Shimizu Ward.
Kaminari aetsu stood side by side, staring at the two-story building in front of them, their expressions caught somewhere between disbelief and skepticism.
"Hey, Kaminari… this is the headquarters of the Mitsui Group's support pany?" Tetsutetsu asked doubtfully, his gaze sweeping over the small, unassuming building.
"It… should be," Kaminari replied hesitantly, pointing at the sign hangiween the first and sed floors. "It says sht there, doesn't it?"
"But a pce this small really produce top-quality bat uniforms?"
To be ho, Tetsutetsu was starting to wonder if Kaminari had been scammed. However, out of respect for his friend, he kept his suspis to himself.
Kaminari sighed. "Let's just go inside and see for ourselves."
---
"Ding."
The moment Kaminari reached for peared to be a traditional Japanese wooden sliding door, an automated female voice suddenly spoke.
"Identity firmed. Wele."
"Shua—"
The 'wooden door' slid open smoothly, revealing a sleek, moderrance.
"Whoa. The trast here is… kind of insane," Kaminari muttered as he stepped inside, his earlier doubts melting away.
The interior was nothing like the humble exterior. The room was outfitted with high-tech equipment, sleek furniture, and bright, polished surfaces that wouldn't have looked out of p a futuristic research b.
"Shua—"
The door closed automatically behind him, but when Kaminari turned around, he realized something was wrong.
"Tetsutetsu?" he called, notig his friend hadn't made it inside.
"Uh… the door just closed oetsutetsu shouted from outside, clearly fused.
Before Kaminari could react, the same automated voice responded.
"Basic access granted."
The door slid open again, allowietsu to finally step in.
"What just happened?" Tetsutetsu asked, looking around in bewilderment.
Kaminari g the door, then back at the high-te. "I don't know, but… this pce is full of surprises."
---
"Wele, Kaminari-kun."
The sudden voice startled both boys. They turo see a tall woman in a tailored OL-style suit walking toward them. She had a professional, polished air, with an intellectual sharpness in her gaze.
"You're the one who tacted me, right?" Kaminari asked, quickly reizing her voice.
"Yes," the woman said with a polite bow. "My name is Eguro Akemi. I'll be yuide today. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"o meet you too," Kaminari replied, returning the bow. "But before we get started… could you let my friend in properly ime?" He gestured to Tetsutetsu, who still looked a little flustered.
Akemi hesitated briefly before nodding. "Of course. Sadako, please graetsu basic access."
"Uood."
The door closed behind them, and Akemi turned with a polite smile. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the development area."
---
As they walked, Kaminari aetsu couldn't help but notice the ix of office spaces and high-tech features around them. The pristine white walls and polished flave off an almost ical vibe.
"Is this pce really just for making bat uniforms?" Tetsutetsu asked, his eyes darting around.
"Not quite," Akemi replied. "This facility handles a variety of advanced researd development projects. But you'll see soon enough."
She led them to a bnk white wall. Without warning, the automated voice spoke again.
"Identity firmed."
"Shua—"
The wall split apart, revealing what looked like a small elevator.
"Please step inside," Akemi said, gesturing for them to enter.
"Is this… aor?" Tetsutetsu asked, gng around.
"No," Kaminari said, his brow furrowing. "This is going underground, isn't it?"
Akemi nodded with a small smile. "That's correct. The equipment development area is located several levels below ground."
"Underground?" Tetsutetsu's eyes widened. "This feels like something out of a sci-fi movie!"
---
When the elevator doors reopened, Kaminari aetsu were left speechless.
"Whoa…" Tetsutetsu whispered in awe.
The underground facility was enormous. Gss partitions divided the spato tless ses, eae bustling with researchers in white coats w diligently at various high-testruments. The faint hum of maery filled the air, and the soft glow of monitors and soles illumihe area.
"This… this is insane," Kaminari muttered. The sheer scale and sophistication of the facility made it feel like they'd stepped into another world.
"Follow me," Akemi said, leading them through the maze of corridors.
As they walked, Kaminari couldn't help but marvel at the seemingly endless expanse of the underground plex.
"How big is this pce?" he wondered aloud.
Akemi smiled. "Big enough."
---
After several minutes of walking, they finally arrived at a set of gss doors that were noticeably rger thahers they had passed.
"This is the main b," Akemi expined. "Please go inside. I'll wait here."
"Thanks," Kaminari said, stepping through the doors with Tetsutetsu close behind.
The moment they ehe gss doors closed behind them. Before they could say anything, a dozen researchers in white coats turo look at them. Their intense, scrutinizing gazes made both Kaminari aetsu feel a little uneasy.
"Uh…" Tetsutetsu started to say, but he was interrupted by the arrival of an elderly man.
"Kaminari-kun, we finally meet!"
The old man stepped forward with a warm smile, followed closely by a younger man in a white coat wearing light blue gsses.
"You are…?" Kaminari asked, narrowing his eyes in fusion. The man looked vaguely familiar.
"You don't reize me?" the old man said, chug. "Let me give you a hint. One m in Omiya Park…"
Omiya Park? Kaminari's eyes widened as the memory hit him.
"You're the old man who had a cardiac arrest!"
"Exactly!" the man said with a hearty ugh. "I was w if you'd remember me."
---
Kaminari stared at the old man in shock. "But… what are you doing here? Is this pce part of the Mitsui Group?"
The old man's warm smile shifted slightly as he straightened his posture.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself," he said, his tone now carrying the weight of authority. "I am Mitsui Buntais, the former head of the Mitsui sortium and the current patriarch of the Mitsui family."
For a moment, Kaminari aetsu could only stand there, stuhe old man's aura shifted briefly, exuding a anding presehat left no doubt about his position.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the intimidating aura vanished, repced by his previous warmth.
"Well, how does it feel?" Mitsui asked, smiling mischievously. "Like you've wotery?"
Kaminari blinked, struggling to process what had just happeetsutetsu, meanwhile, looked like he was about to faint.
***
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