11:30 PM.
As night deepened...
Members of the joint task force began to relax slightly.
After completing another patrol round, two officers getting off duty spotted Tomoki Asuka smoking by the police box and called out:
"Captain~ Fancy drinks tonight?"
"You want to go drinking when we're off at 1 AM? What about holding your kids? Or your wife?"
Tomoki couldn't help laughing at this.
In Japan, regular office workers typically have social commitments from 5:30 PM to 11 PM after work.
No one inviting you for drinks means you're unpopular, unsociable, lacking ambition, and so on.
Thus, some office workers would find an izakaya even on days with nothing scheduled, order a drink and two skewers, and sit there for hours to show their wives they're capable and well-connected outside.
Of course, middle-aged men avoiding their wives' demands might also be a factor. But regardless, such situations were virtually impossible within the joint task force.
Partly because their shifts ended around midnight, long past normal working hours, and partly because those on the mystic side generally had stronger constitutions than common folk, they could last longer. And for those who couldn't...
Ahem...
The best-selling items at Akihabara Abyss Artefact Trading Centre were always stamina-enhancing drugs.
The joint task force of the Five Great Powers and Japan didn't even need to ask - manufacturers would send samples as courtesy gifts, so such concerns hardly existed.
"Family time's important, but today's special circumstances~"
One officer slung an arm around his colleague's neck:
"Mimura's proposing to Aoko tomorrow - we've got to share our wisdom, right?"
"Besides, if we miss this drinking session, who knows when the next one will be..."
"I see..." Tomoki Asuka lifted his cigarette, smiling at Officer Nakamura. "Congratulations, Mimura. Looks like I'll be treating everyone this year."
Flicking ash from his cigarette, he added:
"How about this - you guys handle the first round, I'll join for the second."
"Got it, Captain! We'll save you the best beer~~"
"Beer's too cheap! Champagne - we're definitely opening champagne tonight..."
Watching the two head off duty until they entered the police box, Asuka took another drag, his expression turning slightly agitated as he gazed at the neon-lit night sky.
Mid-smoke, Deputy Captain Shigeaki Nagoya emerged from the box and asked:
"Asuka, why smoke out here?"
Seeing the handsome middle-aged man with his neatly trimmed moustache and deep blue, seaweed-like hair, Asuka explained:
"I've got this... uneasy premonition..."
Nagoya chuckled:
"Don't tell me your youngest is abusing your connections again, making Metropolitan Police Department officers chase that phantom thief?"
"The Saint Tail, wasn't it? Heard she specialises in stealing high-end artworks..."
"That brat..." Asuka's face twisted into a wry smile. "Playing cops and robbers is one thing, but forbidding me from intervening? I can't tell if he actually wants to catch her or let her escape."
"Rumour says this Saint Tail's different from that Kaito Kid Nakamori's always chasing - apparently she really is a beauty..."
Nagoya gave Asuka a meaningful look:
"Your boy's not getting... involved, is he?"
"He wouldn't dare!" Asuka snorted, visibly irritated.
If his son really got entangled with a thief, the scandal would be disastrous.
Might as well take some leave and arrest that phantom thief myself, he thought, before that hare-brained kid keeps embarrassing me with his police games.
"It doesn't really matter anyway. I heard the Saint Tail is like Kaitou Kid - a strange thief who returns stolen items after a few days."
"More like a performance artist than a thief, and apparently possesses several Abyss Artefacts for escape purposes."
"Frankly, if not for saving face, the Metropolitan Police Department wouldn't waste resources on such low-risk offenders."
Listening to Shigeaki Nagoya's words, Tomoki Asuka considered the idea but ultimately abandoned it, opting not to handle it personally.
A thief wielding Abyss Artefacts while persistently stealing artworks was clearly searching for something - far too dangerous. They might well be a hook for some organisation.
If he interfered, who knew what madness the organisation behind these thieves might unleash?
For now, closely monitoring the thieves and letting them exhaust themselves in vain was the optimal solution.
At this thought, Tomoki couldn't help complaining:
"Why does Tokyo always have so much trouble lately?"
"Heard about that princess assault incident? The MPD deployed heavy artillery units against the suspect organisation... First time in ten years. Wonder if it'll remain the only time."
"Don't worry, Tokyo's always been troublesome~ But hasn't everything been kept under control?"
Shigeaki Nagoya chuckled, pulling out a cigarette packet and shaking one loose:
"You know perfectly well the National Diet causes most trouble in Tokyo, but our Akihabara is the epicentre of that trouble..."
"Thousands from the mystic side disguise themselves as tourists or otaku daily, wearing impossible outfits while trading quasi-contraband here."
"If not for the grand barrier suppressing sorcerers, this place would be worse than the Middle East, more chaotic than Gotham..."
"Yet look - no major incidents so far."
Here, Shigeaki couldn't resist adding:
"Not just no incidents - it's actually quite peaceful."
"Among the six joint task forces, only ours and China's team stay busy. The other four barely lift a finger."
"So the other teams are all salary thieves, eh?" Tomoki finally cracked a smile.
France, Britain, America, Russia, China, and Japan.
Among the six task forces, only Japan and China took responsibilities seriously. The others... Most French staff could be found in parks, only appearing where pretty girls needed 'assistance'.
The British were more impressive - wherever cross-dressing otaku gathered, their voices could be heard.
The Russians frequented Chinese restaurants, downing baijiu until perpetually drunk - who knew what they were doing?
America was the strangest - they profiteered, using their status to buy Abyss Artefacts cheaply in Akihabara before selling them at exorbitant prices to stationed troops or back to their homeland.
Given this situation, it's no wonder only their team and China's actually worked.
At this realisation, Tomoki couldn't help grumbling:
"Those salary thieves! If trouble ever breaks out, they'll collapse at the first touch!"
No sooner had he spoken than—
BOOM!!
Under Tomoki Asuka and Shigeaki Nagoya's stunned gazes...
Four enormous fireballs erupted from the four corners of Akihabara, soaring into the sky like fireworks blooming over the district.
Witnessing this spectacular sight, Tomoki Asuka's jaw dropped, his forgotten cigarette tumbling to the ground:
"No way..."
"Did I really jinx it...?"
Under Tomoki's stunned gaze, four pillars of flame shot skyward, painting the entire heavens crimson.
The Akihabara Grand Barrier enveloping the district began violently trembling at this very moment!
The assault had arrived without warning!