Chapter 86: Onimaru Kunitsuna Recognizes its Master, Collaborator Soichiro Yagami
"Five seconds?"
Soichiro Yagami frowned, his voice deep and solemn.
"Are you threatening our police department?"
If Yagami was a bit lacking in confidence last time, it was completely different now.
Apart from the several SWAT teams in the main exhibition hall, there were snipers, heavy weapons squads, dozens of riot vehicles, and hundreds of ordinary police officers outside the Kyoto City Museum.
This array was a full-scale mobilization, only short of dispatching helicopters.
Five seconds, taking out all the experienced SWAT officers present who were wearing heavy full-body bulletproof armor and holding riot shields?
Unless they were seeing a ghost.
"Bureau Chief Yagami misunderstood. I am not threatening."
Yoru shook his head, his tone calm.
"Verbal threats are ultimately pale and powerless."
"I am just..."
"Notifying you."
Before Yagami could reply, he saw Yoru's figure flash, rushing towards the SWAT officers standing on the left.
No need for Yagami to give special orders.
Seeing Yoru rushing over, those SWAT officers didn't hesitate at all. In an extremely practiced posture, they held up the tall riot shields with their left hands as cover, extended their right hands holding pistols, aimed at Yoru, and pulled the trigger.
"Shield."
With this word, black evil spirit aura condensed in Yoru's left hand, forming a riot shield.
Bang.
The bullets fired from the pistols all hit the surface of the shield, failing to cause even the slightest ripple, or even pause Yoru's steps for a moment.
At this time, Yoru had already rushed in front of the SWAT officers.
After a few muffled sounds that were so fast they seemed to ring out simultaneously, he threw a few punches, knocking the SWAT officers hiding behind the riot shields, along with the shields standing on the ground, flying several meters away.
"Four."
This process took only one second.
Soichiro Yagami's vision could hardly keep up. When he came back to his senses, he already saw several SWAT officers knocked to the ground. This unbelievable scene shocked him so much that his pupils dilated.
When did a large black shield appear in the opponent's hand?
Several experienced, fully armed SWAT officers were knocked down instantly along with the riot shields in front of them?
Close-range live ammunition fire couldn't even stop the opponent's movement!?
Soichiro Yagami had seen only one person possess such terrifying physical fitness.
The strongest human monster in the police force, Akoya Seishu.
"Spear."
Yoru's movements didn't pause at all due to Yagami's surprise.
The black shield in his hand instantly changed shape, turning into a spear nearly three meters long. He threw it directly at the SWAT officers holding riot shields in another direction.
The terrifying force carried on the spear was completely unstoppable for ordinary people, even through shields.
After a muffled sound, two SWAT officers hiding behind the riot shield were slammed directly onto the wall behind them by their own shield, falling to the ground unconscious.
"Three."
The countdown softly recited by Yoru made Soichiro Yagami's heart tremble.
"Chain."
A black chain extended, crashing into the chests of several SWAT officers one after another like an agile python.
Even wearing heavy full-body riot gear, the astonishing force carried on it knocked them down instantly, unable to get up.
"Two."
"Hammer."
For the last SWAT officer, Yoru changed a long-handled hammer in his hand. With a few flashes, he dodged the bullets fired from the opponent's gun muzzle, appeared in front of him, and raised the long-handled hammer high with one hand.
The SWAT officer subconsciously bent slightly, raising the riot shield in his hand high above his head to protect himself.
Bang!
The sound of the hammer hitting the riot shield even made the entire museum tremble.
Although the SWAT officer hiding underneath was strong, he was ultimately just an ordinary person. The web of his right hand (between thumb and index finger) was torn and bleeding by the terrifying force of the smash.
When he involuntarily let go of the shield, his face twisted in pain. The next thing that appeared in his vision was Yoru's left hand.
Thud.
Yoru's left hand grabbed the SWAT officer's riot helmet. Without even shifting his gaze, he slammed him lightly against the wall nearby.
The violent concussion instantly made the opponent lose consciousness.
As the SWAT officer's body slowly fell to the ground, Yoru's gaze turned to Soichiro Yagami standing there.
"Exactly five seconds, Bureau Chief Yagami."
At this moment, Soichiro Yagami was dumbfounded, his pupils showing shock.
His right hand was on the gun handle at his waist, but it was trembling slightly, not drawn out.
Are you kidding?
More than a dozen fully armed SWAT officers were taken out by the opponent in just five seconds.
Even if I draw my gun and pull the trigger, what can I do?
Yagami steadied his emotions, glanced at the SWAT officers lying on the ground with a complicated expression, then looked at Yoru wearing the black mask with calm eyes, and spoke in a deep voice.
"This... isn't even your full strength, is it?"
Yagami could tell "Mask" didn't use full strength at all.
Judging from the opponent's movements just now, he even held back.
Moreover, Yagami never forgot the tall woman in white like a ghost he saw in the teaching building of the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten last time.
Killing all police members...
Yagami could now confirm that this wasn't an empty threat.
"Mask" really had the ability to do this.
This guy...
Is he really human?
Or is the face hidden under that black mask actually the true face of an evil demon incarnate?
"Bureau Chief Yagami, let's make a deal."
"Deal?"
As Yagami said these words, at the other end of the corridor.
"Opened!"
Hearing the crisp sound from the mechanical lock, Miko breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted.
Accompanied by the sound of the mechanism, the heavy metal door slowly opened.
What appeared in front of Miko was a room about ten square meters in size, with walls built entirely of wood, looking very simple and traditional.
There was only one thing inside.
A long katana and a wooden scabbard hung separately on the central wall.
"This is... Onimaru Kunitsuna..."
Finally seeing this handed-down famous sword of Sakura Prefecture with her own eyes, Miko's feelings were indescribable.
Excitement, nervousness, awe.
When she was young, she also visited museum exhibitions with her parents and saw several famous swords.
But seeing through glass was different from now.
She only had to walk a few steps forward to touch this famous sword once owned by Hojo Tokimasa, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and others with her own hands.
Only one point surprised Miko.
After the metal door was opened, the golden particles originally floating in the air, visible only to spirit mediums, all submerged into the blade of Onimaru Kunitsuna without leaving a trace.
It seemed as if...
Onimaru Kunitsuna was guiding her and Yoru by emitting spiritual power.
Meanwhile, inside the main exhibition hall.
"Finally opened."
Yoru murmured to himself, then extended his right hand to the side, palm up, and softly recited one word.
"Come."
Before Soichiro Yagami could react, he saw an amazing scene he would never forget in his life.
Following Yoru's word, a sharp sound of breaking air rang out.
A long katana with a simple texture, no shine, looking very dim, cut through the air like an arrow leaving the string and landed instantly in his right hand.
Following it was a wooden scabbard, which automatically hung on Yoru's waist as if possessing intelligence.
"This is!?"
Looking at the long katana and wooden scabbard in Yoru's hand, which were identical in appearance to the long katana placed in the display case, Yagami stepped back two steps in shock.
"So... this is the genuine one?"
Yagami had heard a story.
Weapons could also develop intelligence and choose their masters—so-called weapon spirits.
If not recognized by the spirit, one couldn't wield it.
But isn't this, like ghosts and gods, just a fantasy story fabricated by humans?
Onimaru Kunitsuna actually possesses intelligence!?
And it recognized "Mask" in front of me as its master?
"You, you actually received Onimaru Kunitsuna's recognition!?"
"You are wrong, Bureau Chief Yagami."
Yoru's five fingers of his right hand slowly clenched, holding Onimaru Kunitsuna horizontally in front of him. His left palm slowly wiped over the blade.
The originally dim blade, no different from ordinary iron, underwent unexpected changes after his hand touched it.
The entire blade turned deep pitch black.
A soft sound, as if the blade spirit was crying out in excitement, resounded in the main exhibition hall.
Yoru looked straight into Soichiro Yagami's eyes and said word by word.
"It is Onimaru Kunitsuna that received my recognition."
Yagami understood now.
The one placed in the display case was just a seamless replica.
The one holding in "Mask's" hand was the real Onimaru Kunitsuna!
Yagami gritted his teeth, thinking the personnel of the Kyoto City Museum didn't even trust the police and told us that the one displayed in the main exhibition hall was the genuine Onimaru Kunitsuna.
After this is over, I must settle the score with the person in charge!
"Bureau Chief Yagami."
Yoru put Onimaru Kunitsuna to his side. Without any visible movement, Onimaru Kunitsuna automatically retracted into the wooden scabbard.
This scene made Yagami feel even more complicated.
Onimaru Kunitsuna was a famous sword used by Hojo Tokimasa who started the Samurai era, Oda Nobunaga known as the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi who unified Sakura Prefecture.
Now, it actually bowed its head in submission before the opponent.
Yagami had mixed feelings and didn't know how to react.
"Let's make a deal."
Hearing Yoru say this, Yagami frowned tightly.
"Deal? How can our police make a deal with a criminal?"
"Crime?"
Yoru smiled contemptuously.
"Do you think you and the so-called Kyoto City Museum are more suitable to decide its destination than the famous sword Onimaru Kunitsuna itself?"
Yagami opened his mouth but was speechless.
This question involved ethics.
Onimaru Kunitsuna without intelligence was an antique, an object.
But could an Onimaru Kunitsuna with a weapon spirit that chose its master autonomously still be considered an object?
Existing laws didn't have clauses for this category.
Truly irrefutable.
Looking at the silent Yagami, Yoru pointed to the replica Onimaru Kunitsuna placed in the display case.
"Bureau Chief Yagami, if I'm not mistaken, your police didn't know that the Onimaru Kunitsuna placed in there was just a replica, right?"
"What exactly do you want to say?"
"My meaning is simple."
Yoru's tone was very calm.
"No matter what today, I must take Onimaru Kunitsuna away."
"There are only two choices left for you, Bureau Chief Yagami."
"Sacrifice the lives of all police members and try to stop me with the most heroic collective martyrdom in the history of Sakura Prefecture."
"Or..."
Yoru looked straight into Yagami's eyes and spoke slowly.
"Your police don't know that the genuine one has been taken by me. After all, in your understanding, the one placed in the display case is the real Onimaru Kunitsuna."
Yagami understood the hint in these words.
"Mask" meant...
Let him, the on-site commander, put on a show.
Although he already knew the one in the display case was a replica.
But as long as he pretended not to know, even if the genuine one had been taken by the opponent, he could explain to the Kyoto City Museum that the police had protected the so-called "genuine one."
This approach saved the lives of police members and completed the task; it was killing two birds with one stone.
If it were anyone else, they would probably agree immediately.
But Soichiro Yagami was a middle-aged man with moral values so high they could be called paranoid.
Facing "Mask's" proposal at this moment, he was extremely conflicted.
"Why offer such deal conditions? What do you want to gain? Letting me open the police encirclement so you and your companion can retreat smoothly?"
Hearing Yagami's question, Yoru shook his head.
"Bureau Chief Yagami, I am just giving your police a chance."
"Killing you and weakening the police force brings no benefit to me personally."
"Perhaps it's hard for you to understand, but the true face of this world isn't something ordinary people like you can peek into."
"Your thoughts, goals, and means are different from mine."
"But I know you are a person with a strong sense of justice."
"If I kill you, I'm not sure if the next Criminal Investigation Bureau Chief of Kyoto will be like you. For me, this is a risky move with neither benefit nor necessity."
Yoru wasn't lying.
Soichiro Yagami was indeed an extremely pedantic, inflexible, and stubborn person.
But as the Criminal Investigation Bureau Chief, his contribution to reducing the crime rate in Kyoto was obvious to all.
Lower crime rate meant fewer criminals and victims.
The number of evil spirits and the frequency of "Doors" appearing would also decrease sharply.
From this perspective.
The police could actually be considered allies.
Rather than killing Yagami over a small conflict and replacing him with a bureau chief whose personality was unknown and whose dedication was uncertain...
Yoru preferred to see him continue sitting in this position.
"You..."
Yagami gritted his teeth, his eyes flickering constantly, looking indecisive.
Cooperating with a criminal?
Are you kidding!?
Can that still be called justice?
However...
Even the famous sword Onimaru Kunitsuna, which witnessed several major changes in the history of Sakura Prefecture and was passed down for hundreds of years, owned by famous figures like Hojo Tokimasa, Oda Nobunaga, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, recognized "Mask" as its master.
Did a mere Criminal Investigation Bureau Chief of Kyoto really have the qualification to question the opponent?
After a long silence, Yagami looked at his subordinates who were knocked down but not fatally injured, sighed heavily, and finally made up his mind.
"I can cooperate to let you leave here. What should I do? Order the people outside not to shoot and open a path for you and your companion?"
"No need for that."
Yoru stepped forward, patted Yagami's shoulder, and said kindly.
"Doing that makes the flaw too obvious. If you get removed from the position of Bureau Chief by the higher-ups, my words just now would be in vain."
"Then...?"
"Listen to me, do this..."
....
When Miko walked out of the corridor with Hyakume and the Pale Ghost Hand, she happened to see Yoru saying something.
And Criminal Investigation Bureau Chief Soichiro Yagami was listening like an obedient student, nodding occasionally in agreement.
Miko was stunned.
What is this situation?
Yoru has shown the skill of turning enemies into friends before.
Hachishaku, Tamamo-no-Mae in the Otherworld, and the Goat-Headed God in the shrine all signed contracts and became his aids.
But even the Police Criminal Investigation Bureau Chief defected?
Isn't this a bit too outrageous!?
Even with a succubus (incubus) constitution, I've never heard of it working on the same sex.
"Prepare to retreat."
Miko nodded obediently. Although confused, she chose not to ask at this time.
"Ready?"
Hearing Yoru's question, Yagami took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"Ready. Let's start."
The next second, Yoru took out a black pistol from his pocket, pressed the muzzle against Yagami's temple, and led the astonished Miko straight out of the museum gate.
He strangled Yagami's neck with his left hand and held the gun with his right.
Same action, same hostage.
Even the gun in his hand was the same one from last time.
"Your Bureau Chief Yagami has been hijacked by me."
"If you want him to live, don't act rashly!"
Yagami also cooperated fully, pretending to be unwilling but wary, shouting to the surrounding police members.
"Don't shoot! He has a bomb on him!"
Miko was dumbfounded.
Good grief.
You two have such tacit understanding?