In Adachi Market, rows of fish that Aozawa couldn’t na populated the tanks.
They swam around, only to be scooped up by the vendor when a custor took a fancy to them, laid out on the cutting board to beco slices of fish at soone’s rcy, emitting a fishy odor.
Looking at the hand resting on his shoulder, he chuckled and said, "Shouko, well done. That’s the attitude you should have towards those disrespectful old n. Leave the displeasure to others and keep the joy for yourself."
"Aozawa-senpai, please stop teasing ."
Leaving Tadokoro behind, Hojo Shouko retracted her hands. Her pale cheeks blushed with the glow of an autumn sunset, looking irresistibly appealing.
She didn’t want to adopt such an attitude and tone against an elder, nor could she stand by while soone maliciously criticized Aozawa-senpai.
Hojo Shouko could say that Aozawa was sowhat perverted because she believed that the ’perverted’ from her lips carried no malice; she was simply stating a fact.
She had personally witnessed her senpai’s occasional quirks flare up.
To Hojo Shouko’s eyes, none of these were serious issues.
As long as it didn’t affect others, there was nothing wrong with a boy being a bit perverted. But what Tadokoro said just now was outright slander. Dostic violence, of all things—how could such a nice person as Aozawa-senpai possibly do that?
In Hojo Shouko’s mind, Aozawa was associated with words like integrity, kindness, honesty, and reliability.
"To say that senpai would commit dostic violence, that’s pure slander! Even soone as mild-tempered as I would get angry!"
Hojo Shouko waved her fist, her voice tinged with rare anger.
Aozawa raised his hand and ruffled her hair, smiling. "Since Shouko has defended my reputation so well, I must treat you to a great al. A milk tea isn’t enough; today I’ll take you out for a burger."
"Aozawa-senpai, you were slandered because of . If anyone should treat, it should be buying you a burger."
"Shouko, this is the ti for to show off my charm as a senpai."
Aozawa pressed on her head with a firm attitude, compelling her to agree to let him treat her.
Feeling the broad palm on her head, the words of protest Hojo Shouko wanted to utter were quelled by that gentle press.
She obediently nodded. "Okay."
Aozawa smiled contentedly, withdrew his hand, and said, "That’s a good girl. Let’s go grocery shopping."
「...」
In Chiyoda District, bright sunshine fell on the helipad atop the official residence.
The space was ample, with a good view.
Phoenix Academy Maggie stood there, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders. She looked up as a helicopter, its propellers roaring, steadily approached from the azure sky.
The wind from the rotor blades swept around in circles, lifting her light dress.
The helicopter settled on the helipad, its rotors gradually slowing until they stopped.
The cabin door opened, and Iwasaki Yizo, along with Yasuda and others, alighted.
Seeing them arrive together on the sa helicopter, Phoenix Academy Maggie’s eyes flickered with thought. Stepping forward, she said, "Grandpa Iwasaki, Uncle Yasuda..."
She called their nas with a sweet voice, seemingly enthusiastic, yet her heart was colder than the winds of Antarctica. "My mother is very busy with work, so she asked to welco everyone in her place."
Iwasaki Yizo smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection. He was very fond of Phoenix Academy Maggie.
His fondness was not of a romantic kind but that of an elder’s care for a younger one.
Iwasaki Yizo, at his age, was obviously not led by carnal desires. He longed for such an outstanding granddaughter. Tapping his cane on the ground, he said, "I understand. Running a nation and a group are two different things. Kochou has a lot to learn. It’s quite normal for her to be tied up with work."
"Indeed, Mother is so busy she hardly has ti even for als. Later on, I hope Grandpa Iwasaki will also urge her to take a break."
"Don’t worry."
Iwasaki Yizo responded with a chuckle, no different from any ordinary grandfather.
Phoenix Academy Maggie also revealed a genuinely pure smile and then turned to lead the way. She deliberately slowed her pace, considering Iwasaki Yizo’s age ant he couldn’t move as freely as younger people.
If she just went ahead on her own, she could easily create a gap.
That kind of inconsiderate leading style would be unacceptable.
Iwasaki Yizo watched the girl walking in front of him; the distance was neither too far nor too close, just right.
A hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.
If his eldest grandson, Iwasaki Taro, had not died, he too would have been an exceptional young man. In handling people, dealing with company affairs, and understanding global situations, everything about him was perfect; he was the most like his successor. May 20th... Rembering today was August 10th, Iwasaki Yizo suddenly realized that the vibrant, intelligent grandson who seed ready to call out ’Grandpa’ any mont had been buried for so long.
Iwasaki Yizo felt his breathing grow heavier.
"Grandpa Iwasaki, are you feeling unwell?"
"I’m just lanting the rcilessness of ti."
Iwasaki Yizo quickly flashed a smile, then shifted to his role as an elder, bringing up so questions.
He didn’t want to show a hint of weakness in front of others, nor would he reveal any hatred in anyone’s presence. Iwasaki Yizo simply harbored his hatred for Dio within his heart, waiting for the Takamagahara Project or so external factor to give him the power to take his revenge. Only then could he vent the hatred in his heart.
「...」
On the fifth floor of the official residence, in front of the office door.
Phoenix Academy Maggie didn’t choose to knock but naturally opened the office door and called inside, "Mother, Grandpa Iwasaki and the others have arrived."
Kochou put down the docunts in her hand and stood up, saying, "Mr. Iwasaki, I’m very sorry for not greeting you personally at the helipad."
"No matter. With our relationship, there’s no need for such formalities. You, however, must pay attention to your health and not act recklessly just because you are young."
Iwasaki Yizo showed a gentle smile.
Even though he, along with the other four major financial groups, had been covertly obstructing Kochou’s moves to consolidate power, he still maintained an amicable appearance when they t.
After all, Iwasaki Yizo had no intention of burning his bridges with Kochou.
Obstructing Kochou’s consolidation of power was more a mindset of checks and balances; it didn’t an he truly saw her as an enemy.
Iwasaki Yizo’s way of thinking was still rooted in the past.
That is, while there might be so conflicts over how the cake was divided, the fact that everyone shared the cake together was still a default assumption.
He wouldn’t want to exclude the Phoenix Academy Group.
Kochou greeted them with a smile and asked them to sit down.
Phoenix Academy Maggie served tea to the six people present and then respectfully stood behind her mother.
Kochou did not speak.
Until she fully achieved her aims, she didn’t mind maintaining her previous humility, which also served to lull them into complacency, letting people like Iwasaki Yizo believe that her becoming Pri Minister wouldn’t change much.
The Silver Hexagram was still the sa Silver Hexagram as before.
As was customary, Iwasaki Yizo took the initiative to start the conversation, saying, "The reason for gathering everyone this ti is to report a major breakthrough in Takamagahara’s Smart Armor project."
"What kind of breakthrough?" Kochou asked curiously.
Matters regarding Takamagahara were always led by Iwasaki Yizo.
All information was reported directly to him. The CIA could also learn of related news imdiately. The others, however, needed to go through Iwasaki Yizo to learn the details of the plan.
To secure his absolute leadership, Iwasaki Yizo wouldn’t conceal any achievents from the others.
"Simply put, Doctor Matsuhara, who is in charge of the experint, has managed to overco the previous command issues in human chanization through the connection of ghost particle assembly and dispersal. This allows for the preservation of the brain while the rest of the body is modified into a machine."
"Oh! Doesn’t that an there’s hope for cybernetic immortality?"
"That possibility can’t be ruled out. However, judging by the current situation, the main issue is that existing chips are not capable of handling the volu of information received by the nerves. They can easily overheat due to processing too much data, ultimately resulting in failure."
Iwasaki Yizo let out a sigh. He had seen the chanized test subjects at the site yesterday.
They possessed both strength and speed, and their destructive power was imnse. The only flaw was the chips’ tendency to overheat.
Furthermore, the implanted chips were not simple to replace.
The short ti it would take to replace them would be enough to cause brain death in the person wearing the armor.
Kochou spoke up, "If the chips aren’t working, then set up an additional team specifically to research chips."
"Yes, that’s what I was thinking," Iwasaki Yizo nodded and said, "When could you spare so ti to visit the lab?"
"The experint is still in its early stages; there’s no rush."
Kochou shook her head. She then conveyed the information she had received from Dio. However, she chose not to reveal that Dio had told her personally, instead using the MacArthur Family’s na as a cover.
This news served to show the others that her status over there had risen since becoming Pri Minister, a kind of smokescreen to mask her ambition.
"Two of the six conditions have been t," Iwasaki Yizo murmured softly, feeling the pressure of ti. The only fortunate thing is that the altar Dio needs to ascend to Paradise was taken by the Emperor.
"The Unicorn Beetle... what exactly do those fourteen phrases an?"
"I’m very curious about what the Emperor is planning to do in xico."
"If his aim isn’t just to support Nied’s rise to power, then could those who died be sacrifices?"
"Perhaps those people aren’t enough."
Phoenix Academy Maggie stood by, listening to their back-and-forth discussion without missing a word.
Yet, she still had strong doubts in her heart, as many things remained unclear to her. It was like an ordinary person watching world news: aware that what’s broadcast is related to significant global events, but still unable to see the specific details hidden beneath them. Phoenix Academy Maggie thought that perhaps only Dio and the Emperor could realize what kind of changes were occurring in this world. No, it should be that all the powerful Angel Envoys were aware. Aozawa... Phoenix Academy Maggie suddenly sighed with emotion. He’s probably the weakest among all the Angel Envoys.
KNOCK KNOCK. The office door was suddenly knocked upon.
Kochou called out, "What is it?"
"Pri Minister, a major ergency has occurred in the Middle East!"
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