As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider.

Chapter 83 The Collapse of Order

Over the next two days, Tokyo descended into unprecedented chaos.

On the first day, the protests were confined to the vicinity of the Metropolitan Police Department and government buildings. The activists demanded that the government hand over the heads of the experiments and release all detained test subjects. Many rank-and-file police officers, after seeing photos of the test subjects, also laid down their weapons and joined the protests.

The next day, chaos began to spread throughout the city.

Some people took the opportunity to vandalize, loot, and burn; supermarkets, banks, and shops were ransacked. Some began retaliating against police and government workers, and shootings occurred in multiple locations. Other extremists, under the guise of "avenging experimental subjects," attacked ordinary citizens, creating panic.

Schools were completely closed, factories shut down, public transportation was paralyzed, and hospitals were overflowing with the wounded. People stayed home, afraid to go out, and could only learn about the situation outside through television and the internet.

On television, government officials continued to deliver empty speeches, claiming they were "investigating the matter" and "would definitely give the public an explanation." But no one believed them. The government's credibility had completely collapsed.

The G3 team's operation was also forced to a halt.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Countermeasures Headquarters issued a direct order via emergency channel, requiring Team G3 to immediately proceed to Metropolitan Police Headquarters to protect high-ranking personnel. Sumiko Ozawa refused to comply, resulting in the base being cut off from all external supplies and communications.

Hikawa Makoto and Hojo Toru patrolled the streets every day, trying to stop extreme acts of violence. But faced with the chaos throughout the city, their combined strength seemed so insignificant.

Everyone was puzzled by one thing: Hojo had changed drastically after disappearing for two days.

At 3 a.m. on the third day, the main control room of G3 base was brightly lit.

Sumiko Ozawa sat at the control panel, her eyes filled with exhaustion as she watched the crime data constantly refresh on the screen. Toru Hojo leaned against the wall, sipping water from a bottle. Makoto Hikawa sat in the chair beside her. Takahiro Omuro continued typing, his fingers already stiff.

Lin Chen stood by the window, looking at the dark night sky outside. In the distance, flames soared into the sky, illuminating half of the city.

Tokyo, once a bustling metropolis, has now become a living hell.

And all of this is not because of the Unknown, but because of humanity itself.

"The energy radar shows that a group of over eighty Awakened individuals is moving this way," Takahiro Omuro said in a hoarse voice. "They're moving quickly and are expected to arrive in twenty minutes."

Sumiko Ozawa looked up at the rapidly moving energy signals on the screen, her eyes regaining their resolve.

"They think we're in cahoots with the Metropolitan Police Department." Makoto Hikawa stood up and picked up the helmet lying beside him. "They want to destroy this place."

"Then let them come." Hojo Toru threw the water bottle on the ground, drew the pistol from his waist, and said, "We haven't done anything wrong, we're not afraid of them."

"Omuro, activate the base's Level 1 defense system," Sumiko Ozawa ordered. "At the same time, release all the evidence we've gathered over the past two days, including Dr. Murakami's identity, the location of the laboratory, and the list of high-ranking officials in the Metropolitan Police Department involved, to the public."

"Understood." Takahiro Omuro nodded, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

"Hikawa, Hojo, and Lin Chen, the three of you guard the base entrance," Ozawa Sumiko continued. "Try to avoid conflict with them first. Tell them we are not in cahoots with the Metropolitan Police Department leadership, we are investigating this matter, and we will give them an explanation. The base's automated defense system will cooperate with you; do not fire unless absolutely necessary."

Just then, the base's alarm suddenly went off. The red alarm lights flashed incessantly, stinging the eyes.

"They're here." Takahiro Omuro's voice trembled slightly, but his fingers remained firmly on the activation button for the defense system.

Hikawa Makoto put on his helmet and gripped his rifle tightly. Hojo Toru checked the magazine in his pistol and released the safety.

Lin Chen also took out the Earth Emperor's phone.

Sumiko Ozawa looked at the three of them, her eyes filled with trust: "Be careful. Hold this place, and we still have hope."

Hikawa Makoto and Hojo Toru exchanged a glance, nodded, and turned to walk towards the base entrance.

Hojo Toru leaned against the wall, quickly checking his rifle magazine. His knuckles turned white, and his brows furrowed. "These people have completely lost control. On the way here, three Awakened individuals clashed with the police, and one was seriously injured. Now everyone's eyes are bloodshot."

The base's titanium alloy doors could withstand direct rocket fire, its outer energy barrier could deflect most physical attacks, and dozens of automatic tranquilizer guns were hidden in the walls. But against these people driven to desperation by the truth, even the strongest defenses were futile—they had no guns, only anger and despair.

"Don't let your guard down." Hikawa Makoto's voice came through the helmet. "They're not enemies, just ordinary people who have been betrayed like us."

No sooner had he finished speaking than deafening shouts erupted outside.

"Hand over Murakami!"

"The Metropolitan Police Department is the murderer!"

"Give us back our loved ones!"

Stones slammed into the alloy door with a dull thud. Debris rained down, and several awakened individuals began to attack with their abilities, but to no avail.

Hojo Toru took a deep breath, turned on the external loudspeaker, and said in a deep and powerful voice, "I am Hojo Toru from the First Investigative Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. I swear on my badge that we are not in league with those beasts."

The commotion outside subsided. A tall man whose arms had turned to rock stepped forward and slammed his fist into the barrier: "Why should we believe you! The Metropolitan Police Department has been lying to us for a whole year!"

"Yes! We don't believe it!"

"Break down the door!"

The crowd erupted again. Hikawa Makoto pressed the communicator: "Captain Ozawa, they want to see Kurago Genhide to see the evidence with their own eyes."

.

After a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, Sumiko Ozawa's voice came through: "Oe Room, put the experiment records, approval documents, and victim list onto the outer wall."

"Understood." Omuro's voice trembled as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

"Hikari, Hojo, tell them that we are willing to let five unarmed representatives in to confront Kurago Genhide face to face."

The others remained where they were, while the large screen simultaneously displayed the conversation and evidence. The defense system had switched to non-lethal mode; we wouldn't fire a single shot unless they attacked.

"It's too dangerous." Hojo Toru straightened up. "What if we infiltrate the cleanup team, or someone loses control and attacks?"

"What they want is the truth, not war." Ozawa's voice was calm and unquestionable. "What's the difference between them and the cowards in the underground command center if they don't even have the courage to open the door? Hikawa will guard the first door and check the representatives' belongings; Hojo will guard the second door with two special police officers and seal it off immediately if anything happens; Lin Chen will be on standby at the entrance to the main control room to prevent any special situations; Oeshiro will be ready to close the door in an emergency at any time."

"Understood." Lin Chen's voice was crisp and clear.

Hojo Toru wanted to say something more, but seeing Hikawa Makoto turn and walk towards the door switch, he finally sighed and pulled the safety bolt.

The alloy door slowly opened, emitting a heavy metallic scraping sound, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. Silence fell instantly outside. The large screen on the exterior wall lit up, displaying horrifying experimental photos, chilling death records, and bright red signatures and seals from high-ranking officials, striking heavily on everyone's hearts.

Hikawa Makoto stood inside the door, his voice, transmitted through the loudspeaker, solemn and calm: "Captain Ozawa has permitted you to send in five unarmed representatives. The rest of you, please remain where you are. You will witness the whole truth. We will not harm anyone, and please give us a chance to explain."

A stir ran through the crowd. The man with the rock-armed arm and four other more respected Awakened exchanged glances, lowered their weapons, dusted themselves off, and cautiously entered the base.

The main control room's large screen scrolled through core experimental data. Recruitment lists, injection records, high-level approvals, and the flow of hundreds of millions of yuan—every page was irrefutable evidence.

Kuroko Genshu sat in the chair in front of the screen, having removed his mask to reveal a pale and haggard face. His neck bore gruesome scars from the endotracheal tube, his knuckles were calloused, and his skin was an unnatural bluish-gray—heavy metal poisoning from long-term injections of red medication.

The five representatives stood in front of the screen, their faces growing increasingly grim. When they saw the photo of the experimental subject labeled "Failure, Destroy," a woman in a black coat covered her mouth and burst into tears. Her younger brother had disappeared a year ago, and she had searched for him for a whole year, posting countless missing person notices. She never expected to see his photo here, along with those cold four words.

"Is this all true?" The man with the rocky arm asked in a hoarse voice, his body trembling slightly, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"It's true." Canggu Genshu raised his head and abruptly rolled up his sleeves. His arm was covered with countless needle marks, and in several places the skin had begun to ulcerate, revealing pink muscle.

"They were injected with that red drug every day, three times a day. Most of them died in agony, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Their bodies were thrown into the incinerator, leaving no ashes. The survivors were sent on dangerous missions, and no one knew they died; they weren't even given their names."

His tears finally streamed down his face: "The day I ran away, I watched my roommate die from convulsions due to the side effects of the medication. He was only nineteen years old, and all he wanted was to earn money to treat his mother's illness—why were we treated like guinea pigs!"

The five representatives fell silent. Looking at the scars on Kurago Genshu's arm and the cold words on the screen, their anger gradually faded, replaced by deep remorse.

"I'm sorry." The man with the rocky arms lowered his head. "We misunderstood you. We thought everyone in uniform was a bad guy."

"It's alright." Sumiko Ozawa stood beside her, her eyes devoid of blame. "We only learned the whole truth yesterday. High-ranking officials from the Metropolitan Police Department have already taken refuge in the underground command center. They've dispatched a cleanup team to destroy all evidence and kill everyone who knows the truth."

She paused. "We've uploaded all the key information to the internet. We'll continue the investigation until all those involved are brought to court. But we need your help now; a few of us can't fight against the entire Metropolitan Police Department leadership."

Omuro suddenly said, "Captain Ozawa, the people outside have quieted down."

Outside the window, the crowd looked up silently at the large screen on the exterior wall. No one shouted anymore, no one attacked anymore; everyone was silent, their faces showing shock and sorrow. Some wept softly, some supported each other, and some bowed deeply to the screen.

Several agitated young people tried to rush up and bang on the door, but the man with the rocky arm stopped them, shouting, "Stop! They're good people! They're helping us get justice! Smashing this place will only give the real culprit a reason to laugh at us!"

The five representatives looked at each other, and the woman with red, tear-filled eyes wiped away her tears: "We will tell them the truth and help them calm down. Violence will not solve the problem."

"Thank you." Ozawa nodded. "If you'd like, stay and fight alongside us."

Half an hour later, the Awakened Ones and the general public gathered outside the base gradually dispersed. Some stayed behind to maintain order, while others went home to inform more people. A dozen or so young Awakened Ones immediately signed up to join the temporary team. This conflict, which had been on the verge of erupting, ended in reconciliation.

But no one felt at ease. Ozawa looked out the window at the empty streets, his expression grave. This was just the beginning. The Metropolitan Police Department leadership wouldn't let this go easily, and the Awakened Ones scattered throughout the city were about to face unprecedented challenges.