The next day, 4 a.m.
After sparing the surrendering Akeno Himejima, Roy left his room and opened his attribute panel.
[Yang-Strengthening Kidney Set] [Daily Training Acceleration Set].
Switching entries, Roy dialed his gravity gear back to 50x and prepped for morning training.
"Morning, Roy," Asia called from the kitchen.
"Morning," Roy nodded. "Up this early?"
Asia: "Rias-nee said Akeno-nee, who's on breakfast duty, might oversleep."
"I figured I'd get up early to cover for her."
Roy: "?"
That's too early.
Breakfast at 4 a.m.? It'd be stone-cold by the time others woke.
"I've never cooked, so I thought I'd practice early," Asia explained, sensing his confusion.
"Right, you were a Church saintess. No chance to cook," Roy recalled, his face turning serious.
A cooking newbie making breakfast? Bad news.
Peeking into the kitchen, it was a mess.
"What's that black goo?"
"Century egg pork porridge."
"?"
"I heard you're into dragon-themed stuff, so I made it for you," Asia said, sheepish. "It's… maybe not great. Don't mind."
"No, you're too modest."
Roy patted her head. "You've got some cooking talent."
"Really?"
"Yup. First time I've seen century egg porridge turn black."
"Ugh, sorry."
Asia ducked her head, embarrassed. She wasn't that naive—she caught Roy's jab.
"Guess I'm not cut out for cooking."
"Ahem, you can still try."
Seeing Asia's crestfallen look, her confidence crushed, Roy's dwindling conscience stirred.
"Want to learn? I'll teach you."
"Huh? You cook, Mr. Roy?"
"A bit."
Roy stepped in, using magic to clean the stove, then opened his panel.
[Daily Training Acceleration Set] [When Did You Spike the Food with Aphrodisiacs Set].
"Pay attention. I'm only showing once."
Laying out ingredients, Roy maxed Six Eyes and Senjutsu, starting the lesson.
"Step one: slice the pork into uniform strips."
Two and a half hours later.
Rias, dressed and ready to take over Akeno's breakfast duty, entered the kitchen.
She froze, seeing a blonde girl grimly stationed at the stove.
"Asia? What's up?"
"Studying meat-cutting."
"Meat-cutting?"
"Yup. Been at it for hours, but I can't match Roy's standard."
Asia raised her knife, pointing to a row of perfectly sliced pork strips nearby, magically preserved as a reference.
"Rias-nee, can you teach me how to cut like that?"
Rias: "…"
Great question. I'd love to know too.
Staring at the strips—identical in length and thickness, like they were copy-pasted—Rias rolled up her sleeves, her face as serious as Asia's.
"Hand me the knife. Let me try."
Meanwhile.
Outside Seasoning City, Akatsuki HQ.
Suzuki Shou, mid-meal, blinked as Roy stepped out of a magic circle.
"You're early."
"Ditched you yesterday, so I came early since I had time."
"…"
Thanks a lot.
Swallowing his food, Suzuki asked, "Wanna eat?"
"Nah, brought my own."
Roy unsealed his self-made breakfast and sat. "How's the task I gave you?"
"Called all branch leaders. Told them to gather at HQ by noon."
"They're scared of my dad, so most are probably here already."
Suzuki blinked, eyeing Roy's glowing lunchbox. Did he use magic? And that smell—kinda good.
"Stop staring. You're not getting any."
"Didn't ask."
Suzuki scoffed, looking away to eat.
"By the way, Claw's HQ is in a U.S. city."
"Frontal assault might cause a big scene."
"No worries, I'm prepared."
Roy pulled out a rune-carved pillar.
It was the barrier core Sona's group used to seal the abandoned church.
After morning training, Roy borrowed it from Sona.
"You and Akatsuki's other members have one job today."
"Use this to set a barrier around Claw's HQ, keeping civilians out."
Washington, D.C.
Inside a skyscraper.
Toichiro Suzuki stood at the top floor's window, overlooking the bustling streets.
After a while, a suited man with closed eyes appeared in the room.
"Boss, it's clear," Ryo Shimazaki reported. "Everyone, including the special squad, gathered on Shou's orders."
"As expected," Toichiro nodded, unsurprised.
"What's next? Send them back?" Shimazaki asked.
"No, wait."
Toichiro pocketed his hands, turning. He knew his son well.
Shou rallying everyone by noon meant he was planning something big.
"No clue what Shou's up to, but I'll humor him."
"Perfect chance to test Claw's strength."
"Got it, Boss. You've already set up Shou's excuse," Shimazaki nodded.
A surprise strength test was a solid cover.
It gave Shou an out and fit Toichiro's style.
Most would buy it.
Buzz!
A surge of energy rippled from below.
"Isolation barrier?" Shimazaki probed with his senses, quickly grasping it.
A barrier was expanding from the first floor, aiming to seal the building.
At this rate, Claw's HQ would be cut off in a minute.
"Interesting. Shou's well-prepared, even accounting for civilians."
"But this commotion's big. Other cadres must've noticed."
"They're no match for Shou."
Watching the dispersing crowd below, Toichiro paused, then said, "Shimazaki, it's yours."
"Once they're down, discipline Shou and bring him back."
"Easy."
Shimazaki replied lightly.
Teleporting, the scenery blurred.
When it stabilized, he was on the second floor.
"This'll do."
Shimazaki expanded his Super Perception.
Super Perception, his custom esper ability, rapidly gathered environmental data.
Scanning the first floor, a scene formed in his mind.
Led by Shou, Seventh Branch espers poured energy into a pillar.
A few meters away, a black-haired man lowered his hand.
Around him, over a dozen familiar figures lay unconscious.
"The special squad?"
Shimazaki's eyes widened.
The special squad, Toichiro's elite unit, had members rivaling branch leaders.
Even Shimazaki, one of the Ultimate 5, needed one to two minutes to take them down.
Yet, from the barrier's rise to now, barely a minute passed.
Who was this guy, flattening the squad so fast?
"Hm? Another one."
As Shimazaki pondered, the man in his perception looked his way.
"He spotted me?!"
Stunned, Shimazaki teleported to another spot on the second floor.
But the instant he reappeared, a figure stood before him.
"How?! Why are you here?!"
Shimazaki yelped, backing away.
Before he could, a cold flash pinned him to the wall.
Pain seared his abdomen. Gritting his teeth, Shimazaki teleported again.
This time, he maxed out, landing atop a skyscraper across the city.
Just as he thought he was safe, a magic circle flared.
"Ryo Shimazaki, one of the Ultimate 5."
"Teleportation up to dozens of kilometers, Claw's most mobile asset."
Roy stepped out, bloodied sword in hand, and critiqued. "Solid ability and reflexes, but your physique's weak. Fix that, and you'd have potential."
"Who are you?"
Shimazaki clutched his wound.
"Roy, Akatsuki's leader."
Akatsuki? Never heard of it.
But Roy's name rang a bell.
Staring, Shimazaki's pupils shook. "You're the Red Dragon Emperor who slaughtered the jujutsu higher-ups?"
"That's me."
"!!!"
It really was him.
Shimazaki's face darkened, tensing. "Why're you with Shou? Claw hasn't crossed you."
"Relax, I'm not here to kill."
Sheathing Gram, Roy said, "As I mentioned, I'm Akatsuki's leader."
"For reasons, I need capable subordinates to build this group."
"…You want me?"
"Yup."
"Then I surrender."
Shimazaki dropped his wound, saluting instantly.
After their brief clash, he confirmed two things:
Roy was stronger.
Roy could track his teleportation.
Can't fight, can't flee.
That was his reality.
No point resisting. Surrendering and leaving the rest to Toichiro was smartest.
[Congratulations on defeating Ryo Shimazaki. Obtained Purple entry Super Perception.]
[Super Perception (Purple): Greatly enhances sensory abilities.]
Simple but effective.
Equipping it, Roy's sensory range tripled, with sharper details.
"Not bad. More useful than Kokabiel's trash."
"Glad you're pleased."
Unsure who Kokabiel was, Shimazaki played along.
Seeing Roy's good mood, he pointed to his wound cautiously. "Boss, can I hit a hospital? I'll bleed out soon."
"No need."
Roy healed him.
Then, he teleported them back to Claw's HQ.
"Leader, perfect timing," Shou greeted. "Barrier's up."
"Good work."
Roy nodded, glancing ahead.
Two figures approached from the second-floor hallway.
"Boss, those are Ultimate 5 members Hiroshi Shibata and Minoru Kishi," Shimazaki reported.
"Shimazaki, what's this?" Shibata sneered, seeing Shimazaki behind Roy. "You betrayed us?!"
Shimazaki shrugged. "Not betrayal. Just choosing to live."
"Shibata, Kishi, surrender now. Save yourself the pain."
"Shut up and fight!"
Shibata activated [Super Steroids], his scrawny frame bulking massively, muscles rippling as he became a beastly juggernaut.
He stomped, cracking the floor, and charged, slamming his fists down. "Enemy or traitor, you're all dead!"
"Decent physique, but your brain's lacking."
Roy caught the blow single-handedly, grabbed Shibata's fist, and slammed him down.
Boom!
Shibata crashed into the floor, out cold.
[Congratulations on defeating Hiroshi Shibata. Obtained Purple entry Super Steroids.]
[Super Steroids (Purple): Temporarily boosts physical stats via esper power, but reduces rationality.]
Lowers IQ? Trash.
Tossing it into storage, Roy looked ahead.
While he'd dealt with Shibata, Kishi summoned a mass of plants, forming a defensive line.
Roy triggered Boosted Gear's penetration function, firing a flame cannon.
Flames roared, engulfing the plants and Kishi.
As the fire cleared, Kishi lay unconscious, his aura bottomed out.
"Nice ability, but like Shimazaki, your physique's too weak. Needs work."
Commenting, Roy stepped over the downed duo toward the elevator.
"Shou, handle this guy."
"Got it."
Shou nodded, eyeing Shimazaki. "You take those two."
"Isn't that your job?"
"It's yours now."
Shou pointed at himself, then Shimazaki. "I'm Akatsuki's No. 3. You're just a newbie."
"In front of me, you don't get to say no. Clear?"
Shimazaki: "…"
Goddamn, why's a terrorist group got workplace bullying?
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