Assistant

"Aside from Ito Seigo, we can confirm that everyone else who has awakened superpowers has ingested something. Can we assume that for humans to awaken, we must rely on 'Dan Fruit' brought from high-energy planes?"

"What about the Ninth Guardian? He was an ordinary person before, too."

"It's less of an awakening and more like he was possessed by an arrival."

At the Special Affairs Bureau, people were discussing the existence of the transcendent at every waking moment.

As more clues surfaced, their various speculations about the transcendent became increasingly diverse.

However, for now, the generally accepted facts were that human awakening required pills brought from high-energy planes, and that entities from high-energy planes could not remain in this plane for long.

Yet, judging by the destruction caused by a few local human awakeners, even if the arrival time was limited, they could likely level Tokyo several times over.

With this Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, many in the know could barely sleep. Some high-ranking officials even moved abroad to work remotely, terrified that if a conflict suddenly broke out at home, they wouldn't even know how they died.

"After communication and exchange, Inagaki Miki is willing to join forces with us when we face demons or certain evil entities."

During the routine meeting, Noguchi Yuji reported the results of yesterday's interview.

The high-ranking officials were reasonably satisfied with this outcome.

After all, even if their operational capabilities weren't strong, their ability to read the situation was. It was clear that behind every transcendent stood a potential arrival, and the primary goal of the Special Incident Countermeasures Bureau was to attempt communication and cooperation, especially when the other party showed no malice. To them, achieving this result was a testament to Noguchi Yuji's competence.

"Very good, Section Chief Noguchi, thank you for your hard work. Now, for the next agenda item: the Holy Infant Society has opened ten membership slots to our Bureau and provided two Holy Son Pills. Let's discuss who should join and who should ingest the Holy Son Pills to rapidly enhance our immediate combat effectiveness." Kihara Wa, Minister of Defense and Director of the Special Affairs Bureau, sat at the head of the table and looked at his subordinates.

"Based on our investigation, we prefer colleagues with relatively intense emotions to take the pill."

As Kuroki Niizumi spoke, she subconsciously glanced at Noguchi Yuji.

"Will, emotion, loyalty—use these three as the criteria. Discuss it among yourselves, and once you decide who is suitable, have Kuroki submit the names."

After the meeting, William found Kuroki.

"Section Chief Kuroki, I want a membership slot."

Kuroki was not surprised by William's request; after all, he effectively represented the United States, and the higher-ups were likely eager to know what secrets the Holy Infant Society was hiding.

She was only slightly surprised that he hadn't asked for a pill.

"I have already ingested a pill." William didn't offer a detailed explanation, and Kuroki assumed this was a trade the Holy Infant had made with them.

"Is that so? What changes have you noticed?" Kuroki asked curiously. William was the first "insider" to take the pill, so his account would be more credible than others.

William rubbed his chin in thought. "Actually, I don't feel much of a difference. I'm still me, but there's an extra surge of power in my body, and I vaguely know how to use it."

After undergoing a series of anti-brainwashing and self-will tests, William was certain that his core consciousness had not been replaced.

Applying for membership as a representative of the Special Affairs Bureau was also under the orders of Commander Ricky.

"By the way, William, as a Westerner, it might be easier for you. We need experts proficient in demon history, customs, rituals, and the like. Do you know any? Preferably believers."

"No problem, I will invite them to serve as consultants."

"Ryomiya, I heard you like the works of Master Macchiato? Her exhibition at the art museum opens tomorrow. Would you like to go together?"

"Is that so? I haven't paid attention in a long time. There have been a lot of family matters lately, so I don't have the time."

"Ah, that's a pity."

After attending school for the first time in a long while, she felt completely out of place with her classmates.

No, she had felt this way for a long time. She had never liked immature people, and in her eyes, many high school students—even those at elite schools—were filled with muddled minds.

After coming into contact with the transcendent, she could feel this barrier becoming intangibly thicker.

In comparison, she preferred participating in the Ninth Guardian's experiments, rationally recording the results produced by wild instincts.

A few days ago, after she volunteered to help, the Ninth Guardian seemed relieved and dumped a large number of observation tasks onto her without hiding any details, clearly telling her it was to observe the adaptive evolution of animals to the Holy Son Pills.

This gave Ryomiya Hirosue, as an observer, a strange, god-like understanding.

She gradually fell in love with this observation work and proactively proposed several steps to optimize the experiments.

Today, after changing her attire at the hotel and avoiding surveillance to reach the experimental warehouse, she had a general idea after taking inventory of the current animals.

"Releasing the surviving animals from each batch back into the wild?"

Shiraishi Wataru pondered whether this behavior could promote further mutations.

"Yes. Although our miniature food chain is more brutal than the outside world, it lacks room for greater development. It only simulates fighting between animals and misses many real-world conditions. Besides, Guardian, you said that the Holy Infant knows exactly what abilities each animal has awakened. We can completely ignore these animals that have finished their preliminary experiments and let them return to the wild to continue playing their roles."

Hirosue explained her perspective, her notebook recording the surviving animals currently being kept in isolation.

"These animals consume food much faster than the others. If the forest isn't enough to sustain them, they will likely come out and attack humans. What do we do then?" Shiraishi Wataru looked at Ryomiya Hirosue's still youthful face, anticipating her answer.

A sweet smile appeared on Hirosue's naturally charming face. "Then that would be perfect. Mutated wild animals attacking humans will attract the attention of the Special Affairs Bureau. We can treat the Bureau's suppression efforts as part of the experiment. If any animals awaken because of it, then I think it will be nothing but beneficial for the Holy Infant. Our experimental trail has taken many detours and ultimately points to a wild animal trafficking ring. Even if they suspect the Holy Infant Society, they would never dare to easily turn against us. It's just that our experiments might have to be paused for a while."

Shiraishi Wataru loved people who considered problems entirely from his perspective. He casually pinched a Holy Son Pill and handed it to her. "From now on, you are a member of the Holy Infant Society."