Asi Hell

Capítulo 95

Kyogoku-do pointed to the box on the platform next to Mimasaka.

Kubo——

Is Kubo inside the box?

At that moment, a certain shape seemed to emerge in my mind.

It was a long-eared bird with glossy, beautiful hair.

魍魉.

“Chuzenji, I should have said this from the beginning. It involves human lives, I cannot hand the patient over.”

"Anyway, this building will be shut down soon! The money Kubo brought won't last three days, and you won't get Shibata's inheritance."

Mimasaka stood up. His reptilian eyes remained devoid of emotion.

"Kyogoku-do, what's going on?"

"Natsuki gave Kanako's photo to Kubo in 'New World.' Kubo learned 'that girl's' name through this opportunity and became engrossed in looking at the photo. At this moment—Kusumoto Yoriko arrived. Yoriko was surprised. Kubo learned from her that there was such a person who could complete his repeatedly failed experiments and that this research institute existed."

"Kusumoto Yoriko——"

Aoki muttered to himself.

"Later, Raiko's experiment also failed, and all the girls in the box that Kubo created decayed, becoming the filthy and incomplete state that Kubo hated most. Therefore, Kubo decided to seek advice from the master. Kubo made up his mind to prepare all the remaining property he inherited—all the money he could use—to visit the Mimasaka Modern Medical Research Institute. Just before setting off, he happened to run into Aoki. Kubo defeated Aoki and Kinoshita, two stubborn detectives, one by one, and arrived at this place."

Mimasaka remained unmoved.

"Mr. Mimasaka, I actually admire your great achievements more than anyone else. Even with this incident, if you hadn't lost control later, I wouldn't have planned to intervene. But you went too far. Perhaps what you did was meaningful and of great academic value. But as long as you maintain this attitude towards the world, there will always be victims. You have unknowingly infiltrated the gaps in the hearts of many people, making many people's lives a mess. Norimasa Amemiya, Shunji Kubo, Taro Suzaki, Yoriko Kusumoto, Kimie Kusumoto, the three murdered girls and their families, Heiji Terada—even Shutaro Kiba almost went from being a detective to a criminal because of you. Not only him, but everyone here saw things they shouldn't have seen through the gaps. No, it should be said that they were forced to see them. Please stop now, stop this live experiment immediately."

Kyogoku-do quietly intimidated him with an aura no less imposing than Mimasaka's.

"Shut up, Chuzenji! What do you know? These problems arose because they came to us of their own accord. I've said it several times: I did nothing. Is it a crime for a doctor to cut open a patient's body? Is removing extra organs to maintain life so horrific? Don't confuse my actions with those of Kubo, the serial killer!"

The back-and-forth argument stopped.

The earth rumbled. The pulse of life within the box. This is, that...

Is that the voice of life from the man in the box?

Are we currently inside Kubo?

The other person—Kubo Shun-kun—was with us from the very beginning. He was in that box, and he still is.

I want to see. I want to see what's inside the box.

I really want to see Kubo Junko in the box.

“I didn’t confuse the two. I was just giving you advice.”

"advice?"

"Mr. Mimasaka. Your ultimate goal is to replace everything except the brain with machines to achieve immortality, is that right?"

"That's right. Humans don't need to become ugly and old, thus defiled by an imperfect body. The body is just a vessel, a temporary dwelling. If there were an eternal and unchanging body, humans could become fully conscious beings who only need to engage in pure mental activities. Without tedious distractions, and without having to get involved with an ignorant society, it would be a thousand-year kingdom of supreme happiness."

"That's the problem."

Kyogoku-do said sternly:

"You're a scientist, aren't you? I agree with Mimasaka Koshiro as a scientist, but I don't agree with him as a missionary. Science is technology, it's theory, but it's not the essence. When a scientist talks about happiness, he shouldn't pretend to be a scientist. A thousand-year kingdom of supreme happiness—that's not something you should say."

"Why? Chuzenji, are you a sore loser?"

"I am here to ward off misfortune and bring you good luck, Mr. Mimasaka."

Did Kyogoku-do originally intend to remove the curse of science from Mimasaka?

Just as he stripped Masuoka of his vanity and sense of superiority.

What was Aoki banished from? What about Fukumoto? What about Toriguchi?

Did Kyogoku-do unknowingly exorcise the evil spirits from them?

And what about Kiba? What about Yoko? And what about myself?

I began to move slowly.

Kyogoku-do and Mimasaka are locked in a battle of wits; I must wait for the right moment to strike.

"Do you really hate Ms. Kinuko that much after she became ugly? It's natural that physical weakness leads to mental weakness. But what can save her is not this ugly box, but your patience, tolerance, and understanding. You make absolutely no effort in these areas, unwilling to face reality, and escape into the world of learning. A pure desire to heal Ms. Kinuko could never have resulted in such a demonic outcome. You are a cruel person who drove your wife and daughter, who are suffering from incurable diseases, out of the house. You should admit that first."

"Stop being so self-righteous in your comments about others. It's none of your business, and I have no interest in listening to your foolish and empty words."

“I don’t expect you to sincerely repent, Mr. Mimasaka. I’m not being presumptuous. I—don’t care about you at all, because you are a very strong person. What I’m worried about is Ms. Yoko.”

"Please stop, Mr. Chuzenji. Please, please stop talking."

Yoko stood between the two.

She appeared extremely weak.

"My father has dedicated his life to this experiment. Please, please let him complete it—"

“Miss Yoko, wake up. You no longer have the money to continue operating this box. Continuing will only turn your father into a murderer.”

"But taking him out would also lead to certain death."

"That's right, your father knew this all along, but he still insisted on experimenting."

"While you can still move, please, while you can still move—"

Yangzi fell to the ground.

"Let him experiment to his heart's content—"

The lights were flickering.

Kiba quietly rose to prominence.

"Kyogoku, that's enough. I've made you worry too much. Now it's my—no, our—work's up to you. Kubo's inside, right?"

"Mr. Kiba! Don't come any closer."

Yoko stood between Mimasaka and Kiba.

"Get out of the way."

Kiba's gaze was fixed on Yoko's toes.

"Please, since the person inside is going to die anyway, please wait until he's dead before arresting him. Let my father... do research on him before he dies..."

"Yangzi, what nonsense are you talking about! How could I be arrested! I didn't do anything."

"Miss Yoko!"

Kyogoku-do stood beside Yoko. A man in jet-black robes, and a woman in transparent, white robes.

"That's enough. You don't need to have anything to do with this man anymore. Your heart is already wavering, and stubbornness isn't necessarily a good thing."

Yangzi's face turned completely pale, devoid of color.

"Kiba Osamu! You take care of her."

Kyogoku-do shoved Yoko forcefully towards Kiba. Kiba caught Yoko, who almost fell.

"Kyogoku! What are you doing?"

Kyogoku-do stared intently at Kiba.

“My work isn’t finished yet. Please ask the police to wait a moment. Yoko’s demons are very persistent. Mr. Mimasaka, I have something to ask you. Please answer clearly in front of Ms. Yoko.”

Kyogoku-do looked at Yoko.

"Miss Yoko! Please listen carefully."

But Mimasaka remained steadfast.

"What ghosts and demons? How ignorant. I have nothing to be ashamed of. Ask me whatever you want."

What is Kyogoku-do planning to do?

"Of course you know this girl, Kanako, right?"

“That’s enough! Mr. Chuzenji, I haven’t said anything to my father. So he knows nothing, and if he did—”

Yoko struggled in Kiba's strong arms, while Kiba, sweating profusely, kept his eyes closed.

Mimasaka answered in a deep, resonant voice:

“Yoko is not right. If you want to ask about that matter, of course I know. And I did it even knowing that.”

Yoko suddenly stopped struggling.

"I think so too. So why did you save Kanako? Was it because she's an irreplaceable blood relative? Or was it a medical act based on respect for life? Or something else?"

"Of course, it was for the experiment. But if she hadn't been sent to me, she would have died long ago. In the end, I saved her. It's just that the test subject happened to be someone I was related to by blood. It doesn't matter who the patient is."

“Miss Yoko, did you hear that? This Mr. Mimasaka is exactly that kind of person. The image of Mimasaka in your mind is nothing but a fantasy.”

Yangzi gazed at her father, who was only looking at the machinery.

"Miss Yoko, you have no reason to continue protecting this man. Undoubtedly, the inhumane actions of your father, Mimasaka, were the beginning of all this misfortune. Because of his actions, you ran away from home, and your mother suffered unbearable pain. And because of this, you later staged a fake elopement with Shibata Hiroya, forcing you to bear the shackles of lying for fourteen years. Miss Yoko, you are this man's victim. No, the most pitiful one is Kanako. Kanako—"

"Jia Cai Zi—"

What? What exactly is that? I want to know.

I want to know the secret between this father and daughter.

“Chuzenji! This woman is my daughter. What’s wrong with a daughter helping her father? Don’t interfere. I have no intention of stopping this valuable experiment. I have already obtained the patient’s consent, which is perfectly legitimate…”

"Mimazaka! What...what have you done?!"

Kiba released Yoko and pushed Kyogoku-do aside.

"Stop it, sir! Go and take care of Miss Yangzi."

"Too long-winded."

The timber yard is approaching.

"Tell me!"

Kyogoku-do quickly grabbed Kiba's shoulder, trying to pull him back.

"Stop! Don't ask! Knowing this won't help you at all! Don't get in my way."