A towering skyscraper loomed against the Tokyo skyline, its mirrored surface reflecting the glimmering midday sun. Outside the main entrance, a throng of reporters and media specialists crowded behind barricades, their cameras flashing eagerly as a sleek black limousine slid to a halt.
From the limo emerged a sharply dressed man and his secretary, the former exuding an air of both mystery and prestige. Without acknowledging the crowd, they moved swiftly into the building, disappearing into the elevator that shot upward toward the summit floor of the tower—the location of today's annual Paranormal Company Leaders' Assembly.
Inside the top-level conference room, the air thrummed with tension. Fifteen individuals were already seated around a massive obsidian roundtable. The room's design reflected the fusion of tradition and technology; some delegates wore ceremonial Japanese garments—flamboyant yukatas and embroidered hakama—while others opted for austere business suits. Among them were humans, demi-humans, and beings whose origins defied easy classification.
"Let's commence the Annual Company Leaders' Meeting," announced a battle-hardened man in a tailored suit. A black eyepatch covered one eye, and the lapel of his jacket bore a gleaming badge etched with the kanji for Yamamoto. His presence radiated the hardened discipline of a military veteran who'd seen decades of battle.
A younger man seated comfortably across from him—legs crossed; hands tucked neatly inside his coat—smirked. "The Izana leader hasn't arrived yet," he said, his voice laced with indifference. His nameplate read Iroha.
"Why are we even still accommodating the Izanas?" interjected a woman cloaked in a flowing black coat. Her badge was marked Emei, signifying her allegiance to the Chinese branch of the network.
"A mere Chinese subsidiary dares question one of our own?" snapped another woman seated across from her. She wore a pink yukata adorned with a Sakura motif. Her badge glistened with the name Yuzuara.
The Emei leader raised an amused brow. "You speak of outsiders, and yet the Izanas themselves are no longer what they once were. What makes them worthy of a seat at this table?"
"You always did have a way with words, Lin-Lin," the Yuzuara leader countered coolly.
"Ladies, please," the Iroha representative interjected, raising a hand as the temperature in the room threatened to spike. "Lin is right. Why are the Izanas still part of this council? Their era of glory has passed. Don't you all agree?" He looked around, fishing for support among the others.
"Ha!" A booming laugh cut through the murmurs. It came from a towering man whose muscles stretched the seams of his formal robe. "The Izanas are still one of the strongest houses in Japan. Why should we exile them now, when they've yet to fall completely?"
The speaker's presence alone demanded attention—he was the leader of the Behemoth Company, a group famed for its brute strength and frontline tactics.
A feline humanoid with silver fur and violet eyes leaned forward from his chair, tail flicking lazily behind him. "Are you implying we've forgiven them for their past transgressions?" he asked icily, eyes narrowing.
"They've already paid for their mistakes," the Behemoth leader said with a shrug. "And it wasn't the current generation that caused the disaster. They've suffered far more than most of us."
The murmurs softened, the weight of the truth diffusing some of the hostility in the air.
"If the Izana leader isn't here shortly," Yamamoto growled, "I'll impose sanctions on their company."
A ripple of anticipation passed through the room—but then a calm voice broke the silence.
"I'm right here."
All eyes turned to me—Freed Izana—already seated beside Miku, the Black Raven Company's enigmatic leader. She jumped slightly in surprise but quickly masked her reaction as I placed a reassuring hand on her arm, gesturing for her to stay calm.
"So," I said, voice smooth, laced with a mischievous smirk, "who was it that wanted to penalize me?"
Gasps and raised brows followed my casual entrance. "And isn't it a little disrespectful," I added, eyes narrowing at the Iroha representative, "that your company sent a mere vice president to a summit of leaders? What's your president doing that you had to take his place?"
The man sneered, barely restraining his spiritual pressure. "What business is that of yours? Your company is nothing but a shell of its former self. How dare you compare Izana to Iroha?"
I chuckled and raised both hands playfully. "You could've just said your boss is attempting to breach the Mortal Realm. Not the smartest move, considering it's known as the 'Certain Death' path for Awakens."
The room collectively gasped. Iroha's secret endeavor was not public knowledge. Now it was.
"How dare you!" he roared, releasing a dense surge of Rein. The very walls of the skyscraper trembled, though outside, not a soul noticed. The room was locked in a barrier of space isolation—a realm within a realm, impervious to the outside world.
"You test my patience, Izana," the Iroha rep snarled. "And I will make you regret it."
"Here? Really?" came the calm voice of Kenzo, leader of the Shiki Company, his irritation barely veiled.
"Let's all calm down," Miku murmured timidly, clutching the sleeve of my jacket.
I grinned. "Even our adorable Miku is afraid. See what you've done?"
"You—!"
"Enough!" Yamamoto's voice boomed as he slammed his fist into the table. A shockwave of authority shattered the tension like glass. "Iroha, your leader isn't here, so behave. And you, Freed, stop provoking him. Many of us at this table are branch leaders, not company heads. Let's not lower ourselves to childish squabbles."
"Fine, fine," I muttered, pouting like a schoolboy caught pulling a prank.
Yamamoto gestured to his assistant, who tapped a sleek tablet. A holographic display flickered to life above the center of the table, illuminating the room with glowing statistics and charts.
"As you can see," he began, "Japan's efforts in clearing Hell-Borns and suppressing mini–Shadow Garden manifestations remain consistent. The Irohas and my company lead in Shadow Garden purges, while the Yuzuara, Emei, and Behemoth companies dominate in Hell-Born eliminations."
Nods of approval and murmured congratulations rippled through the assembly—though some cast envious glances at the names not featured prominently.
"With no unnatural disturbances in recent months, I believe we're making commendable progress in keeping Japan safe."
He paused. "Now, according to data compiled by Union Link from the Paranormal Officer Candidateship Exam, five outstanding talents have emerged in Japan."
He turned to look at me—and then at Miku. "Izana and Black Raven each house one of these prodigies."
Esmeralda, the graceful Yuzuara leader with a cryptic smile, nodded. "I heard one of Izana's recruits awakened with over one million units of spiritual energy."
"A good kid," I responded with a proud smile. "Miku, congratulations to you as well. I didn't realize you had someone special in your ranks."
"We were lucky," she replied shyly, blushing at our proximity.
"Back to business," Iroha's vice president cut in sharply. "What happened to the stray Goblin that surfaced last month?"
"The Black-Men handled it," Lin from the Emei Company answered with a shrug.
"That explains why it was out of our jurisdiction," the Iroha man said, snapping his fingers in realization.
Yamamoto's assistant adjusted her glasses. "Reports indicate another foreign entity passed into Japan through a Shadow Garden, though the Black-Men claim it poses no threat."
"Tch," the feline leader scoffed. "The Black-Men always act after the damage is done. We should locate this stray ourselves and turn it over before more innocents die."
"No need," I said, voice flat. "He's with me now. A member of my company."
A stunned silence followed. The Behemoth leader burst into hearty laughter while others stared in disbelief.
"I give up," Yamamoto said, rubbing his temples. "This concludes the meeting." With a flick of his hand, he and his assistant disappeared from the room.
"You seriously think we'll allow you to keep recruiting like this while still buried in debt?" the Iroha rep fumed. "Dragging innocent children into your chaos—"
"None of your concern," I replied with a grin, turning to Miku. "See you later, lovely."
She blushed and looked away as I vanished into the ether.