The United Kingdom's Crisis

The acrid scent of ozone still hung faintly in the London air, mingling with the metallic tang of fear and the distant wail of sirens. Agent Griffen stared at the overflowing incident reports on his desk, the sheer volume of them a physical weight. The "Red Rain" incident had unleashed an unprecedented storm of chaos, and the UK system was on the brink of collapsing under the strain.

Hospitals across the city were filled to capacity, not just with the physically injured, but with thousands of mentally scarred individuals who had experienced the horrifying crimson downpour. Their screams still echoed in the city's collective memory, a constant reminder of the day logic fractured. Outside, the streets seethed. Mobs of people demanded answers the government didn't have, their frustration boiling over into riots that the demoralized and overwhelmed police force struggled to contain. It was absolute pandemonium.

Adding to the nightmare, hospital reports detailed a terrifying new development: a rare, but significant, number of people exposed to the incident were beginning to develop signs of supernatural abilities. Some, unable to control their newfound powers or the after effect of the red rain, had succumbed to a frenzied, mindless rage, rampaging through the streets, killing and injuring dozens before being forcibly detained or, in several tragic instances, killed. The sheer implications were staggering, a monstrous Pandora's Box flung wide open.

The UK government, despite its utter lack of understanding, was taking this situation with the utmost seriousness. Griffen and his team had been given a singular, daunting task: get to the bottom of this. They had the full resources of the country at their disposal, fueled by overwhelming public interest and desperation for answers.

But Griffen felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. Even as they mobilized, foreign tourists – or those cleverly disguised as such – were already sweeping the incident sites, eager to scavenge any scrap of information. He feared that crucial clues, vital to understanding what had transpired, might already be swept away by careless hands, if not deliberately obscured by the very forces behind the catastrophe. The infiltration of London by these foreign elements, cloaked as innocent sightseers, was yet another dangerous variable in an already impossibly complex equation. His team had to move fast, before the truth, whatever it was, vanished completely.

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Palette Princess (Temperance): "I think the recruitment of Kaito Tanaka is highly likely. Should we invite him as a core member?"

SkyHigh Roller (Magician): "Absolutely! He's invaluable. His raw power, especially that recent feat, is exactly the kind of asset we need. Plus, he's already seen the depths we operate in. We should invite him as a core member, immediately."

John Curator (Tower): "Wait, didn't Temperance paint our organization as some ancient, omnipresent force watching and subtly controlling the world? What happens if he discovers that's... well, a bit of a fabrication?"

Cipher (Moon): "Well... just don't tell him, then. It wouldn't be a 'lie' if he doesn't believe it's a lie, right? Subtlety is key. Though, let's not invite him to the core group chat yet. That would expose us too easily to his inevitable questions."

Bookworm_Reg (Hermit): "Perhaps we offer him a core membership later on, when we've amassed more verifiable power and perhaps solidified our 'ancient' narrative a bit more. Let's start him out as an ordinary, if extremely important, member. He can work his way upward over the years, proving his loyalty and understanding, then be formally asked to join the core."

G. Hawthorne (Star): "Regardless of his rank, I want to study his power. At the very least. The raw energy output... it's unprecedented."

Diamond_Diva9 (Empress): "How about this: we interact with him in the guise of 'ordinary' members of the 'vast and mysterious' organization. Then, later on, we can surprise him by formally introducing ourselves as the core members. Star, you can interact with him under the guise of a researcher of the organization, or something. That way, you can observe and study his power without raising immediate alarms about the true nature of our... structure."

AluM7 (High Priestess): "It seems Kaito Tanaka might be planning to return to Japan to avoid the escalating scrutiny from the UK government. I volunteer to go with him; I'll have him be my bodyguard, playing the role of a high-ranking, but weak members of the organization. As a Japanese citizen myself, I can blend right in and continue to observe his development and gather intelligence."

G. Hawthorne (Star): "That's not fair, High Priestess! At least send me the research data later. Well then, I'll keep myself occupied with the technology of these puppets in the meantime. We can exchange data, if you're willing."

AluM7 (High Priestess): "Deal."

Larry the Lush (Sun): "Hierophant said he is planning to go back to the United States soon, similarly with High Priestess now. It seems like a good time to split up, in case someone is on our tail from this London mess."

Lord Fitzwilliam (Emperor): "Indeed. I shall return to my estates in the Scottish Highlands for a period of 'rest.'

Diamond_Diva9 (Empress): "I intend to establish a front-facing company in the United States, one dedicated to developing and mass-producing products that seamlessly blend magic and science but appear entirely mundane. If successful, it won't just provide the Association with a powerful revenue stream. It will secure our foothold in the world and expand our influence in ways we've never achieved before. I hope to have our organization contribute to this shared effort."

Palette Princess (Temperance): "I'll be remaining in London for now. I'll keep the group updated on the situation.

John Curator (Tower): "With my new perspective on the world, I plan to resume my travels. I aim to uncover more hidden secrets and ancient knowledge across the globe. Perhaps I'll even find another 'discovery' as profound as Hierophant's."

StreetLaw (Justice): "My focus will be on solidifying our control over the underground networks in Europe. The 'Red Rain' event has created opportune instability. I'll continue training my 'assets' and expanding our reach through both conventional and magical means."

Cipher (Moon): "Then, I will be recruiting more specialized personnel for our cause. The kind that can operate in the shadows."

Fortune (Fortune): "I'm going home. And taking a much-needed break."

Baroness von K (Death): "Everyone seems to have such grand plans. I'm almost envious."

Fortune (Wheel of Fortune): "..."