Chapter 37: The Demon Among Us
How could this happen?
Hiroshi Noda's words shocked Uesugi Kiyoshi, but after thinking carefully, he realized it could actually be true.
According to investigations by the Institute of Special Events and relevant agencies in Japan, the stratosphere about 30,000 meters above sea level is indeed the place where Head Balloons disappear and reappear.
If they appear and stay still in the high sky, then humans on the ground won't be detected by their sight, smell, or other senses, and naturally won't come down to interact due to their own rules.
"Too naive..." he sighed.
For astronomical observation and scientific research, the research institute's astronomy team launched many hot air balloon telescopes into the stratosphere, leading them to discover the targets.
Uesugi Kiyoshi remotely controlled one telescope and with the guidance of the experts, he quickly spotted a dense group of black dots in the sky; that's where the Head Balloons gathered.
In this relatively small airspace, billions of Head Balloons were close together, touching each other, huddling closely.
To prevent entanglement between each other, they wound long steel cables around their heads several times, like wearing helmets, leaving only a little tail exposed.
"Oh, Your Excellency Uesugi, they seem to have spotted you!" the assistant reminded.
The arrival of the telescope balloon made the Head Balloons very anxious and they crowded together in a panic. After a while, they calmed down. Then they spread out, some went east, some west, and lined up to form a sentence on the mirror.
[996，YES；007，NO！]
"Is this person trying to make a deal with us?" Uesugi Kiyoshi exclaimed in disbelief.
First there was the Headless Sculpture, followed by the Head Balloon showing some signs of sophistication. If this continues, even the tunnel and the honey tree will be influenced. This kind of bad influence cannot be allowed to grow, can it?
Moreover, they work for one month and rest for one month. Isn't their treatment good enough already? What else do they have the face to demand more?!!
Uesugi Kiyoshi naturally refused to compromise. Without hesitation, he instructed Hiroshi Noda, "Send our experimental aircraft up."
The altitude of 30,000 meters is beyond the reach of ordinary commercial aircraft, but for the research institute, it's not a big deal.
With the support of huge funds, the astronomy group has just developed an experimental aircraft powered by rockets that can reach a maximum altitude of 12,000 meters.
As long as they get close to the group of Head Balloons and any one of them sees the pilot, according to their principle of information sharing, the pilot's Head Balloon can be retrieved.
Once the pilot's balloon reaches the ground and encounters others, the remaining balloons will also gradually land.
Hiroshi Noda nodded, eager to comply. "Please wait, I will arrange it right away!"
"Oh, don't forget to tell the media and send out a warning ahead of time!" Uesugi Kiyoshi added.
Even though the people who survived the back-and-forth of the balloons had already formed the habit of carrying protective suits with them, he didn't want to take that risk and have innocent people lose their lives because of him.
The people from the research institute worked from the afternoon until late at night to finally tune the plane, and the news reminding everyone to be prepared had already spread throughout Japan.
Uesugi Kiyoshi stood in the square below the research institute, yawning, about to give the order to start the test plane, when suddenly he heard a crisp sound of breaking glass.
"What is this..."
Glass shreds fell from the sky onto the umbrella held up by the bodyguard. Uesugi Kiyoshi squinted his eyes and looked up at the sky, vaguely seeing a dark figure dangling in the air.
Without needing to be told, several searchlights had already illuminated the source of the sound, and in the dazzling white light stood an elderly person with gray hair.
She had a slightly chubby body, a round face, looking healthy, dressed in plain winter clothes that didn't differ much from the common neighbor ladies on the street.
The only extraordinary thing was a pair of pitch-black wings extending from her back, slowly flapping in the air, supporting her as she hung by the window on the twenty-second floor.
There was a honey research lab, and she was holding a transparent container filled with golden liquid, which was pure honey.
"Evil, demon!"
Bat-like long wings with holes on them, this was the sign of a demon!
Amidst the panicked cries, the research institute's combat personnel had already surrounded the area, countless guns pointing towards the sky, and within ten minutes, the nearest self-defense force would also arrive to support.
But would such an attack be effective against the demon?
The old woman paid no attention to the crowd below, she only brought her nose close to the container, took a deep breath, showed a satisfied expression, and then poured the honey into her mouth.
"Ah..."
The people below let out an unconscious gasp, filled with inexplicable anticipation, while looking towards the top of the old woman's head.
"Glug."
In the clear sound of swallowing, the bright spotlight suddenly went dark.
"Crack!"
With a slight sound, when the light returned, the old man was already lying flat on the ground, his surface area instantly doubling or tripling, his eyes wide open and unable to move, only the black wings still trembling slightly.
This outcome didn't come as a surprise, everyone relaxed, looking at Uesugi Kiyoshi, waiting for his command.
However, Uesugi Kiyoshi hesitated, not giving any orders, and instead questioned Hiroshi Noda.
"Why would demons appear here?"
Hiroshi Noda shook his head in response to his question.
"Perhaps they were lured here by the scent of honey... What do you think, Your Excellency Uesugi?"
"I'm not sure... maybe we should first ask the police station if there have been any recent anomalies?"
......
The police department has been receiving reports of unusual events every day, but recently, the most unusual cases are babies going missing in various places.
In just a few weeks, over 300 cases of babies disappearing have occurred across Japan. Children who were safely at home suddenly vanish without a trace.
People were fearful, especially young parents who had just become parents, worried and caring for their children day and night without peace.
The police department was under immense pressure. As the incidents happened late at night with no evidence at the scene, it seemed like the suspect could appear and disappear out of thin air.
With Japan lacking a proper surveillance camera system, solving the cases was delayed.
"Is this another strange event?" The police chief warmly welcomed Uesugi Kiyoshi and asked for his help after briefing him on the case.
"I'll do my best," Uesugi Kiyoshi replied.
