"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"
White Torch's sudden departure made Shimoda Junichiro feel that his authority had been greatly slighted.
A porcelain cup shattered on the floor, making the atmosphere in the conference room even more oppressive.
"You! This matter is assigned to you!"
Those able to sit here for the meeting were basically high-ranking officials.
Some were clerical, while others, like White Torch, belonged to combat squads.
Shimoda Junichiro was pointing at another Field Squad Captain.
A second-rank, Super-Sequence Ritualist—Kojimagawa.
This genius Ritualist took only half a month to go from Contactee to the Origin Point, and then less than a year to break through from the Origin Point to Super-Sequence.
That was why he could sit here.
"Yes, sir!"
Kojimagawa wasn't as arrogant as White Torch; he knew very well that this well-connected Minister would occupy this position for a long time—
Long enough for him to enter 'Judgment,' surpass White Torch, and become the most powerful figure of the Martial Faction.
So, while the cold and proud White Torch refused this opportunity, Kojimagawa wouldn't be so foolish.
—The data showed it clearly; since no mystery was detected, it meant the opponent hadn't used abilities exceeding the Judgment rank.
—At most, he was a Ritualist on White Torch's level.
—In that case, as long as he brought enough people.
—Recruit or kill that 'Barrier Master'... Kojimagawa's thoughts aligned perfectly with Shimoda Junichiro's; it must be said that both their confidence stemmed from that investigation report.
"Kojima-san, are you confident?" Junichiro asked, his fat face full of satisfaction. This guy was giving him a lot of face. Kojimagawa, was it...?
If he was obedient, it wasn't impossible to give him a push.
"Yes, Minister Shimoda!" Kojimagawa stood up straight and gave a very humble bow. "I would like to request support from some field Ritualists!"
Waving his hand dismissively, Shimoda Junichiro didn't care about such things—those Ritualists were just like the round chips in his hand at a casino.
Aside from using their corpses to win every round for himself, they weren't important.
"Submit a report to my secretary." Shimoda Junichiro looked at Kojimagawa approvingly. "Remember to explain our goals and benefits to the other party."
"Of course, we are the ones in charge. You must inform the Equilibrium Sect of this."
Kojimagawa listened quietly, nodding from time to time.
"If they have other intentions..."
Shimoda Junichiro pursed his lips and didn't say more, because that was exactly what he hoped for.
Kojimagawa understood.
"No problem, Minister Shimoda!"
"If the opponent resists, kill them on the spot!" The young, ambitious Ritualist gave a military salute. "In addition, I will bring the Special Police Force!"
"Go on then. The next time he appears, I want to see results."
Shimoda Junichiro lowered his eyes. This time, he had to produce some 'impressive' results to hand over to his superiors.
Gathering the documents in his hands, Kojimagawa turned and left the conference room with vigorous strides.
Outside the door, White Torch leaned against the wall, a crumpled cigarette in his mouth.
"Kojima."
The man called out.
The military boots came to a halt.
"Is there something, White Torch-san?" There wasn't a trace of respect on Kojimagawa's young face, even though the man was known as the'strongest Ritualist in all of Japan.'
"I want to talk to you."
Turning right down the corridor and going around the conference room led to an empty open-air balcony.
White Torch and Kojimagawa stood at the edge, overlooking the courtyard of the Ritual Institute. At this moment, the last rays of the setting sun were slowly lengthening through the shade of the trees... "You should know that I cannot disobey Minister Shimoda's orders."
White Torch, who was usually a man of few words, was making an exception today.
For the sake of the Ritual Institute, for the sake of those official Ritualists who had worked so hard to advance, and for the sake of Kojimagawa's life.
"Regardless of the Equilibrium Sect's purpose, they have genuinely helped us. Our current action should be to unite with them and strike at the Masquerade Ball."
White Torch finished speaking in one breath, the cigarette still in his mouth.
However, Kojimagawa had a smile on his face.
"If it's something even White Torch-san understands, wouldn't Minister Shimoda be aware of it too?"
"Or are you saying you take Minister Shimoda and the rest of us for fools?"
The young man took out a cigarette case and lit one for himself.
Shh—
Hoo.
"Doesn't Mr. White Torch know that the Masquerade Ball possesses the 'Anywhere Door'?"
White Torch was certainly aware of the 'Anywhere Door' Kojimagawa mentioned.
He had been hunting that organization for a long time. Unfortunately, the opponents seemed to possess some kind of spatial transfer Ability—this power of random entry and random exit had given the man a headache for a long time.
Including his three former subordinates, and several spies sent out by the Ritual Institute—
All died.
Yes, they had previously sent spies to infiltrate the Masquerade Ball.
Sadly, apart from obstructing a few of their rituals, they gained no information regarding the organization's personnel structure or the masterminds behind it.
Subsequently, after the former director was dismissed and Shimoda Junichiro took over, everything stalled.
White Torch remembered that the body of the last spy was found in the Lower River of Meguro Ward.
His face was peeled off, his male organs had vanished, and all the marrow was drained from his bones.
"Times have changed, White Torch-san."
Chuckling, Kojimagawa glanced dismissively at White Torch: "Recklessly sending in spies before confirming whether the opponent has ritual Abilities for identification is simply treating human lives like grass."
White Torch agreed with this statement, but besides that, they had no other choice.
"That's not necessarily true."
The young man blew a column of smoke toward White Torch's face. As White Torch frowned, Kojimagawa opened his mouth with a grin:
"This operation must demonstrate the resolve of us officials."
"A mere small society organization dares to contend with the officials?"
Kojimagawa casually leaned on the balcony railing. His bulging muscles were no less impressive than White Torch's. "Cooperation is possible, but the hierarchy must be established."
"No organization can pretend to be a mystery in front of us."
White Torch's sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed: "I don't think they will negotiate with you."
"Everything is about profit, and everything can be negotiated."
Kojimagawa couldn't be bothered to explain to this old fogey: "Otherwise, what is the meaning of them forming this organization?"
"Is it purely for fun?"
"Impossible, right?"
White Torch repeated in a deep voice: "They won't talk to you."
Kojimagawa's smile vanished: "White Torch-san."
"Me, a Super-Sequence level Ritualist, plus ten Origin Points, and five tactical squads."
Kojimagawa counted the numbers, then looked up: "Are these people enough to kill you?"
Facing the warm, sprawling sunset, White Torch became slightly serious and fell into a rare silence.
"Is it enough?"
Kojimagawa pressed.
The man nodded expressionlessly: "Enough."
Five tactical squads, plus so many Ritualists—even if he was White Torch, he would die under the concentrated firepower.
"In that case, the so-called 'Barrier Masters' are insignificant."
With a forceful wave of his hand, a hint of ruthlessness appeared on Kojimagawa's face.
"If they don't agree..."
"Then they die."
"Since Director Shimoda Junichiro took office, we have changed some new policies."
"Your old methods won't work anymore, White Torch-san."
—Wiping out the Equilibrium Sect, Director Shimoda will get what he wants.
—And I will get what I want.
And that target organization, which will provide me with promotion and gold... is clearly much weaker than the Masquerade Ball.
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