The neon lights intertwined with shadows in Kabukicho flashed back and forth, lighting up the street until dawn ca.
Unlike those garish "goods," the Hundred Herb Bookstore's sign was very modest, like a speck of plainness amid a cluster of flowers.
The sign had no lighting; only the second-floor window was lit. Kai Bunta looked up at the building in front of him.
In his hand was the cane that had vanished before Phoenix Academy Maggie.
The aning of the cane varied depending on the person.
To a superior like Phoenix Academy Maggie, he naturally couldn't rely on his age to sell old ways, making the other person think he's a decrepit fellow; he had to demonstrate his own ability.
But towards the younger generation, it was necessary to hold the cane, exhibiting an elder's presence to earn respect.
Kai Bunta stepped forward.
Each step struck the rusty stairs, creating creaking sounds; the corridor on the second floor was not lit.
He reached the door and rang the doorbell.
Ding dong, after a crisp sound, the door opened, and white light illuminated the hallway.
"Is the light outside broken?"
Kai Bunta's expression showed so displeasure.
The girl inside wore a silver-white robe, with a futuristic helt-mask on her head that obscured her expression and made it impossible to discern anything from her tone.
The neutral electronic voice completely extinguished any attempts to pry.
"No matter how dark it gets, Grandpa Kai, you can still see."
Takahashi Saeko sidestepped with a smile, "Would you like so tea?"
"I'll have a cup of Xihu Longjing."
Kai Bunta entered the room.
Takahashi Saeko closed the door, shrugged, "I'm sorry, I only have ordinary green tea here."
"You're making so much money, yet living so frugally. I don't understand what you Takahashi folks are thinking."
"Grandpa Kai, money is sothing you can never earn enough of."
Takahashi Saeko responded honestly.
Under her parents' influence, she has co to enjoy the process of earning money and the pleasure of seeing the numbers in her bank account grow.
Secondly, when carrying out the street cleaner tasks, she encounters things that ordinary people can't even imagine.
Those things piqued Takahashi Saeko's interest.
The premise is that there is no uncontrollable danger.
"Grandpa Kai, is there a reason you specifically ca to find ?"
Takahashi Saeko sat on the single sofa beside her, crossed her legs.
Kai Bunta placed his hand on the cane, his elderly face full of seriousness, "Takahashi, have you ever considered not drifting outside other forces, truly serving a big figure.
The tis have changed, if you continue to drift outside, no faction will consider you a confidant.
It ans you can never participate in the biggest cake distribution of this world."
Takahashi Saeko pursed her lips; she naturally knew what the so-called biggest cake was.
The current international situation, the different world is the biggest cake.
All countries and financial conglorates, including capable individuals, want to chase the benefits of the different world.
She also still fretted over this; crawling outside other forces, the news she could get could be considered outdated.
Even though those outdated news, Takahashi Saeko pays a huge price to obtain, but only ends up getting very little.
"Grandpa Kai, what do you an by this?"
"Stop feigning ignorance, girl, you know what I'm talking about; the Shinobu Introduction office has already been gathered by a remarkable big figure, reorganizing the Imperial Court Retainers."
Kai Bunta straightened his back, tightly gripping the cane, his expression full of seriousness, "Your parents, your grandfather, I hope you can reach out and have them return to Japan and join the Imperial Court Retainers.
We'll serve that esteed person together."
Takahashi Saeko fell into deep thought.
She was clear, given Kai Bunta's personality, the person able to rope him in must be soone from the country.
An outsider, no matter how much they promise, can't make Kai Bunta abandon the Shinobu Introduction office.
It must be soone dostic, especially the top echelon elite, to garner such trust from him.
The five major consortia, or it's Kochou.
Takahashi Saeko's eyes narrowed slightly, she spoke, "The big figure behind you, wouldn't it be our respected Pri Minister?"
"That's right."
Kai Bunta didn't deny it; Takahashi's family was separated from the Shinobu Introduction office, but still within the circle of Iga Ninja.
That's why Kai Bunta was willing to openly reveal who acquired the Shinobu Introduction office.
That's why Takahashi Saeko refers to him as Grandpa Kai in word.
"Girl, since you call Grandpa, I won't harm you. In the current dostic situation, the Pri Minister has Phoenix Academy Group's enormous financial power, plus support from the US military base, and her own popularity among civilians.
She is destined to control this country in the future.
Of course, her goal isn't just to be Pri Minister for several years, she truly wants to oversee all matters related to the different world."
Kai Bunta spoke eloquently, with no semblance of an old man's frail state, not even needing to catch his breath, continued, "Now led by them, the Takamagahara Plan has already invented sothing capable of fighting aging.
If research continues, the lifespan of old folks like us could be extended by decades."
Takahashi Saeko was sowhat surprised, "Has the progress reached this stage?"
"Naturally, I have personally watched the relevant videos. Technology can change human lifespan; ancient people considered fifty to be a long life, but now sixty-year-olds can still work on construction sites, moving bricks."
Kai Bunta's tone carried a trace of excitent, his expression showed longing, "As long as we serve the Pri Minister.
"When the experint matures, she will extend our lifespan."
For soone his age, money, won, those are already secondary things.
The truly important thing is lifespan, and a healthy body that can run freely.
These are more tempting than any woman.
Takahashi Saeko fell into thought; if she wants to continue exploring matters of the Different World and figure out the mysterious changes happening to Iroha, she can't remain an outsider wandering beyond the great powers.
If she wants to enter the ga, she naturally has to choose the strongest one.
"Alright, I'm willing to join the Imperial Court Retainers, but on one condition: you cannot disturb while I'm attending school."
"No problem, the young mistress said you can freely manage your school ti."
Kai Bunta's words made Takahashi Saeko frown montarily, then relax. Exposed is exposed.
However, to unwind the matters of Iroha, working for Iroha's rival...
Takahashi Saeko felt a bit strange inside.
"The young mistress wants to expand our numbers. Do you have any suitable candidates to recomnd?"
Takahashi Saeko ca to her senses, shrugged and said, "The people I know, you should be aware, are all a bunch of weirdos.
Externals are fine, but if you want them to join the Imperial Court Retainers, it might cause trouble."
"That's not our concern. Write them all down, I'll pass it on to the young mistress, and she will decide."
"Okay."
Takahashi Saeko nodded, internally anticipating learning more about matters related to the Different World, and figuring out if Iroha's superpower is harmful.
...
Imperial Palace, North Wing of Honmaru Palace, brightly lit.
Phoenix Academy Maggie hurried inside, to the eting room door, where the Pri Minister's Aide opened the door and let her in.
Her eyes swept over, understanding major events were unfolding.
Within this eting room, almost all Cabinet Ministers were present, including conservative ministers and ministers loyal to the Pri Minister.
Middle factions or fence-sitting factions seem more appropriate.
The true middle faction minister was only Morimoto Chiyoda.
Yet he wasn't present, showing his prominent power in the cabinet.
Facing the scrutinizing gaze of these ministers, she wore a slight smile, not fazed at all, naturally walking to the seat reserved for her by her mother.
Located at the first seat on the lower right.
Once she sat down, it imdiately drew change in the ministers' gazes, but none openly said anything inappropriate.
Kochou was very pleased with the reactions, glanced at the Pri Minister's Aide and said, "Let's begin."
"Okay."
The Pri Minister's Aide quickly projected a Douyin video onto the big screen.
The person filming spoke in Mandarin, translated simultaneously by the Pri Minister's Aide, allowing the attending ministers to understand what the other was saying.
After entering the museum, not even a minute passed before reaching the Han Dynasty exhibit, and a handso man dressed in Hanfu appeared on the screen.
Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes narrowed slightly.
The man raised his hand to touch the glass, and silently, the glass rolled to the sides.
"Wow, aweso!"
The Pri Minister's Aide diligently translated.
Phoenix Academy Maggie imdiately understood why her mother called them to gather here.
Clearly, an individual suspected to be an Angel Envoy from the Different World appeared in London.
A short video of less than three minutes, yet containing many aspects worth examining.
"This happened in London at 10:05 a.m., what are your thoughts?"
Kochou scanned the seated Cabinet Ministers.
The crowd fell into contemplation, speculating about that less-than-three-minute video.
"That person doesn't seem like an Angel Envoy from the Different World. I'm sowhat knowledgeable about Huaxia culture; the clothes he's wearing should be a Jin Dynasty Crane Cloak, and such thods are akin to the legendary Sword Immortal."
The Chief Cabinet Secretary slowly expressed his opinion, occasionally observing Kochou's expression, hoping to see whether his words earned her appreciation.
But Kochou's expression was as deep as water, making it hard to decipher.
The Pri Minister's Aide said softly, "Indeed, there are such comnts online.
Especially in the East, they refer to this man as Sword Immortal online, and so say he's their ancestral patriarch.
However, too many claim him as patriarch, and the truth remains unknown."
Phoenix Academy Maggie couldn't help but ask, "The key is, did he go to the British Museum just to reclaim his forr sword of immortality?
That rusty sword completely transford in his hands.
Can other artifacts have similar effects?"
"Indeed, this is a matter worth paying attention to."
Kochou nodded, said in a deep voice, "Historical artifacts may harbor unimaginable powers.
Summon the Cultural Affairs Minister."
"Yes."
The Pri Minister's Aide nodded, turned, and walked out.
Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced over the other Cabinet Ministers, feeling that tonight's eting would be quite long.
The amount of information is overwhelming.
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