Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

"The identities of those who tried to awaken the sleeping God of the Wilderness have not yet been ascertained. If we do not formulate targeted preventive measures and Xia Fan's identity as the consultant of Lesson 9 is exposed to some 'interested persons', Lesson 9 may not be able to bear this responsibility."

Aoi Jinguji frowned and her voice became colder.

"So, Jinguji Miko, what you mean is..."

Inspector Higurashi wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked tentatively.

"Now that things have come to this, we might as well make the best of it."

"Lesson 9. Set up a special working group to fully disguise and strengthen the protection of Xia Fan's information on the Internet. Secretly monitor subsequent information diggers so that they can only see packaged 'normal information' and resolutely exclude any content related to 'supernatural'."

"As for tonight, ordinary people who already know Xia Fan's personal information must also be managed in a way..."

Aoi Jinguji sorted out her thoughts and spoke slowly.

"Information disguise, protection and monitoring are no problem, but if we want to screen out and manage that number of ordinary people..."

Hearing this, Rimu suddenly felt extremely troubled, and the sweat on his face gathered like a waterfall.

Those who have read the "Xia Fan Personal Information Document" through online channels include a considerable number of ordinary female college students, working women, housewives, and a small number of men. If one wants to "manage" these people, it may cause a mass incident with a very wide impact.

"Of course it is not rigid management, but organized guidance..."

"This Aiba Yui, how should we deal with this according to procedure?"

Aoi Jinguji looked at Yui Aiba, who looked embarrassed, behind the one-way glass and suddenly asked.

"Yui Aiba's case does not involve 'supernatural crime'. We can ask her to sign a confidentiality agreement according to normal procedures, and handle any violations as civil matters..."

Higurashi thought for a moment and said hesitantly.

Although the other party's "cyber hacking" behavior violates the law, it is not under the jurisdiction of Section 9 and can be handed over to the newly established "Cyber ​​Bureau" of the Metropolitan Police Department for handling.

"Civil penalties are too hasty. This person can be used to help us carry out 'information management' work."

"Next, leave it to me."

Aoi Jinguji smiled gently and opened the door to the interrogation room next door.

……

Chapter 143 Midsummer Shrine

2024-07-13

……

"Aiba Yui, the police have confirmed that you are suspected of multiple crimes, including illegal dissemination of personal information, illegal intrusion into computer information systems, and illegal acquisition of computer information data. You will be fined a huge amount and sentenced to more than seven years in prison for multiple crimes."

Entering the interrogation room, Aoi Jinguji spoke to Yui Aiba seriously.

"What! Not to mention how convincing your shrine maiden costume is, the police can't convict me like this. I want to hire a defense lawyer..."

Aiba Yui stood up with her face flushed.

"You have the right to hire a defense lawyer, but you know the possibility of winning the case."

"However, if you can make up for your crime with meritorious service, we can consider not pursuing the above charges..."

Jinguji Aoi turned around and spoke hesitantly.

"Make meritorious contributions while serving your sentence? Tell me about it..."

Although she smelled a conspiracy, since she was under someone else's roof, Aiba Yui could only continue what the other person was saying.

"You will join the Metropolitan Police Department's Ninth Section Information Group as an 'external technician' to assist us in information management..."

Aoi Jinguji said straight to the point.

"Humph, are you police officers interested in my network skills and want to recruit me?"

"Sorry, I'm used to being free and undisciplined, and I'm not used to the management within the system. Besides, this identity of 'non-staff member of the secret department' sounds like the first character to die in the movie, which may be more dangerous than going to jail..."

Aiba Yui showed an expression of "as expected" and was immediately ready to refuse.

"Information management does not involve dangerous things. Your mission is to assist us and protect the Metropolitan Police Department's important 'informant', Xia Fan, in all directions without blind spots."

"The specific work content is to 'defensively package' his personal information and counter-track other information miners. At the same time, use the support website you established to conduct soft management of specific groups that may cause information leakage in the form of fan organizations..."

Jinguji turned his back to her and spoke in an enigmatic manner.

"So that's how it is. Xia Fan is actually the 'informant' of the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"You mean, I'm responsible for protecting his information and setting up and managing a fan organization?"

"These two things are fundamentally contradictory. Those rotten girls are very realistic. If we don't continue to disclose more information about Xia Fan, they won't come to the support website to register as members..."

Aiba Yui asked in a disingenuous tone.

"That's right. Xia Fan is a very important informant to our Metropolitan Police Department, and he could be in great danger at any time."

"If a cheering website wants to attract fans, it doesn't necessarily need personal privacy information. Various 'private photos' are also acceptable..."

Aoi Jinguji took out her cell phone and looked towards Yui Aiba.

"There are so many of them. They all belong to Xia Fan..."

On the phone screen were pictures of Xia Fan’s “life photos” that she had never seen before.

They were feasting at a food stall, putting on makeup on a set, participating in a singing competition on stage, and even falling asleep defenselessly in a black business car...

"Besides being cool and aloof, you can also be cheerful and cute. So cute. I want to recommend you..."

Aiba Yui looked at the photos silently, staring at Xia Fan's star-like eyes, and swallowed secretly.

"Of course, the information protection matter must be kept secret from Xia Fan. When he comes over on weekdays, you have to pretend to be a normal agent."

"Normally, there is still a chance to meet him here?"

"Also, in addition to information protection and specific population management, when necessary, you may need to use your 'civilian identity' to provide him with close protection."

"Close protection?!"

"Of course, that would only be done in an emergency. Normally, you would just work normally in Lesson 9. We would also arrange a single apartment for you and sign a labor contract of 'equal pay for equal work'. Anyway, you are now an 'unemployed vagrant'..."

Listening to Aoi Jinguji continue to explain the work content, Yui Aiba's voice trembled, her expression became more and more excited, and she rubbed the inside of her legs quietly.

"In short, this is the condition we police have given you. We will give you half a day. I hope you can seriously consider your current situation and make a reasonable choice between 'within the system' and 'within prison'..."

Hearing that Yui Aiba seemed to be "wavering" about this job that paid little, was close to home, Aoi Jinguji was ready to redouble her efforts and make another threat.

"I, I'll join in!"

Unexpectedly, this seemingly petite and timid girl responded very decisively.

"Oh? As expected of a genius girl who jumped five levels, what a wise choice. Congratulations, you are joining Section 9, external agent Aiba Yui..."

Jinguji Aoi nodded slightly and extended her hand to the other party.

"Chief Witch, I will do my best to protect the privacy of 'informant' Xia Fan!"

Licking the saliva from the corner of her mouth, Yui Aiba shook hands with the shrine maiden in front of her seriously.

"An external agent... is he recruited now?"

"The Jinguji Miko is even more unfathomable than she usually appears..."

On the other side of the one-way glass, Inspector Higurashi, who witnessed the entire process, could no longer close his jaw.

……

On the morning of the day after the final episode of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" was officially broadcast, a website called "Midsummer Shrine" was quietly launched.

The homepage of the website is decorated with many "critical close-up photos" of Xia Fan in an exaggerated nine-square grid format.

In the live-action web drama "The Broken Chrysanthemum and the Sword", the triple forms of "Manyo Kazama"...

In the mask advertisements, "beautiful men with bangs" of different ages...

On the "KKC flyer", the "abstinence clerk" holding a hamburger...

The "campus life photos" left over from a certain competition poster shoot...

Although he looks like a completely different person, he exudes an unconcealable handsomeness...

Those eyes that contain the sea of ​​stars are so hard to look away once you look into their eyes.

The lower part of the website contains stage performance videos of two "Campus Singer Contests".

The announcement on the homepage stated that Xia Fan’s support organization “Midsummer Shrine” was officially established. The fans were named “Summer Disease” and their nickname for Xia Fan was “Xia Fan”.

As long as you register with your real name and become an "original member" of the website, you can get a customized Xia Fan stand with a unique number and a fan-only poster for free. You will also have the right to view the regularly updated "Xia Fan Private Photos", learn about Xia Fan's latest activities, and even participate in subsequent organized support activities for free.

Originally, the people who visited this "secret website" were basically fans of the original novel "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" who came to enjoy the brilliant performance of "Manyo Kazama" and follow a certain "internal document" to join in the fun...

Women who already have no resistance to pretty boys, when they encounter this series of "free benefits" worth real money, the membership registration rate of visitors reaches as high as 98%.

After registering as members, a group of female fans began an active discussion in the website's "secret forum".

After a female fan uploaded fan fictions drawn overnight, such as "The Secret Swordsmanship of Hijikata and Kazama", "The Night of Kazama's Bride", and "Young Master Kazama Pushed Too Deep", the topic of discussion gradually began to deviate in one direction or another...

……

[You have successfully founded the esoteric organization "Midsummer Shrine". Believers can provide an additional 1 point of faith if they sincerely visit once a week. The number of visits this week: 2414]

[Faith value +1...Faith value +1...Current accumulated faith value 13521]

Early in the morning, Xia Fan had just opened his eyes when he received a series of unclear oracles...

The faith value also soared to an inexplicable height.

Chapter 144: Puppet

2024-07-13

[You have completed the oracle: Showing the Noh Mask to fool all living beings. God grants you the blessing: Puppet of the Shed.]

[Puppet on the stage: Life and death come and go, the puppet on the stage, when the thread is broken, it falls to pieces. Just like a puppet on a string, the body is controlled precisely. 】

In addition to the oracle of the "esoteric cult organization" of unknown meaning, the oracle issued by Amanomiya God before [showing a Noh mask to fool people] also appeared to be completed.

"Puppet in the Shed? Why does this name sound so weird?"

As if there was a spring on his back, Xia Fan jumped straight up from the bed.

"But, the ability to precisely control the body sounds like a very useful protection. I feel like there is something different here..."

He could feel that when he focused his attention on his body, he could clearly sense every muscle and joint, forming a complete tacit system that was working in coordination.

This body and a complete motor system are now connected through nerves, becoming a puppet hanging on strings at his fingertips, opening up "micro-level" control authority.

Get up, get dressed, brush your teeth, wash your face, take out the sandwich, heat it up, and then put it in your mouth...

During the entire process, Xia Fan's every movement was precise and stable, without any unnecessary movement, and he was fifteen minutes faster than usual.

"Tsk tsk, the feeling of precisely controlling the body is really great, but I have to concentrate, and I will feel a little sleepy after a while."

After sighing with pleasure, Xia Fan savored the previous oracle carefully, and his expression became confused again.

"By the way, when did I set up this taboo-sounding 'esoteric cult'? How come I didn't know about it?"

"And what is this 'worship'? How do you worship? When do you worship?"

"He has visited the shrine over 2,000 times, so doesn't that mean he has over 2,000 points of faith?"

Although it is unclear where the "Midsummer Shrine" organization came from, and who those "believers" are...

However, according to the content of the oracle, the faith value obtained from weekly visits does not seem to decay according to the "diminishing marginal returns of faith" like "works", and it can be regarded as a fairly stable channel for obtaining faith.

No wonder "Akagami" would organize the "shrine visit check-in challenge" within the Inagawa Group.

"Could it be that the reason for these oracles is..."

"Sure enough, it was broadcasted in the early hours of yesterday morning?"

Xia Fan glanced at the date and directly clicked on the broadcasting platform of "The Withered Chrysanthemum and the Sword", and found that the final episode had indeed been broadcast last night.

Then he realized that he didn’t have a membership account and couldn’t watch it.

Based on the principle of saving as much as possible, Xia Fan dialed someone's mobile phone number.

"Young Master Xia Fan, why are you calling me so early in the morning? What's the matter?"

"What, borrow the membership account of PJJ website?"