Daniel Davis's words were resolute. "It's absolutely impossible." In a world devoid of supernatural abilities, even with Daniel's current power, killing someone through the internet was unfeasible. If it involved direct contact over the phone, Daniel could theoretically use auditory illusions to manipulate an ordinary person into taking their own life. But through a purely digital network? Even he couldn't achieve that.
For example, the murder bug incident that Ryoko Yakushiji had encountered involved inducing victims to hear specific sounds directly to trigger suicidal actions. This principle was somewhat akin to Daniel's hypnotic techniques.
"I also think it's impossible. But if these incidents continue to happen and gain traction, it could lead to widespread panic," Agil said as he placed two cups of coffee on the table for Daniel and Kirito.
Due to the lingering shadow of Aincrad, the idea of murder via the internet, if not immediately quelled, could negatively impact the entire virtual reality gaming industry. After Daniel and Akihiko Kayaba had publicly released the game engine seeds, the rapid expansion of VR games had become their primary goal. The free availability of the seeds had allowed the industry to flourish exponentially, as evidenced by the proliferation of VR games.
With profits to be made, the capitalist system ensured that companies wouldn't abandon this booming market. The multitude of VR games now available was proof of that. The Death Gun incidents, which had already resulted in several deaths, were not widely discussed online—mainly due to the coordinated efforts of corporate and governmental entities. Both sides shared a vested interest in preventing widespread panic.
Some discussions about the incidents inevitably arose, but they were largely dismissed as isolated events. In a modern society, occasional unexplained deaths—whether due to overwork or sudden illness—weren't entirely uncommon and didn't typically cause widespread alarm.
Of course, while the authorities suppressed information online, they still actively investigated the matter.
"Kirito, even if it seems unlikely, you should still be cautious," Agil advised as he sipped his coffee.
"Don't worry, I will," Kirito nodded softly.
"Killing someone through the internet may be impossible," Daniel said after taking a sip of coffee, "but creating the illusion of such a thing is not entirely out of the question if multiple people are working together."
"How so?" Kirito and Agil immediately focused on Daniel, intrigued by his statement.
"I've done some digging into the relevant intel," Daniel began. For an ordinary person, accessing such information would be difficult. Kirito had access only because Kikuoka Seijirou had enlisted his help. For Daniel, however, it wasn't a challenge. As someone now considered part of the elite upper class, he enjoyed certain privileges.
For example, when Kirito eventually tracked down the person Shino Asada had saved in the past, it wasn't his own effort that made it possible—it was Kikuoka's resources.
"If certain drugs are involved and the perpetrator has help, they can replicate the Death Gun effect. My guess is that the victims are people who live alone, in rooms that are easy to infiltrate. As for how the perpetrators obtained their addresses, it's possible they used some form of stealth equipment to spy on their targets and gather the necessary information."
Daniel laid out the likely methodology behind the Death Gun murders. If Kirito reported this information to Kikuoka, the government would undoubtedly investigate further.
Certain drugs could indeed induce sudden deaths that appeared natural, leaving few discernible traces. However, this was merely wishful thinking on the perpetrators' part. The authorities had plenty of methods to uncover the truth. By examining the victim's medical history, they could easily determine whether the death was due to a sudden illness or foul play. Additionally, there were always telltale signs, such as injection marks, that could provide clues.
"If you want to investigate this kind of case, try reading more detective novels. You'll pick up a lot of useful insights," Daniel added, seeing Kirito deep in thought.
Back in the day, Daniel had watched over a thousand episodes of a certain "little detective's" anime. He was well-versed in the countless murder methods and investigative techniques it showcased. Thinking about that series, Daniel couldn't help but wonder if he might one day meet that "child detective" in another world. When that day came, he'd finally get to see the mysteries of "Conan logic" firsthand.
And of course, he couldn't forget another lingering question: What on earth was going on with that one detective's perpetually sleeping neck?
"I see. Thanks," Kirito nodded thoughtfully, quickly piecing together the key points now that he had Daniel's guidance. Kirito was sharp, and the advice was more than enough for him to connect the dots.
In the underground training space beneath Daniel's villa, Asuna displayed her impressive progress.
"You've improved quickly," Daniel remarked, observing Asuna's enhanced abilities.
"Of course! Get ready!" Asuna responded confidently, her rapier, Lambent Light, sparking with traces of electricity—a testament to her mastery of Lightning Release.
The "Flash" nickname now suited Asuna more than ever. Not only was she known as such in the game, but she was also a force to be reckoned with in real life. Taking advantage of Daniel's rare visit, the two sparred, testing each other's skills.
By this point, Asuna's strength had reached the level of a Kage, though she still lacked real-world experience in actual combat. Daniel, however, saw no need for her to develop the mindset of a killer.
"If we could connect between worlds, I'd love to see how she fares against the shinobi from the Naruto world."
Asuna's progress in ninjutsu stemmed entirely from her time in the Naruto VR game. For most players, the game was just entertainment. But for Asuna, it was an invaluable training ground.
Thanks to the influx of players, the five great shinobi villages in the game were now evenly matched. Unlike the actual Naruto storyline, Konoha no longer dominated the world. The ongoing shinobi wars in the game were fiercely competitive, and figures like "Flash Asuna," "Black Swordsman Kirito," and "Absolute Sword Yuuki" were among the game's most renowned players.
"It really is him. And his accomplices are survivors from Aincrad's murder guilds. I should've punished them more harshly back then," Daniel muttered after confirming that Shinkawa Kyouji was indeed one of the Death Guns. His accomplices were also Aincrad survivors—former members of orange guilds, not just Laughing Coffin.
After the SAO incident, the primary responsibility was placed on Akihiko Kayaba. As a result, the surviving members of orange guilds received relatively light punishments. Most of them returned to normal lives, but a few, dissatisfied with the mundanity of reality, longed for their days of infamy in Aincrad.
Kyouji's motivations for murder were painfully simple. Coming from a wealthy family, he had invested significant time and money into his game character. For most players, games were separate from reality. Even SAO survivors treated them as such.
But for Kyouji, the game had become his reality, and the real world felt like a prison. Due to a poor skill build influenced by bad advice, his character became ineffective despite the immense resources he had poured into it. While most players would shrug off such setbacks, Kyouji viewed it as a reflection of his failure in life.
To make matters worse, a tournament champion who had tricked him into the poor skill build constantly taunted him. This pushed Kyouji over the edge, driving him to create the Death Gun persona and seek revenge. Initially, he only wanted to target his tormentor. But after designing Death Gun, he became addicted to the persona and continued committing murders, deluding himself into thinking it would grant him superhuman power.
Unfortunately for him, his actions garnered little attention. Despite the deaths, the impact on society was minimal. His victims were largely obscure individuals with no influence, and the authorities successfully suppressed information about the incidents.
This enraged Kyouji. One of his primary goals with Death Gun was to attract widespread attention. Like certain infamous killers in the Marvel Universe, he sought recognition more than anything else. Many serial killers even gained fame, published memoirs, and became millionaires through their crimes. In countries like the USA, wealth often meant immunity from consequences.
"Kirito didn't end up with his iconic female avatar, and it seems he isn't close to Shino either."
In this timeline, Kirito hadn't accidentally created the feminine avatar known as "Kiriko." Nor had he established a strong bond with Shino Asada (Sinon). Curious, Daniel decided to create a new character and check out the game for himself.
The current VR game ecosystem, built on the same seed, allowed players to transfer characters between games. This was how Kirito could participate in the Gun Gale Online tournament without starting from scratch. A newly created character wouldn't stand a chance in such high-level competitions.
In the finals of the tournament, Shino (the "Ice Sniper") faced Kirito (the "Light Sword Warrior"). Their duel left the audience in awe, with many questioning whether they were even playing the same game. The fight was so spectacular that it shook the players' perception of the game.
In the end, Kirito emerged victorious. Though some players were dissatisfied, the match still received thunderous applause.
Meanwhile, Daniel's shadow clones worked with local authorities to apprehend Kyouji and his accomplices. After identifying Kyouji's target, Daniel alerted the police, ensuring they set up surveillance. There was no need to involve Kikuoka this time.
Once the Death Gun
case was resolved, Daniel planned to publicly share the details to raise awareness and prevent similar crimes in the future.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Shinkawa Kyouji yelled as he struggled against the police, even managing to briefly escape custody. Daniel couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
"Are these cops just for show? This feels like something out of that 'Detective Conan' series."
From the shadows, Daniel's clone watched but didn't intervene, choosing instead to follow Kyouji silently.
Kyouji's accomplices were apprehended without much trouble. One of them, overcome by fear upon encountering the police, accidentally injected himself with the lethal drug and died on the spot.
Later, Daniel intercepted Shino Asada as she encountered a group of bullies. After scaring them off with a chilling glare enhanced by illusionary magic, he approached Shino.
"Thank you," she said softly, preparing to leave.
"Wait. I came here to talk to you. There's someone who wants to meet you. It's about the incident at the bank years ago. I think you should hear what they have to say."
Hearing this, Shino froze mid-step.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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