Tokyo, Beika Town.
Inside a certain laboratory.
On a cold steel-wire bed lay a man. His wrists and ankles were shackled to the frame with iron cuffs. Though his face was pale, his features were as sharply defined as if carved from stone. Beneath his sword-like brows, his dark eyes gleamed with a chilling light. The only flaw was the smear of blood at the corner of his mouth, marring the handsomeness of his face.
Creaaak—
The laboratory door suddenly pushed open from the outside. A girl in a white lab coat, her expression cold and distant, stepped in. She walked up to the steel bed and looked down at the man, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.
"Gin… why didn't Gin come?" the man suddenly rasped. His voice was so hoarse it sounded like sandpaper scraping across wood.
"He won't come." The girl shook her head. She paused, then asked, "Macallan, do you have any last words? If not, I'm going to begin."
The man known as Macallan fell silent for a moment. Then he asked, "Sherry, do you believe in something like… retribution in this world?"
"Retribution?" Sherry murmured softly. She didn't speak for a long time. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she sighed. "Maybe…"
…
Watanabe Tetsu stared blankly at the space around him.
White.
Snow-white walls. A snow-white ceiling. Even the tightly closed door was white.
Where… is this?
He opened his mouth, but before he could think further, a tidal wave of meMouries crashed into his mind—giving him no time to react. They forced their way in and rapidly started to flow.
Watanabe Tetsu. Joined the Organization eight years ago. Codename: Macallan. A core-rank member with outstanding abilities, regarded—together with another member, Gin—as one of the Organization's two top aces.
Three days ago, during a covert mission, he failed. The resulting information leak led to his capture, after which he was made a test subject for the newly developed drug APTX-4869.
But the meMouries weren't complete. He had no impression of what mission he had failed.
Nor did he have other details about the Organization.
He only knew one thing: the previous owner of this body had been a terrifyingly capable figure—someone on the same level as Gin. But many meMouries were now sealed.
Never thought he would transmigrate—and if he had to transmigrate, of all things, he ended up in the body of a villain who could be erased at any moment. Watanabe Tetsu felt a toothache coming on, and his heart chilled halfway down his chest.
This must be what they call a hell-mode start.
He lowered his head and looked at his own body. The only consolation was that APTX-4869 hadn't killed him—just reverted him to the appearance of a seven- or eight-year-old child.
But that was absolutely nothing worth celebrating. Right now he was locked up here. Once the Organization came in to check on him and discovered that he had shrunk, he would definitely become a long-term research specimen.
When that happened… his fate was obvious.
[Beep… beep…]
[System activating…]
[Player or player-controlled puppet may earn points by apprehending criminals.]
[Point rewards fluctuate based on the criminal's methods and kill count. Minimum: 1000.]
[Completing limited-time events grants extra skills or items. Players are encouraged to participate actively.]
[Note: Limited-time event difficulty varies, but no event is impossible to complete.]
[Panel… activated]
[Shop… activated]
[Loading complete… Enjoy your game!]
It was here. The essential welfare package for all transmigrators. Temporarily trapped with no way out, Watanabe Tetsu began examining the system.
The words [Panel] and [Shop] were highlighted.
He tried opening the panel with a thought—and it opened smoothly.
[Character: Watanabe Tetsu]
[Physical Recovery Rate: 0%]
[Points: 100]
[Skills: None]
[Items: None]
A startup bonus of 100 points? …Is that it?
Watanabe Tetsu shook his head and opened the [Shop].
[Items: Healing Medicine (Original: 10,000 / Discount: 1,000) — one-time purchase only; Fishing Rod (10,000); Magic Hat (100,000)]
[Physical Recovery +1%: 50,000 points]
[Skills: Beginner—Writing (100); Proficient—Drawing (1,000); Mastery—Cooking (10,000); Grandmaster—Driving (100,000)]
[Appendix]
{1. Shop updates monthly. Occasional discount events; please check on your own.}
{2. Physical recovery includes stamina, burst strength, endurance. Higher values approach the player's peak state. Note: Combat skills are affected by physical recovery.}
{3. Beginner corresponds to a typical university graduate; Proficient to industry professionals; Mastery to elite professionals; Grandmaster to human-limit performance.}
After reading carefully, Watanabe Tetsu had a general understanding of the system.
As long as he—or a puppet under his control—captured criminals, he'd earn points. Points could then be used to exchange for items and skills.
He just didn't know yet how exactly one was supposed to control puppets.
With only 100 points, all he could afford was the presumably useless beginner writing skill.
[You have new mail.]
The system flickered.
Watanabe Tetsu clicked it open without hesitation.
[Limited-Time Event: At 20:03 on May 7th, you are currently inside the Organization's detention chamber for internal prisoners.]
[Event Objective: Escape the chamber.]
[Time Limit: 2 hours]
[Reward: Grandmaster—Disguise, 10,000 points]
[Note: Upon completion, the novice gift pack will be issued simultaneously. Failure will void it.]