Chapter 57: Operation: Uprooting the Syndicate!
On this day, Otonashi Chiya stayed by Denji's side at Tokyo Hospital. With the chief physician utilizing the power of a devil, Denji's heart condition was successfully and completely cured. Chiya could finally breathe a sigh of relief; her health would no longer be an issue.
When Chief Yoshimura Taki learned of the situation, he personally authorized the reimbursement of all medical expenses Chiya incurred at the hospital.
After being cured, Denji returned home in high spirits. Chiya decided it was time to tell her about his upcoming deployment to the Soviet Union.
"Denji, I have something to tell you," Chiya said, his expression serious. "In about a month, I'll be heading to the Soviet Union. It's a mission assigned by my superiors."
"The Soviet Union?" Denji's face fell slightly. "That's... another country, right?"
She didn't know exactly where the Soviet Union was, but she knew foreign countries were far from Japan. Did this mean Chiya-ge wouldn't be able to come home to see her for a long time?
"Mhm, it is a bit far," Chiya said softly. "But we still have a month together. And even after I go, I'll come back to visit you and Pochita at least once a week."
With the power of Kamui, it didn't matter if he was in the USSR or anywhere else; he could warp back home whenever he wanted. It was simply a matter of consuming vitality and eye power. He had already tested the drain of long-distance teleportation when visiting the Zombie Devil—using it two or three times a day was no problem at all. However, he couldn't just pop back every few hours; visiting once or twice a week seemed like a reasonable balance.
"Okay, I understand." Knowing he would be back weekly made the news much easier for Denji to swallow. She didn't want to act spoiled or difficult, fearing it might make Chiya dislike her. She kept her sadness to herself to avoid making things hard for him.
"Good girl." Chiya rubbed her head. He didn't feel the need to bombard her with instructions on how to take care of herself just yet; he still had a month. He would save the final advice for the day of his departure.
For now, Chiya's focus shifted entirely to the destruction of the yakuza syndicate. Over the next few days, Tokyo Public Safety and the police finalized their preparations for the massive joint operation.
Soon, the day of the operation arrived.
The Public Safety Extermination Divisions were mobilized in full, supported by a massive police presence. The official pretext: suspicion of the syndicate hoarding Gun Devil flesh fragments.
Chiya led Special Division 1 in the frontal assault on the yakuza headquarters—a skyscraper that served as the heart of their operations and the storage site for the flesh fragments. The other divisions split up to raid various syndicate branches simultaneously, catching the yakuza completely off guard.
While the yakuza possessed firearms—having special channels to bypass Japan's strict gun laws—guns were only truly effective against devil hunters in the case of a sneak attack. Public Safety was launching a frontal assault and they were prepared; bulletproof vests and riot shields were standard issue for this raid.
At the Yakuza Headquarters.
Chiya stood before the building, leading Special Division 1. Police cars and officers had already cordoned off the entire perimeter, making it watertight. He hadn't asked Kishibe to come; he knew Kishibe was likely slacking off somewhere.
In the original story, "Katana Man" (the Samurai Sword hybrid) was a threat, but at this point in the timeline, he was just a regular human—a "garbage sword" among garbage. Without someone to revive him or give him devil powers, he was nothing. Even Hayakawa Aki, using the Curse Devil, could solo him.
Inside the building, chaos reigned.
"Damn it! Where are our moles in the police? Why didn't they warn us?!"
"Just now! A message just came through! Public Safety suddenly decided to wipe us out because they suspect we have Gun Devil fragments!"
"How do they know about the fragments? Damn it, do we have a traitor?!"
The yakuza had no time to react. The notice to the police had been a last-minute command from Public Safety, leaving the moles no time to report back. Now, the information was useless; they were surrounded.
"Forget it! Defend this building! They must not find the fragments!"
"Kill them! Let them taste lead!"
"We have devil hunters on our side too! Make them pay for this!"
Since they actually were hoarding Gun Devil fragments, they knew they faced the death penalty regardless. They had no choice but to fight to the death. Yakuza members patrolling the exterior scrambled inside the moment they saw the police, drawing concealed weapons and preparing to fire.
"I am Otonashi Chiya, Vice-Captain of Special Division 1," Chiya announced to the police officers. "You don't need to enter the building. Just hold the perimeter and make sure no one escapes."
The officers nodded in obedience.
"Everyone from Special Division 1, follow me for the frontal assault. Watch out for their guns."
"Now... Move out!"
At Chiya's command, the entire division charged into the yakuza headquarters!