I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Um, Sensei, I..."

Amamiya interrupted her before she could utter what was likely an apology.

"Given the obvious hostility towards the 'Festival Operations Committee,' let's escort Shizuko back first, and then proceed with intelligence gathering."

【~???~】

"Although I really wanted to say no... but..."

With a soft sigh, Shizuko immediately adopted her affectedly clumsy 'idol' demeanor: "Hehehe~ Since it's 'Gentleman Thief' Sensei's special attention, as the mascot of Hyakuyado, I, Shizuko, will gladly accept it~"

I sensed a slight dependence from Shizuko.

【Coopation↑UP!】

【Kawa and Shizuko (love)★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

[★2 Ability "Popularity of the Signboard Girl" is now unlocked!]

Amamiya: "..."

Even the bond skills unlocked by developing relationships have such a unique art style...

After escorting Shizuko safely back to the entrance of Hyakuyado, Amamiya did not encounter any members of "Chimei Ichiza" along the way.

Presumably due to the heavy losses suffered during the day, they did not organize any harassment attacks from evening to night.

"Um, Sensei, tonight..."

While Shizuko was considering how to entertain Sensei, who had accompanied her all day, she suddenly heard a strange sound.

The voice came from afar and was very distinctive.

Shizuko immediately became alert: "Is it the demons? They're here again...?"

'Tap tap tap.'

'Swish swish swish~'

With a 'whoosh', a kunai covered in a chibi fox doodle was projected from a distance.

After slicing through the air with a cold, sharp edge, the kunai landed firmly on a wooden pillar next to Amamiya.

Just as Shizuko was about to shout "Enemy attack!", the next second, accompanied by a sudden cloud of smoke, a spirited fox-eared girl with hand seals appeared out of thin air in front of her.

"Ninja Art: Izuna-style Flying Thunder God Technique! Successfully executed!"

She emerged from a cloud of smoke, her body surrounded by tiny, visible yellow lightning bolts, as if she were carrying some kind of lightning and flying over using some kind of "space-time ninjutsu".

Jingzi: "...?"

This is……

Just as a question arose in her mind, she saw the suddenly appearing 'ninja' turn to look at Amamiya.

"Hehehe... Princess! Izuna's investigation report is back!"

Then she stood in front of Amamiya, deliberately bowing slightly, and the large fox tail behind her swayed a little faster—clearly expressing the message: 'Seeking praise'.

Amamiya chuckled inwardly.

He nodded slightly, feigning mystery, and placed his hand on Izuna's slightly trembling fox ears on his head. At the same time, he deliberately played along with Izuna and asked in a slightly mysterious tone, "Is that so... So, what has Izuna found out?"

【~???~】

The girl, whose fox ears were being repeatedly rubbed by Amamiya, seemed to receive tremendous encouragement, and the large fox tail behind her swayed more and more vigorously and faster.

"Hey hey hey..."

Just as Izuna was about to form hand seals, happily swaying his fox tail, he suddenly noticed Shizuko's gaze.

"Ah, my lord... shall we dismiss the idlers?"

"Who's a busybody?!" Shizuko immediately raised her voice in dissatisfaction. "Sensei came here at the invitation of Hyakuyado. She is Hyakuyado's most valued guest!"

After her sudden outburst, Shizuko quickly changed her expression, adopting a seemingly innocent and charming demeanor in her business mode: "Um... I mean, after all, I'm the mascot of Hyakuyado, first being treated like a pet, then like a nobody, it's a little... hehehe☆~"

Unlike Izuna's naturally innocent chuckle, Shizuko's 'laughter' clearly carried a forced, affected cuteness.

Amamiya was speechless, and Izuna was also stunned.

She blinked, giving Shizuko, whose expression changed incredibly quickly, a questioning look before turning to Amamiya: "My lord... is this some kind of 'face-changing technique'? It's amazing!"

Amamiya: ...

Although it's not a face-changing ninjutsu, it's definitely more powerful than face-changing ninjutsu.

Amamiya smiled without answering, refusing to address the question that might make Shizuko even 'angrier', and instead asked, "So what exactly did Izuna find out?"

"Ninja Art: Secret Scroll Transmission Technique!"

After forming a hand seal, the girl handed the scroll, which appeared in her hand with a 'whoosh' and a puff of smoke, to Amamiya.

"The information Izuna has gathered... please take a look, my lord!"

Chapter Fourteen: Izuna's "Box-Opening Technique"

"The information Izuna has gathered... please take a look, my lord!"

It really does have a ninja vibe...

Amamiya sighed inwardly, maintaining the mystery and composure befitting a 'lord,' and unfurled the scroll that Izuna had handed him.

Shizuko moved closer to Amamiya and helped her hold the other end of the scroll, which was difficult for Amamiya to unfold by herself.

What is immediately visible is Izuna's handwriting, which is similar to small regular script and has a delicate, youthful feel to it.

Amamiya glanced at it and found the 'news' that Izuna had investigated to be quite interesting.

—The message directly points to the true identity of the person behind "Chimei Yizuo".

Izuna had, after all, undergone some 'ninja training'. Although she might still be considered an 'apprentice' in other aspects, she was at least very good at intelligence gathering, a 'required course' for ninjas.

The intelligence scroll begins by revealing the true identity of the mastermind behind "A Demon's Throne"—Miaotianmaru.

Then, Izuna used some brief evidence he had collected to prove the connection between the two identities.

For example, 'the flow of funds of the shopping street chairman'; 'evidence that Nekatsu Masamune hired a demon', etc.

After her increasingly sharp purple eyes quickly scanned the scroll, Shizuko's expression went through a series of changes, from surprise to astonishment, and then to disbelief.

"how come……"

After reading the information recorded on the scroll, Shizuko could hardly believe what she had seen—the 'behind-the-scenes employer' who hired a demon to disrupt the cherry blossom festival to the point that it could not be held was actually the chairman of the shopping district who usually took good care of Hyakuyado's business?!

"How reliable is this intelligence?"

Just as Shizuko was about to ask Izuna, who had gathered the information, about the 'authenticity of the information,' Izuna revealed a slight anger at being looked down upon by laymen in his professional field.

"Izuna has other evidence to corroborate the authenticity of the intelligence gathering!"

As he spoke, Izuna quickly formed hand seals, and then suddenly clasped his hands together.

"Izuna-style Ninja Art: Simulation Technique!"

With a light 'slap' sound, Shizuko's vision blurred, and then a holographic image, seemingly recorded through some kind of secret recording device, appeared before her eyes.

Amamiya watched with great interest as Izuna "created" various 'Izuna-style ninjutsu' using the [Secret Scroll of Ninjutsu].

It has to be said that Izuna's imagination is quite wild.

The special item, the [Ninjutsu Scroll], when given to someone who knows about ninja techniques, will at most allow them to unleash common attacks such as the 'Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique' or the 'Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique'.

But once given to Izuna, she can come up with all sorts of unexpected new tricks.

Including the "Izuna-ryu ninjutsu" she released when she arrived, which was similar to the "Flying Thunder God Technique," all of them were symbols of Izuna's "extraordinary talent."

Right now, Izuna has come up with this kind of ninjutsu that's similar to voyeurism or secret filming... I really don't know how she managed to do it.

As Izuna 'maintained the spell,' the holographic image began to play.

The video appears to show a deserted building where dozens of members of the Chimei sect, wearing Tengu masks or other types of masks, are standing in the hall, receiving PUA (Pick-Up Artist) treatment from a high-ranking 'behind-the-scenes employer'.

After a moment of preparation, the 'behind-the-scenes employer' suddenly spoke with a fierce tone: "Look at what you've all done..."

It's fine if it doesn't open its mouth.

As soon as she opened her mouth, Shizuko immediately recognized the highly distinctive voice, which sounded like a cat meowing in a low voice.

"It's President Metenmaru..."

The video continued, and the employer, wearing a mask, said, "I paid you so much money not to hear you say 'this is absolutely impossible'..."

"So many people were mobilized today, but they were all wiped out... I have to pay you money to avert disaster."

"Do you know how dangerous it was for you? If it weren't for me, you would definitely have been dragged to the Valkyrie Police Station by that brat from Hyakuyado and the adult who supported her!"

"You'll be locked up for at least several months! Then your lives will be completely over!"

Jingzi: "..."

She slowly clenched her fist, her knuckles turning white.

The rude remarks of the 'shopping street association president' in front of her opened her eyes and made her furious.

The video wasn't over yet. After scanning the group of members, the employer continued, "To save you, I've paid a hefty sum in compensation... This compensation will naturally fall on your shoulders—as for the equipment, I don't plan to return it to you; consider it a lesson learned. You'll need to buy it yourselves."

"When facing that Sensei... you should temporarily avoid direct confrontation, use guerrilla tactics and harass him, keep him busy with his own problems!"

"Only in this way can you take your revenge..."

At this point, the employer, who had been going on and on, seemed to realize something and suddenly asked, "By the way... that girl who likes to play ninja house, didn't she come today?"

'Beep...'

With the sound of smoke dissipating, Izuna ended the maintenance of "Simulation Technique".

"This is the information Izuna has gathered."

The fox-eared girl, who was also being looked down upon and was in a bad mood, calmly said this to the silent Shizuko, and then affectionately moved closer to Amamiya and hugged one of her arms.

"The information Izuna gathered... should be helpful to our lord, right?"

Amamiya rubbed Izuna's fox ears and replied with a gentle smile, "Yes, Izuna has done more than enough."

For someone like Izuna, a 'simple dreamer,' Amamiya's attitude was always 'not to shatter her yearning and anticipation.'

The quality of "reaching out for those seemingly unattainable, small dreams" is something that should always be cherished.

So, after a pause, Amamiya continued, "Izuna isn't playing 'ninja house.' Izuna is my own 'ninja,' a 'shadow' who provides me with support."

For a girl like Izuna, who is innocent, straightforward, lively, cute, and slightly silly, emotions—especially negative emotions—are always quick to come and quick to go.

Soon, she was overjoyed as Amamiya patted her head.

【~???~】

"As my lord's ninja, Izuna will continue to strive! Endure it all~"

While petting the fox, Amamiya mentally completed the information about [Moriya-maru].

It must be said that, as a businessman who "pursues profits," this guy can be said to possess all the advantages and disadvantages that a businessman should have.

He is tactful and quick-witted, but he is two-faced and never exposes his 'insidious and evil' side.

The PUA, a shrewd businessman, shifted all the responsibility to the "Festival Operations Committee" represented by Amamiya and Shizuko.

The video footage collected by Izuna is sufficient to prove this point.

—He confiscated the equipment left behind by the defeated Chimei Ichika, and during the subsequent settlement, he claimed it was the ransom he paid, from a perspective that was "worthy of gratitude." Not only did he keep the equipment, but he also made Chimei Ichika incur debts and even forced them to buy new equipment themselves...

After all this back and forth, not only did Chimei work for nothing, but he also incurred debt for no reason and even had to buy new equipment.

Then, Metenmaru cleverly shifted the blame to Amamiya and Shizuko.

That's quite ingenious.

But what's the use of being so clever?

Amamiya could see it very clearly.

An existence like [Miaotianmaru] could never have an excessively distorted desire to grow into a hall of fame.

This short-sighted guy is at best a commission that can be easily dealt with in the Impression Space.