After a trip to the station, Aya explained on the record for the wolf tengu to mark down, the gist of the situation and all the essential details. Mai and Satono used a peculiar technique of opening doors on people's back in order to enter tengu territory undetected, and then escape to someplace they could not be followed. She was also sure to remind anyone curious about those two to read her archived articles about the secret god.

During that time, the wolf tengu sent out some of their troops to search the immediate area around the perimeters of the mountain, in case the intruders were still nearby. Those very troops had just returned, the leader of the assigned squad making her way towards the stations to make a report, when she was hailed by Aya who was flying overhead. The wolf tengu pre-emptively sighed.

"Back already?" Aya landed nearby, before approaching the familiar wolf tengu with her usual sprightly attitude. "I hope our trustworthy security detail has some productive updates, assuming you weren't just taking it easy?"

"I literally just got back." Momiji did not stop walking, nor did she turn her head to Aya. "Could you please not pester me right now?"

A lot of Momiji Inubashiri's conversations with Aya tended to start with Aya passing by while she was on patrol duty around the mountainside, and the crow tengu rather patronisingly asking if she was doing her job properly. On occasion, it even escalated into a fight, but chances of that happening within the streets were much slimmer. Probably.

"So that's a 'no', then? Well, in this instance, I would tell you not to feel too bad." Aya said as she walked alongside Momiji. "The way those folks from the backdoor hop through, well, doors, they could have been on the other side of Gensokyo within seconds. I tried to explain that too, but they insisted on sending a search party."

"It was my insistence, actually." Momiji let out a second sigh, though this one was directed at herself. "For outsiders to breach our territory's borders, while I was on duty! This is the worst possible shame. I was hoping to make up for it if I could track them down, but even with my telegnosis, I found no trace of them…"

"Like I said, their strange abilities probably aren't covered in any of your training. I doubt even the higher-ups will be too hard on you, and I know that's the only reason you care."

"Are you kidding?! I wouldn't be surprised if the daitengu had me banished from Youkai Mountain by the end of the day for my disgraceful performance!"

Aya did her best not to appear too amused at Momiji's distress. She managed to reduce her grin to a small smile. "If you are that worried, you can count on your pure and honest Shameimaru. Next time I see any of them, I will be sure to put in a good word for you."

"Please no. The thought of you saying anything about me to the daitengu gives me actual chills…"

"You know, none of the higher-ups are as scary as you think. I am willing to bet even Lord Tenma would share a drink with you."

"You can't just say things like that aloud!" Momiji said, shocked at what she was hearing. "I cannot believe you haven't landed in more trouble with them, with how carefree you are in your disrespect."

"I have just as much respect for my fellow tengu as you do. Well, putting aside your ire against crow tengu, of course."

"You mean my ire against you , right?" Momiji narrowed her eyes at Aya, who either didn't pick up on it or brushed it off.

Just as they had reached the station, they saw Hatate, glumly coming out of the entrance.

"Hatate?" Aya was quick to notice the sour expression on Hatate's face. "Did they only just finish their questions for you?"

"That's right." Hatate said, half-grumbling. "When did they let you out?"

"About forty minutes ago. I suppose they had a lot to ask you?"

"More like a lot of nothing!" Hatate whined as she stretched her arms over her head. "Just saying, nobody in there could do a good interview. They could ask the same question ten times and not be satisfied no matter how many times I tell them the same answer!"

"Don't take it personally." Momiji said. "They're just being thorough and professional."

"And honestly..." Aya said with a shrug. "...That's what you get for going the whole morning without noticing there was a door on your back. Rather unobservant for a reporter."

"Yeah, well, I'm going to spend every morning for the rest of my life checking my back..." Hatate frowned, still embarrassed about that whole affair. "Momiji, if you get the chance, you should ask your fellow white wolf tengu not to be so uptight!"

"Personally, I've actually been thinking that they could stand to be a little more 'uptight', so it's good they didn't go easy on you." Momiji said with a lighthearted smile.

"Wow! No mercy for me, even though I'm so nice?!" Hatate exclaimed, though she couldn't stop herself from laughing as she smacked Momiji lightly on the shoulder.

"Ah, show some mercy yourself…!" Momiji likewise let out a small laugh.

Aya half-watched the two, thinking to herself. " Momiji sure is good at acting friendly with crow tengu other than myself... "

At the same time, Aya noticed that in the distance was another crow tengu, hurriedly moving to and fro and leaving red envelopes in every mailbox she passed by. This was mostly likely someone given the task today of being a messenger.

"Ah! The higher-ups have already sent out their decree!" Aya declared as she pointed at the messenger in the distance. Momiji and Hatate both turned and noticed as well, immediately understanding what Aya meant.

All tengu recognised the significance of the red envelope's design. Whenever either the daitengu or Lord Tenma wished to spread a message, be it a decree, an announcement, or any kind of urgent and important message, it was done so through special print that was then delivered to every estate and place of business as soon as possible.

"I thought it would have taken longer before they decided on something! Ah shoot, this means I missed my chance." Aya said, pouting.

"Your chance? To what?" Momiji asked.

"I was planning on waiting outside the administrative building, so that when they inevitably sent out a messenger to deliver the decree, I could receive mine right away."

"You're not supposed to receive them in person!" Momiji retorted. "And if you know someone is on official business, you shouldn't be bothering them just to get an underhanded advantage..."

"What an uncharitable interpretation!" Aya acted shocked for all of a second, before continuing. "A model reporter such as myself just wants to be made aware of the facts as soon as possible. Hatate, you understand as well, right?"

"Nope." Hatate scoffed, before proudly pulling out her camera and flipping it open. "I never have to trouble myself like that thanks to my thoughtography. With it, I can check what's in my mailbox from anywhere."

Aya and Momiji just stared at Hatate, both having the same thought. " Even more reason keeping you from stepping outside… "

"Actually they should have passed by my house by now so…" Hatate tapped a few buttons on her camera. A moment later, her eyes lit up in delight. "And there it is, just as I thought."

"Seriously? Let me see!" Aya quickly moved right beside Hatate.

"Ah, me too!" Momiji moved to Hatate's other side. "I need to know if the white wolf tengu have any special orders as well!"

"Hey! It's still my mail you're reading!" Hatate griped, especially since Aya's head was right over her shoulder at this point. It wasn't long before she gave up though, and held out her arm so all of them could read the decree.

While Momiji was tense about what the daitengu's message would entail for her job, Aya and Hatate were simply enthusiastic about what their next move regarding the recent public disturbance would be. ...That enthusiasm gradually sapped away from their faces, however, as they studied the contents.

"...Huh?" Aya in particular was dumbfounded. "Is that really all of it?"

Hatate meanwhile, just had a disappointed frown. "It is, yeah. ...Gosh, talk about a letdown."

"You think so?" Momiji actually found herself feeling more relaxed now. "I find it a relief, actually."

"I might too, but it's still pretty lame to hear." Hatate flipped her camera closed, and crossed her arms. "I let myself get all hyped up too. ...I guess if there's any bright side, we won't actually be going to war or anything."

"What, were you worried about that?" Momiji couldn't help but smirk. "How long has it been since any crow tengu has picked up a sword? A millenia?"

"Apparently six centuries, but that's not the point!" Hatate indignantly replied. "Hey, Aya. What do you think made them come up with this?"

Hatate turned towards Aya who had moved a few steps away. She was staring ahead with a contemplative expression on her face, still stewing on what she just read.

"Aya? You look like something's on your mind." Hatate asked.

After a moment, Aya spoke up. "A lot is, actually. Questions, mostly. I need to talk to them."

"Talk to who? Those backdoor weirdos again?"

"To the daitengu." Aya explained as she started heading towards a different direction.

"Huh?" Hatate and Momiji both blinked at Aya, wondering if they misheard.

"...Wait, really?!" Hatate was perplexed, but when Aya showed no sign of stopping, she quickly shouted after her. "Wait, what about?"

"I have some pressing questions, is all." That's all Aya said before flying off.

"Ah, hey!" Momiji called out, before taking flight as well. "Remember what I said! You're not allowed to talk about me, I mean it!"

Aya and Momiji were soon out of sight, leaving Hatate by herself.

"...What's with her?" Hatate mused aloud. "Everyone usually goes out of their way to avoid having to talk to the big shots, don't they? And there she goes heading right to them…"

The disappointment over the decree's contents had faded, and now she was just curious about what was going on through Aya's mind. Though she also hoped it wasn't anything that would involve her.

'What appeared to be threats were only the ravings of contradictory beings.'

'All are to resume with their daily duties.'

'Not worthy of any attention whatsoever.'

Those were the parts of the daitengu's decree that had confused and irritated Aya the most, among an entirely confusing and irritating document that was just an elaborate way of stating ' everyone should just ignore what happened '. She couldn't stop thinking about it even when she made her way inside the daitengu's administrative buildings.

Every tengu who read the decree was either going to be a little confused but brush off the matter just as asked, or be relieved and quickly put it out of mind as soon as possible. Aya had a hard time understanding why either would be the reaction any of the daitengu wanted people to have though. As such, she felt the need to ask them in person in order to clear things up.

That was so far easier said than done, since Aya was unable to make it past the building's first entrance hall, thanks to the tengu at the management counter refusing to make an appointment for Aya despite her insistence that it was 'important'.

"But it is important!" Aya insisted. "Momiji, back me up."

"I don't want to." Momiji was standing a few steps back, not wanting to be associated. She had followed Aya in the hopes of stopping her from causing trouble to either of them, but so far it looked like desk management was doing a good enough job of that.

The hanataka tengu that Aya was harassing just shook her head again. "You need a more specific reason to see the daitengu than just 'having questions'.

Aya wasn't budging quite yet. "Can't you at least pass them a message, say it's 'Pure and Honest Shameimaru' who wants to see them?"

"Uh, is that name… important to them?"

"Well, I try my best to be humble, but…" Aya started with a bright smile, but was cut off by Momiji pulling her back by the shoulder until they were in the middle of the hall.

"Would you give it up already? I know you're used to bothering people at their jobs, but this is getting ridiculous."

Aya turned around to face Momiji, her confident tone persisting. "Aren't you at all curious about the strange decision that came to that decree?"

"No, not at all! It's nothing to do with me. Is whatever this is about really worth taking up the daitengu's time?"

"Momiji, do you really think I would take up the time of those among the highest echelon for something like a whim?"

"Yes, I absolutely do." Momiji replied, without missing a beat.

"Well, you're wrong." Aya gestured to herself as she went on. "I came all this way because I seek the truth, like any model reporter should."

Momiji was just about to respond to that with more skepticism, when a different voice did it for her.

"Isn't that your excuse for everything, Shameimaru?"

Momiji and Aya both turned towards the source of the voice, coming from who had just entered the hall and overheard the conversation.

A tall, imposing figure in ornate robes, and a face covered by an intricately-painted, long-nosed mask that spoke of a sagely status. This was the 'standard' outfit of those of the highest rank, even the silhouette unmistakable as a daitengu.

"Good afternoon." The daitengu, this one wearing a blue mask, greeted in a hoarse voice. "What exactly is this business you have?

Aya relaxed to a more neutral pose. "Oh, good afternoon-"

"G-Good afternoon…!" Momiji meanwhile, had straightened up to the point of nearly bending backwards. "I was just on my way to resume my duties, so-"

"That she was." Aya chimed in. "But Miss Inubashiri was helpful enough to spare time, accompanying me here."

"Huh?" Momiji's wide eyes shot towards Aya.

"We had some confusion about the latest decree, and hoped to understand by asking the wise daitengu directly."

"You…!" Momiji definitely wanted to wring Aya's neck at this point, but that could wait until they weren't right in front of a daitengu.

"Hmm." Though the daitengu's eyes were hidden behind the mask, Aya could feel them peering at her in scrutiny. "The message we sent out should have been very straightforward. What is there to be confused about?"

"It was straightforward, and that was why I could not make sense of it. I do not believe there was anything to read between the lines, yet I could not understand. Why would you all choose to brush off something as grave as intruders appearing within our territory, intruders that went as far as calling out our entire race with outrageous claims? Was this a unanimous decision?"

Momiji grimaced as she whined internally. " Oh, please do not emphasise the part about them intruding while I was on duty… "

There was a brief pause, before a reply came. "All decisions are unanimous and even consulted with Lord Tenma before being sent to print. I hope you did not come all this way just to question our decision?"

"I am afraid that is exactly it. I am not always attuned to other's thoughts, I'm afraid." Aya offered a small, apologetic bow. "Would you once again please show some leniency to your old Shameimaru?"

" Oh my god. " Momiji was doing her best to not wince with every word she was hearing from Aya, who was daring to be cheeky even in front of one of the highest of their order.

The daitengu however, didn't outwardly react in any particular way. "If you made an appointment just to ask this, that would have been a waste of time."

"So does that mean you won't help me skip management at the counter?"

"No I will not. ...Because I can answer your question right here and now. Any of my colleagues would just say what I'm about to tell you."

While this conversation proceeded, Momiji's eyes darted between the two in disbelief. Somehow, the daitengu not only didn't appear angry but was actually giving them the time of day. She still refused to relax her posture though.

"Oh, thank you. And that answer is…?"

"The things those agents of the sage said in their display were indeed outrageous. That is exactly why it was deemed pointless to entertain."

That wasn't quite the full-on explanation Aya was hoping for. "But… this is far more prominent than just some lowly peon speaking out of turn."

It wasn't as if Aya thought what Mai and Satono said held that much weight either, especially when they had admitted beforehand that they were doing it just to get a reaction. However, that wasn't the reason she felt it was worthy of their people's attention.

"This was from the servants of Okina Matara, rival to our ancestors, coming into our territory just to loudly undermine our influence in front of all our people. To just let it be and ask everyone to brush it off, it's as if to say we don't care at all about such transgression to our pride."

"We don't care about it. That's the point."

"I'm not sure I follow-"

"They claimed that their god knows better than us, that their control spreads wider than ours. To acknowledge what they said, and to investigate it, is as good as admitting it. Why would we act as if their claims have any weight?"

"That's…" Aya was momentarily at a loss for words. If this decision really was unanimous, then her perspective on things differed even more from the daitengu than she realised. "...But such a conspicuous event, in front of a whole crowd can't be so easily forgotten. There are probably a lot of tengu wondering at the back of their minds even still, about what significance that pair has-"

"It doesn't matter what they think, for we have spread the word that it requires no more thought. Whenever tengu are faced with uncertainty, they only need to refer to our judgement to guide them. You haven't forgotten that applies to you as well, have you?"

Aya wanted to say something to that, but she felt like doing so when others were watching would be undermining the daitengu's authority, which was sincerely the last thing she wanted to do. She managed to keep an impassive face despite actually feeling more unsatisfied with every word she was hearing. This wasn't even the first time any of the daitengu brushed her off in particular, but this time felt exceptionally frustrating.

"If you still don't understand..." The tone of the words made it rather clear that Aya's poker face was more transparent than she thought it was. "...then just remember it is our judgement. That alone should be enough for you to drop the matter."

"Of course." Aya replied, slower than she intended to.

"...You will drop the matter, will you not?"

Aya opened her mouth, but hesitated. She did not like to lie, but she didn't know if she was ready to answer that question honestly.

"Actually, you don't have any doubts left either, right?" The question was directed at Momiji, who nearly jumped at being addressed after all this time.

"Oh, uh, no! None whatsoever! That cleared up everything, thank you very much for explaining!" Momiji quickly replied with as much forced sincerity as she could manage, before taking Aya by the arm. "We shall be on our way…!"

Momiji proceeded to drag Aya towards the exit, not wanting to pass up the chance to end this conversation right then and there. Aya didn't resist being dragged away, since she hadn't been able to come up with a response to anything that's been said to her. So she simply stayed silent with a pensive expression, looking back only briefly at her superior before she and Momiji exited the building.