We don’t mean to alarm you, but we may have reason to suspect that a fox spirit has infiltrated the highest ranks of The Thousand Worlds government.

And no, we’re not talking about Kim Min, the current Bearer of the Dragon Pearl. Nor are we talking about the ghost of her brother Jun, who rarely ever leaves her side. Not everyone is comfortable with these two so entrenched in the Space Forces, but the Dragon Pearl made its choice. Do you want to argue with the most powerful artifact in the universe?

We’re not entirely sure where this other fox spirit came from. And what’s even more troubling? Min doesn’t know where she came from, either.

What we do know is that she goes by Assistant Minister Yang Miho. And she seems to have done a stellar job of hiding her true identity from her colleagues. Admittedly, it’s not that hard for most fox spirits to conceal their heritage from those who consider them a menace.

Unless of course, they’re trying to hide from one of their own . . .

In Plain Sight

For someone trying to pull off a double identity, it doesn’t seem that Miho got the memo about how to blend into the background. Unlike many of her fellow female councilors, she has her hair cut short in a sleek pageboy. Also, she eschews traditional outfits for a more modern, chic satin version of a spacefarer’s outfit.

We’d tell you how to steal her look, but unfortunately, the cost of shipping items from the Thousand Worlds is prohibitively expensive. And besides, there’s no way any of us could ever hope to mimic how Miho looks in her true form.

When she’s a fox, you’d be excused for thinking that Miho is a queen of foxes. If fox spirits had queens, that is. She has nine tails, each tipped with silver rather than white. It’s worth noting that only the oldest and most powerful fox spirits possess nine tails. For reference, Min only has one. (Not that she’s jealous or anything. Obviously.)

Do No Charm

In case you weren’t feeling paranoid enough already, we should remind you that fox spirits are infamous for their powerful Charm magic. The easiest way to define it is the ability to make people think you’re more interesting than you actually are.

Not that we’re accusing Miho of using Charm to help her climb the ranks to the position of Assistant Minister. But we do have to assume she uses magic to liven up those stuffy diplomatic functions she’s required to attend. There’s no other way to explain why her colleagues find her jokes about paperwork and taxes super funny.

Contrary to what you may have heard, the role of an Assistant Minister requires more than small talk about administration. According to Miho, she has shaped policies that welcome spirits and creatures of all kinds in the Space Forces, not just the human majority. She also claims to have strengthened the Space Forces by increasing its allocated budget.

Now those cadets and officers who have been enjoying those fancy new massage chairs in the their assigned battle cruisers know whom they should thank.

Thinking Outside the Fox

As much as we want to believe that Miho is a force for good in the Space Forces, we can’t help but wonder, if she’s hiding her true identity, is there anything else she’s keeping secret from us?

Normally, we would be willing to overlook one fox spirit in disguise, but right now is a very bad time for any potential subterfuge. It’s not every day that representatives from the Sun Clans decide to meet with members of the Thousand Worlds.

With the Dragon Pearl finally back in safe hands, we may be on the precipice of a new era. One in which the hostilities between the Sun Clans and Thousand Worlds may finally, finally, come to an end. This is a critical juncture, so excuse us if we’re a bit wary of those who refuse to lay all their cards on the table.

Then again, we’ve already learned to trust one fox spirit to handle the Dragon Pearl. What’s the harm in trusting another?

Especially one with such pretty amber eyes. And such sleek fur. An impeccable sense of style. Not to mention her amazing sense of humor. It’s getting kind of difficult to think of anyone more trustworthy, actually . . .

Getting kind of difficult to think of anything else at all . . .

Oops! Sorry. We got a little distracted there for a second. What were we talking about? How Miho is overdue for a promotion? We couldn’t agree more!

Want to see more of Yang Miho and discover what she’s really up to? Be sure to pre-order your copy of Fox Snare, A Thousand Worlds Novel, on sale 10/17!