Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Mental Interference Blocking Alloy and Membership Review
T/N:
Due to a request, the original name of the new Mobile Task Force- Nine-tailed Fox, got revised into a new one called Ashen Wings to avoid confusion.
Ashen Wings? Get it XD.
Cuz the C something guy in the previous chapter got toasted, and to keep the theme with the already existing Wings of Freedom.
Anyways, enjoy!
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Tomie's memories were chaotic and disordered. Many had already faded and were impossible to discern. Not to mention, their quantity was unimaginably vast.
It seemed Tomie had existed for countless ages and had only recently emerged in this world.
Haruto quickly discarded most of these fragmented memories.
There was almost no useful information among them, and the sheer volume was overwhelming, like data garbage used in cyber attacks.
However, after absorbing Tomie, the Blacklight Virus inside Haruto became unusually active.
Tomie's genetic material provided an extremely high level of evolution for the virus. Far greater than that of grotesque insects at the same fourth-tier classification.
But after the virus finished analyzing Tomie, Haruto actively rejected a certain aspect of her traits.
That was the ability to split into multiple bodies.
It wasn't that Haruto had any particular aversion to cloning himself.
Rather, the entity known as Haruto must remain unique, it could not be replicated or divided.
This was tied to a fundamental mechanism: the singularity of supreme divinity.
From the moment Haruto acquired supreme divinity, he became the only one of his kind across infinite worlds.
He represented shattered intellect and time, a powerful reality warper.
For example, across countless parallel universes, there could be an infinite number of identical "Immortal Lizard" (SCP-682).
They all shared the same traits—immortality, extreme adaptability—though their behaviors might differ.
But at their core, they were identical, with variations only due to different experiences.
However, across infinite parallel universes and worlds, there was only one Haruto.
There might be other individuals named Haruto, bearing similar characteristics.
But at their essence, they were completely different.
Because supreme divinity is singular.
If Haruto were to inherit Tomie's splitting ability,
Then the clones he produced would merely inherit his memories and some of his abilities. At that point, he would have to go through the trouble of containing these clones himself.
After all, the Blacklight Virus was inheritable.
And if these clones lacked the protection of supreme intellect and divinity, their perception could be easily altered.
Should high-evolution Blacklight Virus clones trigger an outbreak in this world, just imagining the scene was terrifying enough.
Thus, what Haruto took from Tomie was cellular-level regeneration and memetic cognitive pollution.
With the optimization of the Blacklight Virus, Haruto could now activate or deactivate the memetic effect at will.
After devouring Tomie, Haruto casually tossed the loli Tomie onto the bed.
Then, ignoring her coquettish poses and dramatic tantrums, he walked out of the containment room.
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Japan's high-ranking officials underwent a massive reshuffle.
Many powerful figures in the government were, in fact, members of the Four Great Financial Clans.
With three of the four clan leaders suddenly dead, and numerous high-ranking executives among their affiliated corporations also perishing, Japan's upper echelons plunged into chaos.
Many sought to exploit the situation, hoping to rise in the turmoil.
To those aware of the inside story, this was an unprecedented opportunity. However, this chaos was quelled far faster than anyone could have imagined.
The Momobami Clan entered the fray.
As the only one of the Four Great Financial Clans still functioning normally, they crushed all opposition and took control of the situation.
With external assistance from the Momobami Clan, the Shinomiya Family also appointed a new leader.
No one expected that the seemingly insignificant Shinomiya Kaguya would ultimately take charge.
The internal power struggle within the Shinomiya Family never even materialized, everything proceeded as if in a dream.
Only members of the Shinomiya Family knew that Kaguya's rise to power involved a bloodbath within the financial conglomerate.
Many key personnel were either reassigned or forced to resign, replaced by an entirely new team.
Normally, such drastic changes would be disastrous for the conglomerate.
Each of these positions required irreplaceable top-tier talent.
Recklessly replacing them should have caused the entire corporate structure to collapse within a day.
Yet, to everyone's shock, Kaguya's replacements executed their tasks flawlessly.
Even outperforming their predecessors.
This left everyone in the Shinomiya conglomerate feeling deeply uneasy.
When had the so-called "caged bird" Kaguya gained control over so many elites across various industries?
Under pressure from the Momobami Clan, the Shinomiya executives abandoned any thoughts of rebellion and devoted themselves to Kaguya's orders.
Kaguya's three older brothers, though ambitious, were also intelligent.
Seeing how firmly she had secured power, they understood they had no chance.
Thus, they continued managing their respective businesses quietly, more obedient than ever.
Though whether they felt bitterness and doubt in their hearts, only they knew.
With the Shinomiya conglomerate swiftly stabilizing, the Momobami and Shinomiya families, began carving up the remnants of the chaos.
It was practically a feast.
The Suzuki and Senzaemon families' influence was drastically reduced.
By the time Japan's high society returned to stability, the Four Great Financial Clans were no more.
Now, Japan had only two dominant families: the Momobami and Shinomiya.
On the surface, they appeared to be rival factions competing for supremacy. But in reality, both were under the control of the Foundation.
Their economic "battles" were just for show, profits and losses were merely an illusion for outsiders. Their true role was maintaining societal stability and mediating economic disputes.
In truth, they were just shifting money from one pocket to another.
Meanwhile, within the Foundation, everything proceeded in harmony.
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Two Noteworthy Events:
-The discovery of The "Telekill" Alloy (SCP-148) in a western grassland near the City of Rome.
-The membership review of Yukinoshita Haruno.
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On the day after Tomie's outbreak, Haruno arrived at a… deserted warehouse?
For the first time, the always-composed Haruno felt nervous about an "interview."
Around Haruno, there were many people dressed in suits or white lab coats. These individuals were applicants seeking to join the Foundation.
Everyone sat in front of small tables, resembling students waiting for class to begin.
As Haruno scanned the room, she quickly recognized many familiar faces.
Some were high-ranking executives of major corporations whom she had met at various events, while others were prominent figures she had seen on television or in newspapers.
She even spotted her own mentor.
That person was an academician from Waseda University...
"Please put on the designated eye masks and headphones. After a brief transfer, you will be taken to the assessment site."
A staff member announced loudly.
Shortly after, everyone saw the surface of their tables split open, revealing a pair of special goggles and headphones.
"It's just an interview, why make it so mysterious?"
A physicist, renowned in a specific subfield of physics, voiced his dissatisfaction. In response to his skepticism, the staff member simply stated coldly,
"If you are dissatisfied, you may withdraw from the assessment at any time."
In other words, if you don't like it, leave.
This attitude deeply irritated many of the accomplished individuals present, who considered themselves geniuses and successful elites.
However, Haruno alone thought that the Foundation's personnel were being rather polite.
Joking aside, an organization dealing with the supernatural, possessing power far beyond humanity, was actually willing to sit down and have a civilized discussion with them.
That was already incredibly generous!
After being rebuked, the physicist immediately stood up and walked toward the exit.
Having been praised for his talent since childhood, he could not tolerate such rude treatment.
With someone taking the lead, others soon followed suit and left one after another.
Waiting for them outside the abandoned warehouse, however, were Foundation personnel armed with crowbars, ready to administer Class-D amnestics.
In the end, the majority of the applicants chose to stay.
Most had already heard rumors about the Foundation, and given the rarity of this opportunity, they were not willing to give up so easily.
Haruno picked up the goggles and headphones and put them on. Instantly, her sight and hearing were completely cut off.
'These goggles and headphones are incredibly effective...'
As she was thinking that, a sweet fragrance wafted through the air.
With just a single whiff, Haruno immediately felt her mind grow heavy.
The next moment, she sank into a deep sleep.