The End of the Vacation
The Federal Superpowers Administration was one of the United States government's secret organizations. Tasked with tracking and managing superpowered individuals across the country and the entire world, it had become the busiest department following the tragedy at Dignity Health Sports Park caused by Famine.
"The report on Famine concludes here."
The meeting room screen displayed various data on Famine. Basic information such as his name and known residence had already been compiled, and a real-time location prediction system was running.
"That covers the discussion on the one called Famine. All we can do is hope our agents track him successfully...."
A middle-aged white man with neatly combed all-back white hair and a trimmed white beard spoke as he switched off the screen. He was James Fuller, Director of the Federal Superpowers Administration—FSA for short. A psychometry user himself, his exceptional administrative skills had earned him the director's position.
The FSA had spent several hours analyzing Famine and dispatched agents to predicted locations. The rest was now in the agents' hands. James Fuller trusted his people completely, so he was certain they would bring Famine in.
"Moving on, then.... We'll set aside the Aitana de la Rosa recruitment case. With the existence of superpowered individuals now public knowledge worldwide, the President has decided to establish a superpowered unit with her—the most famous superhuman at the moment—as vice commander. It's out of our jurisdiction now."
"Since she's been placed under military command, we won't need to prepare any separate operations."
Diana Leach, FSA deputy director, responded to James Fuller's statement. A former field agent and a black woman possessing Aerokinesis—the ability to manipulate air—she had risen through the ranks.
"What's left, then...."
"The Black Knight, obviously."
Famine was under active pursuit and Aitana had been pulled into the military fold. That left only the man in black armor who had fought alongside her against Famine. Since his identity remained unknown, they had given him the codename Black Knight based on his armored appearance.
"You've run the combat motion matching program, correct?"
"Of course. Results are in."
When Diana Leach turned to the researcher beside her, he answered with complete confidence. The researcher activated a wall-mounted screen, displaying footage of the battle between Black Knight and Famine. The system was scanning each of Black Knight's movements, comparing them against known martial arts styles.
"Analysis of the combat style shows an 87.8 percent match with Fujigasaki Rinka's martial arts. If we exclude the mid-air jump used to engage Famine, the compatibility rises to at least 94 percent."
"Fujigasaki Rinka, huh.... This is going to be a headache."
James Fuller pinched the bridge of his nose. The FSA had once attempted contact with her after determining her martial arts had reached the level of superpowers—only to be thoroughly humiliated.
Enraged by the FSA agents' somewhat coercive approach, Fujigasaki Rinka had single-handedly subdued fifteen of them.
After several more clashes, relations had barely been repaired, but the FSA suffered massive losses in the process. Most agents had been hospitalized by her at least once. The previous director had been forced to resign because of it.
According to agent testimonies, she had fought with a joyful smile, as if thrilled to have worthy opponents. Even while recounting the events, the agents visibly trembled with lingering fear.
Eventually, James Fuller personally apologized to her as the new director. Their current relationship was limited to occasional paid requests.
"However, it is not Fujigasaki Rinka herself. As you can see in the footage, the physique is different, and she was only arriving in LA at the time of the incident."
"So.... You're saying it's not her, but someone who uses the same martial school?"
The researcher nodded at Diana Leach's question. Fujigasaki Rinka's school... The implications were significant. If that martial art allowed its practitioners to fight on equal or superior terms with superhumans, acquiring it could prove invaluable.
"From her various interviews, Fujigasaki Rinka has stated that her martial art is a one-person transmission—passed down to only a single successor. Therefore, the individual at the stadium was likely either her master or her disciple."
Fujigasaki Rinka was quite famous in America, so she had given numerous media interviews. By cross-referencing them, the FSA had gathered remarkably detailed information. Diana Leach refocused as the researcher continued. Fujigasaki Rinka would never willingly reveal her techniques, but the FSA's supercomputer was constantly analyzing her style. Sooner or later, the secrets would be unraveled.
"Hmm.... Do we have a name?"
"Her master, Soda Haruto, has been missing for years. Her disciple, according to our latest investigation, is a twenty-year-old Japanese man named Ryuta Taira. He appears to be staying at Fujigasaki Rinka's residence."
James Fuller's eyebrows furrowed at the researcher's answer. The man only handled superpower research and data collection, so he didn't understand the weight behind the surname Taira.
The Taira Group was one of Japan's two dominant conglomerates, wielding absolute influence domestically and considerable power on the global stage.
"He's not just any Japanese citizen—he's from the Taira family. We'll have to scrap the plan to kidnap and recruit him as an agent."
Diana Leach's suggestion to abandon the previous plan, given the power of the Taira name and Ryuta Taira's unusual background as Fujigasaki Rinka's disciple, was met with a silent nod from James Fuller.
The fact that no one in the conference room batted an eye at the casual mention of kidnapping and forced recruitment suggested it had happened before.
Though they were abandoning the idea, the footage made it painful to simply let him slip away. Even if direct FSA affiliation was impossible, establishing a favorable relationship seemed worthwhile.
"Still, let's make contact at least once."
"Even without bringing him into the organization, a mutually beneficial relationship would be ideal."
At the very least, reaching the level where they could outsource work to him the way they did with Fujigasaki Rinka would make him an extremely valuable asset.
"It's already late, so we'll visit in the morning. Showing up in the middle of the night might create a bad first impression."
"Good idea. I'll handle it myself."
"Keep it to a cooperative relationship. You can manage that much, right? Get some rest, meet with Ryuta Taira, then we'll discuss Famine afterward."
Ding dong!
Early in the morning, the doorbell rang at Fujigasaki Rinka's house. With her hair wildly disheveled, she opened the door while letting out a huge yawn. Diana Leach stood outside in a crisp, professional suit.
"Haaam~! Who is it?"
Diana Leach stared in disbelief at Fujigasaki Rinka, who was asking the question with puffy, barely-open eyes.
"Rinka. It's Diana Leach. If your eyes were actually open, you would have recognized me."
"Ah, Diana.... Been a while. Is this a request?"
She clearly knew why Diana had come, yet she was playing dumb. A vein throbbed on Diana's temple in irritation.
"As you can probably guess. I've come to meet your disciple."
"Aah~ You mean Ryuta? Oh no, what a shame. He left the house this morning to head back to Japan. Hehe."
She had obviously sent him away anticipating the FSA's visit. That mischievous laugh made it clear she still held a grudge from their first coercive encounter.
"Rinka, you know perfectly well that after you cost the previous director his job, Director James Fuller has ensured we no longer engage in those heavy-handed tactics."
"Know perfectly well? Oh! You mean how you're still kidnapping, detaining, and recruiting agents? Of course I know. That's exactly why I sent my disciple away early—so he wouldn't get caught up in that mess."
Of course they were still running the same operations, just more discreetly than before. Naturally, everything they did was illegal, but it was carried out with the government's tacit approval.
"Ryuta Taira has a special background! We only wanted to greet him and build a positive relationship!"
"Kahahat! So you don't even deny the kidnapping part! If you truly just want to say hello like you claim, hurry to the airport and wait. Good luck!"
Bang! The door slammed shut. Left standing alone, Diana Leach pulled out her phone and made a call.
"There is a flight to Japan at eight o'clock."
It was currently six. If she headed over right away, she had more than enough time to intercept him. Yet something felt wrong. Fujigasaki Rinka's hearty "Kahahat!" laughter kept nagging at her.
"Then check flight times to Japan from Tijuana International Airport."
Tijuana International Airport was located in Mexico.
Yuukiko sweetie T_T