Chapter 28: Greed

Tokyo.

As a vast metropolis housing tens of millions, any disturbance here spreads instantly across the city.

At this moment, many were watching a video filled with ceaseless gunfire, screams, and curses—a scene reminiscent of a battlefield.

Scrolling through the comments:

“A Tengu! I saw a real Tengu with my own eyes!”

“Me too! I was at the ramen shop opposite that café. That Tengu killed so many people!”

“That road’s been cordoned off. Could that video be real?”

“Idiot! I saw it myself, no way it’s fake. Just wait—the video will be gone soon. Go check that street in Bunkyo Ward and see if the police have surrounded it.”

Almost the moment the message was sent, the video was deleted.

Similar videos and images kept flooding social media and video platforms, all resembling that one clip.

Bunkyo Ward, the area with the highest concentration of schools and students, was bustling. Nearly everyone there was either a student or involved in education or educational equipment industries.

It’s well known that students are the most carefree group, especially high schoolers in this island nation.

Such a sensational event quickly ignited the boredom-fueled student community.

The entire network of Neon was abuzz, keyboards clattering furiously.

Chuo Ward, Bunkyo Ward, Shinjuku Ward…

Luxury cars, usually seen only online, roamed the bustling districts. Young heiresses and privileged young men were whisked away at high speed.

Major educational institutions simultaneously announced: a one-day holiday tomorrow.

…

“Ms. Suzuki is unharmed. I’ve arranged for her safe escort home,” the director said after hanging up, releasing a long breath.

It was a relief that the second daughter had only suffered fright.

Next…

“The Supernatural Materials Recovery Division has brought back the collected materials,” a subordinate reported.

This newly established department was responsible for investigating and collecting usable supernatural materials, and today marked their first case.

Fortune smiled upon them, as Director Shirakuma’s usually tense expression softened into a smile, though it soon turned to one of regret.

Such a golden opportunity, yet that Crow Tengu escaped. And his final words left Shirakuma deeply troubled.

If that truly was the Great Tengu, even the Imperial family might face upheaval.

Sigh. Either nothing happens, or multiple major crises pile up at once. Shirakuma was nearly being molded by the relentless grind of life.

Shaking his head slightly, he knew it was not time to rest. At this very moment, many powerful figures were heading to the Metropolitan Police Department. As the head, he had to confer with them.

———

Chiba Prefecture, behind a small shrine on a mountain, the Crow Tengu, missing both arms, landed unsteadily in the forest and collapsed.

The wounds on his thighs and arms had been stemmed by his demonic power, but the injuries were still severe for a minor demon like him.

Pain, unbearable pain!

Totally beyond what a small demon could endure.

Just as he was grateful to have escaped, a small hill about two meters away suddenly rose sharply, revealing a ghostly mask.

“A Crow Tengu.”

“Soil-Spider Lord,” the trembling little demon replied weakly, powerless to resist.

———

This incident was unlike the previous two.

The first time the Soil-Spider appeared, the Self-Defense Forces and Metropolitan Police Department had jointly sealed off the news, and because the incident occurred in a remote area, containment was effortless.

The second time, in Adachi Ward, also a remote suburb with a prior murder incident in an apartment complex, the news was similarly suppressed.

But this time was different.

Bunkyo Ward!

It happened almost under everyone’s noses. Various forces simultaneously learned of the supernatural presence and contacted the Metropolitan Police almost simultaneously.

Well-dressed dignitaries shared this spectacle together.

On the fourth underground floor of the Metropolitan Police Department, a group of influential figures stood before a massive bulletproof glass wall, watching a live-fire test inside.

“Bang!”

A Barrett rifle precisely struck a special alloy, its tremendous power piercing the military-grade metal.

On a giant screen nearby, footage showed four Barrett rifles sniping off the Crow Tengu’s limbs.

An elderly professor in a white lab coat, eyes burning with passion, tirelessly explained the science to the assembled dignitaries.

“This is a special alloy steel used for tank manufacturing. The Barrett’s powerful kinetic energy can pierce it directly. Such force on a human would cause a painful death by bodily disintegration, but on that demon, it only leaves a fist-sized blood hole!”

“He even had the strength to fly again! His flight speed outpaced the Metropolitan Police helicopters!”

Director Shirakuma’s face darkened, despite having listened with interest.

“And the sword?”

“According to the analysis report, the katana is made of tamahagane, forged by traditional tatara methods. It’s a standard katana in craft and materials but with hardness exceeding more than half of known materials. However, we have yet to discover how the Crow Tengu uses the sword to unleash ‘demonic arts,’” the elderly man said regretfully.

A standard forged katana.

Forging katanas from tamahagane was a craft from the late Heian period. Such traditionally forged swords are sharp, yes, but by modern standards, they would be outmatched by advanced materials.

Yet here was a scene where an ancient-style katana outperformed modern materials—almost magical.

“Can this material be replicated?” The group instantly grasped the immense value of such a material.

“Research time is too short; we’ve only conducted rudimentary studies.”

Though disappointed, their purpose at the Metropolitan Police was not just this special katana.

The two severed arms from the Crow Tengu were their main prize.

This time, Director Shirakuma personally explained.

“The Crow Tengu’s blood is highly toxic.” The lights dimmed as the screen displayed the experiment.

On screen, a researcher carefully fed a drop of the Tengu’s blood to an Alaskan Malamute. Within three seconds, the dog convulsed violently; within five seconds, it collapsed and died from the poison.

An elderly man with a grim expression asked, “Can the toxicity be reduced?”

This was Gan’an Shimiya, head of the new noble Shimiya family, whose influence spanned various industries, rivaling long-established aristocrats.

His question reflected the deepest concerns of everyone present.

Human trials, life-extension technologies, blood transfusions... Such technologies revealed the nobles’ fear of death and their desire for longevity and robust health.

Moreover, if ordinary people like Yamano Noa—who recently caused violence—appeared again, how could mere mortal bodies withstand them?

But if they became supernatural beings, bullets would no longer be a threat. Then they would truly rule the world, with ordinary humans as mere expendables.

If a substance could be extracted from the Crow Tengu’s blood to grant supernatural powers to humans, that world would be within reach!