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"That's weird! Why isn't there a single defender out here? Do the people of this world really put that much faith in a few crumbling stones?"
Benimaru looked toward the city's edge in the distance, completely bare of any defensive presence, and couldn't help but grumble to Rengoku Kyojuro beside him.
"It really is strange! Even if they're not heavily guarded, you'd at least expect some scouts or patrol units. There's nothing at all?"
Rengoku Kyojuro frowned, equally puzzled.
"Well, whatever. We'll deal with it as it comes. Let's get into the city and link up with Kaito-sama!"
"Got it!"
The two glanced at the long procession stretching out behind them and said nothing more.
"So what exactly are you trying to show us? It's already been half a day!"
Seitenshi looked at Kaito, who was leisurely sipping tea in his chair, and finally had to ask.
"Relax. This is a grand performance, and the players haven't even taken the stage yet. Good things come to those who wait!"
Kaito took another sip of tea, swept his gaze across everyone in the room, and said it like it was nothing.
Every person his eyes landed on quickly looked away, not daring to hold his gaze, quietly terrified that one wrong move might set him off.
Just as Kaito finished his cup and reached for the teapot to pour another, he sensed that Benimaru and the others had reached the city's edge. He set the pot down and spoke:
"Oh! They're here!"
"What's here?!"
"That 'oh' just now!"
Kaito waved his hand, and a huge water mirror rose up in the middle of the conference table. The moment the scene inside it came into focus, the entire room went dead silent.
"Bang!"
"What is this?! People with pig heads? Humans with horns?! What on earth are those things?!"
"What's happening to this world?! Is this some kind of Gastrea evolution?!"
"Your Excellency, what… what is going on?!"
Seitenshi stared at the water mirror, her face pale with shock, and turned to Kaito.
"Isn't it obvious? My people have arrived. Weren't you all just talking about the army outside the city?"
"What?! That's the army outside the city?! They're not even human!"
"Your Excellency, what are you trying to do here exactly? If you're planning to invade the Tokyo Area, I'll step down right now."
Kaito glanced at Seitenshi and answered flatly:
"You're too soft-hearted for your own good. I already told you what I want, didn't I? My goal hasn't changed."
"Your goal?"
Seitenshi turned it over in her head, and then something clicked. She looked at Kaito, her expression going white, her voice barely holding together:
"You… you… you want to massacre the city!"
"What?! A massacre?!"
Everyone in the room shot to their feet. They hadn't actually believed it when he'd said it before.
"Heh heh, not bad, you figured it out! But knowing my plan doesn't change a thing, does it? So sit down and enjoy the show."
Kaito's voice was cold and easy. Seitenshi and the other officials sank back into their seats, all the fight drained out of them, eyes fixed helplessly on the water mirror.
Kaito paid them no more attention and reached out to Benimaru through telepathy:
"Benimaru, head straight into the city and start the plan. No need to come find me."
Benimaru felt the voice drop into his mind and stopped mid-step. He looked around sharply:
"Kaito-sama!"
Rengoku Kyojuro stopped alongside him, glancing over with a puzzled look:
"Kaito-sama! I don't see him anywhere either!"
"It's a telepathic message from Kaito-sama."
Benimaru replied calmly, then spoke back:
"Kaito-sama, where are you? I can spare some men to keep you covered!"
Kaito's reply came back at once:
"Don't bother. You think I need a babysitter? Every soldier in this city is already back in their barracks. There's no one left out here to stop you."
"All the top brass in this city are under my control. Just go do what needs to be done."
Benimaru's face broke into a grin when he heard that. He straightened up and answered:
"Understood, Kaito-sama! Leave it to us!"
"Good."
Kaito cut the connection. Benimaru turned to Rengoku Kyojuro:
"Kaito-sama has the whole city's leadership locked down, and the military's been ordered to stay in barracks. The only thing standing in our way now is those Civil Security people."
"So that's why there wasn't a single defender out there. It was all Kaito-sama's work from the start. Truly something else!"
"Right then. I'll take five thousand and handle the barracks. You take the other ten thousand and carry out Kaito-sama's plan."
Benimaru's eyes sharpened with killing intent as he said it. Rengoku Kyojuro gave a firm nod:
"Leave it to me. I'll give these bastards a proper welcome!"
With that, the two split off and led their forces in separate directions.
Back in the room, Kaito waved his hand and the water mirror split cleanly in two, each half tracking one of the units.
Tokyo Area · Outskirts
"Shizu, I think we've found all the children in this area. Time to move on to the next one!"
Geld, clad in full armor, said quietly to Shizu beside him.
"Thank you for all your help, Geld!"
Shizu turned to him with a warm smile.
"Don't mention it. These are Benimaru-sama's orders too, so I'm just doing my part. And honestly, I feel for these kids after everything they've been through."
"Heh heh, I didn't take you for such a softie, Geld!"
"Uh… you're embarrassing me, Shizu."
Geld rubbed the back of his head with a shy laugh.
"Wow! The Orc general is actually a nice guy!"
"Right?! He's way friendlier than the grown-ups back in the city!"
"Don't be rude! Call him uncle!"
Matsuzaki scolded the girls firmly.
"Yes, Elder! Sorry!"
"I know, I know, I was wrong!"
The girls all piped up with apologies. One of them stepped forward toward Geld, bowed her head, and said softly:
"I'm sorry, Orc Uncle. I shouldn't have called you a monster!"
Geld looked at the small girl in front of him and slowly crouched down.
A gentle smile spread across his face. He dug a handful of candies out of his pocket, held them out to her, and said:
"It's fine! Uncle's not mad. You want some candy?"
The girl stared at the candies, biting her finger, eyes full of longing.
But she didn't reach out just yet. She looked back at Matsuzaki first, who gave her a soft smile and a nod.
Only then did she carefully reach out and take them, whispering:
"Thank you, Orc Uncle!"
"Anytime!"
"Everyone, come get some candy!"
One by one, all the girls received their share and popped the sweets into their mouths.
"It's so sweet!"
"So good!"
"I've never had candy before. So this is what it tastes like?!"
Shizu, Matsuzaki, and the other adults watched the children's faces light up, their own smiles growing softer and softer…