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nThe top floor of Myth Inc. HQ.

nSitting at his usual corner, John cracked his neck and muttered, “Finally finished.”

nAfter an hour and a half of watching the video on 3x speed to find clippable moments to translate, he uploaded the videos onto John Titor’s channel.

nGoing along with the theme of him being the director of Project MirAIs, the video titles were in the form of NOV9_KSTREAM1, NOV9_KSTREAM2, etc. He also added captions to English, Chinese, and Japanese.

nIf he wanted to reach an even wider audience, he would have added more… but that should be enough material for any avid fan translators and clippers to use as well.

nThe most important part was that all of the songs Hana sang were there, as well as the emotional breakdown from when Superchats opened.

nThe videos weren’t live just yet, but it shouldn’t take much longer for them to be available to the public to watch.

nSeeing that, John took a quick look around the room.

nIt seemed like Alphy took John’s words about relaxing to heart as she had on a pair of headphones, playing Animul Crossing on her switch, and lay on the bed nearby. It also seemed that she really enjoyed the panda outfit Rin got her since she had changed back into it.

nJohn smiled.

nIt was cute. Seeing this relaxed and adorable side of his usually harsh and cold daughter was nice.

nAs for his other daughter… Betty was deep in work as usual, currently watching all of the channel analytics and metrics while taking down notes. From what he could read, they seemed to be about potential trends and predictions on what would be good for streaming. There was also a window filled with emails, messages to various game developers and music artists asking for permission or licenses to use their creations.

nIn the middle of typing an email, Beta paused and glanced back at John. “Finished, Father?”

n“It’s still processing, but everything should be good to go.” John stood up, scooting out from his chair.

n“Then you are free to go as well, Father. Though I caution you to be mindful. After all, you tend to draw trouble.”

nJohn changed his clothes out back to the black suit and pants and nodded. “Don’t worry. I’m just going to go pick up our latest staff member. Shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

nAfter all, that Asako woman seemed honorable enough. And with the people trying to off her in her own family, he doubted that she would refuse taking on a staff position in exchange for some loyal men.

nAlso, she owed him a debt for saving her life. That should be enough to convince her.

nBeta paused and then gave John a sideways glance. “…Is this new hire a woman?”

nJohn paused. “…Perhaps?”

nBeta sighed. “Well, I suppose that is inevitable… And better than hiring a male to work with female idols. Better to avoid trouble now rather than risk a scandal later on, even if we are doing virtual idols.”

n“…So I’m good?”

nBeta went back to her work and shooed John away. “Go pick up the new staff member. Maybe then I can finally play some games like Eldest Sister.”

nJohn smiled and said, “Love you, Betty.”

n“You too, Father. Try to avoid causing too much trouble.”

nJohn walked off, sighing. “That’s always the plan…”

nHe held up his hand and waved, warping out to the red-light districts to go info hunting.

n—–AI|IA—–

n“…Is he gone, Beta?” Alpha lowered her Switch and took off her headphones.

n“Indeed, Eldest Sister. Father has left.”

nAlpha got out of the bed and then walked over to Beta’s side. “T-Then… About my idea earlier…”

nBeta glanced at the wall monitors and said, “It is doable. Father has already set up the equipment and models for us. However, the premier and debut material has yet to be drafted. More importantly however…” Beta looked to Alpha and said, “Are you certain of this, Eldest Sister? It would indeed be a great help to Father’s business, but…”

n“Hmph.” Alpha crossed her arms and said, “Do you think that I can’t do it?”

n“Yes.”

nAlpha blushed but then quickly covered it up with anger. “W-What’s that supposed to mean?!”

nBeta sighed and lowered her hands to her waist. After that, she turned around to stare at Alpha. “Eldest Sister. You are abrasive, violent, and bluntly fragile. Moreover, your social skills are non-existent.”

n“Which is why this is the perfect opportunity to practice!” Alpha glanced at where John vanished and said, “I… can’t keep relying on you and Father forever. And I can’t ask him to teach me when he’s so busy…”

nBeta blinked and slowly said, “I do not believe that the interconnected web of human knowledge where anonymity provides a shield against responsibility is the proper environment to learn social cues, Eldest Sister. Father would absolutely be against it.”

n“B-But you’ll help me convince him, right?”

n“…Do you truly wish to be part of this, Eldest Sister?”

nAlpha nodded. “I do.”

n“And you are not satisfied with simply supporting Rin from behind the scenes?”

nAlpha frowned and said, “Am I even doing that much to help? Monitoring the chat is far from difficult.”

nThere were rarely any outrageous comments that weren’t already filtered out by UTube’s algorithm. And of the ones that did get through, none were particularly malicious. At least not that Alpha could see.

nBeta frowned and said, “You will be solicited as well as become the target of lust for a great many mortals. While that has been tampered by Rin’s… Or rather, Hana’s age, you are, as this world says it, ‘legal’.”

nAlpha gestured towards her face and said, “Isn’t that true already whenever I go out?”

nBeta paused and then nodded her head. “I suppose. You are indeed accustomed to being the center of attention by many, many, many idiotic men who wished to possess you or gain your affection.”

n“Right?” Alpha smiled. “But these people aren’t even that extreme. Moreover, a large number seem truly supportive!”

nBeta gave her sister a long look and then sighed. “You make a great many valid points, Eldest Sister.”

n“Then-“

n“But there is one thing that you have forgotten.”

nAlpha blinked. “And that is…?”

nBeta sighed and said, “There is no mistaking your physical abilities and the ease in which you would learn the dance maneuvers. However… have you learned to sing since the disaster at the Lunar Festival all those years ago?”

nAlpha froze. “T-That’s… Um. I can practice? You’ll help me, won’t you, Beta?”

nThe crimson-haired young woman sighed. “Again, you are just like Father, leaving the most difficult tasks to me. But very well. In that case… We should begin now.”

nBeta snapped her fingers, causing the wall monitors to turn on.

n“E-Eh?” Alpha blinked. “N-Now?”

nBeta stood up and said, “Of course. If you wish to become an ‘idol’, it is essential to sing. Now.” Beta clapped her hands, causing music to play. “Since you insist on taking a similar role to Miss Rin, we will begin with her first musical cover, Launching Fireworks.”

nA soft piano intro began playing.

nAlpha froze.

nBeta narrowed her eyes and said, “What are you standing there for? Head to the streaming area!”

n“Y-Yes. But the lyrics-“

nBeta snapped her fingers, causing the ones that Rin used to show up on the monitor.

nAlpha flinched and then made her way over there. As she did, an elegant female teenager with black twin-tails and crimson eyes, the Anime version of Alpha, stared back from the wall-monitor, apprehension clear on her face.

n“We start in three.”

nAlpha glanced back. “U-Um, B-B-Beta. Do I really have to s-sing?”

n“Two.”

n“C-Can’t I just play games like Rin plans to do tomorrow?”

n“One.”

n“You’re cruel!”

n“Go.”

nI CaN STILL reCALL the BRILLiant ShOrE we SAW upon that WARM SUmMeR DAY…

nBeta sighed. “…We have a lot of work to do.”

n—–AI|IA—–

nJohn reemerged in an alleyway, concealing his presence. The moment he arrived though, he noticed some men in suits running around.

n“Don’t tell me you lost her!”

n“We’ve lost contact with the captains!”

n“Idiots! All of you!”

nPeople yelling at each other, civilians ducking away into bars and shops to stay out of trouble.

nSeeing that though made John frown. “It’s 2024, right?” For good measure, he pulled out his phone and glanced at the time.

nAs expected, it really was the future, a few years past when he was transported to the Three Realms.

nJohn’s frown deepened. “…Weren’t the yakuza on their way out?” He tucked his phone back and narrowed his eyes to dredging up those ancient memories from back on Earth. “If I remember right, kids stopped wanting to join the yakuza because the laws were stricter and it just overall stopped being appealing… so what’s different here?”

nCould it be that like how virtual streamers weren’t a thing, the anti-yakuza laws and shift in culture never occurred?

nNo, that couldn’t be true. Officer Kimura had said that there hadn’t been much going on recently that needed an officer on duty… But maybe it was just well hidden these days?

nJohn tucked his hands into his pocket and shook his head. “Whatever. I can think about that later.”

nFor now, his objective was simple: Grab that Asako woman and convince her to join his company.

nSince she was the heiress to the supposedly largest force in Tokyo, she should be good at management, right?

nJohn walked over to place away from cameras and surveillance and then headed out from the alleyway. As he did, someone ran into him. Of course, since John didn’t budge, the one who ran into him was the one who staggered back.

n“Oi! The hell?” A young man, probably in his mid-twenties, that looked like a stereotypical grunt. He scowled and then looked at John. “Who the hell- Huh? A gaijin?”

nJohn glanced at him and tilted his head, pretending to not know Japanese.

n“Tch.” The young man shook his head and then spoke some rough English. “Leave! Kill! Danger!“

nJohn gave a slow nod and stepped to the side.

nThe young man stalked off and said, “Dumbass gaijin… If it wasn’t for the bosses scrambling with those ghosts and trying to find Lady Asako I’d have taught him a lesson.”

nJohn blinked.

nThe ghosts part he could understood, but trying to find Lady Asako…

n“Oi.” John walked forward and said, “What was that about Asako?”

n“Huh?” The young man spun around. “The hell? You speak Japanese?”

n“Doesn’t matter. But is the Seiryuu trying to get rid of their Heiress now?”

nThe young man froze and then he narrowed his eyes. Reaching into his shirt, he whipped out a knife and said, “The hell are you from? The Torabu? A foreign group trying to step in our turf?”

nJohn sighed.

nA few other men had noticed the commotion and were walking over.

nAt the same time, John felt a power surge. The nearby street cameras and cellphone signals being disrupted.

n“Well that explains why there’s no evidence.”

nIt seemed like the yakuza in this world had gotten with the times rather than stayed stagnant.

nBut that made it more troublesome.

n“Not listening huh?” The thug stepped forward. “Guess I’ll have to teach you…” He lunged and swung his knife. “A lesson!”

nJohn shook his head. “I don’t have the time for this.”

nThe knife flashed in the light, cutting towards John’s neck. But before it was even halfway there-

n“Grk!”

n-He moved, jabbing the thug in the diaphragm.

nAt the same time, John grabbed the knife and flicked it at a man who was trying to sneak attack. The silver knife flashed before tearing through the man’s shoulder, glancing off and then piercing into the leg of another man in the back.

nIn an instant, the people trying to advance on John froze, taking a step back.

n“Mm…” John scanned the group and said, “Normally I’d beat you guys down into the ground… but I really don’t have the time for this. So… how about you all sleep.”

nA ripple surged through the air, turning a suggestion into reality.

nThe men all froze, as if struck by an invisible force. And then they collapsed falling unconscious on the ground, kicking up snow as they did.

nBut that wasn’t the only thing that happened.

nA loud thrum echoed and then the lights all shut off. The power grid in Tokyo… except for the hospitals, shut down.

nScreams echoed, exclamations of surprise and shouts from people that they couldn’t see.

nBut John could.

nIgnoring his eyes, he used his spiritual sense and connection with his shadow servants… or rather, the Yakuza replicas to examine the area.

nMen were running all over Tokyo, scrambling in the dark with small pockets fighting each other. Probably the Seiryuu against those Torabu he met last time.

nMaji and Saji were roaming around Kamurocho, tearing up soaplands and places that were exploiting people, leaving behind a pile of hopefully still breathing bodies behind them.

nAs for Kiri…

n“Of course.” John sighed and then warped over there.

nAlmost immediately, the sound of gunfire and the faint gleam of knives filled the air.

nBut that wasn’t all.

n“DORYA!”

nA faint gray blur, like a ghost dashing through the night. With it, bodies flew through the air and dropped to the floor, groaning in pain.

nJohn had reemerged on the streets just outside of Kamurocho, on the road to Roppongi.

nIn the dark moonlight, Kiri faced off against a hundred men, knocking them down like bowling pins, batting aside knives, bullets, and other weapons aside like they were nothing.

nBut more importantly, there was a young woman behind him.

nBeautiful, with long black hair and a trained body. However, it seemed like she had been put through the wringer, blood staining her left arm, black and yellow bruises visible beneath her ripped white blouse. Not only that, her already pale skin was starting to turn blue in places from exposure to the cold.

nAsako. Except, unlike the aggressive and slightly abrasive young woman from the other night, she looked frail and a few steps away from death.

n“Boss!” Kiri glanced back and said, “Take care of her!”

n“Like hell we’ll let you get away with her!” Someone shouted out and the black barrel of a gun gleamed in the night.

nKiri’s eyes widened and he moved to intercept.

nBut John moved faster.

n“Kuh? What…?”

nA knife stuck out from the man who was about to fire a gun. The same knife that John had used to threaten Yuri before and kept in his Heavenly Realm.

n“I really hate these developments… And why on Saturday? I was so looking forward to unwinding… Can’t I catch just one decent break?” John grumbled and picked Asako up, cradling her in his arms. At the same time, he healed the worst of her injuries, replenishing her blood and healing her gashes.

nHe didn’t heal everything though. That would be far too suspicious and raise way too many questions when she regained consciousness.

n“He’s getting away!”

nSomeone else shouted. Another from the Seiryuu goons.

nJohn sighed and said, “Knock them senseless, Kiri. But get out with Maji and Saji if their big boss, that Seiryuu head or whatever, shows up. It’s not time to settle with him yet.”

n“Understood.” Kiri nodded and then turned back to the men, fists raised.

nJohn started walking away. But as he took a step forward, he paused. “Right, I should do that.” He glanced back, his eyes flashing an ominous green and said, “I shatter the karma between us.”

nAn audible snap. But one without an apparent source.

nThe Seiryuu men flinched, a few even stumbling onto the floor. “W-What in the…? What was that?”

nDaze. Confusion.

nJohn forcibly severed karma with the yakuza members he came into contact with as well as removed traces of himself from their memories.

nFor good measure, he threw up some more defensive spells to ward off bad luck and ill-karma as well as reverse malicious intent to the one who sent it.

n“…That should be enough.”

nSatisfied that something ridiculous like the Seiryuu men charging Myth Inc. HQ tomorrow morning wouldn’t occur… and casting a few more to protect Sakura, Rin, Kai, and Tsuki to prevent the same from happening to them, he warped away.

n_________

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