Confession

"Lieutenant General Ricky, you wanted to see me?"

After they reached an agreement, Shiraishi Wataru didn't say much. He simply told them to take the vessel to Huajin Group, and said they could discuss the remaining details of the cooperation with the Ninth Guardian.

There was no problem with exposing Huajin Group now. They might even be able to take advantage of their status as Holy Infant Members to build the group into something even greater.

The only catch was that the authorities and the Holy Infant Society couldn't fall out. Otherwise, Huajin Group might not survive until sunrise the next day.

That wrapped up William's work, and the rest was no longer his concern. Just as he was about to return to the Special Affairs Bureau, someone came to tell him that Commander Ricky wanted to see him.

In his office, Ricky studied William's face and smiled. "I heard there isn't much work at the Special Affairs Bureau. How come you seem to be getting younger and younger?"

William's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He lowered his head and gave a dry chuckle, then lowered his voice and answered a different question. "Commander, do you remember the incident a while back when we surrounded the Holy Infant Society's president?"

"Oh, I remember. It was our first direct confrontation with supernatural powers. Of course I wouldn't forget something like that." Ricky patted William's arm. "You ran into trouble, too. Fortunately, nothing happened."

William shook his head. "No, Commander. When Nakai Hayato and the Ninth Guardian captured me, I traded them information about how they'd been tracked for a Holy Son Pill."

Ricky showed little reaction. He gave a quiet "Oh," then looked William over carefully. "So why tell me now?"

"Because back then I was afraid I'd become part of an experiment. And at the time, we were enemies of the Holy Infant Society. Besides, my thinking wasn't affected at all. I'm still completely loyal to the country and to you."

"Loyalty? If you were loyal, you should have reported it right away."

"I can join the Society on the country's behalf and help those who need them exchange for Holy Son Pills."

Ricky was silent for a moment, then waved a hand.

"Go back to the Special Affairs Bureau for now. Don't tell anyone about this yet. I'll let you know when I need you to join the Holy Infant Society. Tomorrow, come back for the usual brainwashing screening and loyalty assessment."

"Yes, sir."

After watching William leave, Ricky pressed a device disguised as a button. "Disarm the alarm."

Two bookcases in the office swung open automatically, and seven or eight soldiers in full armor stepped out. Their suits looked just like the nanosuits from Crysis.

"William's pretty good, but he thinks he's too clever," Ricky said to one of them.

The man took off his helmet, revealing a scarred face. "I wouldn't have said anything either. Those scientists turn into monsters when they get going. Didn't I hear they even butchered someone?"

Ricky made no comment. Instead, he changed the subject. "What if I needed you to join the Holy Infant Society and be my eyes?"

"Forget it. If I had the Flame Giant's powers, the first thing I'd do is go to the White Palace and roast the President's whole family like suckling pigs." His honesty was startling.

"Hahaha! All right. That's just like you, Old Jaden. I shouldn't have asked." Ricky laughed and told them all to leave.

"Roast the President like a pig, huh? Sounds pretty good."

Alone in the office, he muttered to himself.

Kuroki Niizumi arrived at the Huajin Hotel headquarters to return the Holy Infant Society's captured, loyal members to Nakai Hayato.

As for the members who had given up information, the Society wouldn't take a single one back.

Since Toyokawa Jousei and her mother had already joined the Special Affairs Bureau, Kuroki Niizumi didn't mention them, and Nakai Hayato didn't ask.

After Nakai Hayato took in and comforted the members he hadn't seen in a long time, Nobuo Hirosue and a crowd of other members gathered around. They stood at the entrance to welcome the Holy Infant's return.

Kuroki took a closer look at Nobuo Hirosue. She hadn't expected him to shelter the Holy Infant Society behind her back, let alone join it. Given the Hirosue family's power, it was certainly surprising. After all, besides the Special Affairs Bureau, a whole host of wealthy families had their eyes on the Holy Infant Society.

Then she looked at Nakai Hayato, whose face was full of devotion. She had expected there would be a chance to meet him again, but she hadn't imagined it would be under these circumstances.

She had specifically ordered someone to keep an eye on Noguchi Yuji, worried he might do something rash.

So far, though, things seemed fine. Noguchi had suppressed his hatred and impulsiveness, and hadn't asked about this operation.

Before long, an armed convoy arrived at the Huajin Hotel. The rear door of one of the armored vehicles opened, and the first person to appear was Kasegawa Haru, looking utterly resigned. She had been sent over as the Holy Infant Lord's personal handmaiden, and would be responsible for communicating between the two sides from now on. But it felt to her like she'd been sent straight into a tiger's den!

Keeping a stern face, she directed the others to unload the coffin and carry it over to Nakai Hayato.

Nakai Hayato immediately led the members in kneeling and reciting the Society's tenets. Handmaiden Kase took the opportunity to memorize quite a bit of it, in case she needed it later.

Inside the hotel, Ryomiya Hirosue watched the scene at the entrance from a room with a good view. From today onward, the relationship between the Hirosue family and the Holy Infant Society would be exposed to everyone. There would be no way to sever the ties.

She didn't know whether this would bring them fortune or disaster. But it had been her family's choice, and now they could only see it through to the end.

"Ryomiya, what do you think? Should I join the Society too?" Ryomiya's mother touched the wrinkles on her cheek, sounding eager to give it a try.

"It probably won't be so easy to join now. Every major wealthy family will send at least one young heir to try to join the Holy Infant Society." Ryomiya Hirosue recalled the Flame Giant's imposing figure. Its terrifying pressure had nearly suffocated her. Even through a screen, she could feel the despair and helplessness. Surely many people would realize that, before such overwhelming power, the science and technology humanity prided itself on probably couldn't save a single life.

Only the supernatural could fight the supernatural.

Anyone who made it to the top of the business world had enemies. If one day their own enemy became supernatural, they could imagine what would happen to them.

At that thought, Ryomiya Hirosue finally understood.

The times had taken a major turn. The sooner they embraced the supernatural, the sooner they could move toward the future.

She regretted not joining her father and grandfather when they had entered the Society.

Still, compared with everyone else, she had a considerable advantage.

Not because she knew the president, but because of the Ninth Guardian.

Recently, with Hideyasu Hirosue's deliberate arrangements, Ryomiya Hirosue had been the one liaising with the Ninth Guardian. She had also helped him renovate the warehouse and collect and transport batches of animals. She'd even skipped classes for it.

After spending time together, she and the Ninth Guardian had gotten to know each other.

If she applied to join the Society, she probably wouldn't be rejected. Then she could apply to be the Ninth Guardian's assistant and help him with the animal experiments, demonstrating her value. That might give her a chance to obtain a Holy Son Pill.

The Ninth Guardian's animal experiments were practically an open secret. Anyone involved would inevitably learn that he was making animals fight each other, so she guessed he had no intention of hiding it.

Joining the Society and then becoming his assistant would be perfectly reasonable!