Chapter: 89. “Night Fog” Nightclub (5k4)
Almost at the same time as Nagi’s stunning entrance through the main doors—
In a narrow alley beside the employee passage on the west side of the nightclub building.
A tall and slender figure silently stepped out of the rain-soaked night.
The fine drizzle fell silently on his shoulders and at the tips of his hair, dampening his golden locks slightly, yet they still exuded a soft luster, refracting a faint cold glow under the dim lights.
He was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, the lapels woven with a dark pattern of metallic threads.
The newcomer was Tetsudo Gōshi, codename — “Iron Knight.”
Gōshi quietly took out an ID card, gently swiping it at the access control point, and the electronic lock on the side door opened without a sound.
He skillfully navigated through the employee corridor, as if he had already memorized the building’s layout, not exchanging words or glances with anyone, heading straight for the VIP area on the third floor of the nightclub—
Where he was scheduled to meet tonight.
All of this began a few days ago for Gōshi.
His first contact with the other party came through a secret number he used.
This number was not registered in the official records of the SEMA Special Unit but was a private contact method he used for “undisclosed” missions assigned by his “superior.”
However, the message he received that day made his heart sink.
One after another, photos of him being followed and monitored documented his daily movements precisely.
There were even pieces of evidence concerning the various secret deals, arms smuggling, and illegal information trading he was involved in as a “traitor” within the SEMA — including sizable transfer records.
The delivery of this information was brazen, both a threat and a reminder: you have been exposed.
Using these photos, Gōshi attempted to secretly trace the identities of the stalkers, only to discover that they were ace-level supernatural beings from the three major academies.
This suddenly made him realize — his situation was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
Perhaps… his “true identity” had already been noticed by the three major academies, and they were quietly investigating.
On the slightly brighter side — it seemed they had not yet secured solid evidence.
Otherwise, given the style of the three major academies, they would have already executed a forced arrest instead of merely resorting to “stalking” and “monitoring.”
But because of this, Gōshi was acutely aware that he was on the edge of a cliff. If he dragged this out, it was only a matter of time before they uncovered the truth.
He couldn’t just sit back and wait.
He had to find a way to escape before that happened.
At that moment, the mysterious contact sent another message.
This time, it contained only a short line — the specific time and location.
The other party clearly intended to “talk face-to-face” with him.
For Gōshi now, he needed a “chaos.”
Only in the midst of complete disorder could he slip away from the tracking of the three major academies and disappear into a place unknown.
Thus, he decided to accept the invitation.
Not only to seize the chance to escape but also out of curiosity — who was the one that could dig up his dark past ahead of the three major academies without alerting SEMA, and what were their intentions.
Of course, before stepping into this gamble, he had prepared quietly.
Constrained by around-the-clock surveillance, he couldn’t use the “equipment” from within SEMA, as it would arouse suspicion.
But the few sets of “tactical mechs” he had hidden away were already placed in suitable locations on standby—
Enough for him to carve a bloody path through the encirclement of several ace-level supernatural beings.
……
……
After confirming that the bracelet on his wrist was functioning normally, Gōshi looked up at the resplendent building before him on the third floor.
“Night Fog” — a members-only nightclub rumored among Tokyo’s elite.
On the surface, it appeared to be just a trendy club located at a corner of the city center, but in reality, it was a hotbed for wealthy businessmen, politicians, and the supernaturally gifted to exchange intelligence and engage in secret dealings.
Especially in the VIP area on the third floor, access was only granted to those holding special invitations; it was rumored that secret agreements capable of influencing the economic direction of a city were born here, and more than one ambitious figure had their dreams buried within these walls.
Gōshi walked up the intricately patterned carpeted spiral staircase, and upon reaching the third floor, took out the silver-edged invitation card containing the number and passcode from his inner pocket and handed it to the receptionist standing at the door.
The receptionist, a calm-eyed attendant dressed in white gloves, glanced at the emblem on the invitation card, confirmed its authenticity, and immediately bowed respectfully, indicating: “The third VIP room has been prepared for you, please follow me.”
The corridor on the third floor was exceptionally quiet, with abstract paintings and wall lights with a stable metallic sheen casting a discreet and soft glow.
The carpet was thick, muffling footsteps almost completely, creating a serene atmosphere as if one were in a secluded sanctuary.
Gōshi walked silently behind the attendant, but his gaze discreetly scanned the layout around him.
He noted the positions of every passageway and emergency exit, even sketching out several potential escape routes in his mind.
Gōshi never believed that any “meeting” was simply for meeting.
Especially not when the other party already had all his “dirt.”
However, just as they turned the corner toward the “third VIP room,” a slender figure happened to emerge from around the bend, colliding with him.
The other party emitted a soft female voice.
Gōshi instinctively reached out to steady the girl’s shoulder, preventing her from falling backward.
“Ah, sorry—”
He was just about to apologize when he was captivated by the beauty of the woman before him, his words catching in his throat—
She had an exquisitely crafted face, with long, delicately curled eyelashes, luminous and clear eyes, and silvery long hair cascading like snow silk behind her, the tips slightly curled, radiating a gentle glow under the warm lights. She wore a well-tailored sea-blue dress that perfectly outlined her slender form, exuding an air of proud elegance.
Even Gōshi, an ace-level supernatural being who had seen many things, couldn’t help but freeze for half a second before this stunning woman.
“…Are you okay?”
Only when her soft, graceful voice reached his ears did he snap back to reality.
But the next moment, his gaze fell on the satin ribbon of her dress—
A small but exquisite brooch shone with a silver and blue emblem, its center displaying intertwined open wings.
—The family crest of the Tenjouin.
Gōshi’s pupils constricted slightly.
Combining the silver hair and the remarkably recognizable face, he almost instantly pieced together the answer in his mind.
—Tenjouin Tsubasa.
The current head of the Tenjouin family and the true power behind the Tenjouin Group.
He quickly regained his composure, maintaining a calm expression as he released his grip on her shoulder and stepped back half a step to allow her to regain her balance.
“My apologies.” The girl gracefully bowed to him, her voice soft and perfectly measured. “It was my clumsiness to bump into you just now.”
“…It’s nothing.” Gōshi replied nonchalantly.
The next second.
The girl raised her head, smiling as she introduced herself: “Nice to meet you, my name is Tenjouin Tsubasa.”
“Tenjouin…? So you are…”
Gōshi feigned surprise, opening his mouth as if he had just discovered her true identity: “I’ve heard so much about you, I am—”
“Mr. Tetsudo Gōshi, am I right?”
Gōshi’s introduction was suddenly interrupted by her, and a graceful yet unchallengeable smile spread across her face: “An ace-level supernatural being of the SEMA — ‘Iron Knight.’”
“…You!?”
Gōshi’s eyes widened abruptly, his words halting in his throat.
He snapped back to attention in an instant, his alertness reaching a peak; even the head of the Tenjouin family couldn’t possibly know his identity as an ace.
Since she would appear here and immediately approach him while mentioning his title, it meant that — the “head of the Tenjouin family” before him was indeed the person scheduled to meet him tonight.
He instinctively took half a step back, preparing to assess the local situation and escape routes.
However—
“Is something wrong? Aren’t you going in?” Tsubasa tilted her head, gently stepping aside to grant him passage, as if it were purely an act of kindness.
But at that moment, Gōshi sensed something unusual.
The retreat route he had planned… was blocked.
The attendant standing behind him had silently positioned themselves in the center of the corridor.
Gōshi reevaluated the figure of the attendant.
Dressed in a well-fitted dark uniform, the attendant carried a tall, slender stature and an icy demeanor.
Their short black hair was meticulously styled, and their facial features were defined, resembling a perfectly sculpted work of art.
It was a handsome face that could cause most women to swoon, yet it bore no sign of emotion, only emanating a near mechanical calmness and rationality.
Gōshi’s internal alarm bells rang.
He sensed a dangerous aura from the attendee.
Almost reflexively, he reached out to touch the bracelet on his wrist, only to find his skin empty upon contact, causing his movements to freeze.
“Looking for this?” a melodious voice interrupted his action.
He turned to see Tsubasa elegantly holding up his bracelet, which was swinging in her hand—
Clearly, she had discreetly taken it from his wrist the moment they collided.
“You can’t be summoning knights in a place like this; after all, it would attract too much attention.”
Tsubasa chuckled softly, continuing, “Before we do that, how about we sit down and have a good chat?”
“For instance, who did you hand over that package to?”
—————–
Meanwhile.
Inside a high-rise business building.
Raindrops hit the glass at an angle, creating blurry water marks.
After a moment of silence, Ayame took a few seconds to gather her thoughts before slowly speaking:
“There is — in the fairy tale, the princess who dies from biting the poisoned apple will open her eyes again due to the prince’s kiss.” Ayame said with a faint tone, “Isn’t this kind of person standing right before us?”
However, she didn’t wait for Kanade to respond, as if she could see through his thoughts, laughing lightly.
“However, I guess what you want to say isn’t about this ‘resurrection,’ but rather the true meaning of — ‘coming back from the dead,’ right?”
She was not a slow-witted person.
Having lived through her third life at the age of 12, she could naturally understand what Kanade intended to express at that moment—
“You suspect… that child has resurrected and become the current Amano-chan?”
Ayame tilted her head, looking at him with curiosity, her sweet and charming voice revealing her sincerity:
“Amano-chan… really resembles that child so much?”
Hearing this, Kanade frowned slightly.
He couldn’t provide a definite answer.
During this time spent with Amano Tsubasa, he indeed sensed various traits that were strikingly similar to Nagi.
Whether it was the tone of her speech, her reactions to things, or even that inexplicable obsession with fried chicken, and the blissful smile that emerged after tasting… all these details, like a series of coincidences, gradually pieced together a hypothesis he couldn’t ignore.
But strangely—
Whenever he attempted to deduce a conclusion from this hypothesis, everything in his mind became blurred.
As if something had bypassed the process of “thinking” and “judgment,” directly stuffing a conclusion into his brain — “not at all like her.”
That answer shone like a calm yet intense radiance, illuminating from the depths of his soul.
Making Kanade “firmly believe it.”
“…Putting other things aside, I’ve seen a portrait of that child before.” Ayame looked up, seeming to compare memories and reality in her mind several times, and finally, as if confirming something, softly said, “She and Amano-chan… don’t look alike at all, right?”
At that remark, Kanade’s mind conjured up the image of “Nagi,” so clear it felt as if they had fought side by side just yesterday.
However.
When he attempted to fit that face with “Amano Tsubasa’s” features, the image suddenly grew hazy.
No matter how hard he tried to think, “Amano Tsubasa’s” face always remained unclear, like it was shrouded in thick fog. The contours of her features were automatically erased in his mind, leaving only the conclusion that “it wasn’t her.”
Yet strangely, Kanade didn’t notice anything wrong with this itself.
“…Is it really just… an illusion?”
Despite the rising doubts within, he once again accepted that ingrained “answer” in his heart.
Deep within Kanade’s consciousness, a silver-white starlight quietly emanated a blinding radiance, like an eternal unmovable truth.
However, below that starlight, it had quietly been entwined by black flames, the writhing black flames seemingly alive, twisting towards the center of the starlight, but this time ultimately repressed by the silver-white light, returning to tranquility.
Nonetheless, the black flames below were rising higher and higher, nearly covering a quarter of the starlight.
Seemingly, they were repeatedly challenging the threshold of the starlight.
……
……
Ayame looked at Kanade, who bore a contemplative expression, suddenly appearing to have thought of an idea, gently clapping her hands.
“Right! Since you care so much, how about you test Amano-chan out personally next time?” She blinked her bright eyes playfully, revealing a mischievous smile. “I will definitely come to help you then.”
“…Wouldn’t that be too disrespectful to Amano-san?”
“Don’t worry, leave it to me. I will do my best to support you, Kanade-kun.” Ayame cheekily gave Kanade a thumbs-up.
At that moment.
A notification ping sounded from their earpieces.
That signaled incoming communication.
Instantly, both pulled back from the previous atmosphere, synchronously adjusting their expressions, rapidly shifting back to a working state and opening the communication channel.
In the next second, a slightly serious voice from Misa came through from the other end:
“Attention all units, Amano-san has entered the VIP area on the third floor of the nightclub and is expected to make contact with the target in a few minutes.”
“Please remain vigilant for any suspicious actions from the target and be on guard against possible escape attempts.”
—————–
Inside the “Night Fog” Nightclub.
Unlike the last time when she was surrounded and helpless under the spotlight, this time, Nagi activated the “Starlight State” in advance.
Whether as the “charming nightclub princess,” “innocent naïve young lady,” “sweet and enchanting idol,” or “pure and lovely first love girlfriend,” from aura to tone, from gestures to glances, she flawlessly portrayed them all.
Seemingly after recovering some of her soul fragments, the “Starlight State” awakened a new ability — it allowed Nagi to manifest the roles she envisioned in her heart and empowered her to perfectly embody these characters, truly making her the “Shadow of a Thousand Faces.”
Thanks to this ability boost —
Nagi seemed to don perfect, flawless masks, playing out every “role” she imagined in her mind to its fullest.
She could be the shy, natural neighborhood girl, slightly lowering her head when approached in the elevator, her cheeks flushing with a natural blush, responding in a shy whisper that neutralized the conversation.
Or she could be the “noble and cold queen,” giving a polite yet distant glance to a suddenly approaching suitor, making them retreat with just a single look.
The “her” portrayed by starlight was not an exaggerated performance but a deep soulful existence.
As if from the moment Nagi stepped into the “Night Fog” nightclub, she was the true protagonist present at this night feast.
And the entire nightclub was thoroughly mobilized by her footsteps.
Lights followed her figure, the crowd naturally parted for her, and the men wishing to approach her were either cleverly evaded by her sweet smile or intimidated into self-reflection by a dismissive glance.
Misa, serving as a waitress in the nightclub, couldn’t help but admire Nagi’s control over the environment after witnessing this.
Thus, she encountered almost no obstacles at all, walking through the social areas “as if nothing was amiss,” while keenly managing the gazes and distances of those around her, elegantly and calmly ascending to the VIP-exclusive floor on the third level.
This was the VIP floor of the nightclub.
Without a special invitation, ordinary guests could not step foot here.
However, Nagi possessed a carefully forged invitation by a dark homebody.
And with her currently unmatched beauty and aura, she merely needed a bright, pure smile to make the attendant on the third floor utterly captivated.
Before they realized their slip of the tongue, they had instinctively revealed to her — which VIP room the newly arrived blonde, blue-eyed man had just headed to.
The silver-white starlight flickered in Nagi’s eyes, and the “character” she was playing transitioned accordingly.
At this moment, she resembled a calm and capable investigator, precisely controlling the pressure points of her high heels, her footsteps silently gliding over the thick carpet on the third floor as she slowly approached the target in room number three.
Meanwhile.
The door of the employee passage on the other side slowly opened, and Misa’s figure quietly emerged.
Having received the location information sent by Nagi, she, using her disguise as a server, circumvented to the third floor through the employee passage, silently subduing several bodyguards stationed at the door along the way, ultimately meeting up with Nagi in front of the door to room number three.
The two exchanged silent glances, and an understanding was clearly reached between them.
Nagi tactically stepped aside to yield the space in front of the room door, while Misa took the lead.
Unseen by others, the latter had already quietly summoned the magic within her, ready to spring into action at any moment.
Nagi was also secretly gathering her magic, but her target was entirely different from Misa’s.
She planned to portray herself as a “newbie,” mistakenly launching an attack due to nervousness just as Misa was about to push the door open, thus creating chaos and providing the target with a chance to escape.
Only after the target had fled could she pursue him alone, obtain all the information she needed from him before he was captured by the joint team, and then, under the guise of “self-defense,” quietly take him out.
Misa had already quietly placed her hand on the doorknob.
The next second.
She forcefully twisted the door lock.
Then she unhesitatingly pushed the door open—
