Evening.
Just before nightfall.
Ryan Arkham declined his colleagues' invitation for after-work drinks and returned alone to his rented apartment in the Minato ward.
Ryan Arkham was of mixed Indian and white ancestry, with one-quarter Southeast Asian heritage.
He kept his hair neatly cropped short, with sharp facial features, a prominent nose bridge, and a serious beard. His deep wheat-coloured skin gave him the appearance of a successful entrepreneur.
In reality, however, he worked as a newspaper editor, providing news from Japan to his company's American headquarters.
Secretly, he supplied information about Japan's mystic side to various underground organisations in America, making him a relatively well-known information dealer in those circles.
On an even deeper level, Ryan served as the Phenex Society's Archbishop for East Asia.
When Ryan returned home, he was greeted by his wife, a Japanese-American woman who, like Ryan, was a member of the Phenex Society. They were the very picture of a devout religious couple:
"Welcome home, Ryan."
Seeing his wife, Ryan nodded and quickly entered, loosening his tie as he asked:
"What's the current situation?"
At his question, Ryan's wife approached and answered quietly:
"The brethren are all well hidden. No traces have been found by the authorities yet. Our last contact was six hours ago - everything appears normal for now."
Hearing this, Ryan nodded in understanding before instructing:
"Tell the brethren to maintain their concealment these next few days. If necessary, we can sacrifice a few to protect the majority's continued infiltration."
"At any rate, before reinforcements arrive from Europe, we must keep the authorities' attention focused on us."
"At the very least, we can't let them have free hands in the evening."
Upon hearing these instructions, Ryan's wife nodded in understanding and asked:
"How long until the president and the others arrive in Japan?"
After a moment's contemplation, Ryan replied:
"I've just received word that the president and several European archbishops will reach Tokyo within two hours."
"Which means we must proceed with caution during these hours until reinforcements arrive. Once the European headquarters team brings that item, neither Japan's authorities, the SDS, nor even the Five Great Powers' forces stationed in Akihabara will pose any problem."
At this point, Ryan paused and couldn't help but glance towards Akihabara:
"Perhaps by then, we'll witness the return of the phoenix!"
Hearing this, Ryan's wife wore a look of fervent excitement, saliva gathering at the corners of her mouth as if anticipating some exquisite feast.
Ryan shared similar thoughts, though he maintained better composure, showing no outward signs.
Though their sect worshipped the immortal phoenix Phenex, the upper echelons of the Phenex Society weren't devotees of the phoenix - they saw themselves as future phoenixes.
The secret known only to the Phenex Society's core members was this: consuming a phoenix's flesh allowed one to become an immortal phoenix.
This thought stirred Ryan's emotions:
"Soon, in just a few hours, we'll taste the phoenix's flesh again and truly become..."
The next instant.
BOOM!!
A tremendous explosion erupted.
Followed by dazzling fireworks blossoming continuously around Ryan's residence.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
Deafening explosions followed one after another. The isolated villa vanished instantly in the bombardment, leaving only towering flames.
Yet beyond the massive bombing zone...
Outside the villa's street, everything remained tranquil.
Office workers walking in small groups, students discussing leisure plans after school.
Though merely a street apart, it felt like two separate worlds.
Witnessing this scene, Juzo Megure stood solemnly beside a black police car.
Beside him, the square-jawed Kiyonaga Matsumoto coldly observed the villa area still engulfed in artillery fire:
"The Joint Special Bombing Execution Squad was established specifically to counter mystic-side powerhouses."
"These 155mm Mystic Art Interference Howitzers are precisely for dealing with terrorists who only need coordinates!"
"Did they really think we wouldn't learn after that defeat against that demonic nun?"
"These howitzer shells costing 10 million yen each are too good for criminals like you."
Listening to Matsumoto's cold remarks, Megure hesitated to speak.
Further away, Wataru Takagi and Miwako Sato gaped at the artillery-lit sky.
To eliminate one target, the Metropolitan Police Department's leadership would deploy concentrated howitzer bombardment?
They couldn't even imagine how any terrorist at the epicentre of the bombardment could possibly survive.
No, do they even have something that can still be described as a body existing there now?
This is a question well worth studying.
"If we directly deploy heavy firepower, it seems we won't gain anything... Neither the enemy's objectives nor their organisation members... Is this really the right approach?"
Juzo Megure currently had a strong urge to complain about this extravagant bombing operation.
'The funding for these artillery shells was all coming from the Metropolitan Police Department's budget!'
'Will I even get a bonus next year?'
Harbouring such deep doubts, Megure couldn't help but glance at Kiyonaga Matsumoto beside him.
In response, Matsumoto remained perfectly calm:
"It's fine. The Diet will approve this budget. After all, if a few more of those who attacked senior officials don't die, many people will become uneasy."
Hearing this, realisation suddenly dawned on Megure.
Although Hyoue Kuroda was nearly fifty and only held the rank of manager as an administrative officer, just barely qualifying as a senior official in the Metropolitan Police Department's civil service...
He was still a proper bureaucrat, part of the same circles as those government officials.
Now, he'd been severely injured in a terrorist suicide attack and was hospitalised, hovering between life and death.
What would other bureaucrats think? What about people within the civil service system? Would higher-ups need to consider grassroots sentiments?
If frontline workers could be bombed, could administrators still safely visit the frontlines?
These complex reasons were precisely why the Metropolitan Police Department was conducting this cost-no-object bombing operation.
Compared to the issue of taxpayers' money being wasted, the most urgent matter now was for superiors to demonstrate their protective commitment to grassroots administrators.
Thus, the Phenex Society's leadership had to die - and their deaths had to be spectacular!
This was the shared view among senior officials.
Understanding this implication, Megure pressed down on his hat and said quietly:
"I understand the Director's meaning. I'll lead the team to process the scene later."
Matsumoto didn't refuse, merely turning to leave while reminding him:
"Remember to bring those Shamans. Although interference shells also damage Spirit Bodies, at least some remnants will remain."
"Once the data is compiled, distribute it to those who should receive it."
"Yes, sir!"
...
8 PM.
Luo Shu, who planned to work overtime at the Hidden Management Department garrison for the next few days to prepare for contingencies, received the latest intelligence from Haruno Yukinoshita, who was also working late.
"The Phenex Society's chairwoman is carrying some terrifying Abyss Artefact capable of destroying Tokyo?"
Holding the intelligence file, Luo Shu looked up in confusion, thinking:
'The Phenex Society had something this good?'
'Raziel didn't pick this up either...'