“What kind of nonsense is this?”
Kazama Yin crumpled the flyer into a ball, looked left and right but didn’t see a nearby trash can, so he had to stuff it into his pocket.
“Looks like those Imperial Way faction guys.” Hanyu Suoluo frowned deeply. “Are those people still dreaming about an eternal dynasty?”
“But… according to the content of this flyer, it seems like it’s targeting espers, right?”
Kagegaya Tsubaki blinked.
The three exchanged glances.
They couldn’t just stand by and do nothing!
“After them!” Kazama Yin pressed his hand against the hilt of his sword and charged out first.
Tokyo Metropolis, Adachi Ward.
After the establishment of the post-war “Republican System,” the old symbols of imperial power had been stripped away.
Those fanatics who fantasized about an “eternal dynasty” had no choice but to go underground, like rats in the sewers.
Inside an abandoned logistics warehouse, a dim yellow light flickered in the damp air.
This was the Yamato Society’s temporary stronghold—or rather, what they considered their “imperial palace.”
Although the exterior was dilapidated, the interior of the warehouse was arranged with great care.
The floor was covered with red carpets salvaged from old mansions.
In the center hung a large calligraphy scroll reading “Revere the Emperor, Repel the Traitors.” On the altar were offerings of withered sakaki branches.
The air was thick with the smell of old incense sticks, used both to mask the warehouse’s musty odor and to honor the departed souls of the dead.
“Truly… unsightly.”
The man seated on the grand armchair slowly lowered his folding fan.
He wore a black montsuki haori hakama without any family crest.
His face was gaunt, with prominent cheekbones, and his graying hair was combed impeccably.
Kyougoku Shingo.
On the surface, he was a revered Noh master, a “National Treasure” whom the new government’s Ministry of Culture had to treat with respect.
But in the underworld, he was the spiritual leader of these madmen, sworn to reclaim the “national polity.”
“A thousand apologies, Lord Kyougoku.”
The black-clad man kneeling before him dared not raise his head, his forehead pressed against the carpet.
“Our squad in Shinjuku… was discovered by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau.”
“Tanaka, who was in charge of distributing the flyers, to avoid revealing the location of our stronghold…” The black-clad man’s voice choked with sobs. “He has already taken the Bestowed Drug and served the Imperial Nation with loyalty.”
The warehouse fell into a dead silence. Dozens of members around them, dressed in all sorts of outfits—some in business suits, some in student uniforms, even construction work clothes—lowered their heads.
“Tanaka… he was a good boy.”
Kyougoku Shingo let out a long sigh. There was not much sorrow in his eyes, but rather a fanatical resolve.
“Even though we now have to hide in this dark corner, living like thieves, as long as the Divine Artifact remains with us, as long as our blood still burns, the Great Cause has not been cut off.”
He stood up, walked to the altar, and lit a fresh stick of incense.
“Let us begin. The ‘Return to Heaven Ritual’ for Tanaka-kun.”
“May his soul return to Yasukuni…”
As Kyougoku Shingo’s low chant echoed, the atmosphere inside the warehouse became solemn and eerie.
The members clasped their hands together in silent prayer.
“It’s just ahead.”
Shrouded in the shadows of shipping containers outside the warehouse, three figures held their breath.
Kazama Yin crouched low, hand on his sword hilt, his pale blue eyes fixed on the half-open iron door of the warehouse.
“That guy in the trench coat went in here.”
“What a strong stench.”
Kagegaya Tsubaki wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in disgust. “Don’t these people ever bathe?”
“This is an illegal gathering, and judging by the content of that flyer just now, it’s definitely a terrorist organization.”
Hanyu Suoluo stayed at the back, his fingers quickly tapping on his phone screen. His expression was grim.
“This kind of organization is too big for the three of us students to handle. Let’s call the police now…”
“Shh—someone’s coming!”
Kagegaya Tsubaki’s expression suddenly changed, and she shoved the two of them behind a container.
Just then, a searchlight on the roof of the warehouse swung around, and a pale beam of light swept mercilessly over their hiding spot.
Even if only for an instant, for an esper guard, that was enough.
“Who goes there?!”
A furious shout came from above.
Immediately after, several sharp wind blades tore through the air, heading straight for the container.
Boom!
The container’s metal skin was slashed open, letting out a piercing screech.
“We’ve been spotted!”
Kazama Yin reacted instantly. He kicked the cut edge of the metal and lunged out.
“Since we’ve been found, there’s no choice! Charge!!”
“Idiot! We should run right now!”
Hanyu Suoluo was frantic with anger, but his hands moved without hesitation. Steel nails flew out of his pocket and circled around him.
“No way… we’re committed now!” Kagegaya Tsubaki gritted her teeth, her crimson eyes glowing in the darkness.
As the alarm blared, the warehouse door swung open with a roar.
Dozens of society members surged out, armed with various cold weapons and even crude firearms, surrounding the three like a black tide.
“Kill them! Protect Lord Kyougoku!”
“Republic’s dogs! Death to national traitors!”
Fanatic shouts rang out through the night sky.
Kazama Yin drew his sword and roared back, “You’re the dogs!”
Swish, swish, swish—
The first five or six grunts in front screamed and collapsed to the ground, clutching their empty wrists and wailing.
Kagegaya Tsubaki pushed both hands forward, unleashing invisible shockwaves like air cannons that sent a group trying to flank them flying like bowling pins, crashing heavily into walls and passing out.
Hanyu Suoluo manipulated the steel nails, precisely piercing the clothes of several gunmen in the distance, pinning them to the ground like specimens, unable to move.
Their coordination was still a bit rough, but they were “Awakened Students” who had received formal training at Tokkun High School.
Against these riffraff who had some abilities but were driven purely by bloodlust, they were actually gaining the upper hand.
In less than five minutes, a large area of groaning bodies lay scattered on the ground outside the warehouse.
“Looks like… they’re not that strong, huh?”
Kazama Yin panted, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and flashed a smug grin. “Seems like the Yamato Society is nothing special!”
“Watch out! The real powerhouse is coming!”
In their minds, Hattori Yumeko’s voice suddenly turned sharp.
“Too noisy.”
Just then, a voice full of authority and pressure came from inside the warehouse.
The voice was not loud, but it seemed to ring directly in everyone’s mind, carrying a heavy sensation that made one feel like prostrating in worship.
Kazama Yin flicked the blood off his katana and pointed it toward the warehouse entrance.
The sound of wooden clogs striking the ground reached Kazama Yin’s ears clearly.
Kyougoku Shingo walked out leisurely, folding fan in hand.
“Useless.”
Kyougoku Shingo glanced at the people lying on the ground and said in a detached tone, “It took you this long just to handle a few high school students. Not only did you disturb the peace of the dead, but you also damaged my floor.”
“We deserve punishment!” The remaining members who had followed him out of the warehouse knelt down in unison, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.
“Your eyes, I don’t like them at all.”
Kyougoku Shingo lightly opened his folding fan, covering half his face, revealing only a pair of cold eyes fixed on Kazama Yin.
“That look of believing in so-called ‘justice’… it’s absolutely nauseating.”
“Tch! Imperial Nation or whatever… nobody believes in that stuff anymore, not even three-year-olds!”
“Ignorant brat.”
A chill flashed in Kyougoku Shingo’s eyes as he slowly raised his right hand.
Boom—
The air around them seemed to freeze instantly.
A visible purple-black energy gathered in his palm, forming a giant ghostly hand that hovered menacingly above Kazama Yin’s head.
“Since you don’t understand manners, I’ll teach you what it means to have reverence—in place of your parents.”
“But the price will be your life.”
“Danger!” The other two turned pale and rushed toward Kazama Yin.
Whoosh—
Kazama Yin blinked… It felt like… a breeze had just passed by.
His pupils contracted sharply.
That giant ghostly hand, strong enough to crush him into a pulp, was frozen in midair.
No, not frozen.
It was caught… by a single hand.
In front of him, a figure had appeared without him noticing when.
That person was wearing the convenience store’s cheap green-striped uniform, with long black hair casually tied back, still holding a plastic bag containing oden.
He had his back to Kazama Yin, and his figure seemed a bit thin, even with a somewhat slouching, slovenly posture.
But he simply stretched out one hand and effortlessly caught Kyougoku Shingo’s terrifying attack.
“Hey.”
The figure spoke. “Are you the one trying to ‘revive the Imperial Nation’?”
Kyougoku Shingo’s usually impassive face showed shock for the first time.
He could feel that his power was completely unable to move this seemingly ordinary convenience store clerk even an inch.
“Who… are you?”
Yuki Asahi turned his head slightly, a chilling glint flashing in his golden eyes.
“Does a criminal need to ask the name of the person arresting them?”
“This is very dangerous, you three. Even if you’re espers, you can’t just go around doing things like this!”
Facing the police officer’s reprimand, the three of them put on a show of “humble obedience,” though no one knew what they were really thinking.
“I’ll take them away, Mr. Li.”
A faint smile lingered on Yuki Asahi’s face as he stood behind the trio, casually resting his hand on Hanyu Suoluo’s shoulder.
Hanyu Suoluo felt like his heartbeat was about to exceed 200—was the legend true? Then this person standing behind them… was…
“Ah, of course, Mr. Yuki, by all means. Thank you so much for your help…”
“Um… excuse me, but I heard you’ve recently started taking a break? Why are you still helping us fight crime?”
The police officer was a bit curious. Since this young man seemed easygoing, he asked.
“I…”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Yuki Asahi’s face. “I’m going to leave Japan for a while soon. If I don’t clean things up a bit… I won’t feel at ease.”
“Ahaha, Mr. Yuki truly is a righteous person who worries about the people!”
After the conversation ended, Yuki Asahi led the three of them to an abandoned yard near the warehouse.
There were tables and chairs set up outside the yard, so they sat down.
Yuki Asahi placed the oden on the table, his gaze sweeping over the three standing beside him. “Sit down.”
“Yes, sir!”
Kazama Yin was the first to sit down opposite Yuki Asahi, sitting up straight, his eyes sparkling.
“So… first, tell me… why did you do something so dangerous?”