My transformation into a beautiful girl started with a hemorrhage.

“Yes, that can be explained,” Matsuzawa Saku said. “However, it can also indicate that there are other possibilities in this case.”

"Then, Mr. Chief of our National Security Department, could you please tell me: what possibilities exist?" a police inspector said with a mocking tone.

“It’s the section chief’s secretary. I’m sorry, but this is a top-secret national secret. Without the combined authorization of the Cabinet and the Prime Minister, none of us can disclose it,” Matsuzawa Saku stated sternly.

"Oh, can't I be told either?" Superintendent Fujioka asked indifferently, his brows furrowed.

“I’m sorry, Director. I can’t.” Matsuzawa Saku nodded solemnly in reply.

"What do you mean? Even the Director has no right to know." A police inspector asked angrily, shrugging his shoulders.

"Matsui, calm down," a police officer said, trying to stop him.

Superintendent Fujioka pressed his hands down in the air to calm the angry crowd, saying, "I see. So, how do you need our police department's cooperation?"

"I need you to find out everyone that Ichiro Honda has been in contact with in the past month, anyone with whom he has spent more than a minute," Matsuzawa Saku said solemnly and seriously.

"Spending more than a minute together?..."

"Not a single one missed?..."

... (Various chaotic discussions continued)

"Everyone, please cooperate with me as much as possible. Don't ask why, but I assure you, this is a major event that will affect all of humanity," Matsuzawa Saku continued solemnly.

"Quiet down, everyone, did you hear me? Let's do as Matsuzawa Saku says!" Superintendent Inspector Fujioka said.

……

→In one of Tokyo's countless towering skyscrapers, on the top floor of a building, a dignified and aloof middle-aged man is listening to a report from a beautiful woman who appears to be his secretary.

"Have you found out?" the dignified and aloof middle-aged man asked in a low voice.

"We've investigated. It wasn't one of our people who did it, President," the beautiful woman replied.

"Well, what do you think of this murder case?" the dignified and aloof middle-aged man asked as if on a sudden whim.

"Is this just a regular revenge killing?" the beautiful woman probed.

The dignified and aloof middle-aged man simply chuckled a few times without replying.

“By the way, you guys need to be more discreet lately. The National Security Agency and Area 11 of America have our eyes on us,” the middle-aged man said. “One of our pets has been captured by them, and the pet’s information has probably been exposed.”

"What? President! What should we do? If the outside world finds out that we have the power to manipulate other people's minds, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Don't worry about that. The National Security Agency and America both want to control this force. They won't reveal our capabilities; in fact, they'll help us cover them up."

As long as we don't get caught, we'll be fine. Let's lie low for a year! We must be even more careful from now on. Ah, these are turbulent times!

Chapter 15 Investigation

A few years ago.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department received a strange phone call: the caller identified himself as Fujiki, reporting that his partner, Yokota, had amnesia. He claimed that although they had gone diving together the day before yesterday, Yokota was saying they hadn't gone diving but had gone drinking instead. Fujiki felt Yokota was definitely not acting normally and wanted the police to investigate.

However, the person who received the call assumed he was drunk and had a confused memory, and simply ignored it.

A few days later, the police received a report of an unexpected traffic accident: a person was driving at full speed when he went off a bend in the mountain road, crashed off a cliff, and died in the accident.

Because the police investigation at the scene found no brake marks, the body was charred, and the car was destroyed by the explosion, the investigation of the remaining parts of the car revealed that the car was at maximum speed before the crash and showed no signs of braking or turning.

Therefore, the police concluded the case as an "accident caused by drunk driving or speeding".

Later, the police identified the deceased as Ichiro Yokota.

The operator who received Fujiki's call saw the news report about the accident, and memories from a few days ago were instantly brought back to mind.

He immediately realized that this matter was not simple, so he reported it to his superiors.

But his superiors thought he was overthinking things, so the matter was dropped.

The operator was not satisfied, so he told his famous detective friend, Hiroyuki Imaizumi, about the matter.

The detective was intrigued by this and went to investigate Fujiki secretly, but the result was beyond his expectations.

Because Fujiki told him that he didn't know anyone named Yokota Ichiro at all, and he had never called the police or made any phone calls.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi showed Fujiki a picture of Ichiro Yokota and carefully observed his expression, but Fujiki still looked like he was wondering, "Who is this guy?"

Then, Hiroyuki Imaizumi produced a recording of Fujiki calling the police.

Fujiki, still looking confused, said, "This is definitely not me, because I have absolutely no memory of this. But why does this voice sound so much like mine?"

After confirming several times that Fujiki was not lying to him, completely denied calling the police, and indeed did not know Yokota Ichiro, he finally understood the truth.

"How is this possible?" Hiroyuki Imaizumi was utterly astonished! A chill ran through him. "My friend, the operator, wouldn't joke about something like this. So, if Fujiki wasn't lying to me either..."

Excluding all truths, even if the truth is unbelievable: Fujiki's memories have been rewritten!

In other words: there exist people or things that can rewrite human memories.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi was shocked by the conclusion he had reached.

You should know that, judging from Fujiki's current state, this kind of memory rewriting is not the kind of childish play-acting ability that modern hypnosis possesses.

Instead,

A supernatural ability to manipulate human thoughts, memories, and emotions at will!

Hiroyuki Imaizumi refers to these people or other things as "doll makers".

"Based on this premise, Fujiki called the police saying that his friend Yokota was acting strangely."

In reality, he discovered that Yokota's memories had been rewritten.

So, why did the puppeteer want to rewrite Yokota's memories? What in Yokota's memories was worth rewriting?

Wait, Fujiki called the police, saying that Yokota doesn't remember them going diving together.

In other words, the fact that they went diving was something the puppeteer didn't want them to remember.

So why did the puppeteer only change Yokota's memories?

No, wait.

The puppeteer did indeed alter Fujiki and Yokota's memories, but Fujiki's rewriting failed for unknown reasons, so he called the police.

Yes, that must be it.

Fujiki's memory had not been rewritten, so he called the police. Later, the puppeteer also discovered that Fujiki's memory had not been rewritten, so he rewrote Fujiki's memory.

But why didn't the puppeteer kill Fujiki?

It was like killing Yokota: an accidental death.

Are they afraid that a series of accidental deaths will attract attention?

Or is there a reason why he cannot die?

······

No, there aren't enough puzzle pieces.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi did not continue the investigation because he was facing a monster that could rewrite human memories at will.

Continuing the investigation is too dangerous.

He needs support, and very strong support at that, support to fight against the manipulative monster.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi contacted the National Security Bureau through his connections, and through a series of efforts, he presented his investigation and reasoning results to the director of the National Security Bureau.

"Oh, so this is why you, the famous detective, have gone to such lengths to gain my support?"

"A far-fetched deduction?" National Security Bureau Director Takeshi Ouchi asked impatiently.

"Your Excellency, this is not some far-fetched deduction. A group of monsters capable of manipulating human memories are lurking in Tokyo. What exactly are they? How many of the accidental deaths in Tokyo each year are truly accidents? Furthermore, is this cabinet the cabinet of Japan or 'their' cabinet?"

"Enough, stop spreading alarmist rumors. All of this is based on the premise that your reasoning is correct," Ouchi Souma said, his voice rising.

"You have no substantial evidence to prove your reasoning is correct; it's all just your imagination. Get out of here right now, and don't think our National Security Bureau is idle."

"Your Excellency, do you genuinely believe I'm indulging in wishful thinking, or are you actually afraid to acknowledge the fact that 'human thought' can be manipulated at will?"

Secondly, I can prove that my reasoning is true,” Hiroyuki Imaizumi said firmly.

"I understand why the 'Puppeteer' didn't kill Fujiki. Perhaps it's not a profound reason, but simply because he didn't want to kill him, because he had developed feelings for him and therefore didn't want to kill him."

Arrest the person who is currently closest to Fujiki; that person is my evidence.

"Your Excellency, has the passage of time robbed you of even the courage to take a gamble?"

Ōuchi Sōshin thought to himself: "Imaizumi Hiroyuki's information is too important and too far-fetched. Manipulating people's memories at will? If it's fake, that's fine, but if it's true, the consequences are unimaginable!"

Want to take a gamble?

“You don’t need to provoke me anymore,” Soma Ouchi finally decided. “If it’s fake, then those who help you are just asking to provoke my anger.”

“You won’t regret your decision today,” Hiroyuki Imaizumi said with a smile to Soma Ouchi.

“That would be best,” said Ouchi Soma, glaring at Imaizumi Hiroichi.

The efficiency of the National Security Bureau had exceeded Hiroyuki Imaizumi's expectations. In just five hours, during the National Security Bureau's covert investigation, everything about Fujiki, from childhood to adulthood—his relationships, personality, hobbies, and so on—was presented to Hiroyuki Imaizumi without reservation.

Fujiki's interpersonal relationships are indeed questionable; his close friend Yokota died in an accident two weeks ago.

Two days later, his friend turned out to be a middle-aged man named Katsuragi. He had only met this man a few times and was not saddened at all by the loss of his friend.

Even with the National Security Bureau's investigation, they only know some basic information about this person named Guimu.

Finally came the arrest and interrogation, which was directed entirely by Hiroyuki Imaizumi.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi first had the National Security Agency hire yakuza members from outside Tokyo with a large sum of money to kidnap Katsuragi while he was out. At Imaizumi's request, Katsuragi remained unconscious throughout the kidnapping.

Furthermore, Guimu was never given the opportunity to have any private contact with anyone, and was secretly monitored in real time by someone.

Katsuragi was then interrogated by unsuspecting members of the yakuza. The question asked was: Who is the mole within the Inagawa-kai?

Katsura felt wronged and was also very confused.

He insisted that they had arrested the wrong person, but the burly gangsters wouldn't listen.

Hiroyuki Imaizumi watched the situation in the torture chamber through a tiny surveillance camera that even the yakuza were unaware of.

Discovery: Katsuragi did not control the five gangsters in the torture chamber.

“Hmm, why isn’t it under control anymore? Could it be…” Imaizumi Hiroyuki suddenly thought of something and looked at the monitor, then used the intercom to instruct his subordinates, “Create an environment where only one person is alone with the target, and give the target freedom.”