Manager, give me a membership card too!

The cruelest thing in the world is not to give someone despair from the start, but to give them hope and then present them with the cruelest reality.

The actions of the man before them were undoubtedly even more egregious than those of the former.

"Hehehe, Miss Muroto Sumire misunderstands. This was just a little joke I made, and it has nothing to do with the great Odin. Lord Odin only needs to sit high on the clouds in his glorious glory. Such trivial matters are not qualified to disturb your precious time."

"Is the life and death of nearly ten million people in Tokyo a trivial matter? Then I really don't know what can be considered a big deal! If Lord Odin acts so cruelly, then I would rather die here than work for him!"

The man wearing a pale white smiling mask spoke with nothing but indifference and amusement. This nonchalant attitude undoubtedly angered Sumire Muroto. As one of the world's top geniuses, she glared at him angrily, determined to get an explanation.

Unfortunately, our masked gentleman had no intention of indulging her. Instead, he looked at this woman, hailed as one of the 'Four Sages,' with an almost idiotic gaze, his tone full of mockery:

"People? Are you kidding me, Ms. Sumire Muroto? Is there anyone there? Why do I only see a bunch of beasts? A bunch of beasts that even I, a ruthless bastard who kills without hesitation, despise?"

"What, what do you mean?!"

"Don't you really understand? Ms. Sumire Muroto, with your position, your intellect, and your experience, do you really not understand what I'm saying? Or are you just deceiving yourself and refusing to understand?"

The woman in the white coat seemed to have been hurt by an invisible attack, and involuntarily took a step back, her expression turning somewhat gloomy.

“I know they did many wrong things in the past, many wrong things that crossed the line of humanity. But not everyone is like that. There are still good people in Tokyo, there are still kind and innocent people. Even if others deserve to die, at least they, at least they should not suffer such a tragic fate.”

As Sumire Muroto spoke, she became somewhat agitated. She stepped forward, placed her white hand on her chest, and earnestly pleaded with the man before her.

"Please, I beg you! I promise to work for Odin behind you, I'll do anything you want! But please let me operate the Heavenly Ladder. As long as I destroy Scorpio with the Heavenly Ladder, I'll willingly follow you. Believe me, the knowledge and wisdom in my mind are worth this price, my value far exceeds this electromagnetic cannon. Let me activate the Heavenly Ladder, it's not too late!"

Looking at the excited woman in front of him, the masked man's eyes remained unmoved; he even seemed to want to laugh.

He calmly straightened his perfectly wrinkle-free bright red tailcoat, adjusted the brim of his top hat, and spoke in a flat tone:

"Of course I know that Miss Sumire Muroto's value far exceeds that of this piece of junk that can only ring once. Rather, my main purpose today is to invite you to visit our Chaldea territory, the 'World Tree' Yggdrasil. As for the Heavenly Ladder? That's just an insignificant gesture; whether it exists or not is not so important."

"real!"

The woman with messy brown hair immediately lit up with joy and was about to step forward to activate the operating system of the Heavenly Ladder.

Scorpio isn't far behind yet; with some adjustments to the parameters, it can still be defeated. Once Scorpio is defeated, the remaining Gastrea, while troublesome, are not invincible.

However, before she could take two steps, the masked man standing still casually stretched out an arm, blocking Sumire's path to the control panel.

"Sir, didn't you say the Heavenly Ladder wasn't important?"

"The Heavenly Ladder is indeed unimportant." Looking at the anxious woman in front of him, the masked man's eyes behind the mask were cold and stern, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"But I'm a perfectionist and I can't allow any mistakes in my own mission. This is the first mission Lord Odin has given me, and I must complete it well."

"I'll take you with me. I'll take the Heavenly Ladder with me too. Adults don't need to choose; I want it all!"

"You broke your promise! What will happen to the innocent citizens of Tokyo if Scorpio doesn't die?"

The masked man tilted his head in confusion, looking at the woman in front of him as if she were saying something strange.

"What do I care if those people live or die?"

5000+ words counts as two chapters. Today I did a 10-pull for Girls' Frontline and didn't get a single new item! That's so frustrating! Not only did they not give me the wedding dress, they didn't even give me a new piece of furniture!

Chapter 130 Traditional Arts (6300 words, please subscribe)

Chapter 130 Traditional Arts (6300 words, please subscribe)

It's an old anime.jpg

The cameraman deserves a bonus! .jpg

"Command post? Command post! This is the front line? Repeat, this is the front line! Why hasn't the space ladder been launched yet? We can't hold on much longer! Hello? Hello? Hello!"

"Damn it! Why won't you speak!"

He angrily threw down the communicator in his hand, and the man wearing the same power armor as my comrade stood up with a gloomy expression. He glanced at his colleagues around him, who also had grim faces, and silently drew the officer's standard-issue sword from his waist.

"My colleagues, those shameless high-ranking officials have deceived us! They never intended to activate the Heavenly Ladder! Friends! It's time, it's time to punish those corrupt officials who hold positions without doing their jobs, it's time to make them pay the price for what they've done all this time!"

"The political and financial circles are rife with corruption and decadence, and high-ranking officials and elites live extravagant and dissolute lives. If this is not stopped, Japan is doomed!"

“We, who have always been at the bottom of society, know very well that Tokyo is already rotten to the core. Resources are scarce, there is an overpopulation, prices are soaring, and the people are suffering terribly! The things that workers make themselves cost more than half a month’s salary to buy. Farmers can’t bear to eat the food they grow themselves and can only sell it to buy cheap food to fill their stomachs.”

"My colleagues, my friends, is this a normal world? Our compatriots are starving and forced to live in squalid, unsanitary outskirts, while high-ranking officials can squander the food and resources produced by the people through collusion. Is this really a normal world?"

The man brandishing his sword was radiant, his words ringing out powerfully. His words seemed to penetrate the very core of his being, captivating everyone and gradually turning their expressions into fervor.

"This is not normal! His Majesty the Holy Emperor is so noble and kind, he would never stand by and watch us suffer. And the facts have proven that His Majesty the Holy Emperor has always hoped to introduce relevant tax cuts and welfare policies to improve our lives, but each time they have been rejected by those filthy vampires."

"The Holy Emperor has always wanted to help us, but the privileged class around her has blinded her and prevented the Holy Emperor from implementing benevolent policies!"

"We swore allegiance when we joined the army, so what should we do in this situation?"

The man suddenly pointed his sword at the officers around him, but instead of showing fear or flinching, those pointed at by his sharp samurai sword revealed even more fanatical expressions.

"Purge the court of corrupt officials!"

"Yes, purge the court of corrupt officials!"

Someone in the crowd shouted something, and the rest of the people immediately followed suit. The voices were so loud that they shook the dust off the ceiling.

A smile appeared on the face of the man with the knife. He loudly responded to his comrades' wishes, shouting with a flushed face:

"That's right! Purge the court of corrupt officials! Our goal is to save Tokyo! Those who are willing to believe in me, come with me! Those who are willing to trust me, come with me! Let us, the soldiers who are truly loyal to the Holy Emperor and the people of Tokyo, thoroughly purify Tokyo! Operation code name: 'Respect the Emperor and Punish the Traitors'!"

"Respect the emperor and ask for rape!"

"Respect the emperor and ask for rape!!"

These low-ranking officers, who usually had no chance of advancement, looked at each other and shouted out the slogan they had long planned!

Although the atmosphere was incredibly enthusiastic, some clear-headed individuals, unaffected by the fervor around them, spoke with a hint of worry:

"While I also wish to eliminate those parasites and scum from those countries now, what about our defenses? The situation is alright for now; we've managed to hold off the Gastrea's attack with this new formation. But this won't last. Scorpio is already close to the monolith, and once that terrifying monster arrives, all resistance will be in vain. In this critical moment, should we really launch a rebellion?"

"It is precisely because the situation is critical that we must rise up! We must purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate those pests!"

The man who drew his officer's sword brandished his holmium steel knife. This officer, who came from a prestigious family but was unable to inherit the family business because he was an illegitimate child, and only received a suit of armor, had a solemn and dignified expression. His magnetic and hoarse voice was generous and passionate, and extremely infectious.

"Only by overthrowing the rule of those corrupt officials can we save this city. Those bigwigs are unwilling to use the Heavenly Ladder, so we'll force them to. As long as we defeat Scorpio with the Heavenly Ladder, we'll be the heroes of Tokyo, and all the guilt and stigma will be transformed into acts of justice. No, that's not right! Our cause is inherently just!"

"Execute the traitors, thoroughly investigate corrupt officials! Eliminate the Zodiac and save Tokyo! At that time, everyone here will become a true hero, and the Holy Emperor will surely reward us, allowing us, the people of insight, to help her govern this country, making this city and this country better, a true paradise on earth!"

"Our new cabinet, composed of ordinary people like us who have truly witnessed the hardships of life, will surely discard all the evils of the past and be clean, honest, efficient, and decisive! We will fundamentally change the current situation and put everything back on track!"

The man's expression was solemn, and his words were so infectious that they made people feel a sense of agreement from the bottom of their hearts.

"Respect the emperor and ask for rape!"

The man wielding the holmium steel knife extended one hand and swung it fiercely. With this action, the others were involuntarily swept back into the previous frenzied atmosphere, their faces also flushed with excitement as they shouted wildly:

"Respect the emperor and ask for rape!!"

"May the traitor be punished by Heaven!"

"May the traitors of the nation be punished!!"

"It's time! Let's save this country! Let's become true heroes!"

"For the Holy Emperor!"

Under the command of the man wielding a holmium steel knife, the fanatical officers gradually left the room. Some volunteered to stay behind as a suicide squad, determined to stop the Gastrea at all costs. The rest quickly boarded various tanks and vehicles, marching in a massive force towards the command post.

Because of the perverse actions of the high-ranking officers, and the fact that they had previously used some of the "troublemakers" in their eyes but the "wise men" in the eyes of the lower-ranking soldiers as bait to kill a large number of Gastrea, this great victory not only failed to boost the morale of the army, but instead filled the air with a sense of shared sorrow.

The Gastrea invasion was the opportune moment, the gathering of all the high-ranking military officials at the nearby command post could be considered the favorable location, and the officials' previous 'ingenious plan' provided the support of the people.

With favorable timing, location, and popular support, the insurgent officers advanced with unstoppable momentum. In fact, they encountered virtually no resistance at all.

The ladder failed to launch on time, and the promised miracle did not occur. Watching the approaching, enormous figure, no one could muster the will to fight. Surrendering at the first sign of trouble was considered acceptable; many who had joined the uprising marched in a mighty force towards the headquarters, seeking answers from the higher-ups.

'boom! '

A foot slammed into the command post door with black military boots, kicking the metal door open with tremendous force. A man with sharp eyes, carrying a blood-stained katana, stormed in with a group of fanatical officers.

However, the scene inside the door stunned the group of low-ranking officers who exuded a murderous aura. Some of them even seemed at a loss, because the sight before them was simply too horrific.

Blood, blood everywhere, blood splattered throughout the room. The floor, walls, ceiling, and even the various instruments and equipment still running automatically were covered with dense, crimson bloodstains.

The once impeccably dressed and dignified high-ranking officials now stared wide-eyed in disbelief, their eyes vacant and lifeless as they gazed at the air before them. Judging from their mangled bodies and their chests, which had long since ceased to rise and fall, these men had been dead for quite some time.

"What...this is?!"

"Could it be that someone has already taken this place before us?"

"That shouldn't be the case. Shouldn't everyone willing to revolt be here already?"

Looking at the hellish scene before them, the lower-ranking officers began to whisper among themselves. Their mission was to capture these people, but now all their targets were corpses. This unexpected turn of events caused a moment of unease among them.

"Quiet!"

The leader of the group quelled his men's commotion, narrowing his eyes warily as he glanced towards a corner of the room. He casually drew a short knife from his waist and tossed it there, shouting, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

'clang!'

A dazzling spark flashed and disappeared in an instant, illuminating a figure hidden in the dim shadows. However, this brief moment of light caused the officers at the door to instinctively hold their breath, for they saw a ghost, a blood-soaked demon devoid of any human emotion.

"Oh, it's you, Lieutenant Yamamoto."

The man, covered in blood, slowly emerged from the shadows and came into the room under the flickering light. Only by the light, which flashed intermittently, could the officers who entered from outside see the face of the demon.

The once-glorious military uniform was now blackened by the crimson blood, his formerly neat hair was disheveled, and even his usually meticulously groomed beard was now soaked with blood, each strand no longer possessing its former elegance.

Although the man's appearance had changed drastically and his demeanor had completely transformed, the officers still recognized him.

Even though the other party is now in such a disheveled state and no longer possesses the shrewdness and competence of the past, those sharp eyes, those hawk-like eyes, will always be unforgettable.

Colonel Yamamoto, the hero of the Second Kwantung Campaign and the commander-in-chief of this campaign!

"It's you! You're still alive! What happened here?"

"what happened?"

The blood-soaked, mustachioed man chuckled, casually gesturing to the lifeless corpses around him, and said in a flat tone, "Isn't it clear? They're dead. I killed them. That should suit you perfectly, Lieutenant Yamamoto."

"You killed him?!"

The officer leader looked on in disbelief. He had considered countless possibilities beforehand, but he never imagined that the other side would kill all of his 'fellow acquaintances'. This was truly unexpected.

"Yes, I killed them. I've disliked these people for a long time. If it weren't for keeping the Tokyo district running, I would have killed these useless people long ago. Now that the Tokyo district is beyond saving, these idiots are naturally useless too. Why keep useless trash around for the New Year?"

The man with the mustache moved casually and spoke in a relaxed tone, devoid of his usual authority and charisma, looking like an ordinary unemployed middle-aged man. However, the holmium steel knife he gripped tightly in his hand and the faint hint of madness on his face kept everyone present on high alert.

"Tokyo Ward is beyond saving? What do you mean?"

"What do you mean? Literally. We can't defeat the Zodiac, and Tokyo will become a dead city within 48 hours, a paradise for Gastrea."

"Can't defeat the Zodiac? Where's the Heavenly Ladder? Why aren't you using the Heavenly Ladder! We're risking our lives on the front lines to buy you time, why aren't you activating the Heavenly Ladder?"

"The Heavenly Ladder? Hehehe~ Hahaha~ Ahahahaha~! You actually asked me about the Heavenly Ladder?" As if asked a ridiculous question, the mustachioed man burst into inexplicable maniacal laughter. His laughter was so unrestrained, so hysterical, that he even slowly knelt down in the pool of blood, his body slamming against the ground beneath him.

"How the hell am I supposed to know what's wrong with the Sky Ladder?! You're asking me?! Who am I supposed to ask?!"

The man with the mustache, who was laughing halfway through, suddenly stopped, raised his head, stared with bloodshot eyes, and roared in a voice that seemed to want to devour someone.

That expression, that demeanor, made everyone, including the military leader, take a step back.

The officer leader, who had instinctively taken a step back, froze, then returned to his original position as if trying to prove something. He even took two steps forward, raising his holmium steel knife and pointing it at the mustachioed man who was slowly getting up.

What exactly happened on the Heavenly Ladder?

The mustachioed man glanced dismissively at the holmium steel knife pointed at him, stretched his limbs, and walked towards the door, carrying his super holmium steel katana. He casually retorted:

“I told you, I don’t know what happened on the Sky Ladder. But you, Lieutenant Yamamoto, what are you trying to do by bringing so many men to the command post, my foolish and ignorant son?”

"What?! Lieutenant Yamamoto is Colonel Yamamoto's son?! How come I didn't know that?"

"Impossible! This must be fake! It's a plot by the enemy to demoralize the troops!"

“I told you so! I told you so! The second lieutenant and Colonel Yamamoto do have similar facial features. You didn’t believe me when I said it before.”

The officer leader, whose face froze after being bombshelled by the mustachioed man's casual revelation, never imagined that his father, who had always disliked him, would actually acknowledge their relationship. The officers behind him were also thrown into chaos by this sudden bombshell.

At this point, denial was useless. The officer leader simply admitted it and succinctly explained the relationship between the two, ultimately drawing a clear line between them.

"I am not your son! You have never raised me for a single day since I was born, and you didn't even come to see my mother when she died from exhaustion trying to earn money for my tuition. If it weren't for my mother's dying wish, I wouldn't even want to keep your surname. Now I wish I could change the blood of this heartless and cold-blooded person!"

"But you can't deny the talent that comes with your bloodline, my son. Your strength, your wisdom, your courage and decisiveness—look at you, you're practically a carbon copy of me. I misjudged you before, thinking you were just a cynical coward. But look at you now, how perfect you are, actually managing to get here. You truly are my son."

"Then, as a reward, let me, your father, give you my final guidance!!!"

Before the mustachioed man could finish speaking, he appeared before the officer leader, accompanied by a gust of wind. Without hesitation, he brought his super-holomium steel katana down on the young man's head. The feeling, the aura, was not that of someone facing their own son, but rather that of someone facing their father's killer.

'clang!'