User blog comment:AquilaeAltair/OnS Theories. Fourth Theory - Rigr Stafford, master mind and Guren Ichinose's manipulator. Warning: Mayor spoilers of World Resurrection at 19/@comment-36009152-20190324003446

A history manipulating force, it has the Hiragi family written all over it – oh wait, they are indirectly behind it XD unrelated but made me think of real world scenarios with families writing an entire countries history, in their view. Here, this history lesson on what is going on in the world is a fascinating insight into Shikama Doji’s thinking. Very tactful and surprisingly focused on being elusive, not drawing attention to himself until the mid-70’s chapters of the Vampire Reign manga where all concerns of being noticed have evaporated.

We will have to keep our excitement reserved for when the second volume is officially released, can never be too sure is leaked info is real… or a misleading plot by Shikama Doji in the flesh! Ha, and still remarkable Rigr, also known as Saito for others who may reading (and receiving spoilers) and his role in this is coming to light.

Weakening the Hiragi family is a good first step, but maybe Saito truly wanted Guren away from that family to have someone less susceptible to their influence. We are shown in detail how the Hiragi’s like to run things; and how the best of them like Mahiru can unfortunately be swallowed up (or so we may have been led to think on that area).

To say it, I am not all certain Sika Madu is fully all there, I don’t believe he really had a clue he was being worked against – he does not seem to have a concept of certain matters. The best way to describe it is demons like Asuramaru show no concern for much stronger vampires and the threat they pose to their humans hosts. Asuramaru was completely detached from a world-ending Seraph and only intervened to keep his host as his, and not this Seraphs. Sika Madu could behold Rigr arrange these plans right in front of him but ‘doesn’t care’ really means he has no idea the way we would think of one, of what is going on, he cannot recognise what these happenings mean for him. Regarding love he see’s it through a different lens, specifically like with Shinoa’s lust, it’s a means to an end of getting what he wants rather than a deep feeling between people.

Shikama’s traits are certainly ones that Rigr took advantage of. Whilst his sire is hopping from one family head to the next, yes the history rewrite is clever, but Rigr is a different type of scheming mastermind. Evidently better in some ways than Shikama Doji, such as those of the following:

Rigr may have the right plans but implementing them is easier said than done. I do love how with even him and Mahiru prodding him to join, Guren stuck with his crew. Considering how they were being treated, it’s a real good thing he chose that route without any doubt. Sure it would be heartless to ditch them and yet how different would things be if Guren jumped ship to hop fully on board with the Hyakuya Sect?

Fascinating that: Gurens hallowed prophecy regarding the black demon holders, was in reality insider knowledge provided by a second progenitor, possibly his love interest as well if Mahiru was involved. Being a master manipulator is all the better when it works, Rigr got the outcome he wanted whether by himself or using Mahiru to ensure the desired result. Guren is not easily manipulated and values his friends? No biggy, outcome is all the same, yes that is impressive puppeteering.

It is an interesting parallel to Yu later, featuring Guren in a same role by sheer fate. Just as Yu has took no issues at all at being possibly manipulated by Guren himself – he was considered family, and offered to help reclaim Mika (the magic words for keeping Yu happy). So too could Guren have not cared one bit about Rigr pulling some strings, it was the Hiragi family itself, not to mention the first looking overhead that Guren had in mind.

The thing is whether Guren realises it is Rigr calling the shots. Guren pays no mind to taking Mahiru-no-Yo’s orders over Kureto’s, and by extension Rigr. What are the odds Rigr had Mahiru leave the names of the test subjects, I wouldn't be surprised if Rigr sent Mahiru specifically to fall in love with Guren. How beguiling that banking on a girl winning Guren’s heart to bring him over still didn’t work entirely with Guren remaining beside his friends. Though admittedly that is one heck of a method to win someone over. Interestingly it parallels Shikama also taking a person’s feelings for another into account to try and get them to act the way they want.

With Guren’s understandable resentment of the Hiragi clan, it might have damaged them more for Guren to marry into their family XD either way undermining them, the Hiragi family was at the top of Rigr’s to screw list, and sound plan indeed making use of some Seraph related daggers to help these plans along.

With keeping Mahiru’s memories in check, do doubt it was an act of kindness for Guren to keep a part of her after the fusion with Noya. Fits perfectly your theory of Saito being a master manipulator – he is just after these memories to use at a later date. That, as well as blatantly planning for the whole Mahiru is going to be lost, but you got cursed gear… not quite a consolidation prize but that’s what happened nevertheless.

I agree it is hard to gauge the connection, it’s hard to tell fully how Rigr perceives Guren as and vice versa. Only thing was when Guren was not a receptive to his suggestions, Rigr could simply use Mahiru as the carrot to guide Guren along.

Dropping Yu off at the orphanage to meet Mika, truly glad he did, so everyone can like him for that, right?! On Ferid just makes him ever more twisted (somehow) to come between Yu and Mika. When they were set to leave together, that he would have Mika turned into a vampire as a guarantee in his mind that Mika could never join Yu and Guren’s side, sickening but thankfully did not come to pass.

With that, this is why it is so important for Guren to gain Mika’s trust. Mika is aware of Guren’s actions, he has heard some things and everything is problematic because the rumours on what Guren has done are true. Guren has got to go further than wanting to defend his friends, by extending it to Yu, and of course Mika who is still relatively isolated. The latter who should have been in the same category as Yu but maybe robbed from that position from being forcibly turned into a vampire. Guren has his work cut out but that is hopefully an area he can excel in.

Always compounded that Mika thinks Guren is a brainwashed thrall of Shikama, Guren has to take out all the stops if anything because he will need Mika, Yu, anyone, with the ringleader of the conspiracy himself formally making his move on the Japanese Imperial Demon Army.