Self-cultivation of Kamen Rider ZIO

Chapter 736 Turning Passivity into Initiative
Peston Service Station.

“Beep! Beep! Beep!”

Early in the morning, the familiar ringtone of an incoming call rang from the laptop on the stool.

When the members of the Extermination Squad who were sleeping crookedly under the kotatsu in front of the computer heard the voice, they soon began the familiar process of kicking their feet to shirk the responsibility of answering the call. Then, the bullied Misaki Kazuya finally took on the responsibility of the communicator once again with good temper... Yes, it should have been like this.

But this time, shortly after the communication bell rang and everyone hadn’t even finished a round of pedaling, someone had already responsibly answered the call.

"Hello, this is the expulsion squad."

The person who pressed the connect button was none other than Mizusawa Yu, who had just joined the extermination team yesterday.

"Hello, this is the investigation team. According to the intelligence data analysis, there is an apartment building that is likely to be home to a test subject... Although it is a bit embarrassing to say this, according to the instructions of the new superior, for further confirmation, you, the expulsion team, are required to go and investigate."

This notification was very different from previous ones, and the phrase "instructions from the new superior" really aroused Shito Makoto's nerves, causing him to suddenly wake up from his drowsy state.

He immediately sat up and loudly retorted:

"Hey! Before the identification code is confirmed or evidence of the experimental subject's presence is found, it should be the job of your investigation team, right? We haven't received any notification about the new superior!!"

Perhaps he had expected such a reaction from the Extermination Squad, for in the face of Shito Makoto's questioning, the liaison officer of the Investigation Squad remained very calm.

"Yes, that was the case before." The liaison officer of the investigation team explained seriously, "But yesterday evening, our new boss came to beat... ahem, and tested our combat capabilities. I'm sorry, none of us passed..."

In the investigation team's office, the liaison officer, who was wrapped in bandages, pulled the corners of his swollen mouth and continued speaking.

"So, it's not that we are unwilling to investigate in that apartment, but we are forbidden to go there."

Although the investigation team's words were very miserable, Shito Makoto was not comforted at all. Instead, he felt even more annoyed.

Because this explanation from the investigation team means that the risks that both parties had previously borne separately may now be concentrated on the expulsion team.

If there is really a problem with the investigation team's combat effectiveness, then why was it possible before, but now it fails with a change of superiors?

As the captain of the Extermination Squad, Shito Makoto simply couldn't accept this.

He couldn't help but laugh:
"Ha! In that case, let your new superior come and talk to me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a reply from the direction of the door.

"As you wish, I'm here."

Shito Shin turned around in surprise and saw Tokiwa Sougo walking out of the darkness outside the door, his fingers crossed, his arms leaning on the railing, smiling as he looked down at them from the second floor.

"The Demon King..."

After the call was disconnected, Shito Makoto looked up at Tokiwa Sougo and was surprised to find that he was not that surprised.

“——You actually did it.”

"It's just about getting the officials and Nozama to cooperate. Of course I can do that."

At this point, Tokiwa Sougo tilted his head slightly and chuckled teasingly.

"Come to think of it, if you didn't trust me, why would you agree to let You join you yesterday?"

After all, no matter whether it is coercion or inducement, as long as Tokiwa Sougo fails to successfully promote cooperation between the official and Noza, it will all be just empty talk.

Shito Makoto frowned tightly, and his headache only got worse.

Putting aside the question of what he believed in, he admitted that Tokiwa Sougo's idea of ​​daring to break through everything for the safety of people's lives was very passionate, but he was no longer young.

Shito pulled down the corner of his mouth in annoyance and said coldly:

"Hmph! Even if you say so, if you don't have a suitable reason, I will not agree to you transferring the task that originally belonged to the Investigation Squad to the Extermination Squad!" Of course, Tokiwa Sougo thought about it seriously before deciding to let the Extermination Squad take on part of the investigation task. Otherwise, he was afraid that the Investigation Squad would be wiped out before they could accomplish their task.

"I don't know if Nozama has told you that the armbands they wear will only send out an alarm signal when the experimental subjects awaken into Amazon forms. They will not respond at other times... In other words, every time the investigation team confirms the identification code of the experimental subject and notifies you of the mission, there is already a victim."

The people in the expulsion squad didn’t think much about these innocent people who had been abandoned from the very beginning, nor did they dare to think much about them because they were powerless.

Apart from expelling the experimental subjects, Nozama Pharmaceutical would neither tell them more information nor prohibit them from exploring more information on their own.

They are just a group of mercenaries who fight for money and only fight.

But Tokiwa Sougo is different. He is not interested in the money from Nozama Pharmaceutical.

His goal is to solve Amazon's problems and save lives.

So, after seeing these innocent people, he naturally would not pamper Nozama Pharmaceutical like the Extermination Squad did.

"Mr. Shito, Nozama gave up on those people, but I am different. I will not give up on any innocent people in advance."

Although he said such righteous and passionate words, Tokiwa Sougo's eyes did not seem to be burning at all. Instead, they were as deep and dark as the night sky, captivating people.

Shito Shin was distracted for a moment as he looked into his eyes, but was awakened by Tokiwa Sougo's next words.

“——So, from now on, both the investigation team and the extermination team will no longer be passive as they did in the past.

"I have adjusted the scope of the investigation team's work. Although they will no longer be assigned dangerous tasks, their workload will increase exponentially. For example, they need to find out in the shortest possible time who are the people who have settled in this city in the past two years? Where do they live?
“Among them, who is most likely to be the experimental subject?
"Then, the expulsion team will go and confirm and expel them."

Hearing this, Misaki Kazuya couldn't help but grumble in a low voice:
"Can this be checked clearly?"

"Yes." Tokiwa Sougo nodded and smiled. "Just like your Amazon companions can sense other Amazons, if we recruit more and spread them out, we will be able to find out in no time."

Give those Amazons who want to survive and have not crossed the line a chance, and they will also give humans who were eaten by awakened experimental subjects in another timeline a chance to survive.

The members of the Extermination Squad who also thought of this fell silent.

At this moment, Tokiwa Sougo changed the subject and spoke again: "By the way, haven't I told you about the new treatment of the Expulsion Squad yet?"

"New treatment? What new treatment?"

"It's very simple. From now on, you are no longer mercenaries, but formal employees. Therefore, you will receive a basic salary, and the company will pay for insurance and taxes. In addition, there are travel reimbursements, family allowances, family benefits, etc. As for other things, whether it is investigation, expulsion, or capture, they are all considered performance..."

As Tokiwa Sougo explained their new treatment, the mood of the Extermination Squad, which had just been depressed, quickly warmed up, and gradually became more enthusiastic, and symbols of money began to appear in their eyes.

Even Shito Makoto couldn't help but hold his forehead and sigh when he saw this, but he couldn't help but smile.

The reason was good, returning to familiar territory.

"If we can earn more money this way, then we, who were originally driven out for money, will have no reason to continue to refuse... What do you think? Everyone."

Of course, others responded with pleasure.

then……

They arrived at the apartment building marked by the extermination squad.

Shito Makoto: “…”

He looked back at his teammates in uniform and fully armed, then turned his head to look at Tokiwa Sougo standing next to him in casual clothes, as if he was out for fun, and asked with a twitching mouth: "Are you really okay like this? If a fight breaks out, we may not have the time to protect you."

"That's fine with me, but this building... doesn't it feel dead to you?"

Tokiwa Sougo looked at the apartment in front of him and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Hiss~~ I always feel like things aren't going well."