Department Store Terror (1)
"This is Villain No. 13's statement, for starters."
Apple said that as she showed Club the email that had been sent to her, displaying the text.
It was a bit long-winded, so it took a while to understand.
"In short, he's going to blow up a bomb?"
"...It's horrific, isn't it?"
Apple nodded as if to agree with Club's words.
Villain No. 13 had planted a bomb in this department store, apparently. At least one powerful enough to reliably cover the entire interior.
However, it wasn't a lethal explosive, but something called a "TS bomb."
TS bomb. Just as the name implied, it was a bomb with a gender-swap function.
And the explanation of what this bomb was caused the email's content to balloon fivefold. What a truly annoyingly petty villain.
A gender-swap bomb. In other words, when it detonated, everyone within range would have their gender flipped. Men to women, women to men.
I had no idea what the point of that was, but you couldn't nitpick the meaning behind every villain's actions. Most of Villain No. 13's crimes were like this from the start.
"It's way too suspicious..."
"We can't ignore it, though. They really have taken over the department store and are holding a bunch of people hostage."
Apple chided Club's mutter with a troubled look.
And Abyss had that genius scientist on their side. The one Club had let slip away.
With that scientist's abilities, it might even be possible to create a bomb that gender-swapped everyone within a radius of several dozen meters.
...Maybe?
Either way, they couldn't ignore it.
"How are the hostages doing?"
At Club's question, Spade replied with evident embarrassment.
Spade paused, as if she'd witnessed something unbelievable.
And after hearing Spade's explanation that followed, even Club could understand why.
The hostages were gathered among dolls. The dolls weren't threatening them with obvious weapons like guns or blades.
But they were seated in the center of the department store, and if anyone resisted or tried to flee... they'd be caught and subjected to horrific punishment.
For men, they'd have every hair on their body plucked out and slathered in depilatory cream, turning their skin smooth and hairless all over. Including the head, apparently. Bald heads were being mass-produced as a result.
For women, whipped cream would be slathered from head to toe, dying their entire bodies pure white. And then filmed on camera.
So what? What the fuck are these bastards doing?
Club sighed, her head starting to ache.
Maybe it was time to just call it quits.
"Club, you can't do that."
"...Why are you both like this? I have no intention of ditching the mission. My motivation's just dipped a little."
After dealing with vicious criminals, escapees, illegal immigrants, overseas mafias, and pirates on the island, facing these idiots was a bit deflating.
Was this the difference between island and city crime? Aside from No. 13 and Abyss, she hadn't encountered such ridiculous criminals.
At any rate, it was reassuring that this wasn't immediately life-threatening. Though the hostages themselves surely couldn't relax.
Above all, Club couldn't back out. There was another reason she couldn't retreat.
"They specifically named you, Club. That means they must have some counter to your ability. Be careful."
Apple said worriedly.
As she said, the statement sent to the 7th Squad explicitly targeted Club. If any other heroes or police intervened, the bomb would detonate immediately.
That was why Club had called it "Revenge War" earlier. Their goal and the reason for this ridiculous terror were all too obvious.
That was why Spade had infiltrated in secret and was still hiding.
If Spade was spotted, it'd be seen as another hero intervening, and he'd blow the bomb right away.
'FUCK... What goddamn bastards.'
Well, no plans to run anyway. And they were the ones hunting them to begin with.
Since they had come to her, she was grateful, really.
This time, she wouldn't let them escape.
"Alright then, Club, Spade. I'll relay the operation now. Listen up, both of you."
With Apple as advisor, the heroes' operation began.
The strategy meeting wrapped up quickly.
With her brilliant intellect, Apple devised a plan that left both in awe. There were no holes in it.
And so, Club now stood before the department store.
Civilians had been evacuated to a safe distance, with police watching from further back.
Apple was handling relay and command from inside a car.
"Alright, let's get started."
In the center of the empty plaza before the department store, Club raised both hands.
Then she clapped them together loudly.
"【Gather, gather, gather】"
Words like a song—or a call—flowed out.
The incantation continued a bit longer.
Blue mana gradually enveloped Club's body, rising around her.
From afar, people watched the mystical scene with fear and curiosity, capturing it on cameras in astonishment.
And amid the onlookers, someone noticed the anomaly.
『Huh...?』
『What the heck is that?』
Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-tap, pat-pat, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, plop, patter-patter, patter-patter, pat-pat, tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap, tap, tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap――
『Cats... Whoa!!!』
『The cats are coming!!!』
『H-how many are there?!』
Cats strode casually across the asphalt and marble floors, swarming from all directions, big and small alike.
Not just one or two, or even five or six.
Screams like shrieks erupted from the spectators here and there.
Club continued her incantation, ignoring the voices.
Centered on her mana-wrapped form, the cats gathered even more densely.
Nyaa~ Nyaow~ Nyaaaaaaaaooooowww~~
Meows echoed from all sides. Surprisingly in sync, it felt like a grand chorus.
Some spectators thrust smartphone cameras forward at the mystical sight; others backed away warily.
And at the center of the cats.
Club, conducting them like an orchestra conductor, let out a long sigh and relaxed her shoulders.
Phewww...
"......Welcome."
Handling this many cats consumed ridiculous amounts of mana and focus.
Sweat beaded on Club's forehead like pearls, her face flushed red.
But it was fine. This was nothing.
She was a hero. She had to endure.
"Go on, my kitty friends. Teach that FUCKING SHIT damn villain bastard a lesson."
At Club's command, the cats surged into the department store with nimble movements.
Some through the main entrance, some through low windows, others via different paths.
The colorful wave vanished inside in an instant.
"It's started, huh."
On some floor of the department store, somewhere.
Villain No. 13 muttered cockily as he checked the footage Apple was sending on his tablet.
So far, everything was going smoothly, just as he and the Advisor had planned.
But the real test began now.
"Yeah. Totally fine. Apple, keep up the monitoring and guidance, yeah?"
Apple's energetic voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece in his ear.
The two from the 7th Squad had no idea the woman directing and relaying for them was a traitor.
Or rather, one of the infiltrators (Spade) was already...
Honestly, dealing with Club in this operation was just icing on the cake.
The groundwork was mostly done; subjugating her could happen anytime.
But creating this scenario and making a big show of it was to rack up visible achievements for the "Villain Alliance."
A showy villain terror to prove the Alliance was still kicking.
If they counterattacked the incoming heroes, won, and even kidnapped some... Abyss's plummeting stock would skyrocket overnight.
On top of that, Club would suffer a public defeat on this grand stage, in front of everyone.
No telling the full ripple effects, but it would tarnish Club—and the entire 7th Squad's—reputation massively.
For someone obsessed with achievements and honor like Club, it would be the ultimate humiliation and reprimand.
'...Come on, Club.'
'The moment you do, I'll gift you the finest despair I can muster.'
Villain No. 13 leisurely watched Club dashing through the footage on his tablet.