Chapter 40: 39 Face Reality, Abandon Illusions

After Qi Ming described Kristama’s situation, Mei could hardly believe it: “What, she’s an alien?”

Yamana, deeply shaken, spoke with a stutter: “This, this is true? Her inner self is an extraterrestrial?”

Qi Ming: “She’s lived on Earth for so many years, already assimilated into a corporate drone—looks glamorous on the outside, but still just a wage slave of capital.”

At this moment, Nami Nishijo, who had been downcast all along, flashed a cold glare: “Aliens using human bodies… I won’t allow it.”

From her tone, she intended to act against Kristama.

Qi Ming elaborated further:

“That little girl died long ago in a car accident.”

“Kristama has taken her place to care for her elders—I see nothing wrong with that.”

The words “filial piety” struck a tender chord within Nishijo; she lowered her eyelids and abandoned any further schemes.

Qi Ming nodded inwardly; if talk therapy failed, he’d have to resort to physical personality correction.

Qi Ming: “Moreover, the Tantans who are hunting them can grow massive, but they’re extremely weak.”

Yamana: “How weak?”

Qi Ming: “Weak enough to be killed by one shot from Feiyan Two.”

Yamana immediately perked up, speaking with righteous fervor: “Kristama has lived on Earth so long—she’s one of us now. We can’t hand her over to aliens!”

Kishida also analyzed from a practical standpoint: “She’s a phenomenon-level singer. If she dies at the hands of aliens, the public won’t accept it. Our Victory Team will face massive criticism.”

They began to unite in shared outrage.

Qi Ming: “I won’t mention Abbas—he fears light and can only move at night.”

He added details about [Leide], who lives under sunlight, arguing that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and that if we could get him to help, the situation would improve.

Qi Ming: “Lastly, there’s the Kaitel alien—he seems nothing but a murderer, killing indiscriminately with no pattern.”

Mei: “If only he’d go kill those other aliens instead.”

Shoshu shook his head; according to him, the Kaitels were nearly extinct due to severe aging of their entire race.

Thus, they envied and hated Earth’s human population, rich in youth, which was why they came here to slaughter.

Relying on him to deal with the other aliens was unrealistic.

Qi Ming: “Then let’s hope Abbas shows some decency and cleans up the mess from yesterday for us.”

But that was just a joke; matters depended on human action. Qi Ming believed that although this was an unprecedented “quintuple attack,” it wasn’t hard to break.

Qi Ming: “Kishida, you guard Kristama. Lie in wait.”

Kishida asked: “Do you think the Tantans won’t give up and will try again to kill Kristama?”

Qi Ming: “Correct.”

Yamana: “This kind of opportunity… this task should be mine.”

Qi Ming: “Your opponent is the Kaitel alien.”

In the original Leo series, the Kaitel alien, though immensely strong—able to kill a heavyweight boxing champion with one punch—still feared guns.

Yet the MAC team members who carried guns either swung steel pipes or threw martial arts punches, all sorts of ugly maneuvers, but never fired.

Later, Hōgen remembered to shoot, but that baldy’s aim was terrible—he couldn’t hit anything.

Just as he was about to be killed, Shoshu intervened, landing several shots that drove the Kaitel alien away.

Though Yamana often thought abstractly, the phrase “no one is better at shooting than him” carried real weight.

Yamana: “Fine, watch me take revenge!”

Qi Ming continued assigning tasks: “Mei, besides Leide, you must also search for [Lucia].”

Mei: “One of the two captives brought by the Mokushin?”

Qi Ming: “Yes. She and Zack can sense each other. If we find her, we can use her to locate the ravens’ nest that kidnapped Zack—and wipe them out.”

When he turned to Nishijo, she suddenly said: “I’d like to request leave.”

Kishida and the others were stunned; they never expected Nishijo, who despised aliens and monsters so intensely and always led every mission, would abandon them now.

Qi Ming and Shoshu exchanged glances; Shoshu nodded and approved.

Qi Ming clapped his hands: “Alright everyone, get moving. Five ordinary aliens—that’s all. The sky won’t fall.”

Kishida: “By the way, what are you doing?”

He immediately added: “Never mind, you must have a reasonable plan.”

After yesterday’s fiasco, he decided it was wiser not to question Qi Ming lightly.

Qi Ming didn’t start searching the streets for aliens. First, he went to the school.

Amid curious glances from classmates, he called Akio outside for a private talk.

Qi Ming: “Your teacher has figured out the origin of that UFO you saw.”

Akio’s eyes lit up: “Really, Teacher? Where is it? Hurry, make it come pick me up!”

Qi Ming: “I’d like to know too. But according to Victory Team’s investigation, these are extremely vicious aliens—they carry weapons and kidnap humans as slaves. Unforgivable crimes.”

Akio stammered: “What, is it, is it true?”

Qi Ming: “Correct. You said you’re their companion—then tell your teacher where they are.”

Akio: “But, but I don’t know.”

Qi Ming’s demeanor turned cold: “What? You said you were their companion. Are you trying to shelter them? Are you condoning their abduction of Earth people? Do you, Akio, want to become an enemy of Earth?”

Akio was on the verge of tears: “I, I really don’t know!”

Qi Ming: “Why don’t you know? Are you not one of these aliens’ accomplices?”

Akio nodded frantically: “Yes! I don’t know them at all! I’m human!”

See? He’s abandoned his fantasy and faced reality.

Qi Ming had called Akio aside because if he’d said this in class, some “prank-loving” classmates would seize the chance to mock him, giving him the new nickname “alien accomplice.”

That would lead to bullying and push him further into isolation.

First, force him to accept reality—that’s the surface treatment. Next, try to treat the root cause.

Akio fantasized about being an alien and escaping Earth because his real life was miserable—he wanted to flee.

If we can ignite his passion for study and daily life, he won’t indulge in such delusions.

Qi Ming clapped: “Good. I like honest children. So I’ve decided to reward Akio.”

(End of Chapter)