It has been two days since the death of the seventh sin. The world president, Rürcifero, has restored order in the United States and is traveling to other nations where communication is possible. Currently, there is no information about Oceania or South America, which are targeted for exploitation by Chinese leaders. A military group called the Exterminators has also been created. So far, the timer in the sky has remained still, as if time itself hesitated in the face of everything.
After we defeated Oosawa, Shizuka joined our group to save other people around the city. The search for supplies is essential for a period preceding a shortage of food production; forming allies is the best way to survive. However, I didn't just need to survive the end of the world—I had to prevent it from happening.
"We came to help! We'll take you somewhere safe!" — Kate was helping an injured man, who was limping with cuts on his legs. Her voice conveyed urgency, and every gesture seemed rehearsed to save lives quickly.
People were still turning into Trins over time, which reduced the time we had to decipher the reason behind these mutations, since we needed to rescue them. Ashi's house had become a shelter for survivors, and his condominium had turned into a fortress lined with aluminum panels that isolated it from the rest of the neighborhood.
We were searching the Hasunuma area. It was a university with a high concentration of Trins of various categories, but mainly red ones. However, the scene was quite different: broken glass scattered everywhere, trees with exposed roots, fallen support pillars, and an entire structure worn down, as if abandoned for centuries.
"Let's take a break, everyone." — I ordered, sitting on a broken concrete block. — "Take the time to eat something; we'll continue the rescues later."
"Understood." — Kate and Shizuka responded, stopping what they were doing and taking their food from the black bag.
We ate some canned fish and peas while talking. Ashi remained silent for most of the time, merely savoring each bite. He wasn't usually that quiet...
"Ashi, are you okay? You look kind of pale." — Shizuka asked, sitting closer to her friend.
"Just thinking about how good it is to be alive." — He gave a forced smile, trying to appear cheerful. — "Whoever invented this apple juice is a genius!"
"You only know this drink?" — I teased, grabbing a ham burger. — "I've never seen you pick anything else."
"Jealous? If you want, I'll give you some…" — He offered, looking the other way.
"You can have it; you two make a great couple." — I said, with my mouth full of the burger.
"No chance anyway." — He retorted, finishing his drink, the sound echoing through the silent space.
But we were interrupted by the sound of a truck engine, kicking up thick dust at the end of the road.
"It's rare to see such a large vehicle being used; they must be transporting supplies." — Shizuka said, standing on the concrete block, trying to see the vehicle. — "Actually, it looks like they're coming toward us."
And indeed, they were. Alongside the truck were two wide, completely black cars, impossible to see into through the windows. They parked near a flickering streetlight. Then, two agents in suits and dark glasses stepped out. From the truck emerged a woman in a white suit.
"Good afternoon!" — I shouted, waving from afar, still with my mouth full. — "Do you need help?"
They completely ignored my greeting.
"I told you all this dust would get into the truck's air conditioning and dirty my clothes… it's going to take forever to clean this!" — The woman complained, not looking at her partners, tapping on a tablet she held.
"Just buy a new one, Angela." — One of the agents replied; he had a fade haircut with black hair and looked young. A small earring reflected the sunlight.
"Park… are you an idiot?" — Said the other agent, with shoulder-length brown hair. — "Stores will still take a long time to start producing this type of clothing again; there are so many weddings lately, you know?"
The stupidity of these two was astonishing, as if they completely forgot what was happening in the world. The woman approached, scrutinizing me from every angle.
"You are… the 'cool hero group'?" — Angela asked suspiciously, reviewing the data on her device.
"You're talking to the leader!" — I replied excitedly, extending my hand without thinking. — "Nice to meet you, my name is Jin!"
"We already know you." — She said sharply, greeting me reluctantly. — "After all, you've been quite talked about online."
It was a great surprise to hear that, and it reminded us to get a cellphone, since no one in the group had remembered to carry one from the beginning.
"We are from the New World Government. I hope we get along." — She finished, taking a pistol from her waist.
In a threatening move, she aimed it at my head with a cold gaze.
Bang!
The bullet grazed my head, creating a strong gust of wind that left a ringing in my ear, hitting a Trin at least fifty meters away.
"The general of the armed forces is arriving in Saitama and wants to meet you personally in his office." — Park showed his police badge.
I was still stunned by the precise shot. I stepped back a few paces; my partners did the same so we could talk privately for a moment.
"Are you sure they're trustworthy?" — Ashi asked, uneasy. — "If they're former allies of Oosawa, they could try to kill us at any moment."
"They might provide information that helps our mission; it's worth the risk." — I replied, glancing at the trio.
"How about testing their strength?" — Shizuka whispered in my ear, hiding her words. — "Their power could reveal who they really are; agents shouldn't be weak."
"You're right…"
With the staff in hand, I quickly advanced with my angelic arm and tried to hit Park, who remained still as if accepting the blow. But I received an unexpected response: Angela kicked me in the chest, sending me to the other sidewalk.
"Quite strong for a lady… don't you think?" — I complained, out of breath, holding my ribs.
"Hmph… no more jokes, Jin." — Angela helped me up. — "Next time, my bullet will pierce your skull."
"Calm down, calm down. At least I trust you now." — I said, brushing dust off my jacket.
We headed to the vehicles.
"You're coming with me." — Angela called, opening the truck door. — "Leave your friends with my team."
I did as she asked. From the side, Angela was extremely beautiful. Her straight red hair shone brilliantly; her slim waist accentuated her curves. A fringe covered her forehead, reaching eyebrow height, with longer strands near her ears where she wore small gold earrings.
"How old are you?" — I asked, sitting in the seat and fastening my seatbelt.
"It's part of my job not to reveal personal information." — She replied, keeping her eyes on the road. — "Why do you ask?"
"So even your name isn't real…" — I said, disappointed, resting my head against the window. — "Just curious, nothing important."
The atmosphere remained tense for a long time. Not a single word came from her. Until Angela turned on the radio, playing classical Japanese music: the famous "Stay by My Side."
"Have you heard of Rürcifero?" — She began. — "To be honest, I have my doubts about the situation in the United States. It's a very large country… how could there not have been as many deaths as in Japan?"
"I thought everyone only spoke badly of their leaders while drinking. But I agree with you, it's strange how they managed the whole situation so quickly." — I said, reflecting on Angela's words.
"It almost seems like he was already chosen to be the world president. The organization has existed since the turn of the millennium; the only thing that changed was the arrival of a representative." — She continued, the sound of her silver rings tapping the steering wheel creating a rhythm. — "Only one member disappeared on the Great Day; there's still no information about him."
"Not that it changes much, he was a rather lazy boy." — She concluded.
The Great Day marked the highest percentage of deaths at once in all of human history. No member of the world organization died, which is particularly strange. A single person is controlling all the armies in the world; what could go wrong? — I joked, looking at the Trins in the rearview mirror.
"He always had a silver tongue; his projects were approved in the blink of an eye at congresses." — She said, grabbing a red soda can from the cup holder. — "His personality makes him perfect for such an important position. And his nickname is 'The Court Jester.'"
After almost an hour in the vehicle, we arrived at the military base. We parked in the middle of the street to block monsters' passage. We continued the conversation; she seemed genuinely interested in this man. — Angela said, stepping out of the truck.
"As you wish, madam." — I said.
The sun was out, hotter than usual in the city. Birds searched for water puddles to drink from, and cats ran under trees seeking shade, some carrying parts of Trins in their mouths.
The base spans over a kilometer in both length and width. The dark green camouflaged complex houses the country's best military technology, divided into four main two-story buildings, along with several single-story structures.
The metal gate separating the street from the base had an engraving I had never seen before: a black serpent lying on a dragon, biting a red egg with sharp fangs, seven stars above the creature, and four horses around it.
"This is the Organization's symbol, called The Black Veil." — She approached the engraving, tracing it with her fingernail.
"It looks very familiar…" — I whispered to myself.
"Don't mind the soldiers; they've been like this for more than a day." — Angela opened the door, standing in front of a facial recognition device.
Upon opening the metal barrier, I heard a chorus of men, women, and children:
"Oooooh!"
Hundreds of soldiers were kneeling on white stones, eyes closed, hands in prayer, wearing military uniforms and brown bead bracelets on their wrists. On each forehead was the number four, and white lights emanated from their fingernails.
"This is bizarre… any idea why?" — I asked, looking around and following Angela to the first building.
"According to the general, it's just a form of gratitude that accumulates power to defeat the Trins." — She paused, leaning on a blooming cherry tree near a koi pond. — "I don't know how it works, but they haven't shown any aversion to the idea."
"Where were we again? Ah, right… he also asked us to wait in his office, located on the second floor." — She remembered, heading to the door. — "It shouldn't take long; your partners are already on their way."
We went up to his office, separated by black frosted glass and a light wooden door. When Angela touched the doorknob, a notification sounded from her device.
"Perfect! I'll grant entry to your friends." — She said, stopping before opening the door and quickly descending the stairs. — "Make yourself at home!"
Knock… Knock… Knock…
No one answered. I opened the door and found a very simple office. Only a few bookshelves with pictures and books surrounded the room, and a table with three chairs was in the center. In the photos were the general's family and a pink-haired girl, around five years old.
It wasn't the first time I'd seen this girl. Everything was in the office except a clock.
"This time thing keeps following me…" — I murmured, walking to a glass shelf. — "Is the general a plate collector? Otherwise, there wouldn't be so much variety."
Tired, I sat in the nearest chair. I waited for a long time. Maybe too long. I adjusted the bandages, retied my shoelace, and yawned several times. I think I even fell asleep with my eyes closed. Until the staff started glowing; I had left it on the main table. I picked it up with my right hand and tried to open the door.
"Locked?" — I wondered after failing to open it. — "Doesn't make sense; it was open a little while ago."
In fact, it wasn't locked with a key, but as if it were jammed. I tried to break it with staff attacks; nothing worked. I went to the window, completely visible from inside, and punched it with my angelic arm. At that instant, a gray, slimy arm emerged from the glass and returned the blow with the same force I had applied.
"But… what?"