Chapter 252: Pandemonium in Shinjuku
"Let's put the jokes aside for now. In fact, I have some guesses about that lady," Da Vinci said from the Chaldea side, her tone turning serious.
"As I mentioned before, because of the intervention of the 'Black Mud' Heroic Spirits, the world's self-defense mechanism has altered the nature of the world itself. It has increased the compatibility between the people of this world and Servants. Humans who initially had no way to perform a Pseudo-Servant summoning now find it a possibility."
"Right. Since Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and Asuna can achieve 100% synchronization for Pseudo-Servant summoning, I felt much more at ease letting them go to fight. It's likely for the same reason that Artoria and Jeanne were able to come to this world so smoothly," Shirou said, nodding.
Da Vinci looked at the young man, nodded with satisfaction, and smiled in praise.
"As expected of Shirou, so reliable! That's exactly it! It seems many people have found loopholes in the world. Rather than using the FGO system, they've obtained the power of Servants through other means."
"Are you talking about when Sensei and I were attacked by a Noble Phantasm at Mount Lu in China?" Shirou asked, recalling something.
"Yes! That lady from earlier is very likely using a Holy Grail or some other method to establish a certain level of connection with a Servant. However, because it isn't as stable as our FGO system—which is composed of over ten Holy Grails—the aura leaking out is very faint."
"Eh? Is that something humans can actually do?" Jeanne asked curiously.
"Yeah, Komachi doesn't understand magic or anything like that at all. Even though Souji's footwork is fast and Shuten-douji knows some weird spells, Komachi can't understand them at all!" Komachi said, clutching her head.
"But you see, humans are creatures who—no matter how incredible or sci-fi something is—once they know that 'realization' is possible, the learning and exploration abilities they display afterward are incredibly strong," Da Vinci said, raising a finger.
"Take the development of the atomic bomb, for example. Achieving it from scratch was arduous. But as long as one country made it, more and more countries developed it afterward. Even if they had to use abacuses to calculate data, even if groups of researchers collapsed because they lacked proper protective suits, they could manufacture it in even the harshest environments. If it's something they are determined to do, almost nothing can stop them.
So this time, their summoning system will also continue to improve. If someone summons a capable Magus through a Pseudo-Servant contract, achieves 100% compatibility, and
receives the help of that Magus's knowledge, the speed of development will increase several times over," Da Vinci analyzed.
Artoria said with a cold face, "Then the current issue is determining their motive. If someone has created such a system, it certainly isn't just one person. So, what exactly do these people want to do?"
Jeanne arched an eyebrow and said impatiently, "How troublesome. If they're guys who won't listen to reason, wouldn't it be easier just to beat them into the ground?"
Shirou nodded. "Indeed, if people with ill intentions are running wild with Holy Grails, that would be disastrous."
"Right! Okay! Let's go defeat that woman together!" Komachi said, raising her fist. Someone who knew her brother's body measurements better than she did—she absolutely couldn't let that slide!
"No, no, we aren't targeting that specific person," Shirou said, waving his hands repeatedly. Although that shop manager was a bit too open emotionally for his taste, she was working hard at her profession and using her own abilities to gain wealth and status, so she couldn't exactly be called a bad person.
"I know. I'll take responsibility for the investigation from this end. Everyone should head back for today," Da Vinci said.
The teenagers agreed, and while chatting, they walked toward the Shinjuku subway station to begin their journey home.
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On the other side of Shinjuku Station, in the financial and commercial district...
The scene here was different from the noisy bustle of the Shinjuku streets. Tall office buildings stood everywhere in this area. In the tallest of those buildings, someone was looking down at the ground through the glass windows of a rising elevator, observing the constantly shifting crowds below.
Nearby were salarymen in dark-toned Japanese suits—middle-aged elites carrying black briefcases and young newcomers to the workplace still looking a bit stiff. They walked across intersections marked with zebra stripes, constantly crossing and weaving like a flowing river.
Further away, in the fashionable commercial streets, the crowds entering and exiting drugstores and boutiques showcased a wide variety of skirts. Japanese people have a special fondness for skirts; even in the coldest winter, those who love beauty will choose skirts that
expose their thighs. Even those afraid of the cold will wear long skirts that almost touch the ground, or loose culottes that look similar to skirts but are split at the legs.
People in the inner streets on the other side pursued individuality even more, adding vibrant colors to this part of the city. There were Gothic Lolitas wearing wigs and various accessories, dressing themselves like dolls.
There were those in "kindergarten style" with puffy skirts and red backpacks like elementary schoolers; punk-style outfits with fishnets and permed, dyed hair with heavy smoky eye makeup; and even Chinese-style outfits with bun-head hairstyles and all-red clothing, looking like auspicious "Fortune Dolls."
Added to this were tourists from abroad—different countries, different skin tones, different ethnic costumes. Some favored white, some favored yellow, and some preferred even more brilliant colors.
Some pursued low-key luxury, looking down on big-name luxury goods and only wearing clothes hand-tailored by designers living in Italian villas. Others preferred to be draped in gold jewelry from head to toe, carrying the finest bags.
There were all sorts of personalities in the flow of people, ensuring that the attire of the crowd here would never grow boring. This district seemed to want to embrace everything in the world; it was truly full of charm.
At night, the "Sleepless Town" of Kabukicho, glowing with colorful lights, would be even more exciting.
But during the day, the center of all power gathered atop the tallest building in this financial district. Here, global business elites were assembled, including internet elites preaching web philosophies.
There were pragmatic industrialists, as well as speculators flipping land and real estate developers building apartment complexes. Among them, there was no shortage of industrial-minded careerists who wanted to dominate this region.
At this moment, the woman of infinite charm sat in a conference hall high up in the building. Under the service of a waiter, she removed her pink coat and hung it on a nearby rack, then took off the snow-white fox fur stole from around her neck.
The ceiling of the conference hall was fitted with golden racks hung with transparent, sparkling crystal lamps. Below was a rectangular table covered with a red cloth, surrounded by luxurious mahogany chairs. After finishing their tasks, the waiters bowed slightly and quietly backed out of the room.
Suddenly, only the group of people sitting in the chairs remained in the conference hall.
"You've finally arrived, Queen!" said a sturdy man with short black hair.
"My Queen, you're finally here. I've missed you so much," a young man with a "host-style" permed hairstyle said with a bright smile, coming forward to greet her.
"Oh my, am I late? I met an interesting child on the way and chatted for a bit. My apologies," the woman said as she hugged the young man who had jumped over. Her tone carried no hint of actual apology.
After the young man pulled out a chair for her, the woman sat down casually.
"Hmph! There's another guy even later than you. They call you 'Queen,' but you aren't the only 'King' here. Don't go pushing your luck!" sitting next to the woman, a man dressed as a delinquent in a leather coat said with his feet propped up on the table.
The hair above his ears was dyed gold, while the hair underneath was shaved short and remained black.
"Oh my, are you jealous? I love you too, of course," the woman said with a seductive smile.
"Tch. Girls shouldn't just say things like that so casually," the two-toned-haired delinquent said, turning his head away in annoyance, though he didn't say anything further.
"Then I've decided to stay over here tonight," the woman said teasingly, looking at the man's slightly reddened profile.
"I don't need that at all!" the delinquent shouted, his face turning even redder.
"Wait, if you want to flirt, could you please leave the room?" a woman said irritably.
"Sorry, everyone, and 'Iron Maiden'-chan too!" the Queen apologized with her hands together.
"Not at all! Queen, you don't need to say such things," the host-style man said quickly.
"Hmph! It's nothing! I just don't want to stay here with a bunch of weirdos forever. Anyway, once we leave here, what you do is your own business," said the woman nicknamed "Iron Maiden." She was dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, playing with a black riding crop in her hand as she spoke coldly.
If there was one thing she was unhappy about, it was probably that the "Masochistic Loyal Dog" type host she had her eye on—who clearly worked with her in Kabukicho—instead went over to fawn over the woman who sold formal dresses.
Not only that, but as a "Queen" who charmed hearts and ran a reverse harem, and herself being the "S-type Queen" of an underground club in the red-light district, their attributes seemed to clash.
"Please don't mind. A lady has the right to be late, regardless of the reason," said a gentlemanly middle-aged man wearing half-rimmed round glasses, with a white-gold chain hanging down his cheek.
"Thank you, 'Doctor.' You are truly sophisticated. You must have charmed many women when you were young," the Queen said with a smile.
The middle-aged gentleman nodded slightly and withdrew his gaze. He didn't seem interested in a mature woman of this age. At his age, perhaps he would prefer a daughter who would sweetly call him "Papa."
At that moment, the door opened once again...
This time, a tall middle-aged man in a suit walked in. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an air of majestic integrity. He walked in with a straight posture.
The man didn't sit down immediately. Instead, he looked at everyone in the conference hall, lowered his head in a sincere bow, and apologized:
"I am sorry, everyone! I had some urgent business to attend to suddenly, so I am late."
"No, please don't mind. Everyone left enough time. You must have been busy with important matters, sir," several men in their thirties said, standing up quickly and responding with great respect.
"Yes, yes. We all understand," a thin man nearby added.
"Oh, a 'big shot' being this busy can't be helped, right? You're working hard to maintain social peace again today, aren't you? Should I call you the 'Diligent Inspector for the People,' or... a 'Wicked Gang Boss'!" the delinquent man said, curling his lip and asking with a mocking smile.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.
"Oh, young man from the biker gang. My subordinates were 'taken care of' by you earlier. As an amateur, could you please stop interfering with Yakuza business? Even if you possess extraordinary power, you shouldn't act so recklessly. At least think about your family and friends," the majestic man said, glaring at the blond youth and threatening him unhurriedly.
The delinquent man glared back, gritting his teeth to reveal sharp canines. "Then you, bastard, stay out of the turf I'm protecting! Dammit! I don't care if you're a human trafficker, a pimp, or a Police Inspector. If your brainless subordinates dare to bring 'goods' into the place where I live again, no matter how many people there are, if they step one foot inside, I'll break it. Whichever hand they use to hand out the goods, I'll break that one too."
"Hahahaha!! Is that so? What I hate most are people who can't be reasoned with! Don't you understand that cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents!" The majestic man suddenly burst into laughter. His face of "majestic integrity" instantly twisted into a broken, eerie, and sinister smile.
At some point, a gun had suddenly appeared in his hand, pointing at the blond man.
His business hadn't been going smoothly lately. Today he received news that seven or eight of his men, coming out of a night club after work, had their arms and legs broken by someone on
a biker motorcycle. Now they were lying in the hospital with all four limbs in casts, reduced to "mummies" on beds. He had to arrange for people to replace them, and business would be delayed for several more days.
How could he not feel angry?
"Hah, if you want to fight, then try it! I've been sick of your two-faced 'yin-yang' face for a long time! Let's see if your gun is faster, or my fist!" The blond man kicked away his chair and jumped onto the long table. Golden lightning erupted all over his body as he looked down at the majestic man.
"Stop it, 'Sir.' We didn't gather here to fight. If the Holy Grail is snatched away, it won't benefit anyone sitting here," the middle-aged gentleman with the curved mustache spoke up.
The people sitting around didn't speak, but the looks in their eyes indicated their silent agreement.
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