Ultraman: I am really just a human.

Chapter 4 Former Teammates

Alliance J Country Branch.

Inside the secret meeting room, an elderly man in a suit was adjusting his collar in front of a full-length mirror, but what was reflected in the mirror was a figure in a silver robe.

"Really? A new batch of Kamen Riders has been selected?"

"Including the consortium, a total of 100 knights were selected. In addition, a level 2 Green Thorn appeared in the old city and has been eliminated by the knights on duty. There was one victim and one survivor. You must be very interested in that survivor."

"Oh?"

"It is said that Shinji Kaminaga was once possessed by Ultraman. He also applied for the Kamen Rider selection this time, but he was rejected as you instructed."

"Just a minor character. Let's get rid of him when we get the chance. I hate it when things that are an eyesore keep appearing."

"Yes."

He hunched over, not daring to look up, and secretly wiped away his sweat before continuing.

"Sir, the frequency of strange occurrences has been increasing lately, and the danger level has been raised to 2. Headquarters needs us to provide detailed information and may also be assigning an investigation team..."

"Nothing in this world is ever absolutely perfect," the old man said indifferently. "Since they have obtained the power of Kamen Rider, they must pay a price. Tell them that the appearance of monsters is not a disaster, but an opportunity for humanity. Kamen Rider's ultimate power is no weaker than Ultraman's."

……

The old town's vegetarian market.

From afar, Xia Chuan saw the crowd coming and going at the funeral, most of them dressed in black suits, solemnly placing incense sticks and offerings as they entered.

A police car was parked outside the entrance to the vegetarian feast, and two police officers appeared to be talking to family members dressed in black mourning clothes.

They were a quiet mother and son, and passing customers who tried to greet them were stopped by the police.

Xia Chuan paused, took out his wallet from his pocket, and the image of the middle-aged man disintegrating into particles flashed before his eyes again.

"Tsugami, that must be the mother and child."

After matching the identification information in the wallet, Xia Chuan voluntarily put down Xiang Dian and entered the room, then went straight to the mother and child who were being questioned by the police.

"Sorry, you can just walk in for the funeral..."

A policeman instinctively tried to stop him, but the words he was about to say were forced back down by the police handbook that Xia Chuan pulled out.

In the J country's police system, Superintendent is already a very high-ranking police rank. Above Inspector is Superintendent, above Superintendent is Superintendent, and above that is Superintendent, Superintendent Chief, Superintendent Supervisor, and there is only one Superintendent Commissioner of Police in the whole country.

The chief of a major police station or the head of a division of the police headquarters is usually a superintendent, such as the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Although Xia Chuan was removed from his police post, he still retained his police rank.

These two police officers should just be ordinary patrol officers, not even one rank below the rank of police inspector.

"Sir, sir!" The two policemen saluted nervously.

"Let me speak with the Tsugami mother and son alone," Natsukawa said, sizing them up.

"this……"

The two policemen exchanged a glance, and finally nodded knowingly to make room for Xia Chuan.

"Who are you?" The woman noticed the two policemen's movements and her eyes were full of doubt.

"I am Shinji Kaminaga."

Xia Chuan handed the wallet to the woman and took out the boxed Gundam model he had bought from the packaging bag.

"These are Mr. Tsugami's belongings, and I am now handing them over to you."

Why?

The boy next to him had red and swollen eyes.

"Aren't you police officers? Why didn't you do anything when it happened? What's the point of coming here now?!"

Xia Chuan quietly met the boy's gaze.

She looked like she had cried, but she stubbornly held back her tears in front of others.

There was no loud crying or fussing, yet the silent tears only amplified the sorrow.

"Feel sorry."

Xia Chuan didn't say anything more in the end, left his things, and turned to leave the scene.

"Kaminaga!"

A car parked by the roadside rolled down its window, and Hiroko Asami, dressed in a business suit, forced a smile to greet them.

Although it's the same face and the same body, Shinji Kaminaga is not Ultraman, nor is he the special partner she knew who was full of curiosity about the human world and even willing to sacrifice himself.

Every time they meet, she thinks of Ultraman, and can only try her best to hide the pain and sorrow in her heart with a smile.

"Long time no see."

"Hiroko."

Xia Chuan nodded and sat in the passenger seat, not paying attention to the strange look on Asami Hiroko's face, and silently withdrew his gaze from the mother and son who were burying their heads and crying softly.

"Could you please make this trip?"

"It's nothing, just something I did on the side."

Hiroko Asami glanced curiously at the mother and child in the prayer hall, then turned around and took out a paper document.

"The information you requested is here. I don't know if it will be useful to you."

"Anyway, thank you."

Xia Chuan took the documents and looked them over.

The homepage features a driver that looks very similar to the Kamen Rider belt, except it's entirely silver-white and doesn't have any extra parts.

A belt-style shuttle.

"This is the first generation shuttle, also known as the prototype," Hiroko Asami explained. "Before the Kamen Rider Driver was developed, it was the only way for humans to obtain the power of Kamen Rider. Of course, it has now become an alternative, and it is also the only way for you to obtain the power of Kamen Rider."

"A prototype?"

Xia Chuan flipped to the subsequent materials and examined them carefully.

He had only heard of it before, but never learned about it in detail like he did today, and the authorities would not release specific information.

Hiroko Asami was right; if he couldn't get through the proper channels, he had no choice but to resort to illegal means.

But how can I get a physical copy?

Even though it's only an alternative now, items that can grant the power of a knight are still considered controlled items.

"don’t worry."

Hiroko Asami smiled and patted Natsukawa's shoulder casually.

"While the shuttle can grant access to Kamen Rider powers, it's not as simple as it seems. The failure rate is over 90%, and it requires enduring immense pain. Moreover, the powers gained are mostly those of ordinary Kamen Riders."

Some of the original models did end up in civilian hands, and the equipment department might have some too. I've already asked my colleagues to inquire, and I'll let you know as soon as I have the results.

"Thanks."

Xia Chuan opened his mouth, but being a quiet person, he didn't know what to say, and for a moment the car became slightly awkward.

"You're still the same as always, you don't like to talk."

Hiroko Asami shook her head with a wry smile.

Even though he's no longer Ultraman, his personality seems almost unchanged, giving her the feeling that Ultraman has returned.

This damn sense of disorientation.

"Alright, go back and wait for my news. If you can successfully transform into a Kamen Rider, I'll try to recommend you to the higher-ups."

"No need, I don't want to go back."

Xia Chuan silently took the documents and got off the bus.

He doesn't trust the league, and the obstacles he's faced in applying for Kamen Rider status in recent years may well be related to that.

"Hiroko."

Xia Chuan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Asami Hiroko, who was starting the car.

"Do you have time to tell me about Ultraman? What exactly happened in the final battle, and... why does Ultraman care so much about humanity?"

The reason why this world has deviated so drastically from the development of "New Ultraman" is perhaps only known to the teammates of these Ultramen.

"I have no idea."

Hiroko Asami paused, her nose slightly stinging as she avoided Natsukawa's gaze.

"We believed he would come back, but in the end, it was you who woke up."

"Buzz!"

A car drove past, engine humming, leaving Xia Chuan standing there lost in thought.

"Don't worry, I won't waste Ultraman's life."

"ah--!"

"Help!"

A sudden, violent commotion behind him startled Xia Chuan awake.

Turning around, one could see a large number of guests rushing out of the funeral site in panic, and amid the chaos, gunshots and strange shouts could even be heard.

"Bang! Bang!"

What happened?

Xia Chuan looked directly at the altar through the crowd and spotted two green-skinned monsters amidst the bursts of gunfire.

Green thorns?

Are you kidding me? It actually appeared during the day, and in such a crowded place!

The initial stage is like laying the foundation. Right now, I only have a rough outline of the main storyline. I'll get used to it first, and also copy some book reviews... to refine the concept.

(End of this chapter)