The Musashi Group thugs didn't care whether the Tokyo citizens believed them or not; they continued their announcements:
"A gas explosion occurred in this area. The stability of the roads and buildings may have been compromised. Please avoid proceeding further. This district will enter a temporary lockdown! Citizens, please remain calm. We will handle everything in a timely manner!"
Mao Asō hesitated, her lips parting slightly—she could already tell these gangsters were taking everyone for fools.
But before she could speak up, several people around her shouted in protest:
"Gas explosion my ass! That was clearly a terrorist attack!"
"Hey! What about the shop I just finished setting up on this street!? If my customers vanish and I can't make rent, who's paying my losses?!"
"This has to be some shady human experiment between you gangsters and the government! The test subjects must've escaped and wrecked our homes! And now you call it an 'accident'… you just don't want to admit it!"
"I saw it myself! A red-haired superhero saved us! What does your gang have to do with that!? You trying to take the credit and silence us about the real hero who cleaned up your mess!?"
Mao nodded in agreement. She tried to recall the red-haired figure in her mind—such hair color wasn't common in Japan. But everything had happened so fast that she hadn't gotten a good look at her savior.
She wasn't someone who ignored kindness. If given the chance, she wanted to repay that red-haired man in any way she could… even if she was just a normal girl.
"…Tch." The Musashi Group boss's expression darkened at the citizens' accusations.
Damn it, they had only come here under emergency orders to clean up the aftermath, and now the locals were acting like they were the bad guys!?
But they didn't bother arguing. Cleanup tasks like this weren't new for Musashi Group members under the Sakuya Eight Families.
Similar situations had happened before. Sometimes, when "Oni" with deteriorating bloodlines appeared in crowded districts and started killing at random, even showing traits of Dead Servants, the Sakuya Executioners would show up to kill the monster, and the Musashi Group would then clean up by "processing" all witnesses.
"Processing" meant erasing memories using hypnosis-based kotodama. They'd then insert fabricated "accident stories" to fill the blanks, preventing the truth from leaking and spiraling out of control.
They were used to hiding the real face of the world.
But this time, the scale was bigger than usual. The Sakuya higher-ups had only issued the order, without giving much detail.
Even the Musashi Group was surprised at how many affiliated gangsters had been mobilized. More kept arriving to set up a massive perimeter around what was clearly a high-threat zone.
…Just what the hell happened here?
Musashi didn't usually trust what civilians said. Most first-time witnesses of "Oni" lost it and spouted nonsense.
Based on past experience, they assumed some large-scale Oni outbreak was going on. Or maybe… had the long-dormant Fierce Ghost Faction declared war on the Sakuya Eight Families?
They'd wait for confirmation later. Right now, they saw themselves as nothing more than Sakuya's workers—get the job done first.
"Attention all citizens! Due to the gas explosion incident, and our Musashi Group handling the related recovery, we now officially promise a 'disaster relief allowance' to affected citizens. This includes monetary compensation and special vouchers. Please step forward to register. One set per person only. Duplicates or impersonators will face consequences!"
The Musashi Group made the announcement like pros.
And just like that, all the noisy complaints vanished. The moment money was mentioned, people rushed to line up.
Some were quick to act and eagerly stepped forward to ask questions. Once others saw they were actually receiving money, they too came over, beaming, and crowded around the normally intimidating gangsters.
Musashi had to warn everyone to line up or risk getting smacked.
Mao, still filled with anxiety and doubt, joined the line last. After waiting a long time, she finally saw what was happening ahead—
A person sat down at a temporary table, filled out a form, and spoke softly with the gangster across from them. The gangster's eyes glinted faintly gold.
Wait—what? Gangsters wear colored contacts now?
The previous citizen left looking cheerful, completely different from before. Maybe it was the large payout, but the emotional shift was too strange.
"Miss, please take a seat."
When Mao's turn came, she nervously sat down. The gangster across from her was surprisingly polite, with excellent conversational skills.
"Don't worry, miss. What happened today was simply an unfortunate accident. Yes—a gas explosion. You are now safe. There's no need for a payout. The gas company will handle the compensation. The affected zone is being locked down, all buildings declared unsafe—please avoid the area…"
Accident?
Mao remembered the red-haired figure and felt a wave of frustration. This wasn't a gas explosion. Why were these gangsters so desperate to deny the truth? Were they really colluding with the government to hide something…?
She raised her eyes again—and froze.
The man across from her had golden, glowing eyes.
No contact lenses could create that illusion. His pupils shimmered like spinning kaleidoscopes, mesmerizing and unnatural.
Crap—she was getting dizzy. Her anger was… slipping away…?
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion snapped her out of it. Something massive had collapsed nearby, sending tremors through the ground and her ears.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mao saw a rainbow-colored whip flash past.
Just like the nightmare she had witnessed not long ago.
No—no good! A building was about to fall nearby!
The sudden chaos disrupted the Musashi Group's work. They suspected an enemy attack, maybe the Fierce Ghost Faction, but before they could respond, a voice crackled through their communicator:
"Musashi Group, cease operations and retreat south immediately! The enemy is heading your way! It's extremely dangerous!"
"We can fight! We brought plenty of gear today!" Musashi Group wasn't just cleanup—they were the Sakuya Family's weapons arm, with plenty of firepower.
"No! You're no match for her! Retreat now!"
The tremors continued.
Now, Musashi finally understood the warning's urgency.
Someone appeared—wielding an impossibly long, multicolored whip.
She lashed it into the ground and buildings like a divine punishment, slicing through entire streets like they were made of cheese. Buildings collapsed. Everything crumbled.
Musashi had never seen such overwhelming and bizarre destructive power.
Mao had seen it once before—and now took her chance to run.
She didn't want to go through that nightmare again. This time, there might not be a legendary hero like Minamoto or Fujiwara to save her.
But reality rarely followed expectations. Her speed was no match for a collapsing skyscraper.
Debris fell all around her. One more step, and she'd be dead.
But then—she heard that voice.
That familiar voice—
"Shanaō's Wandering Tale—Fifth Scene: Side Story!"
Shirou's figure appeared, charging in right after Attila.
Mao's eyes widened.
It's him. Thank god… we're saved…
A storm of sword flashes, like a tornado of cutting wind, shredded the falling rubble to dust—
"Kiganjō—Hyōchū Saku!" (Joyful Castle: Ice Pillar Carving!)
(End of Chapter)
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