Who the Heck?

Inside the Tasty Geezer Breads shop, Saint-Germain has roped his exosuit-clad henchwoman into baking duty. He compliments her work, but she gripes that he ought to be hunting Okarun instead, then blames the faulty gear he gave her for her failed attempt on the boy's life. Saint-Germain rejects the excuse, telling her the fault lies in her own weakness rather than the equipment, and reminds her that he employs her, so she answers to him during work and may chase her own goals afterward. When he spots smoke pouring from the oven, he assumes he has scorched a loaf, but the haze resolves into Red Baron, bowing low.

Pretending not to recognize the newcomer, Saint-Germain shoos him out of the kitchen over his tobacco stench and moves the conversation elsewhere. Red Baron apologizes for botching his task, blaming interference from help the Serpo had hired, and hands back the borrowed kozuka blades while swearing to recover the powers that were doled out. Saint-Germain waves off the vow, insisting the operation still yielded valuable intelligence about yokai compatibility and how abilities evolve. He reveals he has drawn out a rare gift in Koki Yukishiro and strengthened her Lord of the Flies power, but cautions that Red Baron's exposure will draw the Sorcerers Association down on them. He distrusts the Serpo, notes the aliens are unaware only humans can wield yokai abilities, and floats allying with Okarun to forge the ultimate yokai.

A small girl gives the frustrated henchwoman an origami crane to thank her for the bread, softening her mood. At the hospital, Seiko hears from Jiji the title Red Baron let slip, and links it to a faction that crippled a friend of hers overseas and overpowered an exorcist. She names them the Black Paladins, curse-collectors who serve corporations by sabotaging rivals, and singles out an infamous killer called the Flying Ace. She frets that they now operate in Japan, apologizes for failing to protect everyone, and turns anxious over Momo losing her powers. Nearby, Bamora hugs the restored Momo, whose amnesia leaves her baffled and shoving back.

Saint-Germain puts the Jet Booster Exosuit Kur to work at his bakery and is revealed to command Red Baron, the architect of the assaults on the Family. He frames the failed plan as a source of useful research toward creating the ultimate yokai and proposes lying low and befriending the Family, a notion Red Baron rejects out of self-styled royal pride. Seiko identifies Red Baron as a Black Paladin, a curse-wielding criminal who works for powerful firms and once targeted her friend abroad. The chapter also confirms Momo has forgotten how to use her abilities.

Titled Who the Heck?, this installment runs nineteen pages and belongs to the Shimane Arc under the Ultimate Yokai Saga. It cements the villain hierarchy by placing Red Baron beneath Saint-Germain and introduces the Black Paladins and the assassin known as the Flying Ace as looming threats.