Susumu was back at the zoo and waited for the arrival of the siblings without trying to stand out too much.

He had a few ideas on his mind that he wished could help Edogawa's situation

Suihime had returned from her walk on the beach to find out that she had a Mantis guest. Susumu was not a man who would want to come somewhere as formal as the Miya homes without good reason. She would, however, keep him waiting as she went to freshen herself up. Eventually she would arrive, knocking on the door of the tea room Susumu had been to before entering with a bow.

"Good evening. This an unexpected surprise! I hope you are well?" She moved further in with a smile.

Before the princess's arrival Susumu had been eyeing the walls warily as if the Imperial Matchmaker could be hidden in every shadow

I am getting paranoid

With Suihime's arrival, the mantis sttod up and gave her a bow.

''That I am...but I am here for conversation we could not entertain earlier''

Nari came running up to the pair, happily waging his tail as he looked up at them. Edogawa could be seen approaching, along with Quick Lopez, who separated and disappeared into the surrounding area.

"Good evening." Edogawa managed a weak smile as he approached.

The captain kept an eye on Lopez until he left

''Good evening...Are you allright?''

"I am." he nodded. "For now."

''Can I ask what have been decided?'' he ask somewhat worried

''I want to help if I can''

"Nothing." he shook his head. "This goes beyond my mother and our family. I've asked her to do what she can to distance herself and Suihime from me."

He paused to give his sister a smile. "But, it isn't up to her. My fate is in the hands of others who are not here."

Suihime had a look of concern on her face as her brother arrived, giving him a bow. "I'm glad to see you" she said quietly. She meant it - he wouldn't be welcome here if he was sent to death or exile.

"That may still happen. But, I am grateful to you both for your support." he bowed deeply. "You need to be careful, though. Do not allow your connections to me to harm you."

''No way to salvage the situation then?'' he scratched his chin

''I have an idea for the immediate future''

"There is more to it than you are aware." he sighed. "Even with what you do know, Susumu-san. Ultimately, the question will be whether prince Jama still finds me valuable. If he does, further direct consequences may be delayed until we return."

"But what you said...I'm not sure Hantei-denka will be very approving of what he hears when he arrives" Suihime still looked concerned.

He formed a wicked grin

''You are a poor salesman Edogawa-san''

"He will be furious, I'm sure." he nodded to his sister. He turned his attention back to the Mantis. "Alright, what is your idea?"

''Use a problem to solve another'' he said

''Remember Rey de Amarillo?''

"He isn't a man I'll forget."

Suihime frowned. She didn't understand how this was going to help

He nods

''Good'' he narrowed his eyes ''What we need is to seize the narrative in this affair to steer thing our way and Rey is the perfect opportunity...if we can sell that your madness and words were caused by hauntings from Gaki-do then we can both close the rift to the plane of the hungry dead and obscure any damaging truths.''

he drummed his fingers on the table

''And when things get solved you could save your name by playing the victim of vile spirits...which is technically true''

"Of course, they might just arrange for the Jade magistrates to investigate him instead, which would be an even worse situation" Suihime commented, really wishing she'd arranged for some tea.