Border of the sephirot, Strasbourg, France
7 hours later
In the parking lot of the Sefirot HQ in Strasbourg, Izumi left his car to cross the courtyard. Countless cars passed by the roads: some entering the courtyard, while others returned to their homes.
That place had a different atmosphere for Izumi. It was no longer the familiar environment he had grown accustomed to over the past six months; it was something he hadn't felt in quite some time.
He worked as a main attacker within the lust domain for five years: while some adults worked a few months and took off a few more months, at just eighteen years old, Izumi entered the domain.
Inside, he remained locked away for five straight years. Five years working in the closest thing the world had ever received to purgatory. He was one of the most dedicated… If not the most dedicated to fulfilling his role.
To endure so much time against the demons, he had only one goal: to return home only when he reached the requirement to be promoted to Rank D, a Disaster.
Now he was at that level.
The strange thing was that even when looking at his hand, Izumi felt almost no difference: it was the same sensation as being a Rank E. Looking at the system screen, he wondered:
'Did my stats really go back to one?'
Because the feeling was still that of a Rank E at level ninety-seven.
"Show attributes."
[Welcome back, Minion of the Seas!]
Izumi clenched his fist.
'Technically, now I have an evolution capacity three times greater…' He searched for the interface that would show him his progression rate. 'So why is it still at two?'
[Attributes]
[Physical: 1]
[Athleticism: 1]
[Composition: 1]
[Energy: 1]
[Dexterity: 1]
[Luck: 1]
[Evolution rate: 2x]
'Maybe I have to reach some level to increase that rate…'
Izumi continued thinking about the matter as cars passed on the road: he waited for the traffic light to allow him to cross.
Carrying only a leather backpack on his back, Izumi looked at the HQ entrance across the street. The glass doors were bustling, being activated constantly by agents entering and leaving. Some carried stacks of folders and hurried anxiously across the courtyard.
Fortunately for him, Izumi didn't need to go through that. On the other hand, his role in that company was more… dangerous.
He sighed.
The feeling of being back was almost the same as the first time he was there. The anxiety of entering that infamous building soon… But, with the certainty that he wouldn't be well for the next few months.
"Alright… You've been here before. Your goal has always been clear…"
Izumi finally had the opportunity to cross the street. Without waiting, he entered through the automatic glass door and was faced with the atmosphere he had forgotten…
Like someone entering their first day of work at a new company, or someone who was returning from vacation and couldn't feel a connection with their old colleagues.
Swallowing the feeling of disconnection, Izumi pulled on the backpack strap and began to walk aimlessly, without a set direction — of course, he had the goal of presenting himself to a superior and returning to work, but he would like to enjoy a little longer before everything turned upside down again.
After a few minutes, Izumi arrived at the east wing of the HQ where his most nostalgic place in the General Headquarters within the domain was located: the expeditions board. In the case of HQs outside the domain, the seeds board.
While looking at a refined wooden board in front of him, Izumi sighed deeply and was about to insert his letter when a sarcastic voice interrupted him.
"Oh no, seriously?! Izumi!"
Looking to the side, the cobalt-blue eyes of the minion of the seas met the endless embers in the eyes of the one known as the Blazing Factor.
Takashi Katayo, Izumi's closest cousin, extended his right hand as he looked at his relative.
"Takashi!" A cheerful smile spread across Izumi's face, as if he were seeing his brother.
After all, they were raised like brothers.
"Hey, brother!" The white-haired young man nodded cheerfully.
However, deep in his red eyes, behind the happiness, a profound agony was taking responsibility for something.
"You were only gone for… Six months, right?" Takashi asked, approaching.
"Yes…"
"You could have stayed away for a year… and a half. You know that, right?" he said, interrupting Izumi.
"I know, I know. But, I was getting too comfortable at home."
"Uh-huh…" Takashi gave him a sharp, questioning look. "So, how are you?"
"Almost rusting. And you?" Izumi replied, moving his right elbow and shoulder.
"Well… More or less."
When Takashi turned his face to the wooden board and seemed distant, Izumi quickly understood that something was definitely wrong. Knowing his cousin almost better than himself, Izumi knew, better than anyone, that Takashi was not the introverted or anxious type.
He was the opposite of that.
His mood was completely distorted.
But, before Izumi could question him, he explained what was happening.
"I only came back here to report my last mission…" Takashi said, with a tired tone.
"Did your group get hurt?"
"They died. All of them. We went to explore the Hemethterith Tower in Spanish territory, and on the fiftieth floor, we were annihilated… I barely survived, but I can't say the same for them…"
'Takashi had a close call?'
Izumi narrowed his eyes and reflected. The Hemethterith Tower… Something he doesn't perfectly understand what it means, but, within the Lust Domain, it was the third most dangerous place in European territory — outside the corrupted capitals.
"Even at my level, I couldn't do anything but hear the screams reverberate through the stairs of hell."
Touching the board gently, Takashi breathed heavily.
"Was there anyone important?" Izumi asked with a… shaky mood.
For five years, Izumi had witnessed that situation more than fifteen times. He understood Takashi's desire to work in a team, but after seeing so many companions die, Izumi sympathized even more with the idea of working alone.
Staring fixedly at the corner of the board, Izumi couldn't properly offer his condolences.
"Yes… But, it was just a girl I hooked up with a few times. It shouldn't be a big deal."
"Yeah…" Izumi murmured, scratching his hair and averting his distant gaze.
"But, hey. Who accepted your request to return? Your father?"
"Yes. Did you see him? He was in Paris when he accepted my return request."
"I did see him, but not in Paris. I don't even have authorization to go there…" Takashi turned around and, with his arms crossed, leaned against the wall. "He was in our clan's district, accompanying the Patriarch of the Michizane. They were debating invading South Korean territory and claiming the corrupted sites."
"Oh, yeah… Are they considering reclaiming Japan?" Izumi asked, regaining a small glimmer in his eyes.
"Uh-huh. But, they are seeking help from the Chinese government. You know? To ally with the Rank A Sephirot, get the assistance of the Rank S Sephirot…" Takashi explained, throwing information into the wind, as if none of that was important to him — but it was.
"I see…"
Takashi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and shrugged, raising his eyebrows. Stepping away from where he was, he quickly grabbed Izumi by the shoulder.
"Forget it. Hey, were you promoted in Rank?" he asked enthusiastically.
"Yes! I'm Rank D now," Izumi replied with the same enthusiasm, but little did he know that Takashi only wanted to mock him…
"Oh, yeah, yeah. Good! It reminds me a lot of my beginning!"
When he awakened as a Sephirot, Takashi was already Rank D… While Izumi had awakened as a Rank E.
"Idiot… Don't brag too much! I'll catch up to you soon, then I want to see your arrogance."
"Huh? Catch up to me?"
Materializing a card, Takashi extended a Jack card to Izumi, a symbol of luck among the Sephirot of that Rank. Meanwhile, Izumi materialized and showed him an Ace card nicknamed "The Charitable One."
When the two cards touched, a notification appeared.
[Name: Takashi Katayo]
[Potential: 117]
[Magic: Flames of Prometheus]
[Suit: Diamonds]
[Emblem: Jack (J)]
[Rank: D]
[State: Minion]
"No magic, huh?" Takashi mocked. "Level one, Ace card…"
Izumi's chest was struck by his cousin's arrogance.
"Look… Level one hundred and seventeen and still haven't received a promotion? I received it at eighty-five…"
An imaginary arrow hit Takashi's head.
"I… I will still receive it! Don't forget, we can receive a promotion every thirty levels! My maximum level is three hundred and sixty, so…" Takashi said, nervous and clearly without arguments.
"My maximum level is also three hundred and sixty now. Don't look back, or I'll catch up to you," Izumi provoked with a piercing look.
"Oh yeah! I will become a Rank C and then… Then! I will reach Rank B, Rank A… Yes! I will even become a Sephirot!"
Izumi laughed out loud.
"Alright, genius. I'll show you how experience turns strength into a small detail," Izumi leaned in with a vein popping in his forehead.
A Sephirot?! What an insult! No one would be crazy enough to declare that they would become a Rank S so clearly!
But, in fact, Takashi was never quite right in the head… Only strength was important, words were details.
"Go on, try! You won't even reach my feet!"
Approaching and exchanging glances of pricked egos, the cousins declared war on each other: a healthy war, just like two children competing to see who is the best.
Collecting the cards in protest, Takashi put his hands in his pockets and took a step back.
"Good to have you back, brother!" he said with a cheerful smile.
"Same here. Try not to die before I catch up to you."
"Never!"
While looking at Izumi, Takashi's eyes met a group of people in the background slowly approaching.
"Uh oh… Trouble, for sure," Takashi commented, crossing his arms and staring fixedly behind Izumi.
"What?" Turning around, Izumi found himself facing a group of people wearing suits, ties, and sunglasses.
However, the most important one was in the middle: a tall, elderly man, with brown hair being overtaken by gray strands while a beard filled his face.
"Inspector Halfman…" Izumi murmured.
"Izumi, Takashi… How long has it been since I saw you together?" Halfman said, slowly approaching.
"True… Five years ago you were still our director at the Berlin Academy," Takashi said, with his eyes locked in the air, as if remembering so many things that the present was erased.
Halfman nodded positively.
"We received your notification, Takashi… We will arrange a hearing to compensate the families of the members of your former group, and also a return date for your activities within the domain," Halfman said, with regret in his eyes.
"Alright. But I wanted to go back with him," he replied, pointing with his eyes at Izumi.
"No problem. He will take a while to return too…"
"Will I?" Izumi interrupted genuinely, with surprise in his voice. He had no idea what Inspector Halfman was talking about.
"Yes. The German Government has a proposal for you, Izumi… That's why I'm here."
"A proposal?" Izumi frowned and stared at Halfman, waiting for an answer.
Before speaking, the Inspector slowly recalled his time as director.
"Yes. And it involves four Sephirot in training, and a call from the Rank S, the Sephirot of the storm, Ragon no Michizane."