Chapter Nineteen: The Hunters’ Guild

"Member of the Gale Squad! I demand an explanation!" Deputy Captain Munakata watched as Tetsuya emerged from the White Dragon and was the first to rush over, shouting at him in anger.
"The purpose of TPC, the purpose of the Victory Team! Do you even know what they are? Do you realize what consequences your actions would have brought just now if not for Dyna's appearance?!" Deputy Captain Munakata pointed furiously at the dazed vagrant. "In your hands, another life would have been lost!"

Tetsuya looked over in silence, biting his lip without saying a word. Instead, he turned back to the White Dragon, retrieved a sixth-order Rubik's Cube, and sat down in a shadowy corner, quietly turning it in his hands.

"Dyna... Dyna..."

The emotion called jealousy grew rapidly in Tetsuya's heart. In truth, he and Keigo Masaki were very much alike, both proud men. The difference was that Keigo's pride was worn openly, while Tetsuya's was hidden deep within. Both believed themselves to be the true inheritors of the light. Thus, though Tetsuya knew he could not continue down this path, his jealousy toward Daigu did not diminish—in fact, it burned even hotter.

He raised his head to watch Dyna battling the Kirieloids, expressionless, shrinking further into the darkness.

When Dyna's color timer beeped, and he finally froze the Kirieloid with a Freeze Beam before destroying it with the Zeperion Ray, the faces of the Victory Team members lit up with sheer excitement. Tetsuya, however, simply placed the now perfectly solved Rubik's Cube in the shadows and walked away alone.

As Dyna vanished into the sky, Horii glanced around before finally remembering to ask, "Where's Gale?"

Deputy Captain Munakata's expression was a little grim. At Horii's question, he replied coolly, "He probably left ahead of us."

Rina looked around and finally spotted the sixth-order Rubik's Cube in the shadows at the street corner. She walked over curiously, picked it up, and noticed all its faces were perfectly aligned. There was no sign of Tetsuya nearby.

"Everyone!" Not far off, Daigu jogged over, waving and smiling.

"You! We thought you weren't coming!" Rina tossed the Rubik's Cube aside and was the first to run up to Daigu.

"Dyna showed up earlier, but you missed it again. Why is it that every time Dyna appears, you're never around?" Rina asked, puzzled.

"Ahaha… Is that really so important?" Daigu laughed awkwardly, deflecting the question.

Fortunately, Rina didn't dwell on it. She just gave him a playful punch and let it go.

"Director Zei, I request to resign from the Victory Team and establish the Hunter Organization, specializing in the monitoring and containment of extraterrestrials."

The next day, Tetsuya walked into Director Zei's office. His first words were these.

"Oh?" Director Zei put down his pen, looking at Tetsuya with curiosity. "You insisted on joining the Victory Team before. Why do you want to leave now?" He paused, as if something came to mind. "Is it because of a conflict of principles during the Kirieloid incident? I've already read Deputy Captain Munakata's report. In that situation, your decision was neither right nor wrong."

Tetsuya was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Perhaps… it's just a difference in philosophy. The Victory Team relies too heavily on Dyna, and they don't understand the brutality of battle. This is an invasion. To protect someone insignificant, you could lose much more. They don't see that."

When he got out of the White Dragon, Tetsuya still felt a pang of guilt. But now, after much reflection, he no longer felt he should be burdened by it. What he had done was not wrong. Had Dyna not appeared, his decision would have been absolutely correct. Afterwards, he could have refuted Deputy Captain Munakata and the others’ naive ideals with ease. Yet, Dyna's intervention rendered his actions excessive and callous by comparison.

"I just want to prove… that even relying on my human strength alone, it is possible to achieve what Ultraman can. But Dyna—why must you shatter my hopes again and again!"

Tetsuya knew his heart was changing, growing colder and more ruthless, but he did not think this was a bad thing. To him, it was simply maturity. He himself did not fully realize how his spirit was beginning to warp. If he continued down this path, he might truly become cold-blooded, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.

"You know, we've always had a good private relationship, so I understand you. But… you seem different now…" Director Zei studied Tetsuya and spoke slowly, "You're always frowning, your expression clouded, and from the feedback I've received, you aren't getting along well with the rest of the Victory Team."

"That's why I hope to establish the Hunter Organization, to eliminate those aliens remaining on earth with evil intentions."

Director Zei looked into Tetsuya's dark eyes and finally nodded. "I approve your request. When it comes to aliens, it is indeed necessary to have a specialized organization to manage and eliminate those who linger here with ill intent, always seeking to take what is not theirs."

He stood up from behind his desk, walked over to Tetsuya, and patted his shoulder, his voice heavy. "Gale… you know I admire you. When you resigned from your position as chief at Caro Base, it was because of your passion for fighting for Earth. I can't blame you for that."

"But now you're asking to leave the Victory Team to found the Hunter Organization alone. I hope… you won't let down my final expectations for you!"

"Useless fools!" Keigo Masaki cursed as he watched the broadcast of last night's battle on television, the image frozen on the moment the Kirieloid was shattered by Dyna. His furious gaze swept the room as he looked for something to smash to vent his anger.

Ring-ring…

At that moment, his phone rang. Keigo Masaki picked it up, answering gruffly, "Who is it?"

"It’s… it’s me…" The voice on the other end was anxious and flustered.

"Hmph? Kirieloids… You worthless fools, you still have the nerve to call me?! You brought this mess on yourselves! You’ll drag me down with you!" Keigo spat out. "And where’s my GeoZark? You idiots!"

"GeoZark…" the other replied, then continued, "Don't worry, there's just one last step left! But if you want it, you have to agree to one condition!"

"A condition!? You dare bargain with me?!"

"Hmph!" At that moment, a cold woman’s voice cut in. "You must agree to this condition! Keigo Masaki, you’ve been dealing with us Kirieloids in secret, and you want to build that thing. What do you think will happen if it comes to light?"

Keigo Masaki paused, switching the phone to his other hand, his expression sour. The woman was right—if this was exposed, all his plans would be ruined, and he’d likely rot in prison for the rest of his life. He blamed his impatience—after confirming what Gale Tetsuya said, he’d rushed to set everything in motion. But since Sairiku Technologies didn’t have a hand in the relevant field, he’d even risked working with the Kirieloids, only to find out they were arrogant but powerless, easily destroyed by Dyna, and now he too was at risk.

"Speak… what’s the condition? What must I do to get GeoZark?"

"We need your protection… and don’t get any funny ideas. We’re all in this together. If we die, you won’t escape either!"