Chapter 23: Informant
Yosuzume: "Hm… still nothing."
Over the course of these past 5 days I've been using these shrinkies in an attempt to study what attracts these supernatural vines. If I can figure out what it is that draws their attention, other than one platinum blond headed lady with red eyes, then I may be able to bring up a counter measure. So far nothing new has come up.
Are they attracted to the scent of live blood? No.
Does the smell of dead carcases draw them near? No.
Screams? No.
…
I really need to find another strategy. With the away I'm approaching this, I'm wasting so much cash! I could just kill my own suppliers but if I do that..
Hm.
Why don't I do that? Well, before I go that path I should first make sure I do one last cursory glance.
…
..
Well there is one more thing I haven't tried yet. So far I've been testing them alone, isolated, but what would happen if they were together? Actually, I wouldn't even need those shrinkies for this sort of stuff. All I need to is to go a social setting, and what better place than..
?
What is this article saying?
[A misunderstood heart?/]
Over these past 5 days there is no doubt that we've all met the full force of a mysterious assailant but could it possibly be that our killer isn't some sort of heartless monster but a gentle soul who just needs some reassuring? Some witnesses claim the mysterious assailant may in fact be misguided in their attempts to achieve world peace
[/end message]
And it's already gotten so many shares. It's talking about me and yet it's completely unsubstantiated. Ridiculous.
…
Hm, the date of this post says December 28, 2014.
Yosuzume: Shogi. Confirm with me again at what time period did those vines started appearing again?
..
Shogi: Let's see… um, according to SAL, reported cases of the vines which plague all of Tokyo started popping up around December 28 of last year though they didn't become official until January 5th of this year.
Yosuzume: I see.
…
Yosuzume: Here's what I want you to do, Mr. Shogi. Pick a neighbor. Any neighbor, just as long as their household hasn't been affected by those weeds yet.
…
Shogi: I presume you want me to wait until their home?
Yosuzume: Yes, er. On second thought.. No, that won't do. Too many potentials for- Ah!
By now I have headed outside. I'm near one of those large vines. Currently they are ignoring me.
Yosuzume: Alright. Tell SAL to search up the article, [A misunderstood heart?/] along with any other similar articles.
…
Shogi: Got it.
Yosuzume: What's the user traffic on those?
Shogi: It's gotten somewhat down recently.
Yosuzume: I want you to post another article like that.
…
Shogi: Alrightly. It's done.
…
Hm, nothing's happening. Could it be that the reason why those vines attacked me 5 days prior was because they were directed by that lady?
…
Yosuzume: By the way. What sort of website did you post that article on?
Shogi: It's a private network
Yosuzume: And what of the original article?
Shogi: It was posted on a public forum.
Yosuzume: Try posting it on a public forum.
..
Shogi: Got it. It's done.
Strange. Nothing's happening. Perhaps my hypothesis was off.
…
Yosuzume: Alright. One last thing. I need you to listen very closely…
20 minutes later…
So that's it. That's what's attracting them.
Rumors. They're drawn by unsubstantiated stories. Had I not persuaded Shogi to put a compromising picture of himself on social media to make himself a target, I never would've guessed what it is that draws these supernatural weeds. Of course once that happened I then had to revoke SAL's amok in order to create a new one.
Shogi: So. You're saying these vines need information to spread?
Yosuzume: Not just any information. Unsubstantiated stories. I've now confirmed what it is that draws them near.
Shogi: And what is that?
Yosuzume: Rumors. They gain strength from rumors and target the subject of the rumors themselves. Those vines that chased you earlier? They could only do so when knowledge of your appearance was made public and the higher the traffic, the faster they went.
Shogi: I see. So what's the solution then?
Yosuzume: Information suppression, hence why I am now gifting you a new friend. Say goodbye to SAL-
Shogi: What! Why?
Yosuzume: SAL can only gather information. It can't suppress or put a gag order.
Shogi: I see.
Yosuzume: And say hello to POW.
…
Shogi: This metallic armament that's on my arm? I presume that's POW right?
Yosuzume: Yes. Together you will now suppress the growth of those vines that are strangling Tokyo.
Shogi: So you want me to put myself out there.
Yosuzume: You will not be harmed. Don't worry about it. With POW, those vines won't target you.
And if they do, it's of no concern to me. I'll just get myself another test subject…
Is what I would do if I wasn't being pressed for options. Well that's enough idling around outside my makeshift base. It's time for me to head back inside and-
?
What is this package here? Hm.. It's a bit early for a delivery. This spot right here, at the entrance to the Azabu-Juban Station is my current base of operations. To claim this territory for my own, I've had to pay some high ranking members of the Inagawa-kai syndicate to ward off any potential intruders. It's sort of like a protection racket, well no. That's not the word for this thing. Did one of those oyabun decide to give me a package ahead of schedule? Or are they trying to wipe me out? Either way, it doesn't matter.
I bend down to examine the package. It's a standard 15 by 17 by 14 delivery box. Lifting it up, it feels a bit heavy. In case there's some sort of tracking device inside, Imma just open it up right here.
I open the package
…
Yosuzume: "What are these triangular machines? There's a whole set of them. Let's see… 'a gift, courtesy of the Foundation'? What's the Foundation?"
Within the package is a pamphlet supposedly explaining what the contents of this box are for.
Yosuzume: "So. These triangular devices can combat the anomalous or supernatural, eh? And that they may be key to curing Tokyo's weed problems? Feh, sounds like far tale, but I guess it won't hurt to try it out just once."
Instructions:
Place on a solid surface within the same plane of reality at least 1 yard away from each other forming a perimeter. The devices within this box can be placed up to 2.3 km away from each other before they are unable to synchronize with each unit. When adjusting for any degree greater than 32.7, add another device. A minimum of 3 units must be deployed in order to erect the Amaleous Plsszyar-Ottoman Haerman phenomenon or the A.P.H-
Yosuzume: "The what now!?"
APH. I've heard about this somewhere before..
Who was it that said it again? Was it Duusu?
Picking up the box I quickly head into my office. With the door closed and locked, I set the box on the sturdy table.
Yosuzume: "Duusu, fall my feathers."
I detransform. Before I even say the orders, Duusu flies out in front of me floating approximately 7.23 cm from the bride of my face. The little kwami nods.
Duusu: "This is the device. The device that I was talking about."
Non POV
Elsewhere within Tokyo, located 35.68313, 139.73183 or simply 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan within a nearly empty office room a platinum blond haired professor is busy reading through her notes. Even though this is just a front, she is still expected to play her part.
The Foundation.
Kanon growls. A little fucking pain in her sides. Though they've yet to do anything, with their technologies, just as she had siphoned the rumor weeds powers for her own, they too could unlink her with it.
*Knock*
*knock*
"Hello?" A young feminine voice calls out. "Mind if I come in."
Kanon: "Ah Alicia Keyes. Come in. What do you have to share with me today?"
Pushing the door open, a young child of roughly 9 years in appearance wearing a school uniform walks inside Kanon's office. The 2 knew each other in a manner of speaking.
Kanon: "So what is it? Got any dirt on the Foundation? How's the Society? Well? Anything?"
Alicia shakes her head.
Alicia: "Nope. Nothing on either the Foundation and your current whereabouts are still obscured from the rest of the Society. As for the Glistening Compass, there's still no connection that can be made between your activities and its current standing."
Kanon: "Bah! That little side job is of no importance. Tell me something I don't know."
Alicia raises an eyebrow.
Alicia: "Of no importance? But, wasn't that-"
Kanon: "It was just a little front operation to keep my illicit activities under wraps and to finance my criminal empire. Once I've obtained the Miraculous, I'll have no need for that office wad. It'll become history!"
Alicia: "Yes, I'm already quite well aware. So. About the holder of the Peacock Miraculous. I've got something that may be of interest to you."
Kanon narrows her eyes.
Kanon: "What is it?"