"What?! That's impossible! The Cabinet would never sign off on something like this! No, this has to be a mistake!"
Kojiro Hattori stood in stunned silence, frozen on the spot. He simply couldn't believe it. He was the Chairman of the Cabinet—how could the Cabinet sign an arrest warrant against one of its own?
"You can explain it at the station. Come with us."
Click!
With a sharp metallic snap, cold handcuffs clamped onto Hattori's wrists.
"You can't do this to me! I've been framed!"
He tried to protest, but the officers—who would usually bend over backward to curry favor—ignored him completely. One of them even slugged him in the face, then shoved him roughly into the back of the patrol car.
Moments later, the blaring of sirens echoed away into the distance as the police vehicle vanished from sight.
With Hattori arrested so dramatically, the crowd that had been protesting could hardly justify staying. None of them came forward to apologize to Ryota Kitazawa or the others—after all, something like this couldn't be blamed on just one person. No one wanted to be the first to admit fault.
So, just like that, the mob slowly dispersed. The incident, it seemed, would come to a quiet close with Hattori's arrest and imprisonment.
And yet, Kitazawa and the others remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
"Kitazawa Ryota, I have to ask—how exactly did you get your hands on that videotape?"
Now that the commotion had settled, Kaji Ryoji finally turned to Kitazawa, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"Heh. It wasn't that hard. Honestly, there's no need to make a big deal out of it."
Kitazawa waved his hand casually and offered a faint smile.
In truth, he had snuck into both Nagatachō and Hattori's residence to record the footage. It was a deliberate move—to gather hard evidence in case he ever needed to neutralize the threat quickly. With his skills, not even the military's security systems could detect him. Compared to that, infiltrating Hattori's home was child's play.
So in front of Kaji, he didn't feel the need to brag—there really wasn't anything to boast about.
But Kaji saw it differently.
"I see… Very well then. You should head to the car. Kitazawa Ryota, your role in resolving this situation was pivotal. I'll make sure Commander Ikari hears of your contribution—you've earned a commendation."
"Thanks, Kaji-san."
With that, Kitazawa turned and left without another word, heading away from the institute.
"Hey! Wait up, Kitazawa Ryota! Hey!"
Seeing him disappear so quickly, Kensuke Aida and Toji Suzuhara yelled out after him. What's with this guy? He moves like a damn whirlwind.
Naturally, with Kitazawa leaving, Asuka and the others soon followed suit. They weren't headed back with Kaji—they had their own way home.
Only Kaji remained, still standing silently at the front of the institute, lost in thought.
A long moment passed before he finally looked up, a faint smile curling his lips.
"Kitazawa Ryota… You're one fascinating kid. The more I see, the more curious I get. Just who… are you, really?"
Meanwhile… in Europe
In southern Europe, there lies a country formed by two peninsulas.
Italy.
Centuries ago, this land had another name—Rome.
And at the heart of this country, nestled within its capital, is a tiny sovereign city-state. Despite its size, its power is formidable.
Vatican City.
An ancient city. And today, it played host to a gathering of world leaders—assembled for a summit of immense significance.
A conference that could change the fate of the entire world.
With the heads of major nations convening, security around the Vatican had been raised to unprecedented levels. Those in charge of guarding the city dared not relax—not even for a second. Any misstep could cost them their careers… or even ignite a global war.
Years after the Second Impact, Earth's population had already been halved. Should another world war break out now—a Third World War—it could spell the total extinction of humanity.
Peter (OC) had stood watch over the Vatican for many years.
He was a simple guard. His parents had named him Peter in honor of the Apostle, hoping he would grow to protect this holy city.
True to their wishes, he had joined the Swiss Guard and become a protector of world leaders.
In the days leading up to the summit, Peter had gone three nights without sleep. Not even a nap.
Why? Because despite their polished exteriors and friendly smiles, these national leaders could quickly devolve into chaos the moment they entered a room together. Arguments would erupt. Fights nearly broke out. It was madness.
And once the summit officially began, it only got worse.
So what were they arguing about?
What were they fighting over?
Or… perhaps—what were they trying to take?
Peter didn't understand. He only knew this: The Lord had already chosen salvation for mankind. All that remained was for the people to accept it.
But after a week of standing vigil outside the summit chamber, Peter began to piece it together.
Because, over and over again, he heard one word repeated:
"EVA."
Peter knew what that meant—Evangelion. Giant biomechanical warriors.
That's what the nations were fighting over.
Their rhetoric sounded noble—"EVA belongs to all humanity."
But the reality was clear: they were trying to claim it for themselves.
And so, the arguments continued.
Two weeks passed.
The shouting escalated. Fistfights became common. No one was willing to compromise. Especially not the great powers—they clashed bitterly, like predators circling one another, ready to strike.
Tensions ran high.
For those two weeks, the fate of the human race hung by a thread.
Yet, deep down, every leader present knew the truth:
Outright war was impossible. No one had the confidence to destroy the others without being destroyed in return.
So the violence and shouting were merely posturing.
Eventually, everything would have to return to the negotiating table.
And so, on the fifteenth day, a shift finally occurred within the conference hall.
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