Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes

Leon was somewhat taken aback; in the past, this prime minister would not have dared to do such a thing.

He tapped his hand lightly twice on the conference table: "I've seen the video of the fall. At first, I thought it was fast-forwarded."

"The three lines of defense in Kofu City took seven days and consumed countless resources. It's fair to say that, aside from equipment still in the lab and unable to be mass-produced, the only thing left unused was the nuclear weapon."

The Prime Minister's voice trembled. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and deliberately softened his tone.

“I don’t mean to blame you. The Extraordinary Countermeasures Department has done its best. But the facts are clear: conventional defenses, no matter how strong or expensive, are almost meaningless against beings of that level. And the price we’ve paid for them is too heavy to bear.”

Leon's expression remained unchanged.

He was well aware of the subtext in the Prime Minister's words: in the previous defensive battle, although valuable Talos teams and a large amount of high-tech weapons provided by the United States were deployed, the bills and mobilization would ultimately fall on the shoulders of the Japanese government.

If the threat of such weapons and extraordinary combat tests conducted on its own territory can be dealt with, Japan usually chooses to grit its teeth and bear it, since it's not the first time that its "ally" has used its home as a testing ground.

However, the fate of the Kofu Basin was too tragic. With this level of investment, it couldn't even deal with the sealed beings in Mount Fuji, let alone threaten them!

If this continues, it will only make Commissioners Sato and Smith even fatter, and while it won't be completely useless in preventing the disaster, it will be extremely limited.

From America's perspective, since it's not depleting their own reserves, and the arms orders can be reimbursed by Japan, more importantly, every battle generates invaluable combat data and real-world experience, the value of which is immeasurable.

Of course, one must maintain appearances and not behave in an unseemly manner.

"What does the Prime Minister mean?"

Leon asked the question knowingly, his tone flat and indifferent.

The Prime Minister leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Leon.

"Defenses can be built, and must be built. Regardless of the outcome, the people need to see that the government is still taking action and has not given up. But we need more substantial assistance."

He spoke each word clearly and deliberately, articulating the core demands.

“Deeper data sharing, the kind with no restrictions; higher-level military intervention, including but not limited to sending more Talos troops or more personnel; and involving us in the deployment and use of nuclear weapons.”

Leon's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly; this was quite an appetite.

However, this was beyond his authority, and he was also ostensibly Japanese.

At least I still have my current nationality.

He'll just relay the message; the negotiations will be handled by a specialist. He can roughly predict the outcome: Japan will agree to about half of the terms, but the resources Japan needs to provide will increase exponentially.

The president is not one to suffer losses; he only ever seeks victory.

On the outskirts of Kofu City, a slightly elevated, open mountain area was temporarily requisitioned as a forward base for rescue operations.

The area was crowded with camouflage tents, and supplies were piled up all around. Helicopters took off and landed frequently on a flat open space.

As far as the eye can see, there is a vast expanse of water and mountain peaks, which now resemble isolated islands.

Various debris and wreckage floated on the water, but because most residents had already evacuated, the atmosphere of the rescue operation seemed somewhat strange.

There was no anxious anticipation of a rescue; it was more of a routine, weary execution of orders.

Every day, helicopters and surface vessels are routinely dispatched to patrol and search among the floating debris for any glimmer of hope for survivors.

Beside a helicopter whose rotor noise gradually subsided, the cabin door opened, and Ping Shenglong stepped down with somewhat unsteady steps.

The days of intense, frequent, and futile aerial searches had almost exhausted him. He didn't even heed his colleagues' calls and went straight into a two-person tent in the corner.

He zipped up the zipper behind his back, shutting out most of the noise from the outside world.

He sat heavily on the cot, grabbed an unopened bottle of mineral water from the table next to him, unscrewed it, and gulped down most of it.

"came back?"

Kurosaki Chimei glanced at Heisei Ryu, who was practically lying on the waterproof tarpaulin on the ground, writing furiously on a stack of manuscript paper by the cold light of a portable LED lamp. His handwriting was messy and messy, filled with arrows and simple diagrams.

Ping Shenglong wiped his mouth and tossed the water bottle onto the table. He glanced at his watch: "Next mission in one hour. Any findings? Let's get to the point."

Just as Kurosaki was about to speak, a voice came from outside the tent.

"Are Team Leader Hira and Mr. Kurosaki here?"

Heisei Ryu pulled back the tent flap, and Muramasa Taki appeared at the doorway, carrying three stacked bento boxes.

Her gaze passed over Heisei Ryu at the door and immediately locked onto the draft papers covered with writing in front of Kurosaki on the ground.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, Team Leader Taira." Takii's gaze returned to Taira no Ryu, her voice as cold as ever. "I brought two bento boxes. Do you two have any new thoughts on the seal of Mount Fuji? If you don't mind, may I listen in?"

Kurosaki's eyes instantly turned suspicious.

What a coincidence? She showed up with a lunchbox right after Ping Shenglong returned? Was she keeping an eye on their movements and arriving at the exact moment?

This is reminiscent of Taki's extraordinary identity and the "Extraordinary Game Theory" he founded.

Kurosaki's vigilance was raised to the highest level.

“Sure.” Before Kurosaki could express any doubts, Taira nods in agreement and even gives Kurosaki a subtle look. “If Ms. Takii has any thoughts, you can add them.”

Kurosaki: "..."

He silently rolled his eyes in his mind. How was he so sure he could understand his gaze?

“Then let me start from the beginning.” Kurosaki suppressed his urge to complain and spread out his manuscript. “Based on the clues about the formation we have so far, the person who initially set up that formation should not be considered an expert in formations. But they must have been proficient in Yin-Yang arts and incorporated a considerable amount of Buddhist techniques, probably from Tantric Buddhism.”

"The sealing must have occurred before 1708, because the Fuji River changed course only after the Hoei eruption."

"And it was precisely because of the disaster caused by the change of course that the mysterious Taoist priest was attracted." Kurosaki's voice carried a sense of immersion that transcended time and space. "He keenly discovered this formation and made some impressive reinforcements and modifications. I suspect that he may have even encountered that serpent."

“Unfortunately, no matter what kind of formation it is, it cannot withstand the passage of time.” Kurosaki pointed to the approximate area on the sketch. “Therefore, the being that was suppressed there used some method, perhaps it polluted the earth’s veins and water vapor, or perhaps the evil thoughts that escaped affected the beast herd. In any case, it successfully attracted a large number of wild boars and black bears and corrupted them.”

"Afterwards, these ferocious beasts, which were transformed by invisible demons, became its tools to destroy the Stone Earth Storehouse, which served as the foundation of the formation, and to break the seal. You all experienced what happened behind the scenes, so there is no need to go into details."

“Right now, we can ignore that Taoist priest for the time being. The core issue should be: who is that unknown Onmyoji? After all, he set up the initial seal, so he should know best what was sealed.” Kurosaki pulled out a relatively clean piece of paper with only two names written on it: Ashiya Doman and Chitoku Hoshi.

Both of these were Onmyoji who shone brightly in the late Heian period, yet their lineage remains relatively unclear.

"My initial guess was, could he be a descendant of the legendary Onmyoji Abe no Seimei?"

Muramasa Takii: "."

Kurosaki continued speaking to himself: "However, the Tsuchimikado Shinto, founded by the direct descendants of Abe no Seimei, has a clear and traceable lineage, continuing until the Meiji Restoration when it was impacted by the ban on Onmyōdō. If this seal was the work of the Tsuchimikado during the Edo period, such a distinguished achievement would not have gone unrecorded and not used to claim credit. Similarly, the Kamo family, which is equally renowned, also has a clear lineage, so it is unlikely. Therefore, our focus must be on those Onmyōji whose lineage is unclear."

He pointed to the two names on the paper: "I'm more inclined to believe he's a descendant of Master Zhide. It just so happens that he was both a monk and recorded as having deeply studied Yin-Yang arts. This dual identity perfectly matches the coexistence of Buddhist symbols and Yin-Yang arts within the formation. Moreover..."

Kurosaki paused, then added, "In historical records, he did not leave behind a reputation that was clearly biased towards evil like Ashiya Dōman, and his conduct was closer to that of a righteous hermit. This is more in line with the image of someone who set up a huge sealing array to protect a region."

"..."

Takii remained silent, only quietly picking up a piece of tempura.

Although this speculation is wrong, it must be said that Kurosaki's logical chain of reasoning is still quite complete, and it is very convincing to non-players.

For the next hour, only Kurosaki's slightly hoarse voice narrated in the tent, with Taki occasionally adding some reasonably reasonable game information.

Ping Shenglong mostly listened quietly, occasionally glancing at his watch, his brow furrowed with barely concealed anxiety.

Taki could tell that his heart wasn't in the picture. That was understandable, given that Minamoto no Himeko's whereabouts were still unknown.

An hour later, Ping Shenglong stood up almost at the last minute, rubbing his numb knees. "Sorry, it's time. I need to get ready to leave."

Just as he bent down to unzip the tent, a figure rushed over, bringing with it the smell of dust from outside, and almost collided with him.

Shingo Nakajima, his face flushed and breathless from running, grinned widely: "Found her! Team leader, Minister Gen has been found in a mountain! The coordinates have just been confirmed!!"

Ping Shenglong felt that the string that had been taut in his mind for who knows how long suddenly emitted a long buzzing sound, and then with a snap, it finally relaxed completely.

He slowly and deeply exhaled the last breath from his chest and opened his eyes: "That's good. Please tell the driver that I won't participate in the subsequent search."

"Uh, team leader, aren't we going to pick up Minister Gen together?" Nakajima coughed twice.

"You go in my place, I still have things to take care of." At this moment, Ping Shenglong had returned to his usual self.

Nakajima could only watch helplessly as he returned to the tent, making sure to zip it up.

Chapter 231: The Purple Qi Draws East

A gloomy, rainy day.

The Komagome subway station was packed with people, more crowded than usual, and felt unusually hot and stuffy.

Higashiyama Shin opened his umbrella, half-embracing Chiba's shoulder to protect her, and quietly pushed his way through the throng of people exiting the station.

The two of them supported each other as they walked along the road. Chiba's gaze slid past a slightly old-fashioned little hotel on a street corner.

A weary-looking staff member pulled out a piece of paper with the words "Mandoku" written in large characters.

He slammed his hand against the door with a loud thud, the movement revealing obvious numbness and frustration; it seemed many people had come to repeatedly ask if there were any rooms available.

It's not just these small hotels; even in well-decorated large hotels, almost all of them have signs at the front desk indicating that rooms are full.

Every now and then you can see people dragging suitcases, carrying large and small bags, and bringing their families out of the hotel, standing on the edge of the street with blank and helpless expressions on their faces.

At times like these, there are always a few shrewd individuals who approach and offer accommodation to these homeless people at prices that are significantly higher than usual, but still reasonable by current market rates.

The whole of Tokyo seems to be overflowing.

“The authorities are already neglecting the order in Tokyo,” Chiba said softly. “It seems the problem at Mount Fuji is much more serious than they have revealed.”

Higashiyama Shin casually replied, his tone indifferent: "It's definitely not as the news says, that everything is under control."

"Why don't they go somewhere further away?" Chiba frowned slightly, puzzled. "If Mount Fuji were to erupt, Tokyo would inevitably be one of the hardest-hit areas, wouldn't it? They have many other places to choose from, such as Hokkaido?"

It's at least more reasonable than Tokyo.

"I can guess a bit of what they're thinking."

Higashiyama Shinichi said it was just a guess, but in reality, he had been paying attention to that area these past few days and had heard what the locals were saying.

"In their view, this is not a natural disaster, but an extraordinary calamity. Only Tokyo is the last bastion that the government will defend to the death no matter what."

“Those resettlement sites outside, Saitama, Gunma, and Kanagawa, are nominally resettlement sites, but in the eyes of many people, they are more like buffer zones protecting Tokyo, ready to be abandoned at any time. It’s hard not to feel uneasy living there.”

"It's not just real disaster victims who are flooding in. There are also residents from surrounding counties and cities who have no plans to relocate and are simply driven by panic. They come here just to seek a little bit of safety."

Chiba nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject.

"Uncle Dongshan, did you say when you'd be back?"

“He said he wanted to take me and Du to Rio.” Shinichi Higashiyama glanced at her. “I refused. But I still agreed to take Du to Hokkaido. We’ll come back after this storm passes.”

Today, the school officially switched to online classes, so it doesn't matter where you study. And his family's decision to flee north is actually in line with their situation.

As for why Hokkaido...

Chiba's lips curved into a very subtle smile. She subconsciously raised her hand and gently tucked a strand of hair that had been blown against her cheek behind her ear: "Really? That's quite a coincidence. My mother also said she'd take me to Hokkaido to stay for a while."

Ah, a coincidence?

Her words had already hinted at Hokkaido. It didn't really matter where Higashiyama Shin went; his save points were already set up, and he could return at any time.

Even without save points, the spider lilies planted in secret can still be used for teleportation, which is quite convenient.

The claim that spider lilies are only randomly released with the permission of the Extraordinary Countermeasures Department is impossible; it's just a perfunctory excuse, although there is indeed a limit on the number that can be released.

"Oh? What a coincidence." Higashiyama Shinichi looked like he had just realized something, but it was all an act.

"..." Chiba lowered her eyelids slightly, her gaze falling on the damp ground, her voice even softer: "Which city are you planning to go to?"

"Still thinking about it," Higashiyama Shin immediately kicked the ball back lightly, "What about you?"

"I heard that the lavender fields in Furano are almost in bloom," she hinted.

“A lavender field,” he said, feigning ignorance.

He had remained silent all along, trailing a few steps behind the two of them, like a superfluous figure, but Dongshan Du could no longer hold back.

Yes, he remained an uninvolved background figure, listening to their conversation.

You two are going to keep arguing forever, aren't you?

"Since we're going to Hokkaido anyway, let's just go together and follow Aunt Chiba's arrangements!" Higashiyama Doku interrupted the two loudly, unable to bear it any longer.

Swish.

As soon as he finished speaking, the footsteps in front of him stopped, and two pairs of eyes instantly fixed on him. The silent gaze made the hairs on the back of Dongshan Du stand up.

“Yes, Du is right,” Higashiyama Shin said with a smile, turning to Chiba. “It is a good suggestion, but I’m afraid it would be too much trouble for you and Auntie.”

“No,” Chiba shook her head, feeling somewhat elated, and she didn’t dislike Higashiyama Doku as much anymore. “Mom will be very happy.” Including her.

Only then did Dongshan realize the consequences of his actions.

Finished!