Toyogasaki High School.
In what was once the principal's office, now Natsuki Minamiya's private room.
Natsuki Minamiya sat on a luxurious sofa that was twice her height, holding detailed information on all the students in her classes, scrutinising it with a serious expression.
Just then, the phone rang.
Natsuki Minamiya frowned slightly, picked up her phone from the nearby desk, glanced at the caller ID, and answered.
As soon as the call connected, Kirika Tachibana's irritated voice came through:
"Who leaked the information on your side?"
Faced with such a direct question, Natsuki Minamiya seemed to have anticipated it, calmly explaining:
"I only received the news a short while ago, just five minutes before you."
"...Five minutes?" Kirika Tachibana sounded surprised by the time gap. "My intel was actually slower than yours?"
It was common knowledge that the intelligence speed of the 'American father' was usually faster than that of his 'Japanese son'.
But this time, unusually, Kirika Tachibana had received the news later than Natsuki Minamiya, which was rather intriguing.
"Was it deliberate on the part of the Shrine faction?" Kirika Tachibana asked suspiciously.
Unless there was an inside job in Natsuki Minamiya's camp, Kirika couldn't fathom how Natsuki's intel could have outpaced hers—and by a full five minutes, no less.
At this, Natsuki Minamiya sighed, leaning back on the plush leather sofa and crossing her legs:
"This is precisely why I entrusted the task of sealing the demon to your Special Defence Section. Surely you understand that?"
"No, I do." Kirika Tachibana's tone suddenly took on a teasing lilt. "I just didn't expect your control over the Shrine faction to be even weaker than I imagined~~."
"If you're here to mock me, then congratulations—you've failed."
Natsuki Minamiya's voice remained utterly calm, neither rising nor falling:
"So, what do you plan to do now? Your people haven't set out yet, have they?"
"No need for you to worry about that. Oh, and by the way, thank you for sending over that precious special life form. Here, a kiss for you~ mua~~"
Kirika Tachibana made a smacking sound, mimicking a kiss, but by then, Natsuki Minamiya had already hung up.
Realising this, Kirika shook her head and chuckled:
"As adorable as ever, Natsuki-chan~~"
After this brief reflection, Kirika immediately turned to the conference table, where a group of military officers—some blond and blue-eyed, others dark-skinned with short hair—sat in uniform. She smiled and declared:
"It seems our new colony has developed some... unique ideas of its own."
The assembled officers remained silent, though their eyes betrayed clear disdain.
At this, Kirika sneered. "Looks like it's time to remind them who the real Emperor is."
...
In the bulletproof off-road vehicle.
Luo Shu glanced at Mika in the driver's seat, Mizuki Nakahara in the passenger seat, then at Chisato Nishikigi to his left and Takina Inoue to his right, before sighing helplessly:
"Why do I have to sit in the middle?"
"Because I'm still angry," Takina Inoue said stiffly.
"Because Takina's still mad~" Chisato Nishikigi chirped cheerfully, grinning. "Or do you not like being surrounded by beautiful girls, Luo Shu?"
As she spoke, Chisato Nishikigi flicked her shoulder-length hair and tugged at her collar, as if trying to reveal more skin.
Yet faced with such an action, Luo Shu merely gave her a disdainful look.
He admitted Chisato was beautiful and had a lively personality, but could her collar-tugging be any more half-hearted? He couldn't even see her collarbone!
Meanwhile, Takina Inoue, long accustomed to Chisato's antics, was more curious about the current situation:
"Mr Mika, what's the status now?"
"Hmm... knowing the Chief as I do... well, let's listen to the news first."
As Mika spoke, he pressed a button in the car, and a half-broadcast news report immediately played through the speakers:
"...The US forces stationed in Japan issued an emergency notice ten minutes ago, stating they've confirmed an international terrorist organisation has infiltrated Chiba City. To prevent terrorist acts and protect the suffering citizens of Japan, the US will strictly follow international counter-terrorism conventions to impose a three-day lockdown on Chiba's airspace and land territory, suspending all domestic and international flights to and from Chiba during this period. All citizens are urged to comply with laws and regulations, remaining at home as much as possible for these three days..."
With a beep, Mika paused the broadcast and turned to the stunned Chisato and Takina behind him:
"That's the gist of it."
Chisato swallowed hard, exclaiming in shock:
"No way... locking down an entire city? Big Sister has really gone too far this time!"
"Probably wants to teach certain people a lesson, right? After all, SDS's Tokyo branch hasn't been progressing smoothly since opening. Especially with this leak happening now... tsk tsk, the power plays at the top~" Mizuki Nakahara remarked with a sigh.
'So, because the demon's intel leaked, they're just sealing off access to stop others from poaching their prey? Oh, and simultaneously threatening potential poachers by outright labelling any intruders as terrorists?'
'Same old rogue eagles as ever...' Luo Shu couldn't help but muse.
Just then, Kurumi's soft, moe voice came through Luo Shu's earpiece:
"Hey hey~ you there, Luo Shu?"
"Yeah, I'm here." Luo Shu raised his hand to press the earpiece on his right ear.
"Tell Mika that the road ahead is jammed. I've already arranged a fast track with the US military blocking the route. Have Mika turn right at the next junction and follow the path cleared by the armoured vehicles."
"Understood."
Luo Shu relayed the message to Mika immediately.
As the steering wheel turned, the off-road vehicle swerved right, descending along the expressway bridge.