"Kuyiya... So you guys investigated the yakuza in Japan?"
Wazhu shook her head. "No, we're still working from existing materials and public records, but some of it also comes from the Chen family's old 'illegal experiment' transaction lists."
"You may not have looked into the Chen family's illegal trade that thoroughly. We discovered from those documents that they sourced experimental subjects from South American human traffickers, and also received Dead Servants and certain reagents from Japanese criminal organizations."
"Last time when you were traveling, I gave you data showing Kuyiya invested in the Dark Tide Aquarium and was suspected of trafficking Dead Servants. But Kuyiya itself has strong ties with multiple yakuza factions — possibly even the same ones that supplied the Chens."
"Then I dug into Kuyiya's other investments and found a huge number of companies in fisheries, shipping, transportation, and tourism... Japanese yakuza are legal entities in theory, but they rarely publicly hold such businesses."
"Shipping and transportation are ideal for smuggling; fisheries involve controlling ports and illegal offshore fishing; tourism is often tied to underground crime. Kuyiya clustering all these sectors together practically screams 'cover operation.'"
She sighed. "And yet, Kuyiya has operated legally for over a decade with zero interference. If these are fronts, then someone big is protecting them."
"Also, Kuyiya is supposedly a small group, but the size of its holdings implies it couldn't possibly manage everything alone. Which means... maybe the industries aren't even really theirs."
"You're suggesting Kuyiya is a white glove — a proxy used by other forces for Dead Servant trafficking?" Nono ventured after some thought.
"Can't be sure yet. We'd need direct proof."
Nono exchanged a knowing glance with Shirou. Since they'd framed their last outing as a simple 'vacation,' they didn't mention that the aquarium really had contained half-dragon, half-serpent Dead Servants modeled after Melusine — or the terrifying variant, the Ghostfang Viper.
From that alone, they could practically confirm Kuyiya was indeed a white glove.
"These people always act like shadows, never playing fair," Wazhu complained. "And with our family currently swamped opening enrollment, I'm barely keeping up."
"It's okay," Shirou said. He'd been about to hint at what they'd seen in the aquarium, but thought better of it. Wazhu already had enough on her plate. And since he and Nono were still hiding Melusine's true identity as their third wheel, asking Wazhu to trace Kuyiya's involvement with Melusine-type Dead Servants just felt... cruel.
Better to bear this burden himself. He, Nono, and Melusine would head to Japan.
Wait — weren't some Japanese noble houses trying to invite him?
In that case... maybe they should suffer a little instead.
He patted Wazhu's smooth shoulder and stayed behind to chat about Japan's matters. Her serpentine tail swayed happily and wrapped loosely around his leg in delight.
"I'm going out shopping — anyone wanna come?"
Nono scowled at Wazhu's snake tail gliding and twining with almost seductive grace. This woman... definitely up to no good.
Shirou, unsurprisingly, didn't want to go. After the last shopping trip, he'd had his fill.
Nono glared at Wazhu as she left. "She always calls others shameless, but look at her the moment Shirou's around! Hypocrite!"
"Melusine, with me! We're going shopping!"
Melusine, who was secretly trying to open another sauce bottle, was yanked away before she could protest.
"Not enough... I still want more..."
"Shut up! We'll buy you ten more bottles, just come with me!"
"Deal! Let's go!"
Watching them leave, Wazhu covered her mouth to stifle laughter.
Ah, karma... Sweet karma.
"You look awfully pleased."
Shirou watched Wazhu's expression bloom into joy the moment Nono left. Her face brightened, and her chest heaved visibly with relief.
"Haha, sometimes I think the new girls around you are pretty amusing."
Is that so? Shirou thought. Because that's not the vibe you gave off earlier...
"You sent them off to say something serious? Or...?"
Wazhu blinked. She wore a simple pale yellow Han-style dress, and when she adjusted it slightly, her graceful curves subtly emerged.
Shirou twitched. He gently pushed her snake tail off his thigh.
"Still about those Japanese noble houses. Are you sending anyone in response to their invite? What name did they use to contact you?"
Wazhu smirked. After a few seconds, she sat upright again.
"Let's see... Their email said something about a 'High-Level Exhibition of Japanese Sword Culture,' and they praised Zhou family's Dragon Severing Platform. But the tone sounded jealous — like they thought their weapons were better."
She pouted, arms crossed. Her gentle curves rose and fell like ripples.
"Either way, I'm not going. But if you're interested, I can send some clan members with you. You carry the Dragon Severing Platform, after all — no one represents us better."
"I do want to go..." Shirou thought Japan would be better ground for investigating the aquarium and Kuyiya.
He mentally reviewed everything that happened in that coastal city. One figure stood out — the water dragon hiding in the Nibelungen-style secret zone.
That dragon was likely Odin's ally or partner. It used the same ritualistic 'Mystic Code' medium as Odin. The aquarium was their research base.
From the Melusine-type Dead Servants to the fact they accidentally summoned the real Melusine, and the summoning array in the Nibelungen maze — it all connected.
Considering Nono's possible Holy Grail vessel nature and Odin's use of soul puppets — their true goal was clearly spirit summoning. The Holy Grail War.
That hidden realm's collapse didn't mean the end.
If there's a Lesser Grail, there's bound to be a Greater one.
If Nono hasn't collapsed from feeding Melusine mana, then something else — some Greater Grail — must be sustaining it.
Odin and his group had already revealed terms like 'Heroic Spirits' and 'Lesser Grail' — there must be hidden Greater Grail research somewhere.
The dragon might be dead... but Odin lived.
Next time they met — it would be time to settle scores.
"Wazhu, I want to go. Maybe these Japanese families can help dig out what's really behind Kuyiya. Investigating via Zhou family would be too foreign — I need locals."
Shirou already had a label ready: Kuyiya's backers were suspects in Greater Grail research.
Wazhu had no objections. She immediately instructed Zhou family members to prepare a formal reply to the exhibition invite and select the escort team.
As for Shirou, now he had little to do. He planned to leave quietly... but then he remembered something.
"By the way, Wazhu — is the Zhou family accepting new mage apprentices right now?"
(End of Chapter)
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