Sato Infiltrates the Research Institute

Three days later.

Ajin Research Institute.

In the conference room, the minister stared solemnly at the stern man before him, who stood ramrod straight and wore glasses.

He was Tozaki Yuu, the person in charge of the Ajin Research Institute.

He was a terrifying man who regarded Ajin as livestock rather than human beings, determined to uncover their secrets through research and extract every possible ounce of value from them!

"Tozaki, the public is extremely concerned about the discovery of a third Ajin.

The institute is surrounded by reporters from every media outlet. Make sure security is tightened.

If this experiment is exposed—"

The minister did not finish his sentence, but the consequences would undoubtedly be so grave that words could not accurately describe them.

As the person in charge, Tozaki Yuu naturally understood how much capital and profit were tangled up in the experiments on Ajin, not to mention the involvement of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

He promptly nodded. "Of course. I understand. There is no need for concern."

However, no one had expected the backlash to come so quickly.

Before his words had even faded, a muffled blast rang out.

The entire conference room shook, and the tables and chairs shifted.

The bodyguards hurriedly surrounded the minister, while Tozaki Yuu's expression instantly turned grave.

A piercing alarm blared without pause.

Two figures slowly emerged from the large hole created by the blast.

The man in front wore a tactical vest, carried a submachine gun, and had a baseball cap on his head.

His half-lidded eyes swept over the surroundings, revealing complicated emotions.

"It really brings back memories, doesn't it, Tanaka?"

Beside him stood a tall man with long hair covering his eyes, a shoulder-fired rocket launcher slung over his shoulder.

Unlike Sato, however, Tanaka's gaze held nothing but boundless hatred and surging fury!

As Experiment No. 002, Tanaka Kouji had once been imprisoned here for two years.

During that time, he had suffered countless inhumane dismemberment experiments.

Three years ago, Sato had stormed in alone and rescued him.

From then on, he had followed Sato.

And today, they had come to save their third companion!

The two did not act together, instead immediately splitting up.

Sato knew this place very well. After easily taking down two security guards with a few shots, he arrived beneath a surveillance camera.

He raised his head and looked directly into it.

"It's been a long time, Tozaki."

Inside the conference room, Tozaki Yuu stared frostily at the half-lidded, faintly smiling face on the monitor.

He truly had not expected Sato to be so bold. Not only had he broken in directly, but he was even speaking to him openly in front of the cameras.

"Since I rescued Tanaka last time, I haven't been here in three years.

This time, Tozaki, I'm sure you can guess why I came, right?

That's right. I came to take Nagai away. And let me tell you something else: after tonight, the situation of Ajin in this country will be completely overturned.

I'm declaring war here, Tozaki. Bring it on."

The moment Tozaki Yuu saw him, he understood the severity of the situation.

He did not fly into a rage at the provocation. After calming himself, he began issuing orders.

"Take the minister to the Safe House first!"

Then he said to his personal guard, Shimomura Izumi, "Have all guards defend the routes leading to the laboratory. Nonlethal tranquilizers are authorized! Capture them immediately after sedating them. This time, I'll make sure Sato never leaves!"

"Yes!" Shimomura Izumi was a sweet-looking woman. Upon receiving Tozaki Yuu's order, she immediately turned and carried it out.

In a short time, a large number of guards armed with guns loaded with special tranquilizers lay in ambush along the only route to the laboratory.

But the reason Sato had issued a declaration of war before the operation was because he had absolute confidence in himself.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Armed with a submachine gun, he suppressed an entire squad of guards by himself.

His marksmanship was superb, his movements nimble, and his attacks merciless.

In just a few moments, several guards had fallen to his gunfire.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a tranquilizer dart struck his forearm.

Sato did not react at all. The corner of his mouth curled slightly. "It's not bedtime yet."

His right hand swiftly drew a sharp tactical knife and, before the sedative could spread, he viciously slashed at his own forearm!

Splurt!

Blood sprayed everywhere as a section of his forearm flew away.

Yet Sato seemed unable to feel pain—or perhaps he had long grown so accustomed to it that he was immune to it. He continued battling the guards with one hand on his gun.

But as more guards poured in, Sato was inevitably struck by several tranquilizer darts at once.

Seeing that he could no longer save himself by severing a limb, Sato swiftly ducked behind cover and raised his gun to his temple.

Bang!

Blood burst forth.

In just one second, hazy black particles appeared.

Sato opened his eyes again, and his severed left forearm had regrown completely intact.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.

He skillfully changed magazines and threw himself back into the battle.

Yet neither Sato nor the guards noticed that someone was hiding inside the ventilation duct above them.

Bai Xing watched the battle below from beginning to end.

He could not help admiring Sato's ruthlessness.

In his previous life, he had been an underground black-market boxer and had killed people in the ring.

If asked to cut off someone else's hand, he could do it without even blinking.

But if it were his own hand, even knowing it would grow back, he would probably still hesitate for a few seconds.

Let alone shooting himself in the head.

Death was humanity's deepest fear.

It was not so easily overcome.

Watching Sato revive with his own eyes, Bai Xing subconsciously licked his lips, a burning gleam appearing in his eyes.

Electromagnetic Control was indeed powerful, but a bullet through the heart or brain, or a shell blast, could still kill him.

But Ajin were immortal beings!

They had no weak points whatsoever. Even if they were chopped into pieces, they would revive from the largest remaining piece of their body.

As long as he planted the Electromagnetic Force Core in Sato, he too would become an Ajin!

But now was not the time.

Because the basic condition for planting a Fruit Core was that the recipient had to be completely unable to resist.

If Sato lost his ability to resist now, he would miss the fun that was about to come!

It would be better to let things proceed according to the original plot and have Sato fall out with Nagai Kei.

Adding another powerful opponent would make even the arrogant and overconfident Sato feel some pressure.

It would help spur him on in developing his electromagnetic abilities.

Only through effort could the Fruit Core take root, sprout, and grow strong.

That way, his investment would not go to waste!

Meanwhile, Sato had already successfully broken through the defensive line.

Ordinary guards could not stop him at all.

He entered the laboratory where Nagai Kei was being held.

Looking at Nagai Kei lying on the cold metal operating table, a chill flickered in Sato's half-lidded eyes.

Nagai Kei, wrapped up like a mummy, reminded him of his former self.

But he quickly emerged from those memories.

He raised his gun and decisively put a bullet into Nagai Kei.

It helped him regenerate and reset the negative conditions affecting his body.

As he watched the other man open his eyes again.

Sato smiled.

"Hello, Nagai."