The room fell silent after Raizen's words.
One by one, the officers slowly lowered their guns.
The Army Chief glanced at the others first, his jaw tight. Then he slid the revolver back into its holster.
The the cheif of the navy.
Then the cheif of the air force.
Soon the rest of the officers did the same. Metal clicked softly as the weapons returned to their holsters.
Chairs moved as they sat back down around the table.
No one spoke.
The tension in the room had changed.
Raizen slowly folded his hands together on the table.
His expression remained calm, but his eyes were sharp as he turned toward the Police Commissioner.
"Let's suppose, that everything you just said is true."
His gaze didn't leave the commissioner.
"You claim you can't investigate… because the Prime Minister ordered you not to."
A small pause.
"And you say you can't locate the Phantom Unit… let alone arrest them."
He leaned slightly forward, his tone becoming colder.
"But tell me something."
Another pause.
"What if the Prime Minister suddenly granted you full authority?"
"What if you were given complete access… every file, every resource, every investigation unit?"
"And suppose… you finally found them."
His voice dropped lower.
"Tell me, Commissioner."
His gaze sharpened.
"Would you have able to detain them?"
A faint, unsettling calm spread across his face.
"Or better yet…"
"…would you make sure they never leave that place alive?"
He continued, his voice calm but edged with something darker
"Tell me comissionar … can you and your entire force exterminate a group which is responsible for the deaths of more than five thousand civilians over the past five years ?"
The police commissioner's voice rose, thick with emotion.
"We would hunt them down even if it costs us our lives!"
His fist slammed against the table.
"Those people slaughtered thousands of civilians… destroyed families… turned this country into a graveyard of unanswered questions!"
His eyes burned with anger.
"If stopping them means we die in the process—then so be it."
He pointed toward Raizen, his voice echoing through the room.
"But at least when it's over… no more innocent people will have to die because of them."
Raizen listened quietly. Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
A small chuckle escaped him.
"Well… that's very heroic, Commissioner."
He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying him with amusement.
"Sacrificing your lives sounds noble."
A short pause.
Then his smile sharpened.
"But tell me something."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If dying was enough to stop them…"
He tilted his head.
"…don't you think we would have succeeded already?"
Raizen leaned forward slightly, his fingers still interlocked.
"For the past five years," he said quietly, "why do you think no action was taken?"
His eyes moved across the officers in the room.
"Why do you think we simply observed their movements… studied their kidnapping patterns… analyzed the way they operate?"
A short pause.
"Do you believe it's because we didn't know where their hideout were?"
His gaze returned to the commissioner.
"We know their hideouts and the fact is that that's not even hideout they are publicly running an organisation an organisation where hundreds of people work . "
The word was enough to make everyone in the room shock .
Raizen's voice remained calm.
"But the truth is this—"
He tapped the table once.
"Even if we together and deploy the army, the police, special forces, intelligence… every unit this country possesses…"
He let the sentence hang.
"…you still wouldn't be able to defeat them."
Silence filled the room.
Raizen's eyes hardened slightly.
"That is how dangerous they are."
The Prime Minister slowly exhaled, the tension in his shoulders briefly showing before he straightened again.
"Dr. Raizen," he said calmly, "I will acknowledge one thing first. Calling the other forces here without informing you beforehand… that responsibility is mine."
The room fell silent as the attention of every officer shifted toward him.
"But the situation in this country is deteriorating with every passing day.
People are dying. Entire communities are living in fear.
Some believe it's a virus… something spreading silently through our cities."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"But the truth is—we still don't know what the future holds for this nation."
He leaned slightly forward, his expression growing more serious.
"For five years we observed their raid structure carefully.
We collected data and studied their patterns.
Reports were rewritten, evidence was suppressed."
A brief pause followed.
"And investigations were closed under false explanations such as suicide or accidents—only because you instructed us to do so with the evidence you provided.
You also warned that if the truth ever reached the public…
it could lead to a massacre."
His eyes moved across the officers seated around the table.
"However, during these five years you never provided us with any information regarding the Phantom Unit's bases.
Nor did we receive any warning about their upcoming raids.
We were left to deal only with the aftermath."
His tone hardened slightly.
"Our intelligence units attempted to track their locations, but unfortunately every attempt failed.
We understand that with our current strength defeating them may not be possible.
That reality is not something we ignore."
Another short silence filled the room.
"However, we intend to strengthen our forces so that when the day finally comes our defence forces will be prepared.
That is why the leaders of all military and security forces have been summoned here today.
This meeting was not called lightly."
He paused again.
"Since this morning we have been discussing this situation in detail and after those discussions…"
He looked directly at Raizen.
"…we all came to the same conclusion."
Raizen remained silent for a moment, listening to every word. Then he slowly leaned forward in his chair, his fingers resting together on the table. His sharp eyes lifted and locked onto the Prime Minister.
"So," he said in a deep, steady voice,
"what conclusion did you come to?"
The Prime Minister glanced toward the National Security Director and gave a small nod.
The director opened the file and slowly pulled out a sheet of paper. He looked at Raizen for a moment before speaking.
"These are the conclusions we reached."
He placed the paper on the table.
"First… all research data related to the serum enhancers and the abilities they must be shared with the government."
A short pause followed.
"Second… the original location where the enhancer stones and the serum compounds were discovered must be disclosed to us."
He continued calmly.
"Third… samples of the serum will be handed over to government scientists for independent research and analysis."
Another pause.
"And finally…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"The truth about enhancer abilities and the incidents connected to them must eventually be revealed to the public under government authority."
The Prime Minister glanced toward the National Security Director and gave a small nod.
The director opened the file and slowly pulled out a sheet of paper. He looked at Raizen for a moment before speaking.
"These are the conclusions we reached."
He placed the paper on the table.
"First… all research data related to the serum enhancers and the abilities they must be shared with the government."
A short pause followed.
"Second… the original location where the serum compounds were discovered must be disclosed to us."
He continued calmly.
"Third… samples of the serum will be handed over to government scientists for independent research and analysis."
Another pause.
"And finally…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"The truth about enhancer abilities and the incidents connected to them must eventually be revealed to the public under government authority."
Raizen leaned forward slightly. His tone remained calm as he spoke.
"I understand what you want."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"I will provide the data you requested—our research findings, the information regarding the enhancers and their abilities, and the records of the related incidents."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"However, we do not possess any remaining samples of the serum, so I will not be able to provide those."
He paused again.
"As for revealing the truth to the public… that decision rests with you. You are the Prime Minister. It is your authority to decide which information should be made public and which should remain classified."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Though from my perspective… the outcome will not be favorable."
A brief silence passed.
"However"
His gaze fixed on the Prime Minister.
"I cannot disclose the location where the compounds were discovered."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Several officers exchanged hardened glances, their expressions tightening.
The Director of Intelligence leaned back slightly in his chair, studying Raizen for a moment before speaking. His voice was calm, almost polite—but there was something calculating beneath it.
"I assume you have no intention of revealing the location of those compounds."
He paused briefly.
"And to be clear, I understand that position. After all, you were the one who discovered them. By your own reasoning… that makes them your property."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"As for the serum samples… you claim there are none left."
He nodded slowly.
"For now, I am willing to accept that."
His fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"But what interests me is something else."
His eyes sharpened.
"What if that location still contains something more?"
A slight pause followed.
"Something capable of enhancing human abilities… the same way the Phantom Unit did."
The room grew quieter.
"Or perhaps…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…something even stronger."
He folded his hands together.
"After all, we are talking about public safety.."
Raizen's gaze suddenly hardened. The calm in his expression vanished, replaced by a sharp flash of anger.
Without warning, his palm slammed against the table.
The loud crack echoed through the room as he rose to his feet.
"I cannot reveal that location!"
His voice thundered across the chamber, heavy with rage.
"Because the moment that power falls into human hands… it will become a massacre."
The officers around the table froze.
"Another war will begin. People will fight for that power like starving animals."
His chest rose and fell as he continued, the words coming faster, heavier.
"Governments will collapse. Systems will crumble. Order will disappear."
His eyes burned with intensity.
"And in the end…"
His voice dropped slightly, darker now.
"Only those with power will sit on the throne."
A chilling pause followed.
"And the rest?"
He clenched his fist.
"They will slaughter each other just to obtain that power."
Slowly, Raizen turned his head and locked his gaze onto the Intelligence Director.
The fury in his eyes was unmistakable.
"I can assure you of that."
Raizen suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pen drive.
Without hesitation, he slammed it onto the table.
The sharp sound echoed through the silent room.
"All the data is in there," he said angrily. "Everything about the serums—their types, their abilities, and the number of individuals currently using them."
His voice remained cold and heavy.
"And the locations of the Phantom Unit bases."
No one spoke.
Raizen turned away from the table and began walking toward the door.
Just before leaving, he stopped for a moment and spoke without turning back.
"And when your soldiers start getting obliterated by the Phantom Unit…"
His voice carried a dark warning.
"…don't come running back to me."
Then he pushed the door open and walked out of the room.
The heavy silence remained behind him.
On the other side , a girl stepped out of a small super shop. She was hugging a large paper bag of groceries against her chest with both arms. The bag was stuffed full, the top barely holding together from the weight.
From the look of her face, it was Shiori.
She walked down the sidewalk, swaying slightly as if following her own rhythm, humming happily to herself.
"I'll make shawarma… I'll make shawarma…" she sang under her breath, tapping her foot lightly with each step. "Mmm… shawarma… shawarma…"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Suddenly she bounced a little and whispered to herself with a huge grin,
"Yeehee~! I'm gonna make shawarma tonight!"
She hugged the grocery bag tighter like it was treasure.
"Extra sauce… extra meat… , it's going be soooo delicious."
She giggled to herself, practically skipping down the street.
"I can't wait… I can't wait… I can't wait!"
On the other side,
Emika walked down the street, scrolling through the news on her phone.
The headline made her stop for a moment.
Six lives lost this week.
Her thumb froze on the screen.
"…Six people," she murmured quietly.
A slow breath escaped her.
"Will we ever actually stop them?"
She slipped the phone into her pocket and kept walking.
"It's been more than five years…"
Her voice was low, almost tired.
"Five years of hiding… waiting for the 'right moment.'"
Her jaw tightened.
"And every time we wait…"
"…more people die."
She paused and looked up at the sky.
For a few seconds she said nothing.
Then she whispered softly,
"…Will I ever be strong enough?"
Her fingers slowly clenched.
"Strong enough to stop them."
A faint determination returned to her eyes.
"…Strong enough to make this place peaceful again."
She lowered her gaze and continued walking.
All of a suddenly her eyes caught a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction.
A girl hugging a large paper bag of groceries… practically dancing down the street.
Shiori.
Emika's face instantly hardened. Rage flashed in her eyes.
Her fist clenched.
A thin spiral of water suddenly formed around her hand, spinning sharply like a blade.
"YOU BITCH!" Emika shouted, her voice sharp with fury. "I'm going to kill you!"
The pedestrians nearby turned their heads in confusion.
Shiori looked up.
For a moment she simply blinked.
Then she made an exaggeratedly cute face and waved happily.
"Aww~! Emikaaa!" she said in a soft, cheerful tone. "Long time no see!"
Emika stepped forward, ready to strike.
But just before the punch could land—
Shiori's expression changed.
The sweetness vanished.
Her eyes sharpened, dark and cold.
Her voice dropped to a quiet, dangerous tone.
"…Don't."
Emika froze for a moment.
Shiori leaned slightly closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
She glanced briefly at the people walking around them.
"This is a public place," she said calmly. "Do you really want to show everyone your ability that badly even after hiding it for past five year's?"
The spinning water around Emika's hand vanished.
She stopped.
Her jaw tightened, but she didn't attack.
A moment later—
Shiori's expression flipped back to cheerful again like nothing had happened.
Her eyes sparkled.
She smiled like an innocent angel.
"Oh! By the way!" she said brightly.
"Do you know shawarma tastes amazing with garlic mayo?"
Emika didn't respond.
Her eyes were locked on Shiori, watching every movement like a predator.
She continues with a charming tone " wait a sec "
"Umhhh.."
Shiori casually reached into the paper bag.
Emika's muscles tensed.
But instead of a weapon, Shiori pulled out a small squeeze bottle.
Garlic mayo.
Emika become surprised to see the bottle.
Shiori suddenly shoved the bottle into emikas hand .
"Here!" Shiori said happily. "Take it!"
Emika blinked in confusion but didn't drop it.
She instantly jumped backwards.
Her eyes remained locked on Shiori, cold and alert.
"What do you want?" she said, her voice low but tense.
Her grip on the bottle tightened slightly.
"Why are you here?"
Her gaze sharpened further.
"Did you come to kidnap someone again… for your little lab rat experiments?"
Shiori made a cute, puzzled face.
"What are you talking about?" she said lightly.
"I'm a human too, after all. lke other people i need some holidays too."
Suddenly her eyes sparkled with excitement. She hugged the grocery bag tighter and bounced slightly on her feet.
"Guess what? Today is my day off!" she said cheerfully.
"And I'm going to make the most of it!"
She lifted the bag proudly and shook it a little.
"So I bought some groceries."
Her grin widened like a child excited about a treat.
"I'm going to make shawarmas."
She leaned forward slightly with a playful sparkle in her eyes.
"Tasty… tasty shawarmas."
Then Shiori glanced at the bottle she had just shoved into Emika's hands.
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
" by the way That's my favorite brand," she said proudly. "Super creamy and delicious.It can make anything super tastier ."
She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Shawarma… fries…sandwiches and even rice " she counted playfully .
Shiori stepped back again, smiling sweetly like she had just offered the most helpful advice in the world.
"You should try it sometime you will definitely lovee it ."
Emika stared at the bottle in her hand, confused and still furious.
Meanwhile Shiori hugged her grocery bag again and hummed cheerfully.
Then she walked passed emika .
"Mmm~ shawarma night…"
Suddenly she looked back and tilted her head.
"Oh right."
Her smile widened.
"Try following me," she whispered sweetly.
"I'll make this place look like someone spilled a truck full of tomato ketchup."
It didn't took long for emika to understand the meaning all of a sudden her face twisted with frustration and rage.
Her eyes burned as she stared at Shiori's back.
For a moment it looked like she was about to attack.
Then—
She took a deep breath.
And another.
Slowly, the tension in her shoulders dropped. The spinning water around her hand dissolved back into nothing.
Her expression hardened again, but this time it was controlled. Calm.
Shiori noticed.
She glanced at Emika from the corner of her eye.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Good," she said quietly.
"You're learning."
Then she continued walking down the street as if nothing had happened.
"Mmm~ shawarma night…" she hummed cheerfully.
Then she cheerfully continued walking down the street like nothing had happened.
Emika stood there, gripping the bottle tightly.
Still watching her.
Still furious.
But unable to move.
Emika's face twisted with frustration and rage.
Her fingers tightened around the bottle.
Then suddenly—
"Damn it!" she shouted in rage.