After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Emily collected herself.

She spread out the white paper in her hand, picked up a pencil, and bit into a cream-filled pastry, her cheeks puffed out like a feeding hamster.

Emily was completely unaware of how adorable this way of eating bread was.

She always believed that taking large bites of bread showcased her heartiness.

"Let's first sort out Dio's current superpowers."

"The first is an internal attack on the human body, a close-range skill effective within two to three meters."

"The second is information gathering, with an estimated radius of 1,300 meters, an inference drawn from the Muramoto case."

"Furthermore, this superpower likely has limitations or specific conditions for use."

"If he could perceive everything within range, he wouldn't have missed Mayers's recording pen. I speculate it's object-related."

"For instance, perhaps touching an object allows him to eavesdrop or monitor information related to it."

"That would explain why the paper on Yasuda Masao's door was destroyed, and why Mayers tested his theory by hiding the recording pen inside a spring."

Tsk, how infuriating. That guy thinks more deeply than I gave him credit for.

Emily looked somewhat frustrated. Character aside, she had to admit Mayers was clever.

She took a large bite of the cream pastry, the sweet cream and soft bread dispelling her frustration. She continued, "Third, verbal control over others, such as compelling suicide."

"Issuing such a command requires constant repetition. I suspect commands that violate a person's will don't take effect easily."

"Fourth, the ability to appear anywhere at any time, bypassing all security."

"Fifth, suspected shapeshifting. I suspect the pink-haired man was Dio."

"Otherwise, with that man's power, it's inconceivable he wouldn't have acted."

"Sixth, precision strikes against an enemy's vital points."

"Seventh, ignoring stun guns—possibly a defensive ability or immunity to electricity."

"Eighth, an unknown ability that causes people to attack inanimate objects as if they were enemies, resulting in actual harm."

Having listed these superpowers, Emily's brow furrowed. Dio had demonstrated eight types so far, but it remained unknown if he possessed others yet unrevealed.

"'I feel like Dio has become invincible,' Okayama Takeo exclaimed, his face a mask of awe. He genuinely couldn't imagine how to apprehend such a person."

Miyaji Yosuke nodded.

Morimoto Chiyoda sipped her tea leisurely, offering no opinion, nor knowing what opinion to offer.

She, too, had no idea how to capture such a Superpower User.

Emily, while writing, said, "Our only chance is to locate Dio, then catch him off guard and use anesthesia or some other method to neutralize his combat capabilities on site."

Morimoto Chiyoda shrugged. "The problem is, how do we find Dio?"

"There's always a way."

Emily said this, but then turned the paper towards them. Aside from the superpowers, one sentence was written: "Conduct reverse surveillance on the CIA's Robert."

She was certain Robert's plan would lead the special task force to Dio and, furthermore, that this plan would be unimaginably cruel.

「Shinjuku Central Building, Special Intelligence Investigators' Headquarters.」

Robert finished writing his plan and set down his fountain pen.

He picked up the meticulously prepared page and walked towards the Minister's office, raising his hand to knock.

A deliberately stern voice called from within, "Come in."

Robert opened the door.

The spacious office housed two aquariums with tropical fish.

Attractive potted plants adorned the corners and the sides of the desk.

Minister Jack's crescent-shaped desk sat before the floor-to-ceiling windows.

His eyes shifted from the computer screen, and he smiled. "Robert, what is it?"

Jack held this capable subordinate, Robert, in high esteem.

Information about Dio's constantly increasing superpowers, along with the speculations from Emily and her team regarding his abilities, had all been provided by Robert.

Jack merely needed to compile it, draft a report, and send it up the chain of command.

This report would then be forwarded to the Director, who in turn would pass it to the President.

As long as this report reached the President before the Japanese Prime Minister's, the CIA would be credited with a major accomplishment.

Jack had just received praise from his superiors and was in an exceptionally good mood.

Robert inwardly scorned this attitude but said nothing, offering a gentle smile. "Minister, this is the plan I've devised for Dio's capture."

"Please review it. If there are no issues, we can proceed with its execution."

"Alright."

Jack accepted the plan. His smile vanished the moment he began to read, his expression shifting to shock, then grim seriousness.

Having read the plan, he said gravely, "Robert, are you serious?"

Robert nodded. "I believe it is the optimal solution."

"Don't be ridiculous! Using sarin in Tokyo? Three kilograms of it? If that spreads through Shinjuku's Kabukicho district, do you have any idea how many people will die?"

Jack was aghast. He hadn't imagined that beneath Robert's mild exterior lurked such an extreme, almost maniacal, personality.

The terror of poison gas lies in its insidiousness; it doesn't emit the pungent odors that would typically warn people away.

It is either colorless and odorless or emits an unusual fragrance. Sarin is the latter. It has a faint, fruity scent, so those who inhale it often don't realize anything is wrong.

By the time people realize something is amiss, they might not even connect it to sarin inhalation, having already lost the capacity to resist or escape.

Sarin doesn't cause visually spectacular destruction like a missile, but its lethality is silent and insidious, leaving victims unaware of how they died.

In certain situations, sarin's killing power can be far more terrifying than that of missiles.

Jack shook his head. "I cannot possibly approve such an inhumane plan!"

Robert replied calmly, "Minister Jack, I am merely proposing the optimal solution. Some sacrifices are unavoidable. We can just blame it on a religious cult."

"Japan has no shortage of such heretics. Executing a dozen of them would be enough to quell public outrage."

"This isn't a matter of finding scapegoats! Your proposal is a grievous violation of human morality. I will not approve such a plan!"

Jack continued to shake his head.

He might be a scoundrel, but he was a scoundrel with a conscience; he couldn't bring himself to commit such an inhumane act.

A flicker of contempt crossed Robert's eyes. He said softly, "I will submit this plan directly to Officer John. He can decide whether it should be executed."

"And I will advise Officer John to reject your plan," Jack retorted, his face impassive.

He had already formulated his reasoning: a living Dio was more valuable than a dead one.

As for Dio's development, one could propose alternative theories—perhaps there was an upper limit; after all, an individual couldn't grow indefinitely powerful.

As long as such a possibility existed, he believed their superiors wouldn't immediately resort to such extreme measures.

Using poison gas in Shinjuku... If it were exposed, the international repercussions would be severe.

Jack felt confident he could prevent his superiors from approving this atrocious plan.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

Robert lowered his head, inwardly sneering at Jack's naivety.

He knew perfectly well what their superiors were thinking. They might agonize over it for a time, but ultimately, they would approve his plan. The CIA operated without a moral compass; only interests mattered.

DING DONG DONG.

The school bell trilled, signaling the end of classes. After the teacher departed, Aozawa packed his textbooks, preparing to head to the Kendo club for practice.

Phoenix Academy Maggie, who sat in front of him, turned around with a beaming smile. "Aozawa, could you join me for an event after school?"

"What event?"

Aozawa was somewhat surprised; this was the first time Maggie had invited him out after school.

Phoenix Academy Maggie's hands weren't on her desk; they were clenched tightly under it. "It's an event our manga club is doing—participating in the Spiciest Curry Championship at the Silver Department Store!"

Aozawa quickly shook his head. "Maggie, I can't handle spicy food, let alone something 'extremely spicy.'"

"Don't worry! You just need to be there for moral support. Leave the eating to me!"

Confidence radiated from Phoenix Academy Maggie's face. Truthfully, she hadn't eaten much truly spicy food herself, but how could a mere spicy challenge deter her pursuit of a date?

Her mother had already scheduled her weekends full of courses, leaving no time for dating.

Nomura True Wave had suggested choosing the time after school for dates.

She could use this time to invite Aozawa to participate in activities or simply go for a walk somewhere.

Phoenix Academy Maggie had been waiting for the right moment. Then, she heard from Nomura True Wave that the curry shop at the Silver Department Store was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary by hosting a 'Spiciest Curry Championship.'

The champion would win a voucher for free meals for a year.

"Well, I can handle being moral support."

After a moment's thought, Aozawa didn't decline her invitation.

Phoenix Academy Maggie breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her head. "Tetsuji, are you coming too?"

"Not interested."

Hojo Tetsuji declined flatly. He despised curry, thinking it resembled a pile of dung.

"Little Sayuri is also looking for someone to join... If you're not interested, I'll have to tell her no."

"My lady! You don't need to participate! I will absolutely win this championship! That year's worth of curry vouchers will be mine!"

Hojo Tetsuji roared, instantly serious, as if an invisible flame had ignited around him.

He loved curry more than anything! He absolutely had to win that year's supply of curry vouchers for Yoshikawa Sayuri!

For her sake, he would even gulp down molten lava in a single swig!

Watching the fired-up Hojo Tetsuji, then glancing at Phoenix Academy Maggie, Aozawa asked with concern, "Tetsuji's dead serious. Think you can handle him?"

"Haha, you think I'd lose to *him*? Don't be ridiculous!"

Determination filled Phoenix Academy Maggie's expression.

Hojo Tetsuji had his reasons for not losing, and so did she.

This event was her first offensive move towards Aozawa; by her reckoning, it was practically their first date.

She absolutely could not lose.

Her eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Aozawa gave her a complicated look. "Maggie, do you understand the phrase 'Chrysanthemums shattered, the ground covered in wounds'?"

"You don't need to tell me."

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't understand it, but she wasn't about to ask. Asking now, she felt, would be admitting defeat in terms of spirit. Just charge ahead!