After examining Max with available methods, Bella still couldn't identify the cause of this "death within seven days" curse.
She vaguely recalled that Sadako's story started as a supernatural tale but ended as science fiction.
She stopped dwelling on it.
"Let's go. I'll take you to see a doctor. Sadako Yamamura shouldn't be able to beat me in the physical world. Since I can't find the cause, it means the seven-day curse isn't entirely a matter of the occult."
Bella took Max to see Doujun the monk.
This research monk from Senpou Temple had strong adaptability. In less than two months, his speech and actions showed barely any trace of being from ancient times.
His evil personality had been sealed by Bella. At the moment, he looked like a kind-hearted old man.
"Master, examine him. I suspect his blood has been infected by some kind of toxin."
Doujun nodded quietly. Like studying a lab rat, he strapped Max to an examination table and tried everything—modern methods like blood draws and chemical analysis, as well as Senpou Temple techniques like exorcism, incantations, and enlightenment strikes.
And he actually found something.
There was a virus in Max's blood that had been triggered by the curse—a variant of the smallpox virus. If left untreated, within seven days the virus would destroy the body's immune system and Max would die of heart failure.
The death would be excruciatingly painful, as if pursued by a vengeful ghost.
"Boss... Boss? Um... can I still be saved?" Max grew worried again.
Developing a serum for this virus within seven days would be incredibly difficult. Even Old Man Yashida, who'd been wealthy beyond measure and had countless scientists at his disposal, couldn't manage it. Max likewise couldn't obtain help through science.
This matter ultimately had to be resolved through the occult.
Izu Oshima. To solve this, they had to deal with the source.
"Boss... this is a yacht that Shingen Yashida sent, plus a villa and bank cards..." Max pulled out a large bag of items.
The meaning was clear—he wanted to pay his way out of trouble.
Bella waved dismissively. "You've really caused me trouble. Put it over there. I'll have someone handle it and give you ten percent."
Did she lack these things? Not at all. If she took them, Shingen Yashida could trace them back to her, which would be even more troublesome.
However, she didn't refuse. She'd just have someone dispose of them later.
Whether it was Natasha or 006, both could make these things disappear without anyone knowing.
She needed to personally visit Sadako's burial site. First, to save Max. Second, to completely resolve this matter—constantly throwing out videotapes only increased the sanitation workers' workload, didn't it? Third, she was actually quite interested in Sadako. This entity had healing abilities while alive!
A touch could heal the injured; a touch could make crippled elderly people stand up.
Healing abilities were far too rare in this world. Besides the Omega-level mutant Elixir, Bella couldn't think of anyone else with healing powers.
Sadako was an extremely rare talent. Unfortunately, no one had valued her properly. Now dead with such immense resentment, Bella didn't know if she could successfully recruit her. If all else failed, she'd have to eliminate her.
Deciding to act immediately, that afternoon, after making some preparations for concealment, Bella disguised herself as an ordinary tourist and took a boat to Izu Oshima.
This was Sadako Yamamura's birthplace and also her burial ground.
Born here, died here. Her parents gave her life, then took it away.
Bella could only shake her head. She couldn't understand her parents' mindset—too extreme.
She didn't come aboard the Flying Dutchman. Instead, she arrived with a few fearless tourists.
There was a volcano on the island called Mount Mihara—an active volcano. How active? It's a predominantly basaltic volcano with a history of major eruptions!
Going back just fifty years, there were two recorded major eruptions. The first created a new mountain; the second forced thousands of island residents to evacuate. Small-scale eruptions were countless. Island children might be sitting in school when they'd turn their heads and go, "Wow, the volcano's erupting!"
That's how relaxed things were!
Izu Oshima's environment definitely had nothing to do with safety or comfort. Yet at this time, thousands of residents still lived on the island, like a small city. There were police, hospitals, schools, and various public facilities.
Even more bizarrely, tourists regularly came to visit...
Bella didn't know if they were gutsy or just attached to their homeland. Either way, as soon as she set foot on the island, she caught a faint whiff of sulfur in the air. The volcano had either just finished erupting or was currently erupting.
After waving goodbye to a group of reckless youths who'd come for a camping trip, Bella held a camera in her hand, pretending to be a tourist.
She left the tourist activity areas and walked alone onto a small path.
Finding Heihachiro Ikuma's former residence was a bit difficult, but there were many elderly people on the island. For the sake of US dollars, they enthusiastically gave Bella directions and revealed an important piece of information.
Yesterday evening, a group of wealthy people had landed on the island, also asking about Heihachiro Ikuma. They'd already entered the deep mountains at the island's center.
For this single piece of information, Bella paid an extra hundred dollars.
Walking alone on the mountain path, she began pondering the implications of this information.
Who were the wealthy people who'd arrived first? Shingen Yashida? She shook her head. With too little information, she couldn't make a good judgment. Theoretically, since Sadako had already been sealed, Shingen Yashida coming here would be completely pointless.
She didn't want to deal with these people, but it wasn't because she was afraid. In this kind of remote mountain wilderness, if they dared provoke her, she'd dare strike back.
Izu Oshima had a considerable area—a full 90 square kilometers (35 square miles). However, all the residents lived on the island's outer edges. The interior was entirely uninhabited deep mountains.
Bella put on the tengu mask she'd prepared and strapped Fushigiri "Open Gate" to her back. She'd brought this sword because her divination revealed she'd need it. Seeing no one around, she quickened her pace, trying to catch up with the group ahead.
Along the way, she could vaguely see traces of human passage. There were quite a few people. Worried about being discovered prematurely, she leaped into the trees, activated her invisibility, and jumped forward through the treetops.
This pursuit took most of the day. When she reached Heihachiro Ikuma's former residence and found the well, it was already late at night.
Over ten fully armed soldiers were arranged in a circular formation around Heihachiro Ikuma's former residence and the well, seemingly making some kind of preparations. An old man covered in age spots lay in a specialized life-support device, his cloudy eyes staring at the well.
Hmm? The one who came wasn't Shingen Yashida? Could this be his father, Old Man Yashida?
Bella was somewhat curious. What was this old man doing here?