Meanwhile with the others in the national diet.
There were two sorts of events the NHK was required to cover as a public television station, but which received low viewership numbers despite NHK's nationwide reach because the people cared little for them. Those would be election speeches and meetings of the National Diet.
However, ever since the self-proclaimed revolutionary began his address with "You gentlemen who are in power!", the election speeches had higher ratings than the Diet meetings, until today.
The reason why the ratings for the Diet meeting had increased was not because a witness was being summoned today. Since perjury in front of the Diet was a punishable offense, most people called before the Diet were careful with their words, which made them boring.
However, today's broadcast was different.
On one of the Net's vast message boards, somebody had written "Incredibly Hot Special Region Elves spotted!" or "Guts in suit spotted in the city!" and in an instant, the viewership rates had skyrocketed.
Lelei, Tuka, Momon, Raidyn, and Rory were present for this event, in addition to the regular councilmen.
As usual, Itami's lack of visual impact meant that he was easily forgotten.
Still, all eyes were turned to the girls and Momon: Lelei with her short, silver hair and her long robe, Tuka with her blonde hair, blue eyes and long ears, Raidyn in her exotic beauty, long ears and heterochromatic eyes as well her red long coat what strangely matched the costume and the shoes what she wore. And of course Momon's handsome face and imposing frame.
The ladies in the room almost drooled seeing Momon's muscled frame and handsome face. His suit was barely able to contain him due there was no suit big enough for him, so he had to clothe himself one number less sized suit.
As well as Rory in her jet-black goth-Loli outfit while carrying something long and wrapped up. Every councilman, every camera, and everyone in the audience could not help but look at them. The cameras flashed almost blinding the five of them.
The first to speak was Councilwoman Kouhara Mizuki, from the opposition party.
Councilwoman Kouhara Mizuki proudly held up a large board and looked straight at the camera before asking her questions.
"Witness Itami, I will cut to the chase. Firstly, I would like to ask about the Special Region Class A Dangerous Animal, which we call a Dragon. Why did 100 people from Coda Village have to be sacrificed?"
Raidyn huffed. "That was not a dangerous dragon... that was only an infant..." she murmured. Lelei, Rory, and Tuka glanced at her hearing her.
Councilwoman Kouhara's board had "100 INNOCENT LIVES LOST!" plastered over it, to place emphasis on the civilian casualties.
"Witness Itami Youji, please step forward."
After the chairman had called his name, Itami stepped forward as asked.
Because he was in a neatly pressed dress uniform, even Itami managed to look...no, he looked the same as always, but maybe he was just slightly more handsome… well, in any case, he responded in his usual tone.
"Eh~ well, I think it was because the Dragon was too strong, don't you think?"
That unexpected answer left Councilwoman Kouhara speechless.
"Because we weren't strong enough." She, like many other Japanese citizens, had expected him to make an earnest defense of himself, which she would then pick apart in what was practically a textbook formula. The man Itami had been painted as a hero by the media during the Defense of Nijubashi. However, it would seem reality did not match with the image.
"Are, are you trying to evade all responsibility by saying you weren't strong enough? 100 innocent civilians lost their lives under your watch; do you not feel responsible for them at all? According to the reports. If those two adventurers did not show up, there would be more victims!"
She tapped her board with "100 PEOPLE" written on it against the table.
"Witness Itami Youji."
The Chairman called his name again, and Itami once more stepped forward.
"Eh~ what do you mean by strong enough? Are you saying that I should take responsibility for the Dragon coming out by itself?"
Raidyn shook her head and clicked her tongue. "This is I never participate in political discussion anymore... the press simply twists my words and give them an entirely another meaning... stupid politicians..."
"My question was directed at you, your superiors and the JSDF, to find out what was wrong with your response to the situation! The appearance of the Dragon was not your fault. However, as the relevant commander on the scene, why did you not prevent those civilian casualties? That is the question I am asking!"
In the face of the Councilwoman, who was panting heavily with "Haa, Haa" sounds, Itami grabbed his scalp like he always did and replied, "Well, when I said the dragon was too strong, I meant that our rifles were far too weak. Frankly speaking, our bullets were bouncing off its hide like we were using peashooters, so it would be great if we could have more powerful weapons in the future. Like I said, a plasma particle cannon, a laser cannon, maybe you could hurry the labs up so we could get something usable like that? I heard that they're going to begin prototyping power suits soon, so I'd like to get those as well. The basic research is done by the national universities, but I think it wouldn't be a bad idea if we developed things like that for national defense on top of providing benefits for everyday life and healthcare-related issues. It's probably not easy to think of good things for military-related applications, but I think the ones who can benefit from new equipment aren't just the JSDF, but the police and the emergency services as well. I'm sure it would help them save a lot more lives. Also, I'm sorry so many people died."
Itami's answer was blended with a healthy dose of playing dumb and playing the fool.
The ruling party members could only grin at Itami's farcical answer, while cries of "This unruly fellow!" rose from the opposition side. Momon as well Raidyn smiled on Itami's answer knowing there is no good answer for this question. Knowing this was a trap question what you couldn't answer without you seem to be the fault.
"Does the Ministry of Defense wish to explain further?"
The Vice-Minister of Defense struggled to contain his wild laughter as he raised his hand.
"Yes, about the point First Lieutenant Itami raised, we have already analyzed samples from the creature known as a Dragon. The Dragon's scales are about as hard as tungsten, around nine on the Mohs scale. They also weigh one seventh of their equivalent volume in steel."
In other words, a Flame Dragon covered with scales like these was essentially a flying tank. The Vice-Minister was trying to explain in a roundabout way that ensuring zero casualties while doing battle against a creature like this was an impossible task.
The Councilwoman turned back to Itami. "And what about the two adventurers. Witness Itami? According to the report, they used swords and managed to slice the dragon head straight off. Can you explain how a sword was capable of slicing off the dragon's head while your weapons were unable to penetrate its hide?"
"Well... they were strong..." answered blandly Itami. "And according to them, they used to hunt dragons. So maybe their blade was specially forged to penetrate the dragon's thick hide..." explained to the first Lieutenant as he motioned in the air. Showing slashing moves. Raidyn shook her head seeing how bad Itami swordsman posture is.
Councilwoman Kouhara sighed, having long since abandoned any hope of trying to get a straight answer out of Itami. Instead, she decided to address someone else.
The first person would be Lelei.
As expected of Councilwoman Kouhara, she had selected Lelei, who looked like a middle-schooler, in the hope of using her position as an adult to get the answers she wanted out of her. After her self-introduction, she asked, "Ah, does the witness speak Japanese?"
"Yes, a little."
Hearing that answer calmed her a little, and she asked Lelei to introduce herself.
After learning that her name was Lelei La Lelena, she began asking Lelei about her life now.
"Currently, I live in the refugee camp with the rest of the Arnus Living Community."
"Do you feel inconvenienced in any way?"
"I do not understand what you mean by 'inconvenienced.' Are you saying I am not free? I believe that is the case — no man on this earth is truly free."
After receiving a nonsensical yet eloquent answer to her roundabout question. In the end, the councilwoman decided to speak plainly and asked, "What I mean to ask is if anything is lacking in your life, or if you are troubled by anything."
"I have ample clothes, food, and shelter, and my vocational and emotional needs are being met. I am content with what I have. If one continually desires more, one will never be satisfied."
Councilwoman Kouhara was not quite happy with Lelei's answer, but she decided to leave it at that. Instead, she went for the question she wanted to ask Itami, which was to say, "Were the 100 casualties from Coda Village the fault of the JSDF?"
Lelei gulped and stared with eyes wide. Then she answered, "No," simply and quietly.
The next person called was Tuka.
"I am a high elf, belonging to the Marceau tribe of the Lodo forest, daughter of Hodoryur Rei, Tuka Luna Marceau."
After being asked her name, Tuka proudly puffed up her chest and stated her family name.
Tuka's clothes were a navy-blue suit obtained from the returns section of the store, the result of the shop attendant randomly picking out pieces. However, because of this, Tuka, who would normally resemble a high-schooler, now had the air of a university student.
"I apologize for this question which might be a bit rude, but are your ears real?"
After hearing Lelei's translation, Tuka's face had a "Hah?" of bafflement. In a surprise, she answered, "What sort of question is this?"
Lelei replied that it was because they were curious about how her appearance differed from them.
"Yes, they are, these ears are natural. Do you want to touch them?"
With a charming smile, Tuka eased her golden hair away with her fingers, fully exposing her twitching, pointed ears.
This series of movements, combined with her adorable expression that resembled a cute little animal, won the hearts of everyone around her. Perhaps because of this, a sizable portion of the councilors, the audience, and the media personnel gasped in unison. At the same time, a veritable galaxy of flashbulbs went off, so bright that it was blinding.
Councilwoman Kouhara hurriedly said, "That, that's enough," before moving on to ask Tuka about her life in the refugee camp. After hearing that she was amply taken care of, she asked Tuka the same question she did Lelei: "Were the deaths of the 100 civilians related to the JSDF?"
In that instant, Tuka froze, and then she looked down. After Tuka had muttered, "I'm not too sure," Kouhara asked her to elaborate, and Tuka replied, "I was unconscious at the time."
Then they called Raidyn and Momon. "I am Momon adamantine ranked adventurer. My companion is Raidyn. Adamantine ranked adventurer as well." Momon introduced themselves.
"You said you are an adventurer. But everyone knows such job as adventurer does not exist." Stated Kouhara.
"Maybe in your world. But in the Sorcerer Kingdom, it is a recognized profession." Explained Momon.
"So you say you are from an another world. Yet, you dress like a typical businessman from our country. I suspect you are only a lackey of the JSDF." Kouhara pointed at Momon accusingly. "I got them!" she smirked.
"I assure you this is not the case. My choice of clothes only thanks to the importance of the event. As well my colleague clothes."
"Evidence?" asked Kouhara suspiciously. "You as well your colleague can lie and her ears are nothing more than glued forgeries."
Momon looked at Raidyn and nodded. Raidyn sighed and summoned her gear. Then stretched out of her hand and Momon has been encased in his armor.
The clicking of the cameras went wide as the two adventurers encased in their armor and their weapons appeared. Around Raidyn sword fire and electricity started to dance. The two adventurers looked like they stepped out some kind of wild fairy tale.
Kouhara backed down in her surprise. Then collected herself. "So what you said is true..." she said with sweating forehead. Momon and Raidyn nodded and with Raidyn help. Both Momon and Raidyn reequipped their clothes.
Both of them nodded. "Then please explain me... what the jobs description of an adventurer. What the meaning of adamantine rank?"
"Well... before the Sorcerer King's reforms. Adventurers were mercenaries who hunted monsters for money. After he had reformed the system, the adventurers became hireable persons who adventure and explore the unknown regions and dungeons of the lands and occasionally fight monsters who are not capable of communication or deemed a threat to the Kingdom. As for the adamantine rank. It is the highest rank amongst the adventurers."
Raidyn continued after a small pause. "The rank of the adventurers defined by metals and their worth. Copper - Iron - Silver - Gold - Platinum - Mythril - Orichalcum and in the end Adamantite. Only the strongest among the strongest get adamantine rank from the adventurer's guild." Explained Raidyn. "The numbers of registered adamantine adventurer teams less than fifty."
Kouhara nodded. "I see..." a new idea came to her mind. "So you are not accidentally meet the JSDF. Or it was a coincidence. Tell me? Who hired you? It was the JSDF itself?"
The crowd gasped, and everyone looked in the direction of the two adventurers.
"I assure you Councilwoman Kouhara. Our meeting was entirely accidentally. We hired by the Sorcerer King himself along with many more adventures. Reporting or taking care of the possible threats our responsibility as well. So when we spotted the dragon. We followed it and taken care of it."
"So you say... the two of you could manage to single handily defeat and according to the reports decapitate the dragon what a whole squad JSDF soldier was unable to even scratch with their modern firearms. With only a blade? Answer me! What do you think? The JSDF was perfunctory when they fought with the dragon? The death of the poor victims was their fault? Answer me!"
Raidyn looked to Momon. "Momon-kun? Can I kill her? She is irritating me!" she pointed lazily at Kouhara while looked at Momon with a bored expression. A spectral blade materialized before Kouhara's throat. Her eyes widened and started to heavily sweat as she recognized the energy blade floating before her throat. She did not dare to move.
The security personnel pointed their guns at Raidyn immediately. Lelei inspected the spectral blade what constructed by combination Raidyn Esper and magical energies. Itami wanted to stop Raidyn standing up. "Raidyn! Please stop!" he pleaded desperately. "She is not worth it..."
Momon interjected and stopped his companion "Raidyn. We are guests here. It would be rude killing her. Not speaking about the Sorcerer King would not take kindly if you start to slaughter others while we are here..."
Raidyn dispelled the blade with a lazy flinch with her wrist. "Yeah, yeah... Sorry..." she rolled her eyes with an annoyed expression. "I have a low tolerance towards fools..."
Many chuckles can be heard from the crowd. Kouhara looked around with an angry expression on her face. Her clothes were completely wet from her sweat.
"Please forgive my colleague." Momon bowed slightly. Kouhara nodded weakly still sweating. "O-Of course..."
"Answering your question Councilwoman Kouhara. Our meeting was only accidental. We found strange tracks where the dragon flew and decided to follow it. As it turned out. The tracks belonged to the vehicles of the JSDF. And seeing their convoy was under siege. We decided to help them out and defeat the dragon. Under our first meeting with the JSDF soldiers. We see them act like professionals who dedicated to their job and did their best to save the civilians. They did everything that they could to save as many civilians as they could and did their jobs proficiently comparing they used as Itami said. 'Obsolete' technology." As Kouhara looked at Momon's handsome illusionary face, she blushed a little bit.
She looked away for a moment. "Then please tell me... How is a human being capable of expelling such strength to decapitate the dragon? The same dragon what came out the fight with the JSDF without a scratch from the constant fire of the modern firearms?" She continued her questioning.
"Well, as Itami-kun said. Your firearms are not really strong. If your soldiers would try to invade the Sorcerer Kingdom. Your soldiers needed to use a few series of shot to even penetrate the weakest magic caster barriers. Not speaking about there are enchantments what made the bearer immune to projectile weapons. Like the ones in our armor and weapons."
Raidyn raised her left arm and reequipped her arm protector and her black swords. The persons from the press started to click their cameras wildly.
She continued her explanation. "Back in the Sorcerer Kingdom. Most of the magic casters can enchant an item with various properties. Such as effects what increase our, strength, agility, and even made us resistant various kind of damage. Such as fire. Our weapons enchanted as well. This enchantment gives them special effects. For example, Frost, Lightning or Fire damage. Or even armor penetration."
Explained Raidyn as she pointed at her weapon. "In other words. Your units would be annihilated under a few minutes if they tried to invade us with such equipment what the JSDF used against the dragon. Your tanks most likely cut open by our concealed anti-armor units before they could even engage in battle."
"Not speaking about astral units. With this technology, they can't even counter units with the astral body or creatures constructed from energy. Such as wraiths or the Nephalem Guards after they shed off their armors..." she rolled her eyes.
"Lol. Have they such enchantments? So far I only suspected these guys are from an RPG. But now I am sure... They are RPG characters come to life..." Itami rolled his eyes. "What did she just said!? They even had anti-armor units?! Shit! I wonder how they look... I would be not surprised if this room were full of their units whose using invisibility..." Itami chuckled to himself and shook his head thinking such absurd things.
Unknown to him. In the room, there was several concealed Eight Edged Assassins and Hanzo units.
Momon continued. "Not speaking that dragon was not even resembled the one's resident in our world. The dragon what we encountered here only controlled by its own feral instinct. Not intelligence. It was not even able to communicate or use magic. Most of the adult dragons under the command of the Sorcerer King could eat such dragon at breakfast..." further explained Momon.
The crowd gasped, and a fearful expression moved on their faces. "Dragons can use magic?" murmured Lelei in surprise. Tuka trembled hearing the fact the Flame Dragon deemed weak by the two adventurers and the Sorcerer King commanded even the dragons in his nation.
"Any more questions to my colleague or me?" asked Momon.
"N-None..." shuttered Kouhara in a defeated tone.
Then she gathered her strength for one last desperate charge. "There is still one more witness... I still have a chance..." her hope renewed.
The last one to take the stand was Rory.
She was dressed in her usual gothic dress, but today, she wore a thin veil over her face. At a glance, she looked like a noble daughter in mourning.
Of course, the veil did not completely conceal her features, but the combination of youth and stateliness combined to produce a special kind of feeling about her. One could make out the slim line of her body underneath her clothes, so fragile that it seemed that she might be knocked over with a single breath. Yet, despite her small frame, she radiated a feminine charm that was easily the equal of any adult. Even non-pedophiles might be ensnared by her bewitching beauty.
One hand was holding some large object wrapped in canvas, while the other was in front of her.
Councilwoman Kouhara took Rory's black clothing to be mourning clothes, and she thought that it would be the perfect chance to have her attack the government's failings. After all, since she was wearing these clothes, she must have lost someone close to her.
Therefore, in order to draw out a tragic, heartbreaking story, she spoke gently and kindly to Rory.
"Could you tell me your name, please?"
"Rory Mercury."
"How is your daily life in the refugee camp?"
"As an apostle of Emroy, I lead a humble life according to my faith."
"And what is that like?"
"In truth, it is very simple. In the morning, I open my eyes and pray. I take life, and then I pray again. When night falls, I sleep once more. After all, I still possess a body of flesh, so there is no other alternative."
"What do you mean by 'taking life'?"
"One might compare it to hunting for the purpose of eating, or a live sacrifice to my god, Emroy."
Because the first word of the translation was "eating," Councilwoman Kouhara and the other councilors believed it was the slaughter of animals for consumption. Although that would not be an inaccurate description, in truth, "taking life" should have been interpreted literally, as "murder." It might have been simple good luck that such a shocking revelation was never translated.
And so, after that question was done, Kouhara asked again, "Was the JSDF the cause of your family members' deaths?"
Lelei considered this question with a doubtful tilt of the head. The doubt was not about how to translate the question, but rather, given that Rory was an apostle, any family she had should have died a long, long, long time ago. Therefore, that question seemed completely irrelevant.
However, the Chairman's curious question of "what's wrong?' interrupted her stupor.
Lelei could only split this question into two parts. She asked them as: "How about Rory Mercury's family," as well as "What do you think of the refugees at Coda Village?"
However, Councilwoman Kouhara had originally asked a single question, and she thought that the translator was deliberately splitting it up in order to cover up some misconduct in the JSDF and the Ministry of Defense. Therefore, she firmly repeated herself.
"Miss Lelei, please translate my question exactly as I ask it. Where the death of Rory's family caused by the JSDF's response?"
Since there was no choice, Lelei translated the question verbatim.
However, Rory's response was silence. Kouharu Mizuki thought, "Jackpot!", Thinking that she had finally managed to tug on Rory's heartstrings. If possible, she hoped that Rory's feelings would be reflected on her face. However, what Rory said next was in Japanese.
"Are you an idiot?"
In an instant, the Diet Chamber fell deathly silent. Raidyn started to laugh. "Good one Rory!" she shouted. Rory turned to her and smiled.
"Par-pardon me, what did you just say?"
Kouhara Mizuki asked her question, her voice filled with doubt.
"I said, 'Are you an idiot?', little miss."
Rory turned, her words drowning out Lelei's Japanese translation.
"That, that's terribly rude. Why do you say I'm an idiot?"
"Well, isn't that an idiotic question."
As Rory said that, she raised her eyes up, so she seemed to be looking down on a moron.
"I've been listening quietly from the beginning until now. All your questions were intended to imply that Itami and his men weren't trying hard enough to save the villagers' lives. Yet. Even Raidyn and Momon stated they did the best... The fact that they survived combat with a Flame Dragon and with the help of Momon and Raidyn managed to defeat it is by itself worthy of praise. You say 100 one of them died? That's a terrible mistake to make. You should be saying that the others survived. How can you be a senator without knowing such things? If everyone here is as much of an idiot as you are, it must be pretty tough being a soldier of this country."
"Witness, please take a more serious tone."
The Chairman seemed to have tossed out those words in annoyance, but Rory simply smiled archly and shrugged. Kouhara, who was furious after being so harshly criticized, tried to stare Rory down as she replied. "Little miss, I don't recall you being here before, but that is no reason to speak so crudely. Is this arrogance how children in your world behave toward adults?"
Her angry retort came out like a scolding for a child. Kouhara was hoping that this younger person would lower her head and apologize. As an older individual, it was the sole leverage she had.
"Little miss? Were you referring to me, by any chance?"
Rory hugged herself as she answered.
"Who else could I be speaking too? Also, why do you call me 'little miss'? Is that the respect you show your elders?"
"Ah, this might come as a surprise to some, but…"
Itami, who sensed the situation going from bad to worse, raised his hand. The elder Dietmen must have thought of Rory as a human, and thus they were treating her like a human. However, the reason he had brought them along was to show them that some things existed outside of their experience, and having these people present in person would hopefully be more convincing.
"Chairman!"
"Witness Itami, do not speak without the express permission of this office!"
"I'm very sorry about that, but I feel Councilwoman Kouhara has made a grave mistake..."
Indeed, there seemed to be a storm brewing between Rory and Kouhara. The Chairman hoped that Itami's words would help clear up this embarrassing scene.
"Witness Itami."
Rory bit her lips and stared at Itami before returning to her seat.
Her eyes seemed to be saying, "Don't interfere with me."
"Eh~ Councilwoman Kouhara, and all ladies and gentlemen present. We use our age as a weapon against the young, without thinking that someday it might be turned on us instead."
"Witness, kindly state your point succinctly."
"Ah, I'm very sorry about that. That is to say… well, to put it simply, Miss Rory Mercury is older than everyone present."
"What? To think she could be older than me?"
The incredulous speaker was a heavyweight member of the Conservatives. He was 87.
"Yes, she is."
A disturbance swept across the Chamber, along the lines of "What nonsense is this?"
Someone even proposed that they ask the witnesses their age.
However, someone else on the panel said, "It would be rude for us to directly ask a lady's age," so they had to let Councilwoman Kouhara handle it.
"Then, how old are you?"
"I am 961 years old."
Even the councilwoman fell silent with the rest of the room. "Is she immortal?" someone asked.
At this point, another female voice rang out, asking how old the other witnesses were.
"I'm 165 years old," Tuka answered. The male councilors shuddered, while the female ones swallowed. She was as beautiful as sculpted crystal, and she would stay that way forever, Tuka was a being of overwhelming beauty, radiating an aura of perfection that every other woman would strive desperately to achieve. That fact was driven further home now.
Everyone held their breath when they asked Lelei the question, and when she replied "I am 15," the men all sighed in relief. For these men, who equated youth to beauty, they would have to rethink the way they looked at the world seriously.
Then they looked at Momon. "I am only 251." He shrugged and looked away. Both women and all of the older gentlemen eyes popped out hearing his age.
Then they turned their gaze to Raidyn who answered with a nervous tone while scratched her face. "I don't know. I lost the count around when I turned to seven hundred. And that was long ago... Honestly... I don't really know how old I am anymore..." The Councilwoman and every woman in the room looked enviously at Raidyn and Tuka. "Damn! I really need to take notes..." Raidyn cursed under her nose.
Itami looked at her and Momon with wide eyes. He knows the elves are live long life and most likely can't die in a natural way. But Momon is 250+ years old? He never expected that.
After this, Lelei began her explanation for everyone in attendance.
According to Lelei, the Humans on the other side of the "Gate" could live to an age of 60 to 70 years, health permitting. Most of the people on the other side of the "Gate" were Humans.
The realization that the Humans on the other side of the "Gate" were similar to themselves drew some consternation from the councilors, and it allowed them to relax a little.
Tuka, on the other hand, was one of the so-called undying Elves, and as one of the rare High Elves, her lifespan was so much longer than that of a regular Elf that she was effectively immortal.
Rory was not human either, but a demigod, which was to say she was a divine being incarnated into a flesh and blood body. Although she was immortal now, she had once been a human, and her physical age was frozen at the time when she had ascended to demigodhood. After a thousand years, she would cast aside her cloak of flesh and become a true god. In other words, the concept of age did not matter to her.
Then Momon and Raidyn said the people call them Godkins. Momon explained what are the Godkins according to the vocabulary. As he explained both of them awakened Godkins. (Godkins who managed to awaken their true potentials and strength.) Everyone gasped. Even Rory.
As Momon continued his explanation. He explained that the Godkins are the offspring between gods(players) and mortals. Their strength, stamina, and abilities are far surpassing any normal mortal beings, and they usually figure of legends. Godkins usually can't die in in old age and a lot harder to kill them than a regular person. So they are basically immortal demigods as Rory.
What Raidyn vehemently denied. Saying. There is no such thing as gods or immortality, and the inventor of this title was only uninformed by seeing something that he does not understand.
Still, the whole crowd gasped. Rory looked Momon and Raidyn with wide eyes. She suspected since their first meeting. After she inspected their souls. She knows. They were not simple mortals. She suspected they are as well apostles as her. But now she knows it is true.
Of course, they were not the usual apostles who became ones after their patron gods give its blessing to them. But naturally born ones. She found it strange. Still, it was most likely because they came from a different world. Their gods most likely produced apostles by an another way. And if it worked as in her world. Raidyn is close to her ascension as her. This makes her feel less lonely than before. Later she needs to question them further about their gods.
After hearing this, Kouhara wanted to grab her head and scream as she started to show paler and paler expression with every passing second.
Earlier, she herself had said that juniors should respect their elders. Her mouth, which had so proudly scathed older members of the Diet, was now unable to speak from embarrassment.
That being the case, she should pretend to have forgotten it. That was a sign of the strong spirit politicians had. If things went wrong, they would forget it, ignore it, or just make something up. Nobody could play politics without the ability to say up was down and black was white.
She bowed her head with a shameful expression. "Then, I have no more questions."
The session was over, but there was a feeling that there were questions left unsaid, probably because the person who was supposed to ask those questions had given up on asking them herself. Kouhara shoved the newspaper clippings she never had the chance to use under her arm and despondently returned to her own seat.
After that, members of both parties asked questions of their own. They were mainly aimed at finding out about life and culture beyond the "Gate." Nobody dared probe deeper into Rory, Momon, Raidyn or Tuka's background.
After all, they had taken down the Flame Dragon, so nobody could do anything but praise them. They approved of the JSDF's handling of the situation with no complaints either.
At the end of everything, Councilman Higure asked a question.
He specifically pointed out Rory and Raidyn. Then asked, "I wish to ask ones who has lived over 900 years, with incalculable experience, who might well be living gods — our world values freedom, but at the same time, we restrict freedom to avoid undesirable circumstances, for instance, stories, artwork and other materials involving young girls. What should we do in this situation?"
Apart from trying to understand the moral values of the Special Region, the Councilman must have wanted to see how mature the two girls really were. Their answer.
First... witness Rory Mercury replied thus:
"Some questions with no answers cannot be answered even by those who live forever. Yet, the absence of a correct answer does not mean the question cannot be answered. If you want to know how I felt about the complete ban on some culture and art that I could not understand, was not interested in, or could not accept, in the name of preventing the violations of others' rights or other trumped up charges, I believe that would be taking us onto the road of discriminating against others. If we define culture as that which is healthy or humane, and defend that decision in the name of justice, once any part of that system collapses, it will cause an unimaginable number of problems for society. For instance, if I drew a line in the middle and erased one side, the next day, a new line will appear in the middle of the side that is left. I think suppressing the instincts and thoughts of the human spirit is bad. The desire for purity and wholesomeness, when taken to an extreme, is harmful."
Councilman Higure looked to Raidyn questioningly.
She tilted her head. "I think withholding knowledge is only acceptable if it prevents the collapse. But if this knowledge is important to the survival of the masses. You had to reveal it. Even it means the complete collapse of the society as you know now. After all, humans as well every organic being follow their instinct to survive... No matter how advanced the spoken civilization... " she sighed in a disappointed tone.
"Every one of them possesses the same characteristics. No matter the race, age, time or the individual method of thinking. They all possess they're striving towards their own selfish well-being. The instincts and characteristics of every living being. The only few characteristic what induce living beings to work together in dire times. Sloth. Interest, despair, ambition and greed." he opened one finger after each word.
Higure gulped.
"Under my long life. I saw many empires, many kingdoms, many governments fall. But after the fall of each other. The society rebuilt itself on the bones of the old ones. Not because it was the sensible solution. But it was easier to build on something that already exists than starting everything from the beginning. It was easier to build something in the bones of the fallen ones... Even if it means your foundations lies on lies and later will cause your downfall..."
She looked to the ground with a sad expression for a moment. "As I said... Under my long life... I forgot many things... But I remember... Each civilization what I saw and experienced... their rise, how the people lived, thrived and suffered and the fall of their government. The previously mentioned characteristic can be found each civilization... It is a pattern." everyone was silent in the room. "And it repeated itself more than anyone could imagine it. Civilizations rise... Evolve... and in the apex of their glory... their extinguished..." she looked through the people in the chamber.
"Individuals do things... horrible things to serve their own interest their own ambitions... without even thinking about... It will cause harm to the others. These individuals usually the ones whom get their hand on most of the resources or grabbed the power in the sudden power vacuum after the previous civilization collapsed."
Several camera flashes can be heard from the background as she took an another deep breath.
"In all cases the youth fight in wars. Just to feed the ambitions and lust for power of the elders. Not as if it was bad. No... it is good until a certain level. After all... ambition is the fuel of the evolution and advancement. Without ambition and self-interest, what could make us strive for more and more? To explore the unknown in the hope, we gain something from it... what makes us, forces us! Go beyond our boundaries, beyond the scope of light... beyond the reach of dark. Just to gain knowledge what is there... to satisfy our curiosity, our need of answers... our thirst of knowledge." she motioned around herself.
"...nothing... ambition, self-interest, and greed is our best asset and tool and our most dreadful curse. A curse what sooner or later will overwhelm, destroy, consume anyone and everyone who possess the characteristic of free will. The curse and the blessing what called free will... knowledge is power... but too much knowledge just drive you into madness..."
She placed her hand on her mouth and chuckled quietly. "Under my long studies. Upon researching the concept of demons... I realized... Beings who possess free will... are the closest things to demons. And believe me... I meet, spoke and defeated several demons under my life."
She placed her hand on her chest. "I am myself are not exempt from this rule. I am greedy. I am ambitious. I am slothful. I would carve for more even if I had enough. I am beautiful. Yet... a dreadfull monster from the nightmares of the children... I am not innocent... so no one."
Everyone looked at Raidyn with wide eyes. Some of them showed a shameful expression. Some of them looked angrily at her. Only a few of them nodded understanding the truth in her words.
She rolled her heterochromatic eyes. "What I want to say... If you forced to live as long as us. By all means, write a diary from your every day or at least make notes. Or in the end, you will forget where you hid your money. It happened me multiple occasions..." she showed a heartwarming smile at the end of her speech. Even the most pedantic Councilman heart was eased seeing her smile what was comparable to an angel from the heaven.
Itami and multiple councilmen chuckled.
Then they heard a chuckle. A dark tone what made every one of them cringe and a cold feeling crawl up on their spines. "You know she is right. You really need to make notes, or you will start to forget things..."
The crowd looked around searching the owner of the voice. Then a black oval gate appeared near Raidyn. From it, a broad-shouldered person stepped out. He was encased in a majestic jet black academic gown what edged with golden and violet edges. Behind his head, a dark halo like object glimmered.
His face was devoid of any skin and flesh and has the appearance of an evil skeleton. The highest ranked undead amongst the skeleton undead. An Overlord. Two dimming red lights dimmed in his eye sockets.
In his skeletal hand, he held an exquisite looking staff. The staff takes traits from the Greek god Hermes' caduceus. It is entwined by seven serpents and in each of the squirming serpents' mouths hold a jewel of a different color. Its grip has a transparent quality like crystal and emits a bluish white light.
When touched, it spews a dark red aura. Sometimes faces of humans in agony appear and crumble away dance on its surface. It is so vivid that it felt as though one could hear their voices of pain. It was the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.
(at least a copy of it. The real one was held on the eighth floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick because its destruction would cause the cessation of the guild Ainz Ooal Gown.)
Nine exquisite looking fancy rings adorned his nine fingers. Every one of them contained gems with top quality.
Ainz looked around and sighed in a relieved tone. However, he had no lungs this old habit remained from his old human self. "I am glad the [Gate] works even with such distances."
As he stepped through the gate. Two maids followed him.
Both of them was a true beauty. Their beauty even surpassed was on par or in someone's eyes even surpassed of Tuka's and Raidyn's. It was like their faces and bodies sculpted artificially to perfection.
One of the maids has an intelligent look, wearing glasses and a wide blue necklace. She wears her hair tied into a low-cropped bun at the back of her head. Lacking a metal plate in front of her skirt, her dress emphasizes mobility rather than defense. She is equipped with spiked gauntlets. She was Yuri Alpha. The vice-captain of the Pleiades of the Six stars.
The other maid who stood beside the overlord of the death was as well a beautiful girl. On her face, an emotionless blank expression settled. She was a short girl with red-gold straight long hair. She wears an eyepatch over her left eye, while her right eye has an emerald color and target mark on the pupil. Her face is very delicate; it looks as if it was artificially crafted by hand. She wears accessories with military camouflage patterns. While her face is beautiful, she does not show her emotions.
Her attire was similar to the other maid who stands beside Ainz. However, her biggest difference of those two were her urban camouflage accessories and the cute sticker attached to a corner of her skirt with '1 yen' written on it. The other significant difference was the white scientific magic-fuelled gun she had holstered on her waist like how one would wear a sword.
She was CZ2128 Delta. In another name. Shizu Delta.
Rory is fallen on her knees feeling the unimaginable pressure what the Overlord emitted from himself. Just being in his presence, she felt like she is constantly drowning. "This! This! This power! This presence! This darkness and death! This is surpassing even Emroy's presence! So..." she gasped being suffocated by Ainz's presence.
Near her. Lelei's world warped in the true color of magic. It was like until now she was blind and now... Now she finally opened her eyes. She is facing the universe itself. Like. She is in the presence of her patron gods. La and Leangle themselves. "This... this is how..."
"This is how being in the presence of a true God feels!" murmured Rory and Lelei in unison.
The two maid glanced at them for a moment.
Itami inspected the maids and Ainz from the sidelines. "Man! It is like the girls of the other worlds are being artificially made by Otakus! And they are with a magic caster with cool gear. This is not fair!"
"Hi!" the skeleton raised his hand casually. The crowd was completely silent. The people in the room even hold their breath back.
"Ahhhh! The Shinigami came to take my soul!" One of the security freaked out.
"Old titles..." Ainz murmured and chuckled.
The security hastily upholstered his weapon in his fear and raised towards Ainz with a trembling hand.
Before he could even pull the trigger like a flash, Shizu unholstered her scientific gun and shot out the gun from the security hand without injuring him. Everything happened at a moment of notice. But Rory could follow her fast movement. Her moves were calculated. There were no unnecessary moves amongst them. She was still suffocated by the presence of Ainz.
Ainz who stood not far from her, so her senses were still dazzled from Ainz's divine presence. It was like she overdosed by a big margin by the strongest drugs what can be found in the Empire. She squirmed because of the suffocating pleasure what now ran through her body.
Shizu holstered her steaming scientific gun to its sheath.
The room of course was full of the Sorcerer King concealed bodyguard units. But for Ainz's command. They only took action for his commands. Not as that simple firearm even could starch him. Because of his high level, passive nullification. Attacks under a certain level of data content can't harm him. No matter the nature of the attack. (magical, physical or other...)
The other security personnel immediately jumped on the frightened out security personnel who still kneeled and grabbed his wrist in pain. They wrestled him to the ground. Ainz looked in his direction for a moment. Yes, dear riders. Your read it right. It was the real Ainz. Namely, he changed positions with Pandora's Actor when he was in the dressing room.
As Ainz turned to his direction lazily. He chuckled like an evil villain. From his cold crackle, a cold feeling started to surround everyone. "Now that was just rude..."
Higure stood up and asked in a trembling voice. "W-Who are you?"
"I am sorry to come without an invitation. It was since centuries since I last walked in this world. I forgot to calculate the fact you do not see undead beings every day..."
"Ehhh!" everyone gasped.
"Ainz-sama is too humble. I am sure your Excellency calculated this fact in your plan..." Bowed Yuri Alpha with respect. Shizu nodded in agreement.
Momonga chuckled. "Is that so..." Then turned to the crowd before him.
"I am sorry my rude interruption. Let me introduce myself. My people know me as the Sorcerer King. The king of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Other people call me... Shinigami. The god of knowledge, foresight, and magic. Etcetera. All meaningless title before my true name." he let a dramatic pause. Everyone was silent. "Ainz Ooal Gown!" he announced his great name. His every move was calculated truly fit for a royalty. No... To a God. It seemed his long hours of practice before the mirror really paid out.
The crowd started to roar. The people from the press and the councilman started to throw question after question to Ainz.
He raised his hand. "[Perfect Silence]" He used his spell, and everyone lost their voice. It took several seconds while the people recognized the fact they lost their voice. They gaped for a few more second then one after other they looked at each other with a frightened expression realizing they lost their voice.
"Now that's better..." Ainz said in a satisfied tone and looked around.
"Hey, Ainz-san!" Waved him Raidyn.
Momonga turned to him and waved back to her. "Hello, Raidyn-san. Long-time no see. How are you?"
"I am fine. I just had to wear this horrible thing." She spat as she motioned on her clothes.
"Hmmm. I think its suit you perfectly. You should wear such things more often. I think Momon-san would not complain about it." Complimented her Ainz.
Momon. (Pandora's Actor) simply nodded.
"You just make it worse..." Raidyn said while she wailed. Then looked at Momonga. "By the way... You still owe from last time." She pointed accusingly at Ainz.
Momonga started to scratch his bald skull nervously. "Ohohoh! I don't know what are you speaking about."
"Cheater..." murmured Esdeath under her nose meanwhile hugged herself with a huffish expression.
The silenced crowd meanwhile watched how the god of death and the adventurer casually chatting with each other.
Ainz turned back to the crowd. "I am sorry... we will return to it later. Ok? Raidyn-san?" he asked.
"You can bet on it!" she frowned,
Ainz turned back to the crowd and cleared his throat. "I am sorry... I will give your voice back. Just don't start to roar. It is irritating me..." he knocked his staff to the ground two times, and everyone felt as their voice returned.
Meanwhile in the luxury room what the JSDF rented to the two royalties, Bozes plus Kuribayashi and Tomita watched the Diet on the live feed. As Beelzebub drink his fuzzy drink. He saw his father appearing on the TV and immediately spat out his drink directly into the screen of the device. "Father! What is he doing here!?" he jumped up suddenly. Shouted and pointed at the screen. His usual smiling, always calm and collected expression disappeared and his eyes almost popped out.
Kuribayashi takes up a similarly frightened expression as Beelzebub and also pointed to the screen. "T-That's your father?"
Beelzebub nodded with the mix of expression of the state of stupefied and surprised. "Of course he is! Don't we resemble each other? Like father like son." He pointed at his face.
The four other person in the room sweat dropped and shook their head. "Not really..." answered honestly Kuribayashi. She dared to hit such casual tone with Beelzebub. Because he previously authorized them to take a lazier tone when they are in private freely.
"I-Is that a mask on his face?" asked Tomita. His always cool tone seemed to disappear for a moment.
"No, it is his face. Why do you ask?"
"He is an undead!?" freaked out everyone aside Beelzebub.
"Yes! What do you expect? After all, He is the God of the death. A living being could hardly qualify to fill that position!" he scowled.
"Then that means..." Pina started to sweat heavily and looked to Beelzebub.
"I am half undead." Said Beelzebub lazily as he pointed at his face.
"Whaaat!?" shouted the three girls in the room in unison. "Then what is the other half?" asked Bozes with a stunned expression.
Beelzebub answered immediately while tilted his head. Now he resembled more like a kid who did not understand what the other party asked from him. "My mother is a demon." He answered.
The three girl paled suddenly and started to fall to their backs. It seemed they fainted hearing what races Beelzebub belonged to.
Beelzebub leaned above them. He waved before the three girl faces. But they did not react. "I think I broke them..." he scratched his face.
"You don't say... I mean you don't say Prince Beelzebub..." said Tomita with a dumbfounded expression.
"But what he is doing here?" Murmured Ainz's first born.
"I just go and ask him later..." he murmured. "There is no point disturb him now..."
Back in the diet.
The crowd was in complete silence. Does not dare to speak after the Sorcerer King silenced them. Higure gathered his courage and spoke out. He bowed his head respectfully. "If you may allow me a question, your majesty."
Ainz nodded. "Of course... Go ahead."
Higure gulped nervously. "May we know the purpose of your visit. Please understand our confusion. We did not expect your visit."
"I completely understand your confusion. After all, I came uninvited. Maybe I should come here in undercover as last times." He mused.
"That means your Majesty visited Japan before. It is correct?"
Ainz nodded. "Umu... Yes. You could say that. I visited your world a few times in the past. Inspected your progression as well your future. But I never really intervened just watched how you play with each other... and I must say... the people of Earth always amuse me each time I visit this little planet..."
"O-Our future..." "Play with each other?" "What does he meant by that?" "We are amusing him?" whispers can be heard from the crowds.
"Yes..." Ainz nodded. "Your future."
"Can you say anything about the future your Majesty?" asked one of the reporters.
Ainz chuckled and looked to the man from the press. "I can only say the fact what you already know. If you don't start to concentrate on the development of alternative energy sources and space programs. Or don't stop these meaningless fights. Your own stench will suffocate you..." It seemed the countless hours of practice before the mirror is paid out because Ainz every move was worthy of royalty.
The crowd gasped.
"I will not say anything more. Knowledge is power, and I do not give it up for free... I hope you understand that."
The cameras flashed, and Ainz looked through the crowd. "Well... any more question?"
"Your majesty! What was that strange portal through which you appeared?"
"It was a simple portal through time and place. With its help. I can travel great distances instantly."
An another reporter raised his hand. "That means that is a time-space portal?"
"Well... You can call it that. But its proper description is far more complex than I could explain it under a short session. The simplified version is. It basically works like a wormhole what I can open at any time at any place."
Many hands raised and started to bombard Ainz with their questions. What he sought to answer honestly as he could. "Your majesty! Are you really a god?"
"Well... I don't qualify myself as one. Neither believes there is a being who deserve that title, however, powerful it is. However, my subjects used to calm me that. In my own displeasure..." he lowered his head shamefully.
"Sorry, Ainz-sama." The two maid lowered their head as they said in unison.
"Your majesty. You said your subjects call you Shinigami. Do you really rule over death?"
"Certainly I rule over death." He nodded.
"That means you can resurrect a dead person?"
"I can..." he answered shortly. The crowd gasped. Rory, Itami, Lelei and Tuka's eyes almost popped out hearing his answer.
"For me. Death is nothing more than a disease. What I can cure if I wish. Of course, I don't give the gift of life freely. Only for those who show their worth can gain the gift of life from me.."
"Can you prove it your majesty?" asked one of the Councilman. The other Councilman and Councilwoman smirked in malice.
"I can, certainly." Everyone thought Ainz would back down and said he would not. But when they heard he is willing to prove his capability of ruling over death. Everyone remained silent. The Councilman looked at each other with a frightened expression.
"However... I must warn you. Resurrecting a person takes away from his/her vitality. If a person was weak before it died. Its body is simply crumbling into dust. As well the resurrected person can refuse to be resurrected. That's entirely up to them to allow themselves resurrected." Explained Ainz.
"That means your majesty can't force resurrection to others?"
Ainz thought for a moment. "Well... I certainly can. But I am not so cruel to force somebody to the living world who don't want to be here... It is entirely senseless and the resurrected person most likely commit suicide immediately. Bringing further despair to their loved ones."
Everyone nodded because it was sensible.
Tuka wanted to ask if her father is alive or not. But in the end, she was too afraid to accept her father's death. So she kept her mouth shut.
"Any more questions?" Ainz looked around. The crowd started to roar again, and Ainz continued his question-answer game. Giving the people his answers.
"Respected deity." Ainz looked beside himself where Rory kneeled. "Yes?"
"You are really a god!" her eyes shined in happiness. "I never thought I fell feel Emroy so close again! But when you appeared the whole world flipped upside down." Ainz listened to her carefully as he sweats dropped. Despite he did not have sweat glands. "Oh no... an another zealot..." he screamed inside.
Rory almost drooled. Feeling Ainz presence was like a drug for her.
"Please. As the equivalent of my God in your world. No... From your presence, I had to ask..." Rory looked up to Ainz with hopeful eyes. "You are the creator of Emroy?"
"Shit! Not again... What did she just said!? I created who?" swore Ainz inside. Ainz turned to her. "Who is your God?" he asked calmly.
Rory looked up at him with eyes of awe. "He is Emroy. The God of God of Darkness, War, Death, Violence, and Insanity."
"What a bullshit!" screwed Ainz with a surprised tone.
"Hmm." Ainz placed his skeletal hand to his sharp chin and started to fondle it. He seemed he is thinking heavily. "I don't really recall anyone called Emroy amongst my creations..."
"Creations?" many people looked at each other and started to mumble.
Rory nodded. "I see... Still, take my obeisance's and prayers. After all. In your world, you are the equivalent of my God. You share the same aspects as him."
"I don't really represent war and insanity..." he chuckled. "that's honor goes to my colleague... she represents war and insanity among many things." He chuckled glancing Esdeath who posed as Raidyn not far from him. She subtly winked at him.
"Then I pray to her too." She bowed her head and clasped her hands to pray. "Not again!" screamed Ainz inside.
Ainz placed his hand to the kneeling Rory's shoulder. Fortunately, he disabled his Passive Negative Touch ability.
(The Negative Touch was an ability what Deals negative-type damage to the object being touched, attacked or skill-attacked by Ainz. Acquired by Elder Lich level up. Can toggle On/Off.)
"Please. You don't have to pray to me or my colleague. We don't deserve it such things."
"It is irritating anyway..." mused Ainz.
Rory looked up to him. "But..."
"No, but..." he turned back to the crowd. And seen many people already kneeling and praying towards him. "What the fuck!" he screamed inside. "Not again!"
He sighed. "Please rise and state your other questions. I still want to look around. After all. It was a while since I visited your world."
Lelei was still shocked feeling the infinite amount of magic what Ainz emitted and was too scared and shocked to ask any question from him.
After an hour later Ainz gets bored of answering their questions. Finally, the announcer announced the end of the Diet and Ainz could get rid of the bombardment of the questions and the annoying praying zealots whose begged his blessing or to resurrect their deceased loved ones.
"It was a bad idea coming here and answering them personally." he sighed in an exhausted tone. "I just wanted to make a good first impression! What went wrong? Why everyone overacts everything? It's like I am home... Annoying and depressing!"
Ainz and the others started to walk towards the exit. His every step fit for a true royalty. The cameras recorded his every move.
In the entrance, a suited man with a red tie waited for Ainz. He was a middle-aged man who has a short black hair that is parted to the left, he has very sharp black eyes.
He bowed respectfully before Ainz. "I am Motoi Shinzō. The Japanese Prime Minister. Please forgive me, your majesty! We can't arrange you a proper welcome."
Ainz raised his hand. "It is not a problem. I came without any kind of warning. I visited your world out of my mere curiosity."
"Still, it is the proper way to welcome you properly your majesty. If you wait a little more we can arrange you proper accommodation and escort. The leaders of the world would surely want to meet you."
Ainz raised his hand. "It is not needed. I plan to travel around the world a few days. But in two days' time. I am willing to meet the leaders of the united nations if it's acceptable. Until that. My son. Beelzebub Ooal Gown will be at your service. If you want to contact me. Just ask him. He knows how to reach me. And don't worry. I will know in a time where the leaders of the nations want to meet me." he chuckled.
Motoi felt as the dread creeping up in his spine just looking at Ainz. Ge started to sweat.
"As you wish your majesty." He bowed. "If I may ask? What kind of transportation method do you want to use to travel the world?"
"The same method as I come here. Teleportation." Ainz waved with his golden staff and the same black oval gate appeared near him.
"If you excuse me Prime Minister. I have continents to explore..." Ainz turned away and walked through the black oval gate. His two maids followed him closely while the cameras flashed all along.
Meanwhile, everyone watched with awe what happening before their eyes. Itami just watched the whole scene with a dumbfounded expression and pointed to the leaving Ainz. "Is he?" he looked at Raidyn then back to the gate. "Is he really simply tore a hole in the fabric of the time and space and walked away?"
Raidyn sighed. "Yes... he used to do that. And he always forgot to pay me for my services. Not speaking he is always cheating in chess..." she shrugged.
"He-He is cheating in chess?" Itami collected himself and shrugged. "Yes... right..."
Ainz glanced out the gate one last time and said with a calm demeanor. "I never cheat." then disappeared. This time permanently.
"Of course you cheat old bones..." she chuckled.
Itami and his team were done with the Diet session.
Just in the moment, Ainz left.
The microbus had returned to the Diet building to fetch Itami and the others. It was escorted by two cars from Intel Branch, one in front and one behind. It was sunset, which implied that the roads would be jammed, as well as the risk that some car might try to ram or otherwise endanger them.
The convoy started and stopped in time with the changing of the traffic lights' colors.
As the cars around them passed the convoy, a car filtered in behind the microbus. It was traveling at a ridiculously slow speed, and it hedged the car that Komakado was in away from the microbus.
"Hm~ How strange."
Komakado was mumbling to himself, but the driver was tensed up.
"Dammit, this clown's really taking his sweet time driving!"
He thought of going over the crosswalk or overtaking the car in front of him, but the cars in the lanes beside him suddenly slowed down, making it impossible to change lanes or overtake.
And so, when the traffic light turned red, the microbus left its escort behind it.
As he watched the taillights of the rapidly-receding microbus, Komakado tapped his mike with one hand and gave his orders.
"Command to all vehicles, the enemy's here. Keep your eyes peeled."
A voice entered in Esdeath's head. [Message]: "Esdeath-sama. This is G.O.L.D.I.E."
[Message]: "Yes G.O.L.D.I.E? Is something wrong?"
[Message]: "No. I just finished the data collection what you entrusted me. Their primitive security methods and firewalls were no challenges to me. I left no digital traces and footprints in their system and placed the necessary safeguards in the case if they turned against us." Explained the Ai.
[Message]: "Thank you! You did a splendid job as always! I am proud of you." Esdeath praised her creation.
Esdeath heard the AI happy squirm in the message. [Message]: "Thank you Creator-sama!"
[Message]: "Ok. Ok. Now tell me... what did you found..."