The young girl asked the question that had been weighing on her mind for a long time.

  Ever since she became an Initiator, she had been treated as nothing more than a weapon for killing Gastrea. She had never been allowed to have her own identity or personality. But the way Haruki Aizawa treated her was fundamentally different. He didn't look at her as a biological tool; he saw her as a normal girl. He even went as far as to take on the Gastrea alone, never relying on her power.

  Kayo Senju couldn't understand it. She needed an answer.

  "Do you want to fight the Gastrea?" Haruki asked, turning the question back on her.

  "I..."

  Under the gaze of Haruki's eyes—which were as calm and deep as a still ke—Kayo found she couldn't lie. She lowered her head and answered honestly. "I don't want to fight those monsters anymore. My doctor said... if I keep pushing my body, I won't live to see next year."

  "Then there's your answer," Haruki said with a firm nod. "There's no reason for you to fight, and certainly no reason for you to feel guilty about it. Children should do what children do. Killing monsters is a job for adults."

  "But... most adults in this world don't think like that," she whispered. "They want us 'Cursed Children' to be their weapons. They want us to be tools."

  "If the whole world thinks that way, it's not your fault. It's the world that's broken." Haruki's words were intense, but his tone was as steady as a mountain. "And if the world is that twisted and ugly, I'll be the first one to stand up and cut it down."

  "Aizawa-san..."

  Kayo stared at him, her expression a mix of shock and wonder. A thousand words of gratitude and emotion welled up inside her, eventually overflowing as silent tears that traced paths down her cheeks.

  Haruki didn't say anything more. He simply reached out and gave the girl's head a gentle pat before closing his eyes to return to his meditation.

  His original pn was to continue practicing his Sense of Fluctuation until the next Gastrea incursion. However, much to his surprise, the IISO contacted him directly via his terminal.

  "Am I speaking with the 'Sword Ghost,' Haruki Aizawa-san?"

  Because Haruki was now a veteran ranked 1500, the IISO representative was exceptionally polite.

  "What is it?" Haruki asked. He had no love for the IISO—an organization that treated children like disposable hardware didn't rank high in his book of "good people." But since he was technically an employee, he maintained a professional veneer.

  "The Tokyo Government has issued a special high-priority mandate to the IISO," the representative expined. "They are summoning all high-ranking Promoters currently in the Tokyo area to assist with a critical matter. As one of the top Promoters in the region, your presence is requested."

  "Every high-ranking Promoter?"

  "Yes. And a few lower-ranked individuals with 'special circumstances' have also been summoned."

  "Fine," Haruki agreed. He didn't care about the government's politics. As long as the mission put him in front of powerful Gastrea, he was in.

  "One more thing, Aizawa-san," the representative added. "We are aware you typically operate solo without your Initiator. While that isn't against the rules for minor incursions, this is a special case. You are required to bring your Initiator to this meeting."

  Haruki hesitated, but ultimately didn't refuse. He was confident he could protect Kayo in any situation, and he certainly wasn't going to let anyone force her into a dangerous fight.

  That afternoon, Haruki led Kayo Senju to the designated Tokyo Government building.

  IISO staff handled the paperwork and escorted them to a high-security elevator, which whisked them up to one of the top floors. They were led to a door beled "Conference Room 1." The escort bowed and departed, leaving Haruki to enter on his own.

  Haruki pushed the doors open to reveal a massive, high-tech space. An elongated oval table dominated the center of the room, backed by a wall of glowing screens. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline.

  But the room's inhabitants were far more interesting than the decor.

  Haruki scanned the room. It was filled with Civil Security pairs—Promoters with cold, murderous auras and their Initiators, who mostly stood with mechanical, detached stillness.

  Haruki and Kayo were no less imposing. Haruki's reputation as the "Sword Ghost" preceded him, and Kayo's presence—unshaken and observant due to her Dolphin-type nature—made them one of the most intimidating pairs in the room.

  The other Promoters watched them warily, whispering about the rumors surrounding Haruki's one-man hunts. Some looked eager to test his skills, their hands twitching toward their weapons.

  The tension was broken when the doors opened again, admitting three new figures.

  It was an odd trio: a high school boy with short bck hair, a high school girl with long bck hair and a katana, and a young red-haired girl with pigtails. They looked completely out of pce in a room full of elite killers.

  "Kisara-san, these guys look..." the boy started.

  "It seems I underestimated the difficulty of this request," the girl replied, her voice low. "I didn't expect them to call in so many competitors."

  As the three of them entered, the focus shifted from Haruki to them. Most of the Promoters looked confused, their eyes practically screaming: Who are these nobodies and why are they here?

  Finally, one Promoter decided to voice the room's collective thought.

  "Hey, hey... since when did Civil Sec lower its standards? Are we letting kids py house now? You must be in the wrong room. If this is a school field trip, shut your mouths and get out."

  The speaker was a massive man with a broadsword strapped to his back. Haruki didn't recognize him, but Kayo spoke up in a calm, ft voice.

  "That is Shougen Ikuma," she whispered. "IP Rank 1584. A member of the Mishima Royal Guard. He's known for a highly aggressive, explosive combat style."

  She then turned her gaze to the newcomers. "The boy is Rentaro Satomi. IP Rank 123452. He belongs to the Tendo Civil Security Agency. His record has several redacted entries, suggesting a connection to the Prime Minister's aide, Kikunojo Tendo."

  Haruki gnced at the girl beside him, impressed. "You know all of this?"

  "I spent some time researching the local database while you were out," Kayo replied matter-of-factly. "I tend to remember everything I read."

  Haruki realized just how useful Kayo's 210 IQ truly was. She was a living encyclopedia.

  He looked back at Shougen Ikuma. He remembered that if he hadn't stepped in, Kayo would likely have been paired with that thuggish man. The thought gave him a brief moment of irritation, but he remained calm. He was curious, however, about Rentaro Satomi—how did a six-digit rank nobody end up in a room of elites?

  Connections and politics, I suppose... Haruki thought.

  Meanwhile, the conflict between Shougen and Rentaro was escating.

  "Who are you? Introduce yourself before you talk to me," Rentaro demanded.

  "Introduce myself? To you?" Shougen sneered. "Kid, I can tell just by looking at you that you're weak."

  "Strength isn't decided by looks," Rentaro countered.

  "True. If you had the reputation of that 'Sword Ghost' over there, I'd take you seriously without looking at your face! But you're just a nameless brat who hasn't even grown hair yet. Go back to your mama and get some milk!"

  Rentaro's legs shook with rage, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was clearly outcssed in the presence department.

  Suddenly, Shougen moved. His fist blurred, smming into Rentaro's face with a dull thud. Rentaro was sent flying, his back hitting the floor hard. He looked dazed, as if he hadn't even registered the attack until it was over. He instinctively reached for the pistol at his waist.

  "Hahaha!"

  "What a moron. What's he so worked up about?"

  "That was just a greeting, kid!"

  The surrounding Promoters erupted in ughter. Even Haruki's lips curled into a slight, mocking smile. He had never seen a Promoter with such a ck of situational awareness. If Shougen had used his sword instead of his fist, the boy's head would be rolling on the floor.

  Rentaro looked ready to lunge, but the bck-haired girl—Kisara—held him back. Simultaneously, Shougen's employer stepped in, pcing a hand on the big man's shoulder.

  "Control yourself, Shougen. This is government property. If things get violent here, it's our heads on the block."

  "Fine, fine."

  The conflict de-escated. Shortly after, government officials entered and began assigning seats based on IP Rank.

  As the highest-ranked Promoter in the room, Haruki was seated at the head of the table. Shougen Ikuma, at Rank 1584, was seated right next to him. Rentaro, predictably, was relegated to the very end of the table.

  Haruki expected Shougen to try and provoke him, but the man was surprisingly disciplined. He sat down and remained silent, showing a begrudging respect for Haruki's superior rank. It was the typical code of the street: bully the weak, but honor the strong.

  The room fell silent as a bald man in a crisp military uniform walked to the front of the conference room. He introduced himself as a high-ranking officer of the Self-Defense Force, responsible for Tokyo's regional defense.

  He scanned the room with a cold, professional eye. "Hmm. One seat is empty?"

  He was referring to a spot marked "Ose Civil Security." The namepte was there, but the chair was vacant. The officer didn't wait.

  "Before I expin the nature of this mission, I want to give everyone a final chance to withdraw. Once you hear the details of this assignment, you will no longer be permitted to refuse. If you have any doubts, leave now."

  ***********************************************

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