Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 385 The Expanded Sadako Meme
The door to room 304 has been restored to its original state, even appearing thicker and sturdier than before. There are no longer any traces of shotgun damage on the door panel; the wood grain is smooth, and the paint is intact.

This was not a regular woodwork repair; Jiang Jin used a tool called "Cleaner's Tool - Patch Sticker".

This seemingly ordinary white sticker can temporarily "repair" scene damage caused by external forces or rule conflicts, restoring it to its "default state" at the rule level.

“Reiko,” Jiang Jin’s gaze shifted from the repaired door to Reiko’s still deep, black-hole-like eyes, “The power of these eyes must be used with caution. Sadako’s curse is a double-edged sword; while it protects you, it also constantly erodes your will. If you rely on it too much, or are dominated by hatred and murderous intent, your self may be covered by Sadako’s resentment. At that time… you may no longer be Asakawa Reiko, but a completely new Sadako clone wandering the world.”

Reiko nodded, a glimmer of clarity flashing in her abyssal eyes. She could feel the cold, insane will hidden deep within the power, like icy water at the bottom of a well, constantly trying to drown her reason. "I understand, Commander. I'll be careful."

Despite knowing the risks, Reiko felt an overwhelming joy welling up inside her!

This sudden power, though accompanied by enormous hidden dangers, also gave her unprecedented hope—the hope of advancing to LV3!
Advancement in any profession is difficult, requiring accumulation and a deep understanding of the rules. Now, this mutated ability that combines two kinds of rule corruption is undoubtedly a dangerous but powerful shortcut.

She was no longer the burden who needed constant protection; she now possessed the power to influence the course of the battle and even protect the commander!

Late at night, room 304 was completely silent.

The door was tightly closed. Jiang Jin held the Moon Shadow in his hand, while Lingzi quietly sensed the two opposing yet intertwined corrupting forces within her body, wary of any attack that might come from any corner—whether from the apartment itself or from those hidden reincarnators.

To dispel the oppressive atmosphere and to organize her thoughts, Lingzi whispered to Jiang Jin about the historical information she had gathered over the past six months regarding meme contamination in the real world.

"Commander, I've checked the records. When the first large-scale memetic outbreak occurred globally, Japan, especially Tokyo and its surrounding areas, was considered the most dangerous disaster area in the Far East." Her voice was particularly clear in the silence. "Many analyses suggest that this is related to Japan's highly dense population, repressive social structure, and unique cultural psychology, which makes it easier for specific terrorist 'concepts' to breed and spread."

She paused, then continued, "And in the assessment reports of various Japanese horror scenarios, the Tokyo metropolitan area, including the city of Nishi-Tokyo (formed by the merger of Tanashi City and others), where we are now, has consistently maintained a high danger level."

Reiko's tone carried a hint of fear: "According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's internal assessment, the city of West Tokyo in the real world of Japan has been designated as a potential risk area of ​​the 'Annihilation Layer Meme Activity Zone.' This means that a terrifying entity may be brewing here that could cause the collapse of the reality structure and the complete failure of the materialist logic. We must be extremely careful."

Jiang Jin listened intently, his brow furrowed. He connected this to certain signs in the real world and said in a deep voice, "If your judgment is correct, in Japan, meme activity may have entered a new phase of activity, and perhaps... it has even begun to spread. Don't forget the news from Tottori Prefecture not long ago, when Gosho Aoyama suddenly announced that 'Detective Conan' was about to end. Many fans and observers speculated that he might have inside information, had learned of some future dangers, and wanted to complete this national-level work before he died, so as not to leave any regrets."

This speculation is not unfounded. Even after the fall of Edo, Detective Conan has always been a major pillar of the Japanese economy, and it will not end easily unless there are special circumstances.

"Alright, don't think too much." Seeing the weariness in Lingzi's eyes, Jiang Jin patted her shoulder. "You should get some sleep. I'll keep watch for you. Tomorrow... who knows what awaits us."

Lingzi glanced at Jiang Jin's resolute profile, nodded, and obediently lay down on the sofa, fully clothed. His dark, abyss-like eyes closed, and the oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed to lessen slightly.

But the hidden power within her, like an undercurrent, was still slowly surging.

……

Meanwhile, in real-world Japan, a genuine, nationwide terror is spreading at an alarming rate.

The internet is absolutely in an uproar!
The headlines on all social media platforms and news websites were dominated by the same shocking news—Tottori Prefecture has completely lost contact with the outside world!
Just before the global release of the final episode of "Detective Conan," this prefecture in western Japan seemed to be wiped off the map by an invisible giant hand. All communication signals were cut off, roads inexplicably collapsed or were blocked by fog, and anyone or any equipment that tried to enter never returned.

The world's attention is focused on this, and speculation, panic, and conspiracy theories are rampant.

Large numbers of police and Self-Defense Force personnel set up multiple cordons on highways outside Tottori Prefecture in an attempt to find out what was happening inside.

Helicopters hovered at the edge, but dared not venture further; once a drone crossed a certain boundary, its signal would be instantly lost.

Finally, after paying a heavy price, a reconnaissance robot connected by cables made of special materials and equipped with anti-jamming devices transmitted back a brief and blurry image signal.

This signal was broadcast live to screens across the country and even around the world.

The image was shaking violently and filled with snow and noise, but it was still recognizable as a scene from a commercial street in Tottori Prefecture.

However, the streets were deserted and eerily silent.

What's even more chilling is that all the huge LED screens on the exterior walls of shopping malls, the TV windows of shops, and even some abandoned monitors along the street are all playing the same video simultaneously!
The blurry black and white image, the eerie ancient well, the figure slowly crawling out of the well, wearing a white dress and with black hair covering her face...

It's a cursed videotape of Sadako Yamamura!
The Sadako meme has broken through the dimensional barrier and begun to replicate and spread wildly in western Japan in the real world! Tottori Prefecture is just the beginning!
This scene, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, has triggered widespread panic around the world!
……

The terror did not stop in Tottori.

Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

National actress Nanako Matsushima was about to take a break when suddenly, her body stiffened, and the water glass she was holding fell to the ground with a "crash," shattering into pieces. Her eyes instantly became empty and vacant, as if they had lost their focus.

Her husband, actor Takashi Sorimachi, rushed over upon hearing the commotion and anxiously supported her, asking, "Nanako? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Nanako Matsushima slowly raised her head, looking at her husband who was both familiar and unfamiliar. Her face showed utter confusion as she murmured, "How...how did I get here? Who are you?"

Takashi Sorimachi was stunned: "Nanako? What are you talking about? I'm Takashi!"

"Nanako?" Matsushima Nanako—no, the consciousness controlling this body was fluctuating violently. She shook her head forcefully and said firmly in a completely different tone, one that carried the calmness of a journalist's profession and a hint of fear: "No...you've mistaken me for someone else! My name isn't Nanako! My name is Asakawa Reiko!"

Almost simultaneously, in another corner of Tokyo, famous actor Hiroyuki Sanada experienced a similar situation at home. His consciousness and perception seemed to be covered and replaced by some force, transforming him into "Ryuji Takayama"! Later, actress Miki Nakatani also became "Mai Takano"!
The terrifying meme contamination is no longer limited to geographical areas; it is beginning to touch upon more fundamental levels—identity perception and the definition of existence!

In the real world, actors who look like characters in horror games are being eroded and overwhelmed by the consciousness of the "characters" in those games!
At this moment, in Meguro Ward.

Yui Takamiya huddled in front of his computer, his fingers mechanically refreshing the page. Panic was spreading online about the disappearances in Tottori Prefecture and the spread of the Sadako meme, but his mind was preoccupied with something else that gripped the hearts of countless people around the world.

Finally, after countless refreshes, a post with an electronic signature personally signed by Gosho Aoyama, published by an officially verified account, suddenly popped up!

The title was boldly proclaimed: "Detective Conan: The Final Chapter - To All the Waiting Readers."

Takamiya Yui's heart nearly leaped out of his chest as he trembled and clicked on the post.

The first thing that catches the eye is a text message left by Gosho Aoyama, written in a heavy and sincere tone:
To all the readers who have long supported Detective Conan:

At this difficult time, please allow me to communicate with you in this way. As we all know, our country is currently facing an extremely serious situation, and the threat of 'meme contamination' is truly affecting the lives, and even... survival, of each and every one of us.

I pondered for a long time whether, given the current circumstances, I should still press the release button. Ultimately, however, I decided not to let down everyone's decades of waiting and support. As a creator, I cannot allow the story of Conan Edogawa to remain forever in an unknown chapter. This final draft had actually been formed in my mind long ago, and some parts of the original manuscript had even been completed years ago. However, due to various commercial considerations and continuous pressure from Shogakukan's upper management, the directive 'not to end' persisted, preventing this story from reaching its conclusion.

Now, perhaps, is the time to break through all of this. May this story bring you some comfort and strength in this dark time.

thank you all.

—Gosho Aoyama

Below the comment is a manga image of the final chapter of "Detective Conan," which is a whopping 75 pages long!
Takamiya Yui held her breath and read carefully, word by word:

The final episode revolves around the ultimate battle against the Black Organization.

In the fierce battle between the red and black sides, the black organization finally collapsed, with its core members either arrested or brought to justice.

However, the organization still has a large number of remnants lurking around the world, and the threat has not been completely eliminated. In order to protect the most important people around them from being implicated, Conan and Ai Haibara staged a perfect "fake death" scene, making their identities as Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara "disappear" forever. Subsequently, they accepted the extremely strict FBI witness protection program, completely changing their names and going to the United States.

Their relationship grew even closer after going through life and death together, filled with tacit understanding and unfinished bonds.

Meanwhile, after a long wait and the devastating news of her death, Ran Mouri was heartbroken and went to study in the United States...

After finishing the final episode, Yui Takamiya let out a long, long sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart.

He casually opened the comments section, which was already in an uproar.

"Thank you for your hard work, Aoyama-sensei! You managed to finish the ending even under such circumstances! How are you doing now, sir?"

"The ending is a kind of explanation for everyone, but it feels like... it's a bit of a master of balancing things out. No one is completely satisfied, but no one is completely tragic either."

"This ending... why do I feel like Conan x Ai shippers are ecstatic? This storyline of fighting side by side, faking death, and disappearing into the world under assumed names—it's definitely an official couple ending!"

"Upstairs, Lan has also gone to find her new life. This is a good arrangement. She deserves a better future and doesn't have to stay stuck in the same place."

"What's the current situation with Professor Aoyama? Is there any news from Tottori?"

As Yui Takamiya looked at the comments—some expressing emotion, some joking, and some debating—a bittersweet yet relieved smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

He closed the webpage, leaned back in his chair, stared at the ceiling, and muttered to himself, "Hmm... Conan, finished watching. That way... even if I die tomorrow, I can rest in peace."

After fulfilling one of his greatest wishes, the weight of reality and the urgency of the crisis once again came clearly to mind.

He picked up his phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally dialed a number with determination.

The call was quickly answered, and a deep, calm male voice came from the other end: "Takamiya-kun? What's up so late?"

Yui Takamiya took a deep breath, her tone more resolute than ever before: "Mr. Matsuda, I promise you. I will join your Hunters Association and go with you to conquer the Tama region."

He paused, his voice trembling slightly, yet filled with a do-or-die courage:
"If... if this operation succeeds, we... should be able to find that way and escape this damned 'Edo'... right?"

……

Room 304, Beizuka First Apartment.

Lingzi, who had just closed her eyes, suddenly sat up on the sofa. Her dark, abyssal eyes snapped open, filled with fear and unease. She clutched her chest, feeling a powerful, tearing resonance and tremor deep within her soul.

"Captain!" She looked at Jiang Jin, who was standing guard by the window, her voice trembling slightly. "I...I have a very bad feeling...it seems...something closely related to me is happening in the real world...something terrible..."

What she couldn't know was that in western Japan, countless people, driven by curiosity, fear, or forced to watch, had already seen the horrific footage from Tottori through various channels, indirectly "watching" Sadako's cursed videotape!

The countdown to death has already quietly begun for them.

Seven days later, when Sadako crawls out of the well, from the screen, and from everything that can reflect images, what a desperate hellish scene will fall into the entire western part of Japan?

The night grew deeper. Inside and outside the apartment, terror silently brewed and swelled, awaiting its final explosion.

(End of this chapter)