21st Century Necromancer

As a National Research Institute established with funding from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Director Kamikura of the Unnatural Death Research Institute had been a high-ranking official at the Ministry.

Deeply moved by the sight of numerous unclaimed and unidentified bodies during the relief efforts for the Fukushima incident, he had requested to be transferred to the institute when it was decided upon, hoping to contribute to society.

However, the Unnatural Death Research Institute was after all just a research body. Although the initial intention of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare was to use this institute as a model for a nationwide rollout following its success, the plan had never been put into action. The institute itself struggled to continue, relying on the funding Director Kamikura was able to secure each year.

"Director, are you leaving work so early today?" Misumi Mikoto, who was writing a report at her computer, looked up and asked seeing Director Kamikura getting ready to leave. Though Director Kamikura didn't usually handle day-to-day affairs, it wasn't his habit to leave work so early.

"Director, you're dressed so smartly today. Are you going to a networking event for meeting members of the opposite sex?" Tokairin Yuko, who was nearby, also noticed the unusual behavior of Director Kamikura, especially since he had changed into a suit that looked quite appropriate. It was well-known that Director Kamikura usually wore his UDI uniform.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Would I be that kind of person?" Director Kamikura hastily refuted, seeing that Misumi Mikoto and Tokairin Yuko still wore doubtful looks, he hurriedly explained, "An old friend from the Ministry of Health and Welfare invited me to a gathering. It is said that many important individuals from both the political and business sectors will attend.

I want to see if I can secure some sponsorship. Otherwise, we'll hardly be able to afford you two with just the subsidy money each year!"

"Oh wow! Director, you really are an ex-official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare with such a powerful network!" Hearing Director Kamikura's explanation, Tokairin Yuko didn't sense anything wrong. Instead, she teased him even more and eagerly inquired, "Director, this evening's gathering you mentioned, where many influential people will be attending, will there be any eligible bachelors?

Can I tag along?"

"Nonsense! It's not a mixer! Even I can only attend because of my previous connections. How could I possibly take you with me?" Director Kamikura quickly shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't want to bring Tokairin Yuko, but the gathering was said to be a private one attended only by elites from both the political and business sectors.

Without his substantial connections from his time at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, he would not even qualify to attend the event.

After extricating himself from Tokairin Yuko's persistence, Director Kamikura finally left UDI. Although he usually commuted by electric bicycle, he couldn't possibly arrive at a high-level meeting in such a modest fashion.

Director Kamikura had been wondering whether to spend a bit extra on a taxi to the venue when his friend, who had secured him the invitation, took the initiative to come and pick him up, saving him from a substantial financial bleed.

"I really appreciate it, Soda. If it weren't for you, I'd have no chance to attend such a high-profile event. You've really done me a huge favor!" Seated in the car, Director Kamikura expressed his gratitude to his friend and was also grateful that he had come to pick him up, "You even went out of your way to fetch me, which makes me feel quite embarrassed. I've caused you so much trouble!"

"No need for such formalities.

If you hadn't helped me when I made a mistake at work in the past, where would I be today?" When Director Kamikura's friend heard his courteous words, he responded politely with a laugh before becoming serious, "However, my making a special trip to pick you up was actually because there's something I need to warn you about in advance, to prevent any trouble you might cause tonight."

"Eh?" Director Kamikura looked at his friend in surprise, not understanding why he was being so solemn. But Director Kamikura knew that Soda was not a flippant man, so if he was speaking so seriously, there must be a reason, prompting him to listen attentively.

"Kamikura, you've reached a certain level in the Ministry of Health and Welfare before, so you might have heard about the transcendent beings, haven't you?" Soda looked intently at Director Kamikura as he started revealing some details about the gathering, "The existence of the transcendent beings is real.

Not only are they real, but the government also has specialized agencies to manage transcendent beings as well as the Supernatural Forces Squad. However, those are far beyond our reach, and ordinary people rarely come into contact with such entities."

"So you mean to say, tonight's gathering..." Director Kamikura wasn't dull. Soda had barely finished speaking when he had already guessed the nature of the evening's event.

Soda nodded, then lowered his voice to explain to Director Kamikura, "Tonight's gathering is actually organized by an entity known as the Mingyue Society. Most of the attendees are members of this society, and among them are transcendent beings.

Those important figures from both political and business sectors that I mentioned are actually attracted by the transcendent beings, for joining the Mingyue Society offers a chance to become one of them." Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"Such things are too..." Soda's revelation exceeded Director Kamikura's imagination, leaving him at a loss for words, as he couldn't find the right adjective to describe it.

However, Soda seemed to understand what he meant, and said with a smile, "Who can deny that? I too thought they were scammers at first, but if the Mingyue Society hadn't demonstrated the power of transcendent beings to me, I would never believe such a good thing could happen to me either."

"But if it's about transcendent beings, then why would they do this? Surely there isn't some kind of conspiracy or unspeakable purpose behind it?" Director Kamikura couldn't help but think a bit more deeply.

According to Soda, these transcendent beings could connect with influential figures in political and business circles, clearly possessing significant networking clout, and although Director Kamikura knew little about them, he was aware that they were a group imbued with mysterious powers, prompting his suspicions.

"That may be true, but who can resist the temptation to become a transcendent being?" Soda's expression was somewhat wistful as he shook his head, "I've met some transcendent beings too. Although they were just the lowest-ranked individuals among them, a transcendent being is still a transcendent being. Even the ones struggling the most are stronger than ordinary people!

So at the gathering later, Kamikura, make sure you don't stir up any trouble. There are some people we simply cannot afford to offend."

Soda's words made Director Kamikura's face look rather uneasy, but the opportunity to attend such a high-level gathering was exceedingly rare for him. Despite some insecurity, he didn't back out by saying he wouldn't go after all.