Jiang Jian Yue had indeed bought promotional coverage.
To be precise, her public relations department had planned the purchase.
However, the media was more than happy to report on her—the upcoming GSAC was undoubtedly the biggest topic in Japan right now.
As a designer, Jiang Jian Yue also commanded a great deal of attention.
Previously, news that the head of DRG Japan was a high school girl had only circulated through secretive channels.
Mystery had been Jiang Jian Yue’s defining trait.
But as she prepared to step onto the main stage, she could no longer allow her name to be confined to niche anonymous forums and government circles.
Whether it was to fulfill her promise to the Homecoming Faction’s Corporate Nation or to pursue her currently illusory goal of “eliminating the Heart Worms,” a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Some things simply had to be done.
However, under the Japanese system, it was clearly difficult to hope for all media outlets to speak with one voice.
For instance, there were the outlets controlled by the Center-Left Alliance—composed of parties like the Social Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and the Japanese Communist Party—and then there was Weekly Bunshun.
The Center-Left Alliance media mainly attacked the banquet: “The Japanese economy is underdeveloped, and the citizens are suffering. How can you put on such an extravagant display just to celebrate that GSAC wasn’t postponed?”
—Though in today’s Japan, the fact that such a grand event had not been delayed was indeed worth celebrating.
Meanwhile, Weekly Bunshun reported on Jiang Jian Yue leaving the banquet midway with a male companion.
These discordant voices were also necessary.
Jiang Jian Yue curled up in her blankets, finished reading the news and the messages sent by Morita Aoya, and waited until Yuki Asahi called her for breakfast before crawling out of bed.
“I’m not going to… school today,”
Jiang Jian Yue said casually at the breakfast table, poking at her fried egg.
Yuki Asahi nodded without asking further questions.
Although Jiang Jian Yue had entered her senior year this semester, and only one year remained if she intended to pursue higher education, the young miss of the Jiang Jian family would never feel the pressure of entrance exams.
Even though… during the third semester of her junior year, Jiang Jian Yue’s Constitutional Value had been completely ruined due to her busy schedule at the company.
On the career path surveys that had to be filled out every school year, Jiang Jian Yue still listed the University of Tokyo as her first choice.
Her teacher didn’t even bother calling her in for a talk anymore—he knew that if Jiang Jian Yue couldn’t pass an exam, it meant there was something wrong with the questions.
“I’m heading out.”
After finishing breakfast, Yuki Asahi carried his school bag and changed his shoes at the shinkai.
“Mm.”
Sitting at the dining table, Jiang Jian Yue’s eyes never left her phone; she gave only a faint response.
It wasn’t until the sound of the front door closing echoed that she put down her phone and rubbed her aching neck.
Her sleep quality last night had been poor.
It wasn’t just because of the series of operations by that gutter-tier Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu, but also because of the lightning that had pierced the Shinjuku night sky.
Yes, she had seen that bolt of lightning last night.
‘That guy seems to possess all of my abilities.’
Since there was still some time before work, Jiang Jian Yue retreated to the main bedroom and turned on her computer.
Her account had been swamped with notifications ever since the character “Cuiyue” appeared.
Many viewers were begging for updates and demanding more “spoilers.”
Jiang Jian Yue thought for a moment and searched the internet of the anime world for GSAC personal promotional videos.
Or rather, “expedition trailers.”
She didn’t know who had started the trend, but almost every team of Superpower Users participating in GSAC had filmed an expedition trailer.
These trailers, along with the personal accounts of the Superpower Users, easily became sources of information leaks—and for the competition, gathering intelligence on an opponent’s Superpower was vital.
Jiang Jian Yue knew the three teams from the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu had analysts, and the other “national teams” likely did as well.
She downloaded several trailers, intending to edit them and post them to her account.
Then, Jiang Jian Yue saw the girl with silver-white hair and pale gold eyes she had noticed in the OP before.
This team from the University of Tokyo, named “art,” had also uploaded their expedition trailer.
It already had a significant number of views on the university’s internal network in the anime world.
Among the several teams representing the University of Tokyo, the “art” team was the most eye-catching.
Anyone could see that aside from the girl, the other four members were very likely soldiers—they clearly had an official background.
Of course, the beautiful girl was also a major draw.
Jiang Jian Yue noted that the girl’s code name was “Shadow Girl,” and then she suddenly realized something.
‘Will the Saints… participate?’
If those people from the Saints participated, wouldn’t she just need to look through the contestant database?
Jiang Jian Yue returned to the OP interface and took a screenshot of the scene where the members of the Saint Organization appeared, but then she felt a bit bored.
‘Saints, you really are hiding well. The Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu couldn’t find you even after digging three feet deep, but unfortunately… I am also among your opponents.’
Good grief.
“If you think it’s despicable, then don’t use it!”
Meiguan complained.
“Don’t act like you have everything under control when you only just remembered this!”
***
Inside the parking lot, a bulletproof Lexus was ready to go.
The Maybach had been scratched while a certain anonymous female driver was using it last night and had been sent for a paint touch-up.
Sasaki was still in the driver’s seat, while Koji Hattori sat in the passenger seat.
“Good morning, Missy.”
“Mm,” Jiang Jian Yue replied neutrally.
The vehicle pulled out of the apartment complex, merged into the flow of traffic, and sped toward Mejiro in the Toshima District.
This was the temporary headquarters of DRG Japan—or rather, the “Emi Castle” currently under construction.
The land surrounding the original apartment had been acquired by DRG at low prices through extremely aggressive means, and it was being transformed into something on the level of a military fortress.
Nearby universities were even considering relocating, as it wasn’t ideal to be so close to such a dangerous location.
Through the window blurred by rain, a massive cluster of buildings could be seen rising in the distance.
The perimeter consisted of towering walls and a dense network of surveillance cameras.
Countless construction workers in raincoats were busy on scaffolding, and giant tower cranes loomed in the mist like the arms of steel beasts.
In the core area, the “Sun” building—the second phase of construction and a futuristic office tower with black glass curtain walls—had already been topped out, exuding a murderous pressure under the gloomy sky.
“This is the power of money,” Meiguan sighed in her mind.
“In just half a year, the second phase of the project is almost finished.”
The vehicle passed through multiple security checkpoints and finally stopped at the exclusive underground entrance of the core administrative building, the “Moon.”
This place was unlike a normal underground garage; it was more like a small military base.
There were armed security staff, heavy blast doors, and ubiquitous biometric scanning devices.
As soon as she stepped out of the car, Morita Aoya, dressed in a sharp suit, came forward to meet her.
“Welcome back, Missy.”
Morita Aoya bowed slightly, his expression grim.
“The Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu… has news.”
In the top-floor office, there was a view overlooking all of Tokyo, the kind of place where a mysterious final boss would appear.
Jiang Jian Yue sat behind a large desk, her fingers lightly tapping the surface as she listened to Morita Aoya’s report.
“The Chief of the Operations Adjustment Office, Kawada Hou, contacted us.”
Morita Aoya opened an encrypted file and projected a holographic screen into the air.
“Regarding the death of Dream Serpent last night and the previous series of obstructed actions against the Saints… he provided an explanation.”
“An explanation?”
Jiang Jian Yue arched an eyebrow.
“If it’s some nonsense about ‘poor communication’ leading to an ‘accident,’ don’t bother.”
Jiang Jian Yue was all too familiar with excuses used to deflect blame at work.
“No, he was very direct this time.”
Morita Aoya paused and said in a heavy voice,
“He said that the ones obstructing our sweep of the Saints aren’t just the bureaucrats within the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu, but also… the Curtain Cluster.”
“The Curtain Cluster?”
Jiang Jian Yue’s movements stopped, and a cold glint flashed in her blood-red eyes.
“Their reason?”
“The message conveyed by Kawada Hou is that the Curtain Cluster believes now is not the time,” Morita Aoya explained.
“They are playing a long game to catch the big fish, attempting to track the Saints’ activity to locate a threat of an even higher dimension. If we rashly launch a destructive strike against the Saints now, we might startle the prey and cause the true mastermind to go deep underground.”
‘Lies.’
Those guys…
Jiang Jian Yue had originally thought that in the face of an imminent threat, the Curtain Cluster would set aside their petty prejudices.
It seemed she had been too naive… or rather, she hadn’t expected the Curtain Cluster to stop pretending entirely.
“What about the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu’s attitude?”
“Chief Kawada stated that while most people in the headquarters tend to cooperate with the Curtain Cluster—or rather, they’ve long considered the Curtain Cluster and the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu as one entity—he personally prioritizes Japan’s current social stability.”
Morita Aoya pushed up his glasses.
“With GSAC approaching, the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu would be held responsible if the Saints were allowed to cause large-scale superpower riots. Therefore… he has chosen to stand with us for the time being.”
“Have you identified… the distribution network for the incense?”
“We have a lead.”
The answer came from Mark, who had just pushed the door open, holding a tablet.
“The Dark Crow Unit followed a shipment moved before the Chiba factory explosion early this morning and discovered a very interesting phenomenon.”
Mark handed the tablet to Jiang Jian Yue.
“This batch of incense didn’t enter the market directly. Instead… it went into several ‘legal’ institutions.”
Jiang Jian Yue looked down at the screen.
[Truth Light Spiritual Practice Center]
[World Peace and Unification Family Federation]
[Cosmic Energy Integration Association]
[New World Family Mutual Aid Association]…
A long list of names that sounded high-minded but reeked of multi-level marketing and cults.
“These are all ‘religious corporations’ or non-profit organizations that have been registered in Japan for years,”
Mark explained.
“In the past, they mainly cheated housewives and retirees out of their money with so-called ‘spiritual cultivation’ and ‘consecrated items.’ But recently, as more and more Superpower Users have awakened—especially those who are lost and rejected by society—they have been absorbed by these organizations.”
“They claim that through ‘meditation’ and ‘holy objects,’ one can increase their ability level or soothe the side effects brought by their abilities.”
“And that ‘holy object’ is Quiet Dream.”
Jiang Jian Yue’s finger slid across the screen, her gaze growing colder.
‘The Saints… they really have calculated this well.’
They knew their presence wouldn’t be tolerated by the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu, which was influenced by the GPRI and the Curtain Cluster.
So, they simply hid inside the shells of these “hermit crab” organizations that possessed legal cover.
They were using these cancers, which had long since permeated Japanese society, as their distribution channels and recruitment grounds.