Chapter 71: Why didn't you say so earlier?
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
Just then, a sudden, sharp laugh echoed through the room, not only interrupting Tendo Kisara, who was asking Holy Son about the contents of the box, but also breaking the thoughts of the other company presidents.
Immediately after, everyone's gaze focused on the source of the sound, and then they were startled.
A masked man wearing a top hat and a tailcoat sat with his feet on the table in a seat that had been empty moments before. Amidst his laughter, he straightened up and stood as if floating, remaining on the table with his shoes on.
The masked man walked to the center of the oval table and stopped, facing Holy Son.
"State your name."
"Excuse me."
The masked man took off his top hat and bowed deeply like an elegant gentleman, saluting Holy Son on the monitor.
"My name is Hiruko, Hiruko Kagetane. A pleasure to meet you, incompetent head of state… To be blunt, I am your enemy."
Perhaps it was because she was called incompetent to her face, or perhaps it was because of the enemy, but Saitenshi's expression was not good, and she frowned slightly.
"Oh, mechanical Transformation, huh...?"
Mahiro-kun muttered softly, as if he had seen a new and interesting toy, carefully sizing up the masked man named Hiruko Kagetane.
This guy, like Rentaro, was a former member of the 787th Mechanized Special Forces of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Eastern Army, and also underwent hyper-titanium prosthetic body modification.
But the difference was that Rentaro only had one arm, one leg, and one eyeball modified, but this man had all of his internal organs modified!
It was somewhat like mechanical ascension.
Was this guy also Sumire Muroto's masterpiece?
However, just as he was pondering this, Hiruko Kagetane had already summoned his daughter, who was also his Initiator—
A young girl with wavy, dark green short hair, wearing a black dress with frills, placed her hand on the table, lifted her leg with a "Heh-shoo~" sound, and with some effort, climbed onto the table.
She then ran to Hiruko Kagetane's side, pinched the corner of her skirt, and bowed properly.
"My name is Hiruko Kohina, and I am 10 years old."
Two titanium katanas hanging from her lower back were still slowly dripping with viscous blood, like a combination of elegance and danger.
She was also the most pathological loli, brainwashed by Hiruko Kagetane since childhood.
The appearance of Hiruko Kagetane completely disrupted the original order of the meeting, especially when he uttered the term "Legacy of the Seven Stars," which made everyone present look solemn.
And because of Hiruko Kagetane's arrogant attitude, a chaotic battle naturally broke out.
Using himself as the center, Hiruko Kagetane radially spread a repulsive field, causing all the bullets fired at him to stagnate in the air, and even reflecting them back.
This move was beyond the expectations of the IFAs present, and many were already seriously injured as a result.
Mahiro, on the other hand, shielded Tendo Kisara and Asaka behind him, unilaterally neutralizing the incoming bullets.
Before long, in the conference room, which was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and left in a mess by the intensive gunfire, groans and wails could be heard everywhere from those unfortunately wounded by ricocheting bullets.
"Oh my, oh my, it seems not all IFAs are incompetent, huh~ The proud lone wolf, Mahiru-kun."
A moment later, seeing that there were still people standing in the room besides himself, Hiruko Kagetane looked at him with interest.
Saitenshi also noticed his presence, as if she had seen a savior.
"Mr. Mahiro, please take down this madman," Saitenshi immediately said through the screen.
Mahiro ignored Hiruko Kagetane and turned his head to look at Saitenshi on the screen.
"No problem with taking action, but what about the reward?"
"One-tenth of the reward for this mission, one hundred million."
"No problem, but that loli, and all subsequent drops, also belong to me."
"Alright, I agree."
Although Saitenshi didn't understand what he meant by those words, she still agreed.
And having received Saitenshi's affirmation, Mahiro jumped onto the table.
Under the gaze of the two on the screen, as well as numerous IFAs and presidents, he unhurriedly walked to the opposite side of Hiruko Kagetane.
The dull thud of his footsteps on the round conference table seemed to stomp on everyone's hearts.
It was exactly like the arrogance Hiruko Kagetane had displayed not long ago!
"Be careful, Mahiru-kun."
Kisara spoke up to remind him.
"It's nothing, just a mere modified soldier," Mahiro smiled slightly, completely unconcerned, and at the same time took out a strangely shaped, pitch-black handgun from his pocket and pointed it at the opposite side.
At least, in Hiruko Kagetane's eyes, it was like that; the flat barrel and muzzle clearly indicated it wasn't a gun that fired bullets.
But what else could it shoot out? Water?
Just as Mahiro didn't take Hiruko Kagetane seriously, Hiruko Kagetane also didn't take his weapon seriously.
"Oh my, oh my, Mr. Yotsuba Mahiro is truly arrogant. Guns can't break my [Imaginary Gimmick]."
Like a father embracing the world, Hiruko Kagetane spread his arms to him, indicating that he could shoot freely.
"Is that so? Then let's try it," Yotsuba Mahiro said expressionlessly.
At the same time, inside the Holy Residence, the old man Kikunojo Tendo, who served as an aide by Saitenshi's side, felt an ominous premonition when he heard this sentence for some reason, and quickly shouted towards the screen:
"IFA Yotsuba Mahiro, capture Hiruko Kagetane alive! He has information that the Holy Residence needs!"
It was too late.
By the time Kikunojo Tendo shouted that sentence, it was already too late.
Because Yotsuba Mahiro had already pulled the trigger on Hiruko Kagetane.
Scattering Mist activated!
"Ugh...."
His eyes beneath the mask suddenly widened, and Hiruko Kagetane seemed to have suffered some kind of injury, clutching the shirt over his heart in disbelief, as if enduring immense pain, or perhaps suppressing something.
But he struggled for less than a second.
And then....
"Di-disappeared?"
Someone among those present mumbled this.
This sudden and shocking turn of events left them unable to react, even forgetting their injuries, their jaws dropped as they watched everything unfold before their eyes.
Hiruko Kagetane, whom all of them couldn't deal with, was instantly killed?
No, was it an instant kill?
No, it should be said he evaporated!
Yes, that's right, it was literal evaporation.
Hiruko Kagetane's body was decomposed to the elemental level.
All organic matter, from head to toe, could not even leave a trace of having once been a living creature; proteins became hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur; bones became phosphorus, oxygen, calcium, and other trace elements, including blood, nerves, stored nutrients, and even excrement, all decomposed into molecules or ions composed of single elements.
Lighter elements, represented by hydrogen gas, dispersed into the air.
Flammable elemental gases, combined with released oxygen, spontaneously combusted.
But to everyone present, Hiruko Kagetane just suddenly disappeared, turning into a wisp of hazy flame that dispersed into the air.
Only a large number of scattered parts clattered onto the tabletop.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that these parts were all made of hyper-titanium alloy, precisely Hiruko Kagetane's modified mechanical internal organs, still warm to the touch, and slowly ceasing to function as they lost biological activity support from their target.
Mahiro stepped forward and picked up the parts.
"Not bad. Although it's the first time for multi-level detailed decomposition, it seems quite successful so far."
Like a magic trick, he threw all these mechanical internal organs into his ring.
He would take them back for Tatsuya and FLT to study; perhaps they could come up with something new and interesting.
"Dad... Daddy...? Where are you, Daddy!"
Hiruko Kohina finally came to her senses, her widened crimson pupils filled with despair. She knelt on the table, her hands constantly fumbling in the scattered dust, seemingly trying to clear it away and find traces of her father, Hiruko Kagetane.
Unfortunately, no matter how she searched, all she saw was gray dust and the brown wooden tabletop.
Until she fumbled her way to the edge of a round-toed tactical boot.
"Daddy?!"
She suddenly looked up, only to find that it wasn't her father, but the familiar yet unfamiliar face of her mortal enemy, Yotsuba Mahiro, casting a calm gaze down upon her.
"Hiruko Kagetane is dead."
"Impossible... I don't believe it! Daddy is the strongest! You must be lying to me! I'll cut you, I'll cut you, I'll cut you, I'll cut you!!!"
Hiruko Kohina went insane, like a beast unleashed, repeatedly muttering "I'll cut you" under her breath. She then drew the two katanas from her waist, crossed them, and aimed to cut Yotsuba Mahiro's waist.
Clang—
Dense sparks burst forth in the air.
"Don't be rude to Lord Mahiro! Your opponent is me!!!"
Asaka Mibu appeared in front of Yotsuba Mahiro, drawing her katana to block Hiruko Kohina's dual sword strike.
The splashing sparks illuminated their faces.
While blocking Kohina's strike, Asaka Mibu kicked her in the abdomen, sending her flying.
Forcibly forcing Hiruko Kohina away from Yotsuba Mahiro.
Mahiro had originally thought of knocking Hiruko Kohina unconscious, but seeing Asaka fighting so hard, he silently put his CAD back into his pocket and let Asaka handle it.
It should be known that Asaka, who had studied kendo with Tendo Kisara for a year, was now much stronger than before. In terms of kendo skill alone, even Hiruko Kohina, who was originally ranked 134th, was no match for her.
It also allowed Asaka to vent some of her inner dissatisfaction.
And it also allowed Asaka to test the results of her own strength against Hiruko Kohina.
"Do you know what you've done?! IFA Yotsuba Mahiro!"
Just then, the old man on the screen, Kikunojo Tendo, let out a majestic roar of anger.
"What did I do? I merely eliminated a terrorist as per Saitenshi's request. Is that wrong?"
Yotsuba Mahiro feigned an innocent and surprised look.
"..."
Kikunojo Tendo slowly narrowed his eyes, his robust chest slowly rising and falling, his sharp gaze piercing through the screen and fixing on him.
"Do you know that person carried important information needed by the Holy Residence?"
"Oh, really? Then why didn't you say so earlier? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Mahiro spread his hands, looking mockingly at the dignified old man on the screen, saying, "Besides, isn't that your higher-ups' business? What does it have to do with me, an IFA?
Mr. Tendo Aide, you're not trying to renege on the payment, are you?"
At the end of his words, a strong sense of threat was already evident.
"That's right, whatever information Hiruko Kagetane carried has nothing to do with us IFAs. You can only blame yourselves for not clearly stating the commission at the time."
Just then, Kisara climbed onto the round conference table and walked step by step to the large screen, meeting the old man's gaze.
"Kisara....."
"Hello, Mr. Tendo. Long time no see, how have you been lately?"
Facing Kikunojo Tendo's angry expression, Kisara calmly smiled at him, her tone of inquiry also very subtle.
"Still haven't let go of your resentment? You vengeful ghost returned from hell."
"Not at all, I'm just protecting the best IFA under our IFA company. That it happens to be you is just a coincidence. Could it be that Mr. Tendo also has an inseparable connection to this matter, thus feeling guilty?"
"You dare to talk back to me....."
"You should know, all 'Tendo' must die, Mr. Tendo."
Kisara narrowed her eyes, which glowed with a cold light. "This is not a warning, but my way of life."
"Kisara....." Kikunojo Tendo narrowed his eyes in anger; even through the screen, one could feel his authority.
"Ms. Kisara...."
This didn't sound like a conversation between a grandfather and granddaughter at all.
Precisely because she had some understanding of the relationship between Kisara and Kikunojo Tendo, Saitenshi also felt a chill.
And Rentaro looked at the old man on the screen, who was almost fuming with rage, and the girl on the table, who exuded intense hatred, feeling worried.
Kikunojo Tendo was his adoptive father, and by seniority, he was Tendo Kisara's uncle.
It could be said that if it weren't for Kikunojo Tendo ten years ago, he would have long since perished at the mouth of a Gastrea and wouldn't be alive today.
Therefore, even though he had left the Tendo Family with Kisara, he always held a hint of gratitude towards the Tendo Family, or rather, towards Kikunojo Tendo.
For this gratitude, he had always tried to find a way to make Kisara let go of her hatred.
But obviously, that was impossible.
Annihilating the Tendo Family had long become Tendo Kisara's, the Tendo avenger's, only way of life.
Rentaro was deep in thought, knowing he couldn't let Kisara kill the Tendo Family.
"You two should stop here," Saitenshi slowly said. "President Tendo, regarding the reward for killing Hiruko Kagetane, the Holy Residence will provide it all. The commission to find the Seven Stars Relic Box will also continue.
So, let's end this matter here, alright?"
With Saitenshi mediating, both sides temporarily put aside their grudges, and no one had any complaints.
And the battle between Asaka Mibu and Hiruko Kohina had already been decided.
The loser, naturally, was Hiruko Kohina.
Two katanas lay forlornly to the side, while Kohina herself was tightly bound with ropes Asaka had found from who knows where.
The Hiruko Kagetane incident was, for the time being, concluded.
...
.....
....
After leaving the Ministry of Defense building, Mahiru went straight home.
After instructing Asaka not to let anyone disturb him, he took the bundled-up Hiruko Kohina into his room by himself.
Kohina, placed on the chair, kept twisting her body. If the ropes hadn't been strong enough, she probably would have broken free by now.
The hatred in her crimson eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest, but rather intensified.
"This is really troublesome…"
Mahiru scratched his hair, a bit distressed.
It wasn't that he had no way to deal with this loli; on the contrary, he had plenty of methods to handle her. He just wanted to use gentler means if possible.
But that was clearly impossible.
After all, he had killed her father, Hiruko Kagetane, right in front of her.
Although Hiruko Kagetane had, to some extent, used Hiruko Kohina as a tool, they were indeed genuine father and daughter.
"Forget it, thinking so much isn't like me."
After a moment of thought, Yotsuba Mahiru had already decided on a plan. Bright psy-waves immediately enveloped him, gradually building a mental bridge between him and Kohina.
He intended to emulate Yotsuba Shinya's method of brainwashing Yotsuba Maya, and perform a memory wipe on Kohina.
Washing away all her past, allowing her to start a new life.
As someone who inherited the Yotsuba Family's genes, he was naturally capable of doing this.
"Wuwuwu!!!"
Although Kohina didn't know what was about to happen, she sensed it was something bad and began to struggle madly again.
However, how could her spirit resist Mahiru's powerful mental strength?
Soon, under the influence of the mental power, her eyelids gradually grew heavy, and despite her unwillingness, they slowly closed.
Faint whispers drifted into her ears.
"Sleep, sleep peacefully. When you wake up, you will embrace a new life."
"Mmm… Papa…"
With her final murmur, Kohina completely fell into a deep sleep.
...
The operation was very successful.
After nearly an hour of effort, Yotsuba Mahiru finally completely wiped away all of Hiruko Kagetane's memories from Kohina.
At this moment, Kohina lay quietly asleep on the soft, large bed, her eyes tightly closed.
Looking at her serene, innocent sleeping face, and recalling the past memories he had glimpsed from Kohina's brain, Mahiru couldn't help but sigh softly again.
"You really are a sinner, Hiruko Kagetane."
Hiruko Kohina was not born in a normal way.
She was conceived through artificial insemination of five kidnapped women by Hiruko Kagetane, and for the first seven years, she underwent assassination training and brainwashing in a basement. Later, she met her four other sisters and they massacred each other.
And in the end, the one who survived the mutual slaughter of sisters was Kohina.
It could be said that Hiruko Kagetane used a 'raising-gu' method to create his most satisfactory masterpiece—
A completely deranged loli.