This hall looks hundreds of years old, and maybe even more. A leader from the front of Suga who from the voice and silhouette was a man then said
"What about your mission?"
Suga answered
“Unfortunately, they only responded minimally”
Hearing this, it appeared that one of the leaders to the right part behind Suga became impatient, from his voice and silhouette this person was also a man
"It is deeply regretted. At a time like this, the Takeru Family as the owner of “The War Wolf Yokai's General” should be self-aware”
One of the other leaders, who was sitting on the throne towards Suga's left, from the silhouette and voice, this person was a woman, then said
“It's been decades since they left the “Alliance”, expecting them to suddenly join is pretty much impossible…”
On the other hand, Suga appeared to smile
“Alliance? don't you mean the Association?"
Hearing Suga's words, caught the attention of these three leaders. This female leader smiled
"You're right, we haven't used that term in a long time, I suddenly got carried away because of the current situation"
Suga closed his eyes for a while, then opened his eyes again with a serious expression on his face. Suga and Nellson then whispered to each other, and before long, Suga then change back like a person who was not blind, while looking around
“The dangers of the “Flame Crow” cannot be underestimated. But we can quite see where their actions are going”
The leader in front of Suga said
“Of course, we know it, I don't know if they also know about us. Our next action against them will largely depend on the state of the Association”
Suga nodded in agreement. The leader in front of Suga said
"Any progress from the hyena Yokai?"
Suga nodded slowly while closing his eyes for a moment, then opened his eyes again
"I'm still losing track of him, the last time we faced each other seemed to keep him on low profile now"
This leader in front of Suga replied
“Then finish it, he might be able to bring us closer to the Flame Crow. Also, whether or not there is a connection between Flame Crow and Black Deer”
Suga replied
"Understood sir..."
The leader replied
"Alright then, that's all for now"
Shortly after, the room went dark again for a moment, and when the lights came back on, the thrones occupied by the leaders had been empty. Suga walked away from here, Nellson then flew after him and landed on Suga's left forearm.
In the lobby of this building, Suga sat on a single long chair arranged opposite to each other, there was also a single chair here, and a standing lamp nearby, with a short table in the middle. There are several groups of these tables and chairs reserved for waiting or otherwise. Nellson is perched on one of the armrests on the long chairs here. Suga now is sitting here, reading the contents of an investigation document. In this document, there are several photos of a person Suga previously fought against, the hyena Yokai. It is written that this hyena Yokai has many pseudonyms and identities, and has already taken several victims. Suga turned to the next page, and there was a person with a similar photo of the hyena's Yokai human form, only that his status had died due to a car accident, with the date of occurrence from 5 years ago. Suga thought to himself while reading the documents in front of him.
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“This hyena Yokai takes the form of a dead person. I've heard the story, that Yokais can only imitate the form of humans who have died, and are somehow bound to only one gender per Yokai. I guess this is what sometimes causes some people to claim to see their dead comrades or relatives. Also, once they take on a person's form, they will not be able to replace it for some time, depending on the strength of the Yokai. It is still shrouded in mystery how Yokais can get their human forms. But clearly, I have to solve this case immediately or he might change his human form and I have to start the investigation all over again…”
Suga continued reading this document. Shortly after, Nellson looked exhausted
"I've reached my limit, I'll excuse myself Suga"
Suga's attention immediately turned to Nellson, who can look at Nellson in the right direction. Suga smiled
"Yes, good night"
Nellson nodded. Black smoke began to evaporate from Nellson's body until finally covered his whole body, Suga looked ready, and he then stretch out his hand toward Nellson. Not long, from this black smoke fell a statue keychain with a chibi shape and colored like Nellson, which was the size of a human palm. Suga catches Nellson keychain just in time, he then holds this keychain without his eye could looking right at it. Suga's behavior appears to be back to being like a blind man. Suga groped his pants pocket and took out his smartphone, he then called his driver
"Could you please bring me my cane?"
Suga then ended the call.
The next day, the time is now 5:10 am, today's sky looks clear and cloudy, although it is still quite dim because it is still early in the morning. The morning sun appeared to be rising on the horizon. Ken and Makoto came early in the morning because Ken also still had to go to school. After climbing the stairs with the Shinto gates, they arrived back in front of the shrine on the hill behind Takeru's house, which is the garden lights here were still turned on. Ken said
"Is Asanuma always kept in this shrine, grandpa?"
Makoto nodded
"Yeah, it's been a long time, even since I was little"
Makoto recalled in his memories, a woman sitting on a hospital bed and wearing patient clothes, in a hospital ward. This woman smiled while showing the glove puppet Asanuma in her right hand. The flashback ended. Returning to Makoto, a smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes showed sadness
"Maybe you're starting to wonder, why are glove puppet Asanuma always kept inside this shrine?"
Hearing his grandfather's correct guess, Ken appeared a little nervous
"Actually, I'm really curious about that grandpa"
Makoto replied
"To lock him up so the world forgets about him"
Ken looked surprised, his expression also mixed with sadness. Makoto stopped his steps, he then turned back to Ken
“The Yokai power that is sealed within the medium, can be used by its owner. The world was once on the verge of collapse for the second time, when humans used this Yokais power to wage war, long ago. That's why the ancestors of the Takeru family believed that this kind of power could bring about the destruction of mankind. They didn't want to use this power again, but at the same time, didn't want to lose it either. It's really a dilemma… but in the end, the Takeru family continued to use it, until recently, the Takeru family again decided not to be controlling the Yokais, it's been years"
Ken looked interested, his expression then turned serious
"I won't question the Takeru family's decision, but what kind of Yokai power does grandpa mean?"
Makoto looked hesitant to answer it
“You will know yourself as the owner, and if you decide to use it. This is not something that is easy to understand verbally”
Hearing this, Ken became nervous. Makoto turned back, walked up the short stairs leading to the shrine's terrace, and stood in front of the shrine's entrance. Makoto then used the key, to unlock the front door of this shrine.
As soon as the Shrine entrance door was opened, the light of the morning sun entered the shrine and broke the darkness. Makoto walked over to the table where glove puppet Asanuma was, Ken have also stepped into the shrine. Makoto took this glove puppet while saying
"The ceremony to honor the Takeru family that we routinely do every year is to maintain the seal of this glove puppet Asanuma"
Makoto then handed the glove puppet to Ken. Ken accepted it, with a curious expression on his face. For some time, Ken watched the glove puppet carefully and curiously
"Maintaining the seal? does it mean so that Asanuma is not free from the seal?"
Makoto replied
“The maintenance of the seal here is not to confine it but to maintain its strength. Because over time, this seal continues to suppress Yokai's strength to a minimum, but not permanently. Once a Yokai is sealed in a medium, they will not be able to escape on their own, except with a special seal release technique, which is said to be known only by “The first sealer”
Hearing this, Ken's expression turned curious.