I'm in a crossover anime world, and I've been transported to Hogwarts twice.

Looking at Shinobu Kocho's delicate face, filled with anxiety, and her purple eyes, devoid of any smile due to worry, she understood.

She knew all too well the special and passionate feelings that the Insect Pillar had for Genichi Hanyu.

Yukino Yukinoshita's face showed just the right amount of seriousness and a hint of fatigue. This was not entirely a pretense; the mess left by Genichi Hanyu was indeed giving her a headache.

She gestured for Shinobu to sit down, her voice reassuring yet tinged with a hint of unease: "Miss Shinobu, please don't worry. The situation is indeed a bit complicated, and we are doing our best to search and confirm..."

Her answer was ambiguous, neither completely denying the bad news nor offering any reassuring assurances, which only added to the mystery and sense of urgency.

This is exactly the effect that Genichi Hanyu planned: to let worries and speculations continue to fester, and to make those eyes hiding in the shadows even more certain that the opportunity has arrived.

The arrival of Shinobu Kocho and her undisguised anxiety undoubtedly added a touch of realism to the scene.

Looking at Yukino's expression, Shinobu's heart sank even deeper.

She gripped the cuffs of her haori tightly, her purple eyes filled with worry like an impenetrable fog.

141 The bait has been laid, the hunter is in the shadows.

Yukino looked at Shinobu Kocho, who stood in front of her, her posture upright but unable to hide her anxiety.

This Insect Pillar from the Demon Slayer world has completely lost his usual elegant yet dangerous composure, like a poisoned butterfly.

Her purple eyes were filled with undisguised worry, her tightly pursed lips revealed her inner anxiety, and her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the cuffs of her haori sleeves, the exquisite butterfly wing patterns on them seeming to lose their liveliness due to their owner's emotions.

Yukinoshita couldn't help but raise her delicate eyebrows.

She was all too familiar with that look in her eyes—that look of deep concern and burning worry.

She had seen that look in her eyes before, on her younger sister Yukino Yukinoshita's face, in Yuki Suoh's occasional moments of absent-mindedness, and even when Erina Nakiri was putting on a brave face.

And now, it appears so clearly on Shinobu Kocho's face.

She leaned back slightly in the high-backed chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the table, and spoke with a knowing and inquisitive tone, "Miss Ren."

Yukino's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible mischief, her gaze sharp as a knife, as if trying to pierce through the other's defenses: "You wouldn't be... with him..."

She didn't finish speaking, but the meaningful pause and the rising intonation at the end, along with her icy blue eyes that seemed to see through everything, conveyed the unspoken words perfectly.

Caught off guard by the sudden revelation of her innermost thoughts, Shinobu Kocho's body stiffened almost imperceptibly!

It was as if it had been instantly stretched taut by an invisible thread.

A flicker of panic crossed her usually gentle, smiling, almost mask-like face, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Her purple pupils widened slightly, then she quickly lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes trembling violently like the wings of a startled butterfly.

silence.

A subtle, slightly awkward and shy silence fell over the office.

Shinobu Kocho didn't admit it, but her silence itself was the clearest answer.

She pursed her lips tightly, and a faint blush, like the morning glow, quietly spread across her cheeks, reaching all the way to her delicate earlobes.

That pure concern for Genichi Hanyu's safety was now mixed with the embarrassment of having her feelings exposed, leaving her momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Seeing Shinobu's hesitant, tacit expression, Yukinoshita understood, then shook her head helplessly and sighed softly.

That sigh carried three parts understanding, three parts helplessness, and four parts habit.

"Forget it."

She waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying little flying insect, her tone carrying a sense of resignation, as if she had just accepted her fate.

I'm not saying anything more~

She leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on the illusory yet eternal sea of ​​stars outside the window, a complex emotion barely perceptible in her eyes.

"That's just how my partner is. She's used to attracting attention and brings back a bunch of unwanted suitors wherever she goes, leaving us to clean up after her."

This statement was half true and half false, tinged with a hint of irony and a touch of subtle bitterness.

Yukino Yukinoshita is well aware of Genichi Hanyu's charm, and she also knows the roles she and Yukino play in his complicated love life.

She wasn't entirely surprised by Shinobu's obvious feelings, but it did give her a bit of a headache.

However, as much as I have a headache, I cannot waver on matters of principle.

Yukino's eyes instantly regained their clarity and sharpness.

There was no way she could tell Shinobu about the "fake disappearance, real trap" scheme that she and Genichi Hanyu were carrying out.

This was not a matter of distrust. She had no doubt about Shinobu Kocho's loyalty to Genichi Hanyu, nor did she doubt that Shinobu would fully cooperate after learning the truth.

With Shinobu Kocho's intelligence and forbearance, she is absolutely capable of playing this role well.

but!

The fewer people who know about this, the less risk of it being exposed!

This is an ironclad rule! Especially during this sensitive period, any unplanned disturbance could alert the cunning big fish lurking in the shadows, causing all efforts to be in vain!

What Genichi Hanyu needs now is an absolute illusion of "weakness," and anyone in the know may inadvertently reveal a flaw.

The more genuine Shinobu's concerns are, the more convincing they will be to those who are spying on her.

Yukino quickly composed herself, her face regaining its worried yet forced composure.

She looked at Shinobu Kocho, who was still silent but seemed to have calmed down a little, and said in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry, Shinobu-san."

Her voice was steady and powerful, carrying a convincing certainty.

"Chaldea has mobilized all its forces and resources, operating at full capacity to search for clues about String One!"

She paused, deliberately revealing a just-right amount of bitterness and exhaustion on her face, as if she were under immense pressure. Her voice also lowered, carrying a barely perceptible sense of "forcing herself": "I believe we'll have clues soon. He's so strong, he'll definitely be fine."

The final line, "Nothing will happen," was emphasized, which ironically added a sense of self-comfort and made her performance seem more real and believable.

Shinobu Kocho stared intently at Yukinoshita's face, trying to glean clues about the truth from every subtle change in her expression.

The worry and exhaustion on Yukino's face were so real, and the bitterness in her forced spirit was also flawless.

She had indeed seen the signs that Chaldea was operating at full capacity.

All of this points to a grim fact: Genichi Hanyu has indeed been in trouble, and the situation may be very bad.

This realization made Shinobu Kocho feel as if her heart was being tightly gripped by a cold hand.

She could no longer wait passively! She had to do something!

"Ms. Yang No!"

Shinobu Kocho suddenly raised her head, her purple eyes burning with a resolute flame, no longer hesitant or shy, only with the determination of a warrior.

"I'm requesting to join the search team! I'll personally go out and find Master Yuzuru!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, carrying an undeniable determination.

She is familiar with Genichi Hanyu's aura, possesses the keen senses and tracking abilities of a Demon Slayer Corps Pillar-level swordsman, and even has mastered some special techniques for finding people derived from the Breath of Insects.

Leaving her here waiting is worse than killing her!

Yukinoshita looked at the unwavering determination in Shinobu's eyes and nodded inwardly.

This initiative to volunteer is exactly what she wanted to see!

Shinobu Kocho's actual actions will add a crucial element of credibility to this grand drama.

".good."

Yukinoshita nodded in agreement almost without hesitation, but then her expression turned unusually serious. She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice, solemnly instructing in a volume that only the two of them could hear: "Miss Shinobu, you can go. Take someone you trust with you, or you can go alone. I believe in your abilities."

She abruptly changed the subject, her eyes sharp as a hawk's, "But you must remember one thing: be sure to avoid certain people!"

She emphasized these words: "The operation must be extremely secretive! Don't make a big fuss, and most importantly—"

She looked directly into Shinobu's eyes and emphasized each word carefully.

"For the time being, absolutely, absolutely do not reveal the news of his disappearance in any form. The official line from Outer Chaldea remains that Genichi has important matters to attend to and cannot be contacted for the time being, understand?"

Upon hearing Yukinoshita's unusually serious, even slightly warning, instruction, Shinobu Kocho's expression instantly became extremely solemn.

She is not a fool.

The fact that Yukinoshita Haruno emphasized secrecy so much, even asking her to avoid being seen or heard, gave her a chill down her spine!

The disappearance of Master Yuzuru is probably not just an accident, but may involve some extremely dangerous game.

Or are there enemies (from the Zhao state) secretly lurking?

This realization instantly transformed Shinobu's worries into a heavier sense of responsibility and vigilance.

She nodded vigorously, a warrior's cold glint flashing in her purple eyes: "I understand!"

Her voice was deep and firm, carrying a chilling air of receiving a command.

"I will act carefully and will not leak a word of my actions, nor will I let anyone know the purpose of my actions. Please rest assured, Ms. Yang!"

Yukinoshita watched as Shinobu Kocho instantly entered a state of focus, like a blade being drawn from its sheath, and nodded in satisfaction: "Go, be careful in everything. If you find anything, contact me immediately through the highest-encryption channel. Don't tell anyone."

Shinobu Kocho said no more, bowed solemnly to Yukinoshita, then turned and left the office with light but resolute steps.

The haori with butterfly wing patterns flashed by at the door, like a butterfly plunging into the darkness in search of light.

As Yukino Yukino looked at the closed door, the worry and exhaustion on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, cold smile with the patience of a hunter.

The bait has been laid, the hunter is in the shadows; now it's time to see which fish will be the first to bite.

142 Naoe's intuition: danger and opportunity coexist.

The Prime Minister's Official Residence, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

This building, symbolizing the highest power in the Sakura Kingdom, stands quietly in the afternoon sun, yet an invisible, suffocating low pressure permeates its interior.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies the meticulously manicured courtyard of the official residence, lush with greenery, yet it cannot dispel the gloom between the office owner's brows.

Prime Minister Naoe Jinnosuke, a seasoned and cautious leader who has navigated the political landscape for decades, is not only in a bad mood, but is also caught in an unprecedented and extremely intense vortex of entanglement.

He sat alone behind a large desk, the expensive mahogany surface gleaming, reflecting his furrowed brows and gloomy face.

His fingers tapped unconsciously and with an anxious rhythm on the smooth, cold edge of the table, producing a dull and suppressed "tap-tap" sound, as if it were a countdown to the intense inner conflict.

The news of Genichi Hanyu's disappearance, like a boulder thrown into deep water, had already stirred up a great deal of waves in the intelligence network he controlled.

When he connected this news with the earth-shattering battle a few days earlier, the "Ultraman vs. mechanical monster" that shocked the world and was captured by countless satellites and eyewitnesses, a chill instantly ran down his spine and to the top of his head!

He saw the outcome of that battle clearly—the giant of light, who was like a god, destroyed the terrifying mechanical behemoth at a great cost, and his body disintegrated into countless points of light, disappearing into the world!

The scene was filled with a sense of tragedy and impending doom.

How could Naoe Jinnosuke not realize something?

This is no ordinary disappearance!

Genichi Hanyu, the man who loomed over cherry blossoms and the global landscape like a shadow, the one whom many privately regarded as a "god among men," must have been involved in a momentous event during that battle that transcended the comprehension of mortals!

Seriously injured? On the verge of death? Or worse?

This realization is enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who knows of Genichi Hanyu's existence and his terrifying influence!

A tremendous temptation called opportunity, like the devil's whisper, began to linger in his ears.

With Genichi Hanyu's fall, the vast empire, mysterious power, and coveted resources and technology he left behind will instantly become ownerless!

This is a feast that could drive any ambitious person mad!

However, faced with this god-given opportunity that could overturn the fate of the nation and etch his name, Naoe Jinnosuke, into the annals of history, the Prime Minister forcefully suppressed the raging fire of desire within him. Instead of making any rash moves, he became increasingly cautious, as if walking on the edge of a cliff riddled with landmines!

Because Naoe Jinnosuke was able to climb from a commoner to the pinnacle of power in the Sakura Kingdom today, it was not just luck or ambition that made him successful, but also because of his deep-rooted boldness, meticulousness, and ability to assess situations!

He knew all too well that the more tempting an opportunity seemed, the more likely it was to hide a deadly trap!

Especially when it involves someone of Genichi Hanyu's caliber!

"A bunch of idiots!"

A low growl, barely suppressed and almost squeezed out from between his teeth, broke the silence of the office.

Naoe Jinnosuke slammed a document marked "Top Secret" onto the table!

The document contained a joint proposal submitted by several of his core cabinet ministers and representatives of financial groups—the core idea being: to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, unite with other forces dissatisfied with Yuzuru's power, and take the initiative to attack!

They may pressure Chaldea to share technological resources, or directly take over some of its supposedly ownerless industries, or even tentatively touch those core areas that have always been firmly controlled by Genichi Hanyu and are crucial to the nation's survival!

Naoe Jinnosuke, at this moment, only wanted to drag all of his foolish subordinates, who were blinded by greed and eager to rush up and devour the corpses, out of his mind!

These short-sighted good-for-nothings! They only see the fat in front of them, but they can't see the sharp blades hidden beneath!