Qiyu, a semi-open parking lot.
Long Yin held a cigarette in his mouth, leaning against a Red Toyota SUV.
Scattered on the concrete beneath his feet were over a dozen extinguished cigarette butts.
Not far away, Beiye squatted in the shadow at the base of a support pillar, a Coin flipping nimbly between his fingers as he chewed bubblegum.
His gaze was locked on a group of high school students at the other end of the parking lot—punks, by the look of them.
“Long Yin, why here…”
“Shut up.”
“……”
The group of students swaggered closer.
Beiye’s brow tightened. He asked again, “Seriously, shouldn’t we pick another spot?”
A bald student in front raised his hand.
“Yo!”
His lips and ears were pierced, and he exaggeratedly mimicked a West Coast greeting—shoulders pulled back, head thrust forward, forming a snakeshaped gesture for a high five.
Long Yin only glanced at them coldly, eyes sweeping over the unlit cigarettes in their hands. Instantly understanding, he tossed over his lighter.
The bald student caught it, lit his smoke with practiced ease, took a deep drag, and gave a broad, winged gesture toward Long Yin.
“Homie!”
“Are you guys still students?” Long Yin exhaled smoke, asking casually.
“Uncle, you don’t seem like the type to lecture people.”
A spiky-haired student behind the bald one grinned.
Long Yin tugged the corner of his mouth but didn’t argue.
“Uncle, we’ve got stuff more exciting than smokes. Want to try?”
The bald student licked his lips, voice low.
Long Yin frowned immediately, his thoughts turning to unpleasant possibilities.
“Some things aren’t meant for kids like you.”
The punks exchanged looks, then burst into laughter.
The bald student waved a hand.
“Misunderstanding. I meant this.”
He made a loose grip in the air, moving his hand up and down like pounding a mortar.
“An active JK. Real pretty.”
Long Yin realized it wasn’t what he’d imagined and let out a breath of relief.
After a few years in Japan, he’d gotten used to students being more open than he’d expected.
It was nothing unusual.
“No need.”
“Not into JK? Maybe you prefer mature, or even younger? We’ve got connections. Way cheaper than on the outside.”
Beiye stood up slowly, spat his gum forcefully to the ground.
“Oi! Brats, clear off.”
“Come on, just having some fun. Group purchases get a discount.”
The spiky-haired one blocked Beiye, smirking.
“Group…”
Even a native Japanese like Beiye was momentarily speechless.
“What’s going on?”
A cool voice called from the SUV’s passenger seat.
The car door opened.
A handsome youth, eyes blindfolded with cloth, poked his head out.
Long, silver hair cascaded like a waterfall.
“Nothing.”
Long Yin gestured for him to sit back.
In his ear, a micro-earpiece crackled to life, a man’s voice mixed with static coming through.
“We’re here.”
Damn it!
Late for so long, and now you show up.
Outside the parking lot, came the rumble of tires over speed bumps.
Moments later, a closed cargo truck led a convoy into view.
Behind it followed a Black Mercedes-Benz S-Class, then two Black Lexus vehicles—so ostentatious, like a yakuza boss out for a drive.
Beiye muttered.
“What’s with the flash?”
The Black Mercedes stopped precisely behind the SUV.
The passenger door swung open. Koji Hattori stepped out, crisp suit and overcoat making his presence imposing.
His gaze swept over the stunned group of students, then he silently adjusted his collar—the aura he projected was overwhelming.
The doors of the two Lexus vehicles opened simultaneously.
Several Bodyguards in matching black suits emerged, spreading out in a fan formation, hands clasped in front, eyes sharp as they scanned the area.
Once the Bodyguards were in position, Koji Hattori turned to pull open the rear car door—only for it to be pushed open from the inside, slamming hard into his knee.
“So slow.”
Jiang Jian Yue appeared.
She was bundled in thick sportswear and pants, icy gaze sweeping across Koji Hattori’s face—she found him increasingly annoying lately.
The palace servant’s urge was rising.
“Oi oi, what’s going on?”
The spiky-haired student’s grin froze.
He mumbled.
The bald one fought down his fear, eyes drawn to the alluring woman stepping from the back seat, unable to hide his amazement.
Forcing a smile, he asked Jiang Jian Yue, “Are you… looking for us?”
Who are you?
Jiang Jian Yue narrowed her eyes, only then realizing these people weren’t part of The Light Extinguishers. She waved for Koji Hattori to handle it.
“All right, not looking for you. Go play elsewhere.”
Koji Hattori’s tone toward the students was still somewhat restrained.
But to the student punks, it sounded condescending.
“This is a public space. Who do you think you’re ordering around?”
The spiky-haired one snapped first, but the bald leader was already sweating buckets.
Noguchi!
Are you an idiot?
Koji Hattori rubbed the stubble on his chin, glanced at the Missy, and reached toward his waistband.
“We’re going! We’re going!”
The bald student waved frantically, then spun around and punched the spiky-haired one in the face, dragging him away in panic.
Once the punks were gone, Jiang Jian Yue folded her arms across her chest, her tone a bit sheepish.
“Traffic jam.”
Long Yin rubbed his aching temples, surveying the convoy and Bodyguards.
“Did you have to be this flashy?”
You picked an open parking lot and got tangled up with punks, too.
We’re all the same.
“Reverse logic.”
Jiang Jian Yue offered her explanation, typing on her phone’s notepad.
“If Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu and the police are aware of the item’s movement, small, covert transfers become more dangerous.”
“My approach declares presence. The Dawn Resources Group name is enough to deflect suspicious searches, reducing the risk of small accidents.”
Of course, there was another purpose, but Jiang Jian Yue didn’t mention it.
She was testing the collaboration level and intel between Tokuyōmoto Base and the Curtain Cluster, as well as their stance toward Dawn Resources Group.
Trying to determine if the real Curtain Cluster was truly the ‘Big Brother’ Kanrou spoke of.
In the anime, progress was stuck at the night of the ‘Hunter Incident’ when she was taken away.
Without God’s Perspective, Jiang Jian Yue knew little of the Curtain Cluster.
She didn’t even know why Dawn Resources Group was so feared by The Light Extinguishers.
The reason Long Yin gave at the end of episode six clearly wasn’t the whole story.
Though the information Jiang Jian Yue had was enough to deduce the Truth—everyone knew she wasn’t exactly known for her brains.
“Fine, whatever the Missy says goes.”
Long Yin didn’t argue.
With Jiang Jian Yue’s lateness, he was too tired to bother.
He pulled a suitcase from the SUV’s back seat.
The cargo truck’s rear compartment opened, and Long Yin glanced inside.
A burly Bodyguard sat on the left, a strap across his chest, an ammo case slung behind him, bullets linked to the M134 Minigun in his hands.
On the right, another Bodyguard had an unloaded RPG-7 across his lap.
“……”
Long Yin’s muscles tensed.
He shoved the suitcase into the truck and whirled to stare at Jiang Jian Yue.
Your Dawn Resources Group is too much!
Japan is a no-gun country—can’t you show some respect?
What about law?
What about order?
“Legal.”
Jiang Jian Yue saw through his thoughts with ease and offered a simple explanation.
Awesome, right? Traded for African Mineral.
Better the Chinese who will build better infrastructure and elevate the productive forces than the West who will just bomb you, kill your leader, and plunder your land