The girl's tone was drawn out, her expression somewhat incredulous.

She glanced over the empty seats in the class; Arakawa Reina didn't come, Aozawa didn't come, Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't come, and Hojo Tetsuji also didn't come.

And today at 1:30 p.m., the Prime Minister has a major announcement to be made at the Imperial Palace.

Even though the news hasn't been officially announced, it's already been buzzing online.

Mainly from the United States, which has openly declared that to protect world peace and ensure the prosperity and development of humanity, the harmful monsters must be eliminated.

The United States will form an Otherworldly Expeditionary Force to defend world peace and justice with other countries and allies.

The neighboring country has also announced its intent to join the Expeditionary Force.

In their view, there is no doubt that the Prime Minister's speech at 1:30 p.m. will also announce Japan's joining of the Expeditionary Force.

But, there's still something to watch for!

Japan has the most Treasure Users among all countries.

Nine Treasure Users will appear together in front of the screen for the first time.

Previously, people only knew about the abilities of the nine Treasure Users, their nicknames were based on those abilities, and they never showed their true faces.

The students, naturally, anticipated this.

They didn't even run outside during lunchtime; like being in class, they were all gathered here, speculating whether those absent might have a chance to become Treasure Users.

Takahashi Saeko watched them cooperate like this and quietly turned on the recording mode of her phone.

Next to her, Tama Chan placed her phone horizontally, entering the official live broadcast room at 1:30 p.m.

In front of Nagawado Hall, there was a sea of people.

Comments flew by rapidly below, and in the sound of loud music, a group appeared on the balcony where the Imperial Household and the public used to meet.

Kochou and the nine Treasure Users appeared in the public's view together.

Among the nine Treasure Users, Morimoto Chiyoda, Phoenix Academy Maggie, and Ayatsuki Ayaka were openly visible without any disguise.

Aozawa and others covered their faces.

The flashbulbs below kept going off, and someone shouted loudly, "Prime Minister, Prime Minister!"

Their unison shouting made it obvious that the atmosphere group was leading.

After all, if the Prime Minister appeared and there wasn't any cheering, it'd be quite awkward.

Class Year 2, Class C erupted.

"Ayatsuki is really a Treasure User!!"

"So impressive!" "Look, the Treasure User in golden armor next to her, based on height, don't they look a bit like Aozawa?"

"The masked superhero must be Hojo Tetsuji!"

"Wait a minute, who's the person in the white uniform and white mask?"

"No way it's the class leader, that girl in yellow looks more like the class leader."

"Really? Does the class leader have that big of a chest?!"

The classmates excitedly discussed the identities of the Treasure Users who concealed their faces.

Takahashi Saeko silently recorded the scene, planning to send it to Ayatsuki Ayaka at night, so she could enjoy it for a while.

"It's unbelievable that we're actually in the same class as a Treasure User."

"I already suspected during the previous sports festival that their movements were a bit non-human." "Stop being a hindsight critic now." "Wow, thinking this way, we really are the side characters."

"Then who's the main character? Aozawa or Hojo Tetsuji?" "What are you boys babbling about? Clearly, it's the girls who are the majority, right?"

"That's right, any way you think about it, it should be Phoenix Academy!"

"I've felt from before that Ayatsuki's charisma was different, a talent only a protagonist would have."

The students began arguing.

Takahashi Saeko focused the camera on the girls who believed Ayatsuki Ayaka was the protagonist, then turned her gaze to Tama Chan's phone screen.

Kochou began her passionate and exciting speech.

Even if this news had already been leaked by other countries.

But Kochou still treated it as if the whole nation was learning of it for the first time.

"...For the greater good of all humanity, we have decided to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to invade the Different World, though the specific time cannot be disclosed yet."

Saying this, Kochou turned her head: "Next, let's have Demon Spear Ayatsuki Ayaka speak to everyone!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka tried hard to control her smile to appear composed.

But when it came to facial expressions control, she wasn't good at it at all, her smile was unstoppable even by AK.

Looking at the sea of people below, she felt her life had reached a new peak.

There must have been at least ten thousand people below.

All waiting for her speech.

Ayatsuki Ayaka felt very excited, holding the microphone, she forgot the speech she had memorized, saying: "Please rest assured, we will definitely defeat the Dread Emperor and Naraku! We won't let the world be destroyed by them!"

"That's right, we will join hands with people from the Different World..."

Phoenix Academy Maggie quickly grabbed the microphone, starting a speech full of lofty and empty rhetoric.

Ayatsuki Ayaka didn't take it back, realizing that her quick tongue had disclosed information that should have been kept from the public.

For Phoenix Academy Maggie's act of microphone-snatching, Ayatsuki Ayaka even felt grateful.

Taking proactive measures and passive ones create completely different perceptions in people's minds.

She didn't want to cause any panic.

...

The speech at Nagawado Hall didn't last long, ending about twenty minutes later amidst the citizens' enthusiastic cheers.

The group turned and left the balcony.

The deafening cheers gradually faded, leaving only silence to fill the high corridors.

The warm golden decorated walls exuded luxury.

Ayatsuki Ayaka, after finding herself away from journalists' view, exhaled heavily and wiped the sweat off her forehead, saying, "Maggie, thanks a lot.

If you hadn't taken over the microphone in time, I might have let something slip."

"You already did let something slip."

Phoenix Academy Maggie gave her a sidelong glance.

The matters regarding the Dread Emperor, Naraku, or Dio directing them to launch an attack on the Different World were not disclosed to rank-and-file soldiers or even to advisors.

These were high-level secrets meant for Treasure Users and leaders of various nations.

And even then, it was only for leaders of major countries.

Some smaller countries didn't qualify to know everything; they just needed to cooperate with major countries' orders, go on expeditions, or provide raw materials to help produce ammunition.

The military factories across nations were already running at full capacity, operating in three shifts to ensure they never stopped.

From air transport to sea transport, various weapon-related raw materials were being dispatched to national military factories under the command of numerous phone calls.

It's no exaggeration to say that the world was in a state of emergency military preparation.

"Hehe~"

Ayatsuki Ayaka scratched her head, showing a somewhat sheepish smile and said: "Wasn't I too nervous?

So many people were watching me, and it was my first time giving such a speech."

"It's fine; for matters like these, later, you can monitor online discussions and solve them by hiring some online commentators."

Kochou kindly smoothed over the situation.

She really liked Ayatsuki Ayaka, who was straightforward and remembered others' kindness.

Such a person must be secured with gentle methods.

Ayatsuki Ayaka felt warm inside, not having expected such a drastic difference in personality between Phoenix Academy Maggie's mother and Phoenix Academy Maggie herself.

Auntie is just too gentle.

"These are minor issues; let's head to the exercise site first."

Morimoto Chiyoda interrupted, subtly sliding between Kochou and Ayatsuki Ayaka, to prevent this bad woman from using some underhanded tactic to deceive the naive Ayaka.

Kochou didn't change her expression at all, and softly said: "Then, may humanity's future rest in your hands."

"Yeah, leave it to us!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka patted her chest, raised her head, her expression appearing extremely earnest.

Meanwhile, Hojo Tetsuji did not respond to Kochou; instead, he scratched his head and asked: "By the way, how are we conducting the training?"

"Didn't you listen earlier?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie quipped, having to explain again: "The exercise is divided into two teams; one team will pretend to be monsters.

The other team will act as defenders, working with the military to kill the monsters."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Hojo Tetsuji nodded, remembering now that Phoenix Academy Maggie had talked about it with him earlier.

He and Aozawa were assigned to the monster group, pretending to attack the Self-Defense Forces as monsters, "Then let's not delay any longer, finish the exercise early so I can chat with Little Sayuri."

"Shouko, it's up to you now."

"Yes, got it."

The speed of the Heavenly Lock is faster than that of a helicopter.