Simultaneously, as Kirika Tachibana and Chisato Nishikigi entered the apartment building...
Inside the koban office...
"Superintendent Yakushiji, please wait—Superintendent Yakushiji—"
Hearing the commotion, Luo Shu and Mika both turned towards the door. Meanwhile, Shirō Magi, seated nearby with headphones on, seemed to realise something, his expression abruptly changing.
At that moment, the door was kicked open with a bang. A woman with shoulder-length orange hair, dressed in a white suit, strode in and declared:
"From this moment, Special Operations is under my command."
"What?" Luo Shu blinked in surprise, glancing at Mika beside him.
Mika, upon seeing Ryōko Yakushiji, appeared to recall something unpleasant, his face darkening.
"What's going on? Who is she?" Luo Shu whispered. Suddenly, he sensed a piercing gaze and turned to find the woman addressed as Superintendent Yakushiji staring directly at him.
"Why is there an unauthorised civilian here?" Ryōko Yakushiji said icily. "Get out."
Luo Shu: "???"
Luo Shu was momentarily stunned by her words.
'This arrogant?'
'Just how privileged were your parents to raise someone who speaks like this?'
Opposite them, Shirō Magi wore a resigned expression as he called out: "Mr Mika."
"Understood." Mika tugged at Luo Shu's shoulder, gesturing for him to follow as they left.
Though uncertain about the situation, Luo Shu complied with Mika's silent request and exited the office.
Yet even as he departed, he could still clearly hear Superintendent Yakushiji's condescending commands ringing behind him.
"Twenty seconds from now, have the sniper take the shot and eliminate the hostage-taker directly. Also, tell the mortar squad leader to prepare for bombardment. I don't want to give this order twice!"
Luo Shu didn't hear the response, instead turning to Mika, who was pulling him along: "Who the hell is that woman? Acting so high and mighty?"
"Wouldn't you be? She's the daughter of JACES's chairman - Asia's largest police equipment manufacturer - and a superintendent in the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Bureau. Police Inspector Ryōko Yakushiji."
Mika paused here before adding:
"She's Chief Tachibana's rival. A paranoid madwoman."
"If she's come here personally demanding that Sharon Holygrail be executed immediately, there must be something we don't know about."
After saying this, Mika's expression darkened:
"Though Chief Tachibana hasn't given orders yet, I can guess what she's thinking."
"Luo Shu, if possible, help that Sharon escape. There's definitely something about her - something important enough for Ryōko Yakushiji to show up here for a cover-up."
"Of course, this is just my suggestion. I'm telling you this because I noticed that the young lady's tone seemed to really piss you off."
Hearing this, Luo Shu - who'd been debating whether to save Sharon - froze momentarily.
'Bloody hell. Mutual understanding at first sight?'
"Though I doubt I can do much... you're right, Mika." Luo Shu's face broke into a gentle smile. "That woman's tone really did rub me the wrong way."
"After all, the fortune-teller back home always told me since childhood: 'You're the type who responds to honey rather than vinegar'~"
...
First floor of the unfinished apartment building.
After the sound of the sniper shot.
Kirika Tachibana heard the familiar female voice and its cold, arrogant tone through her earpiece, immediately curling her lips into a terrifying smile:
"My, my, so it's you, Ryōko-chan~"
Though Kirika's expression was smiling, there was no warmth in her eyes—only deathly stillness.
"To think you'd suddenly intervene and order a sniper shot... Oh? Seems you've received some rather explosive information..."
"Like JACES, the police equipment manufacturer, secretly collaborating with Demon Hunters? Or perhaps with those lunatics from Truth Astronomy?"
"My, my, if such news got out, it would be quite the scandal, wouldn't it?"
As Kirika spoke these words with amusement, Ryōko Yakushiji on the other end of the line replied icily:
"Police Superintendent Tachibana, if there are no special operations, please have your subordinates cooperate with the Special Operations Team."
A sixth-rank police inspector giving orders to a third-rank superintendent—such insubordination would usually be absurd, but when it came from Ryōko Yakushiji, even Kirika found it unremarkable.
Well, what could she do? The woman was a Celestial Dragon~
Though Kirika's own superior was also a Celestial Dragon, Ryōko Yakushiji happened to be the only Celestial Dragon of the Yakushiji family in this generation.
Provoking a conflict between two major arms manufacturers wasn't something Kirika could afford to do.
So she chose to comply.
"Inspector Yakushiji, I'm glad you notified me. I just don't appreciate your current tone."
As she spoke, Kirika turned and began walking out of the building, adding:
"And, sorry to say, every piece of SDS equipment has strict usage conditions. Unfortunately, the one I'm holding has reached its allotted time."
"But rest assured, I'll have my subordinates fully cooperate with your operation~"
"...Then get to it, Kirika Tachibana." The cold voice concluded.
The call ended with a beep.
Kirika's expression remained frosty as she took out her phone and sent a text to Chisato Nishikigi.
...
Meanwhile, on the fourth floor, Chisato—who had been leaning against a wall beside a door—suddenly sensed something. She reached under her skirt, pulled out a vibrating phone, and glanced at the message.
[Stand down.]
"What's wrong?" Takina Inoue asked curiously.
Chisato's expression shifted slightly before she stuck out her tongue:
"Big Sister's telling us to stand down. Seems something unexpected came up."
"Eh?" Takina blinked, then, after a moment's thought, suggested, "Then... should we search the first floor?"
"Whoa!!" Chisato immediately gave a thumbs-up. "Takina's amazing! You actually knew Sharon fled to the first floor!"
With that, she began pushing Takina along by the back, urging, "Come on, let's hurry and catch her!"
"O-okay!" Takina replied blankly, allowing herself to be ushered away.
...
Just then, behind the door Chisato had been leaning against...
Sharon, who had been pressed against the wall, hissed softly. She glanced at the door, lowered the dagger in her hand, and let out a long breath:
"I've been spared..."
Though she didn't know why Chisato had left despite being just a door away, Sharon understood she wasn't completely safe yet.
"A 15-member assault squad, the sniper who just blind-fired and hit me... probably another 15, plus an estimated 15-member encirclement team, a 9-member artillery unit... A full 54-person task force, along with SDS members?"
Sharon silently calculated the approximate number of enemies, yet in her heart, she knew it was already a death trap.
The Abyss Artefact on her body would take time to recover its power after being sealed earlier. The potion had suddenly lost efficacy, likely having deteriorated—its effects were completely unpredictable if consumed now. Multiple gunshot wounds were causing severe blood loss.
Even if the enemies didn't attack, mere encirclement would slowly bleed her dry.
The game was over.
[Giving up already?]
A deep, magnetic male voice laced with amusement echoed in her mind.
"Who..." Sharon weakly murmured.
[Do you want to live?]
The voice inquired again.
Hearing this, Sharon gave a pale smile. "Oh? So even a nun gets to hear a demon's temptation before death?"
[God or demon, it matters not. I simply ask—do you want to live?]
Suddenly recalling something, Sharon quipped:
"You're that man from before? Trying to control my body again? Sorry, but in this state, I doubt there's much left for you to play with."
"And don't worry—I won't expose your secret. After all, the havoc you'd wreak within SDS would be my revenge too."
[You... do want to live!]
The voice mused.
After a brief silence, Sharon scoffed:
"What a stupid question. Who'd choose to die?"
"Alright then, whether you're a god helping me or a demon ruining me—mister, you've got my attention."
"So, what should I call you?"
[Heh. You may call me Mr Sun.]
At this, Sharon managed to lift the corner of her mouth in a wan smile:
"Very well, Mr Sun. If you wish to use me, be my guest."
[Transaction complete.]
As the words faded, Sharon's consciousness began sinking. In her dazed state, it seemed another awareness slowly opened its eyes within her body.
"Then... let the game begin anew!"
The pale-faced nun curled her lips, rising unsteadily to her feet with a beautiful yet perilous smile.