Chapter 212: Yanagisawa’s thoughts (1/2)

On the night before the large scale expedition. Yanagisawa read through the document regarding it and smiled bitterly.

Inabe no longer had any method of retreat. Since he took Viola’s suggestion to fake the relics that could be found in the area under his territory, he had lost the trust of his coworkers and even his position as well. Although he somehow dragged himself out of hot water, it did not change the fact that he faked the relics and the truth was that there were no expensive relics in his area. If the expedition could not show any results, it would show that the records from his area were nothing but fake. Before it happened, he had to find another area where a ton of expensive relics were waiting to be found. Otherwise, he would have no other choice but to cover his lies with even more lies, which would eventually lead to his doom.

The plan was laced with details that clearly showed Inabe’s effort. The budget was increased as much as his position allowed him to and he did not hold back from using all the connections he had to obtain investment in order to secure more firepower. He did not even hesitate to use his own money.

As Yanagisawa read through the document, he found Akira and Katsuya’s name in the list of Hunters who had returned with expensive relics from that region. So Yanagisawa’s mind wandered as he reminisced on a certain incident in the past.

Back then, after the huge incident in the slum city, Nergo reported to Yanagisawa that Katsuya was someone who could connect to the old-world domain. At that time, although Yanagisawa was delighted, another question came up in his mind as he asked Nergo a question with a puzzled look.

“Thank you very much for the valuable information. But, what can I say, it’s not like I’m doubting you, but is it okay to ask you how you got your information? As I said, it’s not like I’m doubting you. In fact, I don’t doubt you. It’s just to be safe.”

Nergo did not show any particular reaction to that rather exaggerated attitude that obviously showed Yanagisawa’s suspicion.

“I’m not going to tell you to believe me. It is nothing more than just confirmation in order to not cause any unnecessary conflict between you and me when it comes to capturing Katsuya. We don’t mind being the one capturing him. All I want to hear from you is that there are no problems. You are fine with that, right?”

“Well well well well, don’t say it like that. I just want to ask you some questions. It’s okay, right? It’s not like we’re total strangers, right? So I hope that you can enlighten me. Moreover, if I don’t know anything, I might misunderstand, which might cause trouble later. It would be great if we can clear up any possible misunderstanding.”

Yanagisawa was signalling that he would not give his affirmation unless Nergo answered his question, and even if he did, it would only open up space for negotiation. Nergo, who understood that, lightly sighed and replied.

“…Very well. But before I explain, I’ll ask you about the basics first. What are old-world connectors?”

“Simply put, it refers to the people who can connect to the old-world domain, right?”

“You might be just playing dumb there, but that’s a very narrow way to interpret it. To be precise, that answer is wrong. It’s just one of the many methods to identify old-world connectors, nothing more. This term refers to a group of people who, for some reasons that still cannot be explained with our current technology, are able to receive and send a certain signal, and this function can be built-in into their body or achieved through other methods. There were many cases where such people were either simply included in the old-world domain as a receiver node, or even as transceiver nodes. Thus, they were often used as a method to connect to the old-world domain, that’s why most people interpret that term as such. An active connection to the old-world domain is not their main feature. Next, then, you do know about telepathy, right?”

“That’s a type of communication method where information is not sent through sound waves, right? People who have communication devices implanted in their heads can talk with each other even without making a sound. So most people trying to look cool tend to call that telepathy.”

“Just like how the people of the current era have many methods to communicate with each other, that’s also true for the people who can connect to the old-world domain. That’s why this is not always true for all of them, but most of the time, they can use telepathy. Of course, they can transfer more than just sound or words.”

“Even the information terminals of the current era can be used to send videos and pictures too, you know?”

“Of course, but their telepathy can send even more than that. Although there are differences between each individual, they usually can transfer all kinds of information. The old-world technology even allows them to send something as vague as intuition which can’t be explained with words. And then, those who can send a certain type of information tend to cause a certain phenomenon. This is why we believe that Katsuya is one of them.”

“Ohhh, so, what different kind of information is that? And what kind of phenomenon are we talking about here?”

“The information is something akin to mental manipulation, like emotion or impression. These types of people are extremely rare as they can easily get along with other people. If I am to give an example, it can cause everyone around them to like what they like and hate what they hate. This is doubly true for people who wear their heart on their sleeves.”

“I see. It makes the people around them to like what they like and hate what they hate. It is the result of them unconsciously sending that information to the people around them, huh? Sometimes, straightforward words can greatly move the hearts of others. If it’s possible to convey that feeling without words, the same kind of effect becomes more prominent. I bet that would be super effective. But then again, shouldn’t only people who can connect to the old-world domain be able to receive such information?”

Yanagisawa asked once again as if he was playing dumb, so Nergo once again sighed and replied.

“…I bet you’re just pretending to not know, so I’ll answer your question. Most of the people in the eastern district can actually connect to the old-world domain. If we take an analogue with information terminals, the transceivers are only sending a low-power signal that is barely recognizable while the sensitivity of the receivers are dialled so low that they can’t receive any signals. It is as if they are information terminals on defective settings. Even if you try to dissect and analyze the brains of normal individuals and those that can connect to the old-world domain, there are no notable differences between them. This is why even with all the advanced medical tools that you have in the eastern district, people still can’t identify them correctly. So basically, normal people can’t connect to the old world domain, but if it’s just a short-range direct transmission, they are still working as terminals to various extents. Of course, there are big differences individually. As for the people in the eastern district who live on the western side near the central district, for some reason, most of them have already lost that ability. It might be because they have a lot of children between them. I wonder if that ability is connected to how much one inherited the blood of the old-world descendants.”

“I see, that is some amazing information. But still, I don’t think it’s that convincing. To identify an old-world connector just from his relationship with the people around him? After all, people like Katsuya are not that rare. I’m sure you can find a few if you search, right?”

“That decision is based on other observations as well. We have other reasons why we’re so certain. For example, there is a huge gap between the logical and concrete evaluation of that guy compared to the intuitive or emotional evaluation. That’s the result of the person in question, unconsciously sending his own evaluation of himself to the people around him. So in short, if he believes that he is powerful, others around him will be pushed toward direction as well. Comparing that to his real power, a gap has been observed, which also serves as more evidence.”

“Hmm, and that would make people think he is a powerful person even if he is not that powerful in reality, but the opinion of the people around him cemented that notion even further. But again, it’s normal for talented people to be evaluated highly by the people around them, right? And Katsuya is not that bad himself. He’s been doing well as a Hunter. If he’s really that untalented, he would have died a long time ago, right? After all, monsters don’t care about such things. They just attack everyone equally.”

“It’s not like we think that he’s weak either. He’s a skilled Hunter. The focus here is the gap and the strange dissonance that can be felt from it. I’ve been observing him from afar ever since I infiltrated Drankam, this is the conclusion that I’ve reached after observing that strange dissonant feeling. It’s a conclusion made after gathering impressions from all kinds of people included his track records, documents, the people who are in his faction as well as the people who hate him… If you accuse that I need to do more investigation, I have no words to deny it and partially agree with you.”

“Ohhh? Did something happen?”

“There was a large incident in slum city the other day and Katsuya was also involved in the battle. The reason was because I told him the whereabouts of a certain pickpocket named Alna. Judging from his personality, I was certain that he would go save her if he knew her location, and I was right. However, I also predicted that he would bring reinforcement from Drankam. Normally, it would be impossible for Drankam to dispatch its men just to save a mere pickpocket. So I was originally planning to confirm if he is someone who can connect to the old-world domain using that event. If he is, then his ability would affect their decision. It remains to be seen just how far the people who like him or think highly of him would ignore the benefit of the gang. But… To think that he went alone, it took me completely by surprise. Because of that, it was difficult to judge if Drankam was trying to cover for him or if the gang was simply trying to erase any relation between that incident and the gang. So, it did not produce any clear evidence.”

“I see, so that’s the reason, huh.”

Yanagisawa who was acting as if he was pretending to not know although he already knew everything right from the start, caused Nergo to be irritated as it leaked a bit in what Nergo said next.

“…As I said, the conclusion was made from various observations as well. Even if some of the evidence gathered is not that convincing, it doesn’t change the conclusion. I’m sure you don’t need any more explanation, right? So just answer my question already.”

“Well, putting the matter with Katsuya’s investigation aside, I actually have other questions, you see.”

“What is it?”

“For example, do you think that there is another old-world connector in the slum city?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Well, don’t be that stingy. I just wanted to ask this question to someone who is more knowledgeable about this matter than me, nothing more.”

Nergo sighed and replied firmly.

“No, they’re all dead.”

“Ohh, that was a firm reply. It means you have evidence for that, right? If you would be so kind as to share that with me as well, then…”

Yanagisawa still maintained his half-joking attitude, that was when Nergo interjected.

“I had made a deal with a Kugamayama City Management officer from the Rebuild Laboratory in the past. Although to be more precise, I don’t know if he’s still a member or a former member. In exchange for providing him with monetary support and a research facility, he will work on a method to awaken incomplete old-world connectors. City Management accepted that deal. That is the thing that you actually want to know, right?”

Yanagisawa’s tone turned serious.

“…That facility is supposed to be a tightly guarded secret even in the upper echelons of City Management though.”

“You’re not the only person in the City Management who we are working with. There are others who support our cause, and we’re working with them even now. It is just that simple.”

“I see. I would be super thankful if you can share the list of people though.”

“No, we can’t share that kind of information with you. At least, not until you join us for the great cause. For now, my answer is I do hope from the bottom of my heart that you would eventually join our cause one day.”

“I see, hmmm…”

There was a moment of silence. It demonstrated their relationship, they were only working together because it was beneficial for both of them when in reality they were not on the same side.

“…Although I’m not sure that this is enough compensation for you, I’ll at least answer your previous question. The method used by that officer is to promote mutation with nanomachine, which is administered through an injection. So there is no need to implant some kind of device into the subject. But even so, this method is still in the midst of development, it is still in the human testing phase to be more precise. Its accuracy is low and it still needs a lot of human test samples. But gathering a lot of testing subjects would attract attention and because this project has to be kept secret, it does not take up any actions that would put it under the spotlight. Currently, there is a lack of test subjects. Also, if information about Rebuild Laboratory working with us surfaces, it will cause a lot of trouble. That’s why they mix nanomachines in the food distributed in slum city. That way, even if the nanomachine rampages and kills the test subject, or if it turns the subject into a monster, people can just chalk it up as an unfortunate accident. Furthermore, free food distribution down in the slum city was created exactly for this reason. It was originally for the sake of testing nanomachines derived from the dead monster, to test if they are lethal for human use. I do feel some pity for them.”

“Well, I have to refuse to make any ethical comment about it, so then?”

“Most of the people who rely on that kind of food are weak. Even if the test successfully awakens them into old-world connectors like Katsuya, they would die in no time before we can confirm if the test is a success. That’s why the experiment is seen as a failure and it will stop in due time. Hence, there won’t be any old-world connectors in the slum city, since they are already dead.”

“Why dead though? They might still be alive, right?”

“Slum city has atrocious public order. In order to stay alive there, weaklings need to be aware that they are weaklings. If they get too conceited and think of themselves as the strong, they’ll be killed in no time. Moreover, they need to be extremely prudent, otherwise, they will just get tricked and again, killed. Now, imagine if they are broadcasting their impression of themselves using the old-world domain, that will give them a hell of a time trying to survive in the slum city. Unconsciously telling others that they are weak would result in people looking down on them and hating them. Even the paranoid attitude needed to survive in the slum city would also be transmitted, further damaging their relationship with those around them. Because of this, it would be difficult for them to stay in a group. Even if they manage to join a group, being pessimistic and ultimately paranoid will only cause others to use them as expendables, they will just be used and abandoned later. They will end up having all the downside of being in a group without any of the benefits. They will not even be able to hold the least needed connections and communication skills to stay alive in slum city, so there is no doubt they are all dead by now.”

“In that case, they can just, like, you know, try their best sending likability and trust, right?”

“That would be plainly impossible. That kind of technique is not something technical like a communication device, it’s a more subtle technique like a speechcraft. The more familiar and skilled they are, the better the accuracy and the broadcast strength, and the opposite is also true. As I explained before, due to the environment in which they live, it would be difficult for them to broadcast positive emotions such as trust, self-confidence, or likability. While at the same time, it is way easier for them to broadcast negative emotions such as suspicion and hatred. And even if they can send those positive emotions, if the receivers reply with negative emotions, it would be counter-effective.”

“…There’s a possibility that some still survive even after that, no?”

Yanagisawa sounded as if he was not just simply asking random stupid questions. As a matter of fact, it sounded like he had some kind of particular question that he was looking for an answer to. It only caused Nergo to be puzzled.