Woooo—!!
The wail of air raid sirens blared across Sakuradamon in central Chiyoda.
This Metropolitan Police Department headquarters near the Imperial Palace rarely sounded these alarms outside memorial days - normally a celebratory signal.
At this moment, Vice Director Hakuba, his moustache twitching, grabbed the arm of the silently seated Director:
"Director Ito! You must evacuate to the underground bunker immediately!!"
"According to Bujin-shū field reports, though the ice storm keeps diverting, it'll reach Sakuradamon within ten minutes at most!"
"Please proceed to the bunker at once!!"
"..."
Facing Hakuba's urging, Director Ito sighed deeply:
"What about His Majesty and the Prime Minister?"
Vice Director Hakuba slowly lowered his head in response: "They've entered the covert bomb shelter. Most government agencies have relocated underground. We... haven't lost yet."
"Hmph. Haven't lost?"
Director Ito let out a derisive laugh, mocking himself:
"The Director of the Metropolitan Police Department, forced into a bomb shelter by two criminals wreaking havoc across Tokyo, dragging the Imperial family and Prime Minister into emergency evacuation with me."
"And in this situation, Hakuba-kun, you still dare tell me we haven't lost?"
Hearing this, Vice Director Hakuba shamelessly replied:
"...This incident was an unforeseen accident that no one could have predicted."
Indeed. Who could have imagined Demigods would suddenly clash in Tokyo?
Who could have foreseen that a skirmish between two Demigods would freeze an entire ward of Tokyo?
Bear in mind, Tokyo has only 23 wards to begin with...
This damned mess forced the entire Metropolitan Police Department's leadership, the Cabinet, various dignitaries and zaibatsu executives to take emergency action.
All scrambling to discuss riot suppression and disaster relief measures.
As the core parties in this matter, the Metropolitan Police Department, responsible for domestic security and the Ministry of Land, responsible for special disaster relief, held emergency meetings overnight to discuss solutions.
Yet who could have imagined that, before any solution could be finalised, while still investigating the situation, the freezing phenomenon would actually move!
Even more astonishingly, it bypassed Akihabara entirely, turning most of Bunkyo Ward into a frozen wasteland before advancing straight towards Chiyoda Ward.
This bizarre manoeuvre made Vice Director Hakuba suspect an enemy was attempting a decapitation strike against Japan's leadership!
"Accident or not..."
Director Ito seemed consumed by negativity, his voice low as he propped his forehead with both hands:
"Do you know who'll be held accountable for this?"
"Me!"
"Me!"
"It's ME!!!"
Hearing this outburst, Vice Director Hakuba looked deeply uncomfortable, his face pale as he attempted consolation:
"Perhaps... there's still hope..."
"Didn't the Prime Minister ask Minister Fujiwara to contact Director Luo from the Hidden Management Department?"
Director Ito laughed bitterly at this: "Pin our hopes on a Chinese working for some secretive American organisation?"
"Hakuba-kun, you've got quite the talent for comedy."
Vice Director Hakuba understood perfectly that anyone in this position would demand exorbitant terms, and that Director Ito's resignation was practically inevitable - and would be spectacularly humiliating.
Still, he couldn't help offering comfort:
"Ito-san, there might still be a way out."
"If you could personally contact that figure behind the Onmyou Agency..."
"Hao Asakura?"
Director Ito sneered: "Do you think I haven't tried?"
Vice Director Hakuba froze, then stared at the director in disbelief:
"You mean you actually..."
The vice director found this incredible. He'd only mentioned this impossible scenario to comfort Director Ito, yet the man had already attempted it.
This realisation made Hakuba's scalp prickle.
After all, over a decade ago, due to some official misconduct, Japan's government had actually issued a warrant for Hao Asakura's arrest, even mobilising troops to hunt him down.
The final result saw the previous director, Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers all devoured by Hao's Guardian Spirit, their souls burned to ashes.
Director Ito had risen to his position by filling the vacancy, campaigning on staunch opposition to Hao Asakura and contributing significantly to the hunt for the demon, which secured his promotion.
Yet now it emerged this same director had some secret communication channel with that very demon.
Did this mean Director Ito's rise to power over a decade ago...
"This is a warning."
Director Ito seemed utterly unconcerned by Hakuba's suspicions, stating calmly:
"Over a decade ago, that man showed us - showed the world - the danger of sorcerers, forcing everyone to acknowledge their existence."
"Now, over a decade later, he - or rather, they who have become Demigods - are demonstrating their power to the world again."
"This is a setup!"
"A coordinated scheme executed through unspoken understanding between all Demigods."
"They're sending their first greeting... to us rulers."
Vice Director Hakuba gradually fell silent upon hearing this, understanding Director Ito's implication.
In the very first month since the appearance of Demigods, clashes between them had already occurred, unexpectedly freezing a core metropolis of the nation.
It was hard not to interpret this as a warning from those superhuman-powered Demigods to all those in authority.
This was evident from how Director Luo of the Hidden Management Department had excused himself from acting during the Demigod confrontation in the city, and how Hao Asakura had similarly remained passive.
Those Demigods were using Tokyo as their stage to demonstrate power before the Five Great Powers.
Tokyo's ten million citizens, the entire nation of Japan, had become mere chess pieces in their game against the Union.
Why Japan?
Why must it be Japan?
Vice Director Hakuba couldn't comprehend this, nor did he wish to.
All he wanted to know was what outcome this situation would ultimately bring.
"Hakuba."
"I'm here."
"Perhaps the Prime Minister, His Majesty the Emperor, and even the members of the Union need to recall something - the greatest source of power in this world."
At this point, Director Ito let out a deep sigh:
"Violence is the greatest power in this world!"
Vice Director Hakuba was momentarily speechless.
"Hakuba, contact Minister Fujiwara in my name."
"Tell him I'll take full responsibility for all consequences. Have him agree to Director Luo's terms and do everything possible to stop the ongoing disaster."
"This might be presumptuous of me, but... I'm entrusting my child to you, Hakuba."
After a long silence, Vice Director Hakuba finally sighed: "...Understood, Director."
...
Hidden Management Department, 3rd Floor.
Luo Shu lounged in his office chair, legs casually propped on the desk as he trimmed his nails while holding a phone between his head and shoulder.
Daichi Fujiwara's exasperated voice came through the receiver:
[Luo Shu, your demands are too excessive.]
[Not only unconditional nationwide approval for SDS commercial projects, but also control over Chiba Port...]
[Do you have any idea what your requests actually signify?]
"A concession? A state within a state? Weren't there plenty of terms for this last century?"
Luo Shu examined his nails, then narrowed his eyes with a smile:
"But Daichi-san, you must understand we're dealing with two Demigods simultaneously. At this critical juncture, haven't you grasped the danger Demigods represent?"
"Defeating - let alone killing - a Demigod requires us to risk our lives."
"Do you think my life, or the lives of the SDS's Demigods, are worth less than Chiba Port?"
[This... this...]
Even expecting Luo Shu's greed, Daichi was stunned by the sheer scale of his demands.
A modern industrial port adjacent to Tokyo, in Tokyo Bay itself! Japan's largest industrial port!! With complete control!!!
How could he possibly present these terms to the Cabinet?!
Just then, Luo Shu's voice turned ominous:
"Daichi-san, I suggest you consult the Cabinet elders."
"I doubt they wish to spend their days cowering in bomb shelters under constant Demigod threats, do they?"
Hearing Luo Shu's words, Daichi Fujiwara, who was in the air-raid shelter, couldn't help but glance at the display screen Toyomi Fujiwara was watching.
Gazing at the vast expanse of white, beautiful yet perilous frozen land below, Daichi fell silent.
[Luo Shu, if you can guarantee that Tokyo will never face such disasters again...]
Luo Shu didn't let Daichi finish, interrupting directly:
"Daichi."
"We're on the same side!!"
Understanding the implication instantly, Daichi changed his tone:
[Then, can you at least ensure that when Demigods attack Tokyo or high-ranking officials, the Hidden Management Department will deploy Demigods in response?]
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow before smirking coldly:
"We'll deploy, but no guarantees on keeping the targets alive."
Daichi sighed, pressing the earpiece on his ear as he spoke slowly:
[The Prime Minister has agreed, but Director Ito must sign the confidential agreement as proxy. That's his final condition.]
[If you accept these terms, please act quickly now.]
[I beg you, Luo Shu!!]
Beep—!
Luo Shu ended the call. Turning around, he looked at Kurumi Tokisaki, Origami Tobiichi and Mukuro Hoshimiya seated on the sofa. Putting his legs down, he stood up calmly:
"Time to move, everyone."
His lips curled into a delighted smile:
"Our turn to shine!!"