SCIAW: Chapter 103/105

Chapter 103: From Now On

Once fear is buried too deeply, overcoming it becomes difficult.

That's why the way evil spirits induce fear can actually help people confront their fears head-on.

Weaker evil spirits trigger fear more gradually.

Ren had planned for a slow buildup.

But who would have thought that, because of an unexpected encounter with an acquaintance on Tsukikage Island, the process would be interrupted, forcing a direct confrontation instead?

"…Well, at least the result wasn't bad."

"Not bad?!"

Ran couldn't hold back this time and snapped.

"I was terrified just now!"

The memory of her breaking down in tears flashed through Ren's mind, and his smile faded slightly.

"…Sorry."

"This time, I put you through a bad experience."

After venting her frustration, Ran calmed down significantly.

"…Fine, I'll accept your apology."

"Amamiya, if something like this happens again, at least give us a warning first."

"Getting scared like that out of nowhere is seriously too much."

Evil spirits were truly terrifying.

Ran had never been good with supernatural things, and seeing one up close had nearly made her pass out.

If Ren hadn't covered her mouth in time, her scream would've brought her father running back.

"…I'll be more careful next time."

With a hint of guilt, Ren promised not to let it happen so suddenly again.

"That's better."

Ran's anger came and went quickly.

"Ugh… That evil spirit was really terrifying…"

"Their appearance before death… I can't even imagine what they went through in their final moments."

She finally understood why Ren hadn't let her and Sonoko follow him before.

If the spirits in the mountains all looked like that, reflecting the state of their deaths, there was no doubt she'd be having nightmares for weeks.

"Don't feel too sorry for them."

Hearing Ren's warning, Ran turned and rolled her eyes.

"They were drug dealers. Why would I sympathize with a bunch of criminals?"

Drug dealers didn't deserve even a shred of pity.

Ran was kind, but her kindness didn't extend to people like them.

Some criminals might have been forced into their actions or acted out of desperation but not drug dealers.

They chose their path.

Ran pouted as she looked at Ren.

"Amamiya, do I seem like the type to blindly sympathize with criminals in some ridiculous story?"

"…I guess not."

Hearing his answer, Ran sighed.

She was starting to realize why she had turned into nothing more than a background character in the later parts of the story.

She hated those saint-like characters in stories, the ones who showed excessive sympathy for criminals.

Audiences definitely wouldn't like someone like that, either.

That was probably why her presence in the story had been reduced.

"…Amamiya, did I become a really annoying character later on?"

"…"

His silence was all the answer she needed.

Because of her unpleasant characterization, her role had been diminished.

Most likely, her later appearances were only tied to Shinichi.

Instead of focusing on her story, the narrative probably shifted to Shinichi's devotion to her.

The thought made Ran deeply uncomfortable.

She knew how much Shinichi cared about her.

It was just like how she had once cared so much about Shinichi.

But… did their connection really have to be framed like that?

"Amamiya."

She looked at him seriously.

"Don't associate me with the story's version of me."

"I am the real, living Ran."

"I may be kind, and sometimes I might even go too far with my emotions."

"But I will never sympathize with criminals."

"Especially drug dealers."

"This is important—don't forget it."

Her voice was firm.

Ren could feel how serious she was.

This was the second time she had reminded him—stories were stories, but reality was something different.

The story contained many forced developments.

But in reality, those same constraints didn't exist.

For example, personality differences.

Sonoko, for instance, would likely never experience a cliché "damsel-in-distress" situation, because the Suzuki family's bodyguards were far too competent.

Or someone like Kaguya—given her background, she would never choose Shirogane Miyuki, knowing she was bound by her family's responsibilities.

And then there was Ran.

She wasn't some overly loyal girl who would endlessly wait and give without receiving anything in return.

She could also be hurt.

She could also feel disappointment.

She was just a normal girl.

Ren took a deep breath, briefly reflecting on his own thoughts.

Then he exhaled, lowered his head slightly in acknowledgment, and raised his hand toward her.

"Nice to meet you, Mouri Ran."

Ran looked at his outstretched hand for a moment—then, with a natural smile, she reached out and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Amamiya Ren."

Neither of them hesitated.

Their hands met, gripped lightly for a moment, and then separated.

"Ohhh~"

Sonoko suddenly leaned in, grinning at Ren teasingly.

"You didn't react as strongly this time~"

No signs of blushing.

Amamiya sighed.

"Suzuki, I told you, I'm just not good at dealing with girls who make the first move."

"I can interact with girls normally."

Yes, sometimes being around girls made his heart race.

But the truth was, in his past life, he had very little experience interacting with the opposite sex.

Sonoko had been the first girl to openly tease him like this.

And last night? Please. Anyone would have reacted the way he did after what Fujiwara showed.

Just because someone has seen adult content doesn't mean they're some kind of expert.

When a situation calls for innocence, you will be innocent.

When a situation is awkward, you will be awkward.

"Heh~"

Sonoko clasped her hands behind her back and stepped closer to Ren.

"Since you can interact normally, maybe you should start using more casual names?"

She turned to Ran.

"What do you think, Ran?"

Now that the topic had shifted to her, Ran gave it some serious thought before nodding slightly.

"Yeah, I think we should be on a first-name basis."

"We're in the same club, and Amamiya's already so connected to us."

"If that's the case, it makes sense to drop the formalities."

With Ran's approval, Sonoko's smile grew even brighter.

"Well, Ran has agreed, so Amamiya, you don't have any objections, right?"

"…I don't."

"Good! Then, from now on, just call me Sonoko."

"And you can call me Ran."

Ren nodded slightly.

_________

Chapter 104: The Police Operation Begins

"I'll take you back first."

"The objective of coming out has been achieved, and it looks like the police have arrived."

Ren's eyes confirmed several new ships docking at the port. A large number of plainclothes officers were disembarking, among them Inspector Megure Juzo.

The police had entered Tsukikage Island, and the operation would begin soon.

Realizing this, Ren immediately grabbed the hands of the two girls and quickened his pace.

"The police will start verifying our location soon."

"A large number of officers will likely begin sweeping the entire island, with the hot spring hotel as their central base."

"There's no guarantee that everyone on the island will comply peacefully."

"We need to return quickly."

Understanding the urgency of the situation, both Ran and Sonoko followed his lead and sprinted toward the hotel.

Portside

Several police boats docked at the port, halting the usual registration process.

"P-Police?"

The staff at the port looked at the intimidating men in front of them. When they flashed their police badges, the workers became visibly unsettled.

"Silence."

"All work is to be suspended immediately. All registration staff, gather together."

The sudden order sent a wave of unease through the workers.

"Why?"

The moment the question left his mouth, two officers placed their hands on their holsters.

"Don't move!"

The officers swiftly drew their guns, aiming at the registration staff.

"Hands up! Or we'll shoot!"

The worker's face turned pale, and he quickly raised both hands.

"O-Officer, I'm not a criminal!"

"Shut up. Stay quiet."

The surrounding officers exchanged silent signals, and soon, the entire Metropolitan Police force sprang into action.

Regardless of whether they were key personnel or not, the authorities knew that there had to be drug dealers among those managing the boarding gates. Securing the registration area was the first step.

"Check the entry logs for Tsukikage Island and verify the arrivals."

Once the registration gate was fully secured, Megure Juzo immediately began issuing orders.

"Make sure no one escapes."

"Detain all registration staff and confiscate all communication devices."

The well-trained officers quickly locked down the area.

Every registration worker, regardless of their role was detained for questioning.

The situation with the drug dealers remained uncertain.

The Metropolitan Police needed to take control before the criminals had a chance to react.

As for the other civilians, a more thorough investigation would come later.

Strict control measures were necessary to prevent any desperate moves from the drug dealers.

The ordinary residents of Tsukikage Island also needed police protection.

However, more importantly, they had to ensure that no drug dealers targeted the influential young ladies who could affect the country's future economy.

"Inspector Megure, I've found the entry records and confirmed their locations."

Sato Miwako approached with a registration book.

Inside, it listed the arrivals of Shinomiya Kaguya and the others, along with their purpose of visit and temporary lodging.

After confirming the details, Megure let out a relieved sigh.

"Officer Sato, take a SWAT team to secure them immediately."

"Move quickly!"

"Understood!"

"SWAT team, follow me!"

More than a dozen heavily armed officers stepped forward.

They were clad in bulletproof vests, carrying riot shields, and had submachine guns slung across their backs.

Pistols were holstered at their waists, and even grenades were prepared as a precaution.

The SWAT team swiftly organized and followed Sato Miwako toward the hot spring hotel.

Meanwhile, Megure pulled out his radio and contacted his superior.

"Inspector Matsumoto, we have confirmed their locations."

"The SWAT team has been deployed to secure them."

"Excellent."

"Maintain control of Tsukikage Island. The Coast Guard will arrive soon as backup."

"Ensure civilian safety and prevent the drug dealers from catching wind of our operation."

"Understood!"


T/N: This chapter is a little shorter because I removed some things.

__________
Chapter 105: The Sweep Begins

The three of them ran all the way back to the hot spring hotel, finally stopping at the entrance to catch their breath.

Since embarking on the Sequence Path, Ren's stamina had vastly improved compared to before.

Ran, who had begun following the path of physical strengthening, was barely affected by short-distance running.

"Ha… ha…"

On the other hand, Sonoko who rarely exercised was completely out of breath after running nearly a kilometer.

"Sonoko, you really need to work out."

Seeing her friend panting so heavily, Ran couldn't help but comment.

"L-Let's… talk about it… after we get inside…"

Sonoko, her face flushed from exertion, could barely get the words out.

At this moment, all she could feel was the burning sensation in her throat.

This was the result of years of avoiding physical activity, sudden exercise took a serious toll on her stamina and endurance.

After taking a moment to regulate her breathing, she finally calmed down.

"Alright, let's go in."

"Wait."

Just as Sonoko was about to step inside, Ren grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Without explaining, he turned toward the entrance and pushed open the door.

Less than 200 meters outside the hotel, a woman in a short skirt and suit was leading a fully armed SWAT team toward them.

They had arrived faster than expected.

And…

Activating Spiritual Vision, Ren scanned the SWAT officers.

Their etheric bodies had a strong presence, and their auras carried a certain weight.

It was clear that these SWAT members had undergone rigorous training.

Their riot shields, submachine guns, pistols, grenades, and ammunition, all of it added up to at least 30 kilograms of equipment.

Without extensive training, moving quickly with such a load would be impossible.

At a steady but determined pace, the team covered the remaining distance in no time.

Standing upright, the female officer leading the group took a deep breath, then pulled out her police ID.

"Hello, Ms. Suzuki."

"I am Sato Miwako from the Metropolitan Police Department's First Division of Criminal Investigation."

"We received intelligence that drug trafficking is taking place on this island. We are about to commence a sweep operation to arrest all suspects."

"In order to prevent any retaliation from the drug dealers, we are here to ensure your safety."

"I hope you will cooperate."

After Sato Miwako finished speaking, Sonoko immediately nodded.

"No problem."

"But we'd like some details."

"How did drug dealers end up operating on an island so close to Tokyo?"

"And why is the Metropolitan Police only discovering this now?"

Her line of questioning was rather direct.

It was as if she was pointing at the police and demanding. What exactly have you guys been doing this whole time? How did you not realize drug dealers were operating so close to the capital?

Sato Miwako's expression darkened slightly.

She wasn't happy about the question but she couldn't deny that the Metropolitan Police Department had indeed failed in their early investigations.

Although they had been tracking the sources of illicit drugs in Tokyo, they had never managed to pinpoint their origin.

If it weren't for the tip-off they received this time, they might have never discovered that the dealers were hiding on Tsukikage Island.

"Forget it, Sonoko."

Ren interrupted before the situation escalated.

"Sure, the police took a while to locate the drug dealers but at least they're here now."

"As long as they arrived in time, it's not too late."

Hearing this, Sato Miwako relaxed slightly and bowed as a formal apology.

"I sincerely apologize. This was an oversight on the part of the Metropolitan Police Department."

Since Ren had taken on the role of the mediator, Sonoko who had been playing the bad cop decided to let it go.

"Fine."

"But the fact remains, this wouldn't have happened if the police had done a better job investigating."

After making her point, Sonoko's expression softened.

"Anyway, I won't dwell on it."

"Thanks for coming."

Sato Miwako let out a quiet sigh of relief.

At least the situation hadn't escalated further.

And honestly, the police did bear some responsibility for failing to discover the drug dealers sooner.

Given that these young women had actually been in danger, a little criticism was understandable.

"Come inside."

Now that she had gotten her frustration out, Sonoko allowed the officers to enter the hot spring hotel.

It wouldn't be good to leave a fully armed SWAT team standing outside.

They needed to keep a low profile, especially since the Tsukikage Island sweep operation was about to begin.

"Everyone, spread out and secure the hotel."

"Ensure that no unauthorized individuals enter before the operation begins."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The SWAT officers, well-trained and efficient, quickly spread out to cover all key points.

Each officer had a radio communicator, allowing them to maintain coordination and provide real-time updates.

After ensuring the defensive perimeter was set up, Sato Miwako exhaled and reported to Inspector Megure.

"Inspector Megure, all security measures are in place."

"Good work, Officer Sato."

"Stay on high alert. The Coast Guard has arrived and is advancing toward Tsukikage Island."

Sato Miwako felt a sense of relief.

The drug bust was officially underway.

With the Coast Guard's manpower and specialized equipment, the operation would be even more effective.

However—

"There's a high probability that a large number of drug dealers are hiding in the mountainous area behind the village."

A sudden voice startled Sato Miwako.

Turning around, she saw it was Ren, the same boy who had just calmed down Sonoko earlier.

"Are you sure?"

Ren shook his head slightly.

"I can't be 100% certain."

"But when I went for a morning run, I passed the boundary between the residential area and the back mountain."

"I noticed a sentry post a few hundred meters away. There were surveillance cameras installed outside, and a landslide warning sign was posted nearby."

"I have a strong feeling that the villagers of Tsukikage Island are being kept away from that area for a reason."

Sato Miwako immediately understood the implication, something suspicious was definitely being hidden in the back mountain.

"In addition, I also saw several protest signs scattered in the village while running."

"They were all about environmental pollution."

"I suspect that the local fishery has been affected, and the villagers have noticed something unusual."

Drug production causes environmental damage.

Sato Miwako's eyes widened.

It all made sense now.

The signs of pollution, the restricted area, the guards and surveillance, everything pointed to one thing.

There was a drug manufacturing facility hidden in the back mountain.

Inspector Megure, who had been listening through the radio, had also reached the same conclusion.

"Officer Sato, securing your location is now your top priority."

"I'll contact the tactical team and have them move in immediately!"