A person in Ultraman receives a gift from the will of Earth at the start.

Chapter 328 The Crown Prince Makes a Move Against Daigo?

Inside the TPC director's office, Director Sawai was engrossed in processing a mountain of documents, and reports of unusual phenomena from around the world left him looking somewhat weary.

Suddenly, the door was flung open with a loud thud against the wall. A tall man in an orange-red robe barged in without waiting for an announcement, bringing with him a gust of chilly air. Sawai assumed it was his secretary with an urgent report. He put down his electronic pen, didn't turn around, and said in his usual gentle tone, "What is it? Why the rush?" He habitually instructed his subordinates, "Don't rush things, or you'll make mistakes."

As the words fell, an unsettling silence descended upon the office, broken only by the faint hum of machinery churning in the distance from the base. Sensing something amiss, Sawai slowly turned around. When he recognized the newcomer not as any of the staff, but as that man of high status but in an awkward position, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, but his years of leadership experience allowed him to quickly regain his composure. "Your Highness, it's you?" Director Sawai stood up, his tone much more serious. "Is this year's budget insufficient?"

Crown Prince Darram sneered, his gaze sweeping over the advanced surveillance equipment and strategic maps in the office before finally settling on Sawai's face: "Budget? You think I came to a place like this to beg for that pitiful amount of funding?" He took a step forward, the hem of his robe rustling as it brushed the ground. "I'm here to remind you, Director Sawai, that TPC's recent actions... have gone a bit too far."

Sawai remained expressionless, showing no anger at Darram's recklessness.

He had someone bring over a pot of fine tea and poured it for Darram.

Director Sawai poured the tea with steady, gentle movements. The clear tea liquor flowed into the exquisite porcelain cup, raising wisps of white steam and a delicate fragrance. He gently pushed the teacup towards Daram and sat down on the sofa opposite, as if this were just a routine, polite meeting.

"Your Highness, please have some tea. This is new tea from Shizuoka Prefecture. Although it cannot compare to the imperial tribute, it has its own unique flavor." Sawai's voice remained gentle, but his gaze was like an undercurrent beneath a calm lake. "All of TPC's actions are based on the highest principle of maintaining global peace and security. If there is anything that 'crosses the line,' please let us know."

Darram didn't touch the tea. His orange robe stood out starkly against the cold white office light, like a flame intruding into precision machinery. He looked down at Sawai, his eyes filled with undisguised sarcasm: "Principles? You people always like to use fancy words to package your ambitions. Your intelligence agency is secretly investigating the personnel composition of various shrines? Even our Royal Shrine?"

Darram's fingertips tapped lightly on the smooth coffee table, the sound unusually clear in the quiet office, carrying a rhythmic impatience. He leaned forward slightly, his orange-red robe sleeves like drooping flames, almost touching the untouched cup of tea.

“Explicitly?” Dharam’s voice lowered, yet became even sharper. “Your Excellency is a wise man; why must I spell it out so clearly? Ancient shrines are not only about rituals and beliefs, but also the cornerstone that maintains the ‘purity’ and ‘balance’ of this land. You use those cold instruments and so-called ‘scientific’ standards to measure, record, and even evaluate the clergy… Are you measuring the size of the shrine, or testing the limits of our tolerance?”

Sawai slowly picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and found the temperature to be just right. When he put the teacup down, the porcelain base made a soft but firm "click" as it touched the coffee table.

“Your Highness’s analogy is very vivid.” Sawai raised his eyes, his gaze calmly meeting Darram’s piercing stare. “But please allow me to correct a possible misunderstanding. TPC has never, and would never, 'test' the bottom line of any legitimate belief. Our investigation is a responsibility to the safety of all humanity.”

He paused briefly, observing Darram's expression, before continuing in his calm, factual tone: "In recent years, anomalies have been frequent around the world, including numerous cases of energy resonance or spatial disturbances with local legends and sacrificial sites. Last summer, a dilapidated mountain shrine in Hokkaido triggered seven cases of residents fainting, the root cause being the resonance between unknown low-frequency radiation seeping from the ground and the temple's structure. In the South American rainforest, after an ancient altar was reactivated by a local tribe, all electronic devices within a three-kilometer radius malfunctioned... Your Highness, these are not legends, but clearly numbered records in the TPC incident archives."

Darram's lips still held a cold smile, but a subtle tremor flickered deep in his eyes.

Sawai leaned forward slightly, her tone becoming more earnest, yet also more undeniable: "Our investigation into the composition of shrine personnel is not out of disrespect. On the contrary, we hope to understand which ancient traditions truly possess the knowledge and power to cope with potential crises beyond conventional understanding, and which might inadvertently become amplifiers of the 'abnormal,' or even victims, due to a lack of understanding of the nature of modern threats. This includes royal shrines, not as an exception, but because of their esteemed status and far-reaching influence, our concern only deepens, and our preparations must be even more thorough. This is respect for history, and even more so, responsibility for the future."

“What a fine ‘responsibility for the future’!” Darram abruptly stood up, the wind from his robes finally causing ripples on the surface of his teacup. “Using your self-righteous ‘science’ and ‘safety’ to reach into the sacred realm that has been passed down for thousands of years? Director Sawai, you keep talking about respect, but your actions are the greatest blasphemy! You’re collecting lists, assessing so-called ‘qualifications,’ what’s next? To include the priests and priestesses in your TPC’s organization, give them uniforms and communicators, and install energy detectors in the Kagura Temple?”

His voice echoed in the office, filled with fury at having his core interests threatened: "You simply don't understand! Some forces, some beings, cannot be measured by your machines, much less managed by your bureaucratic procedures! They follow ancient laws, recognizing only bloodlines, oaths, and pure beliefs!"

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

The sounds of machinery operating in the distant base also seemed to fade into the distance.

Director Sawai slowly stood up. He was not as tall as Darram, but the aura he had cultivated over the years at the center of power made him appear in no way weak. The gentleness on his face finally faded, revealing a steely seriousness beneath.

“Your Highness,” Sawai’s voice was soft, yet every word was clear, “The TPC was founded because we know that the threats facing humanity have long surpassed conventional understanding and past experience. We respect all possible sources of power, whether they originate from technology or tradition. But it is precisely because we have witnessed the horrors of the ‘Anomaly’ that we must try our best to understand and prepare. Closing our eyes and ears, and guarding our defenses, will not protect anyone or any sacred ground in the face of a true crisis.”

He softened his tone slightly, but his gaze remained firm: "As for your concerns about 'management' or 'incorporation,' that is not the purpose of the TPC. What we seek is communication, understanding, and, where necessary, cooperation based on mutual respect. If Your Highness feels that our approach is too direct, we can explore more appropriate methods. But please understand that, out of our responsibility for global security, the possession of certain basic information is a bottom line that the TPC cannot compromise on."

Darram stared intently at Sawai, his eyes blazing with anger at being offended, an instinctive resistance to the encroachment on traditional territory, and a barely perceptible apprehension of the "unknown threats" Sawai had described. He knew that the man before him and the organization he represented possessed power far greater than before.

After a long while, the anger in Dharam's eyes gradually subsided, turning into a deep, icy chill.

He suddenly chuckled softly, no longer as aggressive as before.

"Director, I believe in your actions, but my subordinates don't."

"What do you think? Should we withdraw those intelligence agency personnel first, and then dismiss or demote some of them?"

"For example, Xia Yunze from China, or Lin Yeming, who holds a high position of power?"

"These two people are from the China branch, yet they occupy high positions at headquarters. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

“People outside are saying that you have made many concessions to China.”

"How can such a thing be allowed?"

The air in the office seemed to thicken and grow colder after Dharam's seemingly casual yet weighty words fell.

The cup of tea, long since cooled, remained motionless, reflecting the cold light from the ceiling.

"Your Highness, do not say anything that is detrimental to unity."

"The intelligence agency has its own system, and they use their investigative powers in accordance with laws and regulations. How can I and the TPC interfere arbitrarily?"

Don't you think so?

Director Sawai stared silently at Darram, his face expressionless, but a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes.

He slowly sat back on the sofa, his hands clasped on his knees, a posture that was both relaxed and exuded an unshakeable steadiness.

Darram: "Sawai, you're still speaking official jargon!"

"Your Highness, please don't get agitated."

Radam: "Am I excited?"

"This won't work, that won't work either."

"Then transfer this GUTS member named Daigo to the logistics department."

"This guy keeps crashing planes, he probably doesn't have much ability."

Director Sawai's interlaced fingers paused almost imperceptibly before resuming their original posture. He didn't answer immediately, but instead turned his gaze to the window, as if pondering a distant question unrelated to the personnel changes.

The office was so quiet you could hear the ticking of the digital clock.

Darram waited patiently, a confident smile playing on his lips. He knew he had thrown out a seemingly insignificant but actually extremely subtle bargaining chip. Daigo, an ordinary member of the GUTS team, the "lucky" kid who had repeatedly survived plane crashes unscathed. Using him as a scapegoat wouldn't immediately touch TPC's core interests, yet it would genuinely test Sawai's bottom line and send a clear signal: personnel within TPC were not monolithic, nor were they immune to "negotiation."

Sawai slowly turned her head, her face showing neither the embarrassment nor anger that Darram had expected, but rather a deep, thoughtful expression tinged with amusement.

“Team member Daigo…” Sawai repeated the name, his tone as calm as if he were reading a name from an ordinary report, “His flight record is indeed rather… eye-catching. Captain Megumi of the GUTS team always gives him a complex evaluation in her reports.”

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully: "On the one hand, I acknowledge his courage, intuition, and...luck at crucial moments; on the other hand, I also express concern about the aircraft attrition rate. From a purely management efficiency perspective, Your Highness's suggestion seems not without merit."

A glint flashed in Dalam's eyes, and he leaned forward slightly, thinking he had found a gap.

However, Sawai's tone shifted, becoming gentler yet undeniably firm: "But TPC isn't an ordinary company that just looks at reports, and the GUTS team isn't an ordinary rapid reaction force. We're facing enemies and phenomena that defy common sense. Sometimes, unquantifiable 'intuition,' 'resilience,' or even seemingly illogical 'coincidences' can determine the course of a battle more effectively than a perfect operating manual. Captain Megumi's insistence on keeping Daigo on the front lines must have its reasons. As the director, I respect the judgment of the frontline commander, especially in a special team like the GUTS team."

He looked at Darram, his eyes clear and honest: "Moreover, Your Highness, transferring a team member who has survived numerous major crises, no matter how valid the reasons, could be interpreted by outsiders, especially by the young people within TPC who admire the Victory Team, as a punishment for 'courage' and 'survivorship.' This is probably... detrimental to morale and doesn't align with TPC's long-standing philosophy of 'cherishing every life.' What do you say?"

Darram's face darkened. Instead of confronting him directly, Sawai used the two stronger shields of "respecting professional judgment" and "upholding organizational principles" to effortlessly deflect his attack. He even cleverly transformed the "plane crash" into "surviving a crisis," turning potential punishment into an injustice to the hero.

“It seems the director is determined to protect everyone,” Darram’s voice turned cold. “Whether it’s a high-ranking Chinese elite or a lowly pilot who makes repeated mistakes.”

“What I’m protecting is the rules that allow TPC to operate and its fundamental value,” Sawai corrected, his voice still steady. “Your Highness, our previous conversation has reached a preliminary consensus: to establish smoother communication channels to enhance understanding. This is more fundamental to solving the problem than adjusting the positions of specific team members, and it also better reflects the sincerity of both sides. Personnel changes, especially those in the Victory Team, have far-reaching consequences and must be handled with utmost care. Once the door to dialogue is opened, many misunderstandings can be dispelled.”

He turned his gaze back to the cup of cold tea, as if making a symbolic summary: "Tea can be warmed up again when it gets cold, but once trust is broken, it is much harder to repair. Your Highness has come in person today, and I'm sure you don't want to leave with only an unresolved topic about a team member's transfer."

Darram knew that this was the end of the day. Sawai, with a soft yet resilient approach, neutralized all of Darram's sharpness, neither yielding to core interests nor failing to provide the royal family with a dignified and participatory framework for the future. Continuing to entangle himself with Daigo, a minor character, would only make him appear petty and lacking in vision.

He stood up silently, his orange-red robe rippling with the movement. This time, he didn't look at Sawai, but instead gazed towards the doorway.

“The Director’s words are always so airtight.” Darram’s tone was unreadable. “Then let’s hope… that the intelligence agency members can bring some substantial ‘understanding.’ Hopefully, we’ll see more than just the reports the TPC wants us to see.”

"Information sharing is based on honesty. TPC looks forward to working with all parties, including the Royal Family, to face the future together." Sawai also stood up and nodded politely.

Darram said no more and turned to leave. This time the door closed much softer, but his orange-red figure still carried a stubborn sense of detachment.

After the door closed, Director Sawai stood alone in the center of the office, motionless for a long time. The gentleness on his face gradually faded, and his brows furrowed slightly.

“Daigo…” he murmured to himself.

He turned and walked back to his desk, turned on the red internal phone, and made the call.

"This is Zejing. Connect me to Staff Officer Xia Yunze."