The day after the underground black-market auction ended, news about Spirit Power Crystals inevitably spread throughout the inner circles.
Especially after families and conglomerates that had obtained Spirit Power Crystals began leaking information—such as someone finally breaking through a bottleneck they'd been stuck at for years, or a certain board member awakening a spirit power aptitude—people became utterly convinced of the crystals' effects.
Excitement spread like wildfire.
At the same time, however, many felt deep regret.
Because something as powerful as Spirit Power Crystals existed in such pitifully small quantities.For the vast majority of them, all they could do was watch others eat their fill, while they didn't even get a sip of soup.
Intense jealousy—and an even stronger craving for Spirit Power Crystals—began driving people to search for the one who had consigned them to auction, just as Kuroichi and Ren Kuroda had predicted.
There was no mystery to it.
At this point, something like a Spirit Power Crystal could already be classified as a strategic resource.
Even a third-rate exorcist family, as long as they controlled the source of Spirit Power Crystals, could potentially rise to become the strongest exorcist family in a short time.
However, when Ren had entrusted the black market with the auction, everything had been handled privately. Even the name "Kazuma" had been nothing more than a disposable alias.
Naturally, the exorcists of the Tokyo District ended up with nothing.
When they failed to obtain the information they wanted, their hostility quickly shifted toward the underground black market itself.
They began pressuring it under the banner of humanity's need to strengthen itself with Spirit Power Crystals to resist the ever-expanding yokai threat, urging the black market—as part of humanity—to prioritize the greater good and reveal what they knew.
Originally, if they could find the consignor, one family could monopolize the benefits.But now that nothing had turned up, they decided that everyone getting rich together was still better than getting nothing at all.
Soon after, Kuroichi—who had previously supported the auction—stepped forward once again and met with all the major figures of the Tokyo District, finally revealing the location where Spirit Power Crystals had been discovered:
The summit of the Great Snow Mountain.
"The summit of the Great Snow Mountain? Are you sure you're not deceiving us?"
Faced with a suspicious challenge from an exorcist family head, Kuroichi gave a sultry smile, her expression utterly unconcerned.
"That's what the person who commissioned the auction told us.As for whether you believe it or not—that's entirely up to you.
"And besides, if Spirit Power Crystals really existed somewhere ordinary, why would they only be discovered now?"
Her words immediately plunged everyone present into deep thought.
In truth, they found her reasoning persuasive.
No one knew Hyakuyaki's exact place of residence. So far, the Great Snow Mountain was the only location where Hyakuyaki had ever been confirmed to appear.If one were to ask which place in the Tokyo District was the most dangerous, the answer was obvious.
Gradually, everyone began filling in the blanks themselves.
The Great Snow Mountain's environment was unimaginably harsh.With Hyakuyaki's overwhelming power, conquering other territories would have been trivial—so why remain entrenched on the mountain?
Now, it all seemed clear.
Hyakuyaki must have discovered Spirit Power Crystals at the mountain's summit.To prevent humanity from rising in power, he used his sheer presence to turn the area into a forbidden land, slaughtering all who dared ascend.
As for the individual who consigned Spirit Power Crystals to the black market, they were likely someone who had once participated in the earlier Snow Mountain campaign against the Yuki-onna—back when the risks and mortality rate of climbing the mountain were nowhere near as high.
It was probably only after Hyakuyaki discovered Spirit Power Crystals that he chose to expose himself, massacring everyone on the mountain to keep the secret buried.
One by one, the exorcist family heads spoke, weaving the entire narrative together until it sounded airtight.
And through repeated mutual validation, they became even more convinced of their conclusions.
So that was it.
All along, the Snow Woman and the fragments of the Killing Stone had only been secondary factors.
The Spirit Power Crystals at the summit of the snow mountain—that was the true reason behind the great conflict between humans and yokai in the Tokyo District!
"This Hyakuyaki's scheming is terrifying… If Spirit Power Crystals hadn't suddenly appeared at the auction, we might still be completely in the dark."
"His initial objective clearly wasn't limited to the Tokyo District.With such overwhelming power and such cunning, don't you all think Hyakuyaki is far more dangerous than other yokai kings?
"Even now, we still don't know what his true goal is."
Thus, atop Ren Kuroda's already fearsome reputation for raw strength, a new label was added:
Inscrutable schemer.
Of course, to yokai like Spider Princess and the Samurai Spirit, this wasn't "scheming" at all—it was simply another testament to their lord's far-reaching wisdom.
Ren Kuroda's intelligence was always astounding, to the point where he planned three steps ahead with every move.
Ren Kuroda: …Huh? (°_°)
"Now that we've identified why Hyakuyaki is holding the Great Snow Mountain—and are reasonably certain that Spirit Power Crystals exist at its summit—what do you all intend to do?"
"Of course we attack the mountain! Are you suggesting we dance to the yokai's tune instead?
"Spirit Power Crystals are a gift from heaven—our chance to surpass the yokai once more! How could we possibly let that slip away!"
A bearded exorcist family head immediately spoke up.
"Spirit Power Crystals are useless to yokai, but to us who cultivate spirit power, they're nothing short of priceless treasures.
"And according to Miss Kuroichi, the Spirit Power Crystals obtained at the auction weren't even the highest grade—yet they already affected exorcists below A-rank."
"Doesn't that suggest there may be higher-grade Spirit Power Crystals at the summit—ones that could even benefit A-rank and above exorcists?"
The words of the Kagamori family head instantly set everyone's hearts racing.
Clearly, the idea of higher-grade Spirit Power Crystals had them hooked.
"The immense value of Spirit Power Crystals is something we understand—and Hyakuyaki surely understands it too.
"So I don't believe this assault on the snow mountain will be easy. After all, he already exposed himself once over this."
Compared to the others, the Kagamori patriarch remained notably rational—simply because Hyakuyaki had left too deep a scar on him.
During the previous human-yokai war in the Tokyo District, he hadn't been the most severely injured—but the psychological shadow he carried was undoubtedly the greatest.
His clan specialized in sealing techniques—triple sealing techniques, no less—yet they had been shattered in that horrifying manner.
The shock was unforgettable.
"Hyakuyaki's strength is beyond dispute. But he was injured by the divine artifact Kusanagi Sword in the last battle—his current condition likely isn't ideal.
"And if we don't seize this opportunity now, once he recovers, laying a hand on the Spirit Power Crystals of the snow mountain will be truly impossible."
The Hōgun family head's words quickly convinced the room.
Rational thinkers were plentiful—but they all understood one thing:
If the Great Snow Mountain truly held Spirit Power Crystals, then it was a prize they had to claim.
Even the cautious Kusura Ryōsuke and the Kagamori patriarch ultimately cast their votes in favor.
And just like that, following the great Tokyo District human-yokai war, the second grand alliance of the Tokyo District was formed.
Everyone knew the Great Snow Mountain was Hyakuyaki's territory. No single family could possibly swallow it whole.
Banding together was the only viable option.
Unlike last time, this campaign wasn't limited to exorcists.
Major conglomerates and even serum warriors formed their own teams as well.
Spirit Power Crystals could grant spirit power aptitude—they weren't exclusive to exorcists.
In this world, no one could resist the temptation of becoming an exorcist.
And compared to physically fragile exorcists, serum warriors were actually better suited to the Great Snow Mountain's frigid environment.
If exorcists could climb the mountain in search of Spirit Power Crystals, why couldn't serum warriors?
After all, each crystal was now selling for an astronomical price.
On the other side, the troublemaking yokai under Ren Kuroda's banner—after receiving Yukihime's orders—headed toward the snow mountain with barely concealed resentment.
They had long harbored thoughts of betrayal, but they couldn't resist the temptation of Demon Power Crystals.
Yukihime's strength completely overshadowed theirs. They didn't dare cause trouble openly and could only stir dissent in secret.
They didn't want to obey her orders—but feared being expelled from the ranks for disobedience.
"Big Brother Haibōzu, I really don't get it. Why do we have to listen to that snow woman bitch and wait around in this godforsaken place?
"With our current strength, if we all rushed her together, we might actually be able to kill her—and seize all the Demon Power Crystals she's guarding. The brothers would skyrocket overnight!"
A small, imp-like yokai with an absurdly long tongue asked as he walked beside the massive Haibōzu, whose body floated like a drifting cloud of black smoke.
The small yokai was a Akaname—a creature that roamed bathhouses and filthy places, living off grime and filth.
As for Haibōzu, he was a yokai born from hearth fires in folklore—sometimes appearing suddenly to devour those who played with burning coals.
In some regions, Haibōzu was even worshiped as a kind of kitchen god, used to warn children not to play with fire lest they be eaten.
"I hate to admit it, but that snow woman is far stronger than us. Her demon power has likely reached A+ rank.
"And not all yokai are on our side. If things really came to blows, we might not win.
"Besides… Hyakuyaki hasn't appeared in a long time—but who's to say he's truly dead?"