We pick up from last time as Gammei and Barrel take you, Akashi, and Mokdai along to investigate who could be plotting themselves some terrorism. The skyscraper that is part of Raidark's HQ stands in the distance while Gammei explains some things while you guys walk. He starts talking about how society nowadays is a paperless net society after digitalization advanced and planets besides Earth are now connected to the Tachyon Network. But despite how advance technology is, investigations are still based on footwork. You've got a mountain of info to sort through coming from all sorts of intel networks, so you have to figure out what's trustworthy, then head out and search for clues that may add to it. It's said that the probability of making arrests is higher this way than staying at a computer all day.
Gammei fiddles around with his tablet to organize some stuff. Once he's done with that, his tablet starts displaying a map with a few glowing red dots on it. He explains that you guys will be going to question villains that are highly likely to attempt the terrorism in this case. To do that, you'll be going to the dots on his map where the villains' lairs are rumored to be. Mokdai expresses surprise at how much of them there are just in the central district, and Akashi says it's scary that there could be villains lurking in those places.
Gammei says that in any age, criminals are surprisingly close to home. Even in the era before Kaibutsu were a thing that people knew about, there were yakuza groups and other unsavory types in droves around. About the biggest difference between then and now is that digitalization makes investigation easier. You comment that this feels like it's going to be a long walk and that your legs are tired already. Gammei laughs that you're a bit too young to be saying that, and maybe you should have some sympathy for those ahead of you. Plus if you guys really need it, you can put a taxi or an underground train ticket on your expenses. He then urges you guys on.
Time skips a bit and Gammei comments that the place you've visited is empty, so you may as well head to the next location two blocks down. Barrel brings up the idea that maybe the news that you guys are investigation got leaked out because everywhere you've searched is deserted. Gammei says that even if that didn't happen, the villains' intel network would spread the info around if they noticed police officers getting near their hideouts. But supposing they did run off somewhere, it's plenty possible that they've left traces behind. You guys will just have to be patient and search since that's your job.
After checking out another possible lair, you guys start getting closer to a bigger street. Mokdai takes notice of something, which turns out to be a bunch of children asking people for donations to rebuild Raidark's Eastern Japan Children's Home. These children are hanging little boxes from their shoulders, trying to get the attention of anyone passing by in their attempts to fundraise. Akashi is surprised it's happening there too as he mentions there are kids like that fundraising near his school lately. You either wonder what they're trying to raise money for or ask about this reconstruction thing they mentioned.
Gammei says they must be refugees from Kaibutsu attacks and that they
aren't an uncommon sight. Back 180 years ago when the monsters first
started appearing, every big city in Japan was attacked in succession.
Southern Kanto is believed to have dense population centers in the past,
which unfortunately ended up being devoured. The other cities were
barely saved thanks to the sudden arrival of heroes from space.
As much as Gammei says these other cities were saved, they never really managed to return to their previous state. Political chaos ensued and poverty affected day to day living. Secondary disasters broke out afterwards, and even now refugee shelters are being built in all big cities. These areas are filled with displaced people looking for a place to live in peace, and this includes a ton of lost children. Raidark's Eastern Japan Children's Home is just one of the facilities meant to care for these kids. You sadly think on this, on Southern Kanto, and/or stay quiet.
Mokdai stays quiet too, and Barrel talks about how Orient City isn't that far away from the remains of the ruined cities in Southern Kanto where Kaibutsu still appear. It's why they appear more frequently here compared to other areas, but it also means there are a lot more heroes around too. That's why a lot of refugees turn up here in Orient City. Gammei talks about how unfortunately, the government has given up on a perfect rebuild of how things used to be. As long as refugees get support from private companies like Raidark, they can get by at least, soliciting donations to give to the government. Mokdai sadly comments 'oh' at that, and you turn to him to ask what's wrong.
Mokdai is about to start talking about his past when the kids start screaming, which gets everyone's attention. A few mob villains have suddenly turned up and are cornering the children against a wall, who are all shivering like cornered mice. Thug A starts threatening the kids for soliciting on their turf while Thug B complains that no one ever tells them about these things beforehand. Thug C says the kids' teachers know through 'personal experience' how terrible they are.
One of the kids tries to point out that the place they're at isn't supposed to be anyone's business property, but Yellow yells at them for trying to argue. Said kid shrinks back while another tries to ask the thug to not get violent, but Yellow immediately smacks her for it. Mokdai gets outraged at this, shaking as his balls up his fists. He starts saying those kids need to be helped, but he falters at the idea of going himself. Akashi then starts walking forward to Mokdai's surprise.
One of the thugs scoff about how dumb teachers are dumb while brats are brats, so another one says they ought to teach a thing or two to the kids themselves. One kid cries as the thug starts to raise his hand, but Akashi steps in to grab his arm. You call out to him about how dangerous it is. The thug demands to know who Akashi is, but Akashi responds by asking if they feel at all embarrassed at trying to pick a fight with kids not even half their age.
The thug starts getting pissed as he asks if Akashi is trying to lecture them. Akashi repeats his earlier question as he accuses them of being the real brats here. This riles the guy up, but another of the thugs points out that Akashi has something on his arm to the lead mob. It takes him a moment, but then he notices the hero agency comm unit so he asks if Akashi is a hero. Akashi asks why they care about that, so the mob says trying to shake down little kids has turned into something else fun. He signals to his flunkies, and they all raise their arms up and transform into their villain mob outfits.
Akashi and Mokdai are surprised by this, and the mobs start cackling as they ask if you're seeing them and amazed. Another of them says you better not say you've never heard of the Cerberus of Taisha Street. A beat passes before Akashi says he doesn't know who they are. The mobs are baffled at this, and Akashi apologizes for not knowing who they are even with them trying to be all dramatic. A couple of the kids talk amongst themselves about whether they've heard of the group too. They have not. Red asks in shock if you guys never watched TV, but Akashi answers that he has, but their name never came up. You either comment that they don't stand out well enough or ask Mokdai if he's heard of them. B has Mokdai admit he's looked up lots of heroes and villains, but he doesn't know of them.
Barrel mentions that he feels a little sorry for the thugs, even if they're bad people. He admits he hasn't heard of them either. The villains get outraged as they accuse everyone of making fun of them, and Gammei sighs at all this before noticing that his database has come up with an entry on them. He reads off that this criminal gang is suspected of doing 12 minor crimes, 3 cases of larceny, and marked as needing observation. But all in all they're small time criminals, and Gammei suspects that their egos got inflated when they got mentioned on the news.
The lead mob gets offended at being referred to as small time, but one of the flunkies point out that Gammei did mention that they were designated as needing observation. He also recognizes Barrel as that dog hero in the police force, but Barrel protests the dog part and insists he'd rather be called a wolf. Gammei shrugs and says they have to be pretty brave to reveal themselves as villains in front of the police and try to assault someone. If they want it so much, he can arrest them here. He assures them that's all he'll do, and he'll even get a bonus to his paycheck for that!
You ask Gammei what he meant by that last bit, but he quickly waves it off as just talking to himself. Gammei then orders Barrel to move the children and any rubberneckers to somewhere safe. Barrel whines at this since he wanted to fight too, both because they hurt children and because he's pissed they called him a dog. Gammei however pulls rank and forces Barrel to go, so he reluctantly obeys. His tail droops as he walks off towards the onlookers, and you express some pity for him since he was so ready to fight.
Gammei says Barrel will get spoiled if you let him have his way, so it's best to treat him the way he did. It's good that Barrel wants to fight, but Gammei notes that his gun skills suck when he's not transformed. It's not too bad if he concentrates, but if he gets too excited then Gammei will have to start worrying about collateral damage. But anyways, Gammei says this is an urgent request and asks you to help him with the arrest. Since this isn't technically a work-related battle his agency will be paying a special fee for this.
Gammei taps at his phone and then points it at your terminal. A contract from pops up on your screen, along with the buttons for Accept and Reject. Gammei asks you if you'll accept on Parallel Flight's behalf, so you decide to go ahead with it and tell Mokdai and Akashi to get ready. Akashi agrees to join in the fight and Mokdai says he'll get the camera and feed ready. Gammei then contacts his own agency for a transformation as he poses, and a light flares out from his watchband. The next moment later he's in his hero outfit, armed with sturdy looking equipment. You either comment on this being his hero form, say it looks cool, or ask what the hell the mesh is about. B has Gammei embarrassed as he says this is hard to do and that he has his own arrangements when he transforms. C has him shocked instead as he tells you to stop pointing at his outfit and also mentions the transformation arrangement bit.
Anyways, Gammei announces his arrival as a hero and gives his code name. He declares that he'll stop the villains for the sake of his dinner the safety of the people. The villains try to bluster about how he's nothing and start charging you guys. Akashi asks you to transform him, so you agree and declare the start of the battle. Mokdai says he's got the connection up, and so the episode battle begins. More happens after that.
After the battle, the story picks back up with Barrel cuffing the villains and saying they'll listen to them at the station. The mobs are vexed at this, and one demands he stop pulling on him and be more gentle. Barrel is leading the mobs to the police car, and the children and random onlookers wander off leaving the street quiet once more. Akashi sighs and asks if this means case closed. You either say he did a good job or sigh about how you're tired too. A gets an extra line where Akashi says you did well too with the operating Master.
Mokdai starts awkwardly addressing you, Akashi, and Gammei and thanks you guys for saving those children. You either express confusion at this or ask him why he's thanking you guys. Both sides has Akashi ask the same thing, though A has Akashi nod back confused while B has him agree with you. Mokdai says he missed his chance to say it earlier today, but he used to live in a refugee district in Hakata (in Fukuoka), always in fear of villains and Kaibutsu. He sympathizes with how the children feel so much it hurts, so he thanks you guys for helping them. You then express some sympathy for him.
Mokdai quickly states that it wasn't always bad since there were a lot of fun times too. Since it was a city often attacked by villains and Kaibutsu, he got to see up close how cool heroes are. The way Akashi stood in front to protect those kids in front of the children reminded him of a hero who protected him back then, and they were super cool. Akashi jumping out like that was what saved those kids, and he comments that Akashi is brave. That's probably why he was able to become a hero, or so he thinks at least.
Akashi is embarrassed at the topic and tries to deny it for a bit before he shrugs and lets it be. That aside, Akashi wonders why Mokdai can't be a hero if he likes them so much. Akashi was able to do it, so Mokdai ought to be able to do it too. You agree with the idea and suggest Mokdai try it out. Mokdai quickly says he can't do it since he was too afraid to do anything against the villains except watch. He did think they were being awful, but he couldn't bring himself to step up, so he got mad. How can a loser like him become a hero? Plus, his looks and personality won't really work for it. Akashi wonders how true it is, and you ask if his looks and personality really are the problem as you think something else is the issue. You check your phone, and it doesn't detect any signals about Mokdai being able to become a hero. You then wonder aloud what conditions are needed to become a hero.
Gammei calls over to you guys and says it's time to get back to the investigation. If you guys want those kids to live in peace, you should do your best at this investigation job. After all, the ones financially backing their orphanage is Raidark's main office on Earth, and they got an advance crime notice. If the crime mentioned in it comes to pass, then the company will take severe damages. It's even possible in that case that no one will be left to manage the orphanage. Mokdai steels himself and agrees to go along. Akashi does too, and the episode ends with him saying that you guys need to check three more places before sundown.
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