Chapter 62: Sohji Heavy Industries

The design and construction of this building were handled by Maruyama Construction, a subsidiary of the Tachibana family; no one in Japan’s construction industry doubts the quality of Maruyama’s work—it has five hundred years of history, and its founder once built the keep of Edo Castle for Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Yabuki Sakura slowly explained to the Cassel party the history behind the Sohji Heavy Industries building: “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government trusts Maruyama Construction enough to allow the vital elevated highway to pass directly through the interior of Sohji Heavy Industries.”

“In nearly ten years since its completion, no earthquake or hurricane has ever disrupted traffic in that tunnel.”

“Impressive, impressive,” Lu Mingfei exclaimed, though he had known this long ago—he still had to show proper appreciation when the moment called for it.

This was the perfect atmosphere.

Ding

“Hai hai.”

“Red bean paste, secret sauce.”

As the elevator doors opened, office workers in the lobby were busy answering phones and operating computers; hundreds of cubicles were neatly arranged on this floor—this was the Sohji family’s 24-hour hotline center, known as the call center.

Lu Mingfei glanced around; Chu Zihang shot him a look and sensed a change in his mood since he returned from the restroom.

Chu Zihang couldn’t tell if it was confidence—or excitement.

After passing through the call center and climbing the stairs to the 29th floor, Lu Mingfei saw the massive regional map covered in darts; Yabuki Sakura continued her tour, and as a guide, she was exceptionally qualified.

Lu Mingfei looked out at the glass curtain wall—beyond lay Tokyo, a modern metropolis of bustling streets and towering skyscrapers.

I hope Su Lin can uncover something, Lu Mingfei thought silently.

“Lu-kun,” Sakura said, “the heads of the eight families are waiting for you all at Sōshin Temple. Please follow me.”

“Coming,” Lu Mingfei said, abandoning his thoughts and following behind.

At this moment, Su Lin sat on a public bus, quietly watching the street scenery pass by.

The fare was paid using a historical projection—he felt no guilt whatsoever about fooling a foreign nation’s public finances.

Though not the same world, Su Lin found himself genuinely intrigued by the surroundings; after all, this was his first international trip on Earth.

Fortunately, he kept some reserves—didn’t go all-in.

Su Lin spent 30 points to purchase fluency in Earth languages.

He had promised Lu Mingfei he’d help find clues related to Herzog’s true body, but for now he had no leads—better to just explore a bit.

For safety, he remained hidden, letting the historical projection appear publicly while he controlled its actions through his consciousness.

He picked a crowded station at random and stepped off the bus.

“It’s just as they said… packed to the brim,” Su Lin felt the crush was even worse than Beijing’s Line 2 during rush hour in Rongcheng. “Alright, what kind of spectacle should I put on?”

“Big Ball Spiral?”

“How about a transformation? Wait—I only brought the Kamen Rider suit. Is Kamen Rider even out yet?”

Su Lin thought about it—he’d watched those tokusatsu shows long ago, and most of the plot had faded; he couldn’t even recall which year they aired.

Snap

Su Lin snapped his fingers, eyes lighting up—he’d thought of a great idea. “First, let’s blow up their bathroom.”

“Art is explosion!”

With his Foundation Establishment-level cultivation and a little cheat, he’d carefully shape the explosion’s flames into the form of Patrick Star.

“I don’t object… but I’d advise you to hold off—for now, at least. Wait a while before doing it.” A familiar voice came from behind.

Su Lin froze, then smiled. “Heh, I knew it.”

Su Lin turned around—a man stood in the center of the crowd, holding a boy with exquisite features; passersby instinctively avoided them, leaving ample space.

The man rubbed his hair and waved his free arm toward Su Lin.

“Wanna grab a drink? My treat this time!”

“Sure,” Su Lin accepted gladly and walked toward him.

Never pass up a free meal.

Sakura led the three to a sliding door, gently pulled it open, and sunlight streamed in—it was a secluded, spacious terrace, hidden in a corner of the Sohji Heavy Industries building, invisible from both ground and sky unless you opened this very door to enter this hidden paradise.

Lu Mingfei marveled—rich people really knew how to enjoy life; even inside such a massive building, they’d built a temple.

This Sōshin Temple was built in the Shinto style.

At the entrance stood a small vermilion torii gate; the surrounding granite walls were carved with various Shinto deities—common figures from local myths and legends.

Nearby, on the terrace, a flowing spring trickled among white stones and green grass forming a miniature rock garden; this small artificial landscape, paired with the architectural style, exuded quiet Zen.

Lu Mingfei had seen similar scenes in some anime.

A circular Taiji pattern was formed by a black-and-white stone table; six people waiting beside it rose and bowed.

“This is the head of the Sohji family, Lord Sohji Shishio—you all met him last night,” Yabuki Sakura announced.

Lu Mingfei wasn’t surprised—he’d known the plot before coming to Japan; he even knew the family head’s life goals inside and out.

Lu Mingfei thought silently: maybe someday I could team up with Turtle.

He’d sell sunscreen on the beach; I’d open a newspaper stand beside the coastal road and also sell coconut water.

We’d just have to agree on the location—Turtle thinks Hawaii’s great, but I think Hainan suits me better.

Himeari must be…

Snap!

Ignoring the strange glances from everyone, Lu Mingfei slapped himself across the face…

Strange—why was he thinking about her sister again?

Lu Mingfei felt an odd unease—he could distinguish between novels and reality. Though he felt moved and pity for that girl he’d never met, the truth was he’d never seen her, didn’t even know what she looked like—why was his mind drifting there?

“Lu-kun, are you unwell?” Sohji Shishio asked. “Our branch has doctors specialized for half-breeds—we can have them examine you.”

“Thank you, no need,” Lu Mingfei offered a stiff but polite smile.

But suddenly a vision flashed in his mind—a girl’s face.

Crimson eyes, dark red hair, slightly resembling Nono, a swan-like neck, clear butterfly bones, and a delicate face, her expression as cold as an iceberg.

Sakura!

The girl held up a notebook, on which something was written…

“Lu-kun!” Sohji Shishio’s voice rang out again.

“Huh?!” Lu Mingfei snapped back to reality, realizing everyone was staring at him. “I… I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well last night. Sorry.”

“We should be the ones apologizing—we’ll arrange a better room for you tonight,” Sohji Shishio said with the grace of a host. “Please, take your seats.”