Bunkyo Ward,
University of Tokyo.
This was the famous 'Todai', the undisputed number one comprehensive university in the island nation.
Any student who considered themselves top-tier in academics would aim for this place. And a Todai graduate was practically a label for the 'elite' among the 'elite'.
A black sedan silently drove out of the school gate, making the passing students turn their heads.
It wasn't that they hadn't seen luxury cars before. Many Todai students were born into wealthy families. A mere luxury car wasn't enough to surprise them. What truly surprised them was the person in the car.
"Professor Osumi?"
As a student of Todai, how could they not recognize the old man in the car with a full head of white hair and a white beard?
This professor was a leading figure in molecular cell biology. If his research was too profound for ordinary people to grasp, then a simple sentence to prove his level would be: Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine.
"I remember there was a class with Professor Osumi today, right?"
A university student majoring in biology scratched his head in confusion.
"Maybe something urgent came up?"
Another student replied, while taking out his phone.
"Look, Professor Osumi's class has been canceled."
"Eh~~?!"
"I've been looking forward to this class for a long time."
The students who heard this news all sighed in disappointment.
...
"This is the first time in over 30 years of teaching that I have canceled a class without reason."
In the bulletproof sedan, the old man with a full white beard spoke slowly.
"Now, can you tell me what the emergency is?"
Suddenly receiving an emergency order directly from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, such a central institution, even a Nobel laureate was at a loss.
"Mr. Osumi, please be patient."
The man in the passenger seat had a straight face, sitting upright as if ready to deal with any accident at any time.
"When we reach the destination, you will naturally know."
?
"This..."
When they arrived at the destination and got out of the car, Professor Osumi was even more confused.
This was a warehouse located in Setagaya Ward. Setagaya Ward was a 'traditional' wealthy area.
The people living here were almost all of 'noble lineage', whose ancestors could be traced back to the 'old school' nobility of the shogunate.
Other black sedans were already parked in the warehouse, and the people getting out were almost all old faces, including many old acquaintances with whom Professor Osumi had once cooperated and had disagreements.
Professor Osumi had thought that the emergency order from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was only for him. But looking at the situation now, it seemed like they had called over all the well-known biology professors in the Tokyo area.
What on earth was worth such a big fuss?
The scene before him had piqued Professor Osumi's curiosity. Without curiosity, one could not become an outstanding researcher.
"Osumi?"
A familiar voice sounded from the side.
"You're here too?"
The other party was also a white-haired old scholar. But unlike the full-bearded Professor Osumi, the old man walking towards him had his silver hair neatly combed back, and a gentle smile on his face. He looked like the kind of famous teacher with students all over the world.
And indeed he was. This person had been a professor for fifty years and had taught countless top students.
"Honjo?"
Professor Osumi looked at the other party with surprise. The other party was also a Nobel laureate in 'Physiology or Medicine', specializing in cancer immunology.
The two were of similar age, and both were at the pinnacle of their respective fields. They could be said to be true old acquaintances.
"You were also called here urgently?"
"Yes, it seems you were too."
"I was about to ask you if you knew what the higher-ups meant."
The two white-haired old scholars chatted, and the others also greeted each other. Everyone present was a top professor in the field of biology. If it weren't for the order from above, it would have been very difficult to gather them all together.
After all, where there are friends, there are naturally rivals!
"Everyone, thank you for waiting."
A few minutes later, a government official in a suit walked out from the depths of the warehouse.
He politely gestured to these old scholars.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Professor Osumi frowned and pointed behind the other party.
Besides this government official, there were several heavily armed soldiers behind him.
"Please rest assured."
"You are all national treasures, no one would dare to harm you."
The government official patiently explained.
"These soldiers' duty is to protect this base. Please follow me."
?
This...
Logically speaking, several Nobel laureates present were truly top scientists in the island nation.
Theoretically, there should be no personal safety issues, but the situation before them was too strange. It wasn't that they hadn't been involved in national-level experiments before, but there had never been such a mysterious style, and so many people gathered.
"Let's go, Osumi."
Professor Honjo, with his silver hair combed back, took the first step.
At their age, what kind of storms had they not seen? Even death... was just a matter of time.
"Let's go and see what the government is up to."
"A supernatural creature?"
"Are you sure... there's no problem here?"
Tapping his temple, Professor Osumi spoke bluntly.
Unlike other polite scholars, he had loved fitness since he was young. In his youth, he had also earned the name 'Fukuoka no Kyoshi' on the field.
"Yes, everyone."
On the descending elevator, the government official seriously explained to these biology big shots.
"We have captured a supernatural creature."
"We need your wisdom... this way, please."
The elevator stopped, and the numerous old scholars followed this official into the underground base, arriving at a room with a glass curtain wall, looking at the inside:
"A Shiba Inu?"
"It is indeed a Shiba Inu..."
The numerous scholars looked at each other. The creature in the room in front had yellow fur all over, a wide forehead, a pointed and prominent muzzle, small, slightly triangular erect ears, small triangular eyes, and a thick tail curled over its back... with a smiling expression, what else could it be but a Shiba Inu?
This is it?!
A group of biology professors.
Their priceless brains almost crashed on the spot. If not for their good upbringing, they would have started cursing!
"Please be patient, everyone—"
The government official pressed his earpiece, and the thick metal wall in the room slid open silently.
"Roar!! Roar!!"
With a soul-shaking roar, a fierce tiger leaped out from within.
?
With just a glance,
the numerous biology professors could already tell that this tiger had been injected with drugs.
As soon as the frenzied tiger appeared, it pounced on the Shiba Inu!
One side was estimated to be three meters long, weighing around 200 kilograms, known as the king of beasts.
The other side was a pitiful half a meter in size, weighing no more than 10 kilograms... it was a question whether this Shiba Inu was even a mouthful for the tiger.
Bang!
The next second,
the two figures of disparate sizes collided.
????
Behind the glass curtain wall, all the biology professors' eyes widened in an instant.
"Woof."
The Shiba Inu, with its two small, short legs extended, actually withstood the tiger's pounce!
The scene before them was as absurd as someone performing the feat of stopping a speeding dump truck with their bare hands.
"Awooo~~"
With a roar that had no momentum, the petite Shiba Inu 'hugged' the tiger's head with its two paws and threw it.
Thud!
The tiger, which weighed 20 times more than it, was actually flipped over.
???
"Roar—"
The tiger, getting up, roared and opened its bloody maw, pouncing on the Shiba Inu again. Propelled by drugs and hunger, its heart was filled only with the desire to kill.
Swish.
Facing the attack of the king of beasts, the Shiba Inu pawed with its short legs.
It dodged the pounce with terrifying speed, leaving a yellow trajectory on the retinas of the numerous biology professors.
"This... this is..."
Pointing at the 'battle' behind the glass curtain wall, Professor Osumi trembled, unable to say a complete sentence.
"Yes."
"Everyone, this is the supernatural creature we have captured."
The government official nodded. Although it was just a Shiba Inu on the outside, after becoming 'supernatural', it could fight a fierce tiger on equal footing!
Of course, in the face of modern firepower, a fierce tiger was just a 'big orange cat'.
On the entire planet, the only beings qualified to be humanity's opponents were other humans.
But this Shiba Inu represented:
"Everyone,"
"There is no doubt that this is a dog yokai."
"And your job is to find the source of its 'demonic power'."
"This is for the country... no, it is for the evolution of humanity. Please do your best—"
After speaking, this government official gave a ninety-degree bow.
"I beg of you!"