Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 173, Section 171: Seeking a tiger's skin?
Iwasaki observed from a distance through a deliberately open window for half an hour before those people gradually regained their senses.

Once they regained their senses, they were no longer the fearless and devout people they had been before. Terrified by the bloody scene, they stumbled and screamed as they left the office building.

Some people were so exhausted and weak that they could no longer walk downstairs and dialed the police.

Before long, the area was surrounded by police cars and vehicles from the Extraordinary Measures Unit.

They seemed to have made targeted preparations, with a large group of people surrounding the entire building. Then, they arranged for a robot to enter the conference room where the incident occurred and conduct a search. Only after confirming that the spider lily was not there did they enter the scene to investigate.

Perhaps related to the demonic mist offering pattern at the scene, some staff members also brought a batch of unidentified equipment and set it up around the area.

As the lights came on, the room became unusually bright, and even the shadows were extremely faint and blurry.

This set of tools is clearly designed to defend against the demonic fog.

Judging from their actions, the authorities are clearly aware of this situation, and this is certainly not the first time they have encountered something like this.

After noting this down, Iwasaki didn't linger. He flew towards the place where he had hidden the flower, intending to take it out and study it carefully to see if there was anything he could use it for.

Inside the room, Heisei Ryu walked to the window and glanced around outside.

"Nakajima, investigate the two trees and the rooftops of the two buildings that can be seen from the south-facing window of the conference room."

"Yes."

After assigning tasks and drawing the curtains, Heisei Ryu turned around and walked to the spot where the spider lilies had been placed. Kurosaki Chimei was there, biting a pen, seemingly lost in thought.

"Is this the seventh case?" Kurosaki asked as he saw Heisei Ryu approaching.

"No, the eighth case. Ten minutes ago, the seventh investigation team discovered another case of spider lily fanaticism in the central district."

"Are there any traces of demonic mist there?"

"No."

"That's true. This shouldn't have much to do with the demonic mist. He probably just stumbled upon this situation by chance and took the spider lilies with him to study. It seems the illusions created by these flowers have very limited effect on the extraordinary."

"Ordinary people can get rid of hallucinations as long as they have a strong will, so it's not surprising that they have no effect on the extraordinary."

Kurosaki pressed further: "That makes sense, but I'm more concerned about what crucial information the investigation headquarters is hiding. If they don't tell us, we won't be able to find anything at all, and we'll only be able to come up with perfunctory answers like 'it's related to the Yamagata Prefecture disaster.'"

“We can still find out part of it.” Ping Shenglong looked at him. “Isn’t this your forte? Treat this as an urban legend.”

"Okay, using the supernatural logic, no one has died directly from these spider lilies yet, which means that this supernatural tale is not cruel and does not aim to harm people. Most of these supernatural tales can actually communicate and possess considerable wisdom. But in fact, this kind is more terrifying."

Kurosaki paced back and forth in front of Heisei Ryu.

"All those affected saw their deceased relatives in their hallucinations and developed an inexplicable adoration for the red spider lily. After distancing themselves, they regained some of their rationality, though they were extremely exhausted. However, the adoration in their hearts was still very obvious. This red spider lily is said to be drawing on people's spirit and willpower."

"Since it's about taking in, it means there's a need and growth."

"The two most terrifying speculations are that these flowers draw nutrients from each other, then multiply and spread, eventually taking over the world."

"Or perhaps it is the nutrients that the mother absorbs, waiting for the mother to be born to trigger a great catastrophe."

"I can only think of the worst in such a bizarre situation. But there is a good side, of course. That is, this flower can actually coexist with humans and needs humans as an energy source. Have you seen The Matrix? In the end, it was used as a biological battery."

Ping Shenglong listened calmly and nodded gently.

"Then we only have two options: stop the spread or destroy the mother. But what if the mother is in our hands?"

Kurosaki's mouth gaped open, his eyes looking strange: "Do I need to explain the principle of 'dealing with a tiger for its skin'?"

"The investigation headquarters will be holding a meeting tomorrow. Each investigation team can send two people. I mentioned your name, and I think they will probably touch on the information you want to know." Taira no Ryu did not answer Kurosaki's question.

“I’ve discovered that it’s not just you, it’s all of you. Your gambling instincts are extraordinary, or to put it bluntly, you’re greedy.” Kurosaki looked helplessly at the divine eye in the sacrificial ritual pattern. “You dare to bet everything on a gamble where one step might not lead to heaven, but one step could definitely lead to hell. You’re completely irresponsible towards the lives of your people.”

Ping Shenglong did not respond to this.

The next day.

The two were taken to an underground base where the commanders of the investigation team or the combat department were gathered.

"Another confidentiality agreement? Is it really necessary?" Kurosaki muttered as he signed the document.

"It's more of a reminder of the importance of this matter." Ping Shenglong quickly scanned the contents. "Concentrate later, and don't get caught up in it."

"You mean no, right?" Kurosaki understood his implied meaning and frowned as he counted the heads.

There are at least dozens of people here, all of whom are the main force of the official team targeting the extraordinary and mysterious. If something happens to these people, it would be a significant loss even for the country's power. Are they really that heartless and insane?

"Is that woman Gen Himeko from the Seventh Investigation Team? She's really tall, probably 1.8 meters." As he looked around, Kurosaki's attention was actually drawn to a woman. It wasn't that he was lecherous, but rather that her aura was so striking that it was hard not to notice her.

“178, less than 1.8 meters,” Ping Shenglong said.

"Oh, I see. How do you know that so well?"

"classmate."

"Hmm, she looks to be at most thirty years old, while you're forty, right? What classmate? Your son is her classmate?"

I am unmarried.

"I know, the point is... you, never mind." Kurosaki was too lazy to say anything more. When he looked at the woman again, he found that she was also looking in his direction and had walked over.

"It seems your classmate is coming to catch up with you."

"Ah."

Ping Shenglong's expression remained unchanged.

"Moriya Ryu, it's been a long time." Gen Himeko walked up to Taira Moriya Ryu, nodded to Kurosaki, and then looked at Taira Moriya Ryu.

"It has been quite a long time." Heisei Ryu said with a straight face.

After these understated words, the two fell silent.

The investigators beside Kurosaki and Genji Himeko subtly moved aside, then exchanged a glance, their eyes seemingly connected.

"Your Fifth Investigation Team has gained quite a reputation lately. Perhaps we could collaborate sometime?"

"If the circumstances are right, yes."

After a few awkward words, Genji left.

Kurosaki didn't have much to say. This was fine; at least he didn't have to worry about Heisei Ryu falling for a woman.

At nine o'clock, a researcher led them through a long corridor in a certain direction.

Not long after Kurosaki left, he suddenly lost focus and saw a guy who should have been dead for many years standing not far away, smiling at him.

"They actually dare to do this? We're not important enough to be used as guinea pigs, are we?"

Kurosaki tried to force himself out of the hallucination, but looking at the person, he couldn't help but ask a few questions, so he habitually scurried over, his face full of flattery.

"Master Dao, have you succeeded?"

The man laughed and cursed, "Success my ass! Don't you know your own limitations? If you believed I could succeed, you wouldn't be here with me!"

"Master Dao, do you think I can succeed?" Kurosaki rubbed his hands together.

The man's smile slowly faded: "You think I simply sold you that robe? Maybe..."

Before he could finish speaking, he vanished like a bubble.

"Wait, can hallucinations be described incompletely?"

Kurosaki returned to reality and looked at the chaotic scene of demons running rampant everywhere, feeling inexplicably lost.

The place he was in was empty, with many of the faces he had just memorized standing a few meters apart, acting out joy, anger, sorrow and happiness. From an observer's perspective, it looked like a performance without props, and each one of them was an Oscar winner.

On a platform ahead, there was a spider lily about the size of a calf, guarded by the fully armed Talos squad. To the side was a large room with a sign that read: "Those who are sober, please enter this room. Do not disturb others."

Kurosaki walked listlessly toward the room, which was a conference room resembling a press conference hall, where Heisei Ryu was already waiting for him.

The two did not exchange words, but waited quietly.

Meanwhile, those outside gradually broke free from the illusion and entered the room. In the end, only a few remained, deeply trapped and unable to extricate themselves, and were forcibly taken away by the Talos squad.

A short while later, an elderly researcher walked in with Leon.

"I know everyone must have a lot to say and is very dissatisfied with this arrangement."

"But please believe that we must use this method to screen out those who are not up to standard in advance, otherwise they will not be able to join the work that follows."

"Being able to enter this room means that your willpower can withstand the test, and it also means that you are qualified to learn about the top secrets about the supernatural."

Leon bowed to everyone and spoke sincerely.

Upon hearing that it concerned top secrets, people disregarded their discontent and listened attentively.

“Dr. Miley, please begin.” Leon stepped aside and gestured to the elderly man dressed as a researcher.

Dr. Millai nodded and took two steps forward: "I don't know how to give speeches. You didn't come here to listen to my nonsense, so I'll just get straight to the point."

"The recent 'red spider lily craze' in Tokyo originated right here, from that red spider lily outside the window."

Upon hearing this, many people couldn't help but turn their heads to look.

“You can call it ‘divine flower’, ‘holy flower’, ‘mother flower’. It is the mother plant of all the spider lilies that cause the frenzy, and those daughter spider lilies are seeds that we actively sowed.”

Some people in the audience looked uneasy.

"We are not arbitrarily experimenting on citizens. Before this, we had already conducted preliminary internal verification and found that 'Red Spider Lily Fever' only causes temporary mental weakness, which is recoverable."

"But what we can gain from this."

"But it is a power that can resist evil spirits."

　One more chapter

　　
　
(End of this chapter)