Chapter 523: , Mai Descends!

The sniper position was on the top floor of an unfinished building higher up, with an open view that could take in the entire killing theater just now.

The sniper codenamed Black Scorpion couldn't help but pull the corners of his mouth upward, forming an arc mixed with triumph and cruelty. Through the high-power sniper scope, he clearly saw Shirakawa Mai's head explode like a watermelon, red and white scattering everywhere.

"What Kantō Chief Shinai Maiden—hah, in the face of the 'God-Breaker' bestowed by Hama, she's nothing but a good-looking skin sack." He chuckled lowly, slowly loosening the finger on the trigger, feeling the reassuring recoil echo in his shoulder.

Everything was according to Hama's calculations—using that small team as bait and probe, forcing out her movement patterns and defensive habits, then he, this hidden final piece, would use this specially loaded sniper rifle bullet infused with Inner World Power to achieve the kill.

He could almost imagine Hama's approving gaze, and his own imminent rise in status within the cult.

The immense sense of achievement made him somewhat light-headed.

However, just as he was about to confirm the battle results via communicator and begin dismantling the sniper rifle to withdraw, the scene in the sniper scope made his smile freeze instantly, his blood seemingly turning cold in an instant.

The "corpse" on the balcony did not, as expected, gush out large amounts of blood, but instead began to rapidly shrink and deform! The splattered flesh and brain matter dissipated like phantoms, replaced by a crude shikigami substitute with a blown-apart head, lying alone in the blood pool—.. no, that blood pool was also rapidly evaporating, leaving only a small puddle of stain.

On the chest of the shattered, burning shikigami, a talisman paper inscribed with the character "Butterfly" burned without wind, turning to ash.

"No—impossible!!" Black Scorpion's pupils dilated, he let out a terrified low growl.

What kind of bizarre substitution technique is this? Even the "God-Breaker" bestowed by Hama, specifically targeting spirits and flesh, could be fooled?

A chill shot straight up from his spine to the top of his head.

One miss, position exposed, and following the enemy's reaction and ability to flee, he must escape now!

Fortunately, he had already planned his escape route—

He violently threw down the Barrett sniper rifle, intending to turn and flee.

But it was already too late.

A voice as cold as ice spring droplets falling on jade sounded almost right behind his ear, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible sigh: "Your marksmanship is not bad, but your performance ends here."

Shirakawa Mai had appeared behind him like a ghost at some unknown time.

She still wore that perfectly tailored suit skirt, her whole body spotless, not a single hair out of place, her perfect gray silk foot arch slightly lifting from the deep red velvet high-heeled shoes, as if the earlier heart-stopping high-altitude assassination was, to her, nothing more than an insignificant stroll.

Black Scorpion's entire body went rigid, not a single finger able to move.

Not physical restraint, but an absolute suppression from the depths of the soul when facing a higher-dimensional existence.

He could feel a thin, icy finger lightly pressing on the back of his head, the position exactly matching where he had just shot Shirakawa's shikigami, down to the slightest degree.

No hand seals, no chanting, not even a trace of killing intent. Like brushing away a speck of dust.

Shirakawa Mai's finger merely pushed forward that lightly."bang—】

A muffled sound.

Black Scorpion's entire head, from the back of the skull to the forehead, centered on that fingertip contact point, as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer, collapsed inward and exploded!

Skull fragments, brain tissue, eyeballs, and blood sprayed forward in a radial pattern, more gruesome and real than what he had seen in the sniper scope just moments ago, staining the expensive sniper scope and the concrete wall ahead with a vicious abstract painting.

However, all the filth, as it neared within an inch of Shirakawa Mai's person, seemed to hit an invisible wall, and slid off in all directions.

She stood there, her suit skirt blocking out the sky, the pristine white shrine maiden robe peeking from beneath her torn clothing hem, pure as snow, forming an ultimate and bizarre contrast with the surrounding bloody hell.

At the very moment Black Scorpion's headless body slumped softly to the ground, in the spreading pool of blood mixed with brain matter, a strand of extremely pure yet warm-toned cyan breath rose, condensing in the air into a blurred, elegant kimono-wearing humanoid phantom.

The phantom's face was indistinct, but one could feel a gaze that seemed able to see into the heart, carrying a smile. It bowed to Shirakawa Mai with an impeccable, ancient and solemn salute.

A gentle, pleasant voice, as elegant as a Kyoto nobleman, directly resonated in Shirakawa Mai's heart:

"As expected of the sole heir of 'Eastern Heaven Pavilion Lord,' Hakubi Chief Priestess. This 'Substitution Burn Shadow' technique is nearly divine. Admirable, admirable—I didn't expect you, who haven't even ascended the Divine Throne, to possess such skill."

The voice paused, carrying just the right amount of regret and realization.

Shirakawa Mai's expression was very stern, she fixed her eyes on the phantom, always on guard against its sudden manifestation.

"It seems, with guardians like you in Kantō, and this time truly verifying—'Living God' family still possesses divine artifacts guarding them, this seat's modest achievement is still best left undisturbed."

"Today's abruptness, please forgive."

The phantom bowed again slightly, its tone lighthearted as if merely discussing the weather.

"Wishing you and your Hakubi Chief—may your days henceforth be ever joyful."

As the words fell, that phantom scattered like wind-blown green smoke, instantly vanishing without a trace, along with the warm breath in the bloodstain on the ground, which was also purified completely.

From beginning to end, Shirakawa Mai's face remained as cold as ice. She watched the direction the phantom vanished, her eyes deep within showing not the slightest ripple.

The retreat of the Kansai New God was within her expectations.

Not every New God enjoys or excels at combat, and the other side clearly fears death, dare not come to Kantō.

This is already not the first probe—consecutive losses of a regular team, an elite team, and a sniper, yet they still couldn't truly grasp her and Uesugi Muneyuki's details, only verifying that her strength far exceeded estimates.

This New God is very cautious, knowing full well that Kantō indeed possesses deeper forbidden powers (the Living God family), yet choosing to temporarily retreat in the face of difficulty is the most rational course.

That phrase "Wishing you joy every day," is less a blessing and more a teasing acknowledgment of Hirate's ceasefire signal.

"Cunning old fox—" Shirakawa Mai coldly snorted in her heart. She knew this was absolutely not an end, but the beginning of deeper games. The Kansai New God's infiltration ability and that strange power are not to be underestimated.

Moreover, one thing struck her as strange: normally, Inner World existences would do their utmost to protect and conceal themselves, but this one—seems to have quite a few Inner World handlers?

She no longer lingered, turned, her shadow merging into the building's darkness, as if she had never appeared, leaving only the top floor's deathly silence and bloodiness, silently speaking of the brief yet deadly clash just now.

When Shirakawa Mai's silhouette appeared like a midnight orchid in the previously spotless, mirror-like conference room where they had been meeting, the support forces of the Kantō Shinai Alliance happened to come swarming in.

Leading the way were several senior priests and directors, followed by a group wearing special uniforms, carrying electric batons and pepper spray—the Kantō Shinai Alliance Security Team arrived in succession. They were originally fully armed, expressions tense, preparing for a fierce battle. Yet, what lay before them made them halt abruptly.

The hall was unusually silent, only the low hum of the central air conditioning. Shirakawa Mai stood alone in the center of the vast hall, the last ray of sunset through the glass curtain wall gilding her with a cold golden edge, her suit still crisp, her face still flawless, even her breathing so steady it made one's heart palpitate.

Compared to the imagined battlefield of fierce combat outside, the only "combat trace" on her might be those clear, cold eyes still holding not yet fully dispersed killing intent, like the frost of the twelfth lunar month.

"Shira—Shirakawa Chief Priestess!" an elderly priest reacted first, hastily stepping forward to bow, his voice trembling with undisguisable agitation: "Are you unharmed? The attackers—"

"Already dealt with." Shirakawa Mai's voice was flat and waveless, as if she had merely swatted a few flies: "The rooftop and the opposite building's balcony need cleaning."

Her words were like ice water poured over everyone's hearts.

"Dealt with?"—"Just one person?"

Several priests and abbots exchanged glances, each seeing in the other's eyes utter shock and deeply hidden fear, they vaguely knew this young chief priestess was exceptionally strong, but never imagined it had reached such an unfathomable degree. This absolute power gap made any prior sense of seniority superiority or secret rivalry instantly vanish like smoke, leaving only bone-deep sincere conviction—and a barely perceptible awe.

"Yes! Chief Priestess! We'll handle it right away!" everyone replied in unison, their attitude more respectful than ever before.

Shirakawa Mai gave a slight nod of the chin, not looking at them again, walking straight to the door: "Follow-up matters, you handle negotiations with the authorities. I'm tired."

She missed Uesugi Muneyuki more.

Hmm, exercise count +1+1+1+1—

Almost at the same time as Shirakawa Mai left, Kosaka Shinichiro, Inspector of Investigation Division One, First Section, Metropolitan Police Department, arrived at the scene with a team of detectives, but when he tried to lead people upstairs to investigate, he was politely yet firmly blocked in the lobby by the directors of the alliance.

"Inspector Kosaka, thank you for your prompt arrival. However, the incident that occurred here is not an ordinary criminal case." One director wore a standard social smile, but his tone left no room for question.

"Not a criminal case?" Kosaka furrowed his brow, pointing upstairs, "We received a report claiming there was an explosion and gunfire here! This—"

"This is an 'accident' involving confrontation with religious forces." The director interrupted him, speaking cautiously and subtly: "An unrecognized cult in Kansai attempted to carry out a terrorist attack on the Head of the Kantou Shinai Alliance. You should understand, this involves the Religious Corporation Law and deeper stability issues. Ordinary criminal investigation procedures may not apply."

Inspector Kosaka's face grew solemn. He certainly heard the implication: this matter involved vast religious forces, possibly even touching sensitive national nerves. The Kantou Shinai Alliance's influence in political and economic circles was deeply entrenched, and they clearly did not wish to be drawn into a controversy vortex from repeated investigations over this attack.

After thinking, Kosaka Shinichiro could only call Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, who then called Watanabe Eiji.

After a while, Sugishita Ukyo's side indeed received news.

He listened to the phone, his face shifting through several changes, finally letting out a helpless sigh.

"I understand—yes, Commissioner." After hanging up, he waved to his subordinates: "Withdraw. This case is now handled by Public Security."

Public Security Police, responsible for handling cases involving national security, large-scale terrorist activities, and extremist ideologies.

With them taking over, this meant the case was formally classified as a "special incident" far beyond ordinary criminal cases.

However, right after the Imperial Palace bombing case occurred, the attack on the Head of the Kantou Shinai Alliance followed.

Inspector Kosaka also sensed a different kind of presence.

Are these two cases connected?

Could it be that the Public Security faction is rising again?