The round metallic object landed on the floor, spewing thick white smoke tinged with red.
This sudden development left everyone present momentarily stunned.
But after a brief moment of surprise, someone quickly reacted.
The first to respond was Giada, whose eyes flickered as a massive skeletal hand emerged from the shadows, its five fingers stretching upward to form a cage-like prison that enclosed her in the centre.
The moment the prison formed, the space around Giada became completely isolated from the surrounding area.
Similarly isolated was Asagi Aiba, who was sitting in her computer chair. She only had time to scream "poison gas!" before being protected within the skeletal hand's grasp.
Meanwhile, Krul and Evangeline also reacted.
The former became covered in a thin film of crimson blood that enveloped her entire body, isolating her from the toxic gas.
The latter turned ink-black throughout, manipulating dark magic to merge with her own shadow.
On the other side, Takatsuki Izumi smirked coldly as her Kagune armour, formed of flesh and blood, instantly enveloped her body. A three-meter-tall, one-eyed monster rose from the ground, crouching in place like a ferocious beast.
The only exception was Shizuka Hio, who remained as the last person in the room.
She stood quietly in place, completely motionless, allowing the red-tinged white smoke to engulf her.
When the smoke had completely enveloped her, Shizuka Hio's voice, tinged with mild curiosity, sounded:
"Thick smoke mixed with hallucinogenic drugs? It seems to have the function of suppressing vampire physical activity... but, it's so weak..."
Shizuka Hio looked down at the still-smoking grenade.
Her blood kin perception allowed her to clearly see the grenade's appearance even through the dense smoke.
"This might work on some pureblood vampires of Elite Rank, but for me, the toxicity is far too minimal."
"However, this poison gas appears to be specifically developed for creatures with high physical activity, such as vampires and yokai..."
Hearing this, the towering Takatsuki Izumi beside them also voiced her confusion:
"I was wondering just now... why there was no spiritual warning of danger at all..."
"I thought some expert was suppressing our senses to launch a surprise attack, but it seems that's not the case?"
Though not a frequent visitor to the Hidden Management Department garrison, Takatsuki Izumi - who had experienced the Dream Chamber several times and fought against Demigods - clearly understood what it felt like to have one's spiritual perception blocked when facing a Demigod.
Because she knew that feeling well, when the poison gas canisters landed, Takatsuki Izumi instinctively went on alert, protecting her entire body with armour formed from her Kagune.
Her purpose wasn't to fight, but to use the thickness of her Kagune to create barrier walls, buying some time amidst the Concept Entanglement assault to call for help from her Familia.
Compared to Takatsuki Izumi, Shizuka Hio - who had never experienced combat against a Demigod - appeared remarkably casual, so casual that she didn't even bother defending, directly facing the poison gas head-on, even finding time to comment:
"This thing was probably specially crafted by some organisation to target non-human races."
Hearing this, Krul immediately realised something, frowning as she said:
"The room's login information should only show Asagi alone."
"Both Evangeline and I entered the room directly through Giada's spatial Familia, so the probability of our movements being tracked is very low."
Hearing this, both Giada and Evangeline turned their gazes towards Takatsuki Izumi and Shizuka Hio.
At that moment, a twisted smile appeared on Takatsuki Izumi's face:
"...So that means we're the targets, right?"
"This is getting interesting."
At that moment, Shizuka Hio rubbed her fingers together, glanced at the white smoke residue sticking to her hand, and remarked in a flat tone:
"This specially modified toxin targeting non-humans bears resemblance to vampire hunter methods. I recall those vampire hunters are all hounds loyal to the Council..."
Meanwhile, Evangeline, who was already mobilising her doll surveillance units, expressed surprise:
"No corresponding targets within a 3-kilometre radius? Strange, could they be locking onto something from beyond 3 kilometres?"
Just then, Asagi Aiba timidly raised her hand nearby:
"Um... it might also be surveillance conducted directly through electronic devices, but my computer seems to have no signal right now..."
Hearing this, the monstrous form Takatsuki Izumi had assumed sharply inhaled.
Instantly, howling winds swept through the living room as all the white smoke was drawn into the creature's body.
After completing this, Takatsuki Izumi glanced at Giada Kukulcan:
"I've absorbed the poisonous smoke. Release her now."
The reason for Asagi Aiba's computer having no signal was clearly the skeletal hand enveloping her.
While isolating the space to protect Asagi Aiba, the hand had incidentally included the computer within its protective range.
Meanwhile, Giada manipulated her familiar to release Asagi Aiba while scratching her head and chuckling:
"Somehow things seem to be getting rather amusing."
Saying this, Giada glanced at Asagi Aiba, who was already hacking into nearby surveillance systems to locate the perpetrator, revealing a dangerous smile:
"Finders keepers, how about it?"
"I've no objections." Takatsuki Izumi giggled.
"I'll pass. Haven't had dinner yet." Evangeline sighed as she abstained.
Krul glanced at Shizuka Hio before tilting her head and biting into an apple:
"Leave the interrogation to me. Well, I do have some skill in torture."
To this, Shizuka Hio responded indifferently: "Then I'll participate in the capture."
...
Just as the group of beings decided on their course of action.
4 kilometres away, in Mihana Town Park.
Yomi Isayama stared darkly at Oshima Hiroshi, who was retrieving the mortar:
"First-Class Sorcerer Oshima, what exactly are you doing?!"
Exactly one minute earlier, Oshima Hiroshi had disembarked, assembled the mortar, and used it to launch a paper crane Shikigami.
With sharp eyes, Yomi Isayama immediately spotted the grenade attached to the paper crane, but by the time she realised, it was too late to intervene.
"Why launch an attack without any prior investigation?"
Having retrieved the cursed technique mortar, Oshima Hiroshi replied calmly:
"Following instructions to test the capture smoke's performance."
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama froze momentarily before speaking with a grim expression:
"Instructions? Then why didn't I receive any?!"
As her words fell, the young woman in hunting robes nearby, Asakura Rei, explained coolly:
"Because the Disaster Countermeasures Office lacks authorisation to interface directly with the higher-ups."
The attractive Onmyoji added with slight contempt:
"Second-Class Sorcerer Isayama, you should understand. We are your designated contacts."
"Your duty is to cooperate with our operations."
Yomi Isayama's face immediately darkened.
Just then, a voice came through the headphones worn by Oshima and Asakura:
[Don't waste time with unrelated individuals. Begin testing the capture tool performance directly.]
"Yes, Director." x2
...
As Oshima and Asakura responded...
A road surveillance camera on a utility pole near the park suddenly rotated 30 degrees, locking onto their position.
Inside the apartment building.
Asagi Aiba pressed Enter and then revealed a smile:
"Found them~"