"It's simple. I never said Hattori Narumi was allowed to leave."
Kitazawa Ryota took a step forward and said calmly, "And if I say he's not leaving today — then he's not leaving."
"Kitazawa Ryota, don't push your luck!" Ishiki Kishimoto shouted furiously. "Do you know what kind of status Master Hattori holds? You think you can detain him just because you want to?"
"Ayanami, he's yours."
With those words, Kitazawa Ryota turned and walked away. There was no longer any need for him to stay here. He knew perfectly well that Ayanami Rei would give Hattori Narumi the punishment he deserved.
As for the punishment itself — there was no need for Ryota to lift a finger.
"AHHH!!"
Not long after Kitazawa Ryota turned to leave, a scream rang out through the sky. Far off in the crimson-colored sea, a young man thrashed about, howling as he struggled to stay afloat, desperately paddling to keep from drowning.
Who could it be but Hattori Narumi?
Of course, tossing someone straight into the ocean was a trivial task for Unit-00.
Kitazawa Ryota had already left the scene. What happened today was massive, and he had many other matters to deal with.
First, he went home to change clothes. After all, the bloodstains covering him were unsightly — and the reek of blood had to be washed away. Kitazawa Ryota hated the smell of blood, especially human blood. Whether seen or smelled, it was always distasteful to him.
Naturally, returning to school was no longer an option. After what had happened today, the entire campus was in an uproar. What's more, the cabinet and military had collaborated to falsely accuse him of treason. Until that was resolved, setting foot in the school again was out of the question.
After showering, freshly dressed and feeling clear-headed, Kitazawa Ryota paid a visit to the hospital to check on Asuka. Upon seeing that she was only unconscious, lying on her hospital bed, he quietly left again.
His actions were all independent and covert — not a single person noticed his movements. His departure was silent, his whereabouts unknown.
Before going to the hospital, he had already arranged everything. Ayanami Rei would stay behind at NERV to stand guard — just in case. After all, without a pilot, an Evangelion couldn't be launched. As long as Ayanami remained at NERV Headquarters, she would serve as a continuous deterrent.
It wasn't until nightfall that Kitazawa Ryota reappeared in a district of Tokyo-3.
This was Tokyo Bay — a wealthy residential zone within the city.
Lavish mansions stood everywhere, with luxury cars lined up in driveways, a display of excessive opulence.
Kitazawa Ryota now walked alone through this neighborhood. In the darkness, his figure appeared ethereal, ghostlike, as if he were drifting — impossible to see clearly.
His purpose tonight was simple: to resolve certain issues. Chief among them was the Cabinet's attempt to pin false charges on him. If it were just Hattori Kojiro trying to avenge his son, it wouldn't require such a large-scale operation. The only explanation could be Ishiki Kishimoto.
To be precise, someone was using this opportunity to try and crush NERV completely.
That was why Kitazawa Ryota had come — to uncover the truth and eliminate any hidden threats.
The Black Dragon Gang had caused him no small amount of trouble. Naturally, Kitazawa Ryota had no intention of letting them walk away unscathed.
---
A large, burly man had just stepped out of the bathroom.
He appeared to be in his fifties. His left arm bore a tattoo of a mountain demon, and paired with the flush from his recent bath, his body looked especially fierce and menacing.
He was Yamamoto Takehito (OC) — the most feared underworld boss in all of Neo Tokyo-3.
On the surface, Japan's highest authority was the national government. But in the underground world, there was no doubt that the Black Dragon Gang reigned supreme.
Over the past few years, the Black Dragon Gang had expanded at breakneck speed. While constantly recruiting new members, they had also rapidly spread into all sectors of Neo Tokyo-3. In just a few short years, they had grown into a dominant force. Of course, only a select few knew that the gang's true strength wasn't entirely their own. Behind them stood an incredibly powerful organization.
Only Yamamoto Takehito himself knew — their true backing came from the military.
And yet, at this moment, Yamamoto Takehito was undeniably on edge. Yes, restless.
Fresh from his bath, he wore a worried expression as he dismissed the servants from his house, then changed into a loose-fitting nightgown.
What had him so on edge was what had happened earlier that day.
The Black Dragon Gang had taken action on behalf of the military, mobilizing to kill Kitazawa Ryota — and yet, the operation had failed spectacularly.
Three hundred men.
Three hundred, and not only did they fail to kill Kitazawa Ryota, they also let the other two NERV pilots escape. The gang's two top enforcers were killed in the process — it was like Yamamoto had lost two fingers in one blow.
He knew very well: if you provoke Kitazawa Ryota, the consequences are terrifying.
And now, the Black Dragon Gang had completely, irreversibly provoked him. If Evangelion units were ever brought into this...
No matter how many brothers the gang had — they'd all be dead.
After all, even the military couldn't stand against Evangelions. A mere gang like the Black Dragon? They didn't even count.
That was what truly had Yamamoto Takehito worried. Who knew when Kitazawa Ryota might strike? And once he did, what future would the Black Dragon Gang face?
As these thoughts consumed him, a coquettish woman threw herself into Yamamoto's arms.
"Yamamoto-kun, your face doesn't look so good today… Have I lost the ability to make you smile? Or am I the reason you're upset?"
"How could that be? Of course not!"
Lifting a glass of red wine from the nearby table, Yamamoto Takehito finally managed a smile. Looking at the beautiful woman before him, he said cheerfully:
"You're my woman. How could I not be happy to see you?"
"Really? But I don't feel Yamamoto-kun's love at all…"
The woman whined in a delicate tone, pressing herself against him, rubbing her body sensually along his.
A slow-burning desire began to rise in Yamamoto's heart.
Today's events had left him irritable. But with this woman's presence, he soon pushed his worries to the back of his mind. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he grinned and whispered:
"You still don't know how much I love you? Do I need to show you?"
"You naughty little thing… don't be in such a hurry. I, Yamamoto Takehito, have plenty of time — and plenty of patience — to show you just how much I care."
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