Someone exploited the collective fear surrounding Misono Mika, and Kajika happened to be the perfect outlet. They used this opportunity to instigate the crowd into coercing Ayame Yomogawa.
Since Mika stood behind Kajika, Ayame could never side with these people. Most likely, she would offer verbal promises to temporarily pacify them. However, as long as Mika didn't nod her consent, everything would remain the same; nothing would change.
In doing so, Ayame would lose the people's support, causing her already fragile prestige to vanish entirely. Then, someone else could step in and seize power from her hands.
This was a possibility Misono Mika deduced based on the intelligence Shino provided.
Regardless of the truth, since the opponent dared to use her as an excuse to cause trouble, it proved they were exploiting her—even going so far as to include her in their schemes.
This made Mika very unhappy. Although this incident had no significant impact on her—and the opponent even intended to raise her favorability and reputation among the masses—she would not act as if being plotted against never happened.
Suddenly, an anomaly occurred.
"Die, witch!!!"
A middle-aged woman, completely fallen into madness, held high a kitchen knife coated with some lethal toxin. Under the stunned eyes of everyone, she hacked down viciously toward Misono Mika's slender neck.
"!"
'Is this person insane?'
Mumei's brow furrowed instantly, a kunai gripped in her hand. Just as she prepared to take down the madwoman, a cold light flashed like lightning.
Mika drew a tachi from her backpack module. As if anticipating the strike, she swung to the right.
Zheng—!
The blade tore through the air with a melodious ring. Like a silver crescent moon, the blade's glow instantly passed through the madwoman's neck.
Puchi!
Hot blood splashed several meters high. The madwoman's head rolled on the ground several times, her twisted, hideous expression frozen forever in that moment.
Thud...
The headless corpse fell feebly to the ground. The dull sound felt like a hammer hitting everyone's heart, making their heartbeats skip a beat.
Mika stood with her sword. The night breeze brushed her beautiful pink hair. Her pure white dress formed a sharp contrast with the blood-stained ground.
It was as if one thought led to heaven, and another to hell.
Mika didn't know why the woman wanted to kill her, nor did she need to know. Since this person harbored killing intent toward her, there was no need for mercy.
A dead enemy is the best enemy.
Mika stared at the headless corpse.
'Has my daily behavior been a bit too kind? Does it make some people think I'm easy to trick, easy to bully?'
Even this kind of trash felt qualified to assassinate her?
"D-Dead..."
Kajika covered her mouth with both hands, quickly backing away from the corpse in fear. The head on the ground, eyes still wide in death, made her scalp tingle.
"..."
Mumei lowered her kunai. Her gaze moved away from the corpse, looking at the expressionless Mika with a complex look.
She wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but the feeling Mika gave off changed. Right now, she was like a blade drawn from its sheath, revealing the sharpness she always hid, no longer willing to accommodate anyone.
"Facing friends, I naturally treat them with courtesy. Even with strangers I've never met, I approach with goodwill. But if it's an enemy—"
Mika scanned the crowd looking at her with fear. She flipped her hand and drove the tachi deep into the ground, then let go of the hilt. "Even if they flee to the ends of the earth, I will hunt them down until one of us is dead! I hope everyone present understands. Tread carefully."
"By the way, this woman isn't one of yours, right?"
Mika turned her head to Ayame Yomogawa. "I'll trouble Miss Ayame with the interrogation. I want to know how many people participated in this assassination."
"...I understand."
Ayame nodded solemnly in agreement and quickly ordered men to surround everyone who came to cause trouble.
If this matter wasn't handled well, a meteorite might just come crashing down!
The bushi all seemed to think of this possibility. Nearly breaking into a cold sweat, they became quite 'rough' while suppressing the crowd.
Mika turned to look at the startled Kajika. Though she didn't speak, her meaning was clear.
She was hungry.
Mumei saw this and reached out to tug the sleeve of the dazed Kajika.
"P-Please follow me, Lady Mika..."
Kajika snapped out of it. Once she understood what Mika meant, she hurriedly led the way.
Now, not only did no one dare stop them, but everyone secretly urged Kajika to take this bringer of calamity away quickly. With Mika here, they didn't even dare breathe.
The troublemakers, no matter how stupid, realized something was wrong. Their actions just now likely touched Mika's bottom line. Her initial cold reprimand seemed targeted only at a small group; they were likely used as pawns.
The appearance of the 'assassin' crossed that line entirely. The nature of the situation changed instantly.
This was a direct declaration of war against Misono Mika!
What goes around comes around.
One moment they were forcing Kajika to prove she wouldn't poison Mika's food. Now, it was their turn to prove to Mika that they had absolutely nothing to do with this madwoman.
The masterminds behind this incident nearly fainted from rage after seeing the 'assassin' jump out halfway.
'If you want to die, I won't stop you, but just die already! Your life is cheap anyway. But you had to block my last path to survival even in death...'
The bearded retainer felt his vision go dark, his lungs nearly bursting with anger.
It was over. He originally planned to sell out his accomplices to seek Mika's forgiveness. Selling teammates was as simple as eating a meal to them. To survive, he would bet everything!
After all, the plan wasn't targeted at Mika. To avoid offending her, he even went out of his way to maintain her public image. That was the retreat he carved for himself. He believed that if he showed enough sincerity, there might be a slim chance of survival.
But now...
"Who can prove for me that that idiot wasn't an assassin I sent?!"
Now, it was like mud falling into his pockets—if it wasn't crap, it looked like it. This was pushing him toward a dead end.