An international organization formed by countries all over the world to delegate and address incidents related to otherworldly phenomena, that was the duty of World Ability User Organization.
While the leader, Francis, was a native of Aerolis, the 12 councils were the voice and representative of each country registered as members in this organization.
Unlike its name, a total of 93 countries had joined this organization, seeking protection and help related to gates and ruptures.
With news of mimic slowly getting widespread, the council's online meeting was held to privately discuss this incident.
"Just when we thought we could form an S-Rank only team… They suddenly make an irreversible mistake that could threaten the world."
"How could they miss the signs of those monsters? Are they actually S-Ranks?"
"Isn't this mimic similar to a plague? We should shut down the nation's borders and prevent it from crossing into other countries!"
Similar opinions and criticisms were said, mostly condemning Team Zero for making mistake in the first place.
"Let's hear this from the people directly involved. Team Zero, what solution could you provide for this case?" Francis ended the council's discussion with his sentence.
"Yes, allow me to explain." Shelly, the manager of Team Zero, stepped up.
In her hand was a glass tube with a creature similar to a bug crawling inside. She presented it to the council for everyone to see.
"This is the real form of 'mimic', a parasite living inside the victim's brain and controlling them. Based on the test our researchers have performed, there's one way to eliminate these parasites."
Shelly glanced at the person beside her. The captain of Team Zero followed, bringing a red tube in his hand. One drop of it made the parasite inside wriggle in pain before it slowly wrinkled and turned black. Its life now extinguished.
Seeing it, gasps of fascination echoed in the parliament room.
"Our researchers have developed a drug that could kill this parasite. If we could spread this discreetly into the air, we could eliminate the undetected parasites without alerting them."
"What about the victim's condition? Will they be alright after the parasite gets eliminated?"
Francis asked on behalf of council, which Shelly shook her head to.
"For the past week, we locked down District 3 for the purpose of hunting these mimics, so we assure you that this parasite will not spread to other countries. But unfortunately, once this parasite infects the victim's brain, the victim can no longer be saved."
As Shelly finished explaining, murmurs of protest erupted inside the room. The question of human ethics was raised, what Shelly just said was the same as them declaring that they killed their own citizens.
Francis raised his gaze to the council members in front of him, shifting the topic, "My purpose for gathering you here is to warn you that this kind of incident could happen in another country as well. This time, we are lucky that Aerolis, who has the strongest espers and advanced technology, is the first to experience this bizarre phenomenon."
He continued, "Looking at the changes of gates and ruptures happening lately, we have to stay alert. Especially when the four tower bosses have warned us of their incoming 'master'."
Francis halted his speech, letting reality settle inside these councilmen's minds.
"We have to be ready when that time comes."
.
.
"Haa… My voice didn't sound weird right? Ugh, my hand is shaking so much standing in front of that many important figures in this world."
Shelly groaned after we were out of the parliament room. Driving back to District 3 Bureau's building, she could finally release the tension she had been holding. The parliament building was located in District 2, even though District 3 had been on lockdown, special access had been granted for us to attend this event.
"Although we have a solution for this problem, the execution is still ineffective. After all, once we spread it, it could alert the mimics."
I nodded at her words. Now that we knew that the mimics had intelligence, we couldn't act recklessly. Who knows what would happen if we aggravated them too much. If they decided to be organized and attack humans all at once, that would be horrid.
"How about we gather all District 3 citizens in one place? That will wipe them out in one go right?"
"That plan has so many flaws. What if our target chooses not to attend? We couldn't exactly threaten the citizens or else they would lose trust in the government."
"Well… I guess that's true."
Soon enough, we arrived in front of the Bureau building, but the road in front of it was blocked by a crowd of people. They were holding signs and forcing their way inside the building.
"Lift the lockdown!"
"You're oppressing people by not giving them freedom to get out of the city!"
"Our business suffered from this nonsense lockdown!"
Watching the demonstration happening in front of us, Shelly could only let out an exasperated sigh. A barrier surrounding the building was being deployed by espers to hold the crowd out, but that also blocked our access in so we couldn't get inside.
"Hm?"
My suit's pocket was glowing an orange hue. When I rummage through it, the red feather gained from the tower was the cause of that glow.
"Why is it glowing?" Shelly asked curiously.
But I knew why it was suddenly glowing, the spiritual connection between us was telling me. It was calling something, no, more like warning me about something.
And what would it mean when a Token of Approval to challenge something more powerful was trembling in caution?
BOOM!
DRRKKK!
"Earthquake! Run!"
"A rupture?! That's a rupture!"
The sky turned red as it was split into two. The scale of the four towers rupture couldn't even be compared to this.
The earth trembled as songs of heavenly rhythm resounded in the air. From beyond the rupture, a floating white castle crossed the dimension. A transparent, hexagon-patterned shield that refracted light was protecting it, like a cocoon waiting to emerge.
"No way."
I watched as the feather in my hand blinked slowly.
It was announcing the arrival of their 'master'.