Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 339 Reiko Asakawa
On the journey back to the Hakone villa from Izu Oshima, everyone was immersed in a somber silence.

After landing in Hakone, Takamiya Yui received a transfer from Jiang Jin. Jiang Jin had exchanged some Resentment Crystals for Abomination Bottle Caps and transferred them to him through the Reincarnation System, saying it was in exchange for Jiang Jin giving him the Moon's Shadow. Previously, Takamiya Yui was afraid that possessing Abomination Bottle Caps too close to the sea would bring backlash. Takamiya Yui actually felt it was unnecessary, but Jiang Jin insisted, so he reluctantly accepted.

Back at the villa, everyone wearily put down their luggage and were about to discuss their next move when Jiang Jin's gaze suddenly froze on the corner of the living room!
There was a rusty animal trap he had set earlier, which had somehow caught a yellowed, damp piece of newspaper!

This bear trap cannot capture physical objects; it is only used to hunt evil spirits!
Jiang Jin quickly stepped forward and carefully removed the piece of newspaper.

The paper felt cool and slippery to the touch, as if it had just been pulled out of the water, and it smelled faintly of seawater and a musty, stale odor.

The newspaper was the Asahi Shimbun, and the date was clearly Showa 33, which is 1958!
The news reports on the fragments caused everyone who had gathered around to gasp in shock:
[Strange sightings reported in the Izu Islands hinder NHK documentary filming]

[Text] It has been reported that residents have recently witnessed several unusual sightings in and around Izu Oshima. Multiple fishermen and islanders claim to have seen a rusty, old-fashioned ferry appear silently in the waters near Izu Oshima under dense fog or certain weather conditions. Its appearance is unlike any known vessel, and it vanishes in an instant…

Even more disturbing is that some witnesses subsequently exhibited collective mental abnormalities. In a state of unconsciousness, they would repeatedly mutter the same word… “SADAKO” (the fragment here uses katakana to indicate “サダコ”)…

Furthermore, the abnormal behavioral patterns were highly consistent: male witnesses unconsciously walked in a contorted, crawling posture; female witnesses exhibited compulsive behavior of combing their hair in front of a mirror, and this occurred very frequently. All those exhibiting abnormal behavior showed extreme fear and avoidance of the "well"...

Relevant experts have launched an investigation and initially suspect a connection to local customs or collective psychological suggestion. Filming for part of the NHK documentary series "A Study of Izu Folklore" has been suspended due to unforeseen circumstances…

The newspaper's content ends here.

But the message it conveyed sent chills down everyone's spine!

“SA…” Kong Huaizheng exclaimed, almost saying it out loud.

SADAKO, that's the Romanized pronunciation of Sadako!
“Men crawling in a twisted way… women combing their hair in front of a mirror… the well of fear…” Xu Yinqiu’s face turned pale. “This corresponds perfectly with the images in the videotape and the manifestations of rule corruption!”

Yu Tianlun's voice was heavy: "This is a hint from 'her'... and a warning. In 1958, during NHK's filming, the appearance of the Death Ferry, and the subsequent large-scale mental pollution, all pointed to 'her' as the source! The roots of this curse are deeper than we imagined, and they have long been intertwined with the Death Ferry!"

Jiang Jin held the cold, damp piece of newspaper in his hand, sensing the ominous aura it contained: "She's telling us that she knows what we're investigating, and that we went to Izu Oshima. She's using this method to show us her 'origins' and 'power'."

The feeling of being manipulated by an invisible hand, or even being actively "told" the truth, is more chilling than a simple hunt.

Sadako Yamamura seems to far exceed expectations not only in terms of strength, but also in terms of "intelligence" and control over the situation.

“We can’t wait any longer,” Jiang Jin said decisively. “We must go to NHK immediately! The 1958 archives, the documentary footage that might have been sealed away, and the 'Asakawa Reiko' who exists in this world are all key!”

After a short rest, the group immediately set off. They hailed two taxis and headed to Tokyo.

Leaving the Hakone mountains, the vehicle entered the highway, and the outline of the city gradually became clear.

To ease the overly tense atmosphere in the car and to gather some information, Jiang Jin and Yu Tianlun, who were sitting in the front car, tried to chat with the driver.

The driver was a kind-looking middle-aged man in his forties.

“The economy is so bad now,” the driver sighed, then launched into a long story. “It’s nothing like the bubble economy era. You guys are Chinese, so you probably don’t know, but back then, ordinary office workers like me could often afford Wagyu beef at home, and it wasn’t uncommon for us to take our families fishing or golfing on weekends. Back then, the land prices in Tokyo were… wow, people said they could buy the whole of America!”

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Xuande, who didn't understand economics, pursed his lips and said in Chinese, "How could that be possible! That's America!"

“What he said is true,” Yu Tianlun replied, “It was the peak of Japan’s bubble economy at that time.”

"Ah, those days are gone forever. Now the unemployment rate is rising and more and more people are committing suicide..." The driver's words were filled with nostalgia for that golden age and disillusionment with the current bleak reality, which was a common sentiment in Japanese society at the end of the 1990s.

“Back then,” the driver continued, his eyes somewhat glazed over, “we had everything…we even bought three television sets! Now…sigh, we can only reminisce about our wealthy days through videotapes.”

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming strange, carrying a barely perceptible urging and an eerie emptiness: "I've copied so many discs... Hey, why haven't the rest of you copied the videotapes yet?"

"!!

One sentence exploded like a thunderclap inside the car!
Jiang Jin and Yu Tianlun instantly tensed up, staring warily at the driver!

"Driver, what did you just say? Copy the videotape?" Jiang Jin's voice turned cold, and Deathstroke bared his sharp teeth, aiming at the driver's neck.

The driver seemed taken aback. He shook his head, a look of confusion and panic on his face. "Huh? I... what was I saying? I'm sorry, sir, I might have been a little distracted... I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'm so sorry!"

His reaction seemed genuine, as if he truly didn't realize he had just blurted out a suggestive and threatening remark.

"Stop the car!" Yu Tianlun said in a deep voice.

Although the driver didn't understand, he still stopped at the nearest highway rest area as instructed.

The two drivers quickly met up, promptly paid the fare, and decided not to take a taxi.

Standing in the rest area, watching the two taxis drive away, a chill ran through everyone. "He's been affected..." Lian Xuan, the medium, whispered, "Although it's very weak, the curse meme... has already begun to spread through these everyday, unconscious contacts? Or is it that 'her' power can so accurately locate and briefly affect ordinary people we randomly come into contact with?"

This chilling possibility sent shivers down everyone's spine.

This means that their environment is becoming increasingly dangerous, and any seemingly normal interaction may be hiding a trap.

All eyes were on Xu Yinqiu; now, as the healer, she had become the group's hope. Only she... could still replenish her SAN! Of course, she couldn't reverse the declining potential.

Finally, they transferred to other vehicles and entered Tokyo.

Despite the bursting of the bubble economy, Tokyo in 97 was still a stunningly prosperous international metropolis, a leading city in Asia.

Skyscrapers stand tall, traffic flows, neon lights flash, and the area is full of vitality and hustle and bustle. This contrasts sharply with the tranquility of Izu Oshima and the eeriness of the Hakone villas.

Yui Takamiya gazed at the familiar street scenes rushing past the window, her eyes filled with complex emotions. After all, she was from Tokyo; this was the city where she grew up, brimming with memories of the past.

In his youth, he also experienced the glory of the bubble economy's heyday and the loss and confusion that followed its collapse.

Now, with the increasingly clear shadow of terror brought about by meme contamination... he realizes that this terrifying copy is becoming increasingly difficult to follow.

The NHK headquarters is located at 2-2-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

"Get ready, we're going to Shibuya," Yu Tianlun said firmly. "We need to know what really happened back then!"

At this moment, the office area of ​​the NHK news department is enveloped in an unusual atmosphere of busyness and excitement.

Multiple television sets on the wall were broadcasting the latest news from Paris, creating a stark contrast between Princess Diana's former radiant smile and the grief and mourning around the world.

The phone rang incessantly, almost without stopping, keeping the operators extremely busy. Most of the callers were anxious Japanese citizens, inquiring about more details of the sudden passing of their beloved "People's Princess" and expressing their shock and grief.

Reiko Asakawa stood beside her workstation, clutching a draft of a special program she had just finished. Her eyes were filled with extreme disappointment and intense resentment.

Just now, she mustered up the courage to apply to the program producer, hoping to participate in the production of a special commemorative program about Princess Diana.

“Producer, please consider this!” Reiko’s voice was slightly hurried with excitement. “Princess Diana was extremely popular in Japan, and the reaction to her death is unprecedented! The public needs more in-depth and comprehensive coverage, not just breaking news and brief obituaries. We can look back at the grand occasion of her first official visit to Japan, analyze the British royal family’s reaction to this event, and explore the media ethics behind this tragedy…”

She tried to articulate her thoughts and persuade the serious-looking producer in front of her: "I believe this is a very important news event, and we have a responsibility to provide the audience with a perspective that is insightful, empathetic, and reflective."

However, the producer adjusted his glasses, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority: "Asakawa, I understand your enthusiasm. The Princess Diana special has indeed had a huge impact, which is why the station has decided to entrust this important task to a more experienced and senior team. Senior Kubo and his team will take over; they have already urgently dispatched reporters to London and Paris to obtain firsthand materials and a more authoritative official response."

Lingzi, unwilling to give up, stepped forward: "I understand! Such a significant project certainly requires experience, but I can handle the supporting work—data collection, scriptwriting, even coordination! Producer, this might be the only opportunity I'll have in my career to participate in such a globally significant event! Moreover, I believe that from a female perspective, we might be able to uncover some different, more nuanced angles that resonate more emotionally with the audience..."

The producer shook his head, his tone softening slightly, but his decision remained unchanged: "Asakawa, we all know your abilities. We've all seen that you've continued to work on the front lines of news even after you got married. But this special is different from the past; it involves too much and has too much attention, so we can't afford any mistakes. Your idea is good, but... let's stick to the station's arrangements. Your regular news broadcasts are also important; focus on doing your job well first."

Hope deflated quickly, like a balloon punctured by a needle.

Reiko knew that in Japan's social system, where seniority still played a significant role, although she had managed to get a job as an anchor thanks to her hard work and good looks, she still had a long way to go before she could access such top-tier news resources.

She silently tucked the draft plan, into which she had poured her heart and soul, into the bottom of the drawer, as if trying to bury her resentment along with it.

She sat back down in her seat, feeling sullen. Watching her colleagues bustling about on the Princess Diana project, she felt like an outsider. This feeling of being excluded from the core was unpleasant.

"What's wrong, Asakawa? You don't look like yourself looking so downcast." A gentle voice sounded from the side. It was Saito, a senior reporter who had worked at NHK for nearly thirty years, and now mainly served as a mentor and editor.

He held a cup of coffee, a warm smile on his face.

“Saito-senpai…” Reiko sighed, not hiding her frustration, “I couldn’t get the chance to participate in the special feature on Princess Diana’s death.”

Saito sat down in the empty seat next to her and pushed a cup of hot coffee in front of her: "I guessed it. The station is always cautious about these kinds of things, and they will definitely give priority to seniority. Don't take it too seriously, you are still young, and you will have many more opportunities."

He paused, then said with genuine admiration, "Honestly, Asakawa, I really admire you. When you got married, many people thought you would choose to resign and return to your family like most women, but you persevered. This dedication to journalism is truly admirable."

Feeling the care from her senior, Lingzi felt a little warmer. She picked up her coffee and took a sip; it was bitter yet fragrant.

An opportunity? Who knows when you'll encounter such a globally sensational news opportunity again?

Out of curiosity about this experienced senior, she asked, "Senior Saito, you've been with the station for so many years and experienced so many ups and downs. Which special feature did you do that left the deepest impression on you, or rather... that felt the most special?"

Upon hearing this question, Saito, who had just been smiling and talking eloquently, froze instantly!
(End of this chapter)