The Encirclement

"We've told you everything we know. We only spend a little money on offerings each month, and we haven't performed any rituals that violate morals or the law. Besides, the Holy Infant really did manifest and bestow pills on us. The benefits are real." A housewife argued her case.

"I did it for my child. He was always getting into trouble, and I hoped the Holy Infant could help him come to his senses. My husband and child didn't believe in the Holy Son Pill I exchanged for, so I gave it to a fellow believer with a disability. He stood up right there on the spot." Another housewife sighed.

Noguchi Yuji scanned the interrogation records, pointed to the two housewives' files, and asked, "Are they the only ones with 'superpowers'?"

"There's one more. But of the people we arrested, these are the only two who took the Holy Son Pill. We confirmed that with the other members. They gave the pills they exchanged for to someone else and to their own son. Her son suffers from severe paranoia and only trusts his mother. Our people let him get away."

"Were there any casualties?"

"No. He didn't hurt anyone, so we didn't open fire."

Noguchi Yuji spoke with William, who had been standing nearby, and confirmed that they would immediately arrange full-body examinations for the two housewives, along with nonlethal surveillance of the paranoid boy.

"Section Chief Noguchi, tell me, can pills really be that miraculous? Not only can they cure every terminal illness and make people young again, they can also grant them powers like superheroes. It's just like something out of a science-fiction movie." William sounded a little wistful.

Noguchi Yuji shook his head. "Every gift fate bestows has its price already marked in secret. They may seem to have gained something, but until the dust settles, no one can say whether it's a blessing or a curse. I don't believe these powers come without a cost."

William nodded without committing himself. "That saying was about Queen Marie. But for some people, rather than worry about whether they can afford the price later, it's better to make sure they get the gift first. If word of the Holy Son Pill gets out, the higher-ups may not remain as firm in their stance toward the Holy Infant Society."

Noguchi Yuji's expression didn't change. "That's beyond our control, Major William. If I'm not mistaken, a report on the Holy Son Pill should already be on the lieutenant general's desk. It may not be long before one lands on the President's desk as well."

William shrugged and didn't answer.

Night fell. After the two of them finished handling a few matters, they finally received word from Kuroki Niizumi.

She had located Nakai Hayato's hideout.

Beneath the deep night sky, dozens—perhaps hundreds—of ordinary cars merged into traffic and headed for a warehouse district somewhere along Tokyo Bay.

Once the vehicles began entering the roads near the industrial park, people immediately closed off the routes under the pretense of road repairs.

From above, the roads throughout the logistics park had been completely sealed off. All the employees were ordered to take part in an emergency evacuation drill under police supervision.

One section after another was cleared, and firing positions were swiftly set up.

Some officers, unaware of what was really going on, assumed that a large number of terrorists were hiding in the warehouses. That was the only reason they could imagine for advancing so cautiously, with overlapping fields of fire.

Inside the warehouse were only Nakai Hayato and his two assistants. After being brainwashed and shown miracles over the past few days, the pair, formerly low-ranking Yakuza, had quickly accepted their new identities as members and received the Holy Son Pill's blessing.

Unfortunately, both were only compatible with [Steel Body].

For a time, this made Shiraishi Wataru wonder whether physical constitution was really all that important to compatibility with [Super Strength].

After all, these two members had the best physiques of anyone outside the Ninth Guardian. Yet, like Sato Tomomi, neither was compatible with [Super Strength]. They could only gain the ability temporarily through stimulation from Parasites. That made them a little better off than those who couldn't adapt to the stimulation at all, placing them among the higher-grade expendables.

Of course, Nakai Hayato and his two assistants had stayed there because the Holy Infant's Advent Body was there too. He planned to wait until late at night before taking the Advent Body to his safe house.

He had scattered the members elsewhere. He hadn't had much time to prepare, but after years of careful planning, he was still able to arrange things for the twenty or so members whose faith remained firm.

Around nine or ten that night, Nakai Hayato was in the middle of his daily prayers when he frowned, stopped praying, and cocked his head to listen.

His two assistants stopped as well, not wanting to disturb their president.

"Has it been quiet for several minutes?" Nakai Hayato asked.

The assistants were taken aback. Thinking back, they realized the area around them did seem much quieter.

Although this was a warehouse district, it was part of a logistics park. There wasn't much work nearby at night, but the distant logistics operations ran around the clock.

"Protect the Holy Infant, I—"

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion rang out. Flames engulfed the entire warehouse, and debris scattered in every direction like rain.

"Snipers, fire on every living target moving inside the warehouse," Kuroki Niizumi ordered from the command post outside.

But amid the roaring flames, there seemed to be no other movement.

Kuroki Niizumi was patient. She wouldn't let anyone approach. They would wait until the fire burned itself out.

At last, a few minutes later, two figures wreathed in flames charged out with a pair of roars.

In an instant, gunfire grew denser than a downpour. The weakest weapons here were rifles. Even the two frenzied members, whose [Super Strength] had been temporarily activated, only barely reached the front line before they were riddled with bullets, fell, and lay still.

Seeing this, everyone let out a sigh of relief. So, even these so-called monsters were no match for well-prepared firepower.

Surrounded by flames, Nakai Hayato had no choice. Steel Body could withstand fire for a short time, but it couldn't hold out against flames that kept burning. More importantly, he was running out of oxygen, and the smoke was getting thicker.

Just then, the Holy Infant opened its eyes.

"Holy Infant Lord, I have failed you. I've endangered your Advent Body." Nakai Hayato's face was full of shame.

The Holy Infant shook its head, reached out, and touched Nakai Hayato's forehead, granting him compatibility with [Regeneration]. The touch on his forehead was merely Shiraishi Wataru's ritualistic flourish.

Nakai Hayato felt his whole body tremble. A cool sensation spread through the places where he had been injured, and his wounds visibly began to heal.

"I've sent the Ninth Guardian here. Hold them off for now, then look for a chance to escape. Don't worry about this Advent Body of mine. I'd like to speak with the authorities here anyway." Without waiting for Nakai Hayato to reply, the Holy Infant lay back down in the Iron Coffin.

"I obey!" Nakai Hayato breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Holy Infant Lord didn't blame him, the situation wasn't as bad as it could be. Besides, the Ninth Guardian was on the way to help. Once chaos broke out outside, he could seize a chance to escape.

Still, he needed to find a way to prove his worth and give the Ninth Guardian a chance to create some confusion.

He glanced around the burning warehouse and looked at the objects engulfed in flames. An idea came to him.