Special effects: Starting with Ultraman Tiga

Chapter 430 The Last Supper: The Style of the Showa Knights

The underground base of Foundation X.

"This is a letter from Sonozaki-san to you," Shen Yun said, handing a letter to Sonozaki Saeko.

"Dad gave this to me? What's he up to?" Saeko Sonozaki frowned slightly, opened the envelope, took out the letter inside, and glanced through it briefly.

The gist of it is that she should attend the banquet and repent to Sonozaki Ryubei.

"Make me repent?! What a joke!" Saeko Sonozaki crumpled the letter into a ball, her pretty face showing anger.

Shen Yun picked up the letter that Sonozaki Saeko had crumpled into a ball, unfolded it, and glanced at it.

"Are you going?" Shen Yun asked.

"I'm not going!"

"I think you should go. This might be the last time your whole family gets together," Shen Yun said meaningfully.

Upon hearing this, Saeko Sonozaki hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and said, "Alright."

……

Narumi Detective Agency.

Kyoko Todoroki bandaged Kirihiko Sudo's wounds, while Kirihiko sat silently on the sofa.

Although Sudo Kirihiko was also affected by the Fear Dopant, he was not hit by the Fear Dopant's dark swamp. As long as he stayed away from the Fear Dopant, he was able to recover to some extent.

but……

Sudo Kirihiko looked up at Shotaro Sato, who was wrapped in a blanket and looked extremely nervous.

Shotaro was completely consumed by fear; even the slightest noise would send him into a frenzy of screaming.

"Is this the power of Terror?" Sudo Kirihiko asked with a wry smile.

If he were also struck by that quagmire of fear, he probably wouldn't fare much better than Shotaro.

Even though he was only slightly affected, he was already unable to muster any will to resist the fear hybrid.

"It's all because of me..." Kyoko Todoroki's face was full of self-reproach.

As if she had made up her mind, she got up and left the Narumi Detective Agency, heading to the Sonozaki residence.

……

At this time, at the Sonozaki family home.

The brightly lit, empty restaurant was finally filled with seats, a welcome sight after a long absence.

"Haha, you're late! Come on in. Let's have a taste of the dishes I made today. Let's celebrate Wakana's departure with the whole family." Sonozaki Ryubei smiled and waved to Philip as he entered.

At that moment, Shroud, wearing a black trench coat and with bandages wrapped around his face, walked past Philippe and went straight to the dining table, where he threw the envelope in his hand onto the table.

"Mom?!" Philip looked at his entire family who had arrived and sat down in his seat, slightly surprised. "Dad, Mom, and my two older sisters. My family is all here..."

Philip surveyed the incredibly strange atmosphere, a slice of bread dangling from his plate, and thought to himself, "Is this... our family's dining table?"

"This day has been so long~" Sonozaki Ryubei said happily.

As she spoke, Sonozaki Ryubei scooped up a spoonful of soup and drank it, then added, "Remember, right? Those days when we all dug together."

"I'm still a little scared of that black well..." said Wakana Sonozaki.

"Ah, Wakana said something like that." Sonozaki Ryubei smiled faintly, picked up the key on the table, and said, "But, it's alright, we have this."

After saying that, Sonozaki Ryubei used the key to unlock the wooden box.

"Everyone!" Philip, who had been silent for a while, suddenly stood up and said, "Let's put aside the past for now. It's rare for all the family members to be gathered together, so let's take this opportunity to put an end to all the disputes!"

"Family? Don't be ridiculous, someone come here." Saeko Sonozaki scoffed, "Whether it's you, me, or Wakana, in our father's eyes, we're probably just tools to complete his plan."

"Onee-chan, how could you say that?" Sonozaki Wakana frowned and said.

"Wakana, do you know?" Saeko Sonozaki turned to look at Wakana Sonozaki sitting to her right and said, "The reason you are favored by Father is not because Father dotes on you, nor because you are so outstanding, but simply because you are more compatible with Clay Doll."

"That's why you were chosen by Father to become the core of Gaia's Impart Project."

"In the end, you and I are actually the same, both used as tools by Father. However, my role is to manage the affairs of the museum, while you and the newcomer are simply tools to bear the power of Extreme in order to complete Father's plan."

"And I actually felt jealous of you for something like this before. It's really laughable now that I think about it." Saeko Sonozaki swirled the red wine in her glass, then gave a self-deprecating laugh and downed the glass in one gulp.

Philip looked stunned.

"Saeko! Shut up!" Sonozaki Ryubei slammed her hand on the table and shouted.

Saeko Sonozaki pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Sonozaki Wakana also fell silent, her thoughts in turmoil.

Although she didn't want to believe Sonozaki Saeko's words, the current situation forced her to believe them.

"This dinner is to celebrate Wakana's transformation into someone who will surpass humanity and become comparable to a god, and it is also a feast for you and Ayane to repent," said Sonozaki Ryubei, rising from her seat and approaching Sonozaki Saeko.

"Repentance? Father, don't joke around. My only regret now is why I didn't see this sooner and leave this house sooner. That way, I could have lived a happier life." Sonozaki Saeko scoffed, too lazy to say anything more, and stood up from her seat, walking towards the door.

She found it funny just thinking about how she was always jealous and envious of her younger sister, who was just a tool for others like her.

From her current perspective, her desperate efforts to prove to her heartless father that she was better than Wakana seemed utterly ridiculous.

If she is a better match for Clay Doll, then isn't it Wakana who is jealous of her?

No wonder her heartless father wouldn't even glance at her. It turns out that everything was already destined. No matter how outstanding she was, her heartless father wouldn't give her a second look. So why should she care?

"Is that so?" Ryubei Sonozaki sighed, but did not stop Saeko Sonozaki, letting her leave.

At that moment, Sonozaki Ayane also got up from her seat, turned around and walked towards the door.

"Aya, are you leaving too?" Ruhei Sonozaki asked, watching Aya Sonozaki prepare to depart.

"I already gave up." Upon hearing this, Sonozaki Ayane paused, then continued walking away.

"Wait! Neechan! Kasan! Don't go! Are you going to abandon your family?!" Philip rushed over and stopped Sonozaki Saeko and Sonozaki Fumie, saying urgently.

"Family..." Saeko Sonozaki scoffed, shaking off Philip's hand, and said, "I'm no longer a member of the Sonozaki family."

After saying that, he left the Sonozaki family without looking back.

"Kasan..." Philip watched helplessly as Sonozaki Saeko left, looking at Sonozaki Fumie with pleading eyes.

Sonozaki Ayane gazed tenderly at Philip through her sunglasses and said, "Your family isn't Sonozaki anymore, it's Shotaro and the others. Forget about it now."

As she spoke, Sonozaki Ayane reached out and gently stroked Philip's head, saying, "The ace is... Shotaro Hidari."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sonozaki Fumie left the Sonozaki family home without looking back.

"Shotaro Sasaki?" Ryubei Sonozaki walked up to Philip and sneered, "He's finished. There's no way he can ever get back on his feet."

Just then, Kyoko silently emerged from under the table, took the Evil Tail from the wooden box that Ryubei Sonozaki had opened, put it in her pocket, and quietly left the restaurant, slipping out the way she came.

Wakana Sonozaki saw Kyoko Todoroki's actions, but surprisingly, she didn't say anything.

Saeko Sonozaki's words had left her feeling somewhat confused.

Was her father's affection for her truly based on familial love?

Or……

Is it simply because she is a better fit for Clay Doll? Is it because she can fulfill her father's long-cherished wish for Gaia's impart that she is able to gain his favor and affection?

She dared not think any further; she was afraid to know the truth.

……

At the same time.

The atmosphere at the Narumi Detective Agency was somewhat oppressive at that moment.

Narumi Shokichi couldn't bear to see Shotaro trembling like this any longer, so he stood up from his chair.

The sound of Narumi Shokichi getting up from his chair startled Shotaro.

Upon seeing that it was Narumi Shokichi, Shotaro Sato finally felt relieved and shrank back a little.

Narumi Shokichi approached Shotaro Hidari, grabbed him by the collar, and punched him hard in the face.

"Bang!"

Before Shotaro could react, he was knocked to the ground by a punch from Narumi Shokichi.

Narumi Shokichi suddenly attacked Shotaro Sasaki, catching everyone present off guard.

"Oh my god?" Shotaro covered his face, looking at Narumi Shokichi with a bewildered expression, momentarily forgetting his fear.

"Otosan, what are you doing?!" Upon seeing this, Akiko Narumi quickly ran to Shotaro Hidari and tried to help him up.

"Shotaro, look at the pathetic state you're in now!" Narumi Shokichi placed a mirror in front of Hidari Shotaro.

Looking at his own pale face and anxious expression in the mirror, Shotaro lowered his head and said in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Ouya, I..."

"Is this little bit of fear enough to overwhelm you? Where did your courage go, the courage that once allowed you to infiltrate the museum's cargo ship alone and follow me to storm the museum's research building? Where did the Shotaro I knew go?" Narumi Shoki grabbed Shotaro's collar, lifted him off the ground, and questioned him.

"I..." Shotaro opened his mouth, unsure how to answer.

"Back then, you weren't even a half-baked amateur, yet you had the courage to face the museum. How come now, with a strength that even I can hardly match, you're crushed by fear?"

Upon hearing this, Shotaro Sato was filled with shame.

"Shotaro, do you remember what I asked you to do?" Narumi Shoji released his grip on Shotaro's collar and asked.

"I remember, Ou Ya-san, you told me to take good care of Philip..." Shotaro said hoarsely.

"Now, we need to go to the Sonozaki family to rescue Philip and stop Sonozaki Ryuhei's Gaia Impact plan."

"Shotaro, you are my most prized and proudest disciple. Don't let me down." After saying this, Narumi Shokichi put on his hat and walked out of the Narumi Detective Agency.

Sudo Kirihiko also tore off his bandages and followed Narumi Shokichi out.

Terui Ryu patted Narumi Akiko's hand, glanced at Hidari Shotaro, and then followed her out.

"I..." Upon hearing this, Shotaro felt a surge of excitement. Looking at Narumi Shokichi's retreating figure, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'm going too!"

I am Oyasan's most prized and proud disciple, how can I be defeated by mere fear!

How can we back down here!

I'm going to save my partner!

Shotaro swallowed hard, and supported by Akiko Narumi, he walked unsteadily out of the Narumi Detective Agency.

Seeing Shotaro Hidari walk out of the office, Narumi Shokichi's lips curled into a faint smile.

Shotaro, though not very mature, has never disappointed him.

At this moment, Kyoko Todoroki, who had run away from Sonozaki's house with the Evil Tail, also encountered the group preparing to go to Sonozaki's house in front of the Narumi Detective Agency.

"Kyoko-san?! Where have you been?" Akiko Narumi asked as she saw Kyoko Todoroki running towards her, panting.

"This is the Evil Tail from the box!" Kyoko Todoroki said, carrying a cloth bag.

"You brought this back from Sonozaki's house? You really have extraordinary initiative..." Narumi Akiko exclaimed in surprise.

"So, you stopped Gaia Impart?" Terui Ryu asked, his gaze sweeping over the cloth bag in Todoroki Kyoko's hand.

Kyoko gasped for breath, shook her head, and slammed her fist on the pillar by the door, saying bitterly, "Maybe I'm mistaken. Because I really can't imagine what use that thing could possibly be!"

As she spoke, Kyoko took out a brush from her cloth bag, on one side of which were written several names.

"This is... a brush?" Sudo Kirihiko stared in astonishment at the brush in Todoroki's hand.

Evil Tail is actually a brush?

What's the use of this?

"Ooh-san, what does this mean?" Akiko Narumi turned to look at Shokichi Narumi and asked.

"I don't know, we might have to ask Sonozaki Ryubei himself." Narumi Shokichi took the brush from Todoroki Kyoko's hand and handed it to Sasaki Shotaro, saying, "Let's go. If we're late, we might miss it."

(End of this chapter)