Chapter 19: Super Triangulation
Location: An old office building somewhere in Shibuya.
Shogi blinked. What was this strange new app? As soon as that mental voice had stopped talking to him, he saw the navy blue bubbling cloud float on over and coat the smartphone he was using. It had happened so fast that Mr. Shogi didn't have the time to flinch.
This sensation… Shogi thought. It's like there's nothing there. Like it's just vapors but i don't even feel a difference in temperature or even the hint of wind or of moisture. An illusion of sorts, a tangible mirage. And that was when the detective had saw it. As soon as the strange navy blue cloud of bubbles had integrated itself into his smartphone, he was a new app which he had never seen previous before:
SAL
Shogi: "Huh. No way. That wasn't just in my head?"
?: Of course not. Now you know what to do with SAL right?
Shogi: Of course…
Ya know? If we're going to work together it would be best if we-
?: Queen of Spades. You may address me as the Queen of Spades. Now why don't you give SAL a little run, Mr. Shogi?
Yes, certainly. Let me see…
I press on the SAL app. It only takes it a moment for it to boot up and once it starts I can see it just looks like your typical search engine.
Shogi: "Eh…"
Queen of Spades: Try telling SAL to search for instances of those vines we've been seeing sprouting about Tokyo.
Shogi: Yes. I'll do just th-
Queen of Spades: Don't type it!
Shogi: Why not?
Queen of Spades: Because even though SAL has affected your smartphone, whatever you do to your smartphone will still leave a trace. In case you mess up, do you want damning evidence on you?
Shogi: "-tch"
Queen of Spades: I thought you didn't. Now follow my lead. Tell SAL to go and search for instances of those large growing vines overtaking Tokyo. Give the command verbally.
This Queen of Spades. Whoever they are they've been giving me some li-
Queen of Spades: Refuse and I will arrange things that will be detrimental to you. Let's see now… How about I let your wife know that you like to diddle kids?
Shogi: "That's a fucking lie!"
Queen of Spades: Yeah? But no one cares. Cross me and that's what's going to happen. Now do the sensible thing and follow my instructions.
Shit! I can't just tell the others that this voice in my head is threatening to blackmail me.
Queen of Spades: That's right. You can't. At best they'll laugh it off as a joke and in the most unfortunate scenario for you, you'll be locked up in an asylum. Now follow my orders.
…
Shogi: "-tch. Very well. SAL! Search for instances of those large growing vines which have been spreading throughout Tokyo."
I see the buffering image appear on my smartphone screen. After only a few seconds it stops and I can see a prompt which says the following:
Please define what you mean? Search terms are too generic.
…
Queen of Spades: Okay. That was a bit of miscalculation on my part. I wasn't expecting SAL to require the need to be overly specific.
Shogi: Well it's not like those large truck sized vines which are growing everywhere are the only vines which spread throughout Japan, or at least Tokyo.
Queen of Spades: That is very well. Then how about you clarify to SAL that you want it to search for truck sized vines which have taken root in Tokyo.
Shogi: Got it.
Shogi: "SAL. Search for instances of those large truck sized growing vines which have been spreading throughout Tokyo and which have taken root here. Tell me the extent of their spread."
…
It takes about 3 second for the screen to buffer before I get an image of Japan, more specifically I see that it is..
Shogi: Tokyo. That's all these weeds have spread to. Just Tokyo.
Queen of Spades: I didn't ask.
Shogi: Yeah but you were going to. If I didn't tell you you'd just file that false report.
Queen of Spades: Smart. If only you were more cooperative at the beginning, then I wouldn't have had to resort to such means. But I cannot let such legalities get in the way of true justice! That's why I'll do whatever it takes to see that Tokyo becomes safe again.
I let out a sigh.
Shogi: Those are some rather extreme methods you're using.
Queen of Spades: Call it whatever you like. The fact is, it works. Anyways, now trying telling SAL to search for the reported cases of those same vines. Tell it to track its origins as well as the direction of the spread. Make sure you do it in reverse so I- I mean we. Yes, we. So that we can deduce the place and time of infection.
I nod my head.
Shogi: "SAL. Search for reported cases of those same vines and reverse trace them by time by case reported."
I see the buffer screen again which doesn't take long to pull up a result.
Shogi: Minato, Chiyoda and Shinjuku. That's where SAL is saying these vines started making their appearances.
Queen of Spades: That's 3 special wards of Tokyo. Can you narrow that down a bit further? That's still quite of land to cover.
Shogi: Yes. Yotsuyaundo Park seems to be the Northern tip with Akasaka Palace as the Southern tip and the Site of the Mansion of the Nagoya Domain as the Easterb tip.
…
Queen of Spades: That's much better. I'll spare you for now…
Just what have I done?
…
No longer hearing that voice inside my mind, I kick up my feet on my desk and puff out a smoke.
Shogi: "Ah! That's enough work for today."
Standing up, I put on my leather jacket, turn off my computer, head out of my office being sure to close and lock the door behind before I proceed to-
Queen of Sheba: And just one more thing. Don't you dare give your smartphone to the police.
Bang!
I feel my heart skip a beat as I-
Queen of Sheba: Feel free to investigate that cop. Make a report if you want, but if you do…"
*Gulp*
Yeah, I know what's going to happen.
Shogi: D- Do you mind if I use the restroom?
Queen of Sheba: Would you like me to shoot your balls off?
…
Queen of Sheba: Fine. But you only have 5 minutes.
I make a dash for the restroom.
Queen of Sheba: Take any longer than that and more people are going to die. Test my patience and your family will be next.
Shogi: Wha- Why are you doing this?!
Bang!
In the streets below I see a random pedestrian has been shot down. I hastily enter the men's restroom, unbuckle my belt, unzip my pants and proceed to-
Queen of Sheba: Tell you what. I've changed my mind. Once you're done, go home and wait for further instructions. If your wife asks you, I will kill her. No hard feelings. I can't feel any, but I'll do what it takes to ensure our nation becomes safe again, even if I have to stoop to such levels!
I begin to take a piss.
Queen of Sheba: You must think of me as a monster. I assure you. You're just limited.
Shogi: You. You're the one who's responsible for all the mass shootings.
Queen of Sheba: Who me? Don't kid yourself. So what if I squashed a few bugs?
Huh?
Queen of Sheba: You can't make an omelet without cracking a few eggs. The deaths of those people is necessary, a small sacrifice to be made. Besides, when this is all done, you'll be renowned as the world's greatest detective!
The world's greatest detective…
Queen of Sheba: Now that sounds like a profitable tradeoff. You'll become renown and gain unprecedented prestige and you'll even get to hold on to your life. So just do as I say and it will all work out for you. Don't and-
Shogi: You don't have to tell me.
Queen of Sheba: Good.
I feel my smartphone vibrate. Taking it out of my pocket I see that it's my wife.
Queen of Sheba: Hang up on her.
I do as the voice in my head says. If I don't, there's a good chance my wife will be next. As soon as I am done with my business, I zip up, button my pants, buckle my belt and wash my hands. Yeah, there's a lunatic-
Not the politically correct term to use here but I don't care and I shouldn't be concerned about this but-
…
After washing my hands I proceed to head home.
3 minutes later…
Queen of Spades: Sl- Assistant!
Shogi: It's Shogi.
Queen of Spades: Whatever. Have SAL look into why these vines have been spreading.
Shogi: I can't do that. That command is too vague
Queen of Spades: Too vague?
Shogi: Well I could give it a shot, but my hands are busy right now. I'm driving. Just give me another 17 more-
Queen of Spades: Just say the commands! SAL is voice activated in addition to being controllable on your smartphone, you know that.
Shogi: Can SAL verbally tell me my- I mean, our results?
…
Shogi: "SAL. Sing the Japanese anthem."
…
Nothing. I hear not a single beat.
Shogi: It's a no go. Just wait until I get home and then I'll follow through.
Queen of Spades: If that's what's needed, I'll wait. But hurry.
Shogi: Why? Are you-
Queen of Spades: It's none of your business! Just get to your home and do what I say.
17 minutes later I arrive at my home. After cooking up a meal for my kids and as causally as I can describing the details of my day to my wife who is no doubt suspicious of my claims I wait until they're all asleep. By then it is 2:23 AM. Under the cover of night I sneak out.
..?
Is someone trailing me? Could be a private investigator my wife may have hired. For long she's suspected me of infidelity. Heh, well if she manages to get something juicy, good for her. But alas for tonight I must disappoint. Walking up to a night establishment, I take out a huge wad of cash.
Shogi: "Don't let anyone else in."
The bouncer nods as he accepts my money. Inside are several yakuza members. Some are playing cards, a few are smoking pints… I snap my fingers grabbing their attention.
Shogi: "I need a private place to talk."
I toss over a huge wad of cash. One of them picks up and after ruffling through it for a few seconds gestures to me. 17 minutes. I only have enough for 17 minutes after that I need to get out or they're going to send me 6 feet under. Ushered to a room, my timer starts as soon as the door is shut behind me. During these 17 minutes I won't be able to leave this room.
Shogi: "SAL. Look for why these vines have been spreading."
…
A message pops up on my smartphone screen. It says:
Too many variables.
Yep, called it. Just like me, SAL hardly knows anything about those vines which have been crawling about Tokyo. In that case I need to take a different approach.
Hm…
Shogi: "SAL. Estimate the next area of attack for these vines."
…
SAL: Unknown but estimated to be limited to just Tokyo, Japan for now.
Its spread can't be be predicted? But that can't be! With enough information I should be able to gauge where it is going next and if I know the types of environments from which these vines tend to sprea-
!
Shogi: "SAL. From the initial point of infection, look for similarities amongst the areas affected other than being in Tokyo, Japan. Keep it short and concise."
…
SAL: Most of the inhabitants of the areas affected by the vines are Japan-
Shogi: "Don't tell me something that's obvious! I want to know the following: What's their poverty level? Wealth factor? Crime rate? Just anything that would set them apart from the rest of Tokyo."
…
SAL: Too many variables.
-tch. This is going to take a while.