Chapter 425: with translation of chapter title

The black car was a Mercedes-Benz on the asphalt road.

At this time, the vehicles on the road all avoided this black car, and during the car's drive, all traffic lights at intersections instantly turned green.

This black car belongs to the secret division of the Police Bureau, namely the vehicle of National Security Section 0, and only such a vehicle with special status can make the road unobstructed without any hindrance.

At the moment the satellite was destroyed by an unknown creature, the entire National Security Section 0 had already launched its operation; they are the department responsible for phantoms and mages, so when such an incident occurs, they bear primary responsibility.

Seated in the back, Masaki Masaru wore a grave expression while his subordinate explained the situation of this satellite crash.

According to the Astronomical Bureau plus magic-related data, it has been confirmed that the monster that shot down the satellite is a phantom, and this monster's size and power far exceed the limits they know.

Given the modern weapons they currently possess, they likely cannot deal with this phantom; the worst case could be that even mages cannot handle such a monster, in which case a large area of Tokyo might be destroyed.

A single such monster cannot destroy Tokyo, but what if a group of them were active simultaneously?

Not long ago, an unidentified, numerous horde of phantoms suddenly swarmed out.

The phantoms that had been disguising themselves as humans now one after another revealed their true monstrous forms.

They roamed in groups at various traffic locations across Tokyo, and every minute there were witnesses reporting sightings of the monsters.

The Metropolitan Police Department's phone lines have been blown up, and combined with the satellite crash, the situation is extremely serious.

Yet there were no casualties; the only people injured or suffering property or financial loss were those frightened by the phantom's ferocious appearance… It's unclear why this monster, which delights in causing despair, would switch to being a scareghost.

However, according to the conclusions of many summoned social psychology experts, the sole explanation is that phantoms, like humans, must follow certain social rules; previously they induced despair in those with magic, but now the rules have undergone some complex changes.

Of course, although Masaki Masaru is the chief of National Security Section 0, his authority has limits, and it is impossible to use large-scale lethal weapons in the city to eliminate phantoms.

In short, National Security Section 0 can no longer keep phantoms completely out of public view; the situation is somewhat out of control, so at this point they can only try to rely on mages' power to uncover the truth of this incident.

The large-scale disappearance incident half a year ago, plus the endless stream of phantoms, makes the city seem as if it is being manipulated by something, and magical power is beginning to slowly recover.

So he recalled the only mage he knows who can help resolve this matter, and also the sole person capable of assisting National Security Section 0.

"Chief, we have arrived." The driver stopped the car and reminded Masaki Masaru.

"I know, guard the entrance."

Masaki Masaru opened the car door, stepped out, and tightened his suit.

This time is different from before; he is here to seek help, not to make arrests, so his attitude must be gentle, not overbearing, and he must not put on airs of superiority.

Masaki Masaru stepped into the antique shop's doorway, and at first glance he saw his target for today and the female officer who should have been working at the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Mr. Masaki, why did you suddenly come here?" The female officer exclaimed, rising from the sofa.

"Ōmon Rinako, I'm not here for you." Masaki Masaru pointed at the person eating a doughnut, Sōma Shōto, "We need a mage's assistance." "Me?" Shōto pointed blankly at himself, saying he hadn't heard lately of any phantoms causing trouble on the streets.

"Yes, phantoms have appeared." Masaki Masaru sat opposite Shōto, arms crossed on his chest, eyeing the mage with white sugar still on his lips, wondering if doughnuts are really that good. "Phantoms! Where are they?" Shōto placed the obviously chipped doughnut into a bag.

What puzzled him was why his familiar sensed nothing at all.

"Not in Birdwell Slope, but in Tokyo; your familiar's scouting range is insufficient." Masaki Masaru leaned on the sofa, "That's why I informed you of the details. The phantoms' behavioral pattern has changed; they are deliberately observing certain strange rules, and we suspect a powerful entity behind them is directing them."

"Strange rules?" Shōto asked.

"Chief Masaki, phantoms have begun massing in a certain direction." The driver who had been guarding the door suddenly looked anxious and rushed into Men'eidō.

National Security Section 0 certainly wouldn't have a dedicated driver; he is also a specialist tasked with investigating phantoms.

"No time, we'll talk while walking." Masaki Masaru pulled Shōto into the car.

As the car accelerated, Shōto inside gradually understood the situation; no wonder phantoms haven't appeared lately—they are no longer targeting despair, and have already left Birdwell Slope to operate in Tokyo.

A mage's familiar's scouting range is not infinite; originally these phantoms operated in Birdwell Slope, popping out one by one, and during battles their magical fluctuations were obvious, but now their activity range shifts according to the target's changes, so of course they won't linger long in the same area.

In the silent forest, Guleimlin lay in human form beside a large tree, his face now bearing several cracks, through which a purple glimmer shone.

He has wandered many places, from Birdwell Slope on Tokyo's edge to the opposite side of the city.

Initially he used the magic barrier where the sage resides to conceal his traces, and incidentally released the sealed Regijon.

But for some reason his whereabouts were still leaked, and he was hunted all the way, fleeing until now, his body also bearing wounds from being besieged by many phantoms.

He only hopes that this time his hiding can be prolonged a bit longer, not to be discovered so quickly.

He also still wants the final prize, that ultimate magic gem, which should be able to restore his body.

Leaves drifted down from midair; in a tranquil forest, a gale swept through the woods, the wind carrying faint roars.

Guleimlin, who was resting, froze for a few seconds, his pupils constricting sharply, his eyes showing great panic.

He quickly rose, his emerald-green armor swiftly covering his body, wielding twin blades as he retreated step by step.

At the same moment, all living creatures in the forest seemed to fall silent, as if something terrifying lurked in this beast-inhabited land.

That deafening hunting sound suddenly rang out around Guleimlin; black shadows came from all directions, and leaves in the wind turned to fragments out of nowhere.

Like monsters stitched together from various animals and standing upright, wielding assorted weapons, they instantly surrounded the place.

Beneath that ferocious exterior, those crimson eyes seemed to be steeped in gold pigment. (End of chapter)