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Standing before August, Koyomi Shizuka found herself at an impasse.

The Lion King Agency had always relied on its exceptional priestesses to win over powerful individuals. Yet now, the very Sword Shaman she had handpicked to be sent to him had ended up angering him. Whether it was intentional provocation on his part or not, she had no choice but to handle the situation delicately.

Amid the tension, Yukina Himeragi was clutching the wound on her leg, her face pale and her breaths uneven.

August's weapon hadn't severed any major arteries, but it had pierced straight through her calf. The blood loss was considerable, and the time that had passed since the injury only made things worse. Yukina, weakened and trembling, was visibly struggling to remain conscious.

Thud!

She finally collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.

Her sudden fall naturally caught the attention of the two standing nearby.

Seeing Yukina unconscious, Koyomi Shizuka frowned deeply. But when her eyes fell on the pool of blood around her, she understood. Despite the severity of her injury, the girl hadn't uttered a single complaint.

August, on the other hand, looked utterly unimpressed. Though Yukina was a talented Sword Shaman with a rare aptitude as a spiritual medium and an awakened sixth sense, she was still, in his eyes, woefully inadequate.

Ultimately, it came down to the stark difference in their natures. As a human, Yukina's strength was inherently limited—an unavoidable gap between species.

"Lord August," Koyomi Shizuka finally spoke, her tone cautious. "Would you grant me a little more time to address this matter?"

"You're free to take your time," August replied nonchalantly. "I'll be waiting at Saikai Academy for your apology. But don't keep me waiting too long—I have my limits when it comes to patience."

Before leaving, his gaze lingered on Koyomi Shizuka for a moment. A chill ran down her spine as though she had been plunged into an icy abyss.

"Yes, I understand," she answered, bowing deeply.

"Good."

August gave a casual nod before turning away. The confrontation had dulled his mood, and any interest he'd had in continuing his day had vanished. Without hesitation, he summoned the Vimana before Koyomi Shizuka's very eyes, climbed aboard, and vanished into the sky without so much as a backward glance.

With a long, weary sigh, Koyomi Shizuka turned to tend to Yukina. Supporting the unconscious Sword Shaman, she left the scene.

Yukina Himeragi was undeniably one of the most talented Sword Shamans of her generation. Her compatibility with the Schneewolf spear was unmatched. Yet, her very first mission outside had now brought a significant problem to the Lion King Agency.

Though August had left for now, the underlying issue remained unresolved.

His words had been clear: if they wanted his forgiveness, they would need to demonstrate genuine sincerity—and they had little time to do so.

Koyomi Shizuka knew all too well what failure might bring. She harbored no doubts that August was fully capable of taking action against the Lion King Agency if his demands weren't met.

This wasn't just about appeasing a powerful figure. It was about survival.

...

At Takagami-no-Mori, shortly after Koyomi Shizuka returned, she relayed everything about August's reaction.

The news of Yukina Himeragi angering August—culminating in him piercing her leg and causing her to lose so much blood she fell unconscious—forced everyone within the Lion King Agency to reassess the situation.

It became painfully clear: August would not be easily swayed. Coupled with Koyomi Shizuka's previous attack and this latest attempt to monitor him through Yukina, the series of missteps could now easily be interpreted as outright provocation.

In this world, power determined everything. The unshakable status of beings like the True Ancestors was proof enough of that.

"This situation has grown more complicated. What are we going to do about August?"

"Should we give up? Focus all our efforts on the Fourth Primogenitor instead. We could send both Sword Shamans and Dancers to serve as spiritual mediums and help him fully awaken. Then, we could use him to deal with August."

"That's unwise. The Fourth Primogenitor was just a high school student before his transformation. Even now, after inheriting the title, he remains largely unchanged."

"I agree. Akatsuki Kojou may possess the bloodline of the Fourth Primogenitor, but he is still far from becoming a true primogenitor. The gap is immense."

"Then what's the plan? Do we show up at August's door to apologize? Offer money? Cede authority? Or send women?"

The suggestion brought silence to the room.

Money? That was laughable. Their investigations had revealed that August possessed gold bricks as if they were mere toys. He could casually throw them around like cheap trinkets, rendering monetary compensation meaningless.

Ceding authority? The Lion King Agency didn't hold dominion over Itogami Island. How could they give away something they didn't control? The island's autonomy was beyond their reach.

That left only one option: sending women.

While Yukina Himeragi had angered August, it was notable that he hadn't killed her. Moreover, in just a few days on Itogami Island, August had already "acquired" another girl from the middle school division. Reports from the Special Zone Guard confirmed that August had stormed into the school and forcibly taken her away.

Clearly, though he might not let women dictate his decisions, he undeniably had a preference for beautiful companions. If that was the case, then catering to his interests might be their best strategy. The Lion King Agency, after all, was never short on exceptional women.

"Doesn't Yukina Himeragi have a close friend who's a Dancer?"

"Yes, Sayaka Kirasaka. She's one of the most talented Dancers of her generation."

"Then we'll send them both. But this time, they must completely lower their stance and avoid causing any further trouble."

"That could work, but there's one problem. Sayaka Kirasaka is highly averse to men. She harbors an intense disdain for them. If we send her to August, it might backfire."

"That's precisely why it'll work. A woman like her, forced into a situation where she must serve a domineering and self-centered man like August, will only ignite his sense of conquest."

"Very well."

As experts in matchmaking, the Lion King Agency had used such tactics countless times to win over influential individuals. They understood men's desires with almost scientific precision.

A man like August, bold and self-centered, would undoubtedly take particular interest in conquering a woman who despised men but was compelled to serve him.

"Let me handle this matter."

A voice interrupted from the garden, and a black cat leapt into the room.

The gathered officials turned to the feline and nodded in agreement. They had no objections.

This black cat was no ordinary creature—it was a shikigami. Her true identity was none other than Yukina Himeragi and Sayaka Kirasaka's mentor, Enjou En. A female elf, Enjou was one of the most respected figures within the Lion King Agency, revered as a shishō—master instructor.

Most of the Sword Shamans, Dancers, and Priestesses within the agency had trained under her, though few disciples received her personal attention as Yukina and Sayaka had. Enjou's standing within the organization was second only to the Triumvirate, the three leaders of the Lion King Agency.

Given her role in educating and mentoring the agency's operatives, coupled with her longevity as an elf, she was an indispensable cornerstone of their institution.

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