The evil spirit known as Atsuko had been destroyed, and Takahashi Ryoichi, still trapped in a dream, had lost all ability to resist.
Ren was quite intrigued by this unusual case of someone possessed by an evil spirit.
He activated his spiritual vision and observed for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
The color of the etheric body was dull and lifeless, and the entire body had been deeply affected. His spiritual body also showed signs of heavy fatigue.
Ren turned off his spiritual vision and observed directly with his eyes.
He murmured, shaking his head.
The evil spirit had used the host’s life force and emotions as food. By feeding on those, it had prolonged its own existence.
This might have been the price for borrowing the power of an evil spirit. Just like Takahashi Ryoichi’s wish—he was willing to give anything for revenge.
Ren wasn’t sure if Ryoichi had made that decision knowingly, but it was likely the evil spirit had taken root the moment such emotions surfaced.
Ryoichi’s spirit had been in a prolonged state of negative emotion and madness. Previously, the power of the evil spirit had suppressed it, maintaining a fragile balance between his spirit body and the 24 etheric bodies. But now, it was all unraveling.
His once-youthful skin dried out rapidly.
His thick, sturdy body also began to shrink.
Based on the condition of his etheric body and spirit body, Ren could judge that Takahashi Ryoichi’s physical age had reached about 60.
No wonder people say extraordinary power comes at a price. This one was simply too steep.
Ren felt a wave of emotion.
Someone in his twenties had already entered a state of physical decline. Even if he woke from this deep sleep, he’d likely go completely insane.
No one could withstand a blow . Especially since Takahashi Ryoichi’s spirit body was already deteriorating, there was a high chance he’d descend into madness at any moment.
Of course, Ren didn’t have any particular sympathy for this outcome.
If it were in the original narrative, maybe his actions would seem somewhat justified. But now that the truth had been divined, the result could only be described as his own choice.
In your dream, fulfill your revenge.
But once you wake, a prison cell will be your future.
After taking one last glance at Takahashi Ryoichi, who remained unconscious on the ground, Ren turned and walked back into the villa.
There was no cell signal in the deep mountains. Communication with the outside world still relied on old-fashioned landlines.
Back in the room, he found the vintage phone and dialed Sato Miwako’s number.
The call connected quickly.
"Excuse me, who is this?"
"Long time no see, Officer Sato."
Sato Miwako froze for a moment. Then, recognizing the voice, she glanced around the office and lowered her tone.
"Yeah. This time might be a bit tricky."
"Huh? You guys are running into trouble during school hours?"
Sato Miwako recalled that today was Wednesday. It wasn’t a holiday.
"Though it’s not something a student should say, I took leave today to accompany my girlfriend to her sister’s college reunion."
"A high school student meeting his girlfriend’s sister, huh?"
Sato Miwako quietly clicked her tongue.
This was basically meeting the family.
She shook her head, choosing not to dwell on it, and got straight to the point.
"So, what kind of trouble?"
"On the mountain road leading to the villa where the reunion was being held, one of the guests suddenly killed two others. The method was pretty brutal. Beheading and decapitation. Doesn’t seem like something between old classmates. More like revenge."
Sato Miwako’s expression turned serious.
"Give me the exact location."
"It’s in the mountains of Saitama Prefecture," Ren said, then provided a specific entrance.
After jotting it down, Sato Miwako balanced the phone between her shoulder and ear, closed her notebook, and walked toward Inspector Megure’s office.
"I’ve got the location. Are you alright over there?"
"I’m fine. We knocked out the murderer outside the villa. He’ll be out cold for a while."
"Alright. Inspector Megure and I will head out immediately."
Beheading and decapitation weren’t part of ordinary violent crimes. Sato Miwako rushed straight into Inspector Megure’s office.
"Inspector Megure! This one’s brutal. The criminal killed two people, and the method was extremely savage."
Inspector Megure’s expression darkened.
After the incident on Tsukikage Island, all of Tokyo had been on edge. Any significant case could easily escalate.
Without delay, Inspector Megure ordered members of the Criminal Division and forensic staff to accompany him.
He sat in the passenger seat while Sato Miwako drove at full speed.
"The location’s really in Saitama Prefecture?"
Glancing at the note Sato Miwako had written, Inspector Megure murmured, then immediately contacted the Saitama Prefecture police.
Their own headquarters might not be familiar with such a remote location, but the local police definitely would be. Cooperation was necessary.
After coordinating the response, Inspector Megure finally let out a slow breath.
"Officer Sato, why didn’t the person call the police directly?"
That was a very strange detail.
"Ah, the person who contacted me is one of my informants. He works as a bodyguard and occasionally shares tips. I think this time it was at his employer’s request. Probably trying to avoid unwanted attention."
Inspector Megure nodded. That did sound like something wealthy people would do.
"Also, his identity is probably inconvenient. As far as I know, he’s a hidden bodyguard. Exposing that would create unnecessary trouble for his employer."
That kind of thing wasn’t unusual.
Hidden bodyguards for rich families often avoided the spotlight, and they tried not to contact law enforcement directly unless necessary. Megure had seen similar cases before.
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