Led by the man in black, the group soon reached a redwood door inlaid with golden-thread nanmu. Their guide pushed it open and gestured for the Holy Light Clerics to enter.
Aiki gave the man in black a cold look, then strode inside with his teammates.
As soon as they entered, they saw a long conference table filled with people in formal suits, young and old, seated according to their nameplates. Behind them stood a loosely arranged row of civil security officers carrying all manner of weapons, like guards. Beside those officers, the children chosen as Initiators curiously watched the Holy Light Clerics entering the room, their bodies powerfully built, their posture straight, and their black suits identical.
Aiki surveyed the room. He could not help frowning when he saw the children, then turned to the nameplates on the conference table to find their seats.
"Hey! Hey! Look which office these people came from! Isn't this the Holy Light Office that's become so famous in the Tokyo District lately?" A man walked toward Aiki and his companions, his tone mocking. He stood six feet tall, his bulging muscles a clear sign of years of training. A black greatsword hung on his back, and he wore a black mask printed with teeth.
Aiki ignored the man's mockery and instead looked at the girl behind him, who was studying him curiously. "Your little girl is adorable!"
"Hey, bastard, what are you looking at? I'm standing right in front of you, and you're ignoring me to look at a tool?" Anger flashed in the man's eyes.
"A tool?" Aiki tilted his head slightly. "All I see is a child! How about this? If you think she's a tool, hand her over to us! We'll take good care of her."
"Bastard, are you insulting