213 The Arisu Shrine

"Hello, Director Mitani, kindly just get to the point." Kimura Kazuki glanced at the time and said flatly, "I'm at school right now, and I can't afford to waste my lunch break."

Upon hearing this, Director Mitani spoke gently, "Sorry for interrupting your lunch break Kimura-Kun. Well, the thing is... You were previously involved in a case regarding a wraith and caught the culprit named Natsuna Yamanaka. On behalf of the entire Department of Mysteries, I thank you for your contributions toward the security of the nation! However, there's been a slight accident at the Department of Mysteries."

Kimura Kazuki grunted gently to indicate that he was listening.

Director Mitani's tone was apologetic, "According to the rules of the Department of Mysteries, the ownership of the wraith should belong to you, Kimura-Kun, because you were the one who caught it. The negligence of the Department of Mysteries during the filing process made a member of our Special Team One, Arisu Yuusuke, think that the wraith was captured by the Department of Mysteries. This fellow just joined the Department of Mysteries, and he barely knows the rules, so he ended up turning the wraith into reiki and absorbed it."

Kimura Kazuki narrowed his eyes, "So, that means that the wraith is gone now?" After talking to Ryo Otake on the phone, he thought an issue had occurred at the Department of Mysteries, but he had not expected this to be the issue.

This was because the rules of the Department of Mysteries were not something new to him. These rules were explained to them by the members of the Huaxia Combat Department, after their deployment to Japan.

The rules of the Huaxia Spiritual Academy had emphasized on the degree of contribution whereby each mission had a certain degree of contribution and could be categorized into individual assignments and group assignments.

Group assignments were mainly based on a division of sub-groups, and once the mission was completed, the degree of contribution would be distributed according to each members' contributions. Souvenirs obtained during the mission had to be handed over, of course, with an equivalent conversion as a degree of contribution.

However, things were different at the Department of Mysteries in Japan, where the basic rule was finders keepers. Hence, that was why there was plenty of intense internal competition within the Department of Mysteries in Japan.

Of course, during the era of recuperation of reiki were apparitions were abundant, most people did not have to rely on the reiki of apparitions to practice. Yet, Kimura Kazuki knew that even in the Dharma Ending Age, wraiths belonged to whoever captured them, and this rule would probably never change. This was also why he had handed over his wraith to the Department of Mysteries without worrying that they would take possession of it.

"Alright then, if you guys can get me a new wraith within a week, I won't pursue this matter any further, and I'll just let it go." Kimura Kazuki nodded in understanding.

Stunned at his words, Director Mitani uttered hesitantly, "Kimura-Kun, if it's a wraith, things may be a bit complicated. The Department of Mysteries can compensate you in other ways, though. We're in cooperation with the Deity Rising Palace, and I'm sure you've heard of the protective jace of the Deity Rising Palace, Kimura-Kun."

Kimura Kazuki frowned, "I'm sorry, but I don't need it. Since what I handed over was a wraith, I'm hoping that what you guys compensate me with will be a wraith as well." He replied faintly, "Don't tell me that you guys can't even capture a wraith."

Though he couldn't understand the Department of Mysteries completely, he still knew some of the basic conditions. The Department of Mysteries was the official extraordinary organization in Japan and most of the members were young people. These young people were either elites from notable families or talented individuals from the Deity Rising Palace. They had joined the Department of Mysteries to hone their skills aside from making use of the nation's resources to look for apparitions to boost their capabilities.

It was deemed a win-win situation for both Japan and these families.

Director Mitani was starting to have a headache, "Kimura-Kun, we actually aren't able to get you another wraith. The Department of Mysteries can offer some other form of compensation to you, so please don't make things difficult for us."

Kimura Kazuki chuckled upon hearing this and inquired, "I thought Arisu-Kun was the one compensating me? Why is the Department of Mysteries taking responsibility for compensation?" Director Mitani went silent for a few seconds. Still, before he could manage to say anything, he heard Kimura Kazuki asking, "This Arisu-Kun that you mentioned, which family is he from?"

"His name is Arisu Yuusuke, from the Arisu family." Director Mitani answered truthfully, though he was puzzled by Kimura Kazuki's question, "The Arisu family is considered a notable family in Tokyo and is related to the Deity Rising Palace as well. So compensation from Arisu-Kun should be decent enough."

"I see, so be it then." Kimura Kazuki glanced at the time, "I need to go for my lunch break now."

"This..." Director Mitani was somewhat confused. Had he not understood what he was trying to say? With that in mind, he asked tentatively, "About the compensation?"

"Consider the matter settled. Thank you for calling me, Director Mitani." Kimura Kazuki said flatly, "I'll handle it myself."

Handle it himself? Director Mitani was perplexed, but what greeted him next was nothing but the mere dial tone of the phone hanging up.

Sitting at his place, Director Mitani frowned, "There's no such family as the Kimura family in the country..."

After school was dismissed in the afternoon, Kimura Kazuki called Yagyu Kenichiro to ask him for the location of the Arisu family.

"It's in the Yogensha District next to the Chiyoda District, at Ichijo. When you reach Ichijo, you can just ask any passer-by for the exact location." Yagyu Kenichiro was supervising the training of his students at home. After the Tokyo District Qualifiers had ended, the Yagyu Kendo Gym had been seeing more and more students. Two days ago, the number of registered students had exceeded the hundred mark, which had sent him into thinking if he should open a branch.

Just as Yagyu Kenichiro finished talking and was just about satisfy his curiosity by asking Kimura Kazuki what he was up to, he heard Kimura Kazuki answer, "Got it." With that, he hung up, leaving Yagyu Kenichiro speechless.

Soon enough, Kimura Kazuki was on the tram and had arrived at Ichijo in the Yogensha District.

After asking a passer-by for directions, the passer-by merely gave him a peculiar look as he pointed it out, "See that Arisu Shrine in front? That's where the Arisu family stays."

Nodding in thanks, Kimura Kazuki quickly arrived at the Arisu Shrine.

The fact that the Arisu family would have a shrine under their management was totally beyond his expectations.

Kimura Kazuki gave a slight nod upon looking at the crowd around the Arisu Shrine. Looks like Director Mitani was right. The Arisu family is indeed notable.

Just as he thought so, the reiki in his body surged, and he felt a wave of pressure upon him.

In less than 10 seconds, a middle-aged man in his kariginu looked at Kimura Kazuki with a surprised and bewildered expression. Lowering his head, he asked respectfully, "How may I address you, sir?"

"Just call me Kimura."

"Master Kimura, this way." Aware of the curious glances from the crowd, the middle-aged man hinted at Kimura Kazuki to head inside for a conversation.

Kimura Kazuki followed him without saying much. Though the middle-aged man was curious, he did not dare to ask anything.

He felt an invincible flux of energy from this Kimura Kazuki.