Fortunately, within Academy City, yen from Japan can still be used for transactions. While credit cards don't work, paper currency can still be used normally.
Academy City came from a parallel reality, and its previous geographical location before the transfer was near Tokyo in Japan, encompassing several cities and prefectures.
As long as the main structure is similar, parallel realities often share many developments.
Currency, for example.
Haruto and Megumi took a train, and their first destination was actually the hospital in Academy City.
While on the train, Haruto took out his phone.
After opening an app with a chibi white cat-eared icon—
He quickly hacked into Academy City's network.
Browsing briefly through the forums on Academy City's net, Haruto got a sense of the current situation in the city.
It was already widely known that Academy City had undergone spatial transfer. After all, such a massive event couldn't be hidden, and there was no need to.
Even though transporting an entire city sounds terrifying—
There were a few spatial ability users within Academy City.
Research on these spatial espers had allowed Academy City's space-related technology to reach extraordinary levels.
So even something like moving a whole city was within the range of public understanding.
At the same time, Academy City had tried to explore the outside world.
But… they ran into a total blank.
First of all, they couldn't connect to the main world's internet.
Every communication network in the main world contains, undetectably, a special program—
That is, the "Clear Spring Grail" protocol.
This program was initially developed in Lab 357 to regulate all information and ensure that data regarding "Seven" doesn't exceed a certain limit.
It's classified as Level 5 confidential information, intended to avoid the "Sevenfold Destroyer."
After its development, the "Clear Spring Grail" protocol was integrated into all networks within the main world.
Furthermore, on top of its original functions, additional features were added to block external information from accessing the net.
The ongoing maintenance and development of the "Clear Spring Grail" were handed over to White.
Under Haruto's guidance, Shiro added numerous features to it—
Partly as a way to conceal the original purpose of the program.
As a result, when Academy City, now considered an external signal source, attempted to obtain information—
It slammed into the high wall of the "Clear Spring Grail" and was completely blocked out.
They couldn't access the network.
The original satellites of Academy City also lost connection due to the transfer. Now shrouded in mist, Academy City truly felt like an isolated, helpless island.
Especially when the ships sent out into the fog lost contact and completely disappeared.
How should one put it...
It kind of has a horror movie vibe.
Thankfully, after years of operation, Academy City had always functioned in a semi-closed state.
Within the city, they had their own water supply, agricultural bases, and even livestock industries.
Because of their advanced technology, even without interacting with the outside world, Academy City could remain self-sufficient.
This ensured that everything within the city still operated normally, with no signs of panic.
Haruto glanced through the information, feeling somewhat indifferent.
The train slowly arrived at the station.
Haruto and Megumi stepped off.
Following the map's directions, the two soon arrived at Academy City's largest hospital. At the reception desk, Haruto gave a slight smile to the nurse.
"Excuse me, could you show me the list of recently admitted patients?"
Clearly, this was an unreasonable request.
Hospitals are obligated to keep patient lists confidential. No matter what, they wouldn't casually show them to an outsider. Yet the nurse simply froze for a second, then immediately nodded.
Eagerly typing away at her keyboard, she soon printed a list and handed it to Haruto.
As she did, there were practically little hearts in her eyes.
Her entire demeanor made it seem like she was head over heels for Haruto, willing to sacrifice anything for him at any moment.
Megumi, standing nearby, quietly reached out and pinched the soft part of Haruto's waist.
"Haruto! Even I can't help feeling upset when I see something like this!"
Haruto twitched at the corner of his mouth and quickly accepted the list.
"It's for the mission."
Earlier, Haruto had subtly used the characteristics of "Tomie."
It was a bit underhanded, but necessary to get the list quickly.
Unfolding the list, Haruto looked through it.
He quickly found the names he was looking for.
Just as expected—those crew members who had encountered cognitive pollution in the foggy sea—
The ones who survived and drifted into Academy City—
Most of them were hospitalized here for treatment.
Even though their bodies weren't injured—
After such severe mental contamination, they displayed abnormal mental conditions.
Academy City's hospital had a well-developed neurology department and treated psychiatric issues as well.
After confirming the ward numbers, Haruto and Megumi headed to the inpatient area.
Outside the hospital room, just as Haruto was about to enter, a doctor opened the door and stepped out.
The two locked eyes.
How should one describe it...
This doctor looked remarkably like a frog...
Live-action Kaeru-ta?
The frog-faced doctor looked at Haruto and stopped.
"May I ask who you are?"
Haruto pointed into the room.
"I'm a family member here to visit a patient."
Upon hearing this, the doctor nodded but then warned,
"The patients in this room have all experienced severe psychological trauma. They're suffering from amnesia, delirium, hallucinations, and generally unstable consciousness. Although they've been administered some sedatives, they still may pose a certain level of danger."
Haruto nodded and thanked the doctor.
Clearly, he was a good doctor—responsible and considerate of others' safety.
Walking into the room—
Haruto saw the patients.
They were indeed the crew members who had been lost in the misty sea.
There weren't many of them, but they came from various ships. Right now, most of them appeared blank, eyes vacant.
As if they'd lost all purpose in life.
Seeing their state, Haruto couldn't help but click his tongue in awe.
"That frog-faced doctor really is something."
Megumi nodded in agreement.
After all, these people had been polluted by the cognitive influence of the "Eel."
The SCP Foundation had once tried conventional treatment on D-class subjects exposed to the "Eel."
But those subjects always ended up going insane and showed strong self-destructive tendencies.
Conventional treatment methods were nearly useless.
Sometimes, even the treating psychologists got affected.
One could say that simply looking at the "Eel" drained your SAN points into the negatives.
The fact that they'd been treated into such quiet "dried fish" states—
Was already an incredible achievement.
After confirming their identities, Haruto casually retrieved a short blade from the Divine Might Space.
Activating Root—Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
Radiant light shimmered in his irises.
Death lines appeared.
Without hesitation, Haruto stabbed the short blade into one patient's head.
A crisp shattering sound echoed.
AA-class memory erasure was successfully applied. However, a low cry of distress came from the corner of the room—
It sounded like someone trying hard to suppress their fear.
Haruto withdrew the blade and looked toward the corner with a puzzled expression.
The crew member he had just handled collapsed and lost consciousness. At the far end of the room, a white bed curtain was tightly drawn.
Through the curtain, one could see a small silhouette clutching it tightly.
Haruto rubbed his temples.
Weren't all the patients in this room supposed to be severely traumatized?
Weren't they all crew members polluted by the "Eel"?
But it seemed like there was someone normal here...
Megumi quickly stepped over, pulling out a memory eraser.
Just as she opened the curtain—
The person behind it let out a frightened "Mmph!"
Haruto and Megumi both saw her true identity.
It was a young blonde girl in a hospital gown, her figure very petite. Her long, smooth golden hair cascaded down, almost wrapping around her.
The most eye-catching part was her eyes—golden star-like pupils.
Very much like Ai Hoshino's eyes, the kind that you couldn't look away from. However, right now, those golden starry eyes were filled with fear.
Her small body trembled slightly.
Haruto was momentarily stunned.
Misaki Shokuhou?