Tokyo: Proving one's position from behind the scenes

The inspection of the third floor did not go smoothly. There were not many believers there, but there were quite a few rooms, some of which were locked.

Instead of using brute force to break down the locked doors, Huzhang decided to check out the unlocked rooms unnoticed first. But as he was inspecting a reception room, someone approached.

He squeezed sideways into the narrow gap between a storage cabinet and the wall in the corner of the reception room. The cabinet was an old-fashioned, dark brown wooden cabinet. He pressed his back against the wall, slowed his breathing, and the wisp of golden magic power in his dantian slightly subsided, suppressing his aura to a minimum.

The door to the reception room was pushed open.

Two people walked in one after the other. The one in front walked with steady steps, while the one behind walked with lighter steps, the soles of their leather shoes making a soft thud on the carpet.

"Please have a seat." The voice came from the reception area.

It was Hiroaki Akiyama; Itadori recognized the voice.

Through the crack in the locker door, Huzhang could only see a corner of the reception area: the edge of a low table, the backs of two folding chairs, and the sleeve of Hongming's white robe draped over the chair back. Another person sat opposite Hongming, and Huzhang could only see half of his dark gray trousers and a black leather shoe.

"Master Akiyama, thank you for taking the time to see me after the mission meeting. I am a negotiation expert from the Special Affairs Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. My surname is Tanabe."

Hongming didn't reply. Huzhang heard a faint rustling sound from the white robe, probably because Hongming had changed his sitting posture.

"The Metropolitan Police Department is aware of the recent activities of the converts to the Ajitsu Shinrikyo cult," Tanabe continued calmly. "We have no intention of interfering with your religious beliefs. The Metropolitan Police Department fully respects the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution. My visit is to express a message to cult leader Akiyama on behalf of the Operations Division."

"What are your intentions?" Hongming's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"The Operations Division has confirmed the power that Master Akiyama displayed at the Dharma Assembly," Tanabe said. "The Metropolitan Police Department is currently promoting a plan to establish cooperative relationships with 'Awakened Ones' who possess such abilities. The cooperation includes intelligence sharing, joint operations, and mutual support when necessary. In exchange, the Metropolitan Police Department will provide corresponding resources and conveniences to the collaborators."

As expected, even the official authorities possess extraordinary power, Akiyama Hiroaki thought to himself.

Itadori frowned slightly in the darkness. An Awakened One, a cooperation plan. The Metropolitan Police Department had known of their existence for a long time and was already recruiting them.

He remembered what his grandfather had said in his dream: the fingers of Ryomen Sukuna, the person who turned into a monster, the person who collected the fingers. How much did the Metropolitan Police Department know?

"Mr. Tanabe," Hiroaki's voice came from above the chair, his tone still calm, "You mean, you're suggesting that those who convert to the Shingon Church be placed under the Metropolitan Police Department's jurisdiction?"

"It's not about management, it's about collaboration."

"Cooperation," Hiroaki repeated the word. "What resources can the Metropolitan Police Department provide?"

"Facilities in terms of funding, equipment, intelligence, and legal matters." Tanabe answered quickly, as if he had prepared the answer in advance. "For example, if your church encounters security problems when preaching in public places, the Action Section can provide certain coordination without violating the law. Furthermore, if your church encounters threats from other awakened individuals or hostile forces, the Action Section can provide intelligence warnings and tactical support."

Why not give me something more substantial? Akiyama Hiroaki is a very practical person. In his view, his situation is one of "being recruited by the government," so something more substantial would be better, whether it's money, power, or sex.

He chuckled softly, his true attitude remaining unreadable.

"Mr. Tanabe, the power bestowed upon me by the Celestial Master of the Dharma is not for making deals with the Metropolitan Police Department." His voice slowed, the pauses between each word longer than before. "The Celestial Master of the Dharma entered my dream and taught me the Dharma so that I could spread the truth. What the Truth Cult does is save people, not do business. I appreciate the Metropolitan Police Department's good intentions."

The armrest of the chair made a slight squeaking sound, probably because Tanabe changed his position.

"Master Akiyama, I understand your position." Tanabe's tone remained unchanged, as if he were dealing with a routine situation he had encountered many times before. "The Action Section's invitation to cooperate comes without any conditions and will not interfere with your sect's doctrines and activities. You can understand it as us simply wanting to establish a communication channel with you so that if needed in the future, both parties can communicate through this channel, nothing more."

"The Celestial Venerable One did not instruct me to establish a communication channel with the Metropolitan Police Department," Hongming said. "If the Celestial Venerable One were to issue a divine decree in the future instructing me to cooperate with the Metropolitan Police Department, I would comply. Until then, the Truth Church will not establish any form of cooperative relationship with any secular authority."

The meeting room was quiet for a few seconds. Huzhang could hear the second hand of the wall clock ticking away, one after another, the rhythm so even it was like some kind of scale.

"I understand," Tanabe said, his professional composure replaced by a more relaxed tone. "Then, the Metropolitan Police Department's formal meeting is now concluded."

Itachi heard a faint rustling sound of fabric, probably because Tanabe had taken something out of his pocket.

"What I'm about to say does not represent the Metropolitan Police Department." Tanabe lowered his voice by half a tone and spoke a little faster than before. "Master Akiyama, I have also been entrusted by the United States to convey another intention to you."

Hongming didn't make a sound, but the air in the reception room seemed to be slightly compressed by something. It was such a subtle, almost imperceptible change that even Itachi could feel it through the narrow gap in the storage cabinet.

"The United States is a country with freedom of religion," Tanabe said. "The law protects the religious freedom of every citizen. No matter what you believe in or what your practice is, as long as you do not violate the law, no one will interfere with you."

"If you wish, the United States can provide you with a monastery, the location and size of which are up to you. The West Coast, the East Coast, the Midwest, anywhere. All costs for building the monastery will be borne by the United States, and your practice and missionary work in the United States will not be disturbed in any way."

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly. America, even America is trying to win this person over.

Hongming's eyes lit up slightly, and he decided to wait for the right price.

"The Celestial Venerable Transmitting the Dharma did not send me to America." Hongming's voice came from above the back of the chair.

"Of course," Tanabe replied immediately. "This invitation has no time limit; you can consider it at any time. If you'd like to visit America, even for a short visit, we can arrange it."

"Mr. Tanabe," Hiroaki interrupted him, his voice still steady, but with a slightly sharper edge than before, "When you represented the Metropolitan Police Department, you said the Metropolitan Police Department respected freedom of religion. When you represented America, you said America respected freedom of religion. But in your heart, you neither believe in the Dharma-transmitting Celestial Venerable nor in any deity. You're not here to discuss cooperation, but to assess whether I, this 'Awakener,' can be used by you."

The reception room fell silent.

"To your attempts to win me over, I will only reply with one sentence—By the Heavenly Venerable of Transmitting the Dharma, I, a follower of the Truth Church, will not ally with any secular power."

Tanabe was silent for a few seconds, then Itadori heard the sound of a chair being pushed away, took two steps toward the door with his leather shoes on the carpet, and then stopped.

"Master Akiyama, I will relay today's conversation truthfully." Tanabe's voice regained its professional composure. "However, the part about America that just happened is not in the Metropolitan Police Department's official records."

The footsteps moved toward the door, then paused for a moment.

Hongming's voice suddenly rang out.

"Mr. Tanabe," he said, his tone still unhurried, "there's one more thing I need to say before you leave."

"Please speak."

No, I wasn't talking to you.

Itachi heard Hiroaki stand up from his chair, the fabric of his white robe brushing lightly across the carpet, and footsteps began to move. Not towards the door, but towards the depths of the reception room.

Heading in the direction where Tiger Stick is hiding.

"The one behind the locker." Hongming's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like the first gust of water gushing from a spring, clear and undeniable. "The missionary work ended a long time ago. You've been listening for quite a while now. Come out."