Ultraman Legend of the Light Chaser

Kinoshita Kei helped a man with a long face. He heard the man muttering to himself ever since he left: "It's over, it's over. The data analysis will be delayed. The front-line troops will definitely be hanging the streetlights. It's all over."

Kinoshita Kei quietly comforted him, "No, they're too busy."

My friend asked, "How did you know?"

Kinoshita Kei didn't tell him that before going next door to ignite the missile, he had secretly taken a stroll through the workshop and, using the same method, had the experienced keyboard warrior issue a comprehensive inspection order to the GUARD branches in various locations for the important components of the underground penetrating missile—this was perfectly reasonable before launch, but it was time-consuming and troublesome.

"With so many monster incidents, they must be busy," Kinoshita Kei said, spouting some correct but meaningless platitudes to brush it off.

Tomorrow is XIG's annual open day for news. Rumors are circulating online that GUARD has plans to use weapons of mass destruction against the monsters. Is this just speculation? KCB reporters will be providing full coverage. Below are interviews with citizens.

"Is this what a reporter's intuition is?" The geology team leader sighed and pulled out a cigarette, while Nakai Ryo thoughtfully offered him a lighter: "What's the harm?"

Oh, although the base's mainframe database has data backups... with a day for approval, a day for data transfer, and then a few days for setting up the temporary studio, it'll be too late.

Ah, they must need the local government's approval to use that kind of thing, right? At least they should have some kind of emergency discretion. What if another monster the size of the head from that wormhole appears here, and GUARD decides to drop a nuclear bomb—should I start preparing my will now, just in case?

"By the way, is our supervisor in a meeting? Because of that Alchemy Star thing about the framework agreement." The geology team leader flicked his cigarette ash.

I remember there was an international agreement, right? The signing of that agreement at that conference was broadcast on the news for several days.

Nakai Ryoya nodded in response to the other person's extreme melancholy and seemingly detached gaze, as if he had no desires or wants.

"But this is fine too. We can dawdle and send the survey report later, which gives us a legitimate excuse to let the sheep graze."

If things really get out of control, we might as well all go back to farming!

The team leader decided to let loose, and the team members laughed along: "Beneath-ground penetrating bombs, how could we geologists not know about their destructive power? Burn them, burn them!"

One of them stretched lazily and asked, "Boss, can I catch up on my sleep now?"

I just want to live a normal life; I don't want to have to worry about being blown up by a nuclear bomb in my dreams at night!

"Catching up on sleep is fine, but..." The geology team leader exhaled a puff of white smoke: "Nakai, can you please turn off this damn broadcast? It's been stabbing me in the heart ever since this started, how can anyone sleep peacefully while herding sheep?"

……

"Is Aiba still sleeping?"

Onodera Hitomi went outside to buy vegetables and meat. She took off her disguise—a sun hat and wig—and suspiciously approached someone leisurely sipping tea: "You didn't secretly go drinking with someone again last night, did you...?"

Ren Long coughed lightly: "How could that be? I know my limits."

"A cup of light tea is perfect for the morning," he said, rinsing a cup with hot water and moving it closer to Hitomi Onodera. "Would you like some?"

Hitomi Onodera released her grip, and the plastic bag fell to the ground with a "whoosh." She lowered her head, a glint of intelligence flashing in her eyes: "Lord Renlong, hasn't anyone told you that your technique for changing the subject is terrible?"

If it were a young person, they would probably feel extremely embarrassed by such a statement, but Renlong is an old hand. As long as he holds on, this accusation is nothing to worry about!

As long as I am not embarrassed, others are embarrassed!

After a brief standoff, Hitomi Onodera was the first to back down. She bent down to pick up the plastic bag again and walked inside, saying, "By the way, I saw reporters interviewing citizens on the street, asking about 'weapons of mass destruction.' It seems that Yume and Kei did a good job."

As they were talking, the door around the corner suddenly opened.

Aiba Yu rubbed his eyes as he walked out: "They...did a good job?"

“Hmm,” Hitomi Onodera walked quickly to his door, sniffed, and sure enough, smelled the familiar scent of alcohol. She patiently explained to Yu Aiba, “The reporters have already learned about the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ news, and the internal situation of GUARD will only become more chaotic. Now, before they launch the underground penetrating missile, they may have to deal with a lot of inquiries and inspections.”

Then, she turned to Renlong and said angrily, "You've gone too far by drinking with a sick person, Lord Renlong!"

"I was the one drinking while he watched over me, no, he was drinking medicine while I was drinking alcohol!" Renlong smelled the alcohol and immediately sensed something was wrong. He wondered to himself why he forgot to ventilate when he left, and why Xiangye You didn't even notice the strong smell.

“…That sounds even worse,” Onodera Hitomi glared at him, then turned back to see Aiba Yu still looking like he had just woken up and hadn’t recovered yet. Her tone instantly changed from a stormy mood to a gentle breeze: “If you’re sleepy, you can go back to sleep, okay? We’ll wake you up when it’s time.”

"Don't worry too much. This incident... may be resolved without the giants showing up. We should sometimes trust in humanity's ability to correct its own mistakes."

……

Aiba Yu went back to his room, but ultimately didn't become a sleeping god.

The sky was clear and perfect for sunbathing, but after hearing what Hitomi Onodera said about a "reporter interview," he decided to go back and check if the TV station had any related news.

Renlong was still sitting in the same spot, but the voice reached his ears: "Next time if I forget, you must remember to ventilate the room. The person in charge is meticulous and has a keen sense of smell."

Aiba Yu responded, turned on the TV, and quickly flipped through the channels, hoping to find even a few words about the interview.

Kinoshita Kei and Takayama Gamu were both busy with their own affairs and did not reply to messages. Aiba Yu didn't know how things were going on their end, and could only rely on news media to gather information and speculate on GUARD's movements.

When the words "This incident may be resolved without the Titans appearing" reached his ears, Aiba Yu suddenly felt a surge of fervent emotion welling up inside him—it was called "joy".

He flipped through the channels very quickly, only pausing for a few seconds before switching to the wrong program immediately, his finger on the remote control, looking as focused as a severe television addict.

The screen finally settled on KCB TV's news channel, a sub-channel with mediocre ratings that earns viewership and revenue through rolling news broadcasts and commercials.

The citizen interviews were condensed very short, and even with the news anchor's introduction, it didn't exceed 30 seconds. Perhaps this was because the news hadn't been fully verified, and the TV station only edited out portions of the conversation for its live broadcast.

It's not good to publicize it in a big way.

But Aiba Yu sat in his room, the channel never being switched away again. He waited over and over again for that 30-second brief message amidst a long string of scrolling news.

The slime clicked its tongue and said to him, "Are you getting early dementia? Look at me, are you throwing up yet? I've almost memorized it!"

Aiba Yu ignored him and continued to wait for the next round of news. His eyes were bright, perhaps because of joy, or perhaps just because of the light from the screen.

Chapter 136 The Waiting Person

Gio base.

Due to the Alchemy Star's reaction, XIG's request for reconsideration, and external public pressure, GUARD held an emergency meeting regarding the plan to strike the underground monsters with the underground penetrating bomb.

The specific content of the meeting is unknown, but judging from the expression on the face of Hiroyuki Hiiragi, the commander of the Rim of the Pacific Forces, when he came out, it probably ended on bad terms.

His subordinates, who followed him, dared not breathe too loudly the whole way. Hiiragi Hiroyuki slammed the office door shut, and his subordinates stood ramrod straight outside, making sure to grab the doorknob and gently close it.

"Click," the latch engages, plunging the room into darkness.

The Geo base is located on the seabed; without the lights on, it is just a silent, dark lump of iron.

"So angry?" Hiroyuki Hiiragi was still standing by the door, but voices came from inside the room.

If his subordinates were here, they would immediately draw their guns and assume a defensive posture. In theory, no one could enter the residence of the commander of the Rim of the Pacific Forces without his knowledge, as his order officer.

But Hiroyuki Hiiragi showed no sign of nervousness; he knew someone would be waiting for him inside, like waiting for an old friend.

"Activate the commander's emergency response authority. All penetrating missiles at all Pacific Rim branch bases can be fired." As he spoke, he turned on the light, and under the sudden, pale light, a young man sat in a simple armchair.

To be precise, he looked more like someone between a teenager and a young adult, wearing a loose-fitting light-colored plaid shirt, slowly rolling up his sleeves to reveal arms that were clearly not used to much exercise. Hiiragi Hiroyuki did not take this for granted; on the contrary, he spoke to him as an equal, as if he were talking to someone in the same position.

"Emergency response authority, so you're going to gamble everything?" The other person laughed, his attitude causing Hiiragi Hiroyuki to frown slightly.

"Alright, stop laughing. I know you value your subordinates a lot," the young man said.

“They weren’t ‘subordinates,’ they were my ‘comrades-in-arms,’” Hiroyuki Hiiragi said. “They were killed by the monster just a few days ago, summoned by the Blue Giant.”

"The power of hatred, have you tasted its sweetness?" The young man said somewhat casually, "At least remember your enemy's name, his name is Agul."

Hirai Hiroyuki's lips tightened into a thin line: "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to inform you, that's all," the young man said, his eyes, which had been fixed on the cuff, suddenly swept over him, and Hiiragi Hiroyuki's heart skipped a beat, as if a frozen knife had pierced through it.

“Only those who hold hope can become stronger faster,” those eyes seemed to emanate a chill, piercing his soul, even as they spoke words that contained some positive energy: “In addition, reliable ‘comrades’ are a great support, giving people courage and the willingness to take risks—and then creating miracles together.”

"You want me to stop?" Hirai Hiroyuki said, "Even without improvements and development, underground penetrating bombs can still..."

The young man advised him, "A soul obsessed with revenge will eventually descend into hell. Do you really like hell?"

“My soldiers are there.”

“But I don’t want you to see them so soon,” the young man finally gave up fiddling with the wrinkled cuffs that wouldn’t straighten no matter how he tried to fix them, and placed his hands on the table with some dissatisfaction. He sat up straight, looking serious and formal: “I came to see you for another matter.”

"Crisis's new answer is something many people are curious about—after fighting monsters for so long, people should know who the real enemy is. It's too sad to die in a daze."

The young man said, "Shouldn't the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) have a public relations team? Alchemy Star is keeping quiet, but the public has the right to know."

……

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Takayama Gamu disembarked from the plane to Tokyo. Only after confirming that he wasn't being kidnapped by heavily armed men and taken to see his superior did he truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Looking at this dignified figure who was about to collapse like a pancake, no one would have guessed that just a few hours earlier he was discussing topics like "If GUARD doesn't agree, we'll flip the table" and "How to flip it gracefully" with his fellow genius researchers who were also members of the Alchemy Star.

Before he could even catch his breath, NAVI started beeping. He stared at the watch-like communicator, swallowed hard, and mentally prepared himself for the lecture he was about to receive. With a sense of grim determination, he opened the folding cover.

"I...dream..." The person in the picture was actually Sasaki Atsuko. Her face was very close, and her voice was very soft, almost squeezed out with a weak breath.

“You still have a few days of leave left. The commander said it’s not enough and we can extend it,” Atsuko said quietly as she huddled in the bathroom. “You should wait until things calm down before coming back to cancel your leave, at least until the plan is officially canceled.”

Gao Shanwo hesitated for a moment, then stuffed the ticket he had booked back into his pocket.

Two hours later.

The residence of Renlong.

The homeowner is having a one-sided conversation with the fortune teller outside, while Takayama Gamu and two others are sunbathing in the courtyard.

No, it should be that only Aiba Yuu was genuinely feeling the warmth of the sunlight, Onodera Hitomi was focused on brewing medicine with a small fan, and Takayama Gamu was somewhat worried.

sad.

“Kinoshita hasn’t returned yet? He has the ability to transform into wind, so he won’t be detected by the defense and surveillance systems of the Ariel base. I want to know exactly what happened,” he said. “I can’t command them to take risks, and I’m just doing nothing here.”

“Doing nothing is helping,” Hitomi Onodera said, familiar with this kind of thing. “What they need right now is to avoid trouble. You won’t be ‘worsened’. It’s safest to go back after the plan to launch the underground penetrating missile is canceled. If you run into the supporters and you start arguing, and then you provoke them, well… *bang*, the missile is launched, and that’s it.”

Seeing Takayama Gamu lower his head, Aiba Yu saw him say, "If you can lower the sensitivity of the base's defense system, I can sneak in. As long as I'm fast enough, the surveillance won't be able to see me."

Before Takayama Gamu could reply, Onodera Hitomi leaned forward and drawled, "Please—must—rest!"

Aiba Yu unconsciously stepped back a little. He hesitated for only a moment, but the other person's eyes looked like they were looking at Renlong who had been drinking in the middle of the night again. After a few more seconds of confrontation, Aiba Yu finally nodded.