CHAPTER 122: THE SECRET SERVICE DIVISION
The maintenance tunnel, which had only just begun to cool down, was suddenly crowded again.
Ren Shiroki, Nozomi Tenma, Hana Mitani, An Sakurai, Seishu Akoya, and Shunsuka Hiyama were caught in the center of a pincer movement.
To the left stood a squad of enforcers from the Secret Service Division (Missou-ka), led by Superintendent Seiichi Tenma.
To the right stood the elite officers of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters, led by Commissioner Haru Takeya.
Though both groups were technically police, the air between them was a battlefield. They were two factions of the same state machine, grinding against each other with bared teeth.
"Yo!"
Ichika Iori strolled forward, waving at Nozomi and the others with a sharp grin. "Sorry for the delay. The big shots were having a very long, very boring meeting."
"No," Nozomi sighed, her shoulders finally dropping an inch. "Your timing was perfect."
If an international assassin and a rogue cop were "Strong Opponents," then a pack of "Dirty Cops" from the Secret Service was a "Crisis." The Division members were notorious for being unshakeable.
In this dark, isolated tunnel, a group of Black-Ops officers with firearms held the ultimate "Might." Especially considering the man standing behind Superintendent Tenma—the lean, chocolate-eating bodyguard. He radiated a level of lethality that rivaled the Caracal or Dorian. He was a professional killer with a government badge.
Ren knew that without outside help, he would have had to use another "Explosion" just to clear a path.
Hana Mitani looked at Ichika in shock. "Ichika-chan? How did you get the Commissioner to come here personally?"
"It was a team effort!" Ichika chirped, slinging an arm around Nozomi's shoulder. "Since I recovered those chemical weapons from the cult, I've got some serious 'Capital' at HQ. Even the Commissioner has to play nice with me now."
"The Big Boss is a Rokushin Kaikan alumnus. He's a Karateka. He hates red tape and he's protective of his best detectives. Don't worry, we've got backup."
Hearing this, Hiyama went quiet, focusing on Akoya's bandages. Both sides stood their ground, waiting for the "Rulers" to settle the score.
Commissioner Haru Takeya and Superintendent Seiichi Tenma stepped forward, meeting in the middle of the tunnel.
After a long, cold silence, Tenma gave a shallow, stiff bow. "Commissioner."
As Takeya had pointed out, there was a significant gap in their authority.
The Commissioner (Keishi-sokan) was Grade 9—the highest rank in the Japanese police system, a position held by only one person. Tenma, a Superintendent (Keishi-cho), was Grade 8.
In a bureaucracy, the person with the lower number on their ID card wins the argument.
"This is quite a headache, Commissioner," Tenma said. His face was a void, showing zero emotion. "We received reports of a civilian using high explosives on a public street. We tracked the suspects to this tunnel."
"Takeya-sokan... are you suggesting the Metropolitan Police should harbor violent criminals?"
Takeya ignored the verbal trap. A man who reaches the rank of Commissioner has survived more political assassinations than a Yakuza has street fights.
"This has nothing to do with you, Tenma-kun," Takeya said, adjusting his glasses. "The Secret Service Division was founded as a 'Suppression Unit' by my predecessor. It enjoys a high degree of autonomy. However... I still have the authority to dissolve it with a single memo."
Tenma didn't flinch. "The Division has proven its excellence time and again. Dissolving us would raise many... uncomfortable questions from the Ministry."
"Excellence is a matter of the individuals, not the unit," Takeya countered.
Tenma leaned in. "Even the best individuals require a Leader."
Takeya let out a weary chuckle. "You're just the man who funds them, Tenma. You aren't their leader. The youth who truly commands them is far more impressive than you."
The two men traded barbs, but the conflict remained purely political. As high-ranking officials, they wouldn't start a brawl here. This was a war of influence.
To try and reclaim the "Might" in the room, Tenma gestured to the man behind him—the scruffy "bodyguard" who had just finished his chocolate bar.
"This is Seiichi Minowa."
"Minowa-kun is a very 'Efficient' talent. When he is deployed, the 'Germs' of the city are effectively... buried."
Tenma gave a subtle nod.
Seiichi Minowa strolled forward. He walked over to the pile of wreckage where Akoya had discarded his gear. He reached down and picked up the reinforced riot shield—the same one that had survived the Caracal's kicks and Dorian's fire.
Akoya glared at him, but Minowa just smirked back.
"Don't look so scary, Akoya-kun. The Secret Service is just a bit better at 'Burials' than your Riot Squad."
"Burials?" Akoya's voice was a low growl.
"Exactly!"
Minowa toyed with the heavy shield, a manic light in his eyes. "Cremation, burial, sea-burial, sky-burial... I'm not picky. Which one do you prefer, Officer?"
He locked eyes with Akoya, his voice dropping to a haunting whisper. "Broken toys... they should stay in the ground. Don't you agree?"
Minowa raised the heavy-duty riot shield, placing his hand flat against the center of the reinforced composite.
The next second—
CRACK!
Minowa's muscles didn't even seem to move, but a surge of "Absolute Might" exploded from his palm. Like a hydraulic press hitting a soda can, the riot shield—designed to stop armor-piercing rounds—was instantly crushed.
The metal buckled and the composite shattered into a dozen jagged pieces.
It wasn't a "Strike." It was pure, unadulterated Grip Strength. A level of power that was fundamentally "Non-Human."
"This stuff is like a toy," Minowa noted, letting the fragments fall to the floor. He gave a bloodthirsty grin. "Akoya-kun, I heard you were the strongest in the Riot Squad? That's a fair evaluation. After all... the Riot Squad is for children. The Division is for monsters."
"If you ever find a criminal you can't handle... call me. I love community service."
After Minowa's provocative display, Commissioner Takeya realized the tension was about to snap. He waved his arm, signaling his own elites to move in for the cleanup, forcibly ending the standoff.
Akoya and Hiyama departed first. Tenma and his Black-Ops team turned and vanished back up the stairs.
Fifteen minutes later, the group was huddled inside Ichika's white surveillance van. Commissioner Takeya was sitting with them, looking relaxed as he sipped a canned coffee.
"Street brawls... they're a nightmare to document, but man... they bring back memories," Takeya said, showing no trace of his high rank.
"Years ago, back when I was a Superintendent in the Organized Crime unit, Tokyo was hit by an 'Invasion' of martial artists. The streets were a war zone of high-stakes duels."
"Ikeuchi, Samato, Motoyama, Nanbu... those hot-headed idiots. I miss those days!"
Takeya patted Ren Shiroki on the shoulder. "So, Ren-kun. Since you're a friend of Ichika's, don't worry about tonight. I'll make sure the paperwork says you were a 'Heroic Bystander.'"
He laughed, leaning back. "Harboring street brawlers was my specialty back in the day!"
But then, the Commissioner's smile faded. He rubbed his temples with a sigh.
"Though... despite our friendship, I have to warn you. The Secret Service Division is going to be a problem."
"And those guys? They don't follow my rules."
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