Using the Element replacement ability was not something where all elements could be freely manipulated.
For instance, when Aozawa transformed into the Wind Element, his mind wasn't filled with as many red dots, and he could only drift with the wind.
He wasn't sure why. If one argued that wind was omnipresent, then so was electricity.
As the embodiment of the free wind, Aozawa passed through the streets, startling groups of women in short skirts with screams, before soaring toward the sky from the end of an alley.
He didn't absorb the surrounding wind and leisurely floated up, as if lying on a cloud, slowly drifting forward.
The dense clouds covered the cerulean sky, leaving only a grey-white vista for those below.
Only he could look up to see the sky, so blue and clear, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
Such a beautiful view.
Aozawa sighed internally, then somersaulted, peeling away the thick clouds. He swiftly dropped down, switching his element to electricity in a secluded alley.
CRACKLE! POP! Bursts of electrical light scattered through the air, and countless red dots leaped within Aozawa's mind.
He casually selected one of the red dots and quickly dived into it, feeling a slight static flicker. It was a cell phone.
Aozawa didn't linger, immediately leaping to the next location.
「...」
Cold and dark. Anda Hiroshi wasn't sure what had happened to him. He only remembered his last memory was waiting for a visitor in his private office.
He had been contacted by the Midnight Police Department late at night, asking him to clear some time in the morning to discuss academic matters with a woman named Emily.
While waiting, he felt a pain in the back of his neck, and then his consciousness faded.
When Anda Hiroshi came to again, his eyes were covered, and something was stuck to his mouth, preventing him from speaking.
Who would do this? This question flickered through his mind.
As a history instructor at Tokyo University, he prided himself on his clean reputation, with little savings in the bank—surely the kidnappers weren't foolish enough to abduct a history teacher for money. Nor did he owe any debts. His gambling skills were decent; he often won more than he lost. He hadn't made enemies amongst his colleagues either. And those female students he had his eye on? Even less likely. Anda Hiroshi wasn't stupid. Before making his move, he would always ensure he understood the other party's family background, choosing girls whose families were of good standing and without close relatives in Tokyo. Those who struggled from the countryside to enter Tokyo University often cherished their chance to change their fate. They wouldn't dare go against him.
After mentally going through his list, Anda Hiroshi still couldn't understand who would have targeted him. Nor did he have any idea how long he had been in this place—ten days or just one?
He felt hungry.
While Anda Hiroshi cycled through his memories for the umpteenth time, he heard a faint noise near his ear.
CLICK. It sounded like a door opening, followed by the sound of footsteps, seemingly high heels clicking on the ground.
"It seems you've woken up, Doctor Anda."
The voice was crisp. Anda Hiroshi's brow furrowed slightly. He was confident he had never heard such a voice before.
The material stuck to his mouth was ripped off, and the blindfold was also removed.
"Who are you?" Anda Hiroshi demanded, his gaze sweeping around. He discovered he was in a dimly lit warehouse.
The space was large. Most of the shelving area was empty, with only a small section holding goods.
Besides the white-collar woman in front of him, there were four men in black. One of them was especially tall and slim, with arms that reached down to his knees. His skin tone was black, not typical of an Asian.
"I'm sorry for bringing you here this way. Doctor Anda, we did this for your own safety."
The woman's face seemed sincere as she ordered her men to untie the ropes binding him.
Anda Hiroshi wanted to criticize such a method of 'protecting his safety,' but feared provoking this somewhat unhinged woman.
He repressed what he wanted to say, responding, "Is that so? Then I really owe you my thanks."
"Don't mention it. I am Ayako Soma from the New World Church."
Upon hearing the name New World Church, Anda Hiroshi's pupils abruptly dilated. He vividly remembered that just two days ago, this church had sent someone to find him.
They wanted his help in writing religious texts to be spread within Tokyo University.
Although the remuneration the New World Church offered was generous, Anda Hiroshi had declined.
As a distinguished Tokyo University instructor, how could he possibly write religious texts for those no-account churches and help them spread their influence? If word got out, wouldn't it utterly ruin his reputation? Anda Hiroshi lived off his reputation; naturally, he didn't want it tarnished.
Thus, he had flatly rejected their offer, never expecting that these fanatics would actually kidnap him.
"I believe I said that my abilities and knowledge are insufficient for the task of writing texts for your church. You should look for someone else."
"Doctor Anda, I hope you'd take a look at this person." Ayako Soma showed no irritation at his refusal, turning around and pointing.
Anda Hiroshi followed her pointing finger and saw another person tied to a chair behind an empty shelf, their eyes covered with a black cloth, mouth sealed with tape.
Their build seemed tall and burly.
The face looked oddly familiar to Anda Hiroshi. On closer inspection, it was Shimakawa Ryoko's brother, Shimakawa Masao.
"What is the meaning of this?" Anda Hiroshi frowned.
Ayako Soma spoke, "This is not a car mechanic. He is an important member of the Daiheki Group, Shimakawa Masao, known by the nickname 'Diehard Saburo.' If we hadn't discovered his scheme earlier, you would have been captured by the people he arranged. Perhaps your body would have already been delivered to the slaughterhouse, mixed with those pigs, and packed into cans."
A look of surprise crossed Anda Hiroshi's face.
Before revealing his true intentions, he had spoken with Shimakawa Ryoko. She appeared honest but was actually lying and deceiving him, weaving her own trap. If he had known about that connection, he would never have laid a hand on Shimakawa Ryoko.
Wait a minute, Anda Hiroshi realized, "Did you cause Ryoko's death?"
Anda Hiroshi felt dejected. There was no shortage of professors in Tokyo with expertise in these matters. If he refused, they could find someone else.
Ayako Soma said seriously, "The request of a god cannot be refused. If a god commands you to compile, then you must be the one to do it."
Despite saying this, it was really because Ayako Soma had drawn Anda Hiroshi's name in a random selection. Thus, she decided he would be the one to compile the scriptures and help spread the New World Church within Tokyo University. Even if he did not agree, Ayako Soma had plenty of means to make him comply.
A look of helplessness crossed Anda Hiroshi's face. He had not anticipated facing the risk of his reputation being ruined at his age. In their circles, taking advantage of students wasn't considered a big deal; rather, many tutors had that habit. But compiling scriptures for the New World Church and helping spread it was different. They were intellectuals who despised those who masqueraded as deities. Even though he specialized in studying such subjects, he had never believed in them. Studying this knowledge was merely for an extra paycheck.
"Fine, I agree to your terms. However, kidnapping me could cause quite a stir. I have an appointment with the Metropolitan Police Department today."
"No problem. I have connections within the Metropolitan Police Department," Ayako Soma smiled.
The government of Japan advocates for a strict crackdown on religions that engage in improper behaviors but, in practice, as long as they don't go too far, there are hardly any restrictions.
Anda Hiroshi felt frustrated and wanted to vent. He looked at Shimakawa Masao and asked, "What do you plan to do with him?"
"Let him disappear forever. That's the only way to ensure Doctor Anda's safety," Ayako Soma replied nonchalantly.
Anda Hiroshi pondered. "May I speak with him for a moment?"
"No problem." Ayako Soma clapped her hands, and someone immediately stepped forward to rip off Shimakawa Masao's blindfold and tape.
"You bastards!" Shimakawa Masao had initially tried to suppress his anger to avoid giving his captors the satisfaction of seeing him rage helplessly, but once the tape was ripped off, he couldn't help but roar.
Anda Hiroshi stood up and straightened his collar, his expression calm. "There's no need to be so agitated. Since you're involved with the Yakuza, surely you've destroyed more than one family. Does such a calamity become an unforgivable sin when it falls upon your own head? Ryoko was a fool. To have a Yakuza brother yet keep it hidden! If she had honestly revealed it, much trouble could have been spared."
Shimakawa Masao's heart was pierced by the words. It was he who had told his sister to hide the truth from her teacher, thinking his Yakuza association would negatively affect her image in the teacher's eyes.
"You monster!" he roared, his eyes wide with fury, wishing he could break the ropes binding him and pounce on the despicable old man.
The fierce gaze did not intimidate Anda Hiroshi in the slightest. It was like watching a tiger through glass at the zoo; no matter how much it snarled or roared, the visitors' hearts would not be flustered.
Anda Hiroshi was also unflustered. A smile appeared on his face as he said, "Yakuza trash like you have no right to criticize me. By the way, your sister was fantastic. That tightness suggests her 'chrysanthemum' was rarely explored by others."
"I'll kill you!"
"Haha, Ms. Soma, you can finish him off now." Anda Hiroshi felt refreshed by the roars; his distress about being dragged into the New World Church's affairs dissipated.
Ayako Soma was very satisfied with his level of scumminess; only such a person was suitable for the New World Church. "Finish him off."
Anda Hiroshi turned away. He was, after all, too kind-hearted to witness bloodshed.
A Church enforcer approached Shimakawa Masao.
CRACKLE! POP! A burst of electric light erupted from the enforcer's pocket.