Chapter Fifty: The Return of the Man in Black

Night had quietly fallen, and the streetlights towering by the roadside cast a harsh, incandescent glare, making the drifting snowflakes stand out with crystalline clarity beneath their piercing beams.

After bidding farewell to Tetsuo Miyamoto, Ryusei Yue planned to head home, watch some television, and wash up before bed—after all, he had work again tomorrow. Walking through the blinding snow, Ryusei rounded a narrow alley he always passed, only to be confronted by several figures in black, all wearing black baseball caps.

"It’s you again."

Ryusei clenched the Dark Divine Light Rod in his coat pocket, his gaze cold as he looked at the four men before him. His face, sharp as if carved from stone, now bore a rare, intense murderous intent. In this narrow, shadowed alley, it would be difficult for him to make a move.

The black-clad men said nothing, each raising a silenced pistol in unison, as if by silent agreement. Four bullets, bloodthirsty and precise, sped toward Ryusei’s chest. Yet, just as their fingers tightened on their triggers, Ryusei leapt high into the air, flipping gracefully, tracing a beautiful arc through the snowy night sky.

"Bang—bang."

The muffled gunshots rang out again. In that instant, a black flash swept past; Ryusei had already transformed mid-leap into a human-sized Dark Tiga. The bullets that could easily tear through flesh caused him no harm; their tips were crushed immediately and fell uselessly onto the snow-laden ground.

Ryusei glared at the black-clad assailants, uncertain what to do next. He didn’t want to let these men, who sought his life, escape—but now, transformed into an Ultraman, he couldn't use this form to fight humans.

Even if these men were far from innocent.

The blue glow from the timer on his chest cast an eerie light over the already shadowed alley, and through his milky-white, keen eyes, Ryusei observed that the four men’s expressions remained unruffled.

So—they know who I am?

Ryusei was deeply unsettled. When had his identity been exposed?

There were a few who knew his secret, but none had reason to betray him: the psychic Kirino, the genius Masaki Keigo, Redel who had already left Earth, and Tetsuo Miyamoto, the alien from Planet Feitan. Perhaps Dagu might have learned of his identity through Masaki Keigo.

Ryusei couldn’t fathom it.

Even the wisest make mistakes, and no one could have foreseen that he’d be caught by a surveillance satellite being tested.

The four assailants seemed to realize their mission was doomed, exchanging determined glances.

"Thinking of biting down on your poison pills again?"

Noting their resolve, Ryusei shook his head. Such death-defying loyalty was truly hard to cultivate.

He then soared into the sky, vanishing into the night.

"He’s gone?"

One of the men managed a bitter smile; he had moved too quickly, already crushing the poison capsule hidden in his mouth ahead of his companions—only for their target to abruptly depart.

Just as regret flickered through him, his eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, and in an instant, his breath ceased.

The remaining three looked at their fallen comrade, then at the direction where Ryusei, transformed as Dark Tiga, had flown away. Their previously impassive faces now revealed a hint of helplessness. Life is precious; no one wishes to lose it, not even those sworn to die.

Yet, in this, the deceased man proved himself more qualified, more loyal than the others.

They pressed their caps lower, quickly hoisted their companion’s body onto their backs, and retreated from the alley.

Little did they realize that within the clouds above, Ryusei was watching their every move.

He wasn’t foolish enough to leave directly; his flight had only been a ruse to make it appear he was gone. After all, when people see Ultraman defeat a monster, doesn’t he always fly skyward and depart?

Ryusei took advantage of this ingrained expectation, hiding in the clouds, preparing to follow the trail—ready to uncover the mysterious organization behind these assassins.

In the snowy night, three men in black hurriedly carried the corpse to a small delivery truck, quickly boarding, firing up the engine, and with a roar, sped away.

Ryusei followed from above, hidden by the clouds.

The truck entered a tunnel—an undersea tunnel!

Unable to pursue from the air, and with his transformation timer running out, Ryusei was forced to revert at the tunnel’s entrance.

Staring into the dim tunnel, Ryusei sighed. Perhaps he was just a step away from uncovering their elusive organization.

The next day, the snowfall showed no sign of stopping; instead, it grew even heavier.

Ryusei hadn’t forgotten his work duties. Rising early, he ate breakfast, then stood at the door. With a thought, the Dark Divine Light Rod flew into his hand!

This ability was something Ryusei had discovered by accident the previous night before bed. The Cloud Sword had once possessed this power, and after it mysteriously merged into the Divine Light Rod, the rod inherited the same ability—to come at his call.

This new power was another safeguard for Ryusei, ensuring he would never lose the rod and be unable to transform.

...

"Coach Azawa! Long time no see!"

Aoki Sonoko, already waiting at the dojo entrance, greeted Ryusei warmly as he strolled up. The cold air had turned Sonoko’s nose slightly red.

"Whew, I got up early specially today, thought I’d be the first to arrive."

Ryusei exhaled, the vapor visible in the frigid air, and smiled as he approached Sonoko.

"It’s only been one day!"

Ryusei chuckled as he fished out the dojo door key.

"But that’s a whole twenty-four hours!"

Sonoko stuck out her tongue playfully, wearing a trendy furry hat that made her look especially cute and gentle.

...

Inside the dojo, with the heater running, Ryusei checked the time on his secondhand phone: 7:42 a.m.—work began at eight. He chatted idly with Sonoko as they waited.

About three minutes later, a burly figure rushed in—it was the hands-off director, Masao Chiba!

"You actually remembered you have work today?"

Chiba eyed Ryusei with a strange look.

"Uh, Director, did you have breakfast?"

Ryusei awkwardly shifted the subject.

"I did!" Chiba’s voice was firm, then he grinned, "But I’m still not full!"

Under Ryusei’s bewildered gaze, Chiba pulled out some cash and handed it to him. "Go buy me some milk bread from the shop next door!"

Ryusei stared blankly as he took the money, then walked out amid Sonoko’s giggles.

"And remember—I only want pure milk!"

As Ryusei stepped out, Chiba hollered after him at full volume.

The students were eccentric... but the director was even more so.