At the conclusion of the evaluation, Mina Ashiro let out a subtle sigh of relief, while Soshiro Hoshina nodded silently beside her.
"Can a human really be this strong?" Kotaro Amon muttered, his eyes glued to the report on Drake Myers. No matter how he analyzed it, Drake didn't seem like an ordinary person.
"Where's the test report?" Mado Akira adjusted her glasses, her expression calm and composed as she asked.
"It's coming in ten minutes, via fax," Mina replied, checking the time.
As the group waited, Kureo Mado and his team—Akira Mado and Kotaro Amon—carefully scrutinized all available data on Drake.
The reports from headquarters confirmed it: Drake Myers was completely human. All biological markers indicated no anomalies. No trace of non-human characteristics.
Yet his power was astounding.
Operating Defense Force equipment, Drake could achieve a release force of 99%. It was beyond logical explanation, raising suspicion and intrigue in equal measure.
"If only we could read people's memories," Kureo Mado mused with a squint. For him, Drake was an enigma, a potential threat too dangerous to be ignored.
After several minutes of silence, Mado finally voiced his conclusion. "Even if this report confirms he's human, we cannot allow him unrestricted entry into the Defense Force. If he does join, it should be under significant restrictions."
Hoshina's brow furrowed in irritation. What was this old man even suggesting? Did he not understand how much the Defense Force needed talented people like Drake?
"Sir, your job is only to confirm whether he's a threat or not," Mina Ashiro responded, her tone cold. "Beyond that, the Third Division will take full responsibility for him."
Kureo Mado chuckled, his face showing a trace of derision. "Ah, youth," he muttered.
Just then, the fax machine buzzed to life. The group immediately huddled around it as the detailed results came in.
The conclusion was clear: Drake Myers was entirely human.
"Looks like we've been overthinking it," Hoshina said with a laugh, clapping his hands. "All those flashy results must've gotten into our heads. When you look at his raw capabilities, he's at about Level 4 on the Kaiju scale—equivalent to a C-Class monster."
Despite the clarification, Mado Akira and Kotaro Amon exchanged skeptical glances.
"Even so, a human achieving this level of strength is nearly unheard of," Amon pointed out.
"We've seen stranger things," Hoshina replied with a shrug, though his eyes betrayed his determination. "No matter how impressive, he's still just a man."
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the commotion surrounding his identity, Drake stood atop the hospital rooftop. He was enjoying the cool night air as he watched Kafka Hibino and Reno Ichikawa drive away.
Kikoru Shinomiya sat beside him, devouring a bag of snacks. Inspired by Drake's indulgent habits, she had recently taken up stress-eating while maintaining an intense training schedule.
"Any idea who those guys downstairs were?" Kikoru asked between bites.
"CCG investigators," Drake replied absently, his sharp hearing picking up on their conversations below.
Their voices carried to him with ease:
"This guy is dangerous," Mado said quietly. "Even if he's human, his strength puts him in a league of his own. We need to monitor him closely."
"We're not handing him over to you," Hoshina growled, his irritation evident. "Drake belongs to the Defense Force. If anything happens, we'll take responsibility."
Back on the rooftop, Drake shook his head with a wry smile.
"Looks like they're already sure of my identity," he muttered. "But honestly, it's funny how no one bothers asking me what I think."
At that moment, the rooftop door creaked open, and a hunched figure emerged from the shadows. Under the dim light, Kureo Mado's face appeared, his pale features and sharp eyes unmistakable.
"Young man," Mado greeted with a smile, "got a drink to spare?"
"Who's the old man?" Kikoru asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.
Mado chuckled. "Relax, kid. Your babysitters downstairs have all retreated. It's just us here. Why don't we sit down and have a real talk, huh? Let's put everything out in the open."