Usami Reiko slammed the door and left in a rage, with Sakai Takashi following closely behind.
The sound of the door slamming echoed in the meeting room as the woman strode away without looking back.
At the regular meeting two hours ago, despite various discussions and data analyses, the Chaos Ritualist who killed Nagayama Keiichiro and Yoshino Kenichi was still missing—they didn't even know if the enemy was male or female.
Usami Reiko was indeed furious to the extreme.
As Yoshino Kenichi's fiancée, she was almost the last person to know of his death. According to subsequent investigation data, from the time Yoshino Kenichi sent out a signal for backup until the backup arrived—
At least an hour had passed.
A bunch of useless people. Where was the Special Support Team?
As the newly promoted head of the Logistics Department, Usami Reiko naturally knew that within the Ritualist squads, there were several support teams specifically responsible for different regions. Their personnel composition was also a combination of Ritualists and Contactees.
Even the support squad responsible for the Tokyo headquarters consisted of dual Ritualists.
These squads rarely went out on missions or patrols; they were on standby twenty-four hours a day, solely to provide the fastest and most precise support when field squads were in danger.
In other words, they were insurance.
Yet, right here on the mainland, with only a twenty-minute journey between the two areas, they were late?
What reason caused them to be delayed by forty minutes, leading to the death of her fiancé and his Captain?
"Of course we received the support signal, but..."
The Captain of the support squad knew Usami Reiko—even if he didn't, he had to explain things to her "politely."
Offending the head of the Logistics Department would make life very "interesting" for his team in the future.
"But what?"
"Reiko, you still have to ask—" The Captain pointed upward. "We can only follow the orders they issue. I am very sorry about Nagayama and Kenichi..."
This led to the scene of her angrily slamming the door just now.
As it turned out, those incompetent high-level officials gave no answers, stammering and talking in circles.
Some even went so far as to reprimand her.
"That was my fiancé, do you see this? The ring, the engagement ring. We were supposed to get married next month. Am I not allowed to ask why?"
"Where was the support?!"
Usami Reiko felt the cold texture of the ring against her fingertip and suddenly felt exhausted.
This massive machine remained stagnant and slow, even with supernatural power.
Most of those order Ritualists, who were supposed to be the lubricant, had lost their autonomy, looking like puppets on strings.
"There was clearly a chance..."
Usami Reiko leaned against the corner, rubbing her cheeks with both hands, her tone filled with desolation. "But why is it still like this? He could have survived, my Kenichi..."
Sakai Takashi, with his neat short hair, stood not far away, also leaning against the wall.
He didn't know how to comfort Reiko; perhaps Kenichi could have.
This was always Kenichi's job.
Sakai Takashi remembered that whenever this happened, that grinning man would approach, tease her a bit, take a few punches, and then whisper something in her ear.
He always had a way to coax Usami Reiko.
Now, what should I do?
Yoshino Kenichi, you're gone.
Sakai Takashi sighed and turned his head to find the woman sobbing quietly. "I think the higher-ups must have a reason. I'll look into it for you again. You've been a Contactee for a long time; perhaps next month, or the month after, you'll pass the review and be approved to become a Ritualist. At this juncture—"
"I don't give a damn about being some Ritualist!"
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; hearing Sakai Takashi's words, Usami Reiko became even more hysterical, her face covered in tear stains and her eyes filled with hatred. "I told him long ago not to join!"
"This is our duty!"
Facing this woman, Sakai Takashi felt a bit of a headache. "Every official Ritualist has the duty to use their supernatural Ability to stabilize society, save the people, and help the country maintain order."
Usami Reiko was somewhat frantic. "But Yoshino Kenichi is dead, who will save him?"
"I can only say... my condolences. Reiko, this is our fate. Even if he hadn't become a Ritualist, Yoshino Kenichi was a Soldier; this is our fate," Sakai Takashi said in a heavy tone.
"I can accept his legitimate sacrifice." Usami Reiko gasped, wiping the tears from her face and staring coldly at Sakai Takashi. "But I cannot accept him being killed because of some reason."
Sakai Takashi was a bit surprised. "Killed?"
Usami Reiko gave a mocking sneer. "Otherwise, tell me, what reason would cause the support squad to be delayed by more than forty minutes?"
"Tell me, why did those idiots in the meeting room not say a word about it?"
"Tell me, Sakai Takashi. As a Ritualist, tell me, do you think this is right? As one of those who have surpassed the Mortal masses, do you think this is reasonable?"
Usami Reiko's questioning words were hurled at him like stones falling into a lake, causing the expression on Sakai Takashi's face to shift.
"I... I don't know. Reiko, I don't know. I also find some of the instructions and appointments strange, but..."
"But..."
Suddenly, a coarse male voice came from beside them.
"But you only need to obey."
Military boots stepped across the stone floor.
Following the heavy footsteps was a man at least one hundred and ninety centimeters tall.
He was well-built, with a buzz cut and large eyes.
His arms were almost bursting through his short sleeves, and he wore a leather cord collar around his neck with seven or eight silver metal tags on it.
As the man approached, a fierce aura followed him. Standing before the two, that sense of danger radiated constantly, sweeping forward.
Usami Reiko and Sakai Takashi instinctively straightened their backs, clicked their heels together, and gave a solemn military salute, but the burly man waved his hand dismissively.
"I happened to overhear your conversation," the man said in a raspy, gruff voice, his eyes sweeping over Usami Reiko. "What doubts do you have about Yoshino Kenichi's death?"
Hearing the inquiry, Usami Reiko took a deep breath and asked her questions again.
The man listened to the woman's narration without a word, his expression calm. After a while, he nodded. "I see. I can answer your questions."
"I was the one who ordered the delay of the support squad's departure time."
"At the time, a high-ranking Officer was landing at the airport. I followed the regulations and dispatched the Tokyo area support squad as an escort."
"The delay was unavoidable. I am very sorry and regretful about the deaths of Nagayama and Yoshino Kenichi."
"Even though every Ritualist is precious to us."
"But it couldn't be helped."
"Do you have anything else to ask?"
"Department Head Usami Reiko."
The woman listened quietly and didn't say a word.
She raised her hand and delivered a slap!
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