I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 536 What's Given to You, You Can't Refuse

"They didn't chase after us?"

"shut up!"

"Fuck! Finally, I can rest for a bit—"

After pushing against the door for ten or twenty seconds, the prisoners looked at each other and then slumped to the ground against the door.

They didn't know beforehand whether the door could block those 'shadows': after all, the black figures didn't look like they had a physical form, so it wouldn't be surprising if they could pass through walls or something.

If that situation really occurs, then all we can do is wait to die on the spot.

Fortunately, luck finally smiled upon them.

"Speaking of which, I've always wondered: do monsters need rooms too?"

Once he was sure the shadowy figure wouldn't come in, a tall prisoner muttered something and turned around, his searchlight pointing towards the interior of the building.

However, even with the intense searchlight shining out, the end could not be seen.

It was obvious that this 'room' was far larger than it appeared from the outside: although the prisoners had noticed the building was magnificent when they rushed in in a panic, the fact that the light now seemed to reach the very end meant it had gone beyond the realm of 'magnificent'.

"How can it be so big?"

"Hey, do you guys have any suggestions?"

He tapped his power armor, but no cold electronic voice responded, causing the tall prisoner to turn around and look at the others in confusion.

Those researchers who control their fate undoubtedly deserve to go to hell; but without their 'command', there is a sense of unease.

"The signal is down,"

Luigi, the last to enter, inspected his power armor and gave his answer.

He is a software engineer, so this powered armor is not unfamiliar to him.

So, once he was temporarily safe, Luigi pulled out his dagger.

“I need a volunteer,”

"Let's see if we can remove the remote control system of the power armor."

"I come!"

"let me--"

The remaining prisoners' eyes lit up, and they eagerly volunteered to sign up.

Putting aside the fact that Luigi Nicolas Mangi is a well-known 'good guy,' the feeling of being forced to move forward by those researchers using 'electric shocks,' with their lives being controlled, is enough to make them want to try it.

"Gentlemen, please calm down."

The refined young man raised his hand, stopping the other prisoners from their pointless scramble.

I cannot guarantee success.

"We believe you!"

The other prisoners kept urging them on. Although there were many talented people in the prison, most of the death row inmates were big, clumsy guys who committed violent crimes. They had finally found a "technical talent," so why were they being picky?

Surrounded by the searchlights of other prisoners,

Luigi used his dagger to pry open the crude armor, located the control circuitry, and then—

click,

A dagger pierced the chip.

"It seems that corruption is also very serious in the logistics department of the 'Holy Church'."

Wiping the sweat from his brow, the young man Luigi couldn't help but shake his head.

"The chip was placed in such an easily damaged location."

For refined young people,
This made the other prisoners laugh.

"Hahaha~~ If it weren't for this shit, you wouldn't be here in jail with us."

Luigi Nicolas Mangione, a third-generation rich kid, ended up in jail because he shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealth Group.

United Health Insurance Company of America provides health insurance to nearly 50 million Americans, including Medicare (the senior citizen's red and blue card), Medicaid (the state government's white card), and more.

They are all vulnerable groups without a voice.
The profits involved can only be described as astronomical!
Meanwhile, America's healthcare—

"Those bastards are vampires, they're demons!"

"If God truly exists, the first thing He should do is eliminate these beasts!"

Mentioning America's healthcare system caused the prisoners to erupt in curses. In America, you must purchase expensive health insurance before you can receive medical services; otherwise, you'll face exorbitant medical bills.

The famous joke, "If you have a grudge against someone, call an ambulance for them," is more than just a joke.

Even if you purchase medical insurance, the insurance company has a bunch of professionals who are responsible for finding loopholes in the patient's medical insurance before the purchase. As long as any false reporting, incomplete medical records or other such behavior is found, the medical insurance company will refuse to pay the claim.

These excuses are so outrageous that an insurance company can refuse to pay your car accident compensation simply because you are allergic to ketchup.

Don't ask, the answer is the rule of law.

what?
Are you going to file a lawsuit?
Great! The Ministry of Justice has been looking forward to a chance to really shine!
Don't think that only Disney's legal department can amend laws; America's legal department is no less capable.

It was because he witnessed this darkness that Luigi, a third-generation rich kid, planned that shooting: thus becoming the Batman, Robin Hood in the eyes of ordinary Americans; even in prison, he was respected and loved by countless prisoners.

"Everyone, let's talk about these things later. Let's leave here first."

Having destroyed the remote control chips on everyone's power armor, a considerable amount of time had passed. Luigi pointed to the tightly closed door.

They couldn't stay here forever; they had to find a way to leave. Perhaps those figures had already dispersed, perhaps...
"I'll lead the way."

Luigi, with his bullets loaded, stood in front of the door, waiting for the others to open it so they could start fighting.

however--

"Hey! Push harder, man!"

"You're the ones who should be putting in the effort! Can't you see we're using every ounce of strength we have?"

Several prisoners gripping the door had contorted faces, their muscles bulging beneath their power armor, and sweat dripping down their cheeks; however, no matter how hard they pulled, the closed door remained firmly in place.

???

"God, are we trapped here and about to die?"

After repeated attempts, the prisoners had to admit that they couldn't even leave a scratch on the dark and eerie door, let alone open it!
"It seems we have no choice but to explore further inside."

Originally seeking refuge, the prisoners, finding themselves trapped and dead, turned their gaze in despair to the deep interior of the building.

"I'll do it."

Before Luigi could say anything more, several prisoners led the way into the building.

"You rest first, leave the exploration to us!"

".All right."

Unable to open the main door, the crowd had no choice but to walk into the empty building.

Beams of searchlight pierced the darkness.

"Oh my god~~"

"What the hell is this thing again?"

After walking several hundred meters, the prisoners exclaimed in amazement.

Before them appeared an altar; but that wasn't the point, of course. The point was that at the end of the searchlight, a towering statue appeared.

They first saw two legs, dressed in tattered robes; as the crowd looked up, the light continued upwards.

Above the towering statue, the higher one goes, the more wrinkles appear on the long robe.

wrong!

That wasn't a long robe.
As the light focused, everyone could see that it was covered with dense scales.

Each scale was slowly writhing, like the skin of some giant creature: and the 'tattered robe' they saw was actually the drooping skin of this behemoth!
"Stop! Don't go any further!"

Luigi, who was walking behind, narrowed his eyes. Although his rationality kept him calm, his body couldn't help but tremble, as if something invisible and sticky was constantly sliding over his skin.

"Damn it, this place is moving!"

The prisoner at the front suddenly shouted, his armored joints creaking under the strain, as if he were being squeezed by an invisible force.

It wasn't the building that was moving, but rather his body that was unconsciously 'wriggling'!
Amidst the horrified expressions of the other prisoners behind, a viscous black liquid continuously seeped from the gaps in the first prisoner's armor. The liquid seemed to be alive, meandering and crawling along the surface of the armor, leaving twisted trails in the air.

It wasn't until the liquid climbed onto his face that the prisoner at the front realized something was wrong with him.

"What is this thing? Help me! Help me!!"

"Don't touch him!"

"Back off! Back off!!"

At Luigi's sudden shout, the other prisoners instinctively stepped back.

As it turned out, this order saved their lives: the body of the prisoner at the front suddenly 'exploded'. "Ahhhhhh!!"

It wasn't the kind of explosion where bones and flesh flew everywhere; it was more like an 'expansion': the rudimentary power armor on his body was torn apart, revealing the writhing flesh beneath; fine scales appeared on the surface of his skin, and the pitch-black liquid twisted into tentacles, wriggling haphazardly.

It resembles an outstretched human-shaped octopus, or a tangled clump of seaweed.

As the body 'exploded', the first prisoner's scream abruptly stopped, replaced by a chilling buzzing sound.

Praise be to the great Father God.

The mutated prisoner emitted intermittent sounds, its body completely twisted into an indescribable form, armor fragments fused with flesh and blood, forming a terrifying existence somewhere between machine and living being.

As he prayed, Luigi felt the cold and slippery surroundings become even more intense!
It was like being soaked in formalin, mixed with a pile of corpses, limbs, and organs: cold, disgusting, and desperate.

"No no no!!!"

Terrified screams suddenly rang out again as a prisoner frantically pounded on his powered armor.

As he instinctively looked down, the searchlight above his head shone on the armor, where black liquid was flowing and spreading!
"I don't want to become a monster! Help me, help me—"

"Don't come over here!"

"Fake."

? !
It's contaminated.

When and what caused it?

Amidst the panic of the other prisoners, Luigi's eyes darted rapidly around, searching for enemies or, more accurately, any chance of survival, until his gaze settled on the first mutated prisoner.
"Kneel down, everyone kneel down!"

? ?
Although they didn't know what Luigi meant, the prisoners, who were already completely lost, immediately went weak at the knees upon hearing the words.

thump thump thump,

After kneeling down, the nausea subsided.

really,

Luigi, also kneeling on one knee, looked at the prisoner at the front who had mutated into a twisted form, but whose head could still be barely discerned as constantly nodding.

Praise be to the great Father God.

"praise."

Without looking up, Luigi glanced at the 'skin' hanging down from the magnificent statue in front of him and began to understand.

They broke into a church dedicated to the 'Father of the Sea'!

"Luigi, we"

A prisoner standing nearby spoke in a trembling voice; his power armor was covered in black liquid stains.

"We must leave here."

leave!

no doubt,

But—how should I leave?

This problem stumped everyone again; the door behind them couldn't be opened, and ahead lay an altar and a statue.

Should we open a portal?
Or use the 'Stone Walking Technique'.

However, they are not superhumans—

"Offerings. To please."

While the other prisoners were bewildered and helpless, Luigi noticed the first mutated prisoner in front of him who was 'kneeling' and was spitting out a few strange words.

"Is that so?"

With a sigh, the refined young man closed his eyes.

"You may leave only after offering sacrifices."

That makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Since they broke into that person's church, how could they leave without leaving something behind?

What does "offerings" mean?

A prisoner nearby spoke with despair in his voice.

Faced with a series of unexpected events, he had given up thinking.

"This is His church; naturally, one can only leave after offering one's life."

? !
"What? You mean—"

Since Luigi had said that, even the prisoners' brains, which had almost stopped functioning, finally came to their senses.

This is R'lyeh, His church, where human sacrifice is perfectly normal.

But here's the problem:

"Who's coming?"

The remaining prisoners looked at each other, their faces grim, and they secretly gripped their guns tightly.

Even though we've fought side-by-side all along, our lives are our own.

"Let me do it."

Before the suspicious prisoners could start arguing amongst themselves, a calm voice rang out.

Luigi took a deep breath and stood up.

Take a step,

With this action, the disgusting, slippery sensation intensified, and even his mouth felt as if it were covered by something invisible.

"Father in the Sea—"

"I offer you this sacrifice; please forgive our offense."

As he spoke, Luigi walked toward the altar ahead.

"May you continue to sleep until the stars are in their proper places."

This time, his nausea did not worsen, and he successfully passed the first prisoner, who had become a twisted monster, and stepped onto the altar.

Boom boom boom~~
The next second, they heard the sound of a door opening behind them.

The distorted, multicolored light shone in, but to the kneeling prisoner, it was like the light of heaven!

"The door is open?!"

"saved--"

The prisoners didn't even bother to get up; they turned around and scrambled toward the gate.

But after climbing to the doorway, they all turned their heads away.

Luigi

"Dude, what are you going to do?"

The distorted light stretched from the doorway all the way up to the altar.

The young man standing at the end of the light turned around and calmly nodded slightly to the group.

"Go."

"Pursue your freedom, even here."

Since he has already offered himself up as a 'sacrifice,' is there any possibility that he can leave?

Boom——

As several prisoners climbed out of the building, the gate slammed shut.

Darkness descended once more, but this time, in the vast, empty church, there was a mocking laughter that seemed to be a mixture of countless whispers.

"Heroic and wise sacrifice"

A hint of 'appreciation' was conveyed amidst the laughter.

"Relatives and dependents"

"Please allow me to refuse."

To understand the meaning of the whispers in your ear

The refined young man refused without hesitation.

"I do not believe in you, nor do I agree with the views of your church, so—"

@#%￥！ ！ ！
The whisper transformed into a magnificent roar, instantly causing Luigi's consciousness to vanish like a leaf in a storm, and he instinctively knelt on the ground.

This sound has only one meaning:
No refusing allowed!

(End of this chapter)