Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

But now Mariaze was very happy. Yes, she was laughing, laughing as she vomited up blood clots and bits of flesh and organs, still laughing heartily. Clearly, in the very end, she had regained a little bit of her identity as a human being, which made her very happy!

"Is there anything you want to say to those bastards?" Shinji Ikari picked up Mariaze's longsword and her revolver from the ground, looked at them, and shook his head. They were both good items.

"No, no need. I'm tired. Let me sleep for a while. That jerk has already run away. Aren't you going to chase after him?" Maria Zellow looked at her limbs, which were no longer moving, and sneered as she leaned against the collapsed pillar that was now only half intact. It was a miracle that she could still sit up. It could only be said that Shinji Ikari had left her with her last bit of dignity.

“No, I don’t need to go looking for them. They’ll be hiding together, trembling with fear. I just need to take care of them all at once.” Shinji Ikari took out bullets from her pocket, loaded them into his revolver, and fired a shot that knocked down a chandelier hanging not far away. The falling chandelier quickly ignited a fire in the expensively carpeted church, and the flames spread rapidly. There were just too many things inside that could be burned.

“Good idea! The gun hasn’t been maintained in a while, and the parts need replacing. The sword is also chipped, but I’m too lazy to fix them. You have to go too, or those annoying cops will come. Give me a ride and let me warm up a bit.” Maria Ze smiled. It was clear that when she was alive, she was a beauty, unlike now, with stitches all over her body.

"Take care!" Shinji Ikari swung his longsword, cleanly severing the steel bars supporting the teetering pillar. Maria Zells fell into the sea of ​​fire below with a smile on her face, winking and waving at Shinji in mid-air.

Seeing this scene, Shinji Ikari sighed, put his pistol and longsword into his belt, and walked out of the church's third floor, which had been destroyed beyond recognition. The helicopters that were flying around immediately shone their searchlights on him, aiming at the figure that was walking out of the smoke and fire. The police on the helicopters shouted for the Eternal Emperor to surrender.

Below, countless police cars were flashing their lights. The police officers dispatched by the Metropolitan Police Department were on high alert. As ordinary people, they were frightened by the series of smoke and dust storms that had just erupted. They were not nearly as excited as the reporters standing by with their long lenses and cameras. Looking at this figure who seemed to be without even a scratch, their eyes held not only fear, but also a slight hint of approval...

The police already know who was hit hard tonight. These bastards are legal, so the police can only watch helplessly as those poor people are destroyed and killed!

Shinji Ikari glanced up at them, pulled his red scarf from a nearby pillar, casually tossed it around his neck, and leaped into the darkness! With a few simple leaps, he had already covered hundreds of meters. By the time the helicopter turned around, it had lost sight of their target, leaving only a crimson afterimage on people's retinas.

I don't know who started it...

When false justice fails to punish evil, I will return from hell!

I'm having some things to take care of today and won't have time to write for a while. I'm still not done yet and it'll probably be quite late, so I'll have to ask for leave now. I'm very sorry. I should be able to update as scheduled tomorrow.

By the way, the book's performance was quite poor, but it was almost finished when my baby was born, which left me physically and mentally exhausted.

Chapter 323 Ryoko Yakushiji VS Sirius

The Eternal Emperor's series of actions have caused a huge stir online. If the Eternal Emperor's previous appearance was just a crackdown on a group of evil parties that plundered people, now he is really taking action against a seemingly benevolent cult.

Moreover, while the previous attacks had only resulted in beatings without killing anyone, this time, the Eternal Emperor showed no mercy and went on a killing spree. A night of raids resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, and the destruction was not just extensive, but widespread. The phrase "smoke and fire everywhere" was truly the first impression that the citizens of New Tokyo had when they woke up the next morning, as black smoke was rising everywhere they went.

After seeing the news report, everyone chose to remain silent.

The Eternal Emperor attacked the cult without harming any ordinary members. Furthermore, the police who searched the Eternal Life Society's premises found a wide variety of contraband! Because the previous news about the "Eternal Emperor" had already generated a lot of traffic for all the news stations, they were all reporting on it extensively this time. Although the major news outlets did tone down their rhetoric due to pressure from above, they were at most in a relatively neutral position. Could you say they were actually speaking for the Eternal Life Society?

Please, did you pay me?!

Perhaps it was this rhetoric that led to widespread discussion, with everyone praising and cheering for the Eternal Emperor's actions! Those who were still suffering because of the Eternal Life Society angrily expressed their desire to take action themselves! And they condemned it with words of disgust! This was illegal and violent behavior! Especially some practitioners related to the Eternal Life Society, who vehemently denounced the Eternal Emperor's actions.

These online uproar may have also caused significant divisions within the bureaucratic system!

"Bang!" The office door was kicked open violently, and everyone stared at the scene before them with pale faces. A group of high-ranking officials from the Metropolitan Police Department angrily pushed open the door of the Special Affairs Division and rushed in.

This room was filled with the most elite and ruthless members of the Special Affairs Section—in other words, the troublemakers who had been kicked out when the Special Affairs Section was established! They all glared angrily at the high-ranking officials who had stormed in. As the ostracized troublemakers, they were quite united. Several of them had already silently placed their hands on their holsters as they rushed in, while others whispered to their companions, telling them to continue their work and go downstairs to make a phone call.

For some of them, their superior, Ryoko Yakushiji, who appreciated them and fought alongside them, was their benefactor. If necessary, these high-ranking officials should be made to understand that the hierarchical Japanese bureaucracy has a traditional art they may have to experience: at worst, a few years in prison, and then reporting to the Yakushiji family business.

"Oh! These are rare guests! So many superiors have arrived together." Inspector Goto Kiichi, holding a cup of coffee and drinking it, calmly watched the scene before him.

"Shut up! Goto, if you have any shame at all, tell me right now where Inspector Yakushiji Ryoko is!" An inspector said menacingly to Goto Kiichi, who had moved over to work, though his glasses seemed to be twitching.

"Oh! Inspector Yakushiji... Hmm, you must have misunderstood something. She never comes to work this early." Goto looked nonchalant, completely unfazed. You expect this young lady to come to work this early? Is she seriously ill?

"You!" The inspector who spoke was about to reprimand Goto in a fierce tone, but a smile appeared in his eyes. It was indeed too difficult for them to control Yakushiji Ryoko.

"We at 0415 just lifted the highest level of alert. Inspector Yakushiji will finish arranging all his affairs and leave to rest in about half an hour." After several bureaucrats turned their gazes to her, Nanon Shinobu spoke to them calmly and with an expression of composure. She could guarantee that every word she said was true.

"So, Inspector Yakushiji isn't in the Special Affairs Division right now?" A rather voluptuous woman in the bureaucracy pouted, a playful glint in her eyes. "Then you should carry out the Metropolitan Police Department's direct orders! Inspector Yamada, now is not the time to hesitate. Citizens are dying, and public order is rapidly deteriorating because of the actions of a madman. Shouldn't the Metropolitan Police Department take immediate action?"

"Inspector Honda, I..." As Ryoko Yakushiji's superior, Inspector Yamada straightened his uniform. Although this woman wasn't part of the police force, she undoubtedly wielded considerable influence within the government. While she might not be able to decide someone's promotion with a single word, ruining someone's future was far too easy. Moreover, Inspector Yamada was one of her key partners.

"Hey, Superintendent Yamada, you're so impressive, does your wife know? Or... does the Superintendent General know?" Yakushiji Ryoko, who had appeared out of nowhere, leaned against the door of her office, followed by several unlucky men who had gone to make phone calls to gather people for some trouble. Clearly, Yakushiji Ryoko had stopped them. She joined the Metropolitan Police Department to enjoy privileges, not to cause trouble. If her sole purpose was to cause trouble, what was the point of her hard work and dedication within the Metropolitan Police Department?

"What do you mean by that!" Superintendent Yamada's lips twitched. It seemed that his little secret, like many others, was known to this jinx in front of him. If he were to forcefully give the order today, this woman would obviously not hold back at all. Not only would he be disgraced, but he might also be kicked out of the Metropolitan Police Department. However, for some reason, his colleagues were looking at him with understanding, sympathy, and even the eyes of someone who was one of their own, which made him quite terrified.

The legend of the exorcist goddess had been circulating throughout the Metropolitan Police Department for a long time, so it wasn't exactly news. As for how many people Yakushiji Ryoko had dirt on, perhaps only she herself knew. In any case, Superintendent Yamada fell silent instantly, and everyone looked at Yakushiji Ryoko, who had effortlessly and successfully thwarted the plans of the upper echelons of the bureaucracy.

"What's wrong? It's daytime now, and you suddenly remember you're Japanese citizens? Last night, I was already preparing to invoke the large-scale incident-related rules in the Special Incident Response Ordinance, but you all blocked my action. Then I applied 11 times in a row, calling all of you repeatedly, and you had the guts not to answer a single call. Great job! Now you remember the Special Affairs Division?" Yakushiji Ryoko walked up to the bureaucrats, facing her direct superior, a colleague with whom she had a tacit understanding despite never having exchanged a single word. The other party raised an eyebrow at her, signaling her to say a few more words.

"Hmm... The situation last night is unclear." Superintendent Honda glanced back at the high-ranking officials behind him. Clearly, no one wanted to stand up to Yakushiji Ryoko, as they didn't want to be directly added to the strike list when Yakushiji Ryoko retaliated later. They could only bite the bullet and come up with the worst possible excuse.

"So now you think the situation is clear? Any new information?" Yakushiji Ryoko took a few more steps forward. Her subordinate brought her a swivel chair, and Miyuki brought her coffee. After taking it, Yakushiji Ryoko calmly said, "Tell me about it."

“It has been confirmed that this person, disguised as a fictional character, is a guy with extraordinary power. His strength is immense! The Japanese people need the protection of the police, and within the Metropolitan Police Department…” In the very end, when all the Metropolitan Police Department bureaucrats were speechless in the face of the powerful female demon of the Metropolitan Police Department, the exorcist queen, San Shui Gongzheng stepped forward.

"Mimizu Kosei, a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, entered politics six years ago as a secretary to a member of parliament. She is currently the chief secretary to the president of the Liberal Democratic Party. If nothing unexpected happens, she will be running for local elections next year as a beautiful assassin, and if nothing unexpected happens, she will become a formal member of the Diet. Ms. Mimizu Kosei, I've wanted to get to know you for a long time." Yakushiji Ryoko took a sip of her coffee and then quickly rattled off a long string of information.

"Fantastic! I really didn't expect you to have investigated me so thoroughly." Misui Kosei frowned slightly. Without a doubt, this woman wouldn't be bothered by her title of Chief Secretary. If he tried to force her to take over her command of the Special Affairs Section as before, it seemed his chances of winning the election next year... well, Misui Kosei felt that even if he concealed himself well, he probably wouldn't be able to escape this woman's gaze... She's rich, incredibly rich! Hiring powerful exorcists to investigate his affairs—Yakushiji Ryoko could easily do that!

Moreover, he's recently been in close contact with Helena Barbem, the head of the Barbem Group who has shocked the world. Undoubtedly, they were recently spotted having lunch together at the infamous "Kiriya" in New Tokyo. It seems I've overestimated these good-for-nothings and underestimated her...

"No matter what, you're a key...troublesome person!" Yakushiji Ryoko handed her coffee cup to Miyuki, who smiled and left with the cup. Their boss wasn't the type to remain silent even when someone came knocking on her door.

Sure enough, when she came out of the room, Yakushiji Ryoko leaned close to Misui Kosei's ear and whispered something. The man in front of her immediately turned pale.

Of course, this is not surprising at all, after all, Ryoko Yakushiji said, "Give my regards to the leader! Sirius!"

"Do you know what you're going to face?"

"Whatever. I just finished dealing with a bunch of fools who think they can be reincarnated, and now I have this sister who's trying to steal my man." Yakushiji Ryoko gave Izumida Junichiro a disgruntled look. Seeing the embarrassed Junichiro scratching his head helplessly, all the officers in the Special Affairs Division instantly broke into smiles, and the atmosphere became cheerful. Human happiness, indeed, is all built on the suffering of others!

"The Metropolitan Police Department has ordered the Special Affairs Division to be deployed immediately to maintain public safety. We can't let these lunatics run rampant any longer." Suddenly, Superintendent Honda coughed and said in a serious tone. All the high-ranking officers in the Metropolitan Police Department looked at the guy in front of them as if he were an idiot. Aren't you afraid of being rebuffed by the "Exorcist Goddess" and losing face by giving such a forceful order?

"Hi~" Yakushiji Ryoko winked playfully at Inspector Honda, gave a very respectful salute, and then snatched the mission document, which had already been signed and sealed by high-ranking officials of the Metropolitan Police Department, from his hand. After a quick read, she slammed it on the table. "Men! Get to work! The good days of hanging up and whipping those monsters have come!"

"Yes, sir!" All the officers in the office suddenly sprang to their feet. Yes, these troublemakers had been sitting and doing whatever they pleased ever since the high-ranking officials stormed in, showing no respect whatsoever. But now, this sudden shout startled the dozen or so high-ranking officials from the Metropolitan Police Department who had come to exert pressure. Immediately, a group of them rushed into the adjacent changing room and began quickly changing into their gear.

"You!" Sanshui Gongzheng turned his head with a ferocious expression. How could she not understand? This seemingly timid and subservient police officer in front of her had shown her what it meant to be able to turn the tables and manipulate events at will, and had thoroughly outmaneuvered them.

"To put it simply, my wife was also a VIP member of yours; the day after tomorrow is her anniversary." The inspector pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and gestured behind him. A group of people scattered like snakes. He immediately laughed, took a deep drag, slicked back his neatly combed bangs, and, with the cigarette dangling from his lips, his entire demeanor instantly became wild. "Any extra equipment? I'm a pretty good shot!"

"We always keep several brand-new spare sets on hand! Superintendent Honda." To be honest, Ryoko Yakushiji hadn't expected this sudden, divine intervention. But the reason it was such a divine intervention was because Shinji had almost completely destroyed the outer strongholds, and he had also killed off the powerful henchmen the enemy had dispatched. Now the enemy was probably curled up like a hedgehog, which was great! Excellent! Wasn't it?

"Very good! We came here hoping the Special Affairs Division would be deployed to protect the people!" Misui Kosei, having seen her share of big occasions, quickly regained her composure and put on that formulaic smile. "I look forward to the Special Affairs Division's good news! Oh, Superintendent Honda, swords have no eyes, be careful to protect your safety, lest you accidentally... reunite with your wife."

"No, that's good!"

"Well, I hope you get what you want."

Chapter 324 Sensui Shinobu's Gift

"The Special Affairs Division has been deployed... What are you planning to do next?" Sensui Shinobu squatted down in front of Shinji Ikari, holding a bowl and picking food from a small pot beside Shinji. After he came out, he discovered that all his bank cards and credit cards had been frozen. If it weren't for some "support" he received from certain organizations, he might not even be able to make a living.

Speaking of this method of finding sponsors, it was actually learned from Shinichiro. When looking for sponsors this time, Sensui Shinobu was quite sentimental about his former apprentice, because he wasn't as pure and hadn't gone as far as him in terms of Holy Light Aura; because he wasn't as pure... In the end, he was able to stand on the side of humanity, unlike him who was so conflicted. However, whether he was conflicted or not, it really didn't matter much when his strength wasn't sufficient.

"What, do you think I'll open up the Demon World like you?" Shinji Ikari picked up the beef and put it in Ryoko Sakaki's bowl.

To be honest, Shinji Ikari was somewhat speechless. He wasn't stopped by the Eternal Life Society, nor by the Special Affairs Division or any other police unit. The one who actually stopped him was Sensui Shinobu, who had also stirred up a bloody storm back then. And she did it in a way that Shinji never expected. She found Shinji carrying a bunch of ingredients, just as Ryoko Sakaki was bringing him food. Goodness, Shinji really didn't dare to move an inch. Heaven knows what Sensui Shinobu, who had lived in the Demon World for so long, would do.

Ryoko Sakaki glanced at Shinji Ikari, but because Shinobu Sensui was present, she couldn't say a word. Then, looking at Shinobu Sensui calmly sipping her beef hot pot broth, she suddenly calmly started eating as well. Shinji Ikari didn't seem likely to fight Shinobu Sensui, and even if they did, with the photo in his breast pocket and the Divine Mirror in his waist pouch, what was there to be afraid of? So what was she worried about?

Could it be that she's worried she won't be able to leave? She hasn't learned anything else, but Shinji Ikari scared her to death back then, with that trick of carrying her around so high and low, she doesn't know how many times he took advantage of her along the way! Now, she's learned that trick too. Although there are quite a few people in the Totsuki Group who have learned it, she has Shinji Ikari constantly guiding her, and Himuro Kirie can also guide her, so her progress is among the top tier in the entire Totsuki Group.

Although even if I were to fight Shinji Ikari, let alone Shinobu Sensui, that scoundrel would take every opportunity to grope me, completely overwhelming me, at least I'm certain that if something really happens, I can still turn around and run away in time.

Moreover, Shinji Ikari was fighting against cults who were essentially bad people, so why was he so conflicted? If it weren't for them, so many people and so many things wouldn't have happened. There's no need to worry about cults in Japan dying, no matter how many do die.

"A very virtuous young lady." Sensui Shinobu looked at Sakaki Ryoko, his eyes narrowing slightly. She was the only human among all the bonds he had with Shinji Ikari, a junior he held in high regard. But after all these years, he hadn't remained completely unchanged. The demons were indeed purely… but purely a world of survival of the fittest, where power ruled everything! Although there was a concept of kingdoms, it was simply the strong ruling over the weak! Controlling everything about the weak! Having the power of life and death!

Compared to the extravagance and abuse of power by the human elite, it's impossible to say which is better. So, when Sensui Ninja returned to take a look, his thoughts changed somewhat. Simply opening a huge passage and unilaterally allowing the demon realm to enter the human world would obviously only lead to a bloody war between the two sides. Forget about communication between the two sides, they would definitely not stop fighting until they had a clear outcome. Moreover, the demons have regarded humans as food for too long, and they don't consider anything else when they see humans.

Shinji Ikari's situation seemed to give him some inspiration. Although it was difficult, it seemed that there was still room for communication between humans and demons. If possible, the two sides could form a relatively reliable team. So, could humans and demons live together?

"You're practically my master, and this is my girlfriend. Aren't you going to offer her something in return?" Shinji Ikari tilted his glasses and looked at the person in front of him. Since Sensui Shinobu didn't seem to have any intention of directly attacking him, Shinji Ikari started trying to ask for some benefits.

"Little guy, just as shameless as when he was a kid." Sensui Shinobu shook his head with a smile. Originally, Sensui Shinobu should have been diagnosed with cancer, but it seems that because he had lived in the Demon World for a period of time, the environment was different, and he did not get the disease that would greatly reduce his strength. Instead, he still maintained his peak condition.

"You're here. I'm a little nervous, but you don't seem to be planning to fight, so I'll just have to test your intentions." Shinji Ikari quickly finished his food and glanced at Shinobu Sensui in front of him. "I don't need you to tell me what those bastards up there are like. They've never changed. I didn't bring them today. I found some suspicious points in Shinichiro's diary beforehand. After investigating, everything from that day was prepared. It's just a pity that too much time has passed. Only some demons might have records, but those guys definitely won't tell me the truth."

"..." Sensui Shinobu took a deep breath. Foolish people cannot cultivate the Holy Light Aura. If he thought about the events that happened back then a little more deeply, he would understand that there were too many coincidences that happened to him. In the very end, Shinichiro, who had experienced more than him, had jumped out of his induced thinking and tried to stop him, but obviously, he was too obsessed to listen at the time.

"Are you trying to imply that I might have gone down the wrong path, just like I did back then?" Sensui Shinobu calmly finished her soup, her eyes suddenly turning sharp.

“You know whether you’re right or not. You can’t control demons at all. The demon you sent here the other day did look pretty unlucky. I even looked after his business, and then the Countermeasures Bureau brought over his investigation records… He was indeed quite pitiful, but the six or seven people who died in his mouth… Hmph! Who’s more pitiful!” Shinji Ikari shook his head. How could they not investigate someone who was already out in the open?

"..." Shinobu Sensui was taken aback. He had indeed asked this person if he had eaten people, and the other party naturally denied it, so he didn't think much of it. However, what Shinji Ikari said still surprised him quite a bit.

“What you didn’t understand back then… is that our justice has a standpoint,” Shinji Ikari said with a smile. “This bowl of beef soup in your hand, in a sense, is also the corpse of other creatures. In their eyes, aren’t we also mortal enemies?” After saying that, Shinji Ikari poured the rest of the soup into his own bowl. “But I ate it very happily.”

"Hmph, you're just like Shinichiro back then, very eloquent and articulate, but is this long-standing war to continue indefinitely?" Sensui Shinobu watched as Shinji Ikari put down his bowl. Shinichiro had already told him these things before, but he hadn't accepted them, and he wouldn't accept them now!

"So we still have to discuss this with fists, don't we?" Shinji Ikari shook his head. Yes, he couldn't convince him back then, and he couldn't now either.

“No, what you’re doing now is the right thing to do, so I don’t intend to cause you any trouble. If you’re still insisting after you’re done, then we can talk again.” Sensui Shinobu stood up and looked at the rising sun, which was gradually disappearing into the night. “They’re looking for you everywhere. Can you handle them?” He smiled at Shinji Ikari. “Some of them have some tricks up their sleeves. There are some people in the Eternal Society who are stronger than you think. And most importantly, there may be more than just those you’ve seen who want to cause trouble during this time.”

"Oh..." Shinji Ikari was taken aback, frowned, and wondered if someone else was up to something?

“You did something that triggered everyone’s nerves at a very delicate time, so there’s a possibility that a series of events might erupt later. You have some time to face me.” Shinobu Sensui looked at Shinji Ikari and suddenly burst out with powerful holy light.

"!" Shinji Ikari jumped up and stood in front of Ryoko Sakaki, his power surging. A chilling sensation emanated from the photo on his chest, clearly indicating that Aise Kurosawa, who had been watching the show, was beginning to gather his power.

“You’re pretty good, but you’re still lacking something…” Sensui Shinobu leaned in and quickly exchanged blows with Shinji Ikari. Shinji was sent flying far away, but Sensui Shinobu didn’t chase after Shinji. Instead, she stood in front of Ryoko Sakaki.

"Damn it! Have you stooped so low as to prey on women and children?" Shinji Ikari unleashed an even stronger aura. In his Mirror Stillness state, Shinji Ikari condensed a Spirit Ball with Holy Light and kicked it hard at Sensui Shinobu in front of him, trying to buy Ryoko Sakaki some chance to escape.

“Perfect timing…” Sensui Shinobu caught the Holy Light Spirit Pill in front of her, and then the Holy Light Qi in her Fighting Aura Steel Armor erupted and quickly dissipated the spirit pill, turning it into pure spiritual energy. “You are also a martial artist, it’s just a pity that it’s a bit too late. However, your Totsuki Group is not lacking in good things that can defy fate, so… let me help you out.”

Sensui Shinobu deftly channeled pure spiritual energy into Sakaki Ryoko's body, using a rather unorthodox method to directly cleanse her meridians. However, holy light energy itself possesses certain repair and maintenance functions, so even though the method was somewhat unorthodox, there was no need to worry about it actually harming Sakaki Ryoko.

"Hmm..." Ryoko Sakaki never expected to encounter such a situation, but the power surging into her body was indeed solidly helping her overcome the obstacles left in the process of practicing the Himuro-ryu technique. You know, currently only Gin Dojima's body, which has been tempered a thousand times, is making rapid progress in practicing Himuro-ryu. If Ryoko Sakaki hadn't had various guidance from Shinji Ikari, she would probably only be at most on par with Erina Nakiri.

Ryoko Sakaki felt that things had been far too exciting lately! If it weren't for another fierce demon stopping her—a demon who always wanted to use her body for something and even planned to adopt her as his sister!—then now, these obstacles hindering her cultivation had been forcibly removed! A top-tier wanted criminal, Shinobu Sensui, had personally removed them for her. Although it was somewhat painful, there was no doubt that she had gained a huge benefit; there were no more obstacles before reaching S-rank…

Seeing Shinji Ikari suddenly brake and almost crash into a tree, Ryoko Sakaki, despite wincing in pain, couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was just too stupid.

"Hmph... What a pity, you're cultivating a perfectly legitimate and respectable path." Xian Shui Ren frowned. Although that was generally true, for some reason, he felt there was something inexplicable about it.

“My sister modified the Dongfang Bubai style. Ryoko originally practiced the Dongfang Bubai style as well, but it seems they developed some application techniques, so they changed it!” Shinji Ikari looked at Sensui Shinobu in front of him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Consider this a return gift. After all, I'm not fortunate enough to have the pleasure of eating the food cooked by the chefs at Totsuki Academy. Also, I've given you the gift you requested." Sensui Shinobu shook out her coat and tossed it behind her. "I've also been to Shinichiro's grave, and you actually burned it down. It's a pretty good ending, isn't it? Keep growing, live on, and then prove that your ideas were correct."

"Wait..." Shinji Ikari sensed a chilling aura and momentarily froze. He then pulled out a stack of invitation cards from his waist pouch; without even looking, they were all from chefs at the Totsuki Culinary Group. "This is a thank-you gift from my sister for taking care of Ryoko Sakaki." He hesitated for a moment, then took out a stack of cards from his inner pocket, seemingly supermarket gift cards. He hesitated again. "This is from Kurosawa... phew, my fiancée, for taking care of his little sister." Shinji wanted to say Kurosawa Aise, but after being clearly subdued and spitting out a shard of ice, he decisively chickened out and changed his words.

"Oh?" Sensui Shinobu looked at Shinji Ikari with some surprise. Gossip about Shinji Ikari was spreading everywhere. Two fierce gods in one family. His grand-disciple's life was really interesting. He took it all in without thinking. "Be careful these next few days. They have already started to take action, and you have become the perfect excuse for them."

"So after discovering that Yakushiji Ryoko was troublesome, he directly joined forces with the ambitious Self-Defense Forces?" Shinji Ikari isn't blind; there were more military vehicles on the road than just a few more.

Sensui Shinobu didn't say anything, just waved and walked away.

Chapter 325 It's Good to Fish in Troubled Waters

"Wow, there are so many military vehicles here." After taking off his leather hood and simply spraying himself white with paint, he and Ryoko Sakaki went for a stroll through the streets of New Tokyo. Although his appearance still surprised many people, after all, his conflict with the Eternal Life Society was practically out in the open! So, the moment he appeared, many people paid attention to him.

“This doesn’t seem like a way to deal with you at all, it’s more like…” Ryoko Sakaki stood next to Shinji Ikari, still feeling a bit bewildered. After all, someone she absolutely didn’t expect had just used a technique similar to empowerment on her. Shinji Ikari was here to see her off on the train and back to the Totsuki Culinary Group, but unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out of the street, they saw military vehicles speeding back and forth everywhere. Although there were no large-scale sentry troops or barricades on the road yet, the tense atmosphere had already been created.

The citizens on the street stared blankly at the military transport vehicles and armored vehicles that seemed to have suddenly appeared and were driving around the streets. Obviously, they hadn't seen this for a long time. After all, New Tokyo is not the Third New Tokyo City. Where would they see these armored vehicles lining up on the beach to deliver people's heads every day? Naturally, they were six parts surprised, two parts confused, and one part each of fear and bewilderment.

"Hmm?" Shinji Ikari had just seen Ryoko Sakaki onto the train when he suddenly frowned and glanced sideways at the area behind him. Were they already watching him? But it didn't seem to be those roughnecks from the Self-Defense Forces. They were probably already surrounding him, planning to confront him head-on.

Shinji Ikari walked up to a vending machine, rummaged in his pocket, took out a few coins, tossed them in, and bought two cans of soda. He figured he could use these as small-scale visual distractions if needed later. However, when he reached for his cash, Shinji realized he hadn't changed out of his Eternal Emperor's portable multi-functional belt, so those gadgets Professor Oak had made were still on his waist.

As Shinji Ikari was thinking of an escape route, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that they suddenly started moving and quickly rushed towards the stands. It seemed that their target wasn't him, which made Shinji Ikari quite interested. He took out his phone and sent a message to Gin Dojima, asking him to help pick up Ryoko. Shinji Ikari simply leaned against the wall, intending to see what they were up to.

Anyway, Ryoko Sakaki was about to get off at the next stop, and Gin Dojima had already arrived at the station and was waiting for her. Ryoko Sakaki had gained a lot from her trip to Totsuki Entertainment, and she would have enough time to digest it all. Totsuki Entertainment would not ignore such a promising talent, so Gin Dojima rushed over as soon as he received the news. After all, the gifts that Kirie Himuro and Aise Kurosawa gave to Shinobu Sensui were basically what they asked for on the spot.

The Far Moon Group was very pleased to be able to give face to both of the fierce gods at the same time. The vouchers and cards they offered were all from within the Far Moon Group, which in a sense was also a gesture of goodwill towards three top powerhouses.

While waiting here, Shinji Ikari casually took a few photos of the military vehicles parked outside the New Tokyo Station and sent them to Misato Katsuragi.

"It really is an unexpected scene." Misato Katsuragi looked at the photos. The information sent back by Shinji Ikari was firsthand, and it was far more exaggerated than what they had seen through official channels and news reports. The basic narrative of New Tokyo TV was that because people were attacking religious institutions everywhere, they had dispatched "some" Self-Defense Force forces from the nearby garrison to patrol the streets in order to deter these lawbreakers.

However, judging from the photos sent back by Shinji Ikari, this level of troop strength is not just "some". According to the numbers they saw, it was estimated that there were several armored vehicles escorting and several trucks, which is roughly equivalent to at least a company-level force, which was enough to control the train station.

"It's clear that the intelligence department has really improved; their intelligence this time was quite accurate." Ritsuko Akagi glanced at the photo, and it was pretty much as they had guessed. If news organizations were needed to stabilize public sentiment, then it was no simple situation.

"Raise the alert to level two. The Self-Defense Forces have been deployed." At NERV headquarters, Gendo Ikari looked at the latest intelligence and sighed. Shinji Ikari had really made a mess of his already complicated living quarters in a fit of rage. As the number one troublemaker in Japan who was disliked by the Japanese government, NERV had to be on high alert and guard against this kind of routine overreaction from the Japanese government.

Especially the bureaucrats in New Tokyo, because a large number of government agencies were stranded in Old Tokyo, the current Japanese government is somewhat of a makeshift organization. These bureaucrats who suddenly seized power were not actually capable of controlling Japan, which was in chaos. At that time, it was the US military and the Self-Defense Forces stationed in Japan that helped to control the situation.

The Self-Defense Forces have grown to their current size, undoubtedly due inextricably linked to the bureaucrats' reckless decentralization out of fear. The arrival of TERRA and NERV is the price the United States has to pay. Although many Japanese are involved in these two organizations, they are still de facto separatist institutions not controlled by the Japanese government.

Once things had stabilized, these politicians naturally began vying for power. The drama quickly turned into a contest of who dared to make the most threats and launch the most rockets. NERV and TERRA quickly became the targets of these two sides' threats.

Taking advantage of this situation, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces continued to create trouble and expand their influence. They used the excuse that various strange and monstrous things were happening and that the Japanese police were unable to deal with them to lower the conditions for their deployment to an absurd degree. In a sense, this is why Shinji Ikari and his friends complained that there were Self-Defense Forces everywhere.

"Yes." Misato Katsuragi had no objection to Gendo Ikari's assessment and immediately began making arrangements. About 40% of the equipment on the automated weapon platform destroyed by the Raikou had been restored to combat capability, so they were not worried at all if the Self-Defense Forces came looking for trouble.

Although she was stumped by Shinji Ikari's question when they were drinking together that day, "Do you think the Human Instrumentality Project is really just like giving everyone a vaccine to complete your life?", the Human Instrumentality Project, as NERV's highest goal, has always been shrouded in mystery. The public parts are filled with layers upon layers of technical jargon, enough to confuse anyone who tries to understand it.

However, Shinji Ikari's question directly pointed to the core of the problem: the Human Instrumentality Project. What does it fill, how does it fill, and what is the result of its completion? Kaji Ryoji, who was present at the time, couldn't help but feel that Shinji's question was too crucial, almost directly addressing the core of SEELE's Human Instrumentality Project.

"Automatic weapon system, rapid detection, ammunition replenishment. Engineering department, halt all maintenance work, prioritize bringing out Unit 0 and Unit 2!" Misato Katsuragi took a deep breath. Figuring things out wasn't too difficult, but the prerequisite for understanding anything was ensuring her own survival.

"Putting everything else aside, Shinji did show some loyalty and righteousness this time." Makoto Hyuga said softly, but since there were only so many people on the command platform, his whisper didn't really have much meaning. Everyone who needed to hear it could hear it, including Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki up there.