Night had draped itself over Edo like a heavy cloth.
In the darkness, five shadows moved cautiously through the narrow alleys—
men cloaked in dark garments, light armor hidden under their cloaks,
their steps firm and determined.
Their target was clear:
the house of the village steward.
Unseen by mortal eyes,
Tessa followed them from the shadows of the rooftops.
Her green eyes gleamed like those of a predator in the dim light.
"I could take them out before they even reach the door," she murmured.
Her voice was calm,
but a slight vibration of impatience tinged each word.
Mike, long accustomed to her impulsiveness, snorted in amusement.
"Sure you could. And then we'd have no idea what they actually want."
Tessa curled her lip, a low growl forming in her throat.
"Why should I care? Men of a daimyo... what else could they want but power or control?"
Mike’s voice turned patient,
with that subtle sharpness he reserved for her more stubborn moments.
"Because knowledge is power, Tessa. We have to understand before we act."
The reluctant clenching of her jaw betrayed her frustration.
But she relented.
The First Interrogation Reluctantly, Tessa closed her eyes,
focused on the spy crystals—
and began to listen.
The steward's house sat in silent darkness.
It was a simple structure, but large enough to underline Himoto Akizuki’s rank.
The old steward waited calmly on the veranda, dressed in modest robes, hands folded.
His gaze was sharp—sharp as a butcher’s knife.
Behind him stood Aiko, arms crossed, chin lifted defiantly.
Miko knelt on the floor, her eyes cast downward, her face tense.
The leader of the men stepped forward, bowing briefly.
"Himoto-dono," he said.
"Your arrival is unexpected," Himoto replied with a calm voice.
"So late at night—has there been an emergency?"
"No emergency. Just... questions."
The captain’s voice was calm but carried a cutting edge.
His gaze swept sharply over Himoto.
"Our daimyo has received troubling reports.
Surely you know what I speak of."
Himoto paused a beat too long.
"I’m listening," he said cautiously.
The captain stepped closer,
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
letting his words hang heavy in the air.
"It concerns your shrine. And what happened there."
Tessa sharpened her senses—
a predator catching a scent.
Now they would see whether these men were merely curious—
or whether they already suspected the truth.
Himoto took his time before replying.
"Our shrine is a sacred place," he said steadily.
"What could have happened there?"
The captain studied him like a hunter studying prey.
"Some men, who recently passed through your village, spoke of... an apparition."
Aiko raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing.
"They spoke of a towering woman with glowing eyes,
who appeared in the darkness and drove them away without a word."
He let the words sink in,
then fixed his sharp gaze on Miko.
"You are the priestess of the shrine, are you not?"
Miko flinched slightly.
"H-hai," she whispered.
"You were there that night. What did you see?"
Miko bowed her head even lower.
"I... I do not know. It was dark, and..."
Her voice trembled.
The captain took a step closer, his voice tightening.
"You must understand—such rumors are dangerous.
A daimyo does not tolerate unrest in his provinces.
If you tell us the truth, no harm will come to you."
Himoto quietly but firmly stepped between the captain and his daughter.
"My daughter is a pious woman.
She saw nothing supernatural.
Rumors are born easily—especially among simple folk."
His tone was polite, but an undercurrent of warning threaded through his words.
The captain regarded him for a long moment,
then nodded slowly.
"Perhaps," he said quietly.
"But we must be certain."
His gaze lingered a moment longer on Miko.
"If anything comes to mind—you would be wise to tell us."
A New Kind of Fear As the conversation descended into polite threats,
Mike leaned back in Tessa’s mind,
his thoughts racing.
How could they stop these men without shedding blood?
His gaze wandered around Tessa’s cave...
and landed on something.
The old armor.
Black as night,
perfectly mounted on a wooden mannequin,
its skull-like helmet silently, ominously facing the world.
A silent judge.
A shadow of nightmares.
Mike grinned slowly.
"Tessa... maybe we don't have to convince them a goddess is here..."
Tessa, instantly understanding, smiled coldly.
"But Death itself."
As the daimyo’s men continued their questioning,
a plan formed in Mike’s mind.
A dark plan.
And if it worked...
Edo would soon have a new story.
A story no one would dare forget.
End of Chapter 29
