Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
In the corridor of a government building in the Kasumigaseki area.
"Abnormal Creature Countermeasures Office? What kind of department is this?"
Yomi Isayama, dressed in a black sailor uniform and carrying a black sword bag, looked at her superior with slight confusion - Ayame Jinguuji, Director of the Ministry of Environment's Disaster Countermeasures Office.
Unlike the sharp-edged Yomi Isayama, Ayame Jinguuji, wearing a women's suit and seated in a smart wheelchair, exuded the charm of a mature woman throughout.
Facing Yomi Isayama's question, Ayame Jinguuji simply explained with a smile:
"It's a newly established department by the Cabinet, likely to be placed under the Ministry of Environment in the future."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama was momentarily stunned, then frowned:
"What about us? What happens to us?"
"Having another mystic side department in the Ministry of Environment can't be good news for either you, Director, or for us, right?"
Originally, the Ministry of Environment only had one mystic side department - the Disaster Countermeasures Office, with all mystic side-related funding being used by the Disaster Countermeasures Office.
Now, with the addition of an Abnormal Creature Countermeasures Office, even the most foolish person would understand the potential conflicts between the two departments.
"Not just not good news, it might even be worse."
Ayame Jinguuji manipulated the wheelchair's control handle, moving the wheelchair slowly forward along the corridor:
"According to the Minister of the Ministry of Environment, the Abnormal Creatures Countermeasures Office is expected to become the department overseeing the Disaster Countermeasures Office, responsible for imprisoning and safeguarding the abnormal lifeforms captured and contained by the Disaster Countermeasures Office."
Upon hearing this, Yomi Isayama couldn't help but sigh:
"So, we've inexplicably gained a department above us?"
"What were those old fellows in the Cabinet thinking?"
"What they were thinking, I don't know."
"However, judging by the Minister of the Ministry of Environment's gleeful expression in the meeting room today, the Director of the Financial Services Agency, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry must have left the Cabinet meeting room with sour faces today."
Hearing Ayame Jinguuji say this, Yomi Isayama grew somewhat curious:
"Those old fellows left with sour faces? Did something major happen?"
Ayame Jinguuji tilted her head at this, her tone carrying a hint of confusion:
"No concrete information has circulated, but I did catch a bit of a rumour, though I'm not sure about its accuracy..."
"A rumour?" Yomi Isayama couldn't resist commenting upon hearing the term: "Director, when has any rumour you've heard ever been inaccurate?"
At this point, Yomi Isayama sighed:
"So, what's the situation with this so-called rumour?"
Then, Ayame Jinguuji said with a smile:
"It's said that the Director of the Hidden Management Department and the current head of the Shinomiya conglomerate, that Miss Kaguya Shinomiya, stayed overnight together at a hotel last night."
Hearing that the matter involved Luo Shu, Yomi Isayama's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly before she frowned and said:
"The Hidden Management Department's Director Luo Shu? He actually has that kind of relationship with the new head of the Shinomiya conglomerate?"
Thinking of the man she had met once and even collaborated with in Kyoto against the Hagoromo Group, Yomi Isayama said calmly:
"But come to think of it, haven't I heard he has relationships with many girls?"
"Just adding one more Kaguya Shinomiya doesn't seem like much, does it?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Ayame Jinguuji smiled slightly before explaining:
"There are whispers within the SDS that the Director has turned the Hidden Management Department into his personal harem, and while such rumours do exist..."
Ayame Jinguuji smiled as she looked at the elevator before her, and as Yomi Isayama stepped forward to press the elevator button, she continued:
"In reality, during the Hidden Management Department's last recruitment drive, both the Cabinet and even the Union arranged excellent female candidates to participate in the assessments."
"But reportedly, not a single one has passed those tests and successfully entered the inner workings of the Hidden Management Department."
"The Hidden Management Department's new recruitment perfectly avoided all the planted candidates and successfully brought in new personnel."
"It's said that colleagues in the Public Security Bureau suspect the Hidden Management Department has a secret personnel screening mechanism."
"There's even that?"
Yomi Isayama was momentarily stunned - the Five Great Powers and the Cabinet had already tried the tactic of sending women? This was her first time hearing about it.
"Indeed, that's why adding one more Kaguya Shinomiya is giving the Cabinet headaches."
"If it were just an ordinary one-night stand, that would be one thing, but if there's any benefit transfer involved, then the Cabinet officials will really have migraines."
After the elevator dinged, Ayame Jinguuji manoeuvred her wheelchair inside, pressed the button for the fifth floor, and narrowed her eyes as she said:
"After all, that's the Shironomiya conglomerate – one of Japan's eight economic pillars."
"If they truly join forces with the Hidden Management Department, the situation would become quite unfavourable."
"Considering this, the Cabinet naturally needs to increase its focus on the Shironomiya family."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama curled her lip and retorted:
"As if the other seven economic pillars haven't teamed up with America."
"Besides, they've even sent out their current family head. Wouldn't it be strange if the Shironomiya family weren't cooperating with the Hidden Management Department?"
"That is indeed the case."
Ayame Jinguuji nodded, then steered her wheelchair out as the elevator reached the fifth floor:
"However, that's a headache for the ministers. Our job in the execution departments is to meet the targets set by our superiors."
"So what's this time's target?" Yomi Isayama adjusted her sword bag and asked curiously.
"It's an order arranged by the Abnormal Creatures Countermeasures Office." Ayame Jinguuji's tone was very calm.
"The order arrives before we've even met the person?"
Yomi Isayama frowned, then sneered:
"What tricks are these newly arrived officials trying to play with their first move?"
At this, Ayame Jinguuji said calmly:
"They want us to cooperate with the Cabinet Direct Unit to secretly arrest a rampaging vampire lurking in Tokyo."
Yomi Isayama frowned at this: "Arrest a vampire?"
"According to our agreement with the vampire Elder Council, shouldn't rampaging vampires be handed over to the Metropolitan Police Department's vampire unit?"
To this, Ayame Jinguuji simply maintained her smile:
"Hence, it's a secret arrest."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama immediately understood and said coolly, "So that means this vampire probably isn't actually a so-called rampaging vampire, right?"
"Indeed. The legitimate daughter of the Hio family, a pureblood vampire lineage."
Ayame Jinguuji sighed softly, then said:
"The order from above is for us to capture her alive."
"I understand."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama fell silent for a moment before asking:
"When do we move?"
"The sooner the better."
"...Understood."