Model citizen Ye Xing and Director Soichiro Yagami of the Criminal Affairs Bureau reached a friendly consensus.
When united in purpose, nothing is impossible.
"A bomb?!"
At Soichiro Yagami's words, all Metropolitan Police Department officers froze in their tracks.
Bombs came in many forms.
Amateurs might strap themselves with grenades.
The real danger of grenades wasn't the explosion itself, but the shrapnel scattering afterwards.
The officers had vehicles for cover, and SWAT teams wore full-body armour.
Even if Mask was covered in grenades, detonating them at this distance would likely only kill Soichiro Yagami.
But if it were a more sophisticated compressed explosive...
Detonating one could easily flatten everything within several hundred metres.
Keep in mind that the Kyoto City Museum is currently hosting an exhibition.
Not just Onimaru Kunitsuna, but many of Japan's national treasures were displayed there.
If that bomb went off...
The Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department would be eternally condemned by history.
Every officer broke into a cold sweat as that terrifying scenario flashed through their minds.
"D-don't do anything rash!"
Seeing his plan succeed, Soichiro Yagami felt conflicted, but still shot a meaningful glance at a subordinate in the distance.
The officer immediately understood, pulling out a walkie-talkie to order:
"Snipers stand down. No firing without direct orders."
Time was short, and with their commander taken hostage, chaos reigned.
Rumour had it that some bombs could detect the wearer's heartbeat - detonating automatically if it stopped.
They simply couldn't risk shooting.
With Soichiro Yagami as his hostage, Ye Xing led Miko Yotsuya past the entire police force in broad daylight, stopping beside a patrol car. He extended his hand to an officer crouched behind it and said calmly:
"Give me the keys."
Seeing Soichiro Yagami nod subtly, the officer carefully placed the keys on the car's bonnet.
Ye Xing took them, opened the door, and unceremoniously shoved Soichiro Yagami into the passenger seat.
Miko climbed into the back while he took the wheel.
As the doors shut, cutting off outside noise, Soichiro Yagami frowned and whispered:
"Do you even know how to drive? Should I take over?"
In the backseat, Miko's emotions were in turmoil.
'You're being awfully cooperative for a hostage.'
She genuinely couldn't comprehend why Soichiro Yagami, Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, would assist Ye Xing.
She hadn't witnessed Onimaru Kunitsuna's process of choosing its master.
Onimaru Kunitsuna – a legendary sword passed down through generations in Japan.
That such a blade, capable of slaying evil spirits and possessing its own consciousness, would choose Ye Xing as its master...
The shock in Soichiro Yagami's heart was truly beyond words.
Of course, beyond this reason, there was also his unwillingness to see Metropolitan Police Department members pointlessly sacrificed, as well as the words Ye Xing had spoken.
For some reason, though there was no evidence, Soichiro Yagami felt that Mask was telling the truth.
Their target wasn't to create chaos in society.
Combined with the scene of Mask sheathing Onimaru Kunitsuna...
An inexplicable sense of awe even arose in Soichiro Yagami's heart.
"No problem."
The Metropolitan Police Department's car seemed to be an older model – not even an automatic transmission, but a manual.
Just as Soichiro Yagami was about to say something, he heard Ye Xing casually reply before performing a series of fluid motions: inserting the key, igniting the engine, depressing the clutch, shifting gears – all in one seamless motion.
As a veteran detective with years of investigative experience, he instinctively added another clue about the true identity to his mind upon witnessing this scene.
Skilled at driving, clearly experienced – likely an adult.
In recent years, few young people bothered obtaining manual transmission licenses, given the rarity of manual cars.
Combined with that extraordinary psychological composure, clearly someone with vast life experience.
Most likely an adult between thirty and forty years old.
Soichiro Yagami's reasoning was perfectly logical.
Unfortunately, completely wrong.
Though one couldn't blame his professional competence.
Setting aside that Ye Xing was a transmigrator...
After devouring thousands of evil spirits, beyond physical and spiritual power enhancements, he'd acquired professional skills across numerous fields.
'Thirty years as a locksmith – I can pick every lock in the neighbourhood with a single noodle!'
'Thirty years as an electrician – I can detect leakage currents just by touching them!'
'Thirty years navigating love triangles – I can tell at a glance whether you're carrying Valentine's chocolate or a cleaver in that bag!'
Trying to deduce his true identity from such details?
Then Soichiro Yagami could only be wished good luck.
"I... holy shit, slow down!"
Watching Ye Xing rev the engine and shift from first to fifth gear within two seconds, Soichiro Yagami immediately grabbed the overhead handle, his stern square face showing rare panic.
What kind of driving is this?!
Soichiro Yagami could almost hear the decade-old police car roaring its final, desperate cry.
"My youth..."
Ye Xing stared fixedly at the road ahead, becoming one with the vehicle in this moment.
"Will know no regrets!"
Vroooom!
Watching the police car roar and vanish rapidly down the road, the Metropolitan Police Department members stood in stunned silence.
"Can that car... even go this fast?"
"Is he standing on the accelerator?"
"Won't it just fall apart on the road?"
Clearly, the Metropolitan Police Department officers were genuinely impressed by Ye Xing's ability to make an old manual police car rocket forward like a jet, leaving everyone in the dust.
Wasn't he about to redline it?
"Hmph."
A low, displeased snort cut through the officers' chatter.
The surrounding air instantly grew heavier.
All eyes shifted towards a tall man clad head-to-toe in bulletproof armour, holding a riot shield.
They looked, but...
Not a single person dared meet his gaze.
"What arrogant criminals."
Seishu Akoya strode forward, opened the rear of an armoured van, and removed his riot helmet—tossing it inside along with his shield.
Then he moved to the driver's side and pulled open the door.
"Officer Akoya!"
A department member mustered the courage to intervene.
"Our priority should be securing the museum for the remaining suspects and checking for stolen or damaged exhibits. The surrounding streets are locked down—they can't get far. Let other units handle Chief Yagami's rescue."
"Hm?"
Akoya turned, locking eyes with the officer as he enunciated each word:
"Are you suggesting I turn a blind eye to evil?"
Under that inhuman, emotionless stare, the officer's back instantly soaked through with sweat, drenching even his dress shirt beneath the suit.
Without another word, Akoya climbed into the van's driver's seat, revved the engine, and ploughed through the police cordon—heading straight for Ye Xing's fleeing direction.
He cared nothing for museum artefacts.
Even less for some police chief's safety.
Seishu Akoya cared about one thing only:
Dispensing justice upon evil, by his own absolute standards.
...
Five minutes later.
"Ugh... ugh..."
Soichiro Yagami braced against the alley wall, bent double as dry heaves wracked his frame.
His normally stern, square-jawed face had gone deathly pale.
When the nausea finally eased, he wiped his mouth with a sleeve and turned to study Ye Xing and Miko Yotsuya.
Their masks hid all expression.
But their steady posture and calm eyes showed neither had been affected by the high-speed chase.
"You two... are incredible."
The chief's admiration was genuine.
Ye Xing's skills were self-evident.
But Miko's mental fortitude also far exceeded normal human limits.
She couldn't quite understand—why had a mere 170 kph reduced the police chief to this state?
Miko felt nothing. If anything, she almost wanted to laugh.
"Now then..."
Ye Xing drew Onimaru Kunitsuna from his waist—scabbard and all—and placed it into the pale ghost hand's waiting palm.
In Soichiro Yagami's eyes, all he could see was the moment Onimaru Kunitsuna was handed over to the side, before the famed blade suddenly vanished without a trace.
The principle was the same as how Hachishaku-sama concealed her blade.
Physical objects, even spiritual ones, could normally be seen by ordinary people.
However, once they came into contact with spirits, these objects would transform into a state closer to that of evil spirits or spectres—rendering them invisible to the average person's sight.
This incomprehensible sight once again left Soichiro Yagami reeling with shock.
The true face of the world...
Was it something beyond the understanding of ordinary people like him?
Just who were these two individuals before him?
Though Onimaru Kunitsuna was a renowned blade, it had been forged centuries ago—completely incomparable to modern craftsmanship.
Why had they wanted Onimaru Kunitsuna?
For money?
If it was for money, why hadn't they taken all the treasures from the main exhibition hall?
Soichiro Yagami couldn't fathom the Mask's motives.
He had never encountered such an elusive, unpredictable criminal—one whose next move defied all logic.
"Chief Yagami."
After watching Miko Yotsuya step through the Gate, her figure disappearing from sight, Ye Xing turned to face Soichiro Yagami, standing not far away.
"I look forward to your answer."
Soichiro Yagami remained silent.
He knew the so-called "answer" didn't refer to him contacting them.
After an incident of this scale, with the Metropolitan Police Department sealing off streets for kilometres, there was no way to keep it under wraps.
Once this was over, the Metropolitan Police Department would inevitably hold a press conference with representatives from the Kyoto City Museum to explain the day's events to the public.
The Mask didn't need to contact him.
They could sit at home, like every citizen in Kyoto and Japan, and watch the news.
From the press conference, they would learn what decision he had made regarding this incident.
Just as Soichiro Yagami was about to respond, a screech of brakes erupted from the alley's entrance.
BANG!
An armoured van rammed violently into the alley's mouth, blocking it completely.
Then, a towering figure—wielding a riot shield, his features sharp and his eyes devoid of emotion—leapt from the van's roof into the alley.
His black boots splashed through the filthy puddles on the ground, sending water flying.
"Akoya—"
At the sight of Seishu Akoya's arrival, Soichiro Yagami's expression immediately darkened.
"Chief Yagami, step back."
The towering Akoya stood in the narrow, shadowed alley like a mountain, exuding an oppressive weight that made it hard to breathe.
Step by step, he advanced, the edge of his riot shield scraping against the walls with a metallic clatter.
"Mask."
Seishu Akoya stared directly at Ye Xing, standing before him, his eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation. He resembled not a human, but rather a cold, mechanical entity.
"Submit to the judgment of justice."
"Akoya!"
Soichiro Yagami's voice carried a warning tone.
"He's rigged with explosives. If detonated—"
"I don't care."
Seishu Akoya cut off Soichiro Yagami mid-sentence.
"No matter the cost, evil must be purged by my own hand."
Madman.
A complete and utter madman.
Though this was their first meeting, Ye Xing recognised the man called Seishu Akoya.
Because, like Wu Hei, whom he'd encountered previously, this man was also a Kengan fighter qualified for the tournament.
His epithet: The Executioner.
Unlike the unstable, beast-like Wu Hei, Seishu Akoya's exterior appeared composed.
In truth, his psyche was consumed by twisted righteousness.
Clearly, in Seishu Akoya's eyes, this black-masked figure before him represented evil that demanded immediate eradication.
He couldn't tolerate witnessing this criminal escape the Metropolitan Police Department's grasp.
Not once, but twice.
"Interesting."
Observing Seishu Akoya's steady approach, a glint of excitement surfaced in Ye Xing's eyes as he stepped forward to meet him.
The distance between them rapidly diminished.
Ten metres, seven, five, three...
Soichiro Yagami felt he wasn't witnessing two humans anymore.
But monsters wearing human skins.
The Metropolitan Police Department's strongest - Seishu Akoya...
Versus the criminal who'd incapacitated a dozen fully armed SWAT officers in five seconds - the most formidable offender he'd ever encountered...
Who would prevail?
"Justice..."
Akoya raised his riot shield defensively while his massive right hand formed a fist, one knuckle protruding in perfect Metropolitan Police combat stance. His straight punch carried terrifying force, cutting through the air with a whistle.
"Executed."
Boom!
This time, Ye Xing didn't intercept. Instead, he answered with his own punch.
Their fists collided mid-air with a dull impact.
The shockwaves from their clash made Soichiro Yagami's heart pound violently even at a distance.
"Hmm?"
For the first time, emotion flickered across Akoya's robotic features.
Frowning slightly, he stated flatly:
"Your strength matches mine. Truly, you're evil that must be eradicated immediately."
"Don't make me laugh."
Ye Xing shook his head softly.
"I was only using half my strength."
As the words left his lips, his right arm transformed into the ghost hand.
Naturally, concealed beneath the evil spirit power-formed coat and gloves, neither Soichiro Yagami nor Seishu Akoya noticed anything amiss.
Ye Xing raised his fist and struck forward.
Akoya instantly raised his riot shield in defence.
BOOM!!!
The fist's collision with the shield produced an explosion-like detonation.
Even through the shield, the terrifying impact sent waves of pain through Akoya's arm. At last, his perpetually calm eyes showed genuine disturbance.
He realised his judgement had been wrong.
The strength between them wasn't evenly matched at all.
Though his physique was larger than his opponent's, in terms of pure power, he was completely outclassed.
Just as Seishu Akoya attempted to shift his riot shield to counterattack, the sound of splitting air reached his ears again.
BANG!!!
Another deafening impact as a terrifying force was transmitted through the shield into his arms.
And this was only the beginning.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
One earth-shaking blow after another in relentless succession.
Watching Ye Xing's right fist repeatedly hammering against the hardened riot shield, the towering figure of Seishu Akoya could only cower behind the ballistic barrier.
Even gritting his teeth against the onslaught, his boots scraped black marks across the ground.
Eventually, Akoya had to brace the shield with both hands.
Yet still his body kept being forced backwards.
"This..."
Soichiro Yagami stared dumbfounded.
The Metropolitan Police Department's strongest combatant, that monster known as Seishu Akoya, was being completely overwhelmed in close-quarters combat?
As the continuous thunderous impacts echoed in his ears, witnessing the dented riot shield and Mask's straightforward yet air-rending punches, Soichiro felt sheer terror grip his heart.
If those fists struck an ordinary person...
Wouldn't they shatter internal organs instantly?
This man...
Was he truly human?!