07: Clash

"Fire team, be ready."

As soon as Noguchi Yuji finished speaking, Sato Michi sprang toward the one-way glass and slammed into it.

It offered no resistance at all. The bulletproof glass, which had cost taxpayers God knew how much, shattered like tofu at the first impact.

"Warning! Sato Tomomi, your actions constitute a serious crime. Sit back down immediately, or we will take further measures!" Every officer in the interrogation room tensed. Those carrying pistols drew them quickly and aimed at the seemingly harmless housewife.

Sato Tomomi ignored the warning. She spotted Noguchi Yuji, the man in charge, and fixed her gaze on him. "How did he die?"

"He... killed people."

"Impossible!" Sato Tomomi shouted, cutting him off.

"Yeah, we think it's impossible too. But he committed the crime right in front of us. Twenty people lost their lives just like that. Do you know how many husbands, wives, and children are among them?!" Noguchi Yuji pushed past the officers protecting him and walked straight up to Sato Tomomi, meeting her gaze without a trace of fear.

"That's why we need to know how he could kill so many people with his bare hands, how he could smash someone's skull with his bare hands." Noguchi Yuji glanced at the shattered glass. He knew how tough it was. Even a submachine gun might not break it with a whole magazine unless every shot hit the same spot, yet this glass had been reduced to pieces.

Something must have happened to Sato Tomomi, causing her husband to become "infected" as well. And given her personal history, there was no doubt that the source of everything was the Company Group she had joined!

Noguchi Yuji felt he was getting closer and closer to the truth.

In the blink of an eye, Sato Tomomi's gaze changed. Noguchi Yuji, who had faced death before, narrowed his eyes and quickly rolled backward. "Fire!"

Bang, bang, bang—

The gunshots alerted the entire Metropolitan Police Department.

The fire team, already stationed outside the interrogation room, quickly took up position, but they couldn't see past the obstructed view and chose not to fire.

After the smoke cleared, Sato Tomomi stood motionless in place, still mostly unharmed, though her hair and clothes were damaged. Everyone stared at her in disbelief as she turned a face full of hatred toward them.

"Everyone, get down and retreat! Fire team, cover us!" Noguchi Yuji immediately realized that a pistol was no match for her and decisively gave the order.

Rifles opened fire, but Sato Tomomi didn't just stand there like an idiot. She darted forward, grabbed an officer to use as a hostage, and raced toward the fire team.

One rifleman, still hesitating over whether to shoot, saw a blur before his eyes. The woman was suddenly right in front of him. A blink later, his eyes would never open again.

Noguchi Yuji and several colleagues escaped in the confusion. He directly overstepped his authority and declared a state of emergency at the Metropolitan Police Department. All personnel were to collect weapons from the armory, while the SAT Unit and rescue teams were to come provide support immediately.

"Seal off her movements from the Second Division and the Third Division. You're authorized to use any weapons in reserve, including those designed for confined-space combat!"

Odagiri, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, rushed over, but before he could ask what had happened, he saw a woman at the end of the corridor, holding an officer hostage in front of her.

"Authorize all units to open fire," Noguchi Yuji said coldly.

"Stop!" Odagiri hurriedly intervened, grabbing Noguchi Yuji by the clothes. "Have you fucking lost your mind? Our man is right in front of her! Noguchi Yuji, you're relieved of your duties! I'm taking command!"

"She's extremely dangerous! She has supernatural abilities. If we worry about casualties, we'll never be able to kill her!" Noguchi Yuji protested passionately.

Odagiri wouldn't listen. He had his men take Noguchi Yuji away to calm down.

"Ma'am, please calm down and release our colleague. I don't know what happened between you, but could you give me a chance to understand the situa—" His voice trailed off.

The officer being held hostage lowered his head with a trembling glance at the hands protruding through his chest. His lips moved, but no words came out. The next instant, accompanied by a cracking sound, his torso was torn in two.

A shower of blood rained down, staining the white walls red and even splattering onto Odagiri's lips.

He instinctively tasted it. It was a familiar flavor, like bleeding gums. This wasn't a dream.

"...Open fire!" The corners of his mouth twitched as he gave the order.

Pistols, rifles, and shotguns roared so loudly that it felt as though everyone's heart would stop.

Sato Tomomi dodged left and right, but she still couldn't break through the encirclement. Some of the ammunition was now able to hurt her.

Several grenades were thrown over. After a few explosions, thick clouds of dust billowed up.

"Reload and stay alert!" Odagiri shouted, then went to find Noguchi Yuji, the man he'd just ordered taken away.

"What the fuck is that monster?!" Odagiri's face flushed red as he yelled at him, losing his composure.

Noguchi Yuji shook his head. "It may be connected to a Company Group. She's the wife of the suspect in this morning's subway massacre, but she's already shown strength far beyond his."

"Stay here. I'm going to the Second Division. Keep in touch, and if necessary, have everyone evacuate the building." Odagiri struggled to steady himself as he spoke.

"...Chief, I have a plan."

Sato Tomomi had taken refuge in an office and was examining her wounds.

The bullets had nearly shredded her clothes. This wasn't like those anime or movies where clothes somehow remained intact after an extremely intense battle.

Now she was covered in bruises from head to toe, with bloody craters in several places. The bullets hadn't gone in, but they'd still torn away layers of flesh.

It seemed Steel Body couldn't let her take rifle or sniper fire head-on, though small-caliber pistols really did pose almost no threat.

She casually threw on a coat. After killing several people, the anger stirred up in her by the Parasite had faded somewhat.

She wasn't afraid of death. In fact, she could even say she longed for it.

She just hoped she could vent all her rage before she died.

"If only I could..." Sato Tomomi murmured.

"Mrs. Sato!" someone shouted from outside.

Sato Tomomi grew wary.

"Don't you want to see Mr. Sato one last time?" the person continued.

Sato Tomomi's body trembled. After a long moment, she finally spoke.

"Fine. Give He Feng back to me, and I'll stop."