Midas Touch: Anti-Paranormal Economic Crime Section

It was long, long ago—I'm talking way back, in like some distant century BC shit.

According to Greek mythology, a King named Midas lived in this ancient country called Phrygia.

One day, the Gods granted King Midas the power to turn everything he touched into gold.

The king was ecstatic and used this power to amass a great fortune. Enough to make anyone jealous.

Centuries passed, to 20XX. Then, on a winter's day five years ago, out of nowhere, Wall Street was hit with this financial crisis, the like of which had not been seen since the Great Depression, before World War II. Black Friday, as it became known, sparked a recession that spread around the world like a plague. Massive economic disparities lead to wars, famine, and many people dying.

Around the same time, reports of individuals with strange abilities began surfacing globally.

In England, an old woman could throw coins like bullets to catch pickpockets. In the slums of India, a blind boy could hear the sound of banknotes falling kilometers away; in Hong Kong, a suspicious old man could predict fluctuations in land value just by the smell of the soil; and in South Africa, a girl who could find gold deposits was revered as a deity.

The fact that these individuals all exhibited powers related to money lead an economic journalist in New York to dub their abilities the Midas Touch, after the myth of King Midas.

In his article, he wrote:

From ancient times, it has been said that those who possess this power could acquire immense wealth . . .

And now, here I was, counting coins in my palm.

There was 729 yen. That was all the money I had in the world.

Seriously? That's way too poor for a twenty-two-year-old man. I'm a civil servant, for crying out loud. This is practically a middle schooler's allowance. No, I'll bet middle schoolers are richer than this. As I clinked the coins back into my wallet with a deep sigh, Regina, who was sitting in the passenger seat, glared at me with her icy blue eyes.

How long are you going to keep clinging to it?

Regina Wakatsuki was a quarter Russian. Rumor had it her grandmother was spy for the former Soviet Union. Perhaps it was in her blood, because she herself had been caught hacking into the stock exchange system from a net cafe computer. That was how the government headhunted her to join me in the Economic Security Bureau of the Cabinet Office. She may not have supernatural abilities, but she was a remarkable hacker. However, with her edgy punk outfit and hair dyed blue, she hardly looked like a government official. Regina opened her mouth to speak, flashing her fang-like snaggle teeth.

Hand it over, please. I won't touch your small change.

Regina tried to snatch my wallet, but I had no intention of letting go.

What did she mean, small change? That was my lifeline until the next payday.

As we silently grappled for the wallet, Keizo Shibusawa, who was sitting in the back seat of the car, wedged his muscular bulk between the front seats and spoke to me in his rumbling voice, thick with a Kansai dialect.

Oi, Mizumachi! You wanna be careful keeping that thing in your inside pocket. It might just explode and turn your heart into mincemeat.

Chief Shibusawa was a originally a Detective in the Organized Crime Section of the Osaka Prefectural Police. His appearance and manner were like something straight out of a direct-to-video gangster movie. Reluctantly, I passed my wallet to Regina. She cheerfully took it.

Ok, I've just deposited a hundred thousand into your account.

I pulled out my smartphone and opened the banking app. Sure enough, the balance showed exactly one hundred thousand yen. Regina stared at me as I checked my phone.

Needless to say, that's for expenses. Use your abilities wisely.

I did not need to be told. I put my smartphone back in my pocket.

Chief Shibusawa was gazing at the neon lights of the entertainment district through the front windshield.

Road's closed from here on out. We'll have to walk to the scene.

At Chief Shibusawa's command, we got out of the car. The shock as I closed the car door caused the magnetic sign reading Cabinet Office which was stuck to the car, to shift. I readjusted it.

* * *

To tackle the rampant paranormal crimes arising from the appearance of those with the Midas Touch, the Prime Minister took the initiative to establish a specialized department within the Cabinet Office. That's us, the Anti-Paranormal Economic Crime Section of the Cabinet Office's Economic Security Bureau.

The name was admittedly a mouthful, so it was abbreviated to APES.

Which sounded just like, apes. It was a stupid abbreviation, but watching the gorilla-like Chief Shibusawa walking ahead of me now, it felt quite fitting. Plus, the neon-lit entertainment district on this steamy night felt just like a tropical jungle. I loosened my tie and grumbled.

But seriously, what’s up with this crazy surge of people with abilities committing crimes recently?

What'd you expect? The number of people with abilities has skyrocketed globally.

The chief snapped open his fan and directed the stream of air over his stern face. He then launched into a booming speech.

Creatures adapt to survive in harsh environments. Y'know, mollusks living near hot water vents on the ocean floor grow iron oxide armor. For us humans, the economy is like that. It's a harsh environment we've gotta adapt to. The global recession's been going on for ages now. It’s no wonder humans are evolving to cope with the harsh economic environment.

Harsh economic environment. Well, he was right there. I looked around.

It was only early evening, but the recession meant that there were barely any people navigating the neon-lit streets. Most shops were completely shuttered. In their place, cardboard shanty houses lined the streets.

A crowd had gathered at the plaza. At its center, a young man brandishing a megaphone was haranguing the audience with ominous calls about the oppressed rising up in the name of God.

This mess was the aftermath of Black Friday that had devastated the financial markets, plus lingering effects of failed policies from past regimes. The country had been stuck in a vicious cycle, where poor economic conditions decreased tax revenue, leading to tax hikes, further dampening the economy.

Speaking of which, I heard a celebrity doctor on TV, Dr. Something-Or-Other, saying that the Midas Touch is something like an allergy.

Regina came up next to me, joining the conversation.

You know, like how people develop hay fever. Everyone has been continually exposed to harsh economic conditions beyond their capacity to cope. Then, one day out of the blue, they started to manifest abilities.

I see. They had developed antibodies in response to external stimuli. That didn't sound too far-fetched. Come to think of it, most people who awaken to their abilities often had some sort of trauma related to money, like being born in a slum or having parents who had committed suicide over debt.

Recent studies show that the darker your subconscious, the more powerful your abilities are.

The chief snapped his fan shut, setting the tone.

Where there’s light, there’s shadow. At first, those with abilities were lauded like heroes, but gradually we began to see them for the danger they can be. It's got to the point where they are obligated to register their abilities with the government. In some countries, they even have to wear GPS badges when going out. It might come to that in Japan, too.

Hearing that, I shook my head. It was as if having abilities automatically made you a criminal.

I don't know when it began, but initially people dubbed those with abilities, Touched. It was a roundabout way of saying something's off with them. Naturally, due to the stigma of society viewing them like this, the number of unregistered people with abilities spiked. And, as you might expect, so did the crimes committed by them.

Regina seemed to agree with this.

Well, it’s only natural, isn’t it? Given that many people already feel bad about the economy. Looks like we’ll be busy too.

And all for peanuts.

I lamented, but Regina just shrugged her shoulders.

It can't be helped. Do you have any idea how much debt the government is in right now?

Hearing this, Chief Shibusawa stopped in his tracks, turned around, and gave us a stern look.

Our department is still just a preliminary set up. We won't see a real budget until we show some results. Besides, this job is a walk in the park compared to a detective's job.

Since Shibusawa himself was a former detective, it must be true. The chief turned his back on us and started walking again.

We silently followed in his footsetps.

Our role as APES investigators was something like narcotics police or the coast guard. Like, special judicial police officers—not exactly police, but government officials with the authority to investigate, handcuff, and even use firearms. Primarily, our remit was to tackle cases involving people with supernatural abilities that were beyond the capabilities of the regular police. For that reason, we'd often overlap with the work of normal police. Since APES, was a new section handpicked from the missfits of the Cabinet Office, yet holding more authority than the police, you can imagine how tense it could be when we butted heads on crime scenes.

Oh, look at that, the band of apes has arrived.

As we emerged from the neon-lit streets onto the main road, the detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s First Investigative Section welcomed us with their customary warmth. In particular, Detective Toshihiko Hino, who loved nothing better than joshing us, approached. He was grinning like a snake that had spotted its prey.

Perfect timing. I was dying of boredom. Show us some tricks, why don’t you?

The officers behind Hino applauded and whistled. A friendly bunch of jerks.

When a crime involved a person with abilities, requesting APES' intervention became obligatory, even mid-investigation. They might not have liked it to have us take over their jobs, but it was certainly no fun for us either to receive this kind of "hospitality" every time we arrived at a scene.

Chief Shibusawa represented us and returned the comment with a jab of his own.

Too bad for you, I don't have any tricks up my sleeve besides shutting up loudmouths.

With that, Shibusawa removed his jacket. Even through his shirt, his body looked like it was armored in muscle. Seeing this, Hino backed off. Regina closed in on him, wrinkling her nose in warning, her expression suspicious.

You know, cooperation with us is mandatory, and smoking on duty is a violation of the regulations, Detective.

?!

Flustered, Hino pulled out a piece of bubble gum and tossed it into his mouth. Regina smiled.

If you don't want to be reported to your boss, why don't you hurry up and show us the scene?

Hino clicked his tongue with annoyance and led us on. We followed Hino, ducking under the tape crisscrossed between the buildings, ignoring the busy police officers as we headed to the scene. Walking at the front, Hino gruffly explained the situation.

The perpetrator is Tadao Sato. Address and occupation unknown. In his late forties. Seems he sold his national ID number to the yakuza long ago. He was living homeless in a nearby park, but recently the Midas Touch awoke in him. He’s unregistered, of course, and has been bragging about that to his homeless buddies. His Midas Touch makes cash explode.

It what?

As I frowned, Hino continued, looking annoyed.

As I said, when he focuses on the money, it explodes. A ten-yen coin like a firecracker, a million yen in bills with the force of a hand grenade. Look over there.

We had arrived in front of a building. On the first floor entrance, the charred remains of a bank's sign were visible. Behind the fire trucks that had finished extinguishing the flames, rows of burnt out ATMs were lined up on the floor and all the windows had been blown out.

That's Physical Attack category. I’d rate it as Third Class.

Regina analyzed the scene, taking photos of the burned out site. Those with the Midas Touch are classified based on their attributes and economic impact. Just a trend, but those who had awakened to lower-grade physical attack abilities tended to come from the more impoverished parts of society. Poor people with such violent abilities could cause a lot of trouble.

An hour ago, the culprit turned tens of millions of yen inside this branch into ash in an instant.

That's a Physical Attack category. I’d rate it as Third Class.

What was his goal here? Terrorism?

Hino answered while chewing on his piece of gum.

Hard to say. The only demand was a getaway car. The culprit took a female bank employee hostage and barricaded himself in the underground parking lot.

I shifted my gaze to the entrance of the underground parking lot where the criminal had escaped to. It was pitch black down there, like some kind of portal straight to hell. Then Hino, for some reason, spoke cheerfully.

Apparently, our man has arranged the ten-thousand yen bills in a large circle around himself in the middle of the parking lot. It’s like a minefield. Get too close and; boom—the whole place goes up.

Hino blew a bubble with his gum until it burst, then continued explaining.

The Riot Police have it surrounded, but they can't move in because the perp is using the hostage as a human shield. Plus, we want to avoid any more money being combusted, if we can help it. So, there's only one thing we can do.

We've got no choice but to stop him, right?

I picked up where Hino had left off. He smirked at me.

You've got it. Fight fire with fire. Touched with Touched.

Oi, you. Watch it. A cop using slang like that? What if kids were listening?

As if there are any kids around here. Only idiots yelling protests through megaphones!

Of course, I knew that too, but as a person with abilities, I couldn't let that slide. But, Hino seemed unusually ticked off, his face turning red as he ranted.

Listen, this bank might have given us a lead on a case we've been busting our asses over. But because that Touched bum appeared out of nowhere, we had to hand the scene over to you guys! Damn him!

Hino's rage subsided a little and he spat out his last words along with his gum.

Well, just try not to end up burned to a crisp, Mr Superhero, Sir.

Hino deliberately bumped into my shoulder as he left.

I stared at my right hand. There was always a risk, but like Hino had said, this time things did seem particularly dangerous. But, to the higher ups, my life might just be worth less than a bundle of banknotes.

Don't sweat it.

Sensing what was on my mind, Chief Shibusawa's tone was cheerful.

Just like every other time, get close to the perp and use that Midas Touch ability of yours. Nothing to it.

I have a feeling I might be blown to smithereens before I get the chance.

Chief Shibusawa grabbed my shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes as he spoke.

Mizumachi, listen up. Whether or not our unit gets upgraded to an official section depends on this case. If that happens, a raise isn't going to be just a pipe dream.

But—

As I tried to argue, Regina grabbed my tie and pulled me close.

Just sneak up on the perp like this, and you'll be fine.

. . . !

Suddenly, her face was so close that our noses were almost touching, and my heart skipped a beat. Rising up onto tip-toes, she wrapped her arms around my neck, as if to hug me and whispered in my ear.

You'll be fine. You can do this.

Leaning slightly forward, I noticed Regina's surprisingly ample chest pressing against me.

Eventually, she stood back and looked into my face with her glittering eyes.

You'll definitely make it back alive.

. . . !

I reminded myself—this was a trap. It's what's known as present bias in behavioral economics. Humans jump at temptations in front of them without thinking ahead. But, I wouldn't let myself get distracted by the size of her bosom, right in front of me. This was just a set-up designed to lead me to my doom, playing on my excessive self-awareness, which had kept me a virgin at twenty-two. This little devil had set me up countless times. And, how many times had I nearly died after falling for her tricks? It wasn't me she was interested in. It was the possibility of a raise, and she would use any means necessary to get it. I should quit this job right now and start looking for something better.

Despite knowing this, I couldn't stop myself.

Yeah, I got it. I'll definitely come back.

Well, unless the guy plans to blow himself up.

Why do you have to say things like that?

Mic test complete, Boss.

Regina had wrapped her arms around my neck to put a wireless throat mic on me. After twisting an earphone into my ear and finishing her setup, she pushed me, like she was passing a ball, towards Chief Shibusawa. He caught me deftly.

Use yer budget and powers wisely. Alright, off you go.

With a hefty shove from the Boss to get me started, I moved like a zombie with shot-off legs, down the ramp to the underground parking lot.

* * *

Rows of riot police lined the way as I descended the ramp to the parking lot. I slipped between the officers and continued down the slope into the underground space.

Once there, I found ten-thousand-yen bills neatly lined up on the ground. I reported it over the radio.

I've reached the parking lot. There's a boundary line made of ten-thousand yen bills at the entrance.

That's the so-called minefield. Be careful.

As I tried to step over it carefully, the perp's shout rang out.

Stop right there!!

Turning towards the source of the voice, a bizarre scene unfolded before me.

A skrawny, shirtless old man was standing at the center of the vast underground parking lot, his long hair and bearded face making him appear almost like a caveman. Instead of dynamite, he had bundles of cash strapped around his waist, like a make-shift explosive suicide belt. At the old man's feet, the hostage bank clerk was forced to kneel, her hands tied with rope. Her mouth was sealed with duct tape, and a wad of cash was balanced on her head.

To someone like me, with barely three digits worth of money to my name, it seemed an almost enviable sight at first glance. But, if you imagined that each of those wads of cash was actually a hand grenade, the enthusiasm quickly wore off. The bank clerk's shoulders were trembling. I whispered into the mic.

I have a visual on the hostage and perpetrator . . .

Initiate contact.

The Chief's clipped voice came back over the radio. I looked again at the caveman-like senior citizen. The distance between us was about thirty meters, littered with bills the whole way. To approach the old man, I's have to navigate through this minefield. Remembering the charred ATM I had seen earlier, sweat broke out on my forehead.

What the hell are you?!

The caveman barked at me.

You another damn cop?!

No! I'm from the Cabinet Office!

I took the badge from my belt and held it high as I called back, loudly.

I'm with APES!!

The fluorescent lights reflected off the badge, making it shine.

The old man replied with a perplexed frown.

Huh . . . ? What the hell's APES?

Huh, I guess he hadn't heard of us. Of course. I returned the badge to my belt, feeling a bit embarrassed to have flashed it with such enthusiasm. APES was a new organization, so it couldn't be helped.

Explaining again seemed too troublesome, so I just shouted something easier to understand.

Anyway, I'm from the government! I'm coming over there, okay?!

Don't you come any closer!!

As I took a few steps forward, the old man yelled, pointing a bundle of banknotes at me like a handgun, ready to hurl it at me any second. If it weren't for the risk of being blown sky high, I'd have welcomed having stacks of banknotes hurled at me.

With that thought, I tried to calm him down.

It's ok! I just want to talk!

There's nothing to talk about! Just get a car here, and fast!

The old man bared his crooked teeth as he barked at me.

And not just any car. Make it a swankey one! A Benz . . . No, a Rolls-Royce, bring it here!

His speech was slurred. Judging by his flushed face, he had been drinking.

Understood. I’ll arrange it right away!

What are you talking about? That's impossible.

Regina chimed in over the radio. I knew that, of course.

Hmph. I can't trust anything you say. You're all a bunch of liars!

The old man glared at me as if he had overheard our exchange. He continued, directing all his anger on me.

I believed in this country. Believed that if you worked honestly, you could lead a happy life. But look what happened. The recession ruined me and once you hit rock-bottom, there's no climbing back up. The authorities don't care!

I understand. I really do.

I was trying to use a placating tone, but deep down, I was fed up. Ever since I started this job, I'd been hearing the same stories over and over again. The old man seemed to see right through my veneer of patience as his eyes flashed with indignation.

What would a government lapdog know?

The old man pointed the bundle of banknotes at me again.

You dare to mock me? I'll have you know, I've studied economics!

While still brandishing the banknotes at me, he fished a tattered paperback from the pocket of his trousers with his other hand, showing it to me with a defiant glare.

This book was written by . . . uh, Adel, uh, Schmit.

I translated in my mind: Adam Smith.

According to this Mr. Schmit, the world's economy is meant to be minutely calibrated by God's "invisible hand." He must be having a laugh! Where's God when you need him?

Feigning interest, I edged closer, rolling up my right sleeve as I prepared to use my ability. My palm was slick with nervous sweat. But I kept focused, moving forward cautiously.

If God's really fine-tuning the economy with His invisible hand, then why's there so much money stuck in the banks, while I'm out here, starving? I'd call that a bit unfair?! Wouldn't you?! God?!

In his fury, the old man looked like he might detonate the bank notes strapped to his waist at any moment.

That may well be, but let's keep a lid on things, shall we.

I closed the distance between the old man and myself carefully, moving forward so slowly it was barely noticable.

Suddenly, the old man flashed a sinister smile.

Then, those people gave me the answer.

Those people?

The Alliance.

!!

The moment I heard those words, my body tensed up and adrenaline rushed through me. Chief Shibuzawa, on the other end of the radio, reacted immediately.

Keep 'im talking. We need ta know more.

I knew about the Alliance. It was like a union of criminals with the Midas Touch, spreading their influence globally. A real thorn in APES' side.

In fact for me, they were more like my personal nemesis.

The reason I put up with the lousy pay here at APES was to take down those bastards. As I inched closer to the old man, I tried to keep the conversation going.

What was that about the Alliance . . . ?

Those people, they said to me, "You, yourself, are God."

With a faraway look in his eyes, the old man recited, as if in a trance.

They told me, "You can be God and regulate the economy."

His eyes were unfocused, the fervent light of mania shining within them. I had a bad feeling about this.

I am God.

The old man dug his fingers into a bunch of bills, tearing the paper in a gesture eerily similar to pulling the pin out of a grenade.

So it's up to me to regulate the economy. I'll burn all this excessive wealth and set things right. There must be some reason I was given this power.

At the old man's feet, the bank employee, her mouth taped shut, cried silent tears as her muffled screams filled the air. Damn it. I needed to get closer to use my ability.

Wait!

I blurted out without thinking.

Please! Listen to me!

It's useless. You don't understand how I feel.

That's not true! I'm the same as you!

The same as me?

The old man stared at me, puzzled.

Tell me. How exactly are we the same?

Well . . .

Just then, Regina interjected sharply over the radio.

Idiot! Don't reveal that you have abilities!

I, too, am . . .

You're what?

The bundle of bills the old man was clutching started smoking.

Backed into a corner, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

I've only got seven hundred and twenty-nine yen to my name!

My words rang through the underground parking lot.

The seriousness of my financial situation reverberated through the vast space, echoing off the concrete walls. Both the old man and the hostage looked baffled.

Huh?

On the other end of the radio, I could tell Regina was frowning, too.

What?

Her reaction was understandable. It wasn’t the type of line a grown man should be shouting, especially in my situation.

What I meant to say, I . . .

I took a deep breath before explaining.

I get how you feel. You're right, this world is unfair. I work hard, but all I've got to show for it are a few measly yen. I just wanted to say, I’m on the same side as you.

The old man scowled.

Even I've got a thousand yen on me.

It was a bit of a shock to be on the losing end, but I extended my right hand.

I see. Well, since we’re both in the same boat here, let's get along.

It was a bit tactless, but I'd managed to bring him to within a handshake's distance of me. Now, if I could just use my Midas Touch the moment our hands met, I'd be able to rescue the hostage. However, the old man ignored my outstretched hand and instead glared at me sharply.

Liar! There’s no way a civil servant like you has less money than me!

It’s true! Believe me!

You expect me to believe you? I'm not some middle schooler!

I thought the same! Heck, even middle schoolers probably have more money than me, these days!

It was becoming a bit of an incomprehensible shouting match, but I wouldn't back down. Or rather, I couldn't.

The old man spoke as if testing me.

Fine. Then show me your wallet.

I don't have it on me; I left it with a colleague.

Enough already!

The old man threw the bundle of bills he was holding at me, showering me with ten-thousand-yen notes. It was the worst feeling, like being doused in gasoline.

I'm going to kill you!

I was covered in ten-thousand-yen notes. The old man turned and raised his hand towards me. The hostage bank clerk screwed her eyes tightly shut as faint smoke began to rise from the bundle of bills above her head. Then, Regina's voice broke in over the radio.

Hey?! What's the situation?

Oh, it's going so well, I could cry.

As I responded to her question, smoke began to rise even from the bills scattered around me too, as if the fuse to a bomb had been lit. It looked like the old man's ability wasn't targeted and could instead trigger all nearby money to explode simultaneously. Just like Regina had described, his was only an unpolished Class Three ability. The smell of burning filled the air. If we got too close to him now, he would likely detonate everything immediately. My ability was useless here. This was bad. Very bad.

Dieee!!

!!

The old man screamed. I closed my eyes—

Then, I heard a loud screeching sound of brakes coming from the entrance of the parking lot.

Huh?

The old man and I looked towards the entrance and watched as a large vehicle coasted past the riot police and drew into the parking lot. The vehicle, its engine purring deeply, descended a ramp and slowed down, approaching the boundary of the ten-thousand yen bills laid out by the old man.

No way.

My eyes widened. It was the first time seeing one up close, but there was no mistake.

That was a Rolls Royce Phantom. The silver mascot of a winged goddess glittered attop its front grill. As someone who was in imminent danger of losing his life just moments before, it looked to me like a guardian angel.

Just as I requested. I like it!

The old man was suddenly all smiles.

For a getaway car, this is top-notch. Turns out you guys aren't such a bunch of liars after all.

I gave a wry smile, but inside, I was puzzled. Strange. There was no way the higher-ups would agree to a criminal's demands. If they were suddenly granting the requests of criminals, I, who was risking my actual life, certainly deserved a bonus.

What was even more baffling was that the car was driven by an older gentleman in a tuxedo, and a young woman was sitting in the back seat.

Huh? Hey, wait.

It seemed the old man noticed as well.

Why is there a woman in my car?

As I struggled to find a reply, the automatic window in the back seat quietly rolled down. The woman, draped in a fur coat and wearing sunglasses, leaned out and smiled to the old man.

Excuse me, sir, would you mind?

The appearance of this glamourous mystery woman seemed so out of place with the tension of the situation. What was with her?

As we stood there, taken aback, the woman continued speaking in a leisurely tone.

Would you give up this silly resistance and just bow to me already?

The woman removed her sunglasses. Her face had a refined elegance, but her sharp eyes betrayed her imperious will. Her skin was almost as pale as her light eyes, contrasting sharply with her long, jet-black hair. Then, she took off her coat, revealing the uniform of a high-school girl underneath.

No way. I couldn't believe my eyes. She was a high school girl. She looked grown-up, but her smile still held a trace of innocence. Her calmness was . . . unnerving.

Hey, what's all this, then?

The old man grabbed me by the collar.

So, you didn't do as I asked!

Let, let me just check that for you.

Like the old man, I was baffled by the situation.

Hey! Who's this girl who just turned up in the Rolls-Royce?

That's what I want to know, too!!

While the old man, myself, and Regina were still thoroughly confused, the glamorous high school girl opened the back door of the car and called out to the hostage.

You there. The time is now. This way!

Hearing this, the bank clerk who had been held hostage stood up and started running towards the car.

You just wait!!

As the hostage fled, the old man tried to chase after her. Reluctantly, I tackled him head-on and unleashed my ability.

!!

Instantly, the old man fell still, as if frozen to ice.

My Midas Touch could stop the movement of anything I touched with my hand.

By concentrating and touching someone with my right hand, I could immobilize the target as if they had been flash-frozen. However, this ability came at a price. For every second I kept the target immobilized, about five-thousand yen was deducted from my bank account. That was 300,000 yen a minute.

Time is money. That was what people said, but this was taking things too far. For instance, if you wanted to immobilize someone for an hour, it would cost a whopping 18 million yen. Using this power indiscriminately could lead to bankruptcy in no time. It was a power I still did not fully understand, but it fell under the category of time manipulation. Naturally, if the balance hit zero, my ability could no longer be used, leading to a double whammy of being broke and utterly useless.

The budget for this operation was 100,000 yen, allowing me to use my Midas Touch for up to 20 seconds. I checked my bank account on my smartphone app and watched the balance decrease rapidly, down to the yen. It was already below nintey-thousand yen. I could only keep the old man frozen another 18 seconds or so. Then, a scream ripped through the parking lot. The hostage who had been running towards the Rolls Royce had tripped. I rushed over to her.

Hurry! Quickly!

While helping the hostage get into the Rolls Royce, I counted the remaining seconds in my head.

4 seconds, 3, 2—Finally, the door slammed shut. The instant it did, my account balance hit zero, and the old man regained his movement, as if suddenly thawed from a deep freeze.

You bastards . . .

?!

I won't let you escape!!

The old man raised his hand towards the car. Beneath it was a minefield of ten-thousand-yen bills. That was bad! I started running towards an area where the bills were scattered less thickly. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light, followed by a deafening explosion. The shock threw me to the ground, and a fierce blast swept over the back of my head and shoulders.

Choking on the smoke, I lifted my head. Black smoke clouded my vision, while the ringing in my ears made it hard to hear. To make matters worse, it seemed my earphone had been damaged.

All I could make our was the high-pitched laughter of the old man nearby.

Mwahahaha! How about that? My Midas Touch, you nouveau riche girl! Serves you right!

But, his laughter didn't last long.

Huh?

Through the smoke, the low rumble of a car engine approached us.

Then the Rolls Royce, almost undamaged, emerged through the flames, looking as imposing as ever.

What . . . No way?!

His knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground. The car drew to a stop in front of him. An elderly man got out of the driver's seat and opened the rear door. I squinted my eyes.

A pair of loafers appeared, followed by the high school girl as she stepped out of the car.

Oh, that really is too bad for you.

Against the backdrop of the swirling flames and smoke, she spoke in a clear, composed voice.

Her long, glossy black hair swept against her pale cheeks as the hot wind wafted sparks through the air.

This car is custom-made. It's reinforced with composite armour, the same that is used in tanks, so that explosion earlier was a breeze to withstand.

A shimmering haze rose around her, giving an aura around the prestigious girls' school uniform she was wearing.

Despite having just faced down a crazed Touched, the high school girl remained calm. Was she incredibly brave, or just stupid?

No need to thank me, really.

I was stunned. Then, she turned the full force of her dazzling gaze directly on me.

After all, sorting out the world is a noblesse oblige of people of my standing.

As she said this, I almost could imagine a hymn being sung somewhere.

Damn you!!

Defenseless now that his money had been used up, the old man muttered bitterly.

Don't think this is over yet. They told me the Great Winter is coming, and that will be the end of this country!

The Great Winter? What was he talking about? It wasn't even fall yet. As I frowned, the old man crowed triumphantly.

But I will be saved—because I am one of the chosen! Serves you right!

Truly, you are a pitiful soul.

The high school girl approached the old man, almost as if she really did pity him.

Don't you know what became of King Midas?

What's that supposed to mean?

King Midas of Phrygia had the power to turn everything he touched into gold. But eventually, he ended up turning his own food into gold as well, and almost starved to death. Your power might become your downfall. Be careful.

As she finished speaking, a disconcerting, creaking metalic crack echoed overhead, like the distant rumble of thunder before a storm. The high school girl had one last surprise in store for the old man. She smiled.

Oh, and about the money you detonated earlier, that wasn't all of it.

What are you saying?

Sweat glistened on the old man's brow. The high school girl cheerfully responded.

Just in case, I had stashed a few tens of millions of my pocket money in the ceiling of this parking lot, right above where you were standing. I slipped it in through an air vent.

Fine concrete dust trickled down from the ceiling. Both the old man and I looked up to see the already aging and cracked concrete ceiling threatening to collapse at any moment. The high school girl bent and picked up his book, which had been blown away by the blast.

Adam Smith said, "Justice is the main pillar supporting the entire edifice of great human civilization. If removed, the vast organization of human society would collapse in an instant."

?!

Hearing this, the old man’s face turned deathly pale.

This will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn firsthand. Farewell!

With those words, the high school girl gracefully made her way back to her car.

Hey! Wait a moment—

By the time I tried to call her back, the Rolls-Royce had already left the parking lot. Above us, we heard the dreadful metallic shrieks of the metal above, as if the beams were crying out under the strain.

H-Help me! I beg you!

Looking up at the ceiling in panic, the old man turned to run.

Stop right there!

I hurriedly grabbed the old man's arm, attempting to handcuff him, but he struggled, thrashing violently.

Let me go!!

Just calm down, will you!

I wanted to restrain him, but I'd already maxed out the expense account, so my ability balance was zero. The only resource I could use for my ability was the balance in my bank account; no matter how much cash I had in my wallet, it was useless.

Not that there was more than short change in my wallet in any case.

Just as I managed to get both the handcuffs on him, the ceiling gave way with a crash.

The old man and I screamed at the same time.

Tiles and rubble showered from the ceiling, and dust obscured our vision.

I released the old man and dropped to the ground, coughing as the swirling dust swallowed everything in a blinding, white haze. Everything vanished from view.

I remembered nothing more.

It was pitch black around us. The only light came from the moon, which barely illuminated the rain-soaked ground.

Dad . . . Dad!!

Twelve years ago. On the side of a secluded mountain road, I was desperately calling out to my father who had collapsed, unconscious.

Please, wake up!!

I was almost sobbing. I'd sensed something was off the moment we left the house. When I'd arrived home from school, my father had suddenly grabbed my hand. As if there was something chasing him, he'd insisted that we go away to a mountain cabin managed by a friend. His behaviour had stood out to me as strange, but seeing the urgency in his expression, I'd had no choice but to follow him.

While driving up a mountain road, he'd suddenly been struck by dizziness, so intense that he was unable to keep driving. We'd abandoned the car and continued on foot, but he'd started coughed up blood and then collapsed. I'd somehow managed to drag my father to the roadside grass and after what felt like an age of calling out to him, he finally regained consciousness, looking dazed. Relieved, I told him what had happened.

I called an ambulance on my phone just now. It'll be here any minute!

Dad coughed painfully, spitting out blood again. After wiping his mouth, he spoke to me, his voice strained.

Kesaro . . . It's okay. It's too late now.

I know how to use my power now! I'll definitely save you!

Even as a child, I thought that maybe my power could stop his symptoms getting worse until the paramedics arrived. But my father shook his head and replied in a hoarse voice.

Don't waste your savings on this. Save your Power for something truly important.

But—

It's okay . . . It seems I underestimated the depth of the darkness I'd peered into.

What do you mean?

Listen, Kesaro.

Dad, grimacing with pain and occasionally coughing, looked me straight in the eyes.

Make me a promise. No matter what happens . . . Never get involved with them.

Them? Who are they?

The Alliance.

?!

At first, I didn't understand what he meant. It'd be years before the existence of people with abilities was globally recognized and the Alliance became infamous. But at the time, I understood clearly that they were my enemies.

Are they the ones? The ones who did this to you, dad?!

I was trembling with anger and regret. But dad gently stroked the surgical scar on my forehead and answered calmly.

Listen . . . You're lucky . . . to have survived such a difficult surgery . . . Don't waste the life you've been given. Okay?

I remained silent as dad grimaced with pain.

Ah. Damn it . . . There's a bottle of whiskey in my bag. Could you hand it over to me?

I can't do that! What are you thinking? At a time like this!

It's fine. It's for the pain. Please, it's my last request.

I firmly refused. Dad clutched his chest in pain, coughing.

Ugh . . . Ack . . . !

Dad?

Dad's eyes rolled back and he convulsed in pain in a way that was clearly different from before. As I panicked, the sound of a siren finally approached and stopped nearby.

The ambulance! The ambulance is here! We're going to make it!!

. . . Ugh!!

Instead of responding, dad coughed up a large amount of blood. I realized he was near death.

You can't die . . . !

I grabbed my father's arm and concentrated, unleashing my ability. His movements stopped as if he was frozen. My bank account contained 60,000 yen. It was only for a few seconds, but that allowance was the culmination of my childhood patience and struggle, and it could be the last hope to save my dying father. I stood up and started racing towards the ambulance.

9, 8, 7 . . . ! I ran breathlessly, counting down in my head.

4, 3, 2 . . . ! The balance quickly dropped to zero. Had I managed to extend my father's life, even a little? If there was even a little hope, there was no way I was giving up. Mom had left over exasperation with his drinking and unreliability. But to me, dad was the only family I had.

Please, hurry! Please be on time! Please!

I led the paramedics back to where dad was lying. But, we were too late. He was lying in the grass, his eyes closed, with a peaceful look on his face.

Dad . . . ?

I could tell he was already gone. As I stood there in shock, the paramedics worked desperately to revive him, but it was no use. Eventually, the paramedics stood up and removed their helmets. Helpless, I collapsed to the ground, raising my head to look up to the heavens. Heavy raindrops from the night sky pelted my face.

Aaaaaaaaagh!!

Waking to the sound of my own screams, I found myself in my bed at my rundown apartment.

Judging from the sunlight streaming through the window, it was probably close to noon.

Ouch. I pressed my fingers to my temples. My head ached like it was about to split open.

Lately, I often dreamt about the night dad had died. The memories seemed to get sharper the more time passed. On top of that, my body ached, covered with bruises and scrapes from yesterday's incident. It was a miracle I'd got off so lightly, considering that the ceiling had caved in.

The old hostage-taking geezer hadn't been so lucky. He'd taken a direct hit from a lump of concrete and ended up in the hospital. His interrogation would have to wait until he recovered. That high school girl was still a mystery, but next time I saw her, she wasn't getting off so easily.

I grabbed a painkiller from the pill case on my bedside table and tossed it into my mouth. Ever since I'd had surgery to remove a brain tumor as a kid, painkillers had become a constant part of my life. Searching for the remote, I turned on the TV to find the news already covering yesterday's incident.

Here we are at the Minami Meguro branch of Solomon Bank, the site of the bombing incident.

A reporter was speaking with a grave expression in front of the scorched edifice of the bank.

As you can see, debris is scattered everywhere, demonstrating the power of the blast.

The picture cut to the studio, where a man appearing to be program's host continued.

Still, it's a relief that everyone besides the criminal escaped uninjured.

No. I'm an injured person. The commentators began to ramble, speculating with expressions as if they knew what they were talking about. It was just like when my father died. A talk show had picked up my father's death. A political journalist dying mysteriously on a mountain trail?! They'd sensationalized it no end. One commentator even presented a flimsy theory. He claimed my father had been killed because he'd allegedly tried to extort hush money from a major politician for an article. I remember how, in that empty home, I'd punched the TV screen in anger until I'd drawn blood.

Now, let's move on to look at the national debt, which is reaching a critical level . . .

As the host started in to the next segment, I flicked off the TV then turned on my tablet, typing in a search query.

Solomon Bank Minami Meguro branch.

As I browsed the news, I noticed something strange. The keywords were pulling up not only yesterday's news, but also a headline from ten days ago. It read:

Investigation into Suspicious Death of Bank Employee

I clicked on the link, opening the article.

Late last night, Solomon Bank Minami Meguro branch employee, Ryosuke Yato, aged 36, was found collapsed and bleeding by police officers at an apartment in Meguro district. Tokyo Metropolitan Police are investigating the cause of death and the possibility that Mr. Yato was involved in an incident.

There was a picture of the deceased, a nervous-looking man wearing glasses.

I see. So, this must've been the case that Detective Hino had mentioned having trouble with.

He was found collapsed and vomiting blood?