Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

If Gendo Ikari were here, he might be surprised, because all the elderly men in the seats before him were members of the Human Instrumentality Committee. At this moment, they were not remotely controlling the stone tablet to speak, but had come here in person.

But similarly, there was no seat for him here. This also signifies that these great figures, who symbolize the very essence of the human soul, have begun to be wary of their compatriot, Gendo Ikari. In this present state of affairs where fate has taken a turn for the worse, they seriously suspect, and are even certain, that Gendo Ikari possesses a new script beyond the existing canon.

"It's no longer just a matter of Unit-01 almost awakening; Unit-06 and Unit-02 are severely damaged, and a third of the headquarters facilities have been destroyed. The Central Dogma District has been exposed, and the damage is extremely serious." The elderly Human Completion Committee member with a sharp voice, who was also the Pope of the Catholic Church, commented on yesterday's events.

“We can’t even assess how much time and money we’ll have to spend on this, all because we didn’t put a bell around the Ikari’s neck beforehand,” an elderly Slavic man scolded.

"The bell has been hung up for a long time, it just hasn't rung," another old man said, shaking the bell.

“A bell that doesn’t ring is meaningless. Let it ring on its own this time.” The representative of the German Aryan race, and also the chairman of the Human Completion Committee, Kirlorentz, rang the bell to conclude the meeting.

As compatriots, they didn't need to spell things out, but two more tasks were secretly assigned after the meeting ended.

The first step is to activate Yoshiji Kaji, the spy he has planted within NERV, to investigate the current connections between NERV and the outside world. The focus will be on investigating the relationship between NERV and the Self-Defense Forces.

The second priority was to capture their liaison, namely NERV Vice Commander Yukimasa Fuyutsuki. They urgently needed to understand the situation within NERV.

Somewhat unexpectedly, before the mission was even handed over to Kaji Ryoji, he found himself in a dimly lit pink room, leaning against the wall with his suit casually draped over his hand.

"It's really unexpected how things have turned out this way." Kaji Ryoji looked at Ikari Gendo sitting at his desk with a sigh. "How do you plan to explain this to the Human Completion Committee... oh no, I mean SEELE?"

"What do we need to explain? Shinji Ikari was never under our control. And the so-called agreed-upon day has not yet arrived, which shows that we have indeed worked very hard to make the script unfold smoothly."

The one who answered Kaji Ryoji was not Gendo Ikari, but Fuyutsuki Kosuke, who was standing behind Gendo Ikari.

"Until the next Angel attack, we will temporarily suspend the operation of Unit-02 and Unit-01. This is our response to the Committee. Until the Committee issues further orders," Yukimasa Fuyutsuki continued.

“A very appropriate handling.” Kaji Ryoji smiled and nodded. “But regarding freezing Unit-01, have you considered Shinji Ikari’s opinion?”

Kaji Ryoji wore a smile, but his gaze was fixed intently on Gendo Ikari. Freezing Unit-02 was understandable, as it had exceeded the limits of cell division. A full recovery would take a very long time. But the next unit to be frozen wasn't Unit-06, but Unit-01, representing headquarters' ace unit—this was completely unexpected by Kaji Ryoji.

Indeed, this level of sincerity should appease SEELE for a while, but did he not consider the consequences of making this decision?

Given Kaji Ryoji's familiarity with Shinji Ikari, if Gendo Ikari were to actually do this—the freeze plan would be announced in the morning, and by noon Shinji would be out cruising around the beach in Unit-01, then returning to Hakone to beat him up—it would only make them a laughingstock worldwide.

As Shinji Ikari's father, and a man with a far deeper connection than Shinji himself, he wouldn't make such an unwise choice; there must be something hidden within that he doesn't know.

What is it? Kaji Ryoji was very curious.

“I believe Shinji Ikari will understand our decision; he’s a good boy,” Yukizo Fuyutsuki smiled.

Ryoji Kaji pursed his lips. Shinji Ikari? Obedient? He couldn't connect the two words, but in the end he still bowed slightly. "I felt NERV's sincerity, and I believe SEELE can feel it too."

With Kaji Ryoji leaving the room, only Gendo Ikari and Kosuke Fuyutsuki remained in the dark pink room.

“Kashi Ryoji is not trustworthy,” said Fuyutsuki Kozo. “He is a thorn that SEELE has planted in our organization.”

"But for Kaji Ryoji, SEELE was not someone he was loyal to."

"Are you referring to the Japanese Ministry of Home Affairs?" Fuyutsuki Yukizo asked, his hands behind his back.

“No.” Gendo Ikari pushed up his glasses. “This man is only loyal to himself; he is also a man who lives in the past.”

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The command post relocation plan, finalized last night, will not be implemented until dawn. Employees and their families working at NERV, including those in Tokyo-3, will be relocated to the Hakone volcanic crater area.

Currently, public transportation is completely congested with people. The explanation given to the public is that the city's infrastructure has suffered severe damage requiring urgent attention, and the impact is widespread; therefore, people are asked to temporarily leave in order to facilitate a swift and smooth recovery.

Although recovery operations are indeed underway, the focus will shift. Once the second command post is fully operational, the operations personnel and NERV staff will abandon most of the remaining work and relocate to the second command post.

The Japanese government, in response to NERV's request, deployed the Strategic Self-Defense Forces along the main road and railway stations connecting the Hakone volcano in the UN concession to Japan. The main force will set up checkpoints under the guise of protecting evacuees, checking citizens of Third New Tokyo and transferring them to the outside world.

Kaji Ryoji mingled in the bus queue, disguised beforehand with artificial skin and fake documents in contact lenses, and even carrying an ID card showcasing the intelligence department's masterful forgery techniques. If there was anything suspicious about him now, it was his attire, which resembled that of a tourist. The gatekeeper, though suspicious, could do nothing since the man claimed it was a personal preference, and the gate turned green to let him pass.

By disguising himself and changing his identity, Kaji Ryoji somehow managed to reach the mountains on the eastern side of the Hakone Volcano in Kanagawa Prefecture.

If he were to travel by SEELE helicopter, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble; he could simply identify himself and move freely throughout Japan. But in that situation, the Self-Defense Forces would also dispatch guards to accompany him, ensuring no trace would be uncovered—especially given the heavily guarded Japanese government's arrangement of a stage where he would brush past his target.

According to intelligence brought back by spies from the chaotic Ministry of Home Affairs, this may be one of the Self-Defense Forces' bases.

A base of operations? Where did they come from, some evil organization...? Kaji found it somewhat amusing. As a national agency, their clandestine activities on their own soil inevitably reminded Kaji of many evil organizations.

But this also shows just how shady things the Self-Defense Forces are doing.

This place is surprisingly close to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Could it be that they're using the visitor flow as a front, concealing their real base here? Judging from the current situation, that's probably the case.

Kaji Ryoji thought this through, but he was also certain that this opportunity to investigate would only come once. Regardless of success or failure, the Ministry of Home Affairs would consider him a traitor for being a spy they had dispatched. Being eliminated would be a matter of course.

But he cared more about the truth than his own life.

"A possible void has been detected on the other side." At this moment, the hoarse voice of MAGI's mechanical female voice came through my headphones.

As Kaji Ryoji drew closer, his and Magi's signals were blocked. But this also indirectly proved that he had indeed found his target.

Having found the target, infiltrating it was not difficult. However, when Kaji Ryoji actually witnessed the result of his investigation, he was almost speechless with astonishment.

What's being built in this natural underground cavern base is... no way...

The enormous, humanoid machine made Kaji Ryoji momentarily think he was witnessing Evangelion. But it was clearly impossible. Kaji looked around to make sure there were no booby traps, then pinched his brow in frustration.

"I see. Now I understand where NERV's confidence comes from."

What appeared before Kaji Ryoji at this moment was the AKASIMA, a large-scale mobile weapon developed by the Self-Defense Forces specifically for dealing with individual threats. It was no secret that the Self-Defense Forces were developing a mobile weapon specifically for dealing with individual threats, as many countries and organizations coveted the destructive power of EVAs. Even with the SEELE treaty strictly prohibiting such development, they were still secretly trying to develop their own EVAs.

However, lacking knowledge of EVA's structure and origins, the mechas they developed were nothing more than incongruous and substandard junk. The most practical one, on the other hand, was the SP//dr mecha developed by the United States. Compared to the 80-meter-tall Evangelion, the SP//dr mecha was only two meters tall, but it was extremely mobile and could use magnetic force to flexibly manipulate its rotating appendages.

However, the mobile weapon AKASIMA before him was clearly a superior mobile weapon that was closer to success than the SP//dr mechs, even more so than the JA mechs. Although Kaji Ryoji believed in his country's scientific research capabilities, he simply couldn't believe that this was only the Self-Defense Forces, and that they dared to complete research and development on something that other countries or organizations had failed to do.

There's only one possibility: an organization possessing EVA construction technology disobeyed SEELE's orders and leaked some secrets about EVA, including key technologies, to the Self-Defense Forces. Even if it's not the most crucial part, it's enough to put the Self-Defense Forces far ahead of other organizations.

It's unclear when it started, but the Self-Defense Forces and NERV headquarters, seemingly at odds, had actually reached a secret deal. Shinji Ikari was certainly aware of this deal, and he was probably a beneficiary as well; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Gendo Ikari to freeze Unit-01, even though it would naturally unseal when they fought the Angels.

Just as SEELE forgave Gendo Ikari's offense because of the threat posed by Shinji Ikari, allowing him to use the band for Shinji, Shinji and Gendo Ikari were also able to briefly reach a consensus under SEELE's threat.

So what choice should I make?

Kaji Ryoji believed that if he could use this secret as a stepping stone to promotion, he could gain considerable benefits from SEELE, but the man was rubbing his temples with some distress.

It's still Hakone, the medical clinic belonging to the First Research Division of the Health Department.

"Oh... there's nothing there." The boy's voice echoed in the closed room.

This place is more like a research institute than a medical clinic. All sorts of hard-shell photosensitive detectors and plotters are gathered here, and tens of thousands of indicator lights flash on and off.

A group of people in white coats surrounded the monitor. At this moment, the latent image of the IP board in the scanner was intensified and turned into visible light. After being read, it was converted into electronic signals and transmitted to the computer to display the digital image, revealing the figure of the young Shinji Ikari.

There was nothing on his chest, where his heart should be.

Arteries emerge there, and veins disappear there. Other blood vessels, nerves, and surrounding tissues all connect to that vague, undefined void.

This is what the theoretical physicist, Hitomi Kaga, said upon their first meeting. That unknowable realm, undetectable by any scanning instrument, is the symbol of the Apostles—the Fruit of Life.

This duality of existence and non-existence astonished all the researchers, as if opening the door to a new world.

“The S-Organization does not exist in a physical form; it could be any part of an Angel’s body, or exist in any part of an Angel’s body. All researchers understand this Super Spiral Management Theory, which was proposed by your father, Dr. Hideaki Katsuragi, fifteen years ago,” said Hitomi Kaga.

She belongs to the Technical Development Division 1 of NERV's Technical Development Department and earned her doctorate in metaphysical biology at the age of 24. She is a genius no less than Ritsuko Akagi, and she is the only one in the development department who can truly have an equal dialogue with Ritsuko Akagi.

“But in everyone’s subconscious, the S? Organization should still be manifested in a physical form.” Ritsuko Akagi, wearing a white lab coat, crossed her arms.

"Because these are all the defeated apostles, their Fruits of Life have been shattered, and they are presented as tangible finished products for everyone to study." Kaga Hitomi looked at the images on the screen and wove words with a slightly fanatical tone, "But there has never been an apostle standing in front of humanity like this, cooperating with our research."

This unobservable mode can even be switched; as Shinji Ikari's mind changes, his body reverts to its original, observable form.

The development team viewed Shinji's body as a mystery of the universe, but his expression remained extremely calm.

The S-Organization—this power source of unknown origin—has been the subject of numerous scientists' persistent attempts to replicate using human technology since Dr. Hideaki Katsuragi fifteen years ago. For example, Hitomi Kaga believes that using a material like carbon-60, which is capable of resisting some tidal forces, should be feasible.

If this can be achieved, it should bring about an energy revolution.

157: The Returners

In the ruins, Shinji Ikari stood beside a Chinese toon tree growing from a crack in the concrete, the Milky Way stretching across the sky above, while a huge, headless red figure wandered in the darkness in the distance. Meanwhile, in the clearing at the center of the ruins, a silver-haired boy played the piano with complete absorption.

Sound has color, and Shinji Ikari was certain of that when he heard Kaworu Nagisa's music. But he was equally certain when he saw the same scene that he was in a dream.

The problem is that sometimes what we call dreams are things that actually happen or are about to happen. Some say that sleep is the true form of human activity, and that being awake is just about gathering material for dreams.

As the scene collapses, Shinji Ikari once again arrives at the crossroads leading to different worlds. He glances to the side and sees Rei Ayanami's figure reappear.

The scorching sunlight seemed to distort the light as if it were burning the air. Standing across the street, she seemed to want to say something, but the noise blocked her voice from being heard.

It seems like it's "Save Me," but it also seems like... stir-fried eggs with chives?

The cacophony grew increasingly drawn out and sharp, the scenes shifting rapidly... a cross, a white mass-produced machine, white doves fluttering in the sky, Asuka roaring, a riotous headquarters, the tender young Rei Ayanami, blood flowing over Unit-01, and the self running away.

Shinji Ikari remained calm, his expression serene, as if he were watching a movie directed by a madman. Based on past experience, Shinji knew this was something that was about to happen in reality, and the chaotic dream before him was a premonition.

What I need to do is find the key information from this chaotic dream so that I don't do anything that makes me unhappy.

The noisy sounds abruptly stopped, and what echoed in Shinji Ikari's ears was the chirping of cicadas from reality.

Shinji Ikari felt a tightness in his chest and assumed that Rei Ayanami had sneaked into his room in the middle of the night and was pressing on his chest, but he couldn't tell that it was Rei.

Shinji Ikari opened his eyes and saw a long, slender, white leg come into view. The owner of the pale, almost reflective leg was striding confidently onto his chest, hands on hips, staring at him with disdain, as if he were trash.

Shinji Ikari closed his eyes again, then suddenly opened them to find Asuka looking at him with disdain as she stepped on his chest. This was definitely not his usual routine.

"Get up! You mother-fixator, lolicon, foot fetishist, sock fetishist, pervert, scum who'd rather sleep with a girl than stand on the rooftop and stare at the city like glue." A cold voice came from above.

Shinji Ikari reopened his eyes, grabbed Asuka's ankle, and moved her legs apart. "I won't go into what happened before, but foot fetishism isn't my fault. Because feet aren't considered a sensitive part in censorship, but in real life they exist as a sensual organ, so it's not a bad thing to pay more attention to them."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Asuka frowned, stepped on Shinji's chest again, and then fiercely held up a combat suit in front of Shinji. "Tell me what this is?" Asuka demanded.

This is a white combat uniform, judged to be a women's uniform based on the shape of the bulge at the chest. However, the damage is extremely exaggerated, as if it has been through a fierce battle.

Shinji Ikari's expression slowly turned serious. "Where did you find this?"

"Stop pretending to be stupid! It was the night before last, when you sneaked into my room! After you left, I cleaned the room and found this thing under your bedding! I've already thrown the bedding and mattress you slept in into the trash! I thought you had turned over a new leaf, but I didn't expect you to do such disgusting things in my room!" Asuka grabbed Shinji Ikari's chest and gritted her teeth.

Seeing the state of the combat suit, Asuka could already picture Shinji Ikari grinning wickedly as he tore open the honor student's clothes, then whipped her with a small leather whip. And he even dared to bring the clothes to her! Unbelievable, unimaginable—what disgusting things had he done while she slept!

"You mother-fixator, lolicon, foot fetishist, sock fetishist, perverted scumbag, how could you do such a thing to that top student and even bring his clothes here to me!"

The night before last, Shinji Ikari vaguely remembered seeing himself from another parallel world in a dream. And floating on that clean, pure blue ocean were two combat suits, one his own and one Rei Ayanami's.

The tattered white combat suit in front of me matches the one in my dream perfectly.

Shinji Ikari was somewhat surprised that he could actually bring things from his dreams into reality.

"You're still pretending to be stupid, huh! Die!" Asuka grabbed the combat suit and threw it at Shinji Ikari's face, then grabbed the pillow next to her and pressed it against his face, trying to suffocate him by smelling Rei Ayanami's scent.