Silence.
Dead silence.
The only sound in the air was the staff member on the ground gasping for breath, his thundering heartbeat clearly audible to everyone in the room, until he was finally helped out for treatment by two others, leaving the room in a profound silence.
If the previous suspicions were mere guesses, then now, this official action was practically a self-incrimination!
The government was actively protecting this "Kosaku Kawajiri"! They were preventing anyone from investigating him further!
No, it should be Kishibe Rohan, protecting him.
Why?
There was only one explanation: they knew Kosaku Kawajiri was problematic! But they chose to cover for him!
Perhaps it was for the sake of so-called "stability," perhaps to bring "another Stand User" under their control, or perhaps... for even darker reasons.
"Bastards!!!" Josuke slammed his fist on the table, which instantly cracked. "What do they take ordinary people for?! What do they take the law for?!"
"And didn't that bastard say it himself? His sister was killed by that murderer, Kira Yoshikage, and he himself almost died with her! Why would he help him?!"
Jotaro slowly stood up, the shadow under his cap unable to conceal the raging fury in his eyes.
He had always tried to solve problems within the framework of the rules, always held a basic trust in the authorities, or rather, even if he didn't trust them, the power of the authorities forced him to maintain a shred of trust.
But now, that shred of trust was completely shattered.
The government was no longer an entity he could communicate with; they might even have become a protective umbrella for the enemy. It was time for them to overturn this umbrella.
The rules of the game had indeed changed, becoming dirty and utterly without bottom line.
"Mr. Jotaro..." Koichi's voice trembled. "What... what should we do?"
As a high school student, he really didn't want to be involved in such matters! He still had his mother, sister, and other relatives; warm scenes with them flashed before his eyes.
He truly didn't want to leave them exposed to threats. If they became enemies with the government, the government would definitely target his family!
Moreover, Yukako was already his girlfriend; he had to be responsible for her and couldn't drag her into danger. For a moment, he even thought of running away.
'After all, even if that murderer became active again, as a Stand User, I could protect my family for a while. At least we wouldn't be the first to die, right?'
'But if I go against the government, both I and my family will be in danger... Should I go work for the government? Their conditions seem pretty good?'
A seed was planted in his heart.
At this moment, no one noticed Koichi's change, only perceiving it as fear and worry.
After all, who would expect a friend's sudden betrayal?
Nijimura Okuyasu didn't have this concern; his father couldn't die anyway, and in a sense, death would be a relief. But the immense power of the government still made him feel breathless.
But despite his nervousness, trembling body, and sweaty face, his eyes were firm. "I know I'm stupid and often make the wrong decisions, so please, Big Brother Jotaro, you decide."
"Whatever you decide, I'll listen, whether it's the government, the army, or that Kishibe Rohan! My The Hand won't let them off!"
Jotaro's gaze swept over the angry, or worried and fearful, faces of his companions, finally resting on the blurry energy outline on the screen.
His voice was bone-chillingly cold, carrying an unprecedented resolve. "Since they've torn up the rules."
"Then we don't need to follow them anymore."
"We... will find the truth, even if we have to use the most direct methods. Stand Users, ghosts, and such things should not interfere with the lives of normal people!"
A chilling aura permeated the safe house. The fragile window between the protagonists and the authorities had been completely shattered... Kira Yoshikage's figure silently merged into the night of Morioh. He had changed into dark casual clothes, his steps no longer the dull plod of "Kosaku Kawajiri," but the light and precise movements of a killer.
His suppressed anger and the frustration of having his cozy evening interrupted desperately needed an outlet. Since he couldn't go out from below.
Then he would unleash this energy, which was about to turn into a raging fire, from his Stand, blowing people up like medium-rare steaks, tender and delicious, soft and crispy, and then crushing them.
He had no specific target, or rather, the entire town now appeared to him as an accomplice of fate. Under fate, all strangers were enemies.
He just needed a "suitable" time, a "suitable" place, a "suitable"... unfortunate soul.
Killer Queen flickered beside him, its pink figure like a phantom in the darkness, its red eyes emitting dark energy, its power surging.
Soon, he locked onto a target: a female office worker, leaving work late at night, walking alone in a secluded alley. She looked very tired, defenseless, and was quite attractive.
Although not beautiful enough, and her hands weren't pretty enough, he wasn't a perverted lecher or rapist.
He was just a wandering murderer. For killing, this was enough.
Kira Yoshikage's lips curved into a cold arc. Killer Queen silently advanced... Inside the safe house, a piercing alarm suddenly blared!
"Energy reaction! Extremely strong energy reaction! In the northwest district, Sanchome!" the SPW technician shouted. "It's an explosive energy signature similar to 'Kira Yoshikage'! Someone has been killed!!!"
Jotaro instantly stood up, his white trench coat flaring. "Precise coordinates of the location!"
"Locking on... Now! Peak fluctuation! Another person has been killed!!!"
"Go!" Jotaro didn't hesitate. Whether it was a trap or not, they couldn't stand by and watch another victim appear.
"We must stop him from continuing his rampage!"
"Wait!" Joseph called out, pointing to another screen. "Vehicles are rapidly approaching that area!"
Joseph's aged finger pointed at a screen, and everyone followed his gaze to see surveillance footage of the surroundings.
It showed several military green vehicles rushing over heedlessly, clearly military vehicles.
"No time!" Josuke roared, Crazy Diamond already manifested. "We can't just watch that bastard kill people!"
The group shot out of the safe house like arrows from a bow, jumped into the SPW SUV, and the engine roared as they sped towards the target location.
However, just as they were about to reach the alley, several dazzling headlights suddenly shot out from both sides of the intersection, precisely blocking all routes forward!
Amidst screeching brakes, several black Chevrolet Subs, like steel behemoths, blocked the middle of the road. Behind them were several military armored vehicles, their heavy machine guns ominously aimed at the group.
The doors opened, and out jumped not Japanese police, but burly white men in tactical vests, armed with M4 carbines, their eyes cold and sharp!
Their movements were professional and swift, instantly forming a tactical formation, their muzzles unreservedly pointed at the SPW vehicle.
"Stop! Turn off the engine immediately! Put your hands where we can see them!" the commanding officer, speaking heavily accented but extremely firm Japanese, shouted, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
On their armbands, the American flag and the emblem of an unknown unit were clearly printed. Their expressions were utterly cold, and the guns in their hands gleamed under the headlights.
"US military?!" Okuyasu's eyes widened in astonishment.
Jotaro slammed on the brakes, the headlights illuminating their cold faces and the black muzzles of their guns.
He pushed open the car door and slowly got out, the power of Star Platinum surging within him. But he didn't act immediately; the other party's identity and intentions were unclear, and a direct conflict would have unimaginable consequences.
"This area has been taken over by the American military! Leave immediately!" the US military commander barked, allowing no room for negotiation, and with extreme disdain in his eyes.
In his opinion, a warning might not even be necessary. Besides that old man, the so-called real estate king of New York, they were just a bunch of Japanese faces. Killing them would be much simpler, but due to Lord Kishibe Rohan's orders, they couldn't kill directly.
"Taken over?" Jotaro's voice was as cold as iron. "You have no authority to 'take over' Japanese streets outside American territory! We are preventing a murder!"
"Our orders are to cordon off the area and ensure 'specific activities' are not disturbed. Other matters are irrelevant to us and not permitted."
The commander's reply was mechanical and cold, as if reading a soulless directive. "Please retreat immediately, or we will consider it a hostile act."
After a pause, his and his soldiers' expressions became incredibly mocking. "And no authority?! Are you joking?! This is Japan! We are Americans! Are you perhaps confused about your own identity, unaware of whose dogs you are?!"
"Mere Japanese daring to speak such words to this great one! Go back immediately, or we will shoot you down right now!"
"Specific activities?!" Josuke trembled with rage, pointing into the depths of the alley. "You call that 'activity'?! That's murder!"
The US soldiers were expressionless, their fingers resting steadily on the trigger guards, their attitude clear and unyielding. If he didn't back down, they would really open fire.
For them, killing a few Japanese people was nothing; they wouldn't even need to write a report, as the Japanese government would naturally handle it for them.
Moreover, this time there were orders from above. As long as they didn't openly massacre a city or kill Japanese ministers or prime ministers, Kishibe Rohan could do whatever he wanted.
Even if it meant openly massacring people, it didn't matter. Kishibe Rohan had their supreme command authority, as long as it didn't cause too much international attention.
The commander's eyes grew increasingly playful, mixed with an excitement of impending promotion and wealth. 'This mission directive was personally issued by that esteemed individual. The individual said that as long as Lord Kishibe Rohan is protected and all of Lord Kishibe Rohan's orders are carried out, upon return...'
Just at this moment of standoff, in the depths of the alley, that faint yet terrifying energy fluctuation disappeared.
Immediately after, a figure in a trench coat calmly emerged from the shadows.
It was Kira Yoshikage.
He even seemed somewhat leisurely, slowly wiping his fingers with a handkerchief, as if he had just completed a trivial matter, a satisfied smile on his face.
He didn't even glance at the tense situation here, walking directly towards a black car parked at the other street corner.
He had already communicated with these people. After they revealed his identity, they had a brief conversation, and his hunting was tacitly approved.
Now, his hunting was not hunting; it was merely a leisurely stroll, and passersby simply vanished into thin air.
And that squad of US soldiers actually ignored his appearance, even slightly adjusting their formation as if making way for him!
"Good evening, Mr. Kira Yoshikage!"
"Hmm, good evening."
"Bastard!!!" Josuke could no longer hold back, Crazy Diamond's light flared, and he was about to charge forward, but Kira Yoshikage's gaze at him was mocking.
Both the group of soldiers and his Killer Queen could easily take down this steak-head now.
"Josuke! Calm down!"
Jotaro grabbed him, and several bullets whizzed past their heads. If not for the quick reflexes of these two powerful close-range Stands, these warning shots could have directly killed Higashikata Josuke.
In fact, Jotaro even saw the heavy machine gun aimed at Higashikata Josuke's head.
Just then, the US military commander seemed to receive some instruction. He listened to his earpiece for a moment, then looked past Jotaro directly at Kira Yoshikage, who was about to get into the car.
He spoke clearly in English, his voice not loud, but enough for all Stand Users present to hear, "Mr. Kira Yoshikage."
Kira Yoshikage paused his movement of getting into the car.
The US military commander continued, his tone still flat, but with an air of knowing everything. "Someone wants to see you. A meeting between 'kings' might be beneficial to both parties."
He turned sideways and gestured towards the black car: "Your 'peace' deserves better protection than this inefficient... hunting."
"Mr. Rohan believes you will have common ground. He would like to invite you to discuss some important matters."
Kira Yoshikage slowly turned around, the feigned fatigue of "Kosaku Kawajiri" completely gone from his face.
He looked at the US soldiers, then at Jotaro and his group, who were blocked in the distance. Finally, his gaze seemed to pierce the night sky, looking towards some unknown direction.
The corners of his mouth slowly curved into an indescribable smile, a mixture of interest and killing intent.
"Kishibe Rohan wants to talk to me... does he?" he murmured softly. "Very well."
He didn't spare Jotaro and the others another glance, as if they were merely weeds by the roadside. He bent down and got into the black car.
The door closed, and the car silently glided into the night, quickly disappearing.
The US military commander waved his hand, and the soldiers quickly reassembled and got into their vehicles. Amidst the roar of engines, the cars also departed as swiftly as they had arrived, leaving behind only tire tracks and a dead silence.
Only Kujo Jotaro and his group remained, standing rooted to the spot, watching their enemy disappear into the darkness, yet openly taken away and protected by another, more powerful force.
Not only had they been betrayed by their government, but now they were starkly told that their enemy was favored and protected by a superpower.
"A... mer... i... can... gov... ern... ment..." Jotaro squeezed out these words, syllable by syllable, through gritted teeth, the look under his cap having turned into a burning sea of ice.
The shackles of rules had been completely torn apart.
And the opponent's camp had become unprecedentedly powerful and... unbelievable.