Thursday, May 25th.
Akihabara Building, a 32-story structure located in the heart of Akihabara.
Lin Qi, looking quite spirited in his navy blue suit and blue-and-white striped tie, walked through the shops on the 17th floor before stopping to pick up a new anime Blu-ray:
"Is it really appropriate for someone collaborating with the American Union to seek me out at this time?"
Beside him, a short girl with emerald green hair was curiously fiddling with a stack of discs, her tone casual as she replied:
"I've never heard that one can only have a single collaborator."
Faced with this response, Lin Qi couldn't help but glance sideways at the woman.
Giada Kukulcan.
The emperor of one of the three Primogenitor Empires in the Australian Demon Realm - the Chaos Zone - known as the Third Primogenitor, the Chaos Bride.
Even within the Australian Demon Realm, the Chaos Zone was a dominant power, a truly formidable nation.
Yet, as the leader of this nation, Giada Kukulcan had secretly reached a cooperation agreement with the American Union, stepped out of the prohibited Australian Demon Realm, and arrived in this small island nation of Japan.
Lin Qi didn't believe for a moment that her visit was motivated by simple cooperation.
"If you wish to discuss cooperation matters, please contact Ambassador Li at the consulate. I'm merely a minor military attaché and don't handle negotiation affairs."
Hearing Lin Qi's clear refusal, Giada simply smiled dismissively:
"I thought someone with leopard-like eyes like yours would be more interesting, but it seems I was mistaken."
After saying this, Giada turned to look around.
Though it was Friday morning, numerous people who appeared to be shopping for anime merchandise had already appeared in the Akihabara Building shops.
Blondes, black-haired, brunettes - all sorts of hair colours and skin tones could be seen within this single building.
They moved slowly, occasionally examining nearby products as if carefully selecting items to purchase.
Yet to Giada, their performances seemed rather forced:
"Sometimes I truly don't understand you humans' logic."
"The invitation clearly stated that the True Dragon Legacy competition would begin at 11 AM on the 25th at Akihabara Tower."
"Yet these people still try to disguise themselves as common customers, pretending to seriously browse works in this place selling all kinds of risqué publications, not daring to make the slightest suspicious move."
At this point, Giada glanced at a man wearing a grey knitted cap who passed by the display case on the other side, only showing her the upper half of his face. Her smile grew increasingly unrestrained.
"Wouldn't it be simpler to just assume everyone entering this building during this time period is an enemy!!"
As her words fell.
A green flash of lightning passed before their eyes.
Lin Qi's eyebrows twitched as he instinctively retreated three steps before looking up at the shelf in front of him.
Immediately, a diagonal crack spread across the shelf, followed by several crashing sounds as it collapsed, its contents clattering down in a heap.
The passerby who had been near the shelf now lay in a pool of blood, crimson liquid freely gathering on the floor into a messy, reddish sludge.
Then, from within the red sludge, a pair of round eyes slowly opened:
"Ara ara, my disguise has been seen through?"
"Well then, there's no helping it... I'll just have to eat all the humans nearby and start my disguise over again..."
Before the words were finished, a white canvas shoe stepped directly onto the red sludge. A scorching wave of magical power spread out, instantly burning the red mud into black, charcoal-like waste under the terrifying mana.
Having done this, Giada scanned the crowd, who, noticing the magical fluctuations, had begun to retreat using cover. She then glanced towards the counter where the staff had vanished, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"It seems there are only two of us left on this floor now."
Hearing this, Lin Qi couldn't help but sigh. He completely failed to understand Giada's purpose in driving away the people here.
What use was there in doing this, besides announcing to the powerful figures in this Akihabara building, 'I am here'?
Wait... could it be that the purpose of this Vampire Primogenitor was precisely to be discovered here?
A battle maniac? Or was there another goal?
Just as Lin Qi's thoughts ran wild, Giada asked with a smile:
"Hey, you from the China Union, has the Hidden Management Department sent anyone to participate in this game?"
Hearing this, Lin Qi frowned slightly:
"Isn't the American Union more clear about such matters?"
"After all, they just delivered two invitations to that person yesterday."
Giada laughed upon hearing this: "I killed all the American Union representatives following me, so I'm currently gloriously out of contact. Isn't it normal that I don't know the situation?"
This lunatic...
Lin Qi's eyelids twitched violently as he listened, then he heard Giada continue.
"But speaking of which, since the Hidden Management Department received an invitation, that means there's likely already a Demigod in this building, right?"
"In that case, things might not be so boring after all!"
Hearing this, Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat. His expression was somewhat unnatural as he said:
"Are you planning to challenge a Demigod?"
However, Giada just laughed heartily at this:
"Why would I challenge such troublesome enemies?"
After laughing, Giada narrowed her eyes, her expression quite amused as she said:
"I'm just a bit curious - if by any chance I were to shatter this entire building, could this so-called inheritance competition still continue?"
As her words fell.
Under Lin Qi's incredulous gaze, a lake-like vast magical power surged forth from Giada.
Amidst the suddenly emerging vast mana, Giada curled her lips slightly and called upon her familiar:
"Come to my side swiftly—Xiuhtectli!!"
The flame manifestation, unique to Giada Kukulcan's lineage of Vampire Primogenitors, transformed into a massive pillar of fire that blasted through 32 floors in succession, as if intending to completely engulf the entire building.
As the enormous flames spread and the scorching heat intensified, a thick, charred smell assaulted the nostrils.
Luo Shu, who had just stepped into the building's first floor, blinked as he watched the sea of fire falling from the ceiling.
"This is quite a distinctive way to say hello!"