170: Kazami Masayuki
Ark Dominion Underground Secret Base, Dark Capitol. The four executives and their adjutants who had gathered all had solemn looks on their faces.
The full lineup of the heinous legion was in attendance, including Rintaro, Samecchi, Kirika, and Minato. That just showed how important what they “saw” was.
General Dragius III took his seat and turned his sharp, blade-like eyes on the executives.
「Everyone is here. Now, Tagaraak, please explain.」
Upon being called, Tagaraak nodded silently and played the keyboard offered by the maid next to her with her small hand. Then, a three-dimensional image was projected in the center of the room.
General Bearion and General Zazoma looked at the “Giant God” with great interest.
「During the previous operation to infiltrate the Hero Headquarters building, this super giant humanoid robot emerged from inside the building. For some reason, it didn’t seem to move, but from what I can tell, it is already ready to be activated.」
The 3D image was unclear because it was nighttime, but the armament and appearance were of secondary importance at this point. What should be marveled at and warned about was the overwhelmingly huge and out-of-standard physique.
「The total length is approximately 200 meters. Estimated weight is about 300,000 tons. If it could run as fast as a human, it would traverse the length of Tokyo in one minute.」
Even when compared to the size of ordinary giant robots that heroes ride, its height alone is an unprecedented three times greater. As Tagaraak said, if it moved as the pilot intended, it is truly a “giant god”.
「This is indeed an emergency situation…… If this guy is brought in, there is no telling how many people will be killed on our mysterious being side.」
「Since ancient times, no king who deceives the gods has ever prospered. Our fathers crushed all their ambitions by divine punishment. But how can a god be a god? The false king who dwells in the heavens is also a god, and it is more than human beings can do to kill a god.」
「Zazoma-sama said, ‘There is no way to take immediate action. We must be cautious in our response’.」
Indeed, as the two executives expressed concern, once this Giant God is activated, there is no way for the Ark Dominion to counter.
The size of a giant mysterious being is approximately 60 meters, and even the larger-bodied Bearion is at most 70 meters. From the perspective of this 200-meter giant god, it was literally like dealing with a baby.
The fact that the mysterious beings had been able to accumulate victories over their counterparts at Hero Headquarters to date was due in part to strategy and coordination, but above all, it was because their opponents have been of the same standard.
If they were to take on this giant god, the only possible future would be a one-sided overthrow.
「……Did you find any information in the documents we got?」
「I’m currently examining them, but they are useless. There are delivery order forms, daily reports with almost no content, and a contribution to the graduation album of the Hero School.」
「No way…Could it be, they found out that we were after the information?」
Tagaraak shook her head at Rintaro’s words.
「No, we should assume that they intentionally mixed in nonsense information. The new director seems to be a very cautious man. Perhaps he is responsible for this giant god as well.」
「But then I don’t know why they showed us the existence of the giant god……. It seems weird to use it as a deterrent……」
As Rintaro pondered, he looked beside him and saw Samecchi shaking with a very pale face.
「What’s the matter, Samecchi? Did you catch a cold?」
「Sasasamecchi doesn’t know anything about manju buttons!」
「…………Samecchi?」
「Samecchi di-di-di-didn’t press anything, ssusususu!」
Without asking any further questions, Rintaro placed his hand on Samecchi’s head. And deep in his cloudy eyes, his evil brain was working at full speed.
「I see… so the unveiling was an accident for them too…」
It wasn’t as if he saw any chance of winning against the giant god. But Rintaro felt as if he had grasped something like an invisible, glowing thread.
…………
The next day, at the new Hero HQ building.
The building, officially named the “New Building for The National Public Safety Commissions Committee, Local Human Disasters, Special Cases, Special Measures Office” had been completely returned to its original state.
Looking up from the outside, it was as if yesterday’s commotion had never happened.
In the conference room, however, the leaders, including Director Kazami, were butting heads and engaging in controversial discussions.
「No no, hahaha. I’m sorry about this. It’s a little early to reveal it to the public.」
「You son of a bitch! What are you laughing like that for? Hey, Kazami! Isn’t your security is a little lax, eeh!」
He is a thin, elderly man with deep wrinkles etched on his face. With his back perfectly straight and clad in a dirty white lab coat, he was brandishing a walking stick with his twig-like arms as he rattled off.
Tanba Seiji, head of the research and development department in charge of weapons development at Hero HQ, was once known as Aojustice.
「Besides, it’s always a bad idea to assign weak heroes to security! Apparently, they got locked in the elevator when they were trying to get to the director’s office! Fire all guys like that already!」
Tanba, one of the oldest Hero Justice Five, has naturally had a longer career than anyone else present. Additionally, he had Edokko temperament of getting his way no matter what, so almost no one was able to disagree with what he said.
Except for one person.
「Young heroes these days are always relying on machines and have no guts!!」
「If you say that, it’s all over, Tanba-san. Please refrain from something like that.」
「You bastard, Kazami! You’ve really become a big shot daring you defy me! Eeoi!?」
「Well well, please don’t say that, Tanba-san. I’m also in a position of responsibility now.」
Director Kazami smiled gently as he dodged the brunt of Tanba’s anger.
His greying hair suggests a certain age, but Kazami has a career that is nearly 20 years longer than Tanba. As his gentle demeanor suggested, he is a true office worker who was not particularly successful during his active years.
When Kazami spoke out against Tanba, the conference room was filled with a tense atmosphere.
「In the past few months, the mysterious beings have become strangely active. That means our current heroes don’t have the power to control the mysterious beings, don’t you think?」
「Yes, you are right. Shall we then question the responsibility of the previous director, Morikuni Ittetsu-shi, for his appointment?」
「Guh, that… No, who cares about that damn Morikuni? He’s already retired, you know…」
Morikuni is a close ally who had fought mysterious beings alongside Tanba for 50 years.
Even though he’s a retired former director, Tanba can’t act any more forceful if Morikuni’s name is used as a shield.
Kazami did not miss the opportunity and continued.
「I have to show the world justice in the name of hero in my own way, and that is my duty. But, Tanba-san, without you, that cannot be done. I would appreciate your continued help.」
「Ah…… Obviously! Who do you think I am!」
「Thank you, Tanba-san.」
Director Kazami and the head of the R&D Office Tanba. Although Kazami was far superior in status, he stood up from his seat to bow deeply to Tanba.
From the outside it may have seemed like nothing more than a dodgy performance, but Tanba had no choice but to accept it.
They know everything about each other, and they played their cards close to each other to negotiate. Kazami, a true office worker, understood better than anyone else that this is the nature of business.
Kazami kept a beaming smile on his face throughout the meeting.
「Thank you for your hard work. I’ll take care of the rest.」
Kazami remained alone in the conference room after everyone had left the room to discuss future security policies and the treatment of those in charge.
Pulling chairs, collecting ashes from ashtrays, vacuuming the floor, and so on. These are not things that a director would normally do, but it was Kazami Masayuki’s nature to take the initiative and clean up himself.
「I guess you need good tools to clean up the trash properly…」
In a large empty room, he muttered quietly, not speaking to anyone.
「Once the “god” is activated, it doesn’t matter how many mysterious beings swarm the place. For that reason, Fufu…… we need our “heroes” to work a little harder and earn a little more money.」
Behind that forced smile, a dark miasma of justice was swirling.
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