The air inside the temporary safe house in Morioh was so heavy it felt like it could drip with water.
Higashikata Josuke was still deep in grief over his mother's death, his eyes red and swollen, sitting silently in a corner. His usually exaggerated hairstyle seemed to have lost some of its vibrancy, transforming from a steak-like pompadour to something resembling a pile of cow dung.
Koichi Hirose had been increasingly restless and distracted since that phone call, as if he had been scared out of his wits, while Kujo Jotaro's brow was deeply furrowed beneath the brim of his hat.
"We must leave Japan," Jotaro broke the silence, his voice low and firm. "After old man Joseph died, I heard a voice pointing towards Cape Canaveral. For some reason, I have a hunch that our hope lies there.
There must be answers there, or at least the key to fighting Kira Yoshikage and Kishibe Rohan. If we stay in Japan, we are no match for them."
Despite his reluctance, Jotaro had to admit that individual strength was too weak compared to a nation's army. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't fight an army alone.
And a large foundation like the SPW Foundation was no match for the Japanese government. Here, they were merely lambs to the slaughter.
Nijimura Okuyasu clenched his fists: "But Mr. Jotaro, the whole of Japan has been put under martial law by that bastard Rohan! The airports and ports must be swarming with his people!"
"We have to try," Jotaro stood up. "We can't just sit here and wait to die. Let's go to the airport. Using the SPW Foundation's channels, there might still be a chance. If we don't go, there won't be even a sliver of hope."
After a simple disguise, the group, with heavy hearts, drove towards Tokyo International Airport.
The closer they got to the airport, the more tense the atmosphere became. Numerous checkpoints had been set up along the way, and armed police officers and sharp-eyed special agents in black suits were everywhere.
Their vehicle was stopped and questioned multiple times. It was only thanks to Jotaro's calm reactions and some disguised identity documents prepared in advance by the SPW Foundation that they managed to pass. However, Jotaro noticed that someone was making phone calls every time they passed a checkpoint.
Finally reaching the airport, the sight before them made their hearts sink.
Unprecedented multiple security checkpoints had been set up at the entrance to the international departure hall. The queues were long, and travelers looked uneasy and agitated.
A large police presence was deployed, and wanted posters with blurred photos of Jotaro, Josuke, Okuyasu, and Koichi, labeled "Extremely Dangerous Terrorists," were even plastered on the walls!
Oh, and next to them were various manga by Kishibe Rohan, covering the entire airport. There wasn't a single spot in the airport without his manga.
Now Jotaro understood. So he was the one being hunted. No wonder those people kept making phone calls earlier... they were calling for reinforcements... "As expected..." Jotaro lowered his voice, tilting his hat brim to obscure most of his face, making him unidentifiable. "Rohan has mobilized the state apparatus."
"What do we do, Mr. Jotaro?" Koichi asked nervously, his palms sweating.
"Keep going," Jotaro's eyes were sharp. "The SPW Foundation's private jet aisle might still offer a glimmer of hope."
'Besides, their reinforcements will probably come directly here. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to.'
They avoided the main hall, attempting to bypass it towards the VIP and private jet aisle.
The guard here was even stricter, with guards almost every five steps and sentries every ten.
Just as they approached the entrance to the aisle, ready to present the SPW Foundation's special pass—
Wooo-lah—wooo-lah—!
Piercing sirens suddenly blared throughout the entire area!
A large number of elite reinforcements had arrived.
"Block all exits! Repeat, block all exits!" A cold command came over the broadcast.
Instantly, dozens of fully armed special forces soldiers swarmed out from all directions, their guns uniformly pointed at them!
More black-suited special agents appeared, subtly forming a cordon, cutting off all their escape routes. Travelers screamed in terror as they were evacuated.
"Are they terrorists! Run!"
The crowd receded like a tide, leaving only Jotaro and the others.
Looking at these strangely dressed individuals, a man in a senior police officer's uniform, but with empty, doll-like eyes, walked forward, holding a tablet displaying their wanted poster.
"Kujo Jotaro, Higashikata Josuke, Nijimura Okuyasu, Koichi Hirose."
The officer's voice was devoid of emotion, as if reading a script. "You are accused of planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against the Prime Minister's Official Residence and several key government officials. In accordance with the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Act, you are hereby placed under arrest.
Abandon futile resistance and surrender immediately!"
"Nonsense! Kira Yoshikage is clearly the terrorist!" Okuyasu roared in anger, The Hand almost appearing uncontrollably.
"'Kira Yoshikage' is long dead. It seems you really are accomplices of that bomb-crazed terrorist. Stop resisting at once!"
Looking at the countless dark muzzles surrounding him, Josuke also suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with fury. Crazy Diamond subtly flickered around him; he was about to lose control.
His mother was dead, brutally murdered. His father was dead, mysteriously blown up. And now they were persecuting him, helping a murderer get away with it, while attacking them, heroes who upheld justice, making it almost unbearable.
Jotaro firmly held back the two impulsive individuals, calmly looking at the officer. "We want to see my lawyer. According to the law, the SPW Foundation has the right to..."
"Law?" A voice full of sarcasm blared from the officer's chest radio, echoing clearly in the tense standoff. It was Kishibe Rohan's voice!
"Kujo Jotaro, do you think this is still a time for laws? I am the law now!"
Rohan's voice carried a hint of sadistic pleasure. The voice from the radio became low and faint, yet everyone nearby could hear it. "You are terrorists who endanger national security! Evidence? My words are the evidence!
My manga sales are the will of the people! American friends? They need my abilities more now! Who would stand up for you 'terrorists'?"
His voice, transmitted through radio waves, lashed out like an invisible whip at the scene:
"Look around you! The power of the entire nation is here! No matter how strong you are, can you fight against the entire state apparatus? Can you fight against thousands of soldiers? What good is your so-called invincible Star Platinum?!
Surrender obediently, and perhaps I might show some mercy and let you die quickly, unlike Tomoko Higashikata..."
"You bastard! Don't you dare mention my mother!!" Josuke completely erupted in rage, Crazy Diamond instantly manifesting, about to charge at the officer!
"Josuke! Calm down!"
Jotaro roared, the power of Star Platinum instantly erupting, forcefully suppressing the almost out-of-control Josuke.
He knew that once they made a move here, it would play right into Rohan's hands, giving him the perfect reason to kill them on the spot!
"Tsk, what touching camaraderie." Rohan's voice continued to mock, but the next second, his voice immediately became calm and cold, devoid of any emotion.
"However, the game is over. Capture them, dead or alive."
The armed soldiers' gun bolts clicked in unison, and a chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the four protagonists.
Koichi's face was pale, his body trembling slightly. He looked at the countless dark muzzles surrounding them, at the manipulated, indifferent faces, and then at his companions trapped in despair, his eyes filled with hopelessness.
They seemed to be truly trapped in this cage, controlled by Kishibe Rohan.
The plan to leave Japan and go to Cape Canaveral to find a way out and answers seemed so distant and powerless in the face of absolute state power and insane targeting.