"That's the situation at the scene."
In a dimly lit conference room at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Dressed in a white suit, Ryōko Yakushiji stood before the projection screen, briefing senior Metropolitan Police officials on the Sharon incident.
Displayed on the screen was a blue Ferrari with license plate Shinagawa 5999, crashed into a highway guardrail.
This was Ryōko Yakushiji's personal vehicle, but now the expensive sports car lay in ruins. The bonnet was completely split open, one tyre had flown off, and the twisted frame made everyone frown.
In the footage, investigators wearing gloves and masks were collecting samples from the wrecked car.
"So you're saying Sharon Holygrail suddenly vanished from this speeding car while fleeing towards Chiba?"
The question came from Kirika Tachibana, seated to the right of the lower seats.
As a Police Superintendent, she naturally qualified to attend such meetings. In fact, she was one of the report contributors, though her rank spared her from presenting like Ryōko.
Kirika was watching Ryōko's expressionless face with amused interest, as if observing a clown. Alongside her, fifteen other senior police officials were listening to Ryōko's report.
After all, this involved mortar fire within the metropolitan area. Were it not for tightened media controls in recent years, tomorrow's morning papers would surely carry the story.
As the lowest-ranking official present, Ryōko - despite her zaibatsu background balancing the hierarchy - spoke with uncharacteristic meekness due to today's circumstances:
"Current highway surveillance confirms Sharon did disappear through some means, evading our pursuit."
"A terrorist vanishing from a speeding vehicle without even surveillance capturing it?"
"And this... is your answer, Inspector Yakushiji?"
The white-haired senior officer seated at the head of the lower table spoke with undisguised accusation.
"Yes, Superintendent Itō."
At Ryōko's response, Superintendent Itō slammed the table and roared:
"How am I supposed to report this to the cabinet? To the prime minister?"
"Shall I tell them the enemy captured your subordinate under our joint surveillance and escaped safely using a hostage?"
"Shall I explain the fugitive mysteriously disappeared on the highway? That we haven't even found a trace?"
"Well? Tell me - should I report this to the cabinet, the PM, and the public like this?!"
Facing Superintendent Itō's near-screamed questions, Ryōko replied with an ashen face:
"JACES will provide an explanation, Superintendent Itō."
She then bowed deeply at 90 degrees:
"Please grant us more time."
Superintendent Itō's expression shifted instantly, leaning back calmly as if never angry:
"How much more time?"
"By March 22nd at the latest," Ryōko stated precisely.
It was March 17th, meaning Ryōko Yakushiji had only given herself five days. In reality, the senior officials present had already grasped the implication behind this timeframe.
"Excellent, I look forward to your final answer." Superintendent Ito's lips curled upwards upon hearing the deadline of March 22nd.
"March 22nd - the day the House of Councillors finalises this year's budget? My, my. Seems JACES will be bleeding funds for police equipment. I wonder whose pockets these saved taxes will end up in."
This sudden remark didn't alter anyone's expression, though a few officials glanced towards Kirika Tachibana. Seeing that it was indeed her speaking, they unsurprisingly turned away in silence.
Superintendent Ito also looked at Kirika Tachibana, but disregarded this madman, instead continuing his questioning of Ryōko Yakushiji:
"What's the situation with that terrorist called Sharon?"
"Hai!" Ryōko Yakushiji bowed slightly before explaining:
"The subject is a senior operative of the European covert organisation Demon Hunters. Previous intelligence indicated expertise in close combat, but during this operation, she demonstrated extraordinary marksmanship beyond normal parameters."
She pressed a button on the projector remote in her pocket, changing the display to grainy surveillance footage.
The blurred image showed a golden-haired woman in a nun's habit raising a rifle skyward, firing repeatedly before a series of massive explosions lit up the sky.
As the footage played, Ryōko Yakushiji clarified: "This captures Sharon successfully detonating mortar shells through rifle fire."
"Rifle fire detonating mortar shells? Is this detailed in the report?"
Many senior officials gasped, hurriedly flipping through their documents.
'So none of them actually read it?' Kirika Tachibana propped her chin on one hand, curling her lip disdainfully.
One Police Superintendent who'd found the relevant section exclaimed:
"She used our Type-20 assault rifles? And actually hit 43 mortar shells consecutively? Is this a sorcerer's ability?"
"We can only say we strongly suspect it's Sharon's personal capability."
Ryōko Yakushiji pressed the button again, switching to shakier footage - evidently from bodycams worn by Special Assault Team members during the operation.
The footage showed Sharon dodging bullet sprays through minimal movements before charging forward at speeds only discernible in slow-motion, taking down operatives.
"What the hell?!"
The rapidly enlarging palm in the footage made several officials recoil as if seeing a ghost.
"This valuable footage captures a SAT member's takedown. Experts are currently analysing it. We expect to deliver all intelligence about Sharon's combat capabilities to your desks by tomorrow."
"A monster that can dodge point-blank automatic fire?"
Osaka Precinct Chief Heizo Hattori rubbed his temples wearily, his voice grave:
"They used mortars but were shot down? It appears that this enemy is beyond the Metropolitan Police Department's capabilities. Have they tried anti-tank equipment?"
"Not yet."
Ryōko Yakushiji answered while glancing at Kirika Tachibana, adding:
"However, according to Police Superintendent Tachibana's report, Sharon possesses a special Abyss Artefact that demonstrated immunity to anti-tank weapons during its appearance in Europe."
"Chief Tachibana was involved in the encirclement, too?"
Heizo Hattori looked at Kirika Tachibana in astonishment, seemingly surprised that her highly specialised department couldn't handle such an enemy.
Meanwhile, Kirika Tachibana calmly trimmed her nails with a nail clipper:
"Why are you staring? My team encountered Sharon twice. First was an accidental engagement where we wounded her. The second time, we mobilised forces to surround and corner her with severe injuries. If someone hadn't swooped in to steal the credit at the last moment, I'd have finished the job already."
"And you're blaming me for that?"
"Anyway, does SDS have any countermeasures against such enemies? At least we won't need to request assistance from the Onmyou Agency."
Heizo Hattori sighed in relief, but immediately realised his mistake upon speaking. He quickly looked up at the Superintendent General.
The next second, he met the Superintendent General's calm gaze.
'Honestly, even asking Kirika Tachibana would be better than involving the Onmyou Agency,' Hattori thought privately, 'but you're all too concerned about appearances.'
Since the Superintendent General was ultimately his superior, Hattori cleared his throat and said:
"In that case, why didn't Police Superintendent Tachibana cooperate with Inspector Yakushiji to apprehend the target together?"
"Ah, my apologies. The Abyss Artefact, specifically targeted against Sharon, had exceeded its usage duration by then, so I had no choice but to follow Inspector Yakushiji's suggestion and withdraw obediently."
As she spoke, Kirika continued clipping her nails:
"Considering that artefact's side effect requires high-ranking officials to activate it... Perhaps next time Sharon appears, you honourable representatives of justice could assist me?"
"Rest assured, the public will remember your sacrifices."
Upon hearing this, several attendees nearly turned green.
Among them, it was no secret that using high-level Abyss Artefacts meant certain death.
Kirika's words essentially asked them to sacrifice their lives to eliminate Sharon.
Who would agree to such a deal?
Thus, complete silence fell over the room.
Some even imitated parliament members by pretending to sleep on the spot.
After all, elderly people lacking stamina for late nights was perfectly normal, wasn't it?
Facing this selective deafness, Kirika showed no surprise. Instead, she smiled cheerfully:
"Although we failed to capture Sharon this time, at least... I believe everyone now understands the optimal approach for dealing with such dangerous individuals."
Hearing this and recalling Ryōko Yakushiji's proposed solution, the Superintendent General's face darkened as he spoke gravely:
"Chief Inspector Tachibana, later, you'll need to compile a report on the proposed measures for dealing with these special individuals. I'll then submit the budget proposal to the cabinet."
Having said this, Superintendent Ito glanced at Ryōko Yakushiji, whose expression immediately changed as she understood the implication.
After a brief silence, Ryōko Yakushiji nodded without another word.
Seeing that the additional budget would be covered by the forces behind Ryōko Yakushiji, Superintendent Ito said nothing more and instead asked Kirika Tachibana:
"With sufficient funding, can the SDS guarantee the elimination of these dangerous foreign infiltrators?"
"Of course," Kirika Tachibana answered without hesitation, her face brimming with confidence.
"Good." Superintendent Ito stood up and addressed the room: "Colleagues, this meeting is adjourned."
With that, he was the first to leave.
Soon after, the police superintendents and chief superintendents also rose to depart.
Only Kirika Tachibana remained seated, watching them go. It wasn't until Heizo Hattori passed by her as one of the last to leave that she called out:
"Superintendent Hattori, if you're free, how about a drink after work~"
At this, Heizo Hattori's mouth twitched as if he'd seen the plague, and he hurriedly quickened his pace out of the conference room.
"Honestly, why run so fast? Afraid I'll kill you?"
Kirika Tachibana rested her chin on one hand, shook her head, then turned her gaze to Ryōko Yakushiji, who was tidying documents at the lectern:
"Hey, Miss Yakushiji, how are you feeling now?"
Ryōko Yakushiji gave her a frosty look but didn't respond.
Seeing this, Kirika Tachibana grinned:
"Don't look at me like that. You snatched away the prey I had in my mouth, yet I'm not angry while you are? What kind of logic is that?"
"Spare me the fake concern."
Ryōko Yakushiji straightened the documents by tapping them against the table, then said:
"Given the abilities Sharon displayed at the end, your people would've been killed even if they'd stormed that room."
"I'm amazed you dared to guarantee you could eliminate such monsters in future publicly."
Kirika Tachibana laughed at this:
"Oh my, when asking for funding, you've got to talk big first. I was actually holding back just now, you know."
She then gave Ryōko Yakushiji another look and narrowed her eyes:
"And yet, knowing this, you didn't expose me publicly. You really must be shaken this time, aren't you, Ryōko?"
"Need my help? Your mental state isn't looking good."
"I've got a rather handsome subordinate—I could have him give you a massage (hypnosis)!"
"This is none of your business."
Ryōko Yakushiji tucked the files under her arm and gave her an icy stare:
"The only reason I didn't expose you is that I won't interfere with your own path to self-destruction."
Here, Ryōko Yakushiji gave a cold laugh:
"But perhaps this is for the best. Watching you and that pink-haired princess drown in your dream of world peace might make for an entertaining outcome."
With that, Ryōko Yakushiji left the conference room without looking back, her receding high-heeled footsteps the only sound left behind.
Seeing this, Kirika Tachibana stroked her chin while gazing at the open door, musing thoughtfully:
"Beyond her capabilities? I wouldn't be so sure about that."
With these words, Kirika Tachibana curled her lips into an amused smile.