"Natsuki-kun, we meet again."
The young woman, wearing an evening gown that revealed her snowy white back and graceful neck, extended her right hand and smiled:
"I apologize, our last meeting was too rushed. Please allow me to formally introduce myself: I am Mitsui Reiko. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Amamiya Natsuki gave a polite, light handshake and replied:
"The pleasure is mine."
He still remembered their first meeting at the 'Ghost Bus' checkpoint behind the door. Although this young woman didn't suffer a mental breakdown like the others, she had barely managed to maintain her sanity, and he could clearly see the despair hidden in her eyes.
However, her energy and demeanor today were completely different.
With the door broken and the mark representing despair gone, it was equivalent to a new lease on life for ordinary people. Mitsui Reiko now exuded a remarkably elegant and charming presence, only slightly inferior to Kaguya's.
Mitsui Reiko softly said, "After leaving that door, I always wanted to thank Natsuki-kun in person, but I didn't have his contact information. It wasn't until recently that I finally remembered seeing Kaguya, which is why I held today's banquet. Please forgive me."
It was actually a lie.
Although Shinomiya Kaguya was the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya, she had three older brothers, each decades apart in age. There were no banquets she needed to attend, so she had never met Kaguya.
The way she found Kaguya was actually very simple—
When Amamiya Natsuki and Kaguya entered the door, they weren't wearing masks, so it was obvious they were high school students.
Japan has many dialects, such as Kanto-ben, Kansai-ben, and the Hokkaido dialect, which helped narrow down the region.
At the same time, Shinomiya Kaguya's appearance was also very distinctive—one of the three great beauties of the academy, with an undeniable beauty.
High school JK.
Extremely beautiful appearance.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
Based on these features, Kaguya's identity was quickly confirmed.
And once Kaguya was found, Amamiya Natsuki's identity naturally followed.
"It's fine, this is my first time attending a banquet, and it feels quite novel."
Amamiya Natsuki knew that not everything she said was true, but he didn't care. He was more concerned with the true purpose of this banquet. If it was just to express gratitude, a personal visit would have sufficed; there was no need for a banquet.
"Actually, I don't like attending banquets either. It feels like everyone is just putting on a show, and you can't even eat freely. So much delicious food goes to waste." Mitsui Reiko whispered her complaint, then tilted her head curiously, "Natsuki-kun, what happened after we left that door? Why did the brand on our bodies disappear?"
"Quite a few things happened afterwards…"
Amamiya Natsuki casually recounted what happened next.
"How wonderful!"
Mitsui Reiko's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but exclaim softly, "To be able to step forward and save others in such a dangerous place, Natsuki-kun is truly a kind person."
Hey, hey, you should paste that 'kind' label on someone else. He doesn't want to be some great philanthropist!
Amamiya Natsuki took a sip of juice and honestly said, "Saving you all was just a side effect."
Mitsui Reiko: "…"
"Ahem, in any case, Natsuki-kun's life-saving grace is something we are all eternally grateful for." Mitsui Reiko lightly coughed twice and continued, "After I went back, I specifically asked my father, and it seems there's no Supernatural Investigation Bureau?"
"That's right, there isn't." Amamiya Natsuki's expression was calm. This girl had probably investigated many things before coming, so there was no need to hide anything. "It was just to gain trust."
Mitsui Reiko pursed her lips, raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and softly asked, "May I ask if Natsuki-kun and Kaguya… are both Players?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at her calmly and said, "You should have investigated it very thoroughly, right?"
"I'm sorry." Mitsui Reiko bowed in apology. Her evening gown draped downwards with gravity, revealing a deep expanse of white, showing considerable sincerity in her remorse. "I did conduct some simple investigations earlier."
"I'm not angry, don't be nervous." Amamiya Natsuki waved his hand, picked up a slice of watermelon, and began to eat it. "After all, many Players, when they were first chosen, sought help from the police, but no one believed them."
That's right, many unlucky Players, when first chosen by the game, did call the police for help—suddenly getting caught in mysterious events, facing the death threats of evil spirits and monsters, it's quite normal for ordinary people to seek official help; there's nothing wrong with that.
Unfortunately, ordinary people couldn't see the evil spirits in reality, and Players couldn't prove that what they said was true. The police, hearing it, just thought they had mental problems, such as bipolar disorder or hallucinations, etc.
It wasn't until later, when Players opened strange items from Blind Box or gained special abilities, that the authorities finally confirmed the existence of the 'Player' group, but that was all.
Firstly, the number of Players was very small and their distribution was irregular. Secondly, the abilities displayed by the Players recruited by the authorities were not particularly shocking—were weaklings who could be taken down by a single American Iaido shot worth paying attention to?
Of course not.
It wasn't until recently, with the continuous emergence of anomalous events, that Players finally garnered genuine attention from the authorities.
Mitsui Reiko took a deep breath and softly said, "Natsuki-kun, do you remember last month's plane crash?"
Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly at her words and said, "Wasn't it a malfunction caused by a bird striking the engine?"
"That's the official statement…" Mitsui Reiko gently shook her head and said, "I heard from my father that there was no bird strike incident. Everything was normal during the flight, but before the plane crashed, all the ground control tower staff heard strange buzzing noises and eerie, inhuman laughter."
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki remained silent.
"This is just a global news event that was too impactful to cover up. In fact, there are many anomalous incidents that haven't been announced." Mitsui Reiko continued, "Half a month ago, a Mayflower cruise ship was on a global voyage. When passing through the Pacific Ocean, it suddenly disappeared mysteriously. All radars worldwide could not find its trace until it reappeared a few days ago. However, when people boarded it, hundreds of tourists and all the crew members on board had vanished. There was no living thing left."
"There's an anomalous text message; people who receive it will see the last photo of themselves before they die, and they will die in the corresponding scene…"
"Some people see figures in paintings moving."
"Some people, on their way home from work late at night, see an old woman selling shumai at a night stall, are forced to buy shumai, and then mysteriously disappear."
"These are just the tip of the iceberg." Mitsui Reiko's expression was solemn. "More and more anomalous incidents that cannot be explained by science are emerging endlessly, it's just that ordinary people aren't aware of them. Many people, when faced with these anomalies, cannot harm them in the slightest, even at the cost of their lives. Ordinary firearms have no effect on them. Exorcists, Onmyoji, psychics, monks, and shrine maidens also have no way to eliminate those anomalies."
In the real world, stability trumps everything.
Even if anomalies occurred nearby, those in power would not let ordinary people know, unless it reached a point where it could no longer be concealed.
"Until I met Natsuki-kun on the ghost bus…" Mitsui Reiko looked up, her face showing a mix of nervousness and anticipation. "Do all Players have the ability to resolve anomalies?"
Why even ask? The axe had already knocked the evil spirit down; even if he denied it, you wouldn't believe him!
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and said, "Theoretically speaking, yes, they all can."
"Really?"
Mitsui Reiko excitedly gripped Amamiya Natsuki's right hand.
"Don't get too happy too soon." Amamiya Natsuki poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "Players also have strengths and weaknesses. Novice Players encountering anomalies aren't much stronger than you ordinary people."
"It doesn't matter, as long as there's hope, that's enough." Mitsui Reiko said excitedly, "The most terrifying thing in this world is despair. As long as there's hope, even a glimmer, it can make people rally."
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for a moment, then decided to reveal some more information:
"You must have learned about the way Players get stronger from others, right?"
"That's right." Mitsui Reiko bit her lip, her tone a little resentful. "Unlike that door, while being a Player is also very dangerous, there is a reward for effort."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and said, "When Players encounter anomalies, it triggers a World Guardian mission. According to the game, those anomalies are actually invasions from another world."
Even if he didn't say it, other Players would trigger it, so it didn't matter.
"Eh?" Mitsui Reiko's eyes widened. "Another world?"
Amamiya Natsuki said, "Kaidan have appeared, so it's normal for another world to exist, right?"
"Where is that normal?!" Mitsui Reiko couldn't help but retort, "Humans haven't even left the solar system, and now there's some other world. It's too incredible."
Amamiya Natsuki said with a subtle tone, "You definitely don't read manga, do you?"
Mitsui Reiko was startled: "…How did Natsuki-kun know?"
Amamiya Natsuki retorted, "Recent manga and light novels are largely dominated by otherworld themes. If you had paid any attention, the concept of another world would already be commonplace for you."
Mitsui Reiko: "…"
"No one knows what the other world is like; I haven't been there either." Amamiya Natsuki continued, "However, the game seems to be on the opposite side of the otherworld anomalies. One of the purposes of cultivating Players might be to deal with anomalies. Well… it's hard to say if it's cultivation, after all, the [game] is also very dangerous, and a slight mistake can also cost one's life."
"That's different." Mitsui Reiko clenched her fists, as if recalling the despair of being caught in an anomaly. "Being chosen by the game at least offers a glimmer of hope. If you're caught in an anomaly, there's only despair left."
Amamiya Natsuki calmly said, "That's all I know. I'm not the only Player; perhaps someone else has more information. You can decide what to do yourselves."
Mitsui Reiko asked again, "I heard Natsuki-kun and your group seem to have set up a Player Mutual Aid Group. Is everyone in it a Player?"
"That's right." Amamiya Natsuki's expression was calm; he wasn't concerned about the Player Mutual Aid Group being exposed. If a hacker could infiltrate it, let alone official powers. "The vast majority are Players. If you want to get in touch, you can do so privately."
The Player Mutual Aid Group was actually established by Chika. It was originally a place for Players to band together for warmth. The Players inside were equal in status, not hierarchical, so Amamiya Natsuki naturally wouldn't make decisions for others.
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun." Mitsui Reiko bowed in gratitude, then cautiously said, "Two particularly nasty suspected anomalies have recently appeared in Tokyo. I wonder if Natsuki-kun could help…"
Amamiya Natsuki frowned at her words.
"It's not free help; it's an employment." Seeing Amamiya Natsuki frown, Mitsui Reiko quickly said, "As long as Natsuki-kun can help resolve the anomalies, we will try our best to meet any demands."
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for two seconds, then said, "What if I want to marry multiple wives?"
Mitsui Reiko was dumbfounded: "…Eh?"
One minute later.
Amamiya Natsuki received an affirmative answer.
As long as he could resolve the anomalies, marrying ten wives at once would be no problem, and the marriages would all be legally binding.
Rules?
Those are for ordinary people to obey.
For those who truly have power and influence, their words are the rules.
It is well known that in Japan, the attribute of admiring strength is ingrained in their bones. As long as you are strong enough, you can truly do whatever you want.
Mitsui Reiko put away her phone, looked at Amamiya Natsuki with anticipation, and softly said, "Natsuki-kun, do you need anything else?"
Amamiya Natsuki waved his hand and said, "I was just saying that. After all, I can only get married when I'm eighteen."
Mitsui Reiko: "…"
Amamiya Natsuki continued, "Send me the detailed information on those two anomalies. I'll take a look first."
Mitsui Reiko breathed a sigh of relief and bowed:
"Please wait."
"…"
The main topic was finally finished. Coming all this way to express gratitude was indeed a pretense; the real purpose was a transaction.
Amamiya Natsuki picked up a slice of watermelon and ate it, looking at Mitsui Reiko, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated, and casually said, "Is there anything else?"
"May I be so bold as to ask…" Mitsui Reiko hesitated for two seconds, biting her lip with her pearly teeth, and said, "Is there any way to become a 'Player' like Natsuki-kun?"
Amamiya Natsuki said, "Of course there is a way."
"Eh?" Mitsui Reiko's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"You can contact other Players and acquire a dungeon invitation letter or a random dungeon ticket. As long as you enter the dungeon and successfully come out alive, you can gain Player qualifications." Amamiya Natsuki finished his watermelon. "However, becoming a Player is also very dangerous and you can lose your life if you're not careful. You need to think it through."
Though he said that, Amamiya Natsuki could tell that this girl would most likely not back down.
She must be the same type of person as Yukinoshita Haruno, both having a strong desire to rely on themselves. Once they set a goal, they won't rest until they achieve it.
As expected, Mitsui Reiko quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Natsuki-kun, but I still plan to give it a try… This world is becoming more and more dangerous. Although I luckily survived after leaving the door, what if I get caught in another anomalous incident next time?"
"Rather than dying in despair, I choose to take a gamble. I never want to experience that kind of despair, where I can't even struggle, a second time."
Amamiya Natsuki said nothing more, just nodded slightly and said, "Good luck."
"..."
With everything said, Mitsui Reiko bowed again, then turned and left.
"President, you two talked for quite a while, didn't you?"
Shinomiya Kaguya quickly walked over, asking casually.
In fact, when Mitsui Reiko first arrived, Amamiya Natsuki noticed that Kaguya was constantly peeking over.
"Miss Mitsui was discussing serious matters..." Amamiya Natsuki picked up a slice of watermelon and handed it to Kaguya. "It tastes very good. Would you like a few bites?"
"Yes, please."
Shinomiya Kaguya reached out and took the watermelon, her lips parting slightly as she took a bite.
In the past, for the sake of so-called elegance and etiquette, she would not eat at banquets, but now it was completely irrelevant.
Amamiya Natsuki ate the watermelon while recounting the content of their conversation.
"Does the person behind Miss Mitsui want to cooperate with us?"
Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her lips, seriously considering the pros and cons, and after a moment, said, "I think we can consider it. The profit from defeating an anomaly is greater than the profit from clearing a dungeon, and with dungeons, you only know what you're facing after you enter. In reality, you can prepare for an anomaly in advance."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded lightly and said, "I had the same thought, so I asked Miss Mitsui to prepare the information. We should be able to see the specific details shortly."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Miss Mitsui walked over, carrying a stack of documents in her arms.
Amamiya Natsuki pulled out two tissues, wiped Kaguya's fingers clean, and then said, "Go sit on the sofa and read."
"No problem."
Miss Mitsui naturally had no objection.
The two girls followed Amamiya Natsuki and sat down in a corner. This action attracted a lot of attention, but no one came forward to talk; there was no situation of showing off or getting slapped in the face at all.
Amamiya Natsuki took the three sets of documents and began to read them with Kaguya.
Opening the document, a photo of a hotel came into view. Its name was Aisen Hotel, and it had six floors, located in a bustling urban area. One morning, all the contact personnel in the hotel disappeared. Subsequent personnel who entered to investigate also went missing. Everyone went in but never came out. The authorities reacted quickly, directly sealing off the hotel under the pretext of underground pipeline dredging, but this was not a long-term solution. Firstly, hundreds of hotel guests had not been found, and secondly, being in a busy downtown area, it could not be sealed off forever.
Preliminary judgment: Anomalous Incident
Code name: Strange Hotel
Danger level: Unknown
Spread: No signs of spread or contagion detected yet
"Unknown Hotel Anomaly..."
Amamiya Natsuki read through it carefully, but unfortunately, apart from the time and location, there was no valuable information. It looked quite dangerous at first glance.
Miss Mitsui said in a low voice, "If possible, please try to rescue the guests in the hotel while resolving the anomalies."
Amamiya Natsuki said calmly, "Not every anomaly will be like boiling a frog in warm water. Those guests might already be gone."
"We understand." Miss Mitsui said softly, "So we just hope that if things become impossible, please prioritize your own safety."
Amamiya Natsuki said nothing, continuing to look at the second document.
When the second document was opened, an extremely familiar photo came into view, which was none other than Kabukicho Ichibangai.
As one of Tokyo's most famous Ichiban Street, no one in Tokyo didn't know about it. Perhaps some people had never been there, but they certainly wouldn't be unaware of it.