Interlude 2…

"Hey!" Someone snatched my phone right out of my pocket and boldly took off into a sprint. Nothing that the passers by would do anything about even as I frantically indicated my alarm. The nasty little thief bobbed and weaved their way through the back alleys of Yongen-Jaya like it was nothing so I could only assume they were the local bully. They weren't too far ahead that I couldn't catch up.

"Joker, you absolutely can't let that thief get away! Everyone's finished if they do!" Continuing to give chase, I grew further and further from the familiar setting diving further into the rabbit hole that was these backstreets. Passing lodging after lodging, I'd reached the abrupt end of my pursuit. A needle was jabbed into my neck faster than I could react and catching a glimpse of bulky hands, I fell unconscious…

Coming back to, my head was killing me. I couldn't see a thing with this stupid bag over my head. Yelling for help would've been a careless endeavour but even then, that ability was taken from me. The surface I sat on wasn't the comfiest - it was hard and firm. Resting my head indicated it was a leather chair of sorts but not being able to move my hands or legs was a huge pain in the ass. I certainly did feel lighter so no doubt, things were taken from my pockets. There was no wave of fresh air on my face so I was inside of something. Could this really be them? Kamoshida would hang around people like this for protection…

"I assume you've done a full body search?" This person was brave enough to let me hear what they sounded like? There was never really a timeframe in which we could guess the backers would make a move but to think they would be so hasty about it…

"Yes, sir. There's nothing he can use and he remains fully restrained."

"And what of his phone?"

"It's off. We took out the SIM and switched it off in the area."

"Hmm…destroying the traceable SIM was an option you didn't take? Oh well. Throw his things in the trunk - do not leave even a sliver of an indication someone was there. The last thing that our ministerial candidate would want is another mess to clean up. Wouldn't you agree?" Again came the murmurs of that damn voice. I could at least etch into memory how he sounded. Suddenly, I felt my body under motion. So I'm in a vehicle of sorts…

"Let me just-" RIP! Damn how that stung! I remained wordless to my kidnapper.

"Duct tape...I'd rather that than a crummy sock or solid ball gag." I made no change in my action while he talked for us both.

"Staying silent? Thanks for making this easy. It seriously wouldn't have been like you to react by asking 'what the hell do you want with me?' or one of those variations. Then it'd be the part where I throw a punch your way and so on and so on…" I wouldn't give this fool the time of day and let him find a way to break me. The safety of the others came first.

"Such a tiresome routine, right? Why can't we plebeians in silk suits and garbs ever depict ration and civility when it comes to this sort of situation in the media? You don't need to accommodate these random musings, Ren Amamiya." As long as the others aren't brought up, it's fine.This guy had a haughtiness to him such that, unlike Haru who used it as her armour, it was a weapon in his arsenal.

"Oh, I'm afraid this will require you to actually speak and answer. While I don't really feel like leaving some evidence of something happening to you, it's not out of the question altogether. It would just mean you'd need to hide it and actually keep it hidden. You know, rather than making a public statement out of it." he added.

"Are you awake, Ren? Seems the dosage needs adjusting…" He was talking so casually as if this was an everyday thing in his life. Then again, a two bit thug like this probably wouldn't get many other chances to prove his usefulness.

"Yes." I spoke.

"Oh! Well, great! Perfect even! It would have been far harder for these proceedings to go smoothly otherwise." Rather chirpy in his replies, I still wouldn't go along trusting in him so easily. I would keep my answers to a yes or no and see how much I could rattle him.

"Guarded? Clever choice in your mind, that, but really and truly, there's no point. I know just a little too much and I'll do my best to get through my points as we journey along. I have your full attention, right?" Ooh, scary…

"Yes."

"Good. I'll give you the main point first and foremost. I want to propose a deal with you. It's merely a simple trade: I give you something you want and you give me something I want. And if you're asking yourself whether my word is to be trusted, well…it's up to you, really." he asserted.

"Okay."

"Come on, Ren! I can't be the one doing all the talking now, can I? You could hardly call this a conversation - it's like talking to a grey-eyed scar-ridden wall." Conversation…fuck it then.

"You think you know what I want?" I asked.

"Painfully so. More than anything since that unfortunate night." So the backers also knew about Kumagaya as well…of course they did. Seeing that the police were involved, my circumstances would be in their trove of information.

"Oh really?"

"I'm highly confident." And now there wasn't an ounce of carefree jokiness in his voice. The car continued its motion as the still unknown destination remained my prime concern. Was I to be taken to the personal residence of the thugs' employer, shown to a property I know of or left at an abandoned site to hang out to dry?

"Try me." I mused getting far less than I bargained for.

"You want your life back."

"Well, that's not something you can give me. Even if my name ends up cleared, I won't ever see my relationships go back to normal."

"To be precise, you wish for Masayoshi Shido, my father, to face the music of his actions. Maybe that brunette dusty too…" Clenching my fists on reflex, it took every last ounce of strength I had not to try and shift my body his way. This asshole was the spawn of that bastard who ruined my life! As far as the poetry to this meeting, like father, like son couldn't be any more accurate.

"Oho…he reacts at last! Finally, something you genuinely do care about. No doubt, if you kept up this shtick of being this tough guy that you're absolutely not, it would've pissed me the fuck off." As this person clapped his hands, I couldn't do a thing.

"Humour me…how long have you done this sort of quip laden interrogation?"

"Why would I answer that question?" he responded seriously.

"I just think you're revealing your hand too soon. All I have to do is get to work and crack who you really are."

"Allow me to correct you. What's happened too soon is you lowering your guard. I'm a little shocked, Ren. Even now…you've not gotten over it, have you? It's what he does…makes enemies of anyone, leaves those he screws with bitter and resentful while blissfully enjoying life's spoils."

"Thanks for the history lesson on daddy's drawers. If you really know so much about me, you know well enough to shut the fuck up about that cunt." I answered.

"No problem."

"Can you tell me what you want?"

"Point number two: stay the fuck out of the Metaverse if you know what's good for you." Fuck! Damn! They know this much?! What the hell is there that they don't know about us?!

"What in the hell is that?" Diverting my panic with a question, this fool was also agitated.

"I've seen you, waltzing in like you own the place. You're intruding on my land." Shit shit shiiiit…

"Leading me to point number three: you forced my hand, Ren. I spent far too long carefully running a delicate operation only to find out that some has-been gets rewarded for undoing so much of my carefully constructed work. And I ponder to myself just how this was possible? Nitpicking and cashing favours left and right to get my hands on anything related to that piece of shit pervert, I finally find someone of use to me. I hear he has a sudden change in heart. An unexplainable one at that. Naturally coming to the conclusion that foul play was involved, I make my way back into the other world and find where the 10 storey castle should reside, there is a fucking school." Sae's hopefully aware of the danger she's in...

"I think you've gotten some very bad intel. I've no knowledge of the Meta-thingy and certainly, I don't have access to this place. Nowhere in Tokyo have I seen a castle - not one that's 10 floors of all things."

"...I see. You're not taking me seriously in the slightest. Alright…how's this? Ann Takamaki. Ryuji Sakamoto. Sumire Yoshizawa. Two yet unverified users who happen to be close to you. All of whom have accessed the Metaverse Navigator more than once to the same destination, Kamoshida's Palace."

"What are you gonna do for me?"

"Don't worry about the ins and outs of how I bring about my father's meteoric downfall. It honestly isn't in my best interests to simply let you go but having you disappear now helps no one. Live your life, don't invite any more trouble that you don't need to and make the most of this year while you still can. I'm going out on a huge limb and taking your silence as acceptance. Take my words seriously and we won't ever have to see each other again." Screeching to a halt, we arrived at our destination.

"And that's my time. Never forget that I'll be watching, Ren Amamiya."

"Okay." STAB! Urgh…another dose of this shit. I'd eventually woken up laid out on the concrete no longer restrained. Clearly I received another jab of the anesthetic… there was no one in sight. Funnily enough, I was in the car park near to Leblanc. He wasn't playing…he does have our locations. My things were dumped all over the place while my phone strangely remained intact. Mona seemed to have found me and panicked.

"Are you okay, Ren?! This couldn't have happened at a worse time! Honestly, I thought this Reaper business wasn't going to take off but the fact someone's been sent like this…it's actually gotten real."

"I need Futaba now. Please get her, Mona." As he wordlessly complied, I kept my guard up and remained vigil to my surroundings heading over to Sojiro's house.