Acquiring the PMC
Sawayanagi Shinya was a net-diver and an outstanding hacker. He was also a man who worried far too much. Ever since the failed kidnapping attempt by Black Tech four years ago, he had lived in constant fear that another abduction would occur.
After countless hacking attempts, he had finally pinpointed the location of Black Tech’s secret laboratory. If another kidnapping took place, the Seryu members would surely be taken there. Since Sawayanagi Shinya himself was not an esper, he faced no risk of being kidnapped. Ironically, that very fact had left him with deep trauma from helplessly watching his comrades get taken.
That was why he had obsessively continued to monitor and hack into Black Tech. After discovering the secret lab’s location, he had wanted to blow it up dozens—hundreds—of times. But he had held back, afraid that such an act would only provoke them further. Now that this disaster had happened, he couldn’t stop blaming himself. If only he had destroyed the lab earlier, today’s tragedy might never have occurred.
“Don’t worry. Everything will work out. Since Shinya knows the location, we’ll be able to rescue Azuma.”
The voice in his ear made him suddenly compare himself to the man named Taira Ryuta, whom he had met for the first time today. While Ryuta was comforting the Seryu members, Shinya was only wallowing in self-reproach. The realization that someone else was doing what he should have been doing only deepened his guilt.
That’s right. I’m the vice president and second-in-command…! I need to pull the team together and rescue Azuma!
Sawayanagi Shinya steeled himself and slapped both cheeks with his palms. The sharp sound drew his comrades’ eyes.
“Everyone must be shaken right now. But we have to save Azuma. So before we head to the lab, let’s all get our heads straight.”
“Yeah! We’re definitely bringing Azuma back!”
Sawayanagi Shinya rallied his resolve alongside his comrades’ loud declarations. He swore to himself that he would rescue Sawayanagi Azuma no matter what—even if it cost him his own life.
The three-story building on the outskirts of Fussa, bearing the sign Genwa Trading Company, saw very few visitors. Despite its size, almost no one was ever seen on the ground floor. The only presence was a large security detail—nearly a hundred guards—tasked with stopping anyone who tried to enter without permission. Because of their numbers, no one dared approach the building recklessly.
The real activity took place underground. Numerous researchers in white coats bustled about conducting experiments. Some celebrated new breakthroughs, while others despaired when results refused to appear.
Though the sign read Genwa Trading Company, this place was actually Black Tech’s secret laboratory. It was a facility that conducted research using forbidden technologies and methods. Most of the work involved human experimentation; otherwise, it focused on prohibited techniques.
Among them, the most heavily guarded and elite research team operated on the sixth basement level. Inside that lab stood a massive cylindrical glass tube surrounded by complex metallic machinery.
Inside the tube, a blue-haired woman floated in a liquid that didn’t look like water. It was Sawayanagi Azuma. And standing before her, smiling as he gazed at her suspended form, was Gomisawa Renya.
Gomisawa Renya wore a triumphant smile. His earlier outburst and departure from the office had been an act. He had never intended to acquire Seryu Military Company in the first place. Why spend money on a buyout when kidnapping was simpler? Of course, Sawayanagi Azuma’s precognition had foiled every previous attempt.
There had been dozens of opportunities to kidnap Seryu personnel over the years. Every single one had failed because of Azuma’s foresight. That was when Gomisawa Renya realized that unless he neutralized her, his esper research would never succeed.
So three years ago, he began searching for an esper capable of disabling precognitive abilities. Recently, he had finally found one. After paying an enormous sum, he hired the man and successfully suppressed Sawayanagi Azuma’s foresight.
The person Renya hired was a Latin man named Mateo Gallego Quintero. He was not an esper himself, but an esper specialist who commanded them. A renowned professor in the United States and Mexico, he secretly ran an assassination organization composed of espers while maintaining a respected public image in academia.
According to Mateo, precognition was ultimately an observational ability. By erecting a long-term barrier that nullified observation around the laboratory and anticipated kidnapping sites, the target locations would become unobservable even in future sight. As a result, Azuma’s ability would fail to activate for those specific places.
Following Mateo’s advice, Renya had the barrier deployed around the lab and the planned abduction point. The kidnapping of Sawayanagi Azuma had finally succeeded. With her no longer interfering, he could now abduct Seryu members whenever he wished.
The Seryu team had become like marbles in his pocket—easy to take out at any time. The immense satisfaction filled Gomisawa Renya with excitement. So much so that he felt a sexual urge rising. He would need to visit a high-class brothel in Fussa to relieve it.
“How long until the analysis is complete?”
“We should have results by tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll be leaving. Keep up the good work.”
“Safe travels, sir!”
Two minutes after the researcher and Gomisawa Renya left the lab, an old transport van arrived nearby carrying Seryu agents, Taira Ryuta, and Mimata Chieri.
“That building is the lab. There’s no entrance on the surface, though. Just guards.”
The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, Sawayanagi Shinya pointed at the three-story building. It looked completely ordinary. So secret labs were designed to blend in like this?
“The actual entrance is the convenience store next door. Go down to the basement from there and you’ll reach the secret lab.”
What a clever trick—hiding the entrance inside another building. It might be a bit inconvenient, but it was excellent for security.
“We all want to charge in right away, but please wait until I disable the CCTV through hacking. Also, since there’s a high chance the surface guards will join the fight, we should split into two teams. One team will attack the lab from outside to draw attention, while the other infiltrates directly to rescue Azuma.”
It was a reasonable suggestion. They didn’t know exactly how many guards were on the surface level, but with an entire three-story building dedicated to security, the number was likely substantial.
Sawayanagi Shinya assigned the infiltration and rescue team: Sawayanagi Seari, whose pursuit and guerrilla capabilities were excellent; Sawayanagi Tobe and Kiyona Hori, who excelled in combat; and, on my recommendation, Mimata Chieri.
For the distraction team, he chose himself—whose specialty was planting bombs—along with Kiyona Mari, whose pyrokinetic abilities were impossible to miss, and me. In truth, with my Shadow Dominion, I was best suited for the infiltration team. But since I hadn’t revealed my powers yet, I ended up on the distraction squad.
“First, enter pretending to be customers. Browse around like you’re shopping. When you hear the commotion from the main building, follow the map app I sent you.”
“Got it. We’ll head in first, so don’t get hurt!”
At Sawayanagi Shinya’s words, Kiyona Hori took the lead. Sawayanagi Seari and Sawayanagi Tobe followed, and finally Mimata Chieri gave me a wink before entering the convenience store.
“Shall we go too?”
Since everyone was wearing face-concealing gear, even if things got chaotic, their identities wouldn’t be immediately exposed.
Kiyona Mari aimed a motorized water gun and began spraying liquid onto the sign reading Genwa Trading Company and around the building. Of course, the liquid wasn’t water. It was gasoline. After thoroughly dousing the area, she stepped back to where we stood, snapped her fingers, and—
WHOOSH!
A massive flame erupted with a roar. Simply igniting gasoline wouldn’t produce a blaze this intense. She really was an esper. This ability could prove incredibly useful.
“Fire! Put it out, quick!”
Through the flames, guards could be seen rushing forward in panic. Sawayanagi Shinya and I deliberately used unsuppressed firearms to shoot at the guards running to extinguish the fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The loud gunshots rang out, and at the same time, the convenience store side became frantic. Thanks to my honed senses, I could roughly sense the movements. It seemed one of our people had killed a clerk disguised as a convenience store employee.
On our side, several guards who had rushed out fell to our precise shooting. The remaining guards retreated inside and closed the door. They were probably changing out of their uniforms and into something bulletproof…
About twenty seconds later, a voice came from the walkie-talkie on Sawayanagi Shinya’s belt. It was Sawayanagi Tobe.
Now all that remained was to buy time until the infiltration team could escape with Azuma. For me, that wasn’t particularly difficult.
— Gallery —
Kiyona Hori & Mari Sisters
Kiyona Hori, whose outfit is so tight on her chest it looks ready to burst.
Kiyona Hori flashing her panties.
Mari-chan, whose body is so different from her sister’s T_T
But at gothic lolita cafés, she enjoys absolute loyalty from the flat-chest faction.
— Unreleased Glass Tube Cuts —
The tilted glass tube…
It was my favorite shot, but the glass tube didn’t show up at all so it’s a fail lololol