Chapter 235

He immediately dialed his superior's number—right now the most important thing was the report on the cleanup operation.

"Superintendent Matsumoto, the cleanup operation is complete."

"The rear mountain is confirmed to be a drug dealer's base of operations, and also one of their laboratories."

"A drug-manufacturing laboratory."

"……"

Superintendent Matsumoto furrowed his brow; the moment he heard Megure's voice, he knew there was more to this.

"Besides drug manufacturing, there's something else?"

"Yes."

Megure Jugo did some mental preparation before continuing.

"We discovered a hidden laboratory beneath the drug-manufacturing lab."

"Inside were several dozen corpses—elderly people, middle-aged men and women, young people, even children."

"We've confirmed those drug dealers were using living humans to develop new types of drugs."

"！?"

Matsumoto Kiyokazu's expression changed.

Dozens of corpses from live experiments—this was no laughing matter.

Such behavior was almost already a crime against humanity.

In the past, drug dealers treated trafficking as just a means of amassing wealth, but now what were they trying to do? Not satisfied with the old types of drugs, they were preparing to develop new ones? And even using living humans for experiments?

Who gave them such nerve!?

Matsumoto Kiyokazu understood this matter simply couldn't be concealed, especially given such a large operation by the Metropolitan Police.

So this time, the drug dealers definitely had to be thoroughly liquidated.

Besides, who knew whether those experimental data had already spread among the drug dealers.

If other drug dealers really did research out more advanced drugs, then the nature of this matter would be completely different.

"Megure, handle the scene first."

"I need a more detailed situation report."

"Understood."

Hanging up the phone, Megure Jugo looked at these corpses that had not yet fully decomposed, his heart incomparably heavy.

The already deceased needed to be investigated one by one.

Needless to say, these were people from this island.

Identities needed to be confirmed, and that was the work that had to be completed today.

Thinking about today's weekend, he should originally have been resting at home with his wife.

But he also knew some things had to be done by someone.

Obviously, he needed to apologize to his wife.

At least this week, there was probably no time to accompany his wife.

After resting for a while, the condition of the few girls at the hot spring inn had clearly improved a lot.

Unfortunately, today they probably had no appetite to eat.

"Ugh… so miserable…"

After vomiting repeatedly, Fujiwara Chika felt as though she had even thrown up her stomach acid.

Utterly drained, she could only lean against Amamiya's side.

Only this way could she feel a trace of peace—at least being beside Amamiya could suppress her fear and nausea at those forbidden images.

Facing this somewhat flighty girl, Amamiya Ren didn't really have any good method.

His own girls' experience was pitifully scarce, so he could only subconsciously treat her the way he would a friend.

He kept gently patting Fujiwara's back as before, easing her body's discomfort.

"That's why I said some things aren't suitable for you to see."

"Ugh… I only realize now that those words are true."

Fujiwara Chika now understood just how unsuitable "unsuitable" really was.

It wasn't unsuitability aimed at men or women, but unsuitability aimed at the very concept of being human.

Regardless of gender, seeing such images would produce intense discomfort.

That wasn't something you could just adapt to.

Looking back now, Fujiwara Chika still felt terrible, still had a sensation so strong it made her want to vomit.

Especially seeing those children's corpses, not even ten years old.

She really couldn't imagine what kind of torture those children had suffered in life, to make their corpses so distorted after death.

"What exactly did they go through?"

Amamiya Ren gently tapped Fujiwara's forehead.

"Don't think about what the dead went through in life—that's not something the living should ponder."

"That kind of question, if not supported by intelligence, will only bring you endless internal drain."

"It can even trigger some psychological problems."

Rubbing her tapped forehead, Fujiwara Chika gave up her earlier line of thought.

"Then what should we be thinking about?"

This was a good question; the moment Fujiwara Chika asked it, the others' attention shifted over as well.

"What we need to consider on this question is how to maintain humanity."

"Humanity? Is it because drug dealers have no humanity?"

"That's right, drug dealers don't have a shred of humanity."

Ren Amamiya nodded slightly, then set his gaze on Sigong.

"Do you still remember what I said to you just now? Sigong."

Kaguya Sigong nodded slightly.

"Once a person gains power, they will unconsciously break through the bottom line of humanity."

That had just been said moments ago, yet Kaguya Sigong also deeply agreed with it.

"Losing humanity means losing the ability to feel empathy."

"Losing the ability to feel empathy also means gradually losing one's humanity."

"Then can a person who has lost their humanity still be called a human?"

"And those who have lost their humanity because of power are no longer human — they are simply monsters that possess power."

This was a topic about humanity, and one that Ren Amamiya considered very important.

The Path of Sequence is the Path of walking humanity.

Even a true god who has become Sequence 0 needs an anchor to stabilize their own humanity.

Therefore, even gods cannot abandon humanity, cannot become monsters bound by power.

Once it truly reaches that point, whether it is oneself mastering power, or a beast being mastered by power, probably even the person involved would be unable to give an accurate answer.

PS: New book on the shelves, begging for data

PS: Sorry, I couldn't hold back yesterday….