Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week

The night in Shinjuku was beautiful.

Jack wasn't sleeping.

He sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, gazing down at the nightscape below. Was Dio active somewhere in that maze of darkness and neon lights? Had Durant earned Dio's trust? These thoughts circled in his mind when suddenly the computer on his desk chimed, signaling the arrival of an email.

Jack quickly turned around, opened the email, and used the CIA's proprietary software to decode the ciphered message into a regular report.

He read line after line.

The message from Emily made Jack's face grow somber. "The direction of the spirit, Paradise?!"

Jack took a deep breath and, without any hesitation, immediately used the encrypted CIA communication channel to call John.

Almost without wasting a second, the phone was dialed as soon as the dial tone sounded. "What's the matter?"

There was a hint of excitement in John's voice.

It was night, and the night belonged to Dio.

During this time, a call from Jack could only be about Dio.

Any piece of news related to Dio, no matter how small, was important news that deserved to be reported to the headquarters and to the President's desk.

"Director John, I've just received shocking news. Dio is in Tokyo because he is looking for a way to ascend to Paradise!"

"What?!"

A startled shout came from the other end of the line. Although John was not as fanatical as Robert, he was also a Protestant.

He believed the establishment of a certain country was proof of God's existence. However, compared to that country's founding, the Paradise Dio spoke of was undoubtedly greater proof of God's reality.

"Oh my God, could it be that Dio is the Messiah?"

John's voice suddenly filled with panic.

Jack was not religious, but he had heard about the Messiah's arrival on earth and the seven years of tribulation.

"Director John, we currently have too little information to conclude that Dio is the Messiah. After all, following the Messiah's arrival, the world will face seven years of disaster. It's possible Dio is Satan, the one who will bring about these seven years of tribulation with his desire to return to Paradise."

"Indeed."

John's heart calmed down; there was no evidence yet that Dio was the Messiah.

Dio could also be the Satan that the Messiah, upon his arrival in this world, needs to overcome.

Jack started to relay Emily's report accurately, "…that's the entirety of the conversation."

"So it is. If Dio is not Satan, then he is the first to have encountered the Messiah, who endowed Dio with superpowers, but Dio betrayed Him and became the betrayer Judas."

John's tone suddenly became excited, looking forward to meeting the Messiah.

"The world is about to end, only the Messiah can save us all, and He will dwell with the City upon a Hill!"

"Hmm."

Jack outwardly agreed but inwardly disagreed, as he loathed these religious zealots. Because when it comes to related matters, they tend not to think rationally but to choose belief in the Bible. How long ago was that thing compiled? Doesn't it sound absurd to expect someone from a thousand years ago to teach modern people how to use smartphones?

"Director John, we should report this to the higher-ups now."

Jack reminded him, making sure that the Prime Minister wouldn't beat them to getting this important intelligence onto the President's desk.

"Right."

John quickly regained his composure; beyond his identity as a believer, he still cherished power.

A mere fanatic couldn't serve as the director of the CIA Japanese Branch.

John ended the call with Jack and swiftly dialed the headquarters across the ocean.

He knew this call would cause a major shock at the top levels.

Paradise was real.

Even if Dio spoke of it in spiritual terms, isn't spirit essentially no different from the soul? This means God is real, which will force those above to consider some of the related prophecies. For instance, after the Messiah's arrival, seven years of tribulation will envelop the world. At that time, all nations will fall under the Messiah's command.

In the Setagaya District, at Phoenix Academy.

"Mmm, I understand."

Kochou hung up the phone, draped in a revealing light purple lace nightgown, lazily reclining in a chair on the balcony.

The evening breeze was gentle, and the drowsy night sky was as obscure as fate.

She picked up the stemmed glass beside her, gently swirling the blood-like red wine within.

The fragrance of the wine dispersed into the air.

KNOCK KNOCK.

There came a knocking at the door, and Kochou turned her head to say, "Come in."

"Mother, what did you want with me this evening?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie crossed the bedroom to the semi-circular balcony.

The area was about one hundred eighty square meters, with white balustrades along the edges, carved with fiery red phoenix patterns.

Kochou asked, "Do you believe in Paradise?"

"Mother, you know I've never believed in such things."

Phoenix Academy Maggie shook her head to indicate her position.

If it had been in the past, Kochou would have praised Phoenix Academy Maggie, but now she had no such inclination. Instead, she put the glass back on the table and said softly, "Even with the existence of Superpower Users, you don't believe in God?"

"Superpower Users can be proven to exist, but nothing can prove the existence of God."

Phoenix Academy Maggie said this, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

She knew her mother was usually very busy and wouldn't summon her to discuss such matters. "Is there some news?"

"Okayama Buji from the special task force had a conversation with Dio and learned that Dio is in Tokyo to ascend to Paradise. According to him, Paradise is where the spirit flows to, and only by reaching Paradise can one truly attain happiness. What do you think true happiness is?"

There was a touch of bewilderment in Kochou's voice.

Invincible Superpowers, vast wealth, standing above all others—these should be the conditions for happiness. Yet Dio, who possessed all these things, pursued Paradise, believing that true happiness was hidden there. Weren't the things he had happiness already? Such doubts flashed through Kochou's mind. She used to think that gaining power and unimaginable wealth was happiness. She had also savored that kind of joy. But she had to admit that when she lay alone in her super large bed at night, there was still a trace of emptiness and loneliness in her heart. She longed for strong arms to lean on, for her body to be filled. But those were not things she could have. Kochou could take charge of the Phoenix Academy Group thanks to Phoenix Academy Maggie and her position as the wife of the eldest son of the Phoenix family. If she did anything inappropriate, affecting the reputation of the Phoenix family, her basis for ruling the Phoenix Academy Group would be gone. Whether she liked it or not, to maintain her current power, she had to uphold her late husband's purity. That was the price to pay for power. What kind of experience was the true happiness that Dio spoke of? Merely thinking about it invoked yearning feelings in Kochou's heart. She wanted to know how to reach Paradise.

"Mother, haven't you always told me that things you can hold in your hand are truly yours compared to far-off things? No matter how bright the sun shines, it doesn't belong to anyone. The sun belongs to the universe."

Phoenix Academy Maggie noticed that her mother was different tonight but still shared her own thoughts.

Superpowers, Paradise—those were certainly very dazzling words. But what did they have to do with her? She wasn't a Superpower User, nor did she know how to ascend to Paradise. It was better to focus on what she could do and act within her means rather than to be troubled by those things.

"Besides, what Dio said might not be true. Paradise is likely just something he made up on the spot."

"No, Paradise does exist. What good would it do for Dio to lie to us? He could simply choose not to tell us. Nobody can force him to."

Kochou agreed with her daughter's previous words but shook her head at the latter, denying it.

She believed there was no need for Dio to lie to them.

"Maybe he doesn't care about the benefits, just finds it amusing," muttered Phoenix Academy Maggie.

Kochou looked up, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes, and said coolly, "Maggie, who do you think Dio is? Don't talk nonsense!"

"Sorry, Mother, I shouldn't have said that."

Phoenix Academy Maggie bowed her head and didn't continue to insist on her opinion.

"It's good that you recognize your mistake."

Kochou picked up the wine glass, took a sip of red wine, savoring the flavor as her mind delved into thought.

News about Paradise is too widespread to conceal easily. How much longer can Dio's secret be hidden? Heh, many people won't be able to sleep tonight.

"Maggie, you go back to sleep."

"Good night, Mother."

Phoenix Academy Maggie turned and walked towards the bedroom, her mind deep in thought.

Is there really a connection between Dio and Aozawa? She couldn't discern how much of her suspicion that Aozawa was Dio was based on rational judgment. Or was it simply that she was unwilling to accept the boy she liked being ordinary? When it came to her own feelings, it was hard to make a decision.

Phoenix Academy Maggie returned to her bedroom, turned off the lights, and decided not to think about these things anymore and just sleep.

The morning came after a night passed.

Outside the club building, bright sunshine fell upon the earth. Aozawa stepped out, instinctively looking to the left, where the tree shadows remained the same, just minus the bronze-skinned Hot Girl who used to stand there grinning.

His gaze lowered. It seems I won't be getting any free vegetable juice today.

Ayatsuki Ayaka emerged from behind the tree with a mischievous smile. "Hehe, did you feel a bit disappointed just now?"

"Ayaka! Are you still willing to give me vegetable juice?"

An expression of surprise crossed Aozawa's face.

Ayatsuki Ayaka stepped forward, holding out the thermos. "Of course, I am."

"Does this mean you've agreed?"

A faint excitement showed on Aozawa's face; he hadn't expected Ayaka to agree so quickly.

Ayatsuki Ayaka shook her head. "I can't possibly agree to such a preposterous request."

Aozawa sighed. "So the situation now is, you've refused, but we're still friends, right?"

"No, I haven't refused. I haven't agreed and haven't refused. Since you gave me a third option yesterday, I am also giving you a brand new path to follow!"

"A brand new path?"

"Yes, Aozawa, listen closely. I'm going to train your character from now on!"

"?!"

Aozawa was bemused by her wild words.