Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 513 - 511 Without Me, What Future Does the World Need_1
Tokyo, Adachi District.
Kita-Senju is a dazzling jewel of Adachi District, teeming with a variety of shops and restaurants. Traditional Japanese architecture and modern skyscrapers merge, creating a beautiful skyline.
It wasn’t yet noon, but the sun already showcased the summer heat.
Bruno opted not to wear a suit; instead, he wore a loose long-sleeved T-shirt paired with thin casual pants and slipped on a pair of sandals. To avoid attracting attention, he disguised his appearance and hair color, donned large black-framed glasses, and transformed into an unremarkable office worker.
Bruno’s outing wasn’t for any mission; he simply wanted to find a place to eat breakfast. A special agent’s working hours weren’t fixed; urgent business meant working continuously. Naturally, meal times became irregular. Moreover, while agents had to learn many skills, cooking wasn’t one of them.
Bruno couldn’t cook. Neither could Curtis nor the Drunkard. Eating instant noodles in a developed country seemed too pitiful. Ordering takeout carried a risk of exposing their hideout. Instead, it was better to put on a disguise and eat at a Chinese Restaurant. Curtis and the Drunkard would also eat at that restaurant but wouldn’t accompany him. The three of them together were too conspicuous; they needed to enter the Chinese Restaurant in three separate groups to avoid drawing any attention.
This was because the new Director of Intelligence was not an easy adversary. Their identity and whereabouts were unknown; the only certainty was their considerable capability. The KGB’s recent developments had all come to a halt. Bruno knew when to take risks and when to lie low. Executing unreliable orders from above would only cause the currently favorable situation to collapse instantly.
Working in the enemy’s headquarters is not an easy job, Bruno thought, his eyes scanning the streets. This was his habit—always observing his surroundings to avoid being followed.
A quick scan revealed a boy and girl in the crowd who stood out from the other pedestrians. They had distinctive appearances and auras. Yet, they were carrying meat and vegetables, apparently having just come from the market.
Strange, he mused. Normally, after buying groceries, people go home or browse other shops *before* purchasing their food items. Why would this pair start strolling through the streets *after* they’ve finished their shopping?
Bruno took a few more glances and realized that the seemingly frail boy was no ordinary person. His steps were steady, each one firmly rooted to the ground. His relaxed body seemed ready to handle an attack from any direction.
This is a martial artist of considerable skill, Bruno assessed. He trusted his own judgment, his face revealing nothing as he gripped the miniature gun inside his trouser pocket. It was a special agent’s tool. It didn’t look like a gun but rather a lighter, capable of firing a single bullet coated with a deadly toxin. If it hit, even an elephant would foam at the mouth and collapse.
Bruno remained alert, but noticed the boy paid him no heed and entered a KFC. He heard the boy say, "Shouko, these burgers taste good."
"Yeah," the girl replied.
His tension eased. He crossed the street and, after a detour, arrived at the planned Chinese Restaurant. Bruno surveyed his surroundings, confirmed nothing was amiss, and then entered the restaurant.
"Welcome, how many?" asked the server.
"Just one," Bruno replied.
"What would you like to order?"
"Mapo tofu and sweet and sour pork loin."
Bruno glanced around the restaurant. Curtis and the Drunkard, also disguised, were already there, eating. He sat at a table diagonally behind them and pulled out his phone to check a short-video app for any major news.
It’s not like KGB intelligence is omniscient, Bruno mused. His information was limited to Tokyo. For intriguing occurrences outside Tokyo, he couldn’t verify their authenticity and only received snippets through informants at the Metropolitan Police Department. Beyond those cases, Bruno sourced his updates on global events from short online videos. Headquarters wouldn’t brief him on happenings elsewhere. Different regions, different responsibilities. Even though Bruno felt he should be privy to all news, the higher-ups’ stance was clear: Stop dreaming.
After casually watching a couple of videos, the third reported that several U.S. states were changing their homeless relief programs, emulating the approach of Holy Son David. They would adopt a work-for-relief method to help the homeless. If Bruno remembered correctly, some states had previously criticized David’s actions as inhumane. Now, it was being framed as liberal democratic care. He had to admire their shameless ability to lie so blatantly. He continued scrolling and came across another piece of news.
An estimated 640,000 illegal immigrants were to be sent to New York. Mayor David was willing to accept these people. Connecting this to yesterday’s news about factory investments, Bruno guessed that America’s top leadership aimed to leverage David’s religious influence to make New York the nation’s manufacturing hub. The decline of U.S. manufacturing wasn’t a recent issue. Typically, recovery efforts would take three to five years to show results. But with religious backing, it was different. Driven by faith, believers wouldn’t dare to slack off.
Eight hours, ten hours, even twelve—I believe they’d work tirelessly, Bruno thought. Faith, when harnessed correctly, is an incredibly powerful force.
Bruno swiped again and discovered some breaking world news. An organization from the territory often described as the world’s largest open-air prison had broken through and launched a surprise attack. Watching the short video of the ambush, Bruno was momentarily stunned. He immediately realized this was a gravely significant event.
Bruno was all too aware of the dangers from the Different World. With the Emperor of the Shadow Clan now officially meddling in global affairs, other nations perceived a threat, regardless of the Emperor’s intentions. They sought stability to confront this otherworldly danger. Even regions constantly engulfed in warfare needed to find calm. However, the views of the higher-ups and those on the ground often diverged. After all, fanning the flames is easy—just pour oil on the fire. But putting out the fire is not a simple task. Especially when it meant sacrificing others to stabilize the foundation—people aren’t fools. Rather than be silently carved up after agreements were reached, it was better to unleash a deafening roar and drag everyone down together.
Bruno had worked for the CIA. He knew very well that a faction within the United States craved what they called the Apocalypse War, believing victory would bring them redemption. The situation in the Middle East was becoming troublesome. If not handled delicately, the entire region risked descending into chaos.
It’s a pity I’m not the KGB agent responsible for that region, Bruno thought with some regret. This matter didn’t concern him.
...
After finishing breakfast at the Chinese Restaurant, Bruno returned to the stronghold in Adachi District. He didn’t see the young boy and girl again on the way. It must have been an isolated incident, he concluded. Bruno was a special agent, but he also believed in coincidences. Anyone who suspected everything couldn’t be a special agent; they’d be better suited for an observation position in a mental hospital.
Honestly, if the KGB hadn’t been strategically contracting, he would have genuinely wanted to recruit the boy. Unfortunately, his current role wasn’t to recruit new members for the KGB, but to protect existing achievements from being dismantled by the new Director of Intelligence. I wonder what kind of background that person has? Bruno mused.
Bruno arrived at the stronghold and glanced downward. A very thin strand of hair was wedged in the doorframe near the floor, at about ankle height—almost imperceptible without careful inspection. The hair was still in place, indicating the door hadn’t been opened. If enemies took this as confirmation, they’d overlook the real trap. That was the doorknob, pressed down ever so slightly. Only Bruno would know if the knob had returned to its precise original position. If it hadn’t, that was proof no one had entered. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
He casually opened the door. The interior looked like an ordinary household, but key equipment was hidden in a secret compartment within the bedroom wardrobe.
Bruno sent a message to his group chat indicating his return. He then entered the bedroom, opened the wardrobe’s secret compartment, and retrieved the equipment he had stored there. Among the items was a phone specifically for contacting his superiors. Bruno took out the phone, unlocked it with a password, and saw new orders had arrived. He opened them.
"Bring the results of the Smart Armor research project to Port Said, Egypt."
This simple order surprised Bruno slightly. He scratched his head. They probably don’t understand how precious Smart Armor has become, he thought. Wait a second...
Bruno fell into deep thought, processing the latest intelligence. Complying with the order wasn’t utterly impossible, but expecting the KGB to transport it there via courier was clearly unrealistic.
Bruno quickly asked his superiors, "Who is the Smart Armor for?"
"That is beyond your level of clearance."
"But I need this information to formulate a plan. If it’s for *that* country, it wouldn’t be so complicated. If it’s to support the breakthrough operation, then there are other ways to achieve it," Bruno typed his reply.
After a brief silence, he received a response from his superiors: "We need to use that location as a new battlefield to force the United States to abandon him."
Bruno understood their true intent. Rather than choosing to cease hostilities for the sake of all humanity, His Excellency the President preferred to achieve his original objectives before announcing a ceasefire. This way, he could stabilize his internal position.
As for the future of all humanity? If we’re not around, what future does humanity have anyway?
"Fine, I understand what needs to be done."
Bruno sent the message, an excited expression on his face. His mind was already formulating how to persuade Iwasaki Yizo to agree to send the Smart Armor to the battlefield. Time to see if this is a mule or a steed, he thought.
Bruno put the equipment back in place and walked outside. As the door opened, Curtis stopped midway through entering and asked, "Where are you off to now?"
"There’s a new mission from above. They want the breakthrough forces to test the Smart Armor. I need to discuss it with Iwasaki Yizo," Bruno replied casually. "You come with me. Drunkard, you stay at home."
"No problem."
The Drunkard took a large swig of liquor.
