Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 691 - 689: Only the Players Suffer

Chiyoda District, Imperial Palace, North Wing of Honmaru Palace.

Kochou let out a breath and temporarily put down the document in her hand.

Ever since the second round of trials began, she had been somewhat restless.

Her 100% confidence in her daughter didn't prevent her from worrying about unexpected situations.

What if her daughter was eliminated, what would she do then?

To Kochou, that would be a very bad outcome.

Even worse would be if her daughter was eliminated and Iwasaki's little girl passed the second round of tests instead.

The power of those in high positions is not only about the present but also the future.

Throughout history, power ministers without stable successors often do not meet a good end.

Especially for Kochou, who wants to make the Prime Minister's position exclusively for the Phoenix Academy family, ensuring the excellence of the next generation is essential.

Only in this way can those below willingly follow her in this great endeavor, without worrying that after Kochou's century, their sons and grandsons will be purged.

This is the confidence bestowed by excellent successors.

The five major consortiums were being cornered by Kochou step by step, not only because the five leaders were not united but also because of the generational gap in talent.

A previous gathering resulted in the excellent successors carefully cultivated by the five major consortiums dying at Dio's hands.

Then the deaths of the prestigious top leaders happened in succession. What about the abilities of their successors? Their personalities?

For the people below, these were all unknowns.

If they don't know the capabilities of their superiors, who dares to risk their family's future?

The successors are already overwhelmed with consolidating internal support and stabilizing their positions, let alone challenging the increasingly prestigious Kochou.

Reputation is an invisible sword.

Iwasaki Muneta being willing to scrape at lightning speed was largely because he knew he had to find a strong ally to stand firm.

But when his daughter was selected for the trial, that person's attitude became subtle again.

Kochou squinted her eyes, her thoughts returning to the document in front of her, concerning the Eastern Great Nation's investment in the Takamagahara Project.

It was no longer the vague probing from before, but documents near finalization, detailing everything from funding to which projects to involve themselves in, to how to ensure the safety of their talent.

These were all matters that needed to be finalized.

She thought about whether she should agree or continue probing.

The phone rang, snapping Kochou back to reality. Seeing the familiar number, she immediately answered, somewhat nervously, "Maggie, is there something you need?"

"Mother, I'm outside Juno City. Something very unusual happened that I need to report to you..."

Listening to her daughter's account, Kochou's expression gradually became grave. Hearing about demonic seeds turning people into monsters, a gleam of excitement flashed in her eyes, recalling the corpses mentioned earlier.

She could roughly judge that demonic seeds must have side effects, as not everyone could turn into monsters.

If there were no side effects, General Bamogo would probably have already ordered an air force bombing without hesitation.

"Alright, I'm aware of this matter now. I will discuss with President Nate later. You focus on the trial and track the unicorn monster, but don't forget to ensure your own safety.

The most important thing is that you last until the final round of trials."

Here, Kochou emphasized, "Collaborate well with Aozawa, and build a good rapport."

In Kochou's eyes, there seemed to be no problem with Aozawa as her future son-in-law; firstly, it could win over Morimoto Chiyoda, and moreover, the value in that individual was not low.

Kochou had conditions for the future son-in-law's selection long ago; he didn't necessarily have to join their family, but her daughter absolutely could not change her surname, and the first child born must have the Phoenix Academy surname.

As for family background, Kochou had no requirements. Instead, she preferred a more ordinary background, without any external interference, ensuring that power belonged to the Phoenix Academy family.

"Rest assured, mother."

Phoenix Academy Maggie suppressed her excitement; she knew this was her mother expressing an attitude.

However, Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced at the boy standing between Ayatsuki Ayaka and Arakawa Reina, feeling a tinge of jealousy and a slight sourness in her heart.

Her mother's attitude was fine, but the problem was that she was unable to resolve things on this side.

"You focus on the trials, and leave the other matters to me to handle."

Kochou did not say anything further, believing her daughter could understand her implied meaning.

Having been through it herself, she understood that rather than marrying someone she loved who didn't love her back, it's better to marry someone who loves her and whom she can control.

Only then can future married life be comfortable and pleasant.

She hung up the phone and picked up the landline to dial Nate's number.

This matter was of great importance, and she had to communicate directly with Air Force One, rather than through cumbersome procedures with the ambassador, which could easily leak information.

...

Beep.

After the call ended, Phoenix Academy Maggie could no longer use this as an excuse to stay away from the circle of three.

She put the phone back in her pocket.

For convenience, Phoenix Academy Maggie's outfit today was light brown wide-legged sweatpants, with a light brown long-sleeved T-shirt on top.

Her golden hair was tied into a single ponytail, leaving a few strands on both sides to conceal her fair earlobes, yet exposing her slender neck to the cold wind.

She returned to the circle of three, her doll-like face revealing no trace of emotion.

"Maggie, what did Aunt say?"

Ayatsuki Ayaka was the first to inquire.

Phoenix Academy Maggie replied calmly, "Mother said she would discuss with President Nate how to handle it, and that we shouldn't worry."

"Wow! I never expected to know the Prime Minister's daughter and to be involved in things that even the President of the United States is aware of, it's like starring in a movie!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka was full of excitement. When watching movies before, she always had a dream of one day being like the protagonist in the movies, experiencing a wonderful romance and getting involved in some grand, earth-shattering affairs.

And to Ayatsuki Ayaka, her definition of grand affairs was whether or not they reached the attention of presidents and prime ministers.

After all, in her view, those are incredibly powerful figures.

Managing a country.

Just saying it makes Ayatsuki Ayaka feel a sense of admiration.

If it were her, she'd probably mess up just managing two people.

Phoenix Academy Maggie calmly replied, "It's nothing, let's continue searching for the demon creatures and magical treasures."

Mentioning this, Ayatsuki Ayaka couldn't help but boast to Aozawa: "Yesterday, we found a really powerful magical treasure, the Lucky Compass. It can point to the exact location of demon creatures and magical treasures!"

"Is that so? That's really awesome."

Aozawa smiled, realizing that the current situation was extremely dangerous.

The seemingly lively atmosphere was all caused by Ayatsuki Ayaka alone.

Arakawa Reina and Phoenix Academy Maggie spoke relatively little.

Although the three of them were standing right next to him, there was no sense of closeness, instead, an unfamiliar distance as if they were very far apart.

Not good, continuing this four-person journey.

Even the usually dense Iroha could feel the atmosphere was off.

Aozawa thought he must do something to ease the awkwardness on the scene.

How to ensure no one feels left out?

He decided to take a page from Western politicians.

When internal conflicts become too big to reconcile, bring in external forces or create a common enemy.

Aozawa changed his original thought; he decided to increase the frequency of demon creature attacks at this moment, only the incoming demon creatures could prompt the four to cooperate in battle.

In a battle, cultivate a tacit understanding, and then subtly change the hidden currents between them.

Strengthen, world!

Aozawa increased the frequency of demon creature attacks on the spot, only to trouble the players more.

...

"Moo!"

A thunderous roar resonated from afar.

Ayatsuki Ayaka's expression froze momentarily, then she said excitedly, "There's another demon creature. Aozawa, let me show you my pride."

She turned her head, the words she wanted to say stopped in her throat.

Five hundred meters away, a mountain-like demon creature was walking on the frozen ground, with steady steps, shaking off the snow from the ground with each firm step as if advancing on a rolling wave of snow.

Its appearance resembled a woolly mammoth, with a massive head and a sharply protruding skull. Its tusks were curved and slender, resembling two sharp swords, glistening coldly.

But what hung from its body were not hairs, but countless living snakes.

Each snake, like hair, hung from its surface, with pairs of golden vertical pupils staring here.

"It's too big."

Ayatsuki Ayaka swallowed her saliva and retreated behind Aozawa.

Her timid appearance made Aozawa want to hug her and pinch her cheeks.

"Moo!"

The demon creature emitted another deep and powerful roar, each snake hanging from its body rose simultaneously, and thousands of golden beams shot out from their pupils.

The rays scattered chaotically and incoherently, yet swept forward in a densely packed manner.

Phoenix Academy Maggie raised her hand, an invisible whirlwind instantly picked up her, Ayatsuki Ayaka, Aozawa, and Arakawa Reina.

At this critical moment where someone might be eliminated, Phoenix Academy Maggie did not leave anyone behind.

The invisible wind hoisted all four into the sky, avoiding the golden beams, and a warehouse a hundred meters away was directly sliced open by the beams, triggering an explosion with the grenades hidden inside.

Rumbling!

A series of loud explosions erupted, surging flames burst outward, engulfing the remains of the warehouse.

"Wh-what do we do?"

Ayatsuki Ayaka stammered, wishing she could curl up entirely in Aozawa's arms.

Phoenix Academy Maggie said with a serious expression, "Strange, we just dealt with the mutated demonic creature, and now this big guy shows up. Is the Unicorn watching us?"

"Speaking of which, what's the difference between demonic creatures and demon creatures?"

Ayatsuki Ayaka was a bit confused by such terminology, she forgot her fear.

Phoenix Academy Maggie explained, "Demonic creatures are called so by the Angel Envoy, while demon creatures are called so by Xuanxiao, but both are the same species, just labeled differently."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Ayatsuki Ayaka suddenly realized.

The demon creature raised its head, its pair of jet-black eyes watched the ants far away, it took a sharp inhale then exhaled forward.

Boom!

An invisible air cannon shot across the sky.

Arakawa Reina immediately swung the Flag of Flaming Light Off the Ground, surging flames streamed from the flag's surface, colliding head-on with the air cannon.

With a bang, the flames exploded, roughly shaping the invisible wind, melting the snow on the ground.

Golden beams again pierced through the flames.

Aozawa quickly pulled Ayatsuki Ayaka in front of him and handed her the Chaos Silk Ribbon, saying, "Iroha, give it a shake."

"Ah."

Ayatsuki Ayaka, with a surprised expression, followed his words, grabbed the Chaos Silk Ribbon, and gave it a shake.

The seven-foot red silk fluttered in the air, an invisible wave deflected all the incoming golden beams, redirecting them to the ground on either side.

Her eyes lit up with excitement, "Amazing! We can win!"