The Trolley Problem

Cooperation, a key element in the P5 system, is marked by the Major Arcana Tarot cards and is tied to the protagonist's journey. Some of these connections are part of the main story, while others are optional side quests. As the protagonist deepens their bonds with these allies, their own abilities will grow stronger.

While Tang Ze had predicted that a key figure might be involved, he was surprised by how quickly and effectively it was triggered.

But... the first skill he learned was Free Fighting?

After wiping his face, Tang Ze tossed the towel aside and gave Tooru Amuro a strange look.

Was it because his contract type was 'guardian' that he needed to teach me self-defense first? Even so, wouldn't Amuro's most memorable and outstanding skill be driving?

After all, his driving skills were so incredible they'd make Newton faint, allowing him to drive up walls.

Amuro chuckled, looking at the red marks on Tang Ze's face from the towel, and pushed the plate towards him. "Eat up quickly. If a child suddenly starts crying after just a few bites, people will think my cooking is terrible."

With his eyes and nose red from wiping, Tang Ze looked even more childlike. Even though he knew Tang Ze was already 18, Amuro couldn't help but describe him as a "child."

Tang Ze pouted, wanting to retort, but then he looked at the pasta and picked up his chopsticks again.

When someone feeds you, you can't talk back. Besides, Amuro's cooking is quite good.

Sensing Tang Ze's gradual relaxation and his unawareness of being taken advantage of, Amuro, believing his strategy was working, pressed on. "When the boss told me I'd be taking in a juvenile offender, I thought I'd get a difficult delinquent. You don't seem like someone who would commit a crime at all. What exactly happened? Grievous bodily harm is a serious sentence, was it negligent injury?"

This was a leading question, pre-emptively framing the answer and subtly implying that even if Tang Ze had made a mistake, it wasn't a major one. It was designed to build trust.

Mentally scoring Amuro's interrogation techniques, Tang Ze tilted his head slightly as if recalling the events and simply described the case.

The case was absurd, the details were absurd, and the outcome was even more absurd.

Setting aside the fact that the victim was so drunk it was hard to determine if Tang Ze Zhao had caused his bloody head injury or if he had fallen from being unsteady, even if it had been a fight, the immediate detention after giving a statement shocked Tang Ze for an entire year.

Furthermore, he was locked in the same cell as a petty thug, and Tang Ze Zhao was subsequently beaten multiple times in the detention center.

The trial was even more dramatic. The victim himself didn't even appear in court. Since Tang Ze Zhao refused to plead guilty, he was repeatedly warned and pressured, told that pleading guilty now would result in a lighter sentence and a period of probation, allowing him to return to school. If he didn't plead guilty, he'd be sent to a juvenile rehabilitation center.

After two months of torment, Tang Ze Zhao, unable to bear it any longer, finally wrote a confession.

Tang Ze, with a sense of pity for his past self, recounted the events in a detached, observational tone, finishing a plate of pasta as he spoke.

Amuro, on the other hand, was much more agitated. As he listened, he clenched his fists. "...That's against regulations and illegal! Where are your parents? Did you report them to anyone?"

Yes, this is exactly the reaction I wanted. It feels good that he's angry too. Tang Ze watched him clench his fist with satisfaction and reminded him, "My parents are both abroad. As for others... the trial for juvenile offenders is completely closed to the public."

The implication was clear. Amuro understood.

When the verdict was delivered, case information that should have been private was leaked. Tang Ze had no evidence, had signed a confession, and his personal reputation had plummeted. No one would listen to him anymore.

Having finished speaking, Tang Ze picked up his cup and took a sip of hot cocoa, watching Amuro's eye twitch. He found Amuro's expression, looking as if he were about to faint from anger at his colleagues, quite appetizing and suitable as a side dish.

Amuro was genuinely furious, not only at Tang Ze's experience but also at his colleagues for their gross dereliction of duty. However, he couldn't speak from Furuya Rei's position right now, so he could only curse bitterly, "Scum! A bunch of useless tax thieves!"

Good, excellent, curse even louder! Tang Ze, who enjoyed watching the drama unfold, chose to fuel the fire. "Perhaps that drunk uncle was someone important, someone the police had to obey... I can't find any other reason."

Amuro's anger intensified.

That would be even worse. The Organization wouldn't even need to infiltrate the police; they'd only need to infiltrate a few high-ranking politicians, and the police would become their private security force!

Damn it, he had to tell Kazami. They needed to investigate thoroughly!

Their pleasant conversation was observed through a scope.

On the edge of a rooftop several hundred meters away, a long-haired man wearing a beanie moved his eyes away from the sniper scope.

He took out his vibrating phone, glanced at the caller ID, and tapped his earpiece to answer.

"Shu, what's the situation?"

"Everything is normal for now. 'Bourbon' is making contact with the target."

"What about us? Do we need to contact him?"

Shuichi Akai repositioned the scope, focusing on the teenager in his crosshairs who was talking to Amuro with a straw in his mouth.

"Not yet. We can't alert them," Shuichi Akai replied. "The Tang Ze couple has been missing for two months and is likely dead. The Organization wouldn't make a move now after using their resources to bring the target in. He's safe for the time being."

"Regarding the plan to arrest Gin..."

"Postpone it again. My previous actions concerning the Tang Ze couple might have already alerted Gin, and he won't fall for it easily. The immediate priority is the safety of the target, Tang Ze Zhao, and the Miyano sisters."

"The facility where the Miyano sisters are held has extremely tight security. Cameron hasn't reported any success yet. Shu, we're running out of time. They won't be patient for much longer. If this continues, we won't be able to save anyone. Compared to the Miyano sisters, the target is an easier person to approach."

Shuichi Akai fell silent.

The person on the other end of the line also stopped speaking, and silence filled the call.

They both knew what this choice entailed.

The FBI's influence in Japan was limited, and the operations they could organize were restricted. They could only choose one side to rescue: the Miyano sisters or Tang Ze Zhao. Regardless of success or failure, the alerted Organization would not give them a second chance.

Choosing one side meant abandoning the other.

"Shu..." A sigh came through the earpiece. "We have no other choice..."

She knew that both the Tang Ze family and the Miyano family held significant meaning for Shuichi Akai.

The railway switch was in his hand, and the speeding train was approaching the intersection. He had to make a choice, pulling the lever to one side.

"Have Cameron return," Shuichi Akai said, his hand holding the sniper rifle steady, his voice betraying no emotion, maintaining the sniper's stillness. "I will find an opportunity to contact Tang Ze Zhao. 'Rye' will follow the Organization's mission, which provides a more legitimate reason."

"Shouldn't we let him wait a little longer? Perhaps, we..."

"Once you've made a decision, don't hesitate. Let him come back. We need to formulate an action plan to transfer Tang Ze Zhao."

"...Understood."

With a crisp "click," the communication ended.

Shuichi Akai remained in his prone position, pulling out his phone with one hand and tapping on it.

[Target's contact with Bourbon proceeded smoothly. No other suspicious individuals were found in the vicinity.]

A few seconds later, a notification sound indicated an email reply.

[Maintain vigilance. If you observe any abnormal actions from the target, you are permitted to directly load a tranquilizer dart and incapacitate him.]

After clearing his inbox, he closed his eyes and, through his scope, observed Tang Ze smiling at Tooru Amuro.

The faces of several people flashed through his mind, his rifle barrel unwavering.

They had already lost the Tang Ze couple.

There was no room for further indecision.