In the penthouse apartment in Lower Manhattan, Yongye leaned against the sofa back with his legs propped on the edge of the coffee table, gripping his phone. The screen was filled with pleading posts from Fusang and wild praise from netizens around the world.
The smile on his lips deepened from delight to profound satisfaction.
"Public opinion cuts like a knife, and this time every blade came down on Takamagahara."
He murmured the words, then turned toward Kikyo, who knelt beside the sofa.
"Happy?"
Kikyo raised her eyes. Complicated emotions churned in her light brown gaze, but in the end, all she managed was a muffled sound through her nose, tinged with the faintest pleasure.
"Mm."
Tamamo-no-Mae leaned against the Liquor Cabinet and poured herself another cup of sake. Her nine tails slowly unfurled behind her, and her silvery-white fox ears trembled slightly in the light.
She tilted her head toward Kikyo, her lips curving into a faint smile touched with admiration.
"That was beautifully played."
Kikyo did not look at her. She merely lowered her eyes slightly, speaking so softly that only she could hear.
"You taught me."
"What?"
"You said, 'The most important thing is to make Lord Yongye happy.'"
Tamamo-no-Mae's sake cup stopped in midair.
Two seconds later, she tipped her head back and drained it. The admiring smile on her lips turned into something more inscrutable, tinged with self-mockery.
"Fine. I'll concede this round."
"But this isn't over! Just you wait. I won't lose to you again!"
Listening to their exchange, Yongye wore a thoroughly smug grin.
An icy system notification sounded in his mind right on cue.
``` [Ding! Over eight billion viewers worldwide have been detected watching the Daily Planet's exclusive video simultaneously. The entire population of Fusang has collectively broken down and admitted