Chapter 2 From Amulets to Electronic Ghosts...
Zhu Fujingguang finally understood what it meant for a lingering ghost to haunt him.
This was the fifth time he had found the app on his phone, and the fourth time he had received a notification even when his phone was off. During this time, it had sabotaged three of his phones, prevented him from contacting his contacts twice, and once placed confidential documents from the Metropolitan Police Department in his email inbox—to those notorious figures in the gray area!
This is a threat, isn't it? This is definitely a threat!
Now that things have come to this, even a state civil servant who has been indoctrinated with materialistic ideology for more than 20 years has to admit that he has encountered a "paranormal event" that is beyond his comprehension.
The former model citizen, whose worldview had been completely shattered, was now in a terrible predicament and just wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
We can't exactly carry "it" on a covert mission!
Zhu Fujingguang rubbed his temples and began actively exploring ways to escape his predicament.
Since physical methods aren't working, we have to find another way. Besides, my brother once mentioned the proverb, "Everyone has their own expertise," so perhaps he should change his approach…
How about we try going to the shrine?
"Buzz—Buzz—"
= =
The restless notification sound rang again. Based on his experience from many trials, a single ring probably indicated a negative or pessimistic attitude; two rings indicated a more positive or affirmative attitude; and the initial three rings likely indicated a new message.
Does this mean they agree to go to the shrine?
Hello……
Wouldn't people usually stay away from shrines in this situation? Or is this Cyber Bell so terrifying that even a place like that can't suppress it?
"Buzz—Buzz—"
...There's no need to answer during these moments of self-talk!
Unable to do anything else, urged on by "it" once again by its vibrations, Morofushi Kagemitsu had no choice but to drive to the nearest shrine at around two or three in the morning.
Haha, following the contact person, gods and ghosts have also been dragged into the overtime queue. He couldn't help but question again, is this really not some unethical app created by some capitalist?
He got dressed, thought for a moment, and decided to take all three phones with him. While moving, his thumb accidentally brushed against the edge of some old furniture and got pricked by a splinter that seemed to have come from nowhere.
The drops of blood and the pain reminded him that what was happening before his eyes was not some kind of multiple dream.
Alas, a useless discovery.
He left the small safe house and disappeared into the night.
Traveling at this time of year is not a safe option for ordinary people, but for Asakawa Sora, who walks the gray area, the night becomes his camouflage, concealing the bloodshed and conspiracies in darkness.
He also hid among them and drove forward.
This was his first time walking the road to the shrine. However, he passed through many places he was familiar with.
One of them was a red-light district. It was the territory of the local gangs, and he had come into contact with them for his mission. He had even considered using them to get in touch with the peripheral members of the organization and slowly climb the ranks, but considering that people who took this path would generally need a long time to gain the organization's trust and there was little room for advancement, he gave up on the idea.
There's no need to provoke them now; just make sure you have the means to retaliate. The pistol you keep close to your body can protect you.
The electronic ghost didn't cause any more trouble along the way. He arrived safely at the small hill where the shrine was located, stood at the foot of the hill and looked up at the vast, silent, dark forest on the hill, and stepped onto the steps leading to the shrine with some doubt.
Before he could take more than a few steps, the siren of a police car suddenly sounded, and it was getting closer and closer.
The voice, with its overwhelming presence, halted his ascent. He quickly reviewed the recent actions of the persona "Asakawa Sora" in his mind, and decisively disguised himself as a guilty night owl, thus trying to fit closer to this currently unrepentant identity.
"Buzz—Buzz—"
Even the electronic ghost agreed with his actions at this moment and stopped urging him to go to the shrine.
Moribushi Kagemitsu was somewhat surprised, but the police cars were getting closer and closer, and it sounded like there was more than one. He didn't have much time to hesitate, so he had to get back into the car as soon as possible and drive towards a secluded... no, towards a place with a little bit of human activity.
He remembered that there was a convenience store just a short distance ahead, about 50 meters from the roundabout, and a free parking lot with only two or three rows, which wasn't very big, but he could use it to find a spot.
After he skillfully squeezed into a narrow parking space, the suspicious vehicles and police cars that had been chasing him on the highway sped past the area in no time.
Two inconspicuous black cars led the way, followed closely by several police cars. Because they encountered a roundabout, both sides had to slow down.
With just a quick glance, Morofushi Kagemitsu could tell that there were five people in the two cars being chased by the police. One of them, a man with a red afro, opened the car window and threw a smoke bomb at the police car behind him.
He recognized the man with the red afro; he was Kadota, an intelligence broker working for the Iwaki Group. He had even pretended to buy some information from him in the past few days, which was one of the reasons why his current false identity needed to appear guilty.
Seeing that these criminals were even using smoke bombs, he was worried for his colleague and sincerely hoped that the thing was a counterfeit product.
As it turned out, there was nothing wrong with the product, but the guy's aim was terrible. He didn't hinder the police car following behind, but instead caused trouble for himself, who was watching from the sidelines, and his face was covered in smoke.
Zhu Fujingguang: ...
As the smoke cleared, a police car that had been left to check the situation was parked at the exit. Two burly policemen were scanning the cars one by one with flashlights, and it looked like they were about to reach their side.
Zhu Fujingguang: ...
He swallowed his curses and quickly hid his pistol in a more concealed place.
Just as he finished dealing with it, a bright white light shone on his face. He picked up the electronic ghost that had ripped him off and obediently got out of the car. By the light of the convenience store and his flashlight, he could make out the faces of the two policemen.
Zhu Fujingguang: ...
Good news, he knows a policeman.
The bad news is, there's a policeman he knows.
Sergeant Date!
What a coincidence...
He deliberately traveled from Tokyo to Hokkaido, how could he possibly run into acquaintances here!
Seeing Ida Wataru's strange expression, he put on a panicked look and spoke first: "Officers, I just came to buy a band-aid, I have no idea what just happened!"
After saying that, he even stretched out his thumb to show them the wound on it.
New to the workforce, Ida Wataru had no say, but the older policeman spoke up: "Coming to the convenience store at this hour? Show me your ID."
Morofushi Kagemitsu breathed a sigh of relief. He handed over his forged ID card and said, "My name is Asakawa Sora. I work at a bar and just finished my night shift. I just happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd buy something."
The older police officers didn't notice anything wrong with the identification, and since they also knew the suspect only had two cars, they didn't suspect him much. After asking a few more questions, they prepared to let him go.
"Beep beep beep—"
At that moment, the pagers of the two policemen rang.
The older policeman waved to Morofushi Kagemitsu, telling him to leave quickly, before preparing to connect the communication.
As Morofushi Kagemitsu slowed his pace toward the convenience store, he listened to the message coming through his pager: "...We've arrested all five of them here on Yamato Street. What's the situation on your end? No other damage, right..."
He pushed open the convenience store door, his hand holding the phone unconsciously tightening slightly.
He couldn't be mistaken; the "Latest News" article he had read more than five times matched up with most of the information.
Is it a prophecy?
He glanced at the time again.
03:13
He was filled with mixed emotions at that moment.
After casually picking out a box of band-aids and a bottle of mineral water, he no longer knew how to describe his good or bad luck.
Congratulations! You've won!
Huh?
Zhu Fujingguang looked up at the cashier.
The cashier pointed to a poster on the accessories wall and said, "The sixth customer to make a purchase today will receive a free gift. Sir, you are the sixth customer!"
As he spoke, he took out a small cardboard box and pushed it out: "This is a good luck charm that the shopkeeper obtained; it's the one not far away. Please accept it as a blessing!"
Morobuchi Kagemitsu opened the small cardboard box, inside which lay a peace charm folded into a diamond shape.
"Buzz—Buzz—"
A note from the author:
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