Kougaiji had stepped out of the glass tube, and was shrugging on a white robe, blood still dripping from his claws. Gyokumen lay in front of him, curled up, whimpering.
There wasn't much left of Nii Jieni.
Kougaiji looked at them, and there was something new in his eyes, something cold, that made Dokugakuji hesitate and be silent and Yaone retreat into obedience like armour.
"Good," Kougaiji finally said. "I will need you two beside me in the conquests to come."
And they recognised his father's son.
---