Ever since the "Lost Christmas" incident, Tokyo's Roppongi district, the epicenter of the Apocalypse Virus outbreak, had been locked down by a coalition of multinational forces.
The Japanese government relinquished its administrative control over the area, effectively turning Roppongi into a lawless zone, outside the jurisdiction of any nation.
Residents weren't allowed to leave, nor were they given vaccines.
Countless infected people, stripped of hope, simply drifted through life in Roppongi: numb and forgotten.
Like livestock bred to host a virus.
This is where Funeral Parlor had built its headquarters.
Many of their outer-circle members were ordinary civilians recruited directly from Roppongi.
The organization had taken root, growing steadily within this forsaken place.
So among the local thugs and delinquents, Gai Tsutsugami's name was infamous. Someone you absolutely couldn't afford to mess with.
"This is the current state of Funeral Parlor."
Inside a conference room within an underground base, Gai looked toward Souta, who stood in front of the large wall-mounted screen, and said:
"Everyone here today is a core member of Funeral Parlor. They are all trustworthy and reliable, you can count on them."
After Souta returned to the Guilty Crown world, Gai immediately summoned the inner circle for this meeting.
The main purpose was to formally introduce Souta's true identity as their collaborator.
And to discuss future plans.
Those gathered included Gai, Inori Yuzuriha, the prideful girl Tsugumi, and Ayase Shinomiya, who sat in her wheelchair.
Besides the four of them, there were three unfamiliar faces:
Funeral Parlor's strategist Shibungi, the knife and melee combat specialist Argo, and the silent giant Oogumo.
Only seven core members.
Souta couldn't help but sigh a little.
"This organization of yours… really isn't much. I might need to consider other options."
Everyone in the room tensed at those words.
Especially Gai, his eyes flashed with anxiety.
After reading the information Souta had provided, he had made up his mind. This god, he was going to worship!
He had to secure this partnership.
The tables had turned.
Souta was no longer the one approaching them for cooperation, they were the ones begging him after learning the truth.
Gai quickly said, "It's true that our core members are few, but our outer circle is extensive. If you're planning to grow a cult, Roppongi is ideal due to its lawless status and Roppongi just so happens to be our base. Working with us will save you a great deal of trouble."
"I could also just go straight to GHQ, the current rulers of Japan. I don't have to grow the faith in Roppongi."
Souta casually countered, his tone light.
"GHQ isn't that easy to deal with." Gai shook his head. "They're a multinational force, powerful and arrogant. If they discovered someone like you, their first instinct wouldn't be negotiation, it'd be to capture and dissect you."
"It's fine," Souta said nonchalantly. "If they try to capture me, I'll resist symbolically, wipe a few countries off the map, and they'll behave."
"…"
Gai nearly choked.
The hell, can you even have a normal conversation?!
He started wondering if Souta was just mentally unstable. If he really had the power to steamroll GHQ, then why even bother coming to them?
Why give Funeral Parlor false hope by appearing here, only to dangle vague threats like this?
Are you here to cooperate or not?!
"But,"
Just as the tension peaked, Souta suddenly smiled and shifted his tone:
"I don't like GHQ. Plus, I don't want to cause too big a commotion, too much of a hassle. Since Inori, who like me has been chosen, is with your group, I'll give her some considerations and work with Funeral Parlor."
Relief swept across the room.
Everyone present, except the strategist Shibungi, had seen Souta's power at the park last time.
If someone like that sided with GHQ, Funeral Parlor would be completely doomed.
"You really are a sadistic bastard!"
Tsugumi, wearing her sensor-attached suit, shot him a glare.
She could tell Souta had deliberately toyed with them earlier.
Souta calmly ignored her pouty little stare.
He had no intention of replicating his flashy antics from the Akame ga Kill world here.
To strangers, he'd maintain the persona of a god but among those who knew him, pretending all the time was exhausting. There wouldn't even be room for normal daily life.
So he didn't mind having a few people who knew what he was really like.
Take the lord from Path of Peace, for example: he'd probably seen through the act ages ago.
But that guy still offered genuine faith, far more than any regular believer.
It showed that as long as the job was done right, the faith would come.
"Do you have any plans yet?"
Gai pulled the conversation back on track. "For now, I recommend unifying Roppongi as your cult's base. There's no government oversight here, so it's easier to grow."
"Gai, mind if I call you that?"
Souta gave him a meaningful look.
"What? You trying to get me to act as your free muscle and drive out GHQ's 'Antibodies' from Roppongi?"
The "Antibodies" were GHQ's special pandemic response unit.
Their official name was the Special Virus Disaster Response Bureau, led by Shuichiro Keido.
They operated under a separate command structure from GHQ's military and were equipped differently. Their mission was to handle the Apocalypse Virus.
The Antibodies had the authority to identify, isolate and in some cases, execute—infected individuals. Naturally, Roppongi's residents lived in fear of them.
Growing a cult in Roppongi would inevitably lead to conflict with the Antibodies.
Funeral Parlor's current goal was to wipe out the Antibody units stationed there.
"That's true, but I never expected you to be our free labor."
Gai's voice remained respectful.
In front of someone like Souta, he had no choice but to restrain the arrogance he usually carried as a leader.
"This is a partnership," he said. "If you take care of the Antibodies, we can focus on building our organization or rather, your cult. Everyone in Roppongi would become your follower."
"You're good with words."
Souta dragged over a chair and sat down.
"Relax. Since this is a partnership, I won't withhold the support I promised. In fact, I might even offer some in advance, like…"