Shiori’s Diary

From Hayato Mori, we got a piece of essential information that the conspirators were cooking up something in the JinCorp Mega Complex.

Noboru Jinbei, JinCorp Chief Executive Officer.

Akiba Maeda, the Supreme Godfather of Daitoshi Yakuza.

And the mysterious Hannya-masked man, our nemesis.

The question was, what was their original plan?

Hayato stated later that it had something to do with an “infinite power”.

However, the rest of the information was still hazy and blurred.

So, after a very serious yet short discussion, we came to a conclusion.

We would infiltrate JinCorp Mega Complex first, and the answers would present themselves along the way.

That was the worst conclusion we have come to, ever.

And we must pay for it very dearly, severely, and painfully.

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inbei gazed out the window of his spacious office floor in the Infinity Tower, his eyes fixed on the cityscape below. The view was breathtaking, but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. He turned his attention to the man in front of him.

The man was the Head Scientist from the JinCorp Mega Complex Laboratory. He was in his fifties, but the lines on his face and forehead showed that he was ten years older. He wore old-fashioned glasses and had a white mustache. And the unique, odd feature that distinguished him from all other scientists was his long, untrimmed hair. So, he looked more like a Shimanese ancient theater, kabuki actor than a scientist.

They were discussing the progress of the Infinity Project, a sinister scheme to harness an infinite power that could break through the barriers of this world and bring forth unimaginable results.

Yasuaki Abe, the Infinity Project Head, spoke first, “The subjects are ready and connected with the extractors in the tower. However, when the time comes, I’m afraid the energy gathered from the espers and the avatars won’t be enough.”

Jinbei, one of the conspirators, was surprised. “Why is that? Isn’t the ‘soul reaping harvest’ a big success?”

Yasuaki nodded, “Yes, I must admit it exceeds all our wildest expectations. However, since we’re going to harness an infinite power, it might take more than godly supernatural powers to break the seal, to invoke and to transport that power into our world.”

Jinbei exhaled, “Whew, it’s more than human logic can fathom, it seems. So, we’re going to invite more people to the party, right?”

Yasuaki nodded again, “Yes. And then we’ll render them helpless and drain their energy along with the others who are already contained here.”

Jinbei grinned, “And then when the infinite one comes, he will wipe all who resist out. Only the chosen ones will be spared to harness, extract and wield that infinite power.”

Yasuaki nodded, “Yes. And the chosen ones will be us.”

But their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Akiba Maeda, who had unexpectedly joined the meeting.

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“You seriously do think to count me in, right?” Akiba said, looking at Jinbei and Yasuaki with suspicion.

Jinbei tried to reassure him, “Of course we do! We’re in this together!”

But Yasuaki was quick to correct him, “I was talking to Jinbei-san alone. So, it was natural that he regarded ‘all’ as ‘both’. Now that there are three of us, of course ‘all’ means ‘three’.”

Akiba was not convinced and warned them, “It’s no use twisting words, I already knew what’s in your heads. I’ll let it slip for now. Just take care of your actions, don’t let me send those heads rolling.”

But Yasuaki was not intimidated and threatened, “Not if I send your head rolling first.”

Jinbei tried to diffuse the tension, “Enough of that! Not now, please! Let’s postpone this debate until after the mission is complete!”

He then refocused their attention on the task at hand, “As you can see, the lambs are coming for slaughter by infiltrating this complex. Now I’ll let them come and I’ll ‘drive’ the flock into the places I want.”

Akiba asked for more information, “Please elaborate.”

Jinbei explained his plan, “Firstly, let them come to the Research Center. Yasuaki Abe, you know what to do to handle them.”

Yasuaki smirked, “Of course! My surprise for them is to die for. Literally.”

“I know you will. But, if they manage to go past you, I’ll direct them to the factory area,” Jinbei said, his voice cool and confident.

“You know that for me, it’s an insult, right?” Yasuaki replied, his voice laced with a hint of anger.

Jinbei smiled. “I’m just practicing the principles in ‘The Ginjiro Strategem.’ Anyway, the soldiers, firearms, and weapons there are at your disposal, Maeda,” he said, addressing Akiba.

“Leave that to me and the best of the Yakuza,” Akiba replied, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

Jinbei nodded. “Good, you are truly a fine ally and a great friend, Maeda.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room. “And lastly, if all else fails, I’ll just let them come into the ultimate trap, namely the ‘point of extraction’ in the Infinity Tower.”

“I’ll see to it that our work will come to completion. I have invested most of my fortune and JinCorp assets in this project. So, I can’t afford to fail!” Jinbei declared, his voice ringing with conviction.

“Same with me. I have even sold my soul for it,” Yasuaki interjected. “Speak of the devil, why don’t you switch us up by placing Maeda in the labs, yourself in the factory, and me in the tower instead, Jinbei-san?”

Jinbei shook his head. “The reason is the same as what I said before. I can’t afford to lose, so I applied another theory in the ‘Ginjiro Strategem.’”

“It’s by placing the strongest in the front line and so on. So, the strongest will have a better chance of survival and can assist the others upon failure,” he continued. “Since the three of us are equally matched, it doesn’t matter who is where, as long as the place suits the user.”

“Oh, I understand now. If I can choose, I’ll choose the factory, definitely,” Akiba said, his eyes bright with anticipation.

“And the lab has all the things I need, conveniently. I agree, Jinbei-san,” Yasuaki added.

“Good. Since all the pieces are ready in place, let the countdown to the final match begin!” Jinbei declared a smile on his lips.

As the three men dispersed to their stations, Jinbei’s mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. He had invested everything he had in this project, and he couldn’t afford to fail. He knew that the next few days would be the most crucial of his life, and he was ready for whatever lay ahead.