A super great writer in the second dimension

　The captain stood in front of the convoy and waved in their direction.

　Isshiki Hachiman stared wide-eyed.

　Dozens of people stood beside the convoy.

　They formed a line, nine in the horizontal row and three in the vertical row.

　There were 27 people in total.

　These people's clothes look a lot like the uniforms of the good guys in shooting games.

　There were a few letters written on those clothes.

　SWAT

　The clothes had several bulging pockets, four in the front and two in the pants.

　It contained items that are clearly prohibited in Japan.

　police?

　Isshiki Iroha felt like her brain wasn't working properly.

　These people are even wearing helmets!

　“They’re not police,” Sanzenin Arashi said. “They’re a special attack team sent to protect you.”

　Special Weapons and Tactics

　"Protect?" Isshiki Iroha opened her mouth.

　"Because the road to our next destination isn't very safe, let's get in the car."

　As soon as I got in the car, the Hummer started up.

　As the convoy drove out of Rome's airport and out of the city, Isshiki Iroha's eyes were blindfolded.

　This includes Yui Yuigahama and Ryunosuke Akasaka.

　Arashi Sanzenin could sense that both girls were probably unhappy, but Ryunosuke Akasaka was different; he was so excited that he was trembling.

　It was pitch black.

　Ryunosuke Akasaka felt like he was sitting in a massage chair, which meant the road surface the car was driving on was bumpy and uneven.

　Although this feeling was very uncomfortable, I endured it for the sake of my own goals.

　This situation lasted for several hours, during which time someone fed him water and two slices of bread.

　Then, with the two people supporting him, Akasaka Ryunosuke could tell from the feeling under his feet that he was walking on a soft, grassy field.

　"Aoyama-kun, I need to go to the toilet."

　"You, take her there."

　"Yes." It was a woman's voice.

　The girl's complaints reached my ears, along with Aoyama Arashi's comforting voice.

　Then it seems that a female soldier took the girl named Yui Yuigahama to the toilet.

　The journey was thus briefly interrupted, but soon resumed.

　After walking on the grass for several tens of minutes, Ryunosuke Akasaka felt as if he had been carried to a certain place.

　The girl named Yui Yuigahama panicked again.

　The girl named Isshiki Iroha was more obedient and didn't say a word.

　If this is a kidnapping… Ryunosuke Akasaka thought silently—this is no funny joke.

　Immediately afterwards, the sound of a propeller rang out.

　Helicopters again!

　This journey!

　Helicopters! Private planes! Armed forces protection, and this place!

　Where exactly is this Qingshan Lan taking me?!

　Ryunosuke Akasaka was somewhat frightened.

　If this Aoyama Arashi isn't incredibly awesome, then he must be making a movie!

　American blockbuster!

　No, it could also be a dream.

　Several more hours have passed.

　During that time, he ate a few slices of bread and drank some water, and then... Ryunosuke Akasaka felt like his ears were about to get calluses!

　That woman named Yui Yuigahama, she kept talking... talking to Arashi Aoyama...

　As they talked, the conversation shifted from school to stories, and Aoyama Arashi began to tell a story.

　From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to World War II.

　The plane arrived just like that.

　but!

　Ryunosuke Akasaka realized that the other party had no intention of letting him get down.

　The helicopter soon began to shake.

　Accompanied by the sound of a car engine.

　Is this... is this some kind of traction?!

　The plane is being transported using something.

　Fuck!!

　Ryunosuke Akasaka felt like he'd been screwed over.

　Finally, after ten minutes.

　"Alright, let's untie everything."

　Soon, the hood was removed from their heads.

　The blindfold covering their eyes was also removed.

　When he opened his eyes, Akasaka Ryunosuke's eyes widened in surprise.

　In front of him was a glass panel, and outside the glass was a large shark with its mouth open, seemingly staring at him.

　Inside were rows of eerie, sharp teeth, arranged haphazardly like withered trees.

　That scared me to death!!!

　What the hell is this place?!

　At that moment, Sanzenin Arashi's voice rang out.

　"Welcome to the Indian Ocean."

　..

373. The world's most advanced protective measures.

　In the sea?! This is in the sea?!

　Ryunosuke Akasaka stared wide-eyed at the view outside the glass wall.

　The intense sunlight in Africa penetrates the sea surface, but by the time it reaches us, it has been reduced by several times, and the faint light is barely enough to make out what's outside.

　There were coral reefs all around, but not a single fish.

　Red, orange, and some white debris.

　Coral gradually fades after it dies... just like an idol from decades ago, leaving no color behind.

　The entire seabed was empty.

　Except for that big shark staring at him.

　They were probably all scared away by it.

　A deep shadow fell over Ryunosuke Akasaka's heart. This...

　This base... is actually underwater?!

　This green mountain mist...

　Who is he? !

　Building a base on the seabed made Ryunosuke Akasaka gasp. How much would that cost?

　One hundred million dollars?

　That's not nearly enough!

　One billion US dollars?

　Ten billion US dollars?!

　That's one trillion...one trillion yen.

　A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Even someone as composed as him didn't know what to say.

　Suddenly he felt someone tap his shoulder, and his heart skipped a beat.

　“Let’s go. You’ll have plenty of time to do these things later.” Sanzenin Arashi looked at him. “If you like, submit an application to build a viewing platform with 90% transparency, and then install some light sources outside. You can look around freely, and even raise some things.”

　Ryunosuke Akasaka's inner thoughts are very complicated.

　What to raise?

　He glanced to the side.

　Keeping sharks as pets?!

　……

　Yui Yuigahama snapped out of her daze, by which time the others had already walked five or six meters away.

　This place is amazing.

　The girl quickly followed.

　A Japanese high school girl was deeply moved when she came into contact with these things.

　Am I doing something terrible?

　An unprecedented experience.

　A great sense of accomplishment!

　It took ten minutes to walk.

　The long tunnel still hadn't ended, and the surrounding temperature dropped several degrees, causing Yui Yuigahama to shiver.

　The further you walk, the brighter the surrounding lights become.

　However, the overhead light bulbs were the same model and did not increase the brightness in any way.

　It got dark all around.

　The darker it got, the brighter it became inside the tunnel.

　As darkness gradually fell, a chill ran through me.

　Walking on the Indian Ocean floor...

　"Aoyama-kun, how much longer until we arrive?"

　"Soon, about ten minutes," said Sanzenin Arashi. "In the future, simple railway tracks will be laid here, and single-carriage trains will be used for transportation. Bicycles can also pass by."

　The entire passageway is very spacious, and the high-strength glass with an onion-like structure supports the tunnel.

　Ryunosuke Akasaka, however, gleaned a piece of information from those words.

　About ten minutes.