April 26th.
9:30 AM.
Inside a meeting room at the joint office in Chiyoda Ward.
In the modest conference room, five representatives had taken their seats, each wearing a different expression as they observed the reporting officer.
Facing them, Tomoki Asuka kept his eyes lowered deferentially, maintaining a perfect posture and a humble bearing.
"So the grand barrier remains fully operational after the incident?"
Without identifying which representative had spoken, Asuka immediately responded:
"Correct. After the adjustments on April 19th, the Akihabara Grand Barrier has resumed normal operation."
"April 19th? The Ring of Restart? So you used that to reset the grand barrier... Though we left it in Akihabara precisely for such contingencies, I never expected we'd need it so soon..."
"But using the Ring of Restart means you've been there, haven't you?... That space where the Yellow Emperor's Blood is stored."
Asuka quickly bowed deeper, explaining:
"I've already submitted a memory purge request to the joint committee."
"A wise decision," one representative remarked, with a seemingly amused expression. "However, this incident serves as a wake-up call. Perhaps the Joint Task Force alone can no longer guarantee the Akihabara Grand Barrier's stability."
Asuka pretended not to hear this statement, knowing better than to engage with such politically charged commentary.
That six Joint Task Forces assigned to guard Akihabara had failed their primary purpose of maintaining order - nearly causing catastrophe - was something the representatives could criticise, but not a minor official like himself without powerful backing.
They represented the Five Great Powers. What did he represent? The Japanese government?
Please.
Everyone knew the full title of Japan's Joint Task Force was the American East Asia Division Japan Joint Task Sub-Force.
Though operationally equivalent to a standard task force, its official designation as a "sub-force" said everything about its standing. Thus, even as a team leader, Asuka dared not voice opinions on such matters.
"Shall we formally establish an additional task force?" the French representative inquired calmly.
The Russian representative sneered: "Under whose command? Who possesses the capability? Some civilian organisation like the SDS?"
"Then perhaps America should establish another sub-force branch?"
Hearing this, the French representative suddenly interjected:
"How about we just disband the Russian branch? That way, they won't have to work while drinking."
The Russian representative scoffed:
"Working while drinking is still better than surrendering while drinking, no? Or getting completely wiped out by criminals?"
The French representative's face darkened, reminded that last night the French Joint Task Force had suffered the most casualties.
Whether in capturing that Gokuro Seto or controlling those Phenex Society members setting up rituals on Akihabara's streets, France had experienced the most incidents.
Having this thrown in his face by the Russian representative really hit a nerve.
The Chinese representative smiled as he removed his glasses, breathed on them, and polished them:
"Now now, this isn't the time for arguments."
"Wasn't everything resolved perfectly?"
"Our top priority now is diverting public attention, followed by striking back against the mastermind behind this attack."
At these words, order was finally restored.
Seeing the situation calm down, the English representative glanced at Tomoki Asuka before speaking:
"Since the debriefing is complete, Captain Asuka, you may return and await further instructions."
"Yes, sir!"
Tomoki Asuka secretly sighed in relief at the news, promptly saluted, and turned to leave the conference room.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, Asuka exhaled heavily, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand:
"Finally over..."
As he spoke, a familiar voice sounded beside him: "Judging by your expression, you made it through this time..."
Asuka turned to see his old acquaintance, Shigeaki Nagoya.
Recognising a friendly face, Asuka dropped all pretence, smiling wryly:
"Barely scraped through... To be honest, during that report, I nearly thought I'd face disciplinary action."
Pausing, he elaborated:
"The French team captain got court-martialled, Russia's captain and vice-captain were dismissed, England's two captains got forcibly transferred to Northern Ireland, and even America issued formal warnings to their personnel."
"Except for the Chinese operations team receiving commendations, everyone else suffered consequences. How could I not be terrified?"
"Frankly, I expected to be forced to resign like my senior was..."
"That shouldn't happen..." Nagoya shook his head, leaning against the corridor wall as he murmured: "At worst, you just failed to resolve matters perfectly. While not meritorious, you committed no faults..."
"And speaking of merits..."
Nagoya jerked his chin rightwards, prompting Asuka to look:
"Those two are the real heroes here."
Following his gaze, Asuka saw a strikingly handsome young man in a black suit with slightly boyish features, accompanied by a tall, composed blonde beauty.
Nagoya's voice turned hushed:
"You recognise them, yes?"
"Luo Shu, Director of the SDS Hidden Management Department, and Kirika Tachibana, Operations Director - the stars of this incident. Rumour says they even repelled that celestial hand."
"Though unconfirmed, there's talk of Joint Command establishing another operations team in Akihabara under SDS management."
Asuka's expression stiffened, recalling the earlier meeting:
"Surely not? Russia and China would never agree..."
"This would strengthen America's influence in Japan..."
"That's what I thought too." Nagoya lowered his voice further: "But I heard those two held a secret meeting with the Chinese ambassador before this morning's debriefing."
Asuka's eyes widened in shock:
"You're certain it was secret?"
If a 9 am meeting was already common knowledge by mid-morning, how secret could it be? This was practically public!
Nagoya deadpanned:
"When everyone knows but nobody acknowledges it - that counts as secrecy."
He couldn't resist adding:
"Seems China's started courting that overseas Chinese director."
"So that's why I said the SDS might actually gain control of a new Joint Task Force, even if it's under the guise of a branch unit."
Hearing this, Tomoki Asuka's expression turned somewhat complicated. Though he'd long accepted that the world would always have geniuses far surpassing him, the fact that someone in their twenties could match or even surpass his own achievements at over forty left him with mixed feelings.
"Does this mean we'll be gaining a new colleague soon?"
"That might not be a bad thing. After all, you seem to get along well with that Director Luo... Then again, with your type who works diligently on the frontlines and even helps clean up others' messes, you've probably befriended nearly everyone..."
As he spoke, Shigeaki Nagoya couldn't help but ask:
"You've got several drinking sessions lined up tonight, haven't you?"
"Indeed. I need to see off the captain of the Russian task force, and there's also an invitation from the English side..."
Thinking about it, Tomoki Asuka gave a bitter laugh:
"I'll probably drink myself to death at the table..."
Hearing this, Shigeaki Nagoya considered how Asuka remained while others were either transferred or dealt with, immediately realising he'd be the prime target tonight.
"Should I book the funeral parlour in advance for you?"
"Piss off!!"
Tomoki Asuka rolled his eyes, turned away irritably and called out:
"Let's go! There's still a mountain of troublesome work back at headquarters."
"True enough..." Shigeaki Nagoya sighed after some thought, then quickly caught up with Asuka.
As the two departed...
At the end of the corridor, Luo Shu turned to glance at their retreating figures.
Leaning against the window ledge, Kirika Tachibana tilted her head slightly to observe the two departing backs before asking:
"Run into some acquaintances?"
"Something like that."
Luo Shu responded before turning back, his expression slightly troubled as he continued:
"But speaking of which, what exactly did the Chinese representative mean earlier?"
"Asking if I'd be interested in managing a Joint Task Force branch... That was rather blunt, wasn't it?"
Kirika raised an eyebrow, giving Luo Shu an exasperated look:
"You refused, didn't you?"
At this, Luo Shu shrugged and calmly replied: "What choice did I have? I've no desire to get caught between America and China. After all, our SDS is a civilian organisation~"
Hearing Luo Shu's somewhat sarcastic tone, Kirika sighed:
"Yet you dropped suggestions to the Chinese side about helping track Nature Spirits. Doesn't that contradict your 'not getting involved' stance?"
Luo Shu spread his hands innocently:
"Can't I owe my homeland a small favour? Otherwise, being branded a traitor wouldn't be much fun... Though would someone who joined the SDS even qualify as traitor material?"
Kirika understood Luo Shu's perspective, but she understood the other side's approach even better:
"If you wanted, by deepening your connections there, you could easily become a patriotic overseas Chinese. Might even rate a flag at half-mast when you die."
"So I'd bring honour to my ancestors?"
Luo Shu scoffed, though a trace of melancholy lingered in his heart.
Bring honour to his ancestors?
With his ancestral graves not even in this world's China, which ancestors would there be to honour...
Sighing inwardly, Luo Shu casually changed the subject: "However, after I made the request, didn't they quickly agree to arrange handing over Miss Iwanaga's body to us?"
"You handled the American ambassador; I handled the Chinese side. With both parties agreeing, isn't the matter settled?"
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana glanced at Luo Shu before calmly replying:
"I'll relay this word-for-word to Lacus."
"Don't make it sound like I'm about to cheat on her with you..."
Luo Shu looked at Kirika with a wry smile, then shook his head and turned away:
"Never mind, let's go collect Iwanaga's body. Honestly, why do I have so many things to deal with..."
As he spoke, Luo Shu walked off towards the exit by himself.
Seeing this, Kirika watched his retreating back, the corner of her lips quirking up slightly as she casually reminded him:
"This is only the beginning. Wait until the Hidden Management Department officially starts operating - then you'll understand how troublesome being a Director really is..."
"Is it too late to quit now?"
"You chose this path yourself, so see it through properly."
"But you forced me into choosing it..."
"...So it's my fault then?"