Chapter 137: The Legendary Grandpa

Shimizu Ward.

Kaminari and Tetsutetsu stood side by side, staring at the two-story building in front of them, their expressions caught somewhere between disbelief and skepticism.

"Hey, Kaminari… this is the headquarters of the Mitsui Group's support company?" Tetsutetsu asked doubtfully, his gaze sweeping over the small, unassuming building.

"It… should be," Kaminari replied hesitantly, pointing at the sign hanging between the first and second floors. "It says so right there, doesn't it?"

"But can a place this small really produce top-quality combat uniforms?"

To be honest, Tetsutetsu was starting to wonder if Kaminari had been scammed. However, out of respect for his friend, he kept his suspicions to himself.

Kaminari sighed. "Let's just go inside and see for ourselves."

---

"Ding."

The moment Kaminari reached for what appeared to be a traditional Japanese wooden sliding door, an automated female voice suddenly spoke.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome."

"Shua—"

The 'wooden door' slid open smoothly, revealing a sleek, modern entrance.

"Whoa. The contrast here is… kind of insane," Kaminari muttered as he stepped inside, his earlier doubts melting away.

The interior was nothing like the humble exterior. The room was outfitted with high-tech equipment, sleek furniture, and bright, polished surfaces that wouldn't have looked out of place in a futuristic research lab.

"Shua—"

The door closed automatically behind him, but when Kaminari turned around, he realized something was wrong.

"Tetsutetsu?" he called, noticing his friend hadn't made it inside.

"Uh… the door just closed on me!" Tetsutetsu shouted from outside, clearly confused.

Before Kaminari could react, the same automated voice responded.

"Basic access granted."

The door slid open again, allowing Tetsutetsu to finally step in.

"What just happened?" Tetsutetsu asked, looking around in bewilderment.

Kaminari glanced at the door, then back at the high-tech room. "I don't know, but… this place is full of surprises."

---

"Welcome, Kaminari-kun."

The sudden voice startled both boys. They turned to see a tall woman in a tailored OL-style suit walking toward them. She had a professional, polished air, with an intellectual sharpness in her gaze.

"You're the one who contacted me, right?" Kaminari asked, quickly recognizing her voice.

"Yes," the woman said with a polite bow. "My name is Eguro Akemi. I'll be your guide today. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Kaminari replied, returning the bow. "But before we get started… could you let my friend in properly next time?" He gestured to Tetsutetsu, who still looked a little flustered.

Akemi hesitated briefly before nodding. "Of course. Sadako, please grant Tetsutetsu basic access."

"Understood."

The door closed behind them, and Akemi turned with a polite smile. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the development area."

---

As they walked, Kaminari and Tetsutetsu couldn't help but notice the curious mix of office spaces and high-tech features around them. The pristine white walls and polished floors gave off an almost clinical vibe.

"Is this place really just for making combat uniforms?" Tetsutetsu asked, his eyes darting around.

"Not quite," Akemi replied. "This facility handles a variety of advanced research and development projects. But you'll see soon enough."

She led them to a blank white wall. Without warning, the automated voice spoke again.

"Identity confirmed."

"Shua—"

The wall split apart, revealing what looked like a small elevator.

"Please step inside," Akemi said, gesturing for them to enter.

"Is this… an elevator?" Tetsutetsu asked, glancing around.

"No," Kaminari said, his brow furrowing. "This is going underground, isn't it?"

Akemi nodded with a small smile. "That's correct. The equipment development area is located several levels below ground."

"Underground?" Tetsutetsu's eyes widened. "This feels like something out of a sci-fi movie!"

---

When the elevator doors reopened, Kaminari and Tetsutetsu were left speechless.

"Whoa…" Tetsutetsu whispered in awe.

The underground facility was enormous. Glass partitions divided the space into countless sections, each one bustling with researchers in white coats working diligently at various high-tech instruments. The faint hum of machinery filled the air, and the soft glow of monitors and consoles illuminated the area.

"This… this is insane," Kaminari muttered. The sheer scale and sophistication of the facility made it feel like they'd stepped into another world.

"Follow me," Akemi said, leading them through the maze of corridors.

As they walked, Kaminari couldn't help but marvel at the seemingly endless expanse of the underground complex.

"How big is this place?" he wondered aloud.

Akemi smiled. "Big enough."

---

After several minutes of walking, they finally arrived at a set of glass doors that were noticeably larger than the others they had passed.

"This is the main lab," Akemi explained. "Please go inside. I'll wait here."

"Thanks," Kaminari said, stepping through the doors with Tetsutetsu close behind.

The moment they entered, the glass doors closed behind them. Before they could say anything, a dozen researchers in white coats turned to look at them. Their intense, scrutinizing gazes made both Kaminari and Tetsutetsu feel a little uneasy.

"Uh…" Tetsutetsu started to say, but he was interrupted by the arrival of an elderly man.

"Kaminari-kun, we finally meet!"

The old man stepped forward with a warm smile, followed closely by a younger man in a white coat wearing light blue glasses.

"You are…?" Kaminari asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion. The man looked vaguely familiar.

"You don't recognize me?" the old man said, chuckling. "Let me give you a hint. One morning in Omiya Park…"

Omiya Park? Kaminari's eyes widened as the memory hit him.

"You're the old man who had a cardiac arrest!"

"Exactly!" the man said with a hearty laugh. "I was wondering if you'd remember me."

---

Kaminari stared at the old man in shock. "But… what are you doing here? Is this place part of the Mitsui Group?"

The old man's warm smile shifted slightly as he straightened his posture.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself," he said, his tone now carrying the weight of authority. "I am Mitsui Buntais, the former head of the Mitsui Consortium and the current patriarch of the Mitsui family."

For a moment, Kaminari and Tetsutetsu could only stand there, stunned. The old man's aura shifted briefly, exuding a commanding presence that left no doubt about his position.

But just as quickly as it appeared, the intimidating aura vanished, replaced by his previous warmth.

"Well, how does it feel?" Mitsui asked, smiling mischievously. "Like you've won the lottery?"

Kaminari blinked, struggling to process what had just happened. Tetsutetsu, meanwhile, looked like he was about to faint.

***

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