"Thank you for reminding me once again that our school has nukes," Anjou said slowly, "but isn't a nationwide strike a bit excessive? Or are you telling me we actually have that many?"
"Well... you know the Equipment Department," the Deputy Principal looked away. "They basically spend their free time building 'fresh' things."
"...They built enough nukes to cover all of Japan?" Anjou's eyes widened.
"Piece of cake. I'm telling you, that's the safest option!"
"I've looked at that plan from every angle," Anjou rubbed his temples, "and I don't see the word safe anywhere."
"If you ever want to join a terrorist organization after retirement, I'll personally write you a recommendation. 'Possesses the preliminary capability to start World War III.' How does that sound?"
"If that day comes, I'll seriously consider it," the Deputy replied solemnly. "So... are we heading back?"
"No," Anjou shook his head. "We're going to Tokyo."
"Why?!" the Deputy cried in despair.
"It's not completely hopeless." Anjou pointed at the screen. Frozen on it was Norton's face as he spoke his final words. "In the absence of a God, a King reigns supreme. No King wants a God to return."
"...You're planning to ally with the King of Bronze and Fire?" The Deputy stared. "To side with a dragon?"
"As long as the enemy is a dragon, and as long as it's necessary, I'll do whatever it takes," Anjou said firmly. "When you can't fight everyone, you deal with one first."
"This isn't cooperation. It's reaching a consensus."
"The Secret Society won't accept that!" the Deputy frowned deeply. "Misusing funds for a vacation is one thing. They print money for breakfast; even Frost yelling about it doesn't matter."
"But striking a deal with a Dragon King? That's a line. Once you cross it, there's a second time. A third. Infinite times."
"When they see the remains of a God," Anjou said quietly, "and a Dragon King alongside it, all anger will disappear."
Silence filled the cabin.
Both knew there was another possibility Anjou hadn't voiced.
He didn't need to.
By then, none of it would matter.
When people die, lights go out, and everything turns to ash.
"Putting that aside," the Deputy continued, "Caesar and the others are missing. The Gattuso family is about to explode. How are you handling that?"
"That's why I'm here," Anjou said, glancing at him. "And why I brought you."
"Tell me-why would Norton take them?"
"At least they're not in immediate danger, or he'd have killed them already," the Deputy sighed. "That Morin kid is sharp. With their strength, resisting outright would've been suicide."
He shook his head, finally resigning himself. "Let's be clear. Once the alchemy work is done, I'm leaving."
"Suit yourself," Anjou replied.
"Puppet..."
Genji stared blankly at the floor where the water clone had left him. Only a scorched patch remained-barely translucent white bones, even those taken away by Norton with a grim expression.
Genji hadn't stopped him.
He couldn't.
But worse than that were Norton's words.
Puppets. Flesh alchemy. The White King's bones. Resurrection.
Genji knew better than to trust a dragon.
Yet he couldn't find a single point to refute.
Why would a Dragon King who could kill them all bother lying?
"Young Master."
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Genji snapped back to reality. It was Masato Inuyama, already healed by the water clone.
"I've informed the other Patriarchs to gather at Genji Heavy Industries," Inuyama said gently. "I know the High Patriarch's... passing may have shaken you."
"But you must take control now. Chaos cannot be allowed."
"We can verify the truth later. For now, you must declare yourself the new High Patriarch."
"...Alright."
After a moment, Genji's gaze steadied.
His lifelong dream had been simple-to abandon everything and sell sunscreen on a nude beach in France.
That future drifted further away.
Responsibility pressed down on his shoulders.
If he walked away now, no one else could bear it.
"What about the Academy specialists?" Inuyama asked.
"Search for them with everything we have," Genji said as he stood. "The Academy will understand."
"We're barely holding ourselves together."
Inuyama watched his back, unease rising.
It wasn't that he doubted Genji's ability.
But commanding the Five Regent Houses at such a young age?
Blood and strength alone were far from enough.
The rain grew heavier.
Under the storm, Genji Heavy Industries loomed like a tombstone.
Genji gazed out the window and suddenly remembered something.
"Don't tell Eri yet," he said softly to Sakura beside him.
Thinking of Eri made his chest ache.
Because of her condition, she lived confined within the estate. The only people she saw regularly were Masamune Tachibana and Genji.
Now Masamune was dead.
And Genji didn't even know if the one who died was truly Masamune.
How was he supposed to explain death to Eri?
The car slowed to a stop.
Without waiting, Genji pushed the door open and stepped out into the rain.
Cold droplets washed over him, clearing his mind.
"I-I'm sorry!" the secretary bowed deeply, scrambling with an umbrella. To her, letting Genji get wet was unforgivable.
"It's fine," Genji shook his head. "Are the other Patriarchs here?"
"Everyone except the High Patriarch... and you and Patriarch Inuyama," she whispered.
Genji paused.
"From now on," he said softly, "I am the High Patriarch."
He stepped inside.
The secretary froze.
The weight of those words crushed her.
Before she could recover, a commotion erupted near the gate.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
"Are you in charge?" An old man in an Ajisen Ramen uniform stepped forward, holding a cloth-wrapped bundle. "Then you should know my name."
"I am Masamune Uesugi."
"Uesugi..." The name hit her like thunder. The Uesugi family-one of the three great bloodlines.
But wasn't Eri Uesugi the last?
"I'm looking for Genji, Chime, and Eri Uesugi," the old man said.
"What's happening?" Inuyama's voice came from behind.
"Patriarch Inuyama," the secretary stammered, "this man claims to be Masamune Uesugi-"
"Masamune... Uesugi?!" Inuyama's confusion turned into shock.
"Hmm?" Uesugi looked at him. "Oh. You're still around, kid. Not bad."
"Master Uesugi!" Inuyama bowed deeply. "You've returned!"
He was reeling.
Uesugi was the man of Imperial blood-the former Amaterasu.
He had abandoned everything and disappeared.
And now, right after Masamune Tachibana's death... he returned?
Was it coincidence?
Then came the sentence that shattered everyone's reason.
"Someone told me Genji, Chime, and Eri are my children," Uesugi said. "And that they're in trouble."
"...Is it true?"
"My... father?"
Genji stared blankly.
Even hybrids had limits.
Tonight had exceeded his.
Your foster father dies.
Then an old man appears claiming to be your biological father.
What kind of soap opera plot was this?
Genji looked at Inuyama desperately.
Inuyama hesitated, then spoke quietly. "At the time, Master Uesugi was the only one with Imperial blood."
"As for you and Miss Eri... your origins were always unclear."
"I checked the donation records. The timeline matches perfectly."
"We can confirm it with a paternity test. Right here."
He laid the documents out.
The ink was still warm.
The data matched almost perfectly.
So...
This man really was his father?
Genji looked at Uesugi, emotions tangled.
"Well... seems it's true," Uesugi scratched his head awkwardly. "I honestly didn't know."
"I thought the Imperial blood ended with me. When I heard I had kids, I rushed back."
"Oh, right. A water-man told me."
Genji's eyes widened. He pulled out his phone.
"Was it this person?"
"Yes!" Uesugi nodded eagerly. "So he's one of us."
Genji fell silent.
One of us had just killed the man he called father... and helped him find his real one?
The atmosphere turned unbearably awkward.
"Let's... do the test," Genji said hoarsely. "I can't accept this on the spot."
Especially not with the other Patriarchs watching.
Uesugi nodded vigorously. Then his expression hardened.
"Someone plotted against you?" he growled. "Who?"
His hand rested on his blade, ready to carve a path for his son.
Genji was silent again.
But seeing the Patriarchs avert their gazes, he understood.
This man was powerful.
Terrifyingly so.
And somehow... that made Genji feel safer.
Then his phone vibrated.
He glanced at it-and slammed the table as he stood.
"Miss Eri is gone."
[Who are you?]
The girl in a red shrine maiden outfit held up her small notebook.
"The one who wants to cure you completely," Morin smiled.
"She carries the White King's blood," Norton said thoughtfully. "A descendant. Extremely pure."
"That purity is causing continuous dragonization."
"If we cure her, your problem should be solved too," Morin nodded. "It's genetic."
"That's not my field," Norton frowned.
"Dealing with the White King is yours," Morin replied. "Curing her is mine."
The next moment, Morin returned to the star-scape.
Automated analysis was fast.
Dragon genetics were not.
Since he was already in the Dragon World, Morin decided to open a new world.
Somewhere with geniuses.
The kind that ignored physics entirely.
If even one existed...
With that thought, he used his new-world access.
Stars swirled.
One descended and enveloped him.
[World Selected - Cinematic Universe]
[Marvel Universe]
[Please Select New Profession]
[Please Select Spawn Location]
"...Wish fulfillment?" Morin froze.
When it came to illogical scientific geniuses-
Marvel was at the very top.