Changes in Ayakashi City

"What was that clear and ringing cry just now? As soon as it sounded, the fourfold attack ended completely."

After returning to the base, the discussion still did not stop.

Yamanaka cheerfully said, "The sun came out right after that cry; it must have been a rooster crowing."

Qiming had calmed down by this time. Although he had been made to look a bit flustered this time, the appearance of the powerful ally, Empra, left him deeply comforted.

Saijo Nagi asked, "Team Member Qiming, why were you silent throughout the second half? That is not your style."

The others looked over as well, feeling curious about this.

Without answering directly, Qiming said, "There are two situations that everyone should pay attention to from now on."

"That monster that just swallowed the Bemular is called Bogal. It comes from the universe and devours life to increase the energy within its body and grow stronger."

"If left unchecked, all living things on Earth will be devoured by it."

"It is currently afraid of electric shocks, so we can focus our efforts in that direction to target it."

Emi was stunned: "How do you know so much... I see! Team Member Qiming wasn't speaking earlier because he must have been meditating in silence to figure out the monster's weakness!"

Look, this is what you call having a learned scholar argue your case for you.

Kishida: "I also feel that fellow is vastly different from the previous monsters. Electric shocks, you say? I'll go research some new weapons in the next few days."

Moroboshi Dan walked over: "And the second matter?"

Qiming: "The second matter is even more important. From now on, if Earth monsters do not actively attack humans, we must never attack them either."

If Rena from the original GUTS team were here, she would surely agree and say, "We are all children of the Earth, so we should live together in harmony."

Saijo Nagi's reaction was fierce: "Why!"

In her view, monsters had no place in the human world and should all be eliminated.

Qiming knew it would be very difficult to reason with this bunch about "the logic of coexistence," so he decided to spell out the stakes.

"The cry that startled Bogal away just now was a dragon's roar issued by a dragon."

"This dragon commands numerous Earth monsters. The reason Peken wasn't drawn down in the past by the increasing electromagnetic waves on the ground was probably due to an order from that dragon."

"If you attack a harmless Earth monster and squeeze their living space, that dragon will summon other Earth monsters to resist, launching a fierce counterattack."

"Do you think current humans can suppress the simultaneous offensive of hundreds or thousands of monsters? If not, you had better figure out how to coexist with them."

Saijo's expression turned ugly: "Hundreds or thousands!"

Qiming: "Probably even more."

He added, "However, if we can maintain a good relationship with the Earth monsters, they will be our solid allies in fighting against cosmic invaders."

Kishida frowned and thought for a moment: "What should we do if those monsters step into the city? Although Peken didn't kill anyone today, it crushed two houses. The homeowners will definitely protest."

Qiming: "That debt should be blamed on Bogal anyway. Besides, everyone knows which is more important and which is less."

The others were left speechless.

Qiming continued: "I think everyone should put away the arrogant notion that 'humans are the apex predators of the food chain and the masters of the Earth'."

"Before those monsters possessing immense power, current humanity is still far from adequate."

"Since they can tolerate us to this extent, we should exercise a little restraint as well. What is there to complain about?"

Moroboshi Dan nodded: "Qiming is right. Regarding this, I will report it to the staff officer."

"Huh? Team Member Qiming is only browsing news from a year ago."

A few days later, in the GUTS Command Room, Emi "accidentally" caught sight of Qiming's phone screen.

Qiming: "Because I've already finished reading the ones from half a year ago."

Kishida was also curious: "Why don't you check the recent news and see how citizens are evaluating us?"

Qiming: "Meaningless. We've already experienced the major events of recent times, and I'm not fighting for public praise; their evaluations don't matter."

"Well said." At that moment, even Saijo Nagi could not help but genuinely cheer for Qiming.

Although he was unbothered by discipline and did as he pleased, his ability and willpower were undeniable.

Just then, Emi's intelligence network brought news that someone in Ayaka City had filmed a figure suspected of being a monster.

She projected the video onto the big screen. True to form, Yamanaka questioned it first: "It's just a blurry black blob. Could this be artificially synthesized CGI?"

Saijo Nagi glanced at Qiming: "If it really is a monster, we aren't allowed to attack it before it destroys the city, right? That's too passive."

Qiming let out a long sigh.

Ayaka City...

With Masaki Keigo temporarily suppressed, is Aizen Makoto about to make a move?

Just as one wave subsides, another rises, never giving anyone a moment of peace.

"Let's go conduct an on-site investigation." Qiming stood up.

Moroboshi Dan: "Emi, you and Team Member Qiming will go together."

When it came to gathering intelligence and finding clues, Emi was an expert.

"Oh, oh." Emi stood up and accompanied Qiming into the Dram Car, which had a sniper rifle stored in the trunk.

The journey was uneventful, and the car soon arrived in Ayaka City.

Upon entering the urban area, they happened to see a large screen hanging on a commercial building broadcasting the news.

"Welcome everyone to 'Aizen Saves the Earth'. Today, let's interview President Makoto Aizen once again."

"I am the disseminator of love and goodwill, Makoto Aizen!"

A man resembling Lupin the Third, wearing a white suit, flashed a hand heart gesture at the camera.

He took out a calligraphy brush and wrote a line on a piece of practice paper:

"What I want to tell everyone today is—'In for a penny, in for a pound'!"

"No matter what you do, having a rebellious spirit of challenge is the most important thing."

Taking the opportunity, Emi started a conversation with Qiming:

"This President Aizen's public reputation is really good."

"He is very kind to his subordinates, Aizen Tech's products are constantly improving citizens' living standards, and he frequently donates funds to the Defense Force and TPC."

Commonly known as—"possessing a strong sense of social responsibility."

Qiming casually remarked: "That just goes to show you can know a person's face, but not their heart..."

Emi was startled: "Team Member Qiming, are you saying this President Aizen actually has an unknown side to him?"

Qiming: "Are you surprised?"

Emi: "Not really. It's normal for big corporate executives with great public images to do some shady dealings behind the scenes... like tax evasion or something."

Qiming thought to himself that Emi was still too naive; the things Aizen Makoto did were far more terrifying than tax evasion.

In the original series of Ultraman R/B, because this guy was once saved by Ultraman Orb, he became obsessed with wanting to become an Ultraman and a hero himself.

As a result, his method was—releasing monsters to destroy the city, and then transforming himself to defeat the monsters so he could receive the worship of humanity.

If Orb knew he had saved such a piece of work, one wonders what thoughts would go through his mind.