyntsev only laughed more heartily.

[1] Translator's note: this may seem like a mistake, but it's just Stas essentially telling the truth while not revealing the identity of the head of the Shadow Stone.