I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 68 Extraordinary Things Blooming Everywhere
"This is a kappa?"

Looking through the glass wall at the green-haired bald man inside, Director Zhu Ya felt a bit puzzled.

"Why do you seem a little dim-witted?"

It's no wonder he said that. The supernatural beings the Metropolitan Police Department encountered were either vicious and terrifying, cunning and treacherous, or appeared and disappeared without a trace, always carrying out some kind of conspiracy. But this kappa in front of him acted like a mentally challenged vagrant, only knowing how to eat, completely lacking the aura and skills that a supernatural being should have.

"The arrest process was indeed a bit too easy,"

Iori Ichika answered with her arms crossed, saying that it couldn't even be described as a 'capture'.

After learning about the situation, the helicopter sent by Tokyo only needed a few buckets of grilled fish to get the other party to come here obediently, the scene was like a bad uncle abducting a mentally challenged child.

As for those fishermen, they probably won't be able to catch any fish for a while:

Because a large number of government officials and zaibatsu personnel are rushing to Lake Toya, determined to turn the place upside down.

"However, its status as a 'supernatural being' is beyond doubt."

Despite its foolishness, this 'kappa' possesses a much stronger 'demon power' than Iori Ichika, this 'artificial superhuman'. It also has its own 'demon arts': after a series of gesticulations, this kappa spews out a torrent of water with tremendous force.

Don't underestimate this ability. The 'Paper Dancer' who dominated Shibuya is actually afraid of water!

It's just that my brain isn't very sharp.
"very good!"

Director Zhu Ya was overjoyed by this.

"Bring over instructors from the police academy and train him to become one of our loyal police officers."

Director Zhuya once served as the 'President of the Central Police University,' a school whose purpose is to train high-quality police officers and senior officers: using it to train a clueless 'kappa' is simply a waste of talent.

Being a little slow is not a big deal; in fact, it could be considered the best outcome.

After all, frontline soldiers only need to devote themselves to the battlefield, obey orders, and fight bravely, but those in the rear have many more things to consider.

"Director, I have to remind you."

"The Hokkaido Police Headquarters hopes that after we complete our investigation, we can return the 'kappa' to them."

"Absolutely impossible!"

Director Zhu Ya rejected the idea without a second thought. How could he possibly return something extraordinary that had fallen into his hands to the local area, especially a remote and impoverished place like Hokkaido?

"I guessed so, which is why the Hokkaido Police Headquarters made requests for various equipment, weapons, and supernatural serum."

Fine, you won't give me the superhumans we discovered, but what about weapons, funding, and artificial superhumans?
These should at least be given, right?

If they don't give it to me, the Hokkaido Police Chief will bring people to the Cabinet to protest tomorrow!
"Let them discuss this with the logistics department."

Chief Inspector Takeya waved his hand. Besides him, the island nation's police system consisted of one prefecture, two municipalities, six counties, seven districts, plus the Deputy Chief Inspector of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, totaling 38 superintendents. These individuals formed the highest level of the police system, positions that rarely changed.

Each of the superintendents of police is deeply rooted in the local community.

Having received benefits, it's natural to want to give the other party something in return.

"Chief, the police have discovered another supernatural being!"

Just then, the secretary rushed over.

"it is good,"

"It's like the Obon festival and the New Year arriving together~~"

After reciting a proverb similar to "double happiness," Director Zhu Ya asked with her hands behind her back.

"What kind of extraordinary ability is it?"

Has it been delivered?

The secretary hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"It is said to be a 'nekomata' (cat demon) that was detained by the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters."

? !
Suddenly turning around, Director Zhu Ya's good mood vanished.

"How dare those bastards in Osaka?"

“Ahem, Director, regional discrimination is prohibited.”

Iori Kazuka clenched her fist and coughed, reminding her superior to be mindful of the impact: although everyone present would automatically filter out this remark.

"Phew~~ What abilities does that 'Nekomata' possess?"

He breathed a sigh of relief.
Director Zhu Ya composed herself and asked again.

The head of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters is also a police inspector.

However, unlike the remote and impoverished Hokkaido, the police system of the Osaka metropolitan area, one of the three major metropolitan areas of the island nation, is vastly different between the two!
"The Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters did not say,"

"However, they demanded the manufacturing process for the 'super serum'."

"Damn Kansai bastards!!"

This behavior caused Director Zhu Ya to berate him again on the spot, but everyone pretended not to hear it.

Tokyo and Osaka, as large cities, naturally dislike each other. Even the police headquarters there, when faced with Chief Inspector Takeya, showed a degree of deference, offering seemingly valid reasons such as Osaka, as a crucial metropolitan area, needing its own superhuman strength.
In short, it's the same old story of asking for favors!

Compared to Hokkaido, they are even less willing to give up the extraordinary beings they have recruited.

---

Meow~~!

Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, in a special laboratory.

A black and white calico cat leaped up and 'dive' towards the ground, and ripples immediately spread as its front paws touched the concrete.

But this unusual behavior didn't last long. The black and white cat's paws dug into the concrete ground, then quickly withdrew, seemingly unwilling to continue.

"Mohs hardness 3.55, depth 0.5 meters, measurement: failed."

Outside the room, a group of people were also busy. They were experts brought in by the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters to test the extraordinary abilities of the 'Nekomatsuri'.

"Once the ground hardness exceeds 3.55 on the Mohs scale, the cat's ability to play hide-and-seek will be limited."

"It is currently unclear whether this is the limit of 'Nekomata's' abilities."

"These are the results of this experiment."

The experts quickly compiled details of the test subjects' abilities, including, but not limited to, the hardness and thickness of the ground they could use on, the duration of each ability activation, and the maximum size of targets they could drag.
After reading the report, the middle-aged man's gaze fell on the room.

The milk cat darted back into the arms of a teenage girl, rolled over, and let her groom its fur.

"Hide and seek?"

This is the name the little girl chose.
It sounds childish, but it's surprisingly apt.

This is the extraordinary ability of the 'Nekomatsuri' possessed by the Osaka police.

He can dive underground and move silently and quickly, while also pulling people or objects of a certain size from the surface into the ground.

It appears harmless, but it possesses an incredibly powerful control ability.

Moreover—after glancing once more at the kitten rolling around in the little girl's arms, the Osaka headquarters manager couldn't help but recall the previous test:

Its speed reaches 32 meters per second, equivalent to a cheetah sprinting at full speed; the force of its claw strike exceeds 800 pounds, even Tyson is no match for it. Coupled with its petite size, it is simply a high-speed assassin that surpasses the limits of biology. In confined spaces, even a squad of fully armed soldiers is not enough for it. It takes care of everything in a few seconds.

In particular, its ability to 'hide and seek' allows it to approach any target silently.

Fortunately, it was an animal—no, it was a supernatural being—that had an owner!

Watching the little girl playing with the kitten, the police chief seemed to see a warrior playing with a burly, fanged, clawed monster that could easily reach speeds of 100 miles per hour.

"Mr. Takahashi, Mrs. Takahashi, I have a friend who would like to meet you both and your daughter."

"Would you do me the honor of having a simple meal with me?"

He received a friendly invitation from the Osaka Police Chief.

The two middle-aged couple who were waiting anxiously nearby exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

They are just ordinary people; how could they dare or refuse?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It was said to be a simple meal.

In a luxurious Western-style manor,

As the maids brought out a stream of exquisite dishes, the three members of the Takahashi family were all surprised.

He doesn't recognize a single dish.
"Haha, don't be shy, just make yourself at home."

Sitting in the main seat was an elderly man with silver hair and age spots on his face, yet he was full of energy.

The head of the Hayakawa Group: Hayakawa Hakuyuki.

The old man simply sat there; having held a high position for many years, his imposing presence naturally emanated from him.

The Hayakawa Group is a behemoth encompassing multiple electronics industries, with nearly 50,000 formal and informal employees. That translates to 50,000 three- or four-person households. Add to that the upstream and downstream industries that provide raw materials and sell products, and it can be said that this elderly man indirectly influences millions of people, easily causing social unrest.

Although it is not as well-known as the old-established zaibatsu in Osaka, such as Sumitomo, Panasonic and Mitsubishi.

However, the Hayakawa Group is no less powerful. Its wealth, accumulated over three generations, is such that even the police chief has to show it respect.

No, it should be described as mutual respect: sitting to the old man's left was none other than the Osaka Police Chief! And sitting to the old man's right was Mr. Takahashi, who looked rather awkward.

"Mr. Takahashi, I've heard that you're in the electronics industry and have a knack for sales?"

The old man smiled, and the imposing aura that filled his entire being vanished in an instant.

He's just like an ordinary old man next door.

"Ah, yes."

"A small achievement, nothing to brag about."

Mr. Takahashi answered nervously, while Hayakawa Hakuyuki laughed heartily.

"My company happens to be short of a sales manager."

"Would you be interested in giving it a try?"

No, no, I can't.

Faced with Mr. Takahashi's repeated waving, the old man waved his hand domineeringly.

“That’s right. How can a mere manager position allow Brother Takahashi to fully utilize his talents?”

"I recently acquired an electronics company. It's a bit small, with assets of only a little over 100 billion. — How about you become the president?"

what? !

More than 100 billion, this
Before Mr. Takahashi could recover from his stunned silence, the police chief opposite him enthusiastically raised his glass.

“Brother Takahashi, this is Mr. Hayakawa’s kind gesture, please don’t refuse it.”

"Ah, yes, okay."

Poor Mr. Takahashi, all he can do now is nod mechanically.

“Brother Gaoqiao, the Xicheng District where you live is not a safe place to live due to its chaotic security and inconvenient transportation.”

“There’s an empty house across from my house. It’s not spacious, but it’s clean. I’ll give it to Brother Takahashi so we can be closer in the morning and evening.”

This place is full of luxury mansions and estates, where would you find an empty room?

Mr. Takahashi was completely dizzy and shakily picked up the cup on the table:

"President Hayakawa, sir, what are your orders? Just give the word, and I will gladly sacrifice myself."

Mr. Takahashi was drunk.

Before even taking a sip of wine, he was already intoxicated by the torrent of money.

Mrs. Takahashi, standing nearby, was also beaming with delight at the compliments from the other ladies. As for the real key point:
"Hello, my name is Hayakawa Kojiro."

A little boy with his hair neatly combed and dressed in a formal suit at such a young age reached out his hand to the little girl holding a kitten.

"Would you like me to show you around this manor?"

"Adults' topics are so boring~~ By the way, I've collected over a thousand Hatchimal pet eggs."

"Okay, okay,"

The little girl from the Takahashi family had a sparkle in her eyes; she loved Hatchimal pet eggs the most.

Unexpectedly, this young master of the Hayakawa family is also a like-minded person.

"Soaring to the sky" is not enough to describe the fate of the Takahashi family.

And all of this
They all came from the kitten in the little girl's arms.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Yes, more than a dozen of the 'True Spirits of a Hundred Ghosts' that were released have already been 'found'."

The person who truly changed the fate of countless people was an ordinary high school student in Adachi Ward, Tokyo: Yu Akihi.

The so-called 'True Spirits of a Hundred Demons' are actually small orbs of light, about the size of ping-pong balls. Any living being that touches them will gain a ninjutsu and a change in form in accordance with the 'legend'. If a human gains them, they will only gain the ability.

These animals and humans who gained abilities began to use and experiment with their abilities, providing Akihi Yu with proficiency while also constantly growing and expanding.

Although they had not learned 'mana refining', combat was the best training: facing life and death, the burst of spirit and the squeezed physical strength would continuously generate new mana.

All their efforts, in the end:
"They will all belong to me."

Thinking of this, Qiu Ri smiled leisurely.

“Enjoying the process before that is also fun.”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: In Detective Conan, Heiji Hattori's father is the Superintendent General of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters. A true top-tier second-generation power figure, he was forced by his father to take over as head of the headquarters. The Osaka Police Department has practically become their family's domain (although both father and son are good people, 'sons following in their fathers' footsteps' is a tradition in Japan).

(End of this chapter)