boyutpedia Page 49
Page 49
A complex case that would have required the police to devote all their energy and spend weeks or even months conducting a comprehensive investigation, yet still not be able to unravel its intricacies, has now been solved.
Izzy, the super AI secretary from Zero One Technology, presented a meticulously structured, logically clear, and irrefutably complete investigation report on the giant holographic screen in the center of the office with her unparalleled efficiency and precision.
Countless streams of data flashed across the screen background like a waterfall, eventually settling on a concise and clear concluding document.
"Reporting to the president. The truth has been uncovered."
Izzy's virtual avatar bowed slightly, and the synthesized electronic voice showed no emotion, simply stating a cold, hard fact.
"The suspect, Takeshi Kanda, male, 31 years old, is an ordinary employee of a company in Chuo Ward, Futo City. A month ago, due to long-term work pressure and exclusion from colleagues, he suffered from psychological imbalance and developed a distorted desire for revenge."
On the screen, Kanda Takeshi's profile is clearly displayed, including his recent anonymous posts on social networks that are filled with negative emotions.
"Seeking an outlet for his frustrations and to gain superhuman strength, he deliberately made contact with the gray areas of Fengdu. Through cross-referencing of the city's surveillance network and infiltration of the 'Museum's' internal database, it was confirmed that four weeks prior, in an abandoned industrial area in the south of the city, he purchased a 'virus memory' at a high price from a low-level salesman belonging to the 'Museum' organization."
Izzy's statement was well-organized and methodical.
"His initial purpose was very simple: to gain superhuman strength in order to take revenge on his colleagues who had bullied or made things difficult for him at work."
As she explained, a surveillance video optimized by AI was played on the holographic screen at the right time.
The image is somewhat blurry, and the shooting angle is rather tricky, clearly indicating that it came from an inconspicuous street corner surveillance camera.
In the video, Kanda Takeshi acts furtively, making some kind of deal with a man wearing a hoodie who deliberately hides his face in a dark corner.
Despite the poor image quality, AI-powered facial contour recognition and gait analysis still confirm that one of the individuals is indeed Takeshi Kanda.
The ominous object he received was the standard form of the Gaia Memory.
"However, after unexpectedly gaining power far beyond his imagination, Kanda Takeshi's desires began to swell. He has always harbored feelings of admiration for you, Ms. Sonozaki Wakana, that go beyond that of an ordinary fan. Under the catalysis of the power of the 'Virus Memory,' this feeling gradually became distorted and evolved into a morbid and unrealistic possessiveness."
Izzy continued analyzing the suspect's psychological changes.
"He became paranoid, believing that only by putting Miss Wakana in an inescapable and dangerous situation, and then having him 'rescue' her like a hero, could he truly win your favor and satisfy his distorted infatuation. Therefore, he meticulously planned and carried out this series of attacks against you, which was in essence nothing more than a clumsy farce he directed and staged in an attempt to gain attention."
Izzy's tone was completely flat, as if she were simply reading a dry technical manual.
She was simply stating the facts.
One by one, from the initial stalking and intimidation to the later public attacks, the details, timeline, and motives of all the events are clearly connected.
The complete chain of evidence, like cold shackles, firmly locked Kanda Takeshi in place.
The information on the screen kept refreshing until it finally froze.
With a light tap of his finger, Su Chen silently transferred all reading and control permissions for the report to the personal terminal device in front of Sonozaki Wakana.
"Now you know the whole truth."
Su Chen's voice was calm as still water, revealing no emotion.
He gazed at Wakana as if she were a bystander, awaiting her final verdict.
How you handle it is up to you.
Sonozaki Wakana looked down at the outrageously detailed information on her personal terminal, remaining silent.
Her body trembled slightly, but it wasn't from fear.
The sadness and vulnerability that had filled her face just minutes before had vanished, as if completely frozen by a layer of ice.
Those once clear, autumn-water-like eyes, always carrying a touch of idol sweetness and innocence, have now lost even the last trace of hesitation.
Instead, she was unaware of a coldness and decisiveness that was deeply ingrained in her blood and unique to members of the "Sonosaki family," a quality she herself had never noticed.
A chill emanated from the depths of her eyes.
At this moment, she finally understood.
In this city of Wind City, where the rules have been distorted by the Gaia Memory and filled with desire and madness, so-called weakness and compassion are the cheapest and most useless things.
They will only become the sharp blades that enemies use to hurt you, and the chains that hinder your progress.
She slowly raised her head and straightened her back.
Then, she stood up, walked to Su Chen, and bowed deeply and solemnly to him.
This is a standard 90-degree bow, representing the utmost respect and gratitude.
"Thank you, Mr. Su Chen."
Her voice was calmer than ever before, yet it carried a chilling firmness.
"I know what to do."
She did not choose to call the police, handing Kanda Takeshi over to those inefficient police officers who might even be infiltrated by the "museum".
She also did not choose to confront that foolish and pathetic man herself.
Because none of that matters.
She calmly took out her personal communicator and dialed a number that was rarely used and buried deep in her contacts.
The call was connected very quickly.
An old but steady voice came from the other side. It was the old butler of the Sonozaki family, who was loyal to the family and ruthless in his methods and was in charge of handling all kinds of shady "dirty work".
"Miss."
"it's me."
Wakana's voice was as cold as a block of ice that had never melted, devoid of any human emotion.
"Kanda Takeshi, get rid of him cleanly. I don't want to hear anything about him again. Don't leave any trace. You know what I mean."
“...Yes, Miss.” The old butler showed no hesitation, only absolute obedience.
“And that 'museum' salesman who sold him the memory,” Wakana’s eyes flashed with disgust. “I don’t want to see that person again in Fuuto. I’ll also eliminate the whole network behind him.”
"Understood, Miss. I will handle it properly."
hang up the phone.
Sonozaki Wakana stood still for a few seconds.
When she raised her eyes again, her entire demeanor seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
She is no longer the idol princess who needs to be protected at all times and lives under the spotlight.
She began to truly understand and learn to use her innate power and status to proactively solve problems and eliminate those ants who dared to challenge the authority of the Sonozaki family.
She is the second daughter of the Sonozaki family.
The one who led her, or rather, forced her to complete this cruel transformation, was the man in front of her—Su Chen—who gave her endless security, yet also filled her with awe and fear from the bottom of her heart.
He used the most direct and effective method to let her see the true face of this world.
After Saki Wakana, in her own way and with an almost ruthless decisiveness, completely resolved all the loose ends left by the traitor, she returned to the top-floor office of Zero One Technology.
At this moment, she has transformed back into the radiant and captivating Princess of Fengdu.
Princess Fuuto's aura remains, but the deliberately crafted sweetness has been washed away, replaced by the composure and sharpness that truly belong to the second daughter of the Sonozaki family after weathering the storm.
Her demeanor lacks the carefully cultivated sweetness that idols possess.
However, she possesses a maturity and composure that comes with having weathered real storms, befitting the second daughter of the "Sonosaki family."
"Mr. Su Chen."
Her voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible hoarseness, a lingering echo of her earlier decision.
At this moment, she walked up to Su Chen, a smile blooming on her face, playful yet relieved, sincere without a trace of impurity.
"Now, isn't it my turn to fulfill that little promise we made?"
Su Chen's gaze fell on her, clearly capturing that transformation from the inside out.
A fleeting look of appreciation crossed his eyes.
"Of course, my princess."
His voice carried a hint of playfulness, yet was incredibly serious.
"I am honored."
He did not choose any top-tier luxury restaurants that required a drive of several hours to reach.
They also did not prepare those clichéd, extravagant, and expensive romantic gifts.
He simply snapped his fingers casually.
A crisp snap of fingers.
Izzy appeared silently, and the office lights instantly switched to the softest mode, the light ambiguous, perfectly outlining the silhouettes of the two people.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the city's dazzling night view stretches for millions of miles, like a cascading galaxy, offering a panoramic view of its vibrant cityscape.
Soothing and elegant classical music, seemingly flowing from nowhere as if from the void, carried a touch of ethereal quality and quietly enveloped the entire space.
Before long, Izzy quietly pushed in an elegantly designed, metallic-gleaming dining cart.
The food cart did not have a wide variety of dishes.
There was no elaborate steak dinner.
There were only two stemmed glasses, filled with top-quality vintage red wine that had already been fully aerated. The rich fruity aroma filled the air, tempting one to savor it deeply—the essence of time's passage.
Beside it, a plate of exquisitely crafted strawberry mousse lay quietly.
It is a dreamlike delicacy called "First Love," made by the most mysterious pastry chef in the city. Only three servings are available to the public each day, and every bite symbolizes rarity and preciousness.
· ········Requesting flowers···· ······
A private, exclusive "date" just for the two of them quietly unfolded in this office that symbolized the pinnacle of Fengdu Technology.
A warm and ambiguous atmosphere fermented amidst the soft light and the aroma of wine, gradually heating up.
For the first time, Wakana completely let down her guard with a stranger, revealing the unknown pressure and weariness beneath the halo of being the "Princess of Fuuto".
She recounted the arduous training she underwent day after day to maintain her perfect idol image, and how much untold fatigue and sweat was hidden behind every flawless smile in front of the camera.
She describes that cold family filled with power and desire, and how she carefully searched for a crack to survive between her father, Sonozaki Ryubei's, authority and her sister, Sonozaki Saeko's, domineering nature, walking on thin ice with every step, afraid of making a mistake.
She also talked about her confusion and anxiety about the future, the bewilderment of standing at the crossroads of life, not knowing which way to go, as if shrouded in thick fog.
Su Chen, on the other hand, listened quietly throughout, playing the role of a perfect listener.
He made no condescending judgments, nor offered any superficial comfort.