"What!?"
Soichiro Yagami's expression changed dramatically.
"Haven't we secured all the entrances? Could they have come from the kindergarten building? Is it one of the kidnappers?"
Hearing this question, the Metropolitan Police Department officer wore a complicated expression, shaking his head as he cautiously replied.
"Reporting to the commander... that, that person appeared directly in the open space inside the school."
"Appeared directly?"
Soichiro Yagami froze for a moment, his brows furrowing deeply as he spoke gravely.
"Let me confirm this again. What do you mean by 'appeared directly'? Explain clearly."
"I-it's exactly as it sounds. Like a ghost, they just materialised there."
"How is that possible!?"
An expression of utter disbelief crossed Soichiro Yagami's face. Without wasting another moment, he immediately headed towards the kindergarten within the cordoned-off area.
As the field commander, his immediate concern wasn't how someone had breached their perimeter to suddenly appear inside the kindergarten.
Rather, he feared the kidnappers might interpret this sudden appearance as the police launching an assault.
The kidnappers' emotions were already unstable. If this further provoked them...
At this thought, Soichiro Yagami's expression darkened as if weighed down by lead.
When he reached the cordon, someone immediately came forward to report.
"Director Yagami, here's a photo of that person from earlier."
Taking the camera, Soichiro Yagami finally understood why his subordinate had referred to the individual as "unidentified".
The person in the photo stood approximately 180cm tall, wearing a full black mask that revealed only their eyes.
Their black hair reached shoulder-length, loosely tied with a thin cord.
The hairstyle gave no indication of gender.
Their attire consisted entirely of black - a long coat, trousers and shoes.
The broad shoulders and height suggested masculinity, but this wasn't definitive.
Even their hands were gloved.
Not a single inch of skin was visible, leaving absolutely no clues to their identity.
"This outfit... they're a professional," Soichiro Yagami muttered through clenched teeth as he examined the photo.
Even with his extensive experience handling major cases, this disguise offered no actionable intelligence.
The only distinguishing features were the utterly commonplace black hair and eyes.
"Where are they now? Where's this person currently!?"
"Reporting, Commander! They've entered the kindergarten building!"
"What!?"
Hearing this, Soichiro Yagami's heart skipped a beat.
He went in?
That guy provoking the kidnappers and seeking death himself was one thing.
But was he really going to drag all the hostages in Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten down with him?!
...
Meanwhile, in the clubroom of Sobu High School.
"Breaking news, breaking news! According to frontline reporters, an unidentified mysterious figure has bypassed police cordons and entered the building of Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten. The current situation remains unclear!"
Hearing this announcement from her phone, both Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya immediately understood - the unidentified figure was none other than Ye Xing, who had travelled between worlds through a Gate.
Their palms grew sweaty with tension.
There was no doubt Ye Xing was a professional - an exorcist capable of making even the legendary Hachishaku-sama feel fear.
But facing armed criminals was completely different from confronting evil spirits.
What era was this, still playing at traditional exorcism?
Why not try this new Kyoto Exorcism Simulator? Not only do you face terrifying urban legend spirits, but you also participate in hostage crises and shootouts for an unparalleled thrilling experience.
Though anxious, both Miko and Yuigahama knew they could do nothing but wait helplessly.
Even the reporters originally broadcasting outside the school gates had now been expelled by the Metropolitan Police Department.
Clearly.
Ye Xing's sudden appearance had disrupted the police's original plans.
Soichiro Yagami, the incident commander, had issued his final orders.
At the first sound of gunfire from within the building, they would launch their assault immediately.
His concern was no longer about rescuing all hostages, but about not missing the critical moment - even if it meant casualties, the kidnappers must not escape.
Should that scenario occur.
His position as Director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau would undoubtedly be over.
...
Meanwhile, inside Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten's teaching building.
"What a nauseating aura."
To ordinary eyes, the building's corridors appeared clean and tidy, with floors so polished they reflected light.
But through Ye Xing's Mystic Eyes, an entirely different scene unfolded.
The smooth marble floors were covered in a thick layer of viscous slime that writhed slightly as if alive.
From the corridor walls protruded countless tiny, densely packed tendrils.
The sight could only be described as revolting.
"Indeed, not an ordinary evil spirit."
Surveying the corridor, Ye Xing reached his conclusion.
Only spirits at Hachishaku-sama's level could induce such bizarre environmental changes.
Most crucially.
When Hachishaku altered the surroundings, it occurred within the Reverse World dominated by evil spirit power.
Yet this spirit could manifest such changes in Kyoto's surface world while simultaneously controlling over twenty human minds.
The evil spirit behind this incident was no simple foe.
Ye Xing's hair normally didn't reach his shoulders.
So why was it tied up?
Naturally, to obscure identifying features from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Just then, an angry shout came from behind Ye Xing.
"Who are you?!"
Followed by the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.
Ye Xing turned around to see a man with a ferocious expression and wary eyes pointing a pistol at him, finger resting on the trigger, the dark muzzle aimed squarely at his chest.
"I'm a negotiator sent by the Metropolitan Police Department."
As he spoke, Ye Xing raised his hands with a smile.
"See? I'm unarmed."
"A negotiator?"
The man eyed Ye Xing's peculiar attire with obvious scepticism.
Then his features twisted slightly into a vicious grin.
"We have no demands. Since you're here, you'll die here."
"How delightful."
Contrary to expectations, Ye Xing chuckled dismissively.
"No negotiation? Even better."
"You may proceed, Hachishaku-sama."
As Ye Xing spoke, the man saw an impossibly elongated shadow stretch before him.
Bang!
Hachishaku-sama's palms pressed against both his temples, then squeezed—like popping a balloon—instantly crushing the man's skull.
Watching the headless corpse slump slowly to the ground, Ye Xing lazily yawned and murmured with a light laugh:
"Killing you all is the most efficient, time-saving, and frankly my favourite option."