"Supernatural being..."
"We will temporarily use this term."
Being asked by her superior to do the 'explaining' work, Iori Ichika wore a long face.
To be honest, she really didn't want to deal with these high-ranking officials. She would much rather be hunting down... no, she should say pursuing that young man Tanimura Wataru, who had obtained 'supernatural power'.
Iori Ichika's family ran a martial arts dojo. She had been practicing karate since she was a child and was practically undefeated among her classmates.
Violence had become a part of her life.
Growing up, she understood that humans had their limits and chose to enter the police academy.
The reason was simple: firearms were a higher form of violence, and she had to have them in her hands.
"In this incident, the supernatural being that appeared, we will refer to as 'Mister Three'."
"Currently, Mister Three has demonstrated abilities such as appearing 'out of thin air', commanding 'evil spirits', absorbing 'souls', and bestowing 'supernatural' powers..."
Police officers are also human; they also watch anime and read novels.
Any police officer who had seen the surveillance footage of the supernatural event that occurred at the 'Zanshi-gumi' could analyze most of it... not just the police, but even the high-ranking officials in the conference room could guess this information after watching it once.
The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons is a traditional part of the island nation's culture, and beliefs in gods and ghosts have endured for ages.
That 'Mister Three's' actions were very similar to the villainous act of 'collecting souls' for a grand purpose.
As Iori Ichika explained, the projector's screen froze on the 'werewolf' standing up.
"This man's name is 'Tanimura Wataru', 21 years old, born in Adachi Ward..."
First, she briefly introduced his background, letting these big shots understand that this person had an irreconcilable feud with the Zanshi-gumi. Then, Iori Ichika pressed the machine again.
"This was three hours ago."
"The footage we took in a restaurant owned by the Zanshi-gumi in Ayase Town, 3-chome—"
As the photo of the 'Vicious Man' Fukutani, who died with his eyes open and four claw marks across his chest, and Shibukawa, whose head was violently torn off with half a spine still attached... appeared, the eyes of the many big shots lit up again.
Don't get the wrong idea, it's not that they had any strange fetishes.
It was that these corpses, in a very bloody manner, proved to them the existence of 'supernatural power'!
"Please look."
"The deepest part of the wound on this corpse's chest reached a horrifying 5 centimeters. The skin, muscles, bones, internal organs... were all cleanly torn apart."
"No known beast could cause such an injury!"
Even the strongest lion or tiger couldn't do it!
Humans, in a biological definition, are 'large animals'.
Although the density of muscle tissue is relatively low, the bone density is not bad. That 'Vicious Man' Fukutani was also a man who exercised regularly. His flesh, blood, and bones were not plasticine. It would be easy for a lion or tiger to kill him, but to leave such a terrifying wound on his chest... was beyond the limits of normal creatures.
Whether it was a lion or a tiger, their truly fatal weapons were their sharp teeth. Their claws... were just tools for holding onto prey.
"This shop did not have surveillance equipment installed, but we have reason to believe that the culprit is Tanimura Wataru, who has obtained 'supernatural power'!"
This was not hard to guess. After all, in the 'Zanshi Building', after Tanimura Wataru was tapped on the forehead by 'Mister Three', he had already put on a 'werewolf' transformation act. Plus, the deceased Fukutani and Shibukawa both had grudges with him. The motive and ability for the crime couldn't be clearer.
In fact,
after watching the surveillance footage,
Iori Ichika had immediately rushed to Ayase Town, already anticipating such a scene.
"At the same time, another of our teams has secured Tanimura Wataru's rented apartment."
"A large amount of twisted furniture was found there, presumed to be traces of him testing his power, as well as the key and rent left at the entryway..."
"All of this proves that while Tanimura Wataru possesses supernatural power, he still has clear thinking abilities."
The screen froze on the young man leaving the rented apartment, wearing a baseball cap that covered his face.
Supernatural... power!
The evidence was conclusive, and the hearts of the big shots present began to burn with excitement.
"Tanimura Wataru... is an important citizen of our country."
"His killing was justifiable."
The Chief Cabinet Secretary at the head of the table slowly spoke, setting the tone for this matter.
It was only because everyone in the conference room was one of their own that the Chief Cabinet Secretary dared to speak so simply and directly.
"As long as we find the right method, we can establish a friendly relationship with Tanimura Wataru. It is also possible to recruit him into a national department and have him cooperate with our research."
"Superintendent General Takeya, immediately protect this... Tanimura Wataru. He is an important citizen of our island nation and must not come to any harm!"
That's right,
Tanimura Wataru, the murderer, was a citizen who needed 'protection'.
As for the dozens of Zanshi-gumi members... dead was dead! They were just some yakuza scum. Let alone them, even if an ordinary person had died, so what?
Everyone present, which one of them wasn't a big shot who could decide the future of millions with a single word?
To them, human lives were really just numbers on a report.
What was important was supernatural power!
This kind of thing, which only existed in fantasy, suddenly appeared in reality. The first reaction of the big shots in the conference room was disbelief.
After repeated verification, it became:
Ecstasy!
What do rich people want most?
From ancient times to the present, countless emperors have given the answer through their actions.
Elixirs of immortality, human sacrifices, magnificent mausoleums, alchemy, worship of gods...
The people in this conference room had inherited their ancestors' resources, spent most of their lives fighting to reach this position, amassed mountains of gold and silver, and watched the joys and sorrows of millions... yet as spring passed and autumn came, they found that they, like 'ordinary people', were gradually approaching the end of their lives.
How could they be willing to accept this?!
Whether it was the 'elixirs of immortality' of past emperors or the 'cryonics' of modern wealthy people, all were greedily longing to grasp time.
The big shots' gazes fell on the surveillance footage, on the being that the Metropolitan Police Department called 'Mister Three'.
The other party was holding up the stone in their hand, absorbing the souls of the Zanshi-gumi members!
It was originally an extremely terrifying thing, but in the eyes of the big shots,
it was a look of desire!
Souls, they really do exist.
Then, could they also...
"We will do our best. As for the Self-Defense Forces—"
Superintendent General Takeya of the Metropolitan Police Department took over the topic and looked at the most powerful Chief Cabinet Secretary.
Although the members of the Self-Defense Forces were weak and had almost no combat effectiveness, their 'American equipment' was purchased with real money and was much stronger than the Metropolitan Police Department's.
Although the ideal situation was to 'invite' Tanimura Wataru as a guest and see if they could get in touch with 'Mister Three', as the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department, how could he not understand the principle of considering defeat before victory?
If a fight broke out, it was hard to say how much effect the police's equipment would have.
After all, the other party was supernatural, and it was unknown what abilities they had. If it was that 'Mister Three', it was likely that even guns and cannons would be useless.
The Zanshi-gumi had already proven that neither knives, bats, nor bullets could harm those female 'evil spirits'... no, attacking would only make them split continuously.
Catching criminals was normal, but catching a supernatural being was a first.
"I will have the Self-Defense Forces cooperate with you,"
The Chief Cabinet Secretary nodded.
"This matter is too important. I must report it to the Prime Minister immediately."
"In addition, maintain confidentiality. Chairman Tanahashi, you must coordinate the various local police headquarters while ensuring confidentiality."
The person named was the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission. The Public Security he was in charge of was responsible for collecting, preventing, investigating, and combating anti-island nation crimes, including extremist groups, religions, espionage, and terrorism...
The reason he was specifically named was that there were many mixed-bloods under the Public Security's command, and it was hard to say how many were 'loyal dogs' of America.
If America got the news, the Marine Corps would parachute into Adachi Ward...
The American bastards would definitely do something like that!
"Yes!"
Chairman Tanahashi also knew that there were a bunch of 'Japanese-American mixed-bloods' under his command and nodded heavily.
"Yuu, do you know this problem?"
Just as Tokyo's armed forces were gathering in Adachi Ward, Akiyoshi Yuu was enjoying his high school life.
"Hmm... sorry, it might take some time."
Facing the book handed over by the class president Nao, Akiyoshi Yuu, after reading the question, gave a vague answer.
He really didn't know this problem. Although he had finished high school before transmigrating... most of that knowledge had already been returned to the teachers. As for the memories of this body, they didn't seem to be able to solve this problem either.
"Then..."
Nao sat down in front of Akiyoshi Yuu.
"I'll teach you."