As soon as Rintaro woke up, a flashlight illuminated his face. The strong light was so bright that he could feel the glare even through his eyelids.

The sound of chains echoed off the cold concrete walls as he twisted.

「Good morning. Then, let’s continue.」

「……Yeah, hot coffee and a fried egg would be great. Just would be nice if you could turn off the lights.」

Even after being tortured so severely that he fainted, Rintaro responded sarcastically. But it was clear that this was a bluff.

His eyes were vacant by nature, but his skin had lost its blood color, and his lips were stained purple. The machines connected to his body were displaying the faint electrical signals emitted by his body on a monitor.

「There are no signs of you turning into a mysterious being. Your vital signs also show no mysterious being-specific waveforms, so there seems to be no mistake in the report that you are a “normal human” without mysterious being cells.」

「You went to the trouble of getting a home video from my parents’ house just to find out? You must either have a lot of free time on your hands or a sadist at heart.」

「You, who pretend to be a mysterious being, are nothing short of a madman aren’t you.」

In the backlight, Asaka quickly put her glasses back on. Although her expression was not visible, her cold, hushed voice echoed well in the concrete basement.

「From now on, I will use the carrot instead of the stick.」

「What’s next? Will my mom’s cooking be served?」

「No, from now on, I will treat you not as Death Green, the mysterious being, but as Kuriyama Rintaro, the human.」

「…………What?」

Rintaro didn’t quite understand the meaning of the words, or more precisely, their merit.

Mysterious beings, that is, people who actively contribute to the expansion of damage caused by localized man-made disasters, are sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.

However, if he was recognized as a human being, then at the very least it would not be permissible to inflict any more pain on Rintaro here and now. He might speak after he had been brought to justice as a human being, but there was no telling how many years that might pass.

「I was surprised to find out that there were human rights activists at Hero Headquarters too.」

「I have decided that it is more reasonable to speak to you with benefits than to let you speak out of pain or fatigue.」

It sounded as if Asaka had just changed her mind, but that was her intention from the start. That’s why she was willing to take the risk of being alone with Rintaro in a closed room.

Asaka turned the light away from Rintaro’s face, sat deeper in her metal chair, crossed her legs and quietly opened her mouth.

「Death Green. No, Kuriyama Rintaro, this is a deal. If you agree, I will use my authority as the chief of staff to prepare a desk for you.」

For Rintaro, it was an unexpected proposal. It meant a return to Hero Headquarters, something Rintaro had longed for.

「We know that Ark Dominion has a secret base in Tokyo. What we want to know is its exact location, the size of the organization, and its internal structure, including emergency escape routes. In exchange for this information, I would have you return to Hero Headquarters with a medal.」

「What…… A stupid thing……」

If Asaka were to be believed, it was too outrageous a plea bargain. It meant that if he sold Ark Dominion, Rintaro’s identity would be taken care of by the Hero Headquarters.

Although this is certainly something he wished for, it is of course not something that can be trusted blindly. And is such a thing really possible in the first place?

「That’s an impossible proposition. The others won’t stand for it.」

As Rintaro said, allowing him to return to work would inevitably cause backlash within Hero Headquarters. Furthermore, it could lead to public anger being directed at the country’s judicial system itself.

The man Kuriyama Rintaro has long ago become tainted as the heinous mysterious being. He had unforgivably accumulated too many sins in his career as a mysterious being and a hero.

But of course, Asaka already knew that. She would not offer a plea bargain she didn’t have any plan in place.

「Kuriyama Rintaro a.k.a. Victor Green, disguised himself as a mysterious being to infiltrate the Ark Dominion, the largest underground mysterious being organization in the Kanto region, in order to round up all of them. Everything was ordered by the General Staff, and you were merely fulfilling your duties. That is the scenario we have prepared for you.」

Although it was a convenient twist, the logic certainly made sense. On top of that, the General Staff would be in charge of Rintaro’s fate.

For the captive Rintaro, there could not have been a more tempting proposition. The “carrot,” as Asaka called it, was incredibly sweet.

「……It makes sense. How could someone come up with such a ridiculous story?」

「Undercover investigations are common in the National Police Agency. It’s unheard of at Hero HQ, but what we must protect is the peace and safety of our citizens, not some petty ego or false image of convention.」

Rintaro’s dull gaze met Asaka’s cold ones. His eyes were closed to absolute zero, but deep within them harbored a hot iron flame.

It was a flame of change that sought to destroy the existing framework of the organization.

Although they are a security organization belonging to the same National Public Safety Commission, unlike the National Police Agency, the Hero Headquarters sometimes does not hesitate to brutally exterminate. This requires them to have a more subtle image strategy.

For 50 years, they have built up the image of the upright hero, the ‘ally of justice’.

But taking on a community of mysterious beings that was becoming more underground with each passing year sometimes requires dirty work. To hunt a cunning fox, you need not a big lion, but a smarter, more ruthless hound.

In this respect, Kuriyama Rintaro was an extremely practical hero. Given his brilliant achievements during his heroic days, a return to the hero headquarters would not be a pipe dream.

「Of course, given the damage, you will not escape public criticism, but at least you will be protected legally. If all goes well, some will see you as a hero.」

Perhaps it will not work out so well as Asaka suggests. But it is not a fairy tale so far removed from reality to be dismissed as a pipe dream.

It was an attractive proposal that made a small stir in Rintaro’s tarnished heart.

「I see, so you want to take all the credit for yourself. I guess that would save face for the Hero HQ, but I don’t think I’m worth that much.」

「I have a high opinion of you for having driven the Hero Headquarters to this point. If only you would turn yourself in, we would have an overwhelming advantage over the numerous mysterious being organizations out there. And……」

Asaka crossed her long legs and looked Rintaro straight in the eye.

「Hero Headquarters is already preparing to bring all mysterious beings under control.」

………………

…………

……

The North Chiba branch of Hero HQ was based in Narashino, close to Makuhari. It’s a location that’s quite biased towards the west for North Chiba.

However, this is because, if the Sobu Main Line is used as the boundary and the area north of that line is the prefecture’s jurisdiction, the majority of the population is concentrated in the port areas stretching from Urayasu and Funabashi to Chiba City, and in the prefectural border with Tokyo. These major areas alone have a population of approximately 3.5 million, more than half of Chiba Prefecture’s total population.

However, considering the number of citizens it has to protect, the branch office building could hardly be described as large. The small, three-story building is made of wood and is 35 years old.

There, a total of 250 heroes had now gathered from all over the Kanto region, even though it was late at night.

「Here they come!」

One of the heroes shouted out, and hero employees rushed out from inside the government building. They fidgeted and formed a tight line along the side of the short driveway from the public road to the government building.

Then a black sedan came in.

It was the highest grade official vehicle owned by Hero Headquarters. It was obvious to anyone who saw it that a person of high rank was riding in it.

「「「「「Thank you for your hard work, Director!」」」」」

They bowed their heads in unison as the rear doors of the sedan opened. The person who emerged from it was the new director who would succeed Kazami as the future of Hero Headquarters.

Just when it seemed he was going to head straight for the branch’s front entrance, he ran up to one of the heroes, who bowed his head.

「Oi, please stop it!」

The man was wearing a red short-sleeved shirt and three-quarter length trousers. Even though it was the end of April and the temperature was below 10 degrees Celsius at night, his brown skin was thinly covered in sweat.

His name is Kurenai Retto.

He was an active hero who was renowned as Victor Red, the leader of the Victory Sentai Victor Rangers.

Fortunately or unfortunately, his fame was recognized by all due to the heroic propaganda carried out under the leadership of former Director Kazami. His achievements were countless, including the defeat of Death Green, the suppression of the Swordminagon, the defeat of Hinosmera, and the Battle of Jimbocho.

Of course, to the rookie hero who bowed to him, he was someone far above the clouds. Retto put his hand on her shoulder, who was tense as a rock, and said.

「You don’t have to bow down to me!」

「Haua! B- But Director-dono……」

「I’m not the director. Take a good look at this.」

Retto then showed her his “Hero Handbook,” which had just been newly issued today.

The position was filled with the fine print, “Apprentice Deputy Assistant to the Acting Director of the National Public Safety Commissions Committee, Local Human Disasters, Special Cases, Special Measures Office.” The fine print was packed tightly with the words.

「I don’t really understand, Director-dono!」

「As I Said！ I am the Apprentice Deputy Assistant to the Acting Director of the National Public Safety Commissions Committee, Local Human Disasters, Special Cases, Special Measures Office, also the commander of the Victory Sentai Victor Rangers, a special unit for the suppression of local human disasters that reports directly to the Tokyo Headquarters, not the Director!」

This was the new position that Kurenai Retto had been appointed to today. He spent his entire first day in office just to memorize this long title.

The idea is to show how the organization known as Hero Headquarters routinely carries out complex and diverse missions on a daily basis.

「I’m sorry! I still don’t understand it after listening, Director-dono!」

「Well then, just Retto is fine, please tell everyone. But more importantly, where is Asaka-san?」

「Asaka… Ah, are you talking about Samejima Asaka, Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command of the National Public Safety Commissions Committee, Local Human Disasters, Special Cases, Special Measures Office! If so, she’s in the interrogation room in the basement!」

「……Un? Nnn……?」

With the appearance of this new tongue twister, Retto’s own job titles, which he had worked so hard to memorize, began to spill out of his head.

「Erm…… Un, the interrogation room is it, thank you!」

Retto regained his composure and thanked the rookie hero, then grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously.

「Awah! Awawawa! B-But we’ve been ordered not to let anyone in!」

「But I’m the exception, so it’s okay! Thank you so much!!」

「Hah! Umm…… I am honored!」

The new hero looked at the young new director who was dashing away with admiration. There was something more than respect and passion mixed in her gaze, Retto who was unable to read the mood, didn’t notice it.

「Hawawa…… Director, had grabbed my hand……! Haaan……!」

「You should stop! Did you hear that? He said “Asaka-san”!」

「Those two really have no intention of hiding anything, do they!」

The female heroes gathered around the new recruit with a dreamy look on their faces, chatting away and making a lovely yellow flower of excitement. Unlike Morikuni and Kazami, this young hero was younger, and although he could be a little over-the-top, he had a dignified face and had gained tremendous support from the female staff at Hero Headquarters.

In addition, it is a well-known fact that he lived with his boss, Samejima Asaka, in an apartment in Shimotakaido.

With the support of Morikuni, the two were unanimously appointed to their key positions this morning.

Although there was some initial opposition because he was too young, the news that he had succeeded in capturing Death Green that day was a major accomplishment, enough to silence any opposition.

「It’s amazing, Retto-san……, he’s finally become the Director……」

「But I agree. I can follow that guy anywhere.」

「……His face is so cute too. He looks like a puppy.」

「I’m thinking of inviting him to the sauna next time… Eheh」

Even among male staff members, Retto’s support was tremendous. Incidentally, the gravure photos, which were released in limited quantities as part of Kazami’s propaganda strategy, now fetch a premium price enough to buy a new car.

「But I’m worried, there’s also the thing with Kazami-san. The mysterious beings definitely won’t stay quiet.」

「Yeah. I hope it doesn’t end up like Victor Green or Silver Zero.」

「Don’t ever mention that name in front of Retto-san.」

Their concerns were justified. In this world, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

By the nature of a hero’s job, the more he stands out, the more he incurs the wrath of mysterious beings. If he is powerless to protect himself, the last thing that awaits him is death in the line of duty.

Therefore, for a long time, only Morikuni was allowed to sit in the director’s chair. Although he may or may not be aware of it, he now has the weight of responsibility and danger on his shoulders.

Retto’s back looked like he had grown a size larger, but there was still a fragile youthfulness about him.

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<193: Pure Glass Mirror
195: Ideals And Reality>