Chapter 51: 50 Ate Reidel

As soon as Qi Ming finished speaking, the other dozen media outlets immediately turned their cameras toward Higurawa.

This truly panicked the scumbag journalist.

He came to gather news, not to become the news.

Moreover, Higurawa knew his reputation in the industry was terrible; if he slipped up, his colleagues would have no hesitation whatsoever in kicking him while he was down.

If he got blacklisted, he’d never be able to earn a living from journalism again—all his years of accumulation would be wasted.

He immediately covered his face and squeezed back through the crowd, his panicked flight drawing amused smiles from the onlookers.

“That was beautiful.” TPC personnel, who naturally disliked this journalist who took Defense Force money to smear one side while praising another and twisted facts, now had much greater goodwill toward Qi Ming for driving him away.

Yamakawa: “That felt great.”

Kishida: “Perfect.”

They realized that when Qi Ming was on their side, his “output” was incredibly refreshing.

Next, Qi Ming called forward Reiko, brought by Tian Rui, and began accepting their interviews.

Asked about the hostages rescued from Abubas, Qi Ming said there was absolutely no problem—they could emerge and reunite with their families tomorrow.

When asked about the details of the operation, Qi Ming spoke effortlessly: the staff leadership was brilliant, the team worked in perfect harmony…

Kento admired how slick this kid was; Moroboshi felt relieved that Qi Ming had finally learned to unite his teammates.

Emi thought her borrowed gun must have helped; Yamakawa and Kishida, however, began questioning reality.

Is this really the arrogant, self-assured Qi Ming? How could he be so humble?

In reality, Qi Ming was trying to create “diversion.”

He would remain low-key externally but high-profile within TPC.

This way, cosmic beings with strong intelligence-gathering abilities who could infiltrate TPC would recognize he was no ordinary man and prioritize targeting him with their most vicious, underhanded tactics.

Although this approach of drawing hatred carried extra risk, Qi Ming felt it was worth it—by resolving threats at the source, he could prevent all sorts of demons and monsters from causing massive destruction and casualties inside the base.

Those cosmic beings with weak intelligence-gathering abilities lacked such awareness; at such times, he should stand shoulder to shoulder with Victory Team.

Let these guys share some of the burden—it’s their job, after all.

At this moment, Security Department officers and seasoned press officers arrived on the scene, replacing Qi Ming, leaving the reporters deeply disappointed.

Kishida finally figured out the reverse function of the shrinking light gun and successfully restored the people inside the box to their original size, allowing the reporters to film Victory Team’s success.

A group of people wept with joy; Nami Nishijo watched the Umeda siblings but ultimately did not approach them.

Qi Ming, now off duty, took Lucia and Zara to meet with Kento, asking him to find them shelter, as these two stranded cosmic beings had kind hearts.

“No problem. As long as I’m here, no one will harm them.” With the groundwork laid, Kento naturally agreed without hesitation.

Qi Ming: “Also, about the Umeda siblings—they suffered because of our mistake. I hope you’ll speak to the orphanage that’s taking them in.”

Kento agreed as well; with his assurance, the orphanage director and teachers would surely give special care to the two siblings.

Even the cold Nami Nishijo glanced at Qi Ming with gratitude.

“By the way, Commander Kento, during the recent battle, I learned of a special situation.” Qi Ming suddenly raised his voice slightly.

Yin, the officer responsible for maintaining order and clearing the battlefield, jolted and quietly edged closer.

Commander Kento: “What intelligence?”

Qi Ming glanced casually at Yin, who pretended indifference but was secretly approaching:

“The crow-like beings we eliminated were merely a vanguard.”

“They originally planned to transmit this information back to their planet and then bring a large force to Earth to hunt humans.”

“Their planet is in P413.”

After hearing this, Commander Kento treated it as routine reporting and offered some official platitudes like “We trust Victory Team will surely protect Earth,” and the matter was closed for him.

Yin, however, quietly slipped away; Qi Ming watched his back and smiled faintly.

It’s better you follow my rhythm than blindly mess things up.

…………………………

“Not only did they drive off and exterminate the invading cosmic beings, but they also obtained the enemy planet’s coordinates?”

Early the next morning, upon receiving Yin’s report, He Zhi’s eyes revealed a flicker of admiration.

He felt Qi Ming was a man who suited his taste perfectly.

Such talent was wasted under Kiriyama—he should be working with them on the Friendship Project to protect Earth.

But…

He Zhi: “Even if we know the coordinates, we still have to wait for the [Super Weapon R1] missile to be remade.”

Yin: “When will this ultimate weapon capable of destroying a planet be ready again?”

He Zhi: “Our people have secretly contacted the creator, Dr. Segawa, but the Kiyeron incident devastated him—he’ll need more time to be persuaded.”

…………………………

Three days later at 8:30 a.m., the dial of the Ultraman Arbitrary Key rotated, and the main interface changed.

Star Ci : 1.

Insight: 4/5.

The guess proved true—the Ultraman Arbitrary Key’s maximum Star Ci capacity is 10 points; once reached, it no longer increases.

Thus, after exhausting all Star Ci points through “Star Gathering,” it took seventy-two hours to gain one new point.

“Why wasn’t this crucial information written in the manual?” Qi Ming sighed.

Fortunately, I only lost one Star Ci point—I’ll be more careful next time.

Right now, he cared more about another matter.

Reidel, Abubas’s rival, remained nowhere to be found, as if vanished into thin air.

Qi Ming had a faint feeling that, in this chaotic world teeming with demons, Reidel might be in trouble.

At this very moment, a figure stood gazing at TPC’s base atop a coastal mountain a kilometer away.

She was a woman dressed in white, her eyes eerie.

This was the mimicry of the higher-dimensional predator, Boga, from Ultraman Mebius!

She opened her mouth, revealing a tongue grotesquely large, and licked her lips.

Sea fog rolled in, concealing her figure.

…………………………

At that moment, Qi Ming felt something and stood up to open the window.

He did not look toward the coast but raised his head toward the dark sky, sensing a malevolent gaze fixed upon him from the darkness.

He was accustomed to reflecting on his recent experiences, checking for oversights or flaws—but even now, the two incidents at Mist-Blowing Mountain still puzzled him.

How had that Sodra vanished into thin air?

And what was the thing that secretly watched him on that mountain?

A Zulukian? The style didn’t match.

“Don’t let consecutive victories cloud your judgment—you must tread as if on thin ice,” Qi Ming murmured, gazing at the night sky.

(End of Chapter)