Dispute

Setagaya Ward,

A military base a hundred meters underground.

"Tsk, that dog's got it good. It's treated better than we are."

Iori Ichika crossed her arms in annoyance. Through the thick glass wall, the Shiba Inu left behind by Tanimura Wataru was surrounded by several professional pet sitters, nutritionists, and groomers, enjoying the kind of service fit for a nobleman. Its doggy face was grinning from ear to ear.

"If you had extraordinary powers, you could enjoy the same treatment."

Her immediate superior's voice came from behind her. Iori Ichika turned and glanced at the head of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Director Takeya, are you done arguing?"

"Not even close."

Wearing rimless glasses, Director Takeya rubbed his temples. He looked like—no, he was—a true member of the island nation's elite.

"The Prime Minister's Official Residence has been in an uproar. I don't expect anything to change over the next few days."

It was true that the island nation was America's dog, but push a dog too far, and it would bite!

"We're lucky,"

Director Takeya said, collecting himself and turning to international affairs with his trusted subordinate.

"Things are going wrong all over the world, and on top of that, it's an election year. That's taking up too much of America's attention."

In the past, the American military would already have marched into Tokyo! But times had changed. As other countries continued to catch up, the once-unrivaled beacon of freedom had gradually lost its aura as Blue Star's hegemon.

"Our allies on Capitol Hill are lobbying as hard as they can. They're even considering cooperating with the North."

"Wouldn't that start a war?"

Iori Ichika crossed her arms and asked.

"The essence of negotiation is bluffing."

"Even if we can't take the lead on the extraordinary, we absolutely can't let America control everything. That's our bottom line!"

Director Takeya understood that the island nation couldn't actually go and cooperate with the North.

America understood that too, but that was politics.

Politics was the product of compromise.

"Enough of the high-level maneuvering. Ichika, can you recruit Tanimura Wataru again?"

They had captured a Dog Demon, but it was still only an extraordinary "animal."

Getting Tanimura Wataru on their side would be a real victory!

The value of an extraordinary person.

"It'll be difficult."

Iori Ichika shook her head.

Given how well she and Tanimura Wataru got along, she might have been able to recruit him into the police force. In fact, she'd come close to succeeding.

"After those idiots from America pulled that stunt, anyone would be hostile and wary of the authorities."

Damn American bastards. If they hadn't barged in so arrogantly, then right now—

She glanced at the Shiba Inu in the room before her, being pampered by a crowd of professionals, and pursed her lips.

Tanimura Wataru would be the one enjoying himself here.

As long as they could communicate, even "freedom" was negotiable.

"You said 'difficult,' not 'impossible'?"

Noticing that Iori Ichika's words carried a hidden meaning, Director Takeya tilted his head slightly.

"Have you come up with a plan?"

"More or less."

Though Iori Ichika looked like the big sister of a biker gang, she had passed the island nation's Class I civil service exam and skipped straight past the patrol officer stage, equivalent to being a beat cop. She was a top student.

"Since he's a Dog Demon, we'll give him a dog leash."

Being free and unconstrained was certainly pleasant, but if things were allowed to keep going this way, Tanimura Wataru would be left with no way out but death!

Whether a Werewolf or a Dog Demon, neither stood a chance against a military force that got serious. For everyone's sake, she hoped the plan they were about to put in motion would go smoothly.

Chiyoda Ward,

The conference room at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.

The room was in chaos. The "elites" in the eyes of ordinary people outside had loosened their ties. Some were cursing, while others stood up and slammed the table, acting just like fishwives at a market.

The Minister of Finance, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Defense, and the head of the National Public Safety Commission—

They were all major figures in the Cabinet. The rest were heads of various government offices. Nearly half of the island nation's high-ranking officials and dignitaries were gathered here, each with an expression of righteous indignation.

Facing them was a Black man in an American military uniform. His rank was lieutenant general. Only one person with that rank could appear in the island nation: the commander of the Seventh Fleet, a blade pressed to the island nation's throat, and the father of its Emperor. The true Retired Emperor!

Besides several other men in American military uniforms, there was also a man who looked like he was from the island nation.

He was the head of the Special Investigation Department at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

At first glance, the mere title of "department head" might have seemed insignificant in this room, but the man wielded considerable power.

If the Seventh Fleet was a collar around the dog's neck, then the District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department was a row of spikes on that collar.

Besides using its troops to control the island nation through force, America also had softer methods. The District Public Prosecutors Office was one such institution. Most of the time, it carried out its normal prosecutorial duties. But if a politician went against America's will, the Special Investigation Department would step in.

If they had dirt on a politician, they used it to bring them down. If they didn't, they manufactured some and took them down anyway.

But today—

"More than fifteen dead or injured, and every one of them was a good police officer who served the people!"

"Seven buildings destroyed, with estimated losses exceeding—"

"We will never back down—"

The officials on the island nation's side were all distraught and impassioned. They acted as though they were patriots worried sick over their country and its people. All they lacked were white headbands and a chant of "Death to the traitors!"

"General,"

"we strongly protest the damage caused by your side!"

The Prime Minister, seated at the head of the table, spoke with a solemn expression.

"Until this matter is resolved, we refuse all requests for military cooperation from your side."

"Hmph."

The Black lieutenant general, who was supposed to be the "Retired Emperor," grew even more grim.

As the saying went, push a dog too far, and it would bite!

At Yokosuka Base, besides the Seventh Fleet, there were more than a hundred military vessels belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Self-Defense Force units in various regions had also been mobilized by the island nation's officials with unprecedented efficiency. They looked ready to "fight to the death."

This was an unprecedented extraordinary event. The island nation's high-ranking officials and dignitaries might not care about the people's interests or the nation's future, but they certainly cared about their own personal interests.

If they handed over everything related to the extraordinary, America would get to feast, while they would probably have to wait behind the squid and NATO just to get a taste.

How could they accept that?!

If anyone dared touch their interests, they would fight to the last man, even if it meant a hundred million sacrifices!

Some had even threatened that if America tried to keep everything for itself, cooperating with the North was not out of the question.

Everyone knew this "threat" was just a negotiating tactic, but faced with island nation officials who were more "united" than ever before, the Black lieutenant general didn't dare act rashly.

With America's strength, it could easily crush the island nation. Its weak Self-Defense Force was no match for the Seventh Fleet. But carrying out an operation as cleanly and swiftly as the Gulf War would be difficult.

Besides—

After all these years, the island nation and America had long become intertwined.

Many major corporations were multinational conglomerates with considerable influence on Capitol Hill. Whether either side would win if they really fought was beside the point. It would be like shooting themselves in the foot, and the North and the other side of the strait would be laughing themselves to sleep.

War

was always politics' last resort.

"We lost five Black Hawks and three tactical teams, and you stole the extraordinary creature we captured."

"I'll say it again! If your side hadn't made a mistake, we could have secured the extraordinary person's cooperation!"

"Hand over that extraordinary creature—"

"Absolutely not!"

One side was wary, the other shameless. The negotiations devolved into an argument like one at a market.

The Black lieutenant general knew his career was already over.

Soon, some White guy would come to replace him.

And then—

Whether they ultimately chose force or conciliation, it would have nothing to do with him.

Damn fog. Damn extraordinary powers!

The big shots were secretly haggling over all sorts of things,

but none of it mattered to Akihi Yu. His life went on as usual, with him dutifully going to school and coming home every day.

There was just one more person in the group that went to Imperial Sakura School to pick up his younger sister.

"Thank you, Yu."

Adjusting her glasses, Class Monitor Nao thanked him softly.

Her past selfish behavior had nearly cut off contact between their families, and Akiyu Sora had treated her coldly ever since.

"Nao, don't keep dwelling on the past. You have to look ahead."

Akihi Yu waved a hand. He had released a large number of Paper Crows and was busy outsmarting the island nation's government. That little matter was nothing compared to what he was doing now—or what he planned to do in the future!

"Exactly!"

Beside them, Amame Ei patted her sadly flat chest.

"I'm still alive and well, so if Nao keeps sighing like that, God will dislike her."

"Amame, your way of comforting people..."

It's quite unusual.

Even the gentle Class Monitor couldn't help commenting.

Still, she understood that there was no way she could compare with Amame when it came to suffering.

So if she stayed downcast, even God wouldn't stand for it.

"Yeah, you're right."

"I should pull myself together."

The three chatted as they walked, arriving at the gates of Imperial Sakura School. They hadn't waited long before Akihi Sora and Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha came out of the school.

Normally, they would part ways here and head home. But today—

"What did you say?"

Standing beside a luxurious black car, Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha's face darkened with anger.

"Miss, I'm terribly sorry."

"Your father instructed us to take you straight home after school."

"Father."

"Are you trying to control who I spend time with, too?"

Faced with Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha's displeased question, the middle-aged driver in sunglasses calmly explained:

"That's not it."

"Tokyo may be a little unsafe for a while."

"This is for your own good, Young Lady. Please don't make things difficult for us."

"I'm sorry, Ei. I..."

Faced with the driver's firm attitude, Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha turned and looked apologetically at the petite Amame Ei.

"Hehe, it's fine."

"If that's what Father—your uncle—said, then go home, Kazuha. Don't make them worry."

"I can go by myself—"

"We'll walk Amame home. Don't worry."

Akihi Yu cut in, easing the awkward atmosphere. Usually, Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha drove Amame Ei home.

Since plans had changed today, they would go with Amame Ei instead. As for "Tokyo being unsafe," the person responsible was standing right there.

"I'll leave her in your hands, then."

She bowed to the three of them, her long hair cascading down her back.

After saying goodbye to everyone, the Young Lady had no choice but to get into her luxury car.

"Let's go, then."

Akihi Yu waved to the three girls.

"We're going to Amame's house."

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