Secret Base

Bunkyo Ward.

Tokyo.

This is the renowned Todai, the undisputed premier comprehensive university of the island nation.

Any student who considers their academic performance top-tier sets their sights on this place. To be a Todai graduate is practically synonymous with being the "elite of the elite."

A black sedan glided silently out of the school gate, drawing the eyes of passing students.

It was not that they had never seen a luxury car; many Todai students were born into wealthy and influential families. A mere luxury car would not surprise them; what truly astonished them was the person inside.

"Professor Osumi?"

As Todai students, how could they not recognize the elderly man with a full head of white hair and a white beard?

This professor was a titan in the field of molecular cell biology. If his research seemed too profound and incomprehensible to the average person, one simple fact could prove his caliber: he was a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine.

"I recall Professor Osumi having a lecture today, doesn't he?"

A biology major scratched his head in confusion.

"Perhaps there is an emergency?"

Another student replied, pulling out his phone.

"Look, Professor Osumi's class has been canceled."

"Eh~~?!"

"I've been looking forward to this lecture for a long time."

Upon hearing the news, the students sighed in disappointment.

"This is the first time in my thirty-plus years of teaching that I have canceled a class without a valid reason."

Inside the bulletproof sedan, the elderly man with the white beard spoke slowly.

"Now, can you tell me what this urgent matter is?"

Having suddenly received an emergency transfer order issued directly by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology—a central government agency—even a Nobel laureate was left completely bewildered.

"Mr. Osumi, please remain calm."

The man in the passenger seat kept a straight face, sitting upright as if prepared to handle any contingency at a moment's notice.

"Once we reach our destination, you will naturally understand."

?

"This..."

Upon reaching the destination and stepping out of the car, Professor Osumi was even more perplexed.

This was a warehouse located in Setagaya Ward. Setagaya Ward was a "traditional" affluent district.

Those who lived here were almost exclusively "old-school" aristocrats with deep family roots, whose ancestry could be traced back to the shogunate.

Other black sedans were already parked in the warehouse, and the people stepping out of them were mostly familiar faces, including old acquaintances with whom Professor Osumi had collaborated—and clashed—in the past.

Professor Osumi had assumed the emergency order from the Ministry was issued solely for him, but looking at the current situation, it seemed they had summoned every prominent biology professor in the Tokyo area.

What on earth could be important enough to warrant such a massive mobilization?

The scene before him had piqued Professor Osumi's curiosity; one could not become an excellent researcher without curiosity.

"Osumi?"

A familiar voice rang out from beside him.

"You're here too?"

The person was also an elderly scholar with white hair, but unlike the bearded Professor Osumi, the man approaching him had silver hair neatly combed back and a gentle smile on his face, looking every bit the renowned teacher with students everywhere.

And indeed, he was; this man had been a professor for fifty years and had taught countless brilliant students.

"Honjo?"

Professor Osumi glanced at him in surprise. The other man was also a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, specializing in cancer immunology.

The two were of similar age, and given that both had reached the pinnacle of their respective fields, they were truly old acquaintances.

"Were you also summoned urgently?"

"Mm, it seems you were as well."

"I was just about to ask you if you knew what the higher-ups were planning."

The two white-haired scholars began to chat, and others also greeted one another. Everyone present was a top professor in the field of biology; if not for orders from above, gathering them all in one place would have been an incredibly difficult task.

After all, where there are friends, there are naturally rivals!

"Everyone, thank you for waiting."

A few minutes later, a government official in a formal suit emerged from the depths of the warehouse.

He gestured politely toward the elderly scholars.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Professor Osumi frowned, raising a hand to point behind the man.

Aside from this government official, several soldiers armed to the teeth with live ammunition were trailing behind him.

"Please, rest assured."

"You are all national treasures; no one would dare harm you."

The government official explained patiently.

"The duty of these soldiers is to protect this base. Please, follow me."

?

This.

Logically speaking, the several Nobel laureates present were the true top scientists of the island nation.

In theory, there should be no issues regarding their personal safety, yet the scene before them was far too bizarre. It wasn't as if they hadn't participated in state-level experiments before, but they had never encountered such secretive posturing, nor had they ever been gathered in such large numbers.

"Let's go, Osumi."

Professor Honjo, his silver hair combed back, took the first step forward.

At their age, what great storms had they not weathered? Even death was merely a matter of time.

"Let's go see together what kind of tricks the government is playing."

"Supernatural creature?"

"Are you certain? Is there nothing wrong with this place?"

Tapping his temple, Professor Osumi spoke bluntly.

Unlike other polite and refined scholars, he had loved fitness since he was young, and in his youth, he had even earned the nickname "Fukuoka's Mad Lion" on the sports field.

"Yes, everyone."

Inside the descending elevator, the government official earnestly explained to these titans of the biological world.

"We have captured a supernatural creature."

"We require your wisdom. This way, please."

The elevator came to a halt, and the group of elderly scholars followed the official into the underground base, arriving at a room fitted with a glass curtain wall. They looked inside:

"A Shiba Inu?"

"It is indeed a Shiba Inu."

The many scholars exchanged glances. The creature in the room ahead had yellow fur, a broad forehead, a sharp, protruding muzzle, small triangular upright ears, small triangular eyes, and a thick, curled tail. It wore a smiling expression—if it wasn't a Shiba Inu, what was it?

Just this?!

A group of biology professors.

Their priceless brains nearly crashed on the spot; if not for their well-honed composure, they would have started cursing!

"Please, remain calm, everyone—"

The government official pressed his earpiece, and the thick metal walls of the room slid open silently.

"ROAR!! ROAR!!"

Amidst a soul-shaking roar, a fierce tiger lunged out from within.

?

With just a single glance, The many biology professors could already tell that this tiger had been injected with drugs.

The moment the frenzied tiger appeared, it pounced toward the Shiba Inu!

One side was estimated to be three meters long and weigh around 200 kilograms, known as the King of Beasts;

The other side was a pathetic half-meter in size, weighing no more than 10 kilograms. Whether this Shiba Inu was even a single mouthful for the tiger was a question in itself.

BANG!

The next second, The two figures of vastly different sizes collided.

????

The biology professors behind the glass curtain wall widened their eyes in an instant.

"Woof."

The Shiba Inu, extending its two short little legs, had actually withstood the tiger's pounce!

The scene before them was as absurd as someone performing a feat of holding up a speeding dump truck with their bare hands.

"Awoooo~~"

Amidst a roar that lacked any real momentum, the petite Shiba Inu "hugged" the tiger's head with both paws and gave it a flick.

Thud!

The tiger, weighing twenty times more than the dog, was actually flipped over just like that.

???

"Roar—"

Scrambling back to its feet, the tiger bellowed, opened its blood-stained maw, and lunged at the Shiba Inu once more; driven by drugs and hunger, its heart held only the desire to kill.

Swish.

Facing the attack of the king of beasts, the Shiba Inu scraped its short legs against the ground.

It dodged the pounce with terrifying speed, leaving a yellow trail across the retinas of the many biology professors watching.

"Th-this is..."

Pointing at the "battle" behind the glass curtain wall, Professor Osumi trembled all over, unable to form a complete sentence.

"Yes."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the transcendent creature we have captured."

The government official nodded. Although it looked like nothing more than a Shiba Inu on the outside, ever since it became "transcendent," it could fight a tiger to a standstill!

Of course, in the face of modern firepower, even a tiger was nothing more than a "big orange cat."

On this entire planet, the only thing qualified to be humanity's opponent was humanity itself.

But this Shiba Inu represented something else:

"Ladies and gentlemen."

"Without a doubt, this is a dog demon."

"And your job is to find the source of its 'demonic power'."

"This is for the sake of the nation. No, for the evolution of humanity. I ask that you all give it your absolute best—"

Having said that, the government official bowed ninety degrees.

"I am counting on you!"