CH 37

Until we reach the Intelligence Unit, we drop by the many departments that constitute the Security Organization, including the medical squad, the documentation squad, the sustenance squad, and so forth.

“Is this the place?”

“Compared to the other groups, isn’t it small?”

“I’ve heard that this location serves as a liaison for those who request information.”

[In short, the real headquarters of the Intelligence Unit is somewhere else.]

The Intelligence Unit’s room, on the other hand, is so noticeably smaller than the rooms containing the headquarters of the other teams that it is obvious even before entering the facility.

Perhaps it is not even half the size of the other teams.

Well, that would make sense given that it is merely a venue for delivering information only.

“Let’s go in anyway.”

“Right.”

“I guess so. Excuse me.”

We knock on the door and walk inside after knocking.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Huh? Yuzuru-san? And…”

Within the interior of the room, there are numerous bookcases, two sets of sofas, and a desk between the sofas, as well as another desk called the “office desk”.

As I thought, this is a platform to distribute information only.

Aside from us and Otachi Yuzuru-san, who escapes my knowledge that he is a member of the Intelligence Unit but is evidently one based on the position of the sofa he is sitting on. On the other sofa, facing Yuzuru-san, is an elderly guy with a long white beard who is working at his desk and has a calm demeanor… He couldn’t be!?

“W-Why is the head of the patrol team, Karagasa-san, here!?”

“I have a few questions I wanted to ask.”

“Well, Akira-kun, don’t worry about it; you may sit down too.”

“H-Hah…”

When Yuzuru-san says so, I take a seat next to him.

“I am Karagasa Yakarasu, the leader of the Patrol Unit.”

I am quite familiar with him because he is the Patrol Unit leader, which logically implies that he is Whiteice Akira’s boss (even if he is far superior).

Nowadays, he is regarded as the most gentle and mild-mannered of all the squad leaders, but in his younger days, he was a man who wreaked havoc on the front lines of the eradication squad, a man whose actions were said to inspire and frighten his allies at the same time.

To be frank, in his prime, he was once rumored to be closer to a God than to a human being, which provides insight into the breadth of his skills.

It is still asserted that he is unquestionably more powerful than the three individuals that make up a standard eradication team, and I firmly believe that he is.

“Oh, yeah, that’s right. Tajika Toki-kun, Tajika Sora-kun. You guys should wait outside until we’re done talking. I have to restrict access since the discussion we will be having contains a lot of sensitive information.”

“Both of you wait in the cafeteria.”

“Yes.”

“Excuse me.”

After Yuzuru-san and I have said our words, the two of them walk out of the room.

I ask Yuzuru-san if it is okay for me to stay by only giving him a glance, to which he nods and indicates that it is okay for me to remain.

A while after the two of them have left, Karagasa-san moves to the sofa where Yuzuru-san is seated for an undetermined reason, sparking the dialogue.

“Now, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, not only in appearance but even in gender. Whiteice-kun.”

“!?”

“Don’t worry; both of us are aware of your identity and are aware of the God riding on your shoulder. So there is no problem.”

“If so, that’s good…”

In astonishment over Karagasa-san’s remark, I turn to Yuzuru-san, but it seems that everyone here is informed that I am originally a man named Whiteice Akira and that I have a contract with Ys.

On second thought, it would be too much of a hassle to arrange my existing circumstance without getting in touch with and informing Karagasa-san? Yeah.

I mean, Yuzuru-san, you can actually see Ys that hasn’t materialized.

“Well, you see. I know you came here today to pay your respects, but we, the patrol team, would rather be the ones to help you. Please contact us right away if circumstances get out of hand for the eradication squad.”

“H-Hah…”

“Since I’ll serve as your point of contact with the Intelligence Unit, you can be sure that you’ll be able to obtain the majority of the information you want. Just let me know if you need anything “.

“Oh, thank you very much.”

I wonder what is this… I feel like the greeting to both the Patrol Unit and the Intelligence Unit went off in a thump, and perhaps that’s the reason why I have a bad feeling about something.

“And well, here’s the main topic. With regard to you, Akira-kun, and the Special Operations Squad to which you are a member, the Intelligence Unit has been actively maneuvering on the side of the city.

“Maneuver…?”

[That sounds rather disturbing.]

“To be exact, it’s a publicity stunt with the help of the patrol team.”

“[?]”

The word “maneuvering” evokes a sense of impropriety in me, which makes me momentarily tense up, but what Karagasa-san says next leaves me even more perplexed.

“The Special Operations Squad is a group of only three women. That is why we made the first move as a defensive measure against any fools who might try to do something insolent.”

“In concrete terms, you are to be idolized. This would enable someone to transform their feelings for Whiteice-kun into faith and power for themselves since, even if they wanted to act in that way, they would be unable to do so due to the eyes of people around them.”

“Ys, can something like that be done?”

[Well, until we give it a shot, I won’t know for sure, but I don’t think it’s impossible. But after receiving the appropriate type of faith, I believe it is the recipient’s obligation to repay the favor in some way.]

“I see.”

“Hmm. It seems that it can be done without any problem.”

“Looks like it.”

The Intelligence Unit has been cooperating with the Patrol Unit for a long time now apparently.

Nevertheless, an idol… idol… I have an extremely negative feeling about this.

“I will let you know in advance that I can’t sing or dance, and I will refuse to wear frilly clothes.”

“Hahaha, no worries, we’re not asking you to go that far. I don’t deny that it would have made the maneuver a lot easier though.”

“Tsk. (What a waste…)”

Yuzuru-san responds to my words with a smile, but Karagasa-san looks deeply disappointed and mutters something to himself.

Excuse me for making you look disappointed, but I would never get involved in any specific idol business. Even if I could gain faith, I would not want to acquire it in such a way.

“So that brings our conversation to the end for today.”

“I suppose so.”

“I appreciate your ongoing support, both of you.”

And when the conversation settles to a conclusion, I shake hands with the two of them and walk out of the room.

Ys murmurs to me as we are heading to the cafeteria to fetch Toki-san and Sora-san as if she has just recalled.

[Speaking of which, Akira. Both singing and dancing are on the training menu. And to tell you the truth, it’s a fairly efficient form of training.]

“!?”

[So, when your training begins, feel free to devote yourself to it.]

“…”

The escape path appears to have been obstructed in a very subtle manner.

I don’t feel at ease at all… yeah.

Following that, I reunite with Toki-san and Sora-san. The three of us then visit the remaining security groups, where we successfully complete today’s greetings.

I need to build up my strength starting tomorrow so I can be ready for whatever comes.