Rising Rays of the New Century: Tale of the Japanese Empire

The Great Escape

"...Now, what do I do from here?"

Naturally, there were many staff members and surveillance cameras within the detention center. If she made a move, the officers and security personnel would soon detect the situation.

"...Huh?"

Itsuki pondered her next move. However, at the same time, there was a commotion outside the detention center. She strained to hear the faint sounds coming from outside.

The demonstration demanding Itsuki's release was disrupted as a modified Hilux approached from behind. A man with his face visible from the cargo bed used a megaphone to issue a warning to the demonstrators and the local police attempting to restrain them.

"Ten seconds from now, we'll blow up the gate of the detention center! If you don't want to die, clear the way now! Ten! Nine! Eight...!"

"!!???"

The demonstrators immediately fell silent and turned toward the source of the voice. Standing on the cargo bed of the Hilux was a pastor with a rocket launcher RPG-7 from the previous century in his hands.

"What the heck!?"

"RUN!"

Sensing the ominous situation, the crowd scattered like ants, discarding their placards, and fled. The police were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events, losing sight of what they should address first.

"Five! Four! Three! Two! One! ...FIRE!"

"AAAAAAA!"

As the countdown ended, the officers fled with pitiful cries. Immediately afterward, as predicted, the rocket launcher was fired. The gate separating the detention center's premises from the city was blown to pieces, and the Hilux plunged into the debris and thick black smoke.

"Attention, suspicious vehicle! Stop immediately!"

An emergency announcement urged the runaway Hilux to stop. Armed police officers and corrections officers continued to pour out from the detention center. However, the pastor didn't hesitate to retrieve a second RPG-7 rocket launcher and aimed it directly at them.

"Give me back my child!! ...FIRE!!"

"...Huh!? RUN, RUN AWAY!!"

Overwhelmed by the pastor's rage and the fear of the rocket launcher, the public servants fled in all directions. Following that, the fired rocket launcher spectacularly blew up the main entrance of the detention center along with its outer walls.

"...cough, cough! ...? What's that!?"

Amid the black smoke, Itsuki, who had escaped from her cell, was visible. Her eyes locked onto her adoptive father, Sumiichiro Kashiwa, standing on the cargo bed of the Hilux.

"...P-Pastor-san?"

Amid the roaring sound of the Hilux and the panicked cries of the fleeing public servants, Itsuki desperately called out to her adoptive father. Her voice reached his ears. Sumiichiro, upon hearing his daughter's voice, tossed aside the RPG-7's shell and pounded the roof of the driver's seat, instructing the driver to steer the car towards Itsuki.

"...Itsuki! Run away at once!"

"Pastor-san! ...You're alive!"

The Hilux came to a halt right in front of Itsuki. She had tears in her eyes at the sight of her healthy adoptive father. But Sumiichiro didn't have time to savor the emotion, as he swiftly picked up Itsuki and half-forced her onto the cargo bed.