Chapter 58: Reflections Afterwards

Aegis was not the police and had no authority to enforce the law, so all he could do was tie up those two unconscious, nameless extras and dump them in a deserted alley, then notify the Foreign Affairs Unknown Division to come clean up the mess.

Meanwhile, after Yuxing gathered clues about the necklace from Kazuma, he exchanged contact information with Walker, saying there would be opportunities for further cooperation in the future.

Walker, clutching Yuxing’s payment, wore a grateful expression, the very picture of a reliable hireling assuring his employer the job was done.

…This guy really is desperate for money.

After all, the Villain Society was considered an enemy faction in Ultraman Taiga, though their presence in the series was never particularly impressive. With Tregear’s dazzling performance overshadowing them, their potential threat was never fully displayed.

Even with the script in hand, Yuxing dared not be complacent. Experience had proven that scripts were “for reference only.” Who could say when a careless choice might plant a hidden trap that would explode at some unpredictable future moment?

Thus, Yuxing intended to plant a spy within the Villain Society. Without Tregear holding them in check, who knew what bold moves this ragtag group might pull off? Besides, an extra channel for intelligence could only be an asset.

After handling the Walker matter, Yuxing and his senior, Ayu, met at Uncle Oda’s art studio.

Yuxing entered the brightly lit studio to find two aliens and a shrunken Black King, now only the size of an adult cat, sitting together and chatting.

Souya Ayu glanced at Yuxing, noting Walker’s absence, and questioned him with his eyes. Yuxing simply replied that Walker had left.

The two aliens had just been exchanging tips on surviving on Earth, mixed with some everyday complaints about life’s difficulties.

Yuxing had nothing to contribute to this conversation; he could only play the part of a silent observer. He dragged over a chair, naturally took the little Black King from Uncle Oda’s arms, patted the creature’s head, and sat quietly, listening.

Though not fluffy, the little Black King’s skin was cool and supple—quite pleasant to the touch.

Obediently, the little Black King sat on Yuxing’s lap, gazing up at him with curious, bright eyes.

“Uncle Oda, how do you plan to handle this?” Ayu, like Yuxing, addressed him as Uncle Oda. Ayu already knew the source of the strange voice—it was the little Black King that Yuxing was currently petting.

Suddenly realizing that Yuxing had taken the little Black King, and that he himself had handed it over, Uncle Oda looked nervously at Yuxing.

Understanding instantly, Yuxing handed the little Black King back. The tiny creature spread its limbs in a “hug me” gesture, and Uncle Oda quickly scooped it up.

How tense they all were! After all, the little Black King could grow gigantic in an instant. What could a frail human like Yuxing do if it decided to run away?

Holding his companion, Uncle Oda murmured almost to himself, “...We should leave. I’ll take him and go somewhere else.”

“But that’s just moving the trouble elsewhere,” Yuxing said, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands beneath his chin, looking pensive. “Uncle Oda, you really like it here, don’t you? If possible, you’d rather stay here with the little Black King.”

Uncle Oda nodded.

Earth wasn’t necessarily the most hospitable planet in the universe, but Uncle Oda had made a life here. To abandon everything and start anew—who would willingly choose that?

“In that case, I have a suggestion—or rather, I can offer you a choice.” Yuxing produced a sheet of red cardstock.

“What’s this…?” Ayu recognized it immediately—he had one, too.

Uncle Oda took the red card, glanced at it, then looked up at Yuxing in surprise, shaking his head at once. “The Foreign Affairs Unknown Division? Aliens and monsters who end up with them almost always disappear. It’s obvious—either they’re being kept for study, or worse.”

Was this an invitation to step into a trap?

Ayu was startled as well. When Officer Aihara had recommended him, he’d felt a bit of pride at being recognized. Now, suddenly, he remembered—he wasn’t a native Earthling, but an alien himself...

Was this some kind of feast with a hidden knife?

Yuxing could only offer a helpless smile. “I said they should change the team’s name, but the recruitment forms were already printed. Too late now.”

He then explained that, despite being called the Foreign Affairs Unknown Division, this new team was actually a true military unit—very different from the original division’s semi-administrative, semi-investigative nature. The name might change in the future; for now, it was only provisional.

“I can guarantee—applying will cause you no trouble. You absolutely won’t be arrested on the spot.”

After all, the highest-ranking officer over this team wasn’t even a native of Earth...

“Since you’ve chosen to settle here, Uncle Oda, you must truly like this place. In that case, would you be willing... to fight for the protection of this planet?”

To fight...

A flicker of light appeared deep in Uncle Oda’s eyes.

There it was again—that stirring, hot-blooded feeling.

Yuxing continued to list the benefits of joining the official team.

“...If you succeed, Uncle Oda, the little Black King would probably be allowed to remain at headquarters in his current form, free to move about—no longer forced to pretend to be an egg, unable to move at all.”

Yuxing speculated privately: If the little Eleking at the GUYS base could teleport around for fun, why couldn’t the little Black King?

This promise made Uncle Oda’s eyes shine even brighter.

Of all the advantages Yuxing mentioned, this was the most tempting.

“But that’s only if you pass,” Yuxing added. At this, the light in Uncle Oda’s eyes dimmed, and worry clouded his face.

Just earlier, Ayu had complained about how exhausting the studying was, how much he had to review. Now, seeing Ayu’s reaction when Yuxing handed over the application, Uncle Oda realized what he’d meant—the difficulty of the entrance exam.

“If you can’t pass, then you and the little Black King should leave Earth as soon as possible,” Yuxing said seriously. “Things on Earth are getting complicated. It’s safer to lie low somewhere else for a while.”

He glanced at Ayu as he spoke.

He couldn’t broadcast this widely, but for those close to him, Yuxing was willing to quietly reveal a little.

“That’s why we’re assembling a new team now.”

If you can’t join the official battle unit, then get far away—otherwise, one day, a fight between giants and monsters might sweep you up with it.

Uncle Oda weighed the application in his hand, silently calculating the pros and cons.

Yuxing turned to Ayu. “Senior Ayu, I have one more application here. Do you want me to recommend Walker?”

Ayu shook his head immediately. “He wouldn’t pass. That kid...”

Thinking of his protégé’s blunders that night, Ayu blushed with embarrassment. “He’s still too immature—just a reckless youth, with no sense of what it means to protect anything... But I can tell him that things are unstable on Earth, so he can go lay low for a while?”

“Of course,” Yuxing nodded.