Episode 155: The Pursuer
The English Seeker Clan, “Ophanims” —
“Hey, hey, is it really coming? That red dog. There’s a chance it could go somewhere else, right?”
Michael shrugged his muscular shoulders and spoke to Charlotte, who was sitting on a high-style outdoor chair.
“There’s no way I’d know! Using Monsters to find Black Armor, no one’s ever done anything that crazy!”
Charlotte stood up with a slightly irritated look, crossed her arms, and looked at the road.
They were at the Ground Self-Defense Force Nerima Garrison in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. They had taken up position in one of the warehouses.
In front of the warehouse was a UH-1H multi-purpose helicopter.
The Ministry of Defense had prepared it for Charlotte and the “Ophanims.” The pilot was waiting in the cockpit, ready to depart at any moment.
No matter where Hell Garm went, they were ready to respond.
If the Hell Garm entered Tokyo and found the Black Armor, they would rush in from the sky in this helicopter. They would never let it escape.
“Come on, come whenever you want, guide. Lead us to the target.”
Charlotte’s eyes were fixed on the distant horizon.
◇◇◇
The American Seeker Clan, “Prometheus” —
Albert’s Prometheus had gathered at the U.S. Army Akasaka Press Center in Roppongi, Minato Ward, Tokyo.
The site had an area of 31,670 square meters and even had a helipad.
A V-22 (Osprey) had landed on the helipad. The rear hatch was open, and Prometheus Seekers were going in and out.
When Mia Ines, the Seeker Clan’s vice-leader, entered the aircraft, she noticed a large man sprawled out on a seat.
He had a Japanese magazine on his face and was sleeping soundly, snoring away.
Mia sighed in exasperation at his carefree attitude.
“Albert… today might be the biggest turning point, please be more tense!”
Albert shifted the magazine on his face and squinted at Mia.
“Yawwwn, Mia. Today’s operation is led by the Japanese government. There’s nothing we can do.”
Mia threw up her hands and said, “Honestly!” at Albert, who was yawning as he spoke.
As always, she sighed, wondering if he could act a little more like the leader of a Seeker Clan, when a voice called out from behind.
“Everyone, preparations are complete!”
Turning around, she saw strong men and women Seekers clad in black battle suits standing there. They were undoubtedly the strongest people in the world.
There was no way they could lose with this team.
“Prometheus will take care of the “Black Armor”! Don’t let any other country beat us to it!”
“Yes!”
The Seekers, like disciplined soldiers, all tightened their faces.
◇◇◇
While Seeker Clans such as “Roar of the Raijuu,” “Ophanims,” and “Prometheus” were making preparations, other overseas forces that had entered Japan were also taking up positions.
Japan’s major and semi-major Seeker Clans also took up positions, each maintaining a distance.
This was to ensure that they could respond no matter where the “Black Armor” was discovered.
Finally, Hell Garm entered the crowded streets of Tokyo. Once it got this far, it started to attract attention.
“Hey, what’s that?”
“A dog? Isn’t it big?”
“Huh!? Isn’t it burning?”
The red Hell Garm crossed the road, passed through the office district, and headed straight somewhere.
Some cars slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting it. But Hell Garm didn’t seem to be attacking anyone.
The Seekers who were watching from a distance continued to be vigilant while contacting each other.
Hell Garm was heading from Itabashi Ward toward Nerima, spewing Ember from its mouth.
Ministry of Defense Ichigaya Building, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo —
Takakura, the Minister of Defense, Serizawa, the Defense Councilor, and Honda from Elceed, among other responsible parties from related organizations, were gathered here.
In the 350-square-meter conference room, several monitors were installed, showing images from various locations.
They were ready to respond whenever the “Black Armor” appeared.
“Are you sure about this? Failure is not an option.”
Takakura muttered with a bitter expression, and Serizawa, sitting next to him, opened his mouth with a tense look.
“The Prime Minister was unexpectedly positive about this matter. Perhaps, it means that even if there are some civilian casualties, we should defeat the “Black Armor”.”
Takakura smiled and shook his head.
“Some, huh… If there are many casualties, or if we let the Black Armor escape, I will be held responsible. And of course, Serizawa, you won’t get away with it either.”
“Understood.”
On the monitors in the conference room, which the two were staring at, were still images of a peaceful cityscape.
◇◇◇
“Ah~ I’m tired. We didn’t get much today either.”
Yuma called out to Tanaka, who was covered in sweat, in the entrance room of the “Blue Dungeon.”
“Yeah, but I think it’s enough if we get this much. The purchase price of Magic Gems is higher than before.”
The two left the dome-shaped facility and decided to return to the company.
“Wait a minute, I’ll contact the president.”
Tanaka got into his beloved R50 red Mini Cooper, which was parked in the parking lot, and took out his smartphone to make a call.
Yuma, who was in the passenger seat, was idly thinking about the future while waiting for the phone call to end.
–What’s going to happen from now on? The president told me not to Metallization, but in my natural state, I’m just a useless Seeker…
Yuma sighed. Then, next to him, he heard a surprised voice say, “Huh?”
“W-What do you mean!? Yes… yes, then to Yuma-kun? Yes, I understand.”
Tanaka hung up the phone and was stunned for a while.
“What’s wrong?” Yuma asked, and Tanaka snapped back to reality.
“It seems that the president has received information that the movements of overseas Seekers and major Seeker Clans are strange.”
“Strange… what is?”
“I don’t know the details, but it’s possible that they’ve noticed the “Black Armor”… Yuma-kun’s location…”
“Eh!?”
“It’s just a guess. It’s not decided. But just in case, the president said to come back to the company immediately.”
“I see.”
Tanaka started the engine and drove the car out of the parking lot. While being shaken by the car running on Metropolitan Route 311, Yuma was feeling more and more anxious.
–If they really find out…
“Oh! That’s right, Yuma-kun. The president told me to make Yuma-kun eat all the Magic Gems we got today.”
“Huh?”
Yuma looked bewildered. Tanaka stopped at a red light and handed over the black case containing the Magic Gems, saying, “Here.”
“Is it okay?”
“Yeah, it might be useful in an emergency. I think it will be about 120 Mana Index in total.”
Yuma took the case from Tanaka and opened the lid. Inside were several Magic Gems, Aquamarine and Iolite.
If the president said so, the situation must be quite desperate.
“Then, I won’t hold back.”
Yuma took the Magic Gems in his hand and threw them into his mouth whole. He swallowed them down with the bottled water that Tanaka had given him.
His stomach felt warm.
“Yeah, properly absorb–“
The moment Yuma looked at Tanaka in the driver’s seat. He noticed something running outside the window.
A big, red dog. He would never forget that Monster he had seen so many times.
“Hell Garm!!”
A tremendous Crushing Impact. The car was blown away and rolled over two or three times. All the glass shattered, and the rolling car crashed into the side of a building.