Guyver Armor: KAP-2

Chapter 97 Tokyo, An Unexpected Encounter on the Streets

The shuttle silently glided into the shallow waters of Tokyo Bay.

"Yes, the first voyage was a success. Although I can't leave the main body for too long, it'll be enough for the short term."

Tsubasa Kamino piloted the mini spaceship, docking it at an abandoned dock on an underwater reef. The shuttle's surface instantly switched to the same gray-black color as the reef.

The two opened the shuttle door and, under the cover of night, silently set foot on Tokyo soil.

"Are you ready?"

Tsubasa Kamino turned his head to look at Upton beside him, and took the opportunity to remove his armor, revealing an inconspicuous dark trench coat underneath.

Upton's body shrank slightly, and in an instant he transformed into a generic human: "Don't worry, even the Beast God General might not be able to see through my mimicry."

The two, Tsubasa and her companion, traveled light and, taking advantage of the darkness and the vegetation in the countryside, bypassed Senzakuike Park and Tokyo Metropolitan University, eventually reaching the northwestern countryside of Setagaya Ward.

Hidden behind a grove of trees, a sprawling detached mansion is surrounded by high stone walls, understated yet undeniably grand – this is the home of Director Xiaotian Tong.

Tsubasa Kamino gently knocked on the brass ring of the side door.

A moment later, the side door slowly opened a crack, and an elderly man in a butler's uniform poked his head out: "What brings you two here at this early hour?"

Without saying much, Kamino Tsubasa handed over the handwritten letter from Odagiri.

The old man took the letter, carefully checked the handwriting and seal, and then stepped aside to make way for them: "Gentlemen, please come in."

The butler led them into the hall, drew the curtains tightly, and then breathed a sigh of relief, his voice full of worry: "How has Master been lately? Since Kronos launched the war, we haven't heard from him. I've been worried sick day and night. Thankfully, I know he's safe and sound."

"Don't worry, Director Odagiri is doing well here with us," Tsubasa Kamino said softly, before explaining the purpose of their visit.

The butler's expression turned serious, and he replied solemnly, "No problem, Mr. Jinno, please rest here for a while. As instructed by the master, I, Tanaka Kosaburo, will do my best to meet all your needs."

Kamino Tsubasa nodded slightly and turned to look at his side: "Upton, then I'll trouble you to stay here for the time being to coordinate and inventory the supplies, and also to install the communicator we brought."

I still have some things I need to investigate. Once I've gathered the intelligence, I'll return as soon as possible to join you.

"Hmph, I won't have any problems here."

Upton crossed his arms: "You be careful too, don't get yourself into trouble while you're investigating."

As he spoke, his chest suddenly split open in the middle, revealing a specially made communication device that was carefully wrapped inside.

After a brief farewell to the two, Kamino Tsubasa turned and walked out of the reception room, quietly leaving Odagiri's house and heading towards the city.

The streets of Tokyo are no longer as bustling as they once were, with most of the shops on both sides of the street having their doors and windows tightly closed.

The once bustling road is now only echoed with the footsteps of the beastmen on patrol.

The few pedestrians on the road all hurried past with their heads down, not daring to stop for even a moment.

Newly produced abstract posters featuring muscular men, such as "Power is Love! Recruiting Volunteers for Treatment," are plastered throughout the streets and alleys, showcasing the exceptional taste of the Kronos Japan authorities.

Only the familiar, clear voice of the announcer still emanates from the large electronic screen hanging high in the shopping mall: "————The landmark building, the Cloud Gate, which started construction five years ago, has recently successfully completed its final acceptance inspection."

His Excellency Friedrich von Pruda, head of the Japanese branch of the Kronos Domination Bureau and the Beast God General, personally arrived at the scene to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the building.

It is understood that these two 412-meter-tall twin towers will be used as the new headquarters for the Japanese branch.

""

Next to the MAX Pharmaceuticals building, in a small café that is still open.

Kamino Tsubasa sat in the inner corner, hiding most of his face in the shadows, holding a newspaper with the latest announcement from Kronos in his hand.

"Makijima, and Rishik—even the Onuma family's apartment complex is deserted."

I had originally planned to try and win them over to gather intelligence, but I never expected that these old acquaintances would now all be wanted criminals. Life is truly unpredictable.

He reviewed the current intelligence, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "However, since the 'Cloud Gate' of the Japanese branch has already been completed—"

According to the original story, the North American branch is located at "Pillars of Heaven" in Washington, D.C., which presumably will be inaugurated soon.

"The damage to the False God Crystal is too severe; Murakami's body can only last for a little over a year at most. It seems—"

He raised his hand and rubbed his temples: "I must find a way to infiltrate the Pillars of Heaven as soon as possible and find the technology I'm looking for, otherwise—"

After gathering all the latest information, Tsubasa Kanno quickly left the coffee shop, turned into a quiet alley, and prepared to take a shortcut back to Odagiri's house.

As he walked briskly, he mentally outlined his next course of action.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from around the corner, followed by a short, startled cry: "Ah!"

Tsubasa Kamino suddenly stopped in her tracks, instinctively raising her hand to steady herself against the wall, her gaze fixed on the corner.

A figure wearing a black hooded sweatshirt staggered backward, slipped, and fell heavily to the ground.

The convenience store shopping bag he was carrying was thrown aside, with ham, bread, and cola scattered all over the floor.

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

Kanna Tsubasa lowered her guard, quickly stepped forward, and reached out to help the other person up.

The moment he could see the other person's figure clearly, he suddenly stopped and asked in surprise, "Hey, who are you?"

'

"Ouch—that hurts!"

The girl, who was sitting on the ground breathing softly, suddenly looked up when she heard the familiar voice.

She then yanked off her hood, revealing a neat head of short black hair and a pretty face.

She stared blankly at Tsubasa Kamino, her eyes widening instantly.

Tsubasa Kanno recognized her completely; she was a classmate of Natsuki Taga, Akira Fukamachi, and Tetsuro Segawa, and also a senior member of the school's SF Club (Science Fiction Club) that he had once mentored.

From a young age, this girl has been filled with a fervent curiosity about extraterrestrial civilizations and unknown technologies. She has an outgoing, tomboyish personality, yet she is exceptionally persistent in what she believes in.

Back in the club, she was always the one with the most ideas and the most proactive in asking questions.

In the original story, it was during the difficult period of Chronos's complete rule that she successfully sheltered the Segawa siblings and their group for a whole year, thanks to her familiarity with the terrain and her extraordinary courage.

Since the Zoan Soldiers attacked the school, order has collapsed and teachers and students have scattered. Natsuki had always believed that Mr. Shinno had disappeared long ago.

In today's turbulent Japan, disappearance often means complete vanishing from the face of the earth.

Natsuki jumped up from the ground, ignoring the scattered snacks and the dust on her clothes, and rushed to Kanna Tsubasa: "Kanna--Kanna-sensei?! Is it really you?!"