The Underworld and a Conspiracy / The Powerful Alice

"What should we do next?" Shirou asked.

"Well, if I had to say anything, I'd say I want the whole of Japan to know this is my house!" Alice said with a confident smile.

Alice enlisted the help of a conglomerate that had business dealings with her parents' company, hiring their construction division and sending the best local construction team.

"Hello! Ms. Sabou, we have received instructions from the company. As the designer, our responsibility is to cooperate with you to achieve the desired effect. Please point out any problems, and we will definitely address them." The construction company manager personally stepped forward to shake hands with Alice and assured her.

"I know, I'm counting on you all for my new home." Alice shook hands with the foreman.

Alice had them build a higher platform on the roof, increasing the height from two stories to three. Then, starting from the top, they covered the entire house with black curtains and wooden planks, preventing outsiders from seeing anything inside. Next, they had the courtyard wall demolished, making the dark house even more conspicuous.

The tourists and paranormal explorers who were kicked out vented their frustrations online with a barrage of insults.

Within the paranormal enthusiast community, there's speculation that the house might contain some real artifacts, which is why the government deployed personnel to secure the area.

At this point, it was discovered that just one day later, the haunted place had undergone a complete transformation, causing a sensational controversy online.

Otherworld Research: "The Demon King's Castle has descended?!"

The Cosmic Truth Society: "Could there really be something inside? What is the government hiding?!"

UFO Research Association: "It's an alien disguised as a doll! Finally, the aliens didn't run off to America or Russia! They've come to Japan!"

Ghost Protection Association: "Wasn't she supposed to be a little loli ghost? Great! She wasn't exorcised! We strongly urge everyone to resist psychics who wantonly harm weak ghosts, and to cherish ghosts! Protecting life is everyone's responsibility!"

Because the topic was so popular, the TV station seized the opportunity and aired an interview program with a professional who had explored the area, the Explosion Head Uncle!

"Today, netizens are very concerned about the House of Dolls, so let's invite a paranormal exploration expert who has personally entered the house to answer our questions about what's inside."

As soon as the words were spoken, clang clang clang!!!

As background music played, a middle-aged man with an afro, wearing a red cloak and sporting a giant rosary, walked into the interview hall, waving and laughing heartily.

"Hahaha, hello everyone, hello host, hello viewers in front of the TV and computer."

"These are the questions we collected online about the House of Dolls; they are the most frequently asked questions after statistics were compiled. Now, please answer them for our netizens," the host said, showing them the question cards.

"Okay," the Explosion Head Uncle said, crossing his legs and sitting down.

"So, question one: are there still evil spirits in that haunted house?" the host asked.

The Explosion Head Uncle with the afro laughed boastfully, "Hahahaha! Don't worry! I've already exorcised the vengeful spirit of the girl in that house!"

"I object!!!" At that moment, someone in the audience suddenly stood up and said excitedly.

Chapter 851 The Underworld and Conspiracy

No one expected anyone to interrupt. Someone in the audience stood up and shouted a question. Everyone in the studio was stunned by the loud shout.

The man shouted, "I've heard your reputation among psychics hasn't been great lately! You didn't just make that up, did you? Are you really sure there's a vengeful spirit of a girl in the House of Dolls? Can you take responsibility for your words?"

At this point, the Director signaled for the camera to turn towards the man, hoping to generate some sensational news.

The Explosion Head Uncle glanced at the audience member and realized that the Director team wasn't going to stop him. But crisis can also be an opportunity! In any case, he had to maintain his professional image.

Then he burst into laughter and said, "Hahahaha! Absolutely no mistake. I fought that child's vengeful spirit, who controlled the puppet, for five hundred rounds before finally using my ultimate technique, the Buddhist bead imprisonment, to trap her. Then I chanted sutras to help her pass on. I believe she is now in the underworld, resolving her resentment and awaiting reincarnation."

"The underworld refers to the place where souls go after death, right? That's very intriguing," the host said to the Explosion Head Uncle.

"No, no, it's best not to know these things unless you're a professional." The Explosion Head Uncle waved his hand, not wanting to say more on the matter.

"But we're very curious, would you all like to hear it?" the host asked the audience.

"We want to hear it!!" the TV viewers shouted.

"Well... after all, the living and the dead are separated, and humans only need to think about how to live a good life in the mortal world. I shouldn't talk too much about these things, but since everyone is so eager to hear it, I'll say a few words." The Explosion Head Uncle said, feigning modesty.

However, people rarely have a way of understanding these things, so the camera was focused on the Explosion Head Uncle, and the program temporarily became a one-man speech by the man.

As a professional exorcist and entertainer, the Explosion Head Uncle the afro wouldn't miss such an opportunity to showcase himself in public. Using the eloquence he honed from selling various spiritual products, he began to recount stories of the underworld like a storyteller.

"Although the Western world has the concept of Heaven, in Japan, the soul is still under the jurisdiction of King Enma, who has ten courts of hell and eighteen levels of hell. However, hell is not Issei; in fact, with the progress of the times, hell has also undergone its own reforms."

For example, the ghost messengers who come to collect souls after death—Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head Ox-Head and Horse-Face —have now become much more civilized; they are all dressed in suits and wearing polite masks.

The Explosion Head Uncle continued, "Let me give you an example from my own life. My neighbor in my hometown of Kamakura was over ninety years old; I called him Grandpa San. He passed away a while ago. On the night before he died, Hell sent Death to wait by his bedside. If Grandpa San had passed away in his sleep, or if he had been rushed to the hospital but couldn't be saved, Death would have appeared and taken him to the underworld."

"Huh? If the hospital's efforts to save him are effective, then death won't come out?" the host asked in surprise.

The Explosion Head Uncle explained, "Well, in those situations, Death will observe for a while and then come back another day. After all, modern medical technology is very advanced; even if the heart stops beating, it can be revived by stimulating the heart with an electric shock."

This wouldn't have happened before, so the work of the Grim Reaper has changed quite a bit. Recently, they've even offered a more humane option: allowing the spirit to stay in the human world for a while afterward. If the spirit still has attachment to the world, it can pay a certain price to remain on earth for a period of time.

"Wow! I didn't know you could do that?" the host exclaimed in surprise.

The Explosion Head Uncle said, "Yes, but these rules are quite complicated. If possible, we could invite experts like ourselves to negotiate on your behalf. Having professionals like us negotiate with Death can secure better treatment for the bereaved families, which is definitely more worthwhile."

"So the modern hell is not as terrifying as in ancient stories. Apart from those unforgivable villains who have lost their conscience and are subjected to cruel punishments, most people actually live quite ordinary lives in the underworld after death. Once they have made up for their regrets, they will enter the cycle of reincarnation."

The reason for establishing hell is actually to allow people to reflect on their past lives, to have a chance to repent and learn to be better. Even if you have done evil deeds, as long as you reform yourself properly there, you can still be reincarnated."

In the living room of Shirou and Mashiro's house.

"Shirou, is what this old man is saying true?" Mashiro asked curiously, watching TV.

"I probably know a little bit," Shirou said. He didn't quite understand this world yet, but he had indeed seen many ghosts and monsters. They usually hid and only appeared under specific circumstances, probably because there was a place where these beings could live together.

"Then why would he get the things inside the house wrong? Alice is right here," Mashiro said, puzzled.

"This knowledge could also have been learned from others. There seems to be an association of psychics here," Shirou said. He guessed that this man was probably a mediocre Magecraft, the kind who wasn't formally trained and was below third-rate by the standards of other worlds.

"Who cares about his skill level or whether it was intentional or not? Since he dared to make me suffer such injustice, and now that he's taken the bait, he can just wait to pay the price, hehehe..." Alice, who was being called a dead ghost, said with a dangerous smile.

Shirou and Mashiro exchanged a glance. Alice, now fully alert, was a little frightening. They could only offer their condolences to the Explosion Head Uncle; after all, he deserved what he got.

"Mashiro, don't you dare say anything like you want to go to the underworld or anything like that," Shirou warned first.

"..." Mashiro turned her head away and didn't say anything more. She didn't want Shirou to see through her thoughts.

"Alice, what do you want to do next?" Shirou asked curiously, glancing to the side at the hot-tempered young lady who was leisurely sipping her coffee after returning from abroad. Her current calmness could only mean that some storm was about to break.

"Hehe, Shirou, Mashiro- chan, just wait and see." Alice said with a wicked smile. The doll she was holding looked rather evil under the light.

Chapter 852 The Powerful Alice

As the interview was about to end, Alice stood up, walked to the table, picked up the remote, and changed a few channels. Then Mashiro saw Alice directly on the TV.

On television, Alice, with her exquisite makeup, was incredibly photogenic, easily rivaling other female celebrities and becoming the most radiant one on screen.

While the construction team was renovating the House of Dolls, Alice didn't stay idle.

She went directly to RB TV, H TV's competitor, and as a sponsor, recorded an interview program, which was broadcast live that evening.

The host began by introducing Alice, saying, "Ms. Alice is twenty years old and a student at one of the top art universities in the United States. She focuses on creating dolls that express the human inner world, and at such a young age, she is already an internationally recognized rising star in the arts."

"Thank you for the compliment. Hello everyone, I'm Alice." Alice smiled modestly.

"Alice, you're a doll maker, right? Recently, there's been a lot of buzz in Japan about an urban legend about a haunted location known as the 'House of Dolls.' Do you have anything to say about that house?" the host asked, guiding the conversation.

"Yes, I spent my childhood in this house." Alice stopped smiling, looked at the camera, and said very seriously.

The camera cooperated by giving the woman a close-up of her face.

"I want to clarify this officially: that's my home, not a haunted house, and there's no ghost of a dead little girl there!"

Her exquisite makeup, beautiful face, slightly furrowed brows, and stubborn eyes perfectly portrayed a young and pretty girl trying hard to appear strong and desperately trying to maintain the image of her family.

This effect is absolutely fantastic; it perfectly portrays the grievances of a female college student whose home is arbitrarily invaded by bad people and who is then falsely accused.

Alice recounted all her experiences on the show, which garnered people's sympathy.

Meanwhile, Alice smiled Mashiro at Mashiro, then turned and winked at Shirou.

'Even if you're right here watching, I can still flirt with Shirou.'

"..." Mashiro looked at Shirou with a puzzled expression.

Shirou's forehead was beaded with sweat. He hadn't done anything. He'd just helped Alice a little, and besides, you were right there beside her!

Alice's methods went far beyond that; they were a series of interconnected and complex attacks.

She also invited experts from all sides to start advocating various ways of dealing with burglaries, from trespassing to empty-nest elderly being neglected and dying without anyone knowing for years, to how different countries respond when thugs break into homes.

In short, no matter what, the name of Alice, the doll maker, will inevitably be mentioned in the conversation. Her home has been subjected to unreasonable intrusions, all because of the paranormal program, causing a sensation in society! Meanwhile, her competitors have also become increasingly hostile towards them.

Various programs and media outlets are engaged in heated discussions about it.

Education Channel.

"Regarding the question of whether or not children should study abroad at a young age, what are your thoughts on this issue?"

"Personally, I agree. Children's thinking is not yet fully formed, and their learning and adaptability are stronger than adults. They will master communication skills more quickly, and their social environment is protected by the school. As long as a good school is chosen, there won't be any problems. Letting children adapt to life abroad in advance, rather than studying abroad after entering university, will actually make it easier for them to integrate into foreign circles."

The expert, wearing glasses and a suit, began to speak:

"Because adults find it harder to adapt to change than children. You have to understand that you're going to live in another country, not just for a few days or weeks of tourism, but for several years. It means you'll be working in a completely unfamiliar environment. As an outsider, you'll be caught between different languages, different ideas, and different explicit and implicit rules, which will constantly challenge your mind."

"If you go to China, Singapore, or Korea, at least you can see some Chinese characters that you can read, and there are cultural similarities. In fact, there are many cases in Japan that prove that adults are very likely to have difficulty integrating into life abroad. For example, many employees who are sent to South America and Africa are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, or even mental breakdown and suicidal thoughts after going abroad."

The expert on the other side said, "However, we must also protect the rights of international students. These children go abroad to study, and after completing their studies, they return to Japan to use their knowledge to help their motherland develop better. This is something that should be encouraged. But recently, something shocking happened. A girl named Alice returned from studying abroad and suddenly found that her home had been arbitrarily invaded by strangers and had become dilapidated."

The host chimed in, "Yes, of course parents should accompany their children when they go abroad, but it's not like they're immigrating. If no one helps guard their home back home, and thieves and robbers come and go as they please, just imagining it sends chills down my spine. It's terrifying."

During this process, Alice's fame continued to rise. She was an artist who made exquisite dolls, a graduate of a well-known American art school, and a newcomer to the art world known as a talented woman. She received support online, and her followers on Instagram continued to increase. The previously estranged Japanese art community was suddenly revitalized.

Moreover, she made a name for herself in the United States, a country highly revered by the Japanese, and not just in the prestigious art world, but as a female artist! Now, from social phenomena discussed in the media and academia to casual conversations among ordinary people, Alice's name is mentioned everywhere in the art world.

This level of hype is probably only surpassed by Yoko Ono's event back then, when she lay in bed with Lennon, invited the media to interview her every day, did nothing else, and slept for seven days and seven nights.

When someone investigated Alice's past, an acquaintance inadvertently revealed what they knew about Alice's past, when she was so sickly that she couldn't leave the house. Then another acquaintance came forward, saying they had seen her as a child. The doctors and nurses who had treated Alice also came forward.

Then all of Japan knew about a girl named Alice.

Chapter 853 The Supernatural Program Crew's Self-Destructive Acts

Alice's incredibly inspiring story is relatable to many Japanese children who have suffered from frail health since childhood. Through years of hardship, she has embodied the radiance of a modern woman. She is not the traditional type who struggles to manage the household, nor is she a strict and harsh "strong woman" who masks her true self. Instead, she was once just as sickly as them, even to the point of being unable to leave the house for several years, yet now she has become as charming and glamorous as a celebrity, and a respected artist.

"What are the plans next?" Shirou asked, looking at the woman whose victory was already assured.

"Yes! I've already planned it out. Our first stop in Japan will be in this house, and I've already commissioned a construction team to start building it. I'm sure it will surprise you all."

"Turning a haunted House of Dolls into a real-life artist's house, like a dollhouse," Shirou exclaimed in admiration.

"Isn't that cool! Of course, my house isn't a haunted house! But the name 'House of Dolls' is pretty good, so I'll keep it for now," Alice said with a smile.

Alice had already planned her next steps. She decided to renovate the House of Dolls once again, turning it into her studio in Japan. With the shrewd blood of a successful businesswoman, she wouldn't let such a prestigious opportunity slip by. Her work would be launched in Japan as its first stop in Asia.

Her campaign is still going strong.

There are talk shows, legal education programs, and even rights protection organizations...

"Some large companies, in their pursuit of profit, only think of building skyscrapers, without considering that this will block sunlight from reaching the surrounding homes. Everyone should stand up like Alice and properly protect the rights of their own homes."

Meanwhile, on the other side, the members of the program team at the television station, who are under immense pressure, have become targets of public criticism. Even the head of the television production department is shifting the blame onto the Director and producer; after all, someone has to take the fall when something like this happens, right?

Under immense pressure, the production team has been off-air for a week. If this continues, the entire production team may face unemployment. Today, they gathered together for a meeting.

A legal program was playing on TV at that moment...

"Cases of illegal intrusion continue to occur in Japan. Recently, a case has become quite famous: a house that was considered haunted because it was left unattended for many years is now being fought for by a female university student named Alice!"

"Yes, Professor, compared to those cases where tourists rent guesthouses and are then sued for trespassing due to misunderstandings, this incident happened to a native Japanese woman. Ms. Alice, the person involved, went to the United States to study at a top art school several years ago and recently returned, only to find her home dilapidated, with complete strangers coming and going!"

"Officer, if something like this happens, how would the police handle it?" the host asked, turning to a middle-aged man with a square face and wearing a police uniform.

"According to the Six Codes, anyone who illegally searches another person's body or residence, or illegally enters another person's residence, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention. On the other hand, anyone suspected of provoking trouble, spreading harmful information, causing social unrest, or inducing others to commit crimes shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years..."

On television, a professional lawyer is explaining the relevant laws and regulations to the audience.

"..." The entire crew of the program hung their heads, their faces dark.

"What should we do now?" the producer couldn't help but ask.

"We can only apologize! It was indeed our fault for trespassing into someone else's home. We should contact the person involved, compensate her, and post an apology online!" the Fat Director said helplessly, covering his face.

"Damn it! I never expected things to turn out like this. This house has been abandoned for so many years, and now suddenly an owner has appeared. Urban legends are completely unbelievable. This show was going to be a hit, and now it's going to be a complete flop." The producer said angrily.

"So what that boy said back then was true..." the chubby Director said, filled with regret.

"Damn it... who is that brat?! If this continues, I'll never be able to clear my name again!" The Explosion Head Uncle was also heavily criticized online, called a fraud, and truly lost face.

'Fraud!'

'And what kind of expert are you!'

'I trusted you so much before! Turns out you're just a fraud!'