As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

It's consistent with the original work, yet it exudes an inexplicable eeriness. The time, cause of death, and behavioral logic are all perfectly aligned, as if someone followed the script but quietly altered the most crucial ending.

The search continued, the fingers moving faster and faster, the file boxes rattling as they were pushed. Fifteen minutes later, the third death record appeared:

Shoichi Tsugami, 33 years old, unemployed, died at the same time as Setsuna Sawaki, both by jumping off a building.

It follows the original trajectory without any deviation.

Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief and continued flipping through the files, preparing to confirm the situation of Kazetani Mako and the Misugi family—but the name of the next file made his blood almost freeze.

Tetsuya Sawaki.

The inheritor of the power of light, the true vessel of Agito, the core of the Dawn Incident, was supposed to become the protagonist of Kamen Rider Agito in this world.

Cause of death: The Tianliang luxury cruise ship sank.

Lin Chen abruptly pulled out the file, his breathing quickening instantly. His gaze was fixed on the accident description, and he read it word by word:

A year ago, the luxury cruise ship Dawn sank in Tokyo Bay, carrying 32 people including passengers and crew.

Cause of the accident: Unknown. Survivor's account: During the voyage, an unidentified bright light suddenly appeared, followed by a violent explosion of the ship.

Rescue: Patrol officer Cheng Bingchuan arrived at the scene immediately and single-handedly rescued all 31 survivors.

Death: Only 1 person, whose body was found alone on the shore.

Name: Tetsuya Sawaki, age 23.

The protagonist... is dead.

Lin Chen's mind went blank.

The Dawn Incident was the beginning of everything: the White God descended, granting Tetsuya Sawaki the power of light; the God of Water launched a surprise attack; Sawaki transformed, was defeated, and lost his memory, drifting to the Misugi family home, where he lived as Shoichi Tsugami, eventually becoming Agito, the protector of humanity. But in this world, 31 out of 32 people survived, except for Tetsuya Sawaki, who was required to live and become Agito, and he died.

Moreover, he died alone on the shore, the cause of death unknown, as if he had been deliberately singled out and erased.

He continued flipping through the files, and the next one made it clear to him that something terrible was wrong with the world—

Kazatani Mana, 17 years old, Yoshihiko Misugi's adopted daughter, died in a car accident at an intersection six months ago.

The adoptive father, Yoshihiko Misugi, insisted that it was an "attack by an unknown entity" and was diagnosed with delusions. His testimony was only reinstated after subsequent attacks by unknown life forms, but the case remains unresolved.

In the original work, Kazetani Mana possessed extrasensory perception and could see the flow of light. She was Agito's most important bond and guide, but she also died.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath.

Nobuyuki Kazatani (Light Power Researcher) → Setsuna Sawaki (First Agito) → Tetsuya Sawaki (Official Agito) → Mana Kazatani (Esperor/Light Power Resonator).

This complete chain, which carried humanity's resistance against the dark forces and its evolution into Agito, was severed from its root in this world, leaving not a single one behind.

Before he could even sort out his thoughts, he heard footsteps at the door.

"Are you looking at these old cases?"

Lin Chen looked up and saw Ozawa Sumiko standing at the door of the archives room, holding a stack of new documents. Her white coat was stained with a little oil, and her eyes showed fatigue, but her gaze was still as sharp as ever. She walked straight in, placed the documents on the corner of the table, pulled over a wooden chair and sat down opposite her. Her gaze swept over the four death files spread out on the table, and her brows furrowed slightly.

“I looked at all of these when I took over the G3 project, and I spent half a year going over them over and over again.” She pointed to Nobuyuki Kazatani’s file. “Professor Kazatani’s notes were torn up when he died, and Setsuna Sawaki burned all the documents before she died. The two of them died cleanly, without leaving a single clue. Then there’s Shoichi Tsugami and Mana Kazatani, which are even stranger—they are all people who are directly related to Nobuyuki Kazatani, and within two years, not a single one of them survived.”

“I initially suspected that Unknown was behind it,” Sumiko Ozawa sighed, her voice full of confusion and helplessness. “But I don’t understand why Unknown would target a professor, a student, an unemployed man, and a high school student in a series of attacks.”

Lin Chen lowered his eyes and gently tapped the table with his fingertips.

Sumiko Ozawa didn't understand, but he did.

What happened earlier could be considered an accident, but the deaths of Tetsuya Sawaki and Mana Kazetani were precisely targeted and killed by the Unknown using the power of light. It seems that Shoichi Tsugami was not resurrected by the power of darkness in this world, otherwise he wouldn't have watched the inheritors of the power of light die one after another.

"The power of light," he said softly, his voice low but clear enough.

"What?" Ozawa Sumiko didn't hear clearly and leaned forward slightly.

"The Dawn Incident, superpowers, Agito, the power of darkness, the source of the Venerable—all the serial deaths revolve around this." Lin Chen raised his head, making no attempt to conceal the truth he could ascertain, and calmly stated what he knew. "Kazeya Nobuyuki's research wasn't religious studies, but superpowers, that is, the power of light; Sawaki Yukina was the first person to awaken superpowers, but she lost control, accidentally killed her mentor, and then committed suicide; Sawaki Tetsuya was her younger brother, the chosen inheritor of the power of light on the Dawn, who was supposed to become the one to fight against the Unknown; Kazeya Mana possesses superpowers, can sense the power of light, and is the next to awaken."

He paused, noticing the growing surprise in Sumiko Ozawa's eyes, and continued, "They didn't die in an accident; they were deliberately eliminated. Everyone who might awaken the power of light and become Agito is an Unknown target."

Sumiko Ozawa remained silent for a long time, so long that only the sound of her breathing could be heard in the archives.

How do you know all this?

She was a scientist who believed in data, evidence, and logical chains. Lin Chen's explanation—superpowers, the power of light, targeted elimination—sounded like the most absurd urban legend. But looking at the series of perfectly sealed death files on the table, and at Lin Chen's calm and seemingly fabricated gaze, the doubt in her heart involuntarily began to waver.

“I cannot draw conclusions based solely on your words.” She finally stood up, her tone still serious, “but the coincidences in these cases are beyond the realm of reason.”

She picked up the intercom and dialed the First Investigation Division's hotline directly: "Hojo, it's me. Here's a direction: reinvestigate the death of Kazatani Nobuyuki two years ago and the suicide of Sawaki Setsuna, along with all the information on the crew of the Dawn a year ago. I need the whereabouts, health status, and contacts of all survivors over the past year, with a focus on Kazatani Nobuyuki's research before his death."

A slightly impatient response came from Hojo Toru on the other end of the phone, and Ozawa Sumiko interrupted directly: "This isn't a request, it's a joint investigation order for Project G3, the highest priority. I need a preliminary report by tomorrow morning."

After hanging up the phone, she looked at Lin Chen: "I asked him to verify it. Whether what you said is true or false, these cases must be reinvestigated."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, not surprised.

Sumiko Ozawa is not a stubborn person; she simply respects science and procedures. It's okay if people don't believe it; as long as she's willing to investigate, the truth will eventually come to light—the 31 survivors of the Dawn are the Unknown's primary targets for elimination.

His fingertips traced the death file of Tetsuya Sawaki.

Thank you all for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes! Without further ado, here's three more extra chapters tonight at 8 PM sharp!

Chapter 69 The Dinner on the Rooftop

At exactly 6:00 PM, the automatic lighting system in the Metropolitan Police Department's underground base switched modes on schedule. The cool white fluorescent lights dimmed one by one, while the warm yellow wall lamps slowly lit up, softening the cold edges of the metal corridor.

The alarm at the end of the corridor still stood, but no longer flashed a glaring red light. All the high-priority warning lights turned to green and remained constantly lit, leaving only the monitoring waveforms on the main control room screens, which slowly fluctuated and quietly maintained the base's state of alert.

The elevator doors spun open with a "ding," and Bingchuan Cheng strode out, carrying two large, overflowing shopping bags. His bangs, damp with sweat, clung softly to his forehead. He clutched a crumpled shopping list in his hand, muttering to himself as he walked, "Beef, green onions, mushrooms… oh yes, and tofu too. Director Xiaoze specifically told me to buy it."

He walked too fast, staggered, and almost bumped into a fire hydrant around the corner, but quickly turned to the side to steady himself.

Takahiro Omuro carried two folding tables out of the equipment room. He stopped as he passed Lin Chen, who was standing against the wall. He scratched the back of his head, revealing his youthful tiger teeth, and greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Lin Chen, come and lend a hand! Director Ozawa made an exception today and allowed us to have a feast on the rooftop to celebrate the safe return of everyone from the last mission."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sumiko Ozawa walked slowly out of the control room. In her left hand, she held a half-cold cup of black coffee, and in her right hand, she hugged a cardboard box tightly wrapped in a white coat. She carefully and stealthily slipped towards the fire escape.

Upon seeing Lin Chen, she paused, immediately putting her index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, and lowered her voice with a hint of slyness: "Don't tell Hojo that this is my stash of beer. I just switched the base alarm to silent mode; it will only trigger when an 'Unknown' attacks. If he finds out, he'll be reading the Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Regulations to me for three hours straight."

Lin Chen leaned quietly against the corridor wall, holding the newly printed Unknown attack report in his hand.

A sense of melancholy welled up within him. The gatherings at the photo studio were always noisy, their atmosphere tinged with a sense of urgency, as if they were about to be packing up and leaving at any moment. But the liveliness at the base was slow and peaceful, a genuine and heartwarming display of everyday life unique to ordinary people.

As dusk settled in late autumn, the Metropolitan Police Department's rooftop was surrounded by layers of barbed wire. Several neglected succulents stood quietly against the wall, their leaves withered and brown.

In the distance, the lights of countless homes in Tokyo lit up one after another, twinkling and shimmering like tiny diamonds scattered on a black velvet night sky. A cool autumn breeze carried a sense of desolation, causing the barbed wire to rustle softly, but this was instantly dispelled by the billowing steam rising from the hot pot, creating a hazy white mist that lingered in the air like a gentle, soft-focus layer.

Two folding tables were placed together securely, with a sukiyaki pot in the center. The milky white pork bone broth bubbled in the pot, with a few red dates and goji berries floating on the surface, and the aroma slowly spread.

The table was laden with a bountiful array of ingredients: paper-thin slices of beef glistening with cold air, shiitake mushrooms glistening with dewdrops, vibrant green scallions, and plump, golden tofu puffs. There were also oden and fried chicken skewers that Bingchuan had specially gone out of his way to buy, glistening with oil and emitting an irresistible aroma.

Bingchuan Cheng awkwardly put the beef into the boiling pot with a slotted spoon. He was not paying attention and his elbow hit the hot pot rim, and the scalding soup splashed onto the back of his hand.

He gasped, instinctively pulling his hand back; the back of his hand was already bright red. Ozawa Sumiko raised her hand and gently patted the back of his hand, her tone slightly reproachful: "Slow down, no one's going to fight you for it. If you burn your hand, who's going to wear the G3 armor on missions tomorrow? We can't let Lin Chen handle everything alone."

Takahiro Omuro took out a soda can and filled everyone's can with Coke. While Ozawa was busy preparing the ingredients, he secretly poured himself half a glass of beer. He had just taken a sip when Ozawa turned around and gave him a cold glare that made him freeze.

He reluctantly poured the beer back into the can, muttering to himself, "It's just a sip, celebrating a safe mission won't cause any trouble." With that, he obediently poured himself a full can of Coke.

Just then, the heavy iron door to the rooftop creaked open slowly.

Hojo Toru stood in the doorway, his navy blue police uniform crisp and neat, his tie perfectly tied. His hands were in his pockets, his brows furrowed, and his face icy.

"It's so noisy, the whole underground base can hear your commotion." His voice carried its usual coldness and detachment. "The Metropolitan Police Department is an important office, not a family restaurant where you can have your own private gatherings."

None of the people on the rooftop responded or refuted, their tacit understanding unspoken.

Hikawa Makoto silently opened a box of sliced ​​beef and put it all into the boiling pot. Ozawa Sumiko calmly picked up an empty bowl and serving chopsticks, quietly making room next to Hojo Toru, and neatly arranged the bowl and chopsticks.

Hojo Toru stood quietly for a moment, frowning, observing the lively scene before him, before finally walking over and taking a seat. He remained silent throughout, and only picked up the serving chopsticks when the beef was cooked to a tender and flavorful perfection.

Lin Chen gazed at the billowing steam rising from the pot, the misty white vapor blurring his vision, his thoughts drifting involuntarily into the distance.

He recalled the rich and delicious tonkotsu broth from Sato's noodle shop, and the way Koyuki ran towards him with her colorful crayon drawings, the ribbon in her hair swaying gently as she ran. His fingers unconsciously slipped into his shirt pocket, caressing the five-cent coin worn smooth by time. The cool metallic touch spread from his fingertips, yet a warmth welled up inside him.

Sumiko Ozawa noticed his absent-mindedness, reached out and pushed a plate of tofu in front of him, her tone calm: "Eat more to replenish your strength. The G3-X armor has not yet completed its final testing. In future missions, you will still be our main force."

Lin Chen nodded gently, picked up a spoon, and scooped the tofu pieces one by one into the soup pot. The tofu floated and swelled slowly in the warm broth.

After a few beers, the effects of the alcohol began to rise, and Hojo Toru's face turned bright red, even his ears were tinged with a deep crimson.

The usually composed and restrained man became less reserved and started rambling on and on. First, he complained that his colleagues in the First Investigation Division were slow in their work, spending three hours looking at the surveillance footage without finding any trace of the Unknown; then he couldn't help but complain that Ozawa always assigned him the most tedious and dangerous crime scene investigation tasks.

As he spoke, his voice suddenly lowered, tinged with an indescribable melancholy.

He held the glass, his gaze drifting leisurely towards the dazzling neon lights of the city in the distance, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool rim of the glass. A drop of water condensed on the glass slid slowly down his fingertips, dripping onto the table and spreading into a small, shallow puddle.

After a long silence, he spoke in a voice just loud enough for a few people to hear, almost as if he were talking to himself: "That guy Kono used to love eating fatty beef the most. Every time the team had a meal together, he would always rush to eat the tenderest slices in the pot."

As soon as he finished speaking, the air on the rooftop fell into a deathly silence.

Hikawa Makoto's hand, which was picking up food, suddenly froze. The slice of fatty beef on his chopsticks slipped back into the soup pot, splashing a drop of boiling broth. Omuro Takahiro put down the can of cola in his hand, his relaxed smile vanishing completely, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

On the vast rooftop, only the bubbling sound of the hot pot remained, exceptionally clear in the silence.

Hojo Toru seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere around him, and continued to speak in a low, slow voice.

“I was there the day he died. I watched as the G3 armor was torn apart by the claws of the rhinoceros beetle Unknown, and I watched him fall in the ruins without even leaving a last word.”

He tilted his head back and took a swig of beer, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily. His usually cold and hard voice held a hint of barely concealed tremor.

"Ever since Glacier took over the G3 lineup, I've never felt at ease. He's a hothead who only knows how to charge ahead headfirst, and he might just get himself into trouble someday."

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Lin Chen beside him. His usual sharpness and arrogance had vanished, leaving only a deep-seated weariness and a hint of relief.

"Now that you're here..." He paused, avoiding everyone's gaze, his tone calm yet tinged with a reluctant-to-admit-relaxation.

"At least we don't have to watch him brave danger all by himself anymore."

After saying that, he downed the rest of the beer in his glass in one gulp, slamming the glass down on the table with a dull thud.

"I'm full. I'll go back and work on my report. I've just started to make some progress on those leads I helped Xiaoze check earlier."

Hojo Toru suddenly stood up, turned around, and walked towards the iron gate. His steps were slightly unsteady from the alcohol, and his body was a little unsteady, but he deliberately straightened his back and never looked back.

No one tried to stop him. Takahiro Omuro sighed softly, picked up Hojo's coat that he had left on the chair, and got up to chase after him: "I'll take it to him."

From deep within the corridor came Hojo Toru's slightly impatient voice: "Mind your own business."

But there were no footsteps to leave, so he had clearly taken the coat silently.

On the rooftop, only Lin Chen, Bingchuan Cheng, and Ozawa Chengzi stood quietly.

Hikawa Makoto lowered his head, looking dazed, and remained silent. He already understood Hojo's awkward concern, but he was not good with words and did not know how to express it.