"So this is Chiba?"
Peering past Chisato Nishikigi's face, Luo Shu looked through the car window at Chiba Station in the city centre and the hurried pedestrians on the streets.
On a massive screen by the roadside, news about terrorists played, urging citizens to stay indoors.
"Big Sister is really being too reckless this time. Won't she get reprimanded by headquarters for this?" Chisato muttered under her breath.
Hearing this up close, Luo Shu pondered for a moment before speculating:
"Perhaps headquarters has received some special intel, which is why they made this decision?"
"For example, information suggesting that the sealed demon is an extremely high-level one."
Mika, who was driving, chimed in to support Luo Shu's words:
"Luo Shu is right. A demon that can make headquarters this tense is very likely to be at least as dangerous as a Grade 3 Abyss Artefact."
"Grade 3... prohibited from use in principle, requiring strict containment, capable of causing city-level devastation..."
Takina Inoue recited the definition of a Grade 3 Abyss Artefact in a low voice before frowning:
"Chiba Prefecture has roughly six million residents, doesn't it? Even central Chiba City has over 900,000 people. So we're potentially looking at a catastrophic event that could kill 900,000..."
Though this would only occur if the demon broke free and unleashed its full power unchecked, it was enough to demonstrate the target's lethality.
"If that really happens, we'll end up in textbooks," Mizuki Nakahara remarked while gazing out the window, adding wryly: "As the negative examples."
At these words, silence fell over everyone in the SUV.
"Regardless of the outcome, our priority now is to rendezvous with the main force." Mika glanced at the three silent passengers through the rearview mirror before stating firmly: "Hold on tight."
About 10 minutes later, the SUV entered an underground car park beneath a hotel. The group of five disembarked and, led by an attendant, took the internal elevator directly to a rented conference room.
When Mika pushed open the conference room doors, the scene inside was revealed to them.
"Well, if it isn't Mika? I thought your car had driven into the sea, taking this long to arrive."
In front of two rows of illuminated computer screens, a woman with slicked-back deep red hair and an eyepatch over her right eye strode forward boldly, giving Mika's shoulder a heavy slap that made him grimace.
"Cut me some slack, Hilda. I was speeding on the highway."
Mika grumbled before turning to the group, particularly addressing Luo Shu:
"This is Hilda, captain of Headquarters' Third Action Team."
After the introduction, Mika immediately scanned the room of staff and asked with confusion: "Where are Matz and Herbert?"
"Oh, them? They took some people to sweep the area."
Hilda, with her intimidating eyepatch, let out a loud laugh before grinning at Chisato Nishikigi:
"Well, if it isn't our ace markswoman! Looking prettier than ever, I see!"
"Halo, Hilda-nee~" Chisato cheerfully greeted.
Hilda gave a slight nod before turning to Mizuki Nakahara with mocking amusement: "Mizuki, you still look as miserable as ever - still single, I take it? Why don't you just settle down with me already?"
"Shut it!" Mizuki glared at Hilda, crossing her arms and turning her head away.
At this point, Hilda's gaze shifted to Luo Shu. After looking him up and down, she whistled:
"Wow, so this is the legendary new recruit. Not bad looking~ Fancy transferring to the Third Action Team?"
Before Luo Shu could respond, Takina Inoue interjected sternly: "Senior Hilda, has the target's location been confirmed yet?"
Hilda's eyebrow twitched at the interruption as she turned to Takina, adopting a disdainful tone:
"Still as impatient as ever, despite being such a cute girl."
"Tch." Takina clicked her tongue in evident displeasure at the description.
Hilda then spread her hands in resignation: "Alright then, looks like our long-awaited reunion will have to wait."
Turning around, she walked to an unused laptop and tapped a few keys, causing a map of Chiba Prefecture to appear on the projection screen behind her. Leaning one hand on the desk, she addressed the group, particularly Mika:
"Your Ms Kurumi has already helped us resolve the preliminary issues."
"Based on the surveillance footage she confirmed, plus the items I brought this time, we've roughly identified several suspected target locations."
As she spoke, Hilda pointed to the projection screen hanging behind her. Luo Shu noticed the screen wasn't made of common materials but rather some unknown substance resembling animal hide.
"What's this?"
Just as Luo Shu was puzzled, Mizuki Nakahara explained from the side:
"Level 2 Abyssal Artefact Electronic Map - a special tool for detecting all supernatural energy reactions within city limits."
At this point, Mizuki glanced at the two rows of white-coated researchers:
"Reportedly, its side effect requires people to manually input road information following strict logic patterns at all times. Any mistake means death for everyone feeding data into the map. It's an extremely dangerous tool - only headquarters can afford to use something like this."
"One wrong input means death?" Luo Shu scanned the researchers sitting around the oval doughnut-shaped conference table, quickly counting: "Thirty-two people?"
A single mistake could kill thirty-two people. The thought made Luo Shu's heart tighten.
After observing the researchers inputting data, Mika turned to Hilda and asked:
"So how should we cooperate with you now?"
"Well~ we'll sweep through each red dot in Chiba Prefecture, catch our target Katsuhiko Yakushiji hiding among them, interrogate him about the demon's whereabouts, then retrieve said demon."
Hilda pointed at the numerous red dots on the Chiba city map behind her, smiling cheerfully:
"Simple, right?"
Hearing this, the others exchanged glances before responding in unison:
"No, it's ridiculously difficult."