The diabolical schemer

As the group made their way back to the mansion, they each tried to make sense of what they had just heard.

"Illumous, that's the organization my aunt's always making a fuss about. The ghost also said they're the ones that killed him. Shit, guess I'm gonna get more involved than I want to," Reiju thought.

"What was Obake-kun talking about? Am I getting involved in something very dangerous!?" Chika nervously thought.

"Why'd he just yell something out of the blue like that? Could he have seen Nobuto? I sensed his presence near that giant," Fumiyo thought.

"Illumous... This is the first I've heard of it. I'll need to question those officers back at the mansion, Iishi in particular," Kintaro thought.

"That ass really chose a crazy place to run off to. Getting down to the bottom will take a good 15 minutes at the fastest without a proper pulley system," Kaemi thought.

When the group arrived back at the mansion, Kintaro immediately went towards Iishi, who had regained consciousness.

"I've got plenty of questions for you. First off, do you know anything about an organization called Illumous?" Kintaro asked.

Iishi's eyes went wide as he suddenly began screaming in pain. He then went silent as his body went limp. But it wasn't just him. All the restrained B-station officers did the same. Kinataro quickly checked Iishi's pulse.

"Dead, so it looks like we're dealing with something truly dangerous. I was careless," Kintaro muttered.

"Looks like I'll be busy," Kaemi sighed.

                                                                              ...

"The ghost sure is taking his sweet time," Reiju growled as she sat in the police station.

"Isn't it good that he's being thorough?" Chika asked.

"Hmm? I know Kintaro's been holed up in the records room for hours, but I think it's a bit rude to refer to him as a ghost," Yoriko said as she brought refreshments.

"Why are you lounging here?" Nakayama growled as she passed by with a stack of manga.

"Huh? You're an otaku!?" Reiju gasped.

"Not in the slightest! This is confiscated material that I am taking to be disposed of at Madam Ookuma's cleansing rally."

"Rally? Wait, is that what that psycho bitch with the sludge hairdo was talking about-"

*Slap*

Nakayama had dropped the manga and angrily slapped Reiju.

"Don't you DARE insult Madam Ookuma! She is the woman that will save our country and the world from degeneracy!" Nakayama angrily glared.

"The hell was the slap for!?" Reiju fumed as she got ready to throw hands.

Yoriko nervously tried to stop the two from fighting.

"Reiju, Nakayama is a huge supporter of Representative Ruchi Ookuma. You shouldn't badmouth her in her presence," Yoriko warned.

"Hold up, did you say she was a representative!?" Reiju shouted.

"You ignorant fool! Madam Ookuma has been trying to right this country ever since she courageously ran for her despicable ex-boyfriend's seat nearly 7 years ago while pregnant with her daughter Mao. That trash just up and left her as soon as she was pregnant, and ran off to who knows where before killing himself. Madam Okuma has been..."

As Nakayama trailed on about Ruchi Ookuma, Reiju went pale as she came to a startling realization.

"That psycho was a politician!? Then why wasn't she killed by Brutus? Wait, could she be with Illumous?" Reiju nervously thought.

"Will you shut up about your dictator?" Fumiyo growled as she entered the room.

"Perfect timing, I was just about to get to Madam Ookuma's solution to deal with irreparable foolish degenerates like you," Nakayama glared.

"That psycho's the degenerate one. Banning erotica in this day and age? Who'd vote for an asshole like that?"

"AH! Nakayama-san! The rally will be starting soon, how about you get going soon," Yoriko nervously suggested.

"Is that politician guaranteed to be there?" Reiju asked.

"Madam Ookuma would NEVER desert her own rally!" Nakayama huffed.

"Does she mingle with the crowd or is this just a soapbox?"

"You ignorant fool, Madam Ookuma connects with her supporters, it's how she has risen to where she is."

"If she decides to chat, then maybe I'll tag along after all. I wanna ask her something important."

                                                                        ...

Reiju was on the verge of snapping as she listened to Ookuma's spiel.

"And now, I turn my mic to you. Does anyone wish to share their thoughts?" Ookuma asked.

"Yeah, I do!" Reiju glared.

"Hmm, well then, please come forward."

As Reiju took the mic, a chill ran down her spine.

"I'm feeling really uneasy, but this is being televised so it should be fine," she thought.

"So sludge head, are you with Illumous, the organization that-"

"HERETIC!" an audience member shouted.

"YOU SLANDEROUS FOOL!" another shouted.

"I apologize, but conspiratorial nonsense is not permitted here. I believe you need to spend time in a correctional facility to clear your mind of that corruption. Fear not, you shall emerge a far more polite and intellectual woman," Ookuma calmly stated as she took the mic back from Reiju.

"Screw you, you're a psychopath and you'll-HEY! LET GO OF ME!" Reiju shouted as Nakayama began dragging her away.

"I apologize profusely Madam Ookuma, I assumed she had seen the light," Nakayama bowed.

"You did no wrong. Just continue to do right," Ookuma smiled.

The crowd erupted in cheers for Ookuma and jeers for Reiju as she was dragged away. Reiju was thrown in the squad car and taken back to the station all while Nakayama angrily berated her along the way.

                                                                                 ...

"That was extremely reckless. You're lucky you got off with a mere fine for public disobedience," Kintaro scolded.

"I'm positive she's hiding something. I even encountered her earlier when we chased after Namura," Reiju stated.

"Reiju, I take it you don't know who Ruchi Ookuma truly is."

"Ugh, not you too!"

"No, I meant how diabolical she truly is. Nakayama only gave you a biased background, but I'll tell you the nitty gritty of it all."

"I'm listening.

"Ruchi Ookuma emerged to the public scene around mid-2000. She was engaged to a somewhat decent politician named Suguru Nobuhito. He was by no means a good person, but he did do his job properly. He was well regarded in political circles and amongst the party executives. Rumors were abound that he was set to become one of the leading figures after he helped his party in the Diet election. It was then that he announced he was engaged to Ruchi Ookuma. Then, a few months later, Ookuma appeared on the news in tears claiming Nobuhito had angrily ran out on her after learning she was pregnant. Naturally, everyone reached out to Nobuhito, but he was nowhere to be found. A week later, his remains were found along with a suicide note. We naturally investigated, but were unable to find any conclusive evidence of foul play despite the gruesome state of Nobuhito."

"What happened?"

"He allegedly jumped into a wood chipper. I naturally suspected foul play, but at the time I was just an assistant, so I didn't have as much prestige and authority as I do now. Kaemi also wasn't in the force yet, nor did we have the technology we have now."

"So do you think Ookuma did it?"

"I'd say she's the most likely to have done it if it truly was murder. As soon as Nobuhito's death was revealed to the public, she immediately launched a campaign for his seat in the special election. Back then, she ran on a simple and non-controversial platform and was easily able to get elected. Once her daughter was born, she then began getting more aggressive with her agenda. Naturally, it was very unpopular. So much so, that the party she had been elected with publicly disavowed her and kicked her out of the party. It looked set that she was going to lose the next election in a landslide, but she reversed her fortunes and won in a landslide instead."

"How!?"

"She simply ran for a seat in an area where she still had a strong support base, though it was the following election in 2005 that truly showed how diabolical she could be. Having secured her seat, she then sought to expand her movement. Despite her original district being deeply against her policies, one of her party mates ended up capturing the seat."

"How?"

"Because of an incident. Allegedly, supporters of those that were running against Ookuma's party ended up going on a violent rampage. The targeted areas ranged from on the fence to diehard Ookuma supporters. Everyone was so taken aback by the despicable actions that Ookuma's party ended up doing better than expected."

"Wait, don't tell me those supporters..."

"My theory is that they were secretly with Ookuma the whole time, but there is nothing to prove it. I'm certain there truly were radical supporters of the candidates mixed in with Ookuma's ilk, but they were by no means the masterminds of the operation like Ookuma claimed. Ookuma was easily able to control the narrative, and despite her policies being unpopular, her party ended up expanding upon its influence and power. Ookuma was successfully able to demonize all her opponents to the point where her party appeared to be the lesser of two evils. She craves nothing but complete power. Tonight, you fell right into her clutches. She'll no doubt use your gaffe as fuel to fight your family and expand her movement. You never should have done something so reckless."

"Hey um, could I like talk to Rei for a second?" Chika asked as she popped in.

"Certainly, we were just finishing up anyway. Reiju, be careful. That woman will demonize anything she despises, and worst of all she's efficient at it."

As Kintaro left, Shiruka frantically floated in.

"Well where the hell have you been!?" Reiju glared.

"Trying to learn how to use the machines. That Namura guy was not the namahage that killed the diplomat," Shiruka stated.

"The hell!?"

"I checked the DNA on his knife, only his own blood and that sex offender's were on it."

"Well maybe he ditched the knife from earlier dumbass."

"No, because I copied the knife from the real Namahage that appeared before his corpse down at the bottom of the ravine. The diplomat's blood was on it. I even have clear photos and video."

Reiju went pale as she looked at the photos and video.

"He slashed Namura's arm!? Wait, that's the one he carved something into."

"Yeah, I was lucky to get a photo of it. That namahage was practically waiting there almost as if he expected him to be there. And seeing the two side by side, I realized the real namahage was actually the one I saw in my original vision. I guess something changed to lead Namura to kill the perv instead," Shiruka stated.

"I don't get everything, but I'm guessing this means we're getting involved in something really dangerous," Chika trembled.

"No, we're already in, and I think I screwed up big time. That Ookuma bitch must have been the one to shake things up. She's the only one that it could've been," Reiju trembled.

"Ookuma? Who's that?" Shiruka asked.

"I'll explain later, I gotta ask Kintaro something."

"You and me both, I just finished and I've got some disturbing findings," Kaemi stated as she appeared.

                                                                            ...

Ruchi Ookuma smiled as she watched the news from her home.

"Reiju Ginkawa, you are a fool. You failed to escape the farce before you. Though I guess the microchip in that large lemming failed. He should have never been allowed to move freely upon hearing Illumous' name. Well, no matter. Merely mentioning Illumous will only make you appear as a conspiratorial nutcase."

"Mother, why did that girl tell everyone you're with Illumous?" Ruchi's young daughter Mao asked.

*Smack*

"Mao, the proper term for individuals that impede your ideology,"Ruchi glared as she threateningly held a wooden ruler in her hand.

"Detractors," Mao meekly replied as she massaged her sore hands.

"Correct. She is a detractor. A detractor that I will either convert or silence," Ruchi maliciously smiled.