blogombal Chapter 422 3 Artifacts
Chapter 422 3 Artifacts
Chapter 422 The Three Divine Artifacts
"Yesterday, a major terrorist attack occurred in Namba City. Terrorists claiming to be loyalists to the Emperor used a high-yield bomb in the outer suburbs of Namba City, causing extensive damage to buildings, numerous civilian casualties, and even attacking federal troops stationed there for counter-terrorism operations."
"According to the investigation, the pro-Emperor patriots took extreme actions because they discovered that the mainland (Area 11) was separating from the mainland..."
On the large screen in the Heian-kyo commercial district square, a dignified host is broadcasting the latest news, attracting passersby to stop and watch.
In a coffee shop next to the square, Bai Ze turned his head to look at the big screen, listened to the report, and chuckled to himself.
Well, this news report is basically saying that the Japanese government doesn't dare to say that the Western Alliance's father is responsible for the bad things, so they're putting the blame on the Emperor's loyalists. But they also want to achieve their goal through this incident, so they use the Emperor's loyalists as a cover to expose the events in the Steel Continent and the Japanese mainland.
While claiming to be cowardly, they were also subtly threatening the Western Union's garrison.
While attempting to negotiate with the Western Union forces, they were also prepared to withdraw at any time.
If the Western Union garrison responds strongly, the instigator will likely simply pretend to be deaf and dumb, claiming that he knows nothing.
I've already used my words to incite Matsudō Kōji's greed, but I didn't expect these Han Chinese to still be so cowardly.
Bai Ze thought to himself.
It's unclear whether it was because Matsudō no Kōshō was incapable of guiding the situation, or whether Matsudō no Kōshō remained cowardly even after his greed was aroused.
If it's the latter, then that's interesting.
Even the fact that his words were law prevented him from rushing forward recklessly shows how cowardly he must be.
Fortunately, the nobles of the Chinese clans have finally expressed their stance, and now it remains to be seen how the King of Zhai will operate within the Western Union military.
If she is capable enough, then she can facilitate the negotiation.
If she's not capable enough, Bai Ze will find a few more high-ranking officials and make them "ambitious" as well.
He refused to believe that the all-powerful power of words could not subdue the cowardice of these old turtles.
As I was pondering this, a light fragrance slowly approached.
"Sir, may I sit here?"
Dressed in white robes, a yuban (a type of traditional Chinese robe), and scarlet hanaka (a type of traditional Chinese clothing), her typical shrine maiden attire added a touch of elegance and solemnity to her delicate features, but the depth of her human emotions subtly undermined this aura.
"Dean Lu, can't you be a little more low-key?" Bai Ze sighed.
Bai Ze didn't recognize the face in front of him, but he sensed the eerie aura hidden beneath the beautiful exterior.
The visitor was none other than Lu Qiudi, the dean of the medical school at Yujing Martial Arts University.
Lu Qiuhuo was probably the person most familiar with Japan among all the students at Yujing Martial Arts University, since he frequently came to Japan to import experimental materials. For example, the wanted criminal from Japan—Yibai Biqiu—was actually Lu Qiuhuo's alias.
Now it seems that "one of" should be added after this pseudonym.
Lu Qiuhuo likely had more than one alias in Yingguo.
"Kamo Shrine has a rule that shrine maidens must wear formal attire at all times. It would be abnormal if I didn't wear this attire."
The exquisitely beautiful priestess smiled slightly, exuding a gentleness completely different from that of the white-robed monk. "Don't worry, no one will pay attention to us."
A witch came to the coffee shop, but the waiters and customers didn't react in any special way.
Most people were either listening to the news broadcasts outside or browsing news about terrorist attacks on their phones, while a few were doing their own thing.
Bai Ze's nostrils twitched slightly. Although he didn't smell anything special, he keenly sensed something amiss.
"Poison?" he guessed.
"To be precise, it's just a little trick to regulate hormones," Lu Qiudi said with a smile.
Unlike Bai Ze, who used illusion magic, she controlled the bodies of everyone in the shop by manipulating hormones, influencing their minds through physiological means, and causing them to completely ignore Lu Qiuhuo and Bai Ze.
"This is no small trick."
Bai Ze shook his head, giving up on continuing the discussion, and said, "I didn't expect that Dean Lu would actually succeed in entering Ying Kingdom."
After the general blocked the borders between Ying and the outside world, Bai Ze thought he would never receive any reinforcements.
Unexpectedly, after yesterday, Lu Qiu made contact with the nanounits on Bai Ze's body.
This relieved Bai Ze of some pressure.
With the help of an eight-star martial artist, especially one like Lu Qiuhuo who is skilled in medicine and poison and has unpredictable methods, Bai Ze's success rate will skyrocket no matter what he does.
"I arrived before the general blocked Ying Kingdom, but because it was difficult to travel under this identity, I didn't come directly to you."
Lu Qiudi explained the reason to Bai Ze.
The shrine maidens of Kamo Shrine are required to stay in the shrine year-round for their spiritual practice, and can only go out on rare occasions.
Because of this, by gaining access to key figures within the shrine, one can obtain an identity that doesn't need to be revealed to outsiders. However, this also means being subject to the restrictions imposed by the Kamo Shrine.
If Lu Qiuhuo's identity allowed him to move freely, Bai Ze might not have needed to impersonate Shimura Shin.
"After the 'Humanity Declaration,' the Japanese imperial family could no longer openly use themselves as objects of worship, but the shrines associated with the imperial family have never stopped their ritual activities."
With a meaningful smile, Lu Qiudi said, "The shrine maidens of Kamo Shrine need to perform prayers regularly to offer their faith to the Yasakani no Magatama enshrined in the shrine. This is also why the shrine stipulates that shrine maidens must always wear formal attire; they want to maintain the shrine maidens' sanctity."
"The Yasakani no Magatama, one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan..." Bai Ze raised an eyebrow, recalling the faint threat he had sensed from afar when he was at the stronghold of the King's Patriots.
Although Saiō is the nominal leader of Shintoism and holds a high position of power, she has not actually transcended the limits of humanity and reached the eighth star.
Achieving the Eight Stars is no easy feat; at least, it requires the presence of a monk like Saiwang, who has always remained in a safe zone and has rarely faced any life-threatening situations.
There may exist martial artists who can rapidly increase their cultivation level through seclusion, even breaking through to the eighth star directly, but it is definitely not the case that a Zhaiwang (斋王) could achieve this.
Such beings are purely dependent on talent, the kind of talent that's terrifyingly strong. Even Mu Yaoguang went through countless trials and tribulations, rather than simply breaking through to the eighth star through practice.
Zhai Wang is clearly inferior to Mu Yaoguang, let alone surpass her.
Therefore, the slight threat posed to Sai-o likely came from the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan.
"There are policies from above, and countermeasures from below," Bai Ze said.
Prince Zhai proposed abolishing the divine status of the retired emperor, but secretly prepared a countermeasure: instead of worshipping people, he turned the emperor into a sacrificial object.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiudi also showed a hint of surprise.
Because she found that Bai Ze was not surprised by this, it meant that Bai Ze also knew about the relevant secrets.
He's only been in Japan for a few days, and he already knows so much.
"It seems you know quite a bit too," Lu Qiudi said.
"Just a little bit."
Bai Ze made a gesture, then changed the subject, "Let's get down to business. Dean Lu has heard the news, hasn't he? The Japanese nobility should be having negotiations with the Shogun's side soon. As a result, the Shogun's strong warriors should be gathering in Heian-kyo, leading to a shortage of eight-star combatants in various regions."
"So, what do you intend for me to do?" Lu Qiudi asked, looking at Bai Ze. "Leave Heian-kyo?"
Despite the turmoil in Heian-kyo, Bai Ze plans to send Lu Qiudi, an eight-star warrior, away from Heian-kyo, which makes Lu Qiudi quite curious about Bai Ze's thoughts.
Does he think he can handle the situation in Heian-kyo? Is the innate Dao embryo really that miraculous?
Lu Qiudi was itching to get her hands on Bai Ze and study the mysteries of the innate Dao embryo, to see what gave him the confidence to interfere in the situation in Heian-kyo.
"That's right, it's about leaving Heian-kyo."
Bai Ze gently raised his hand, and nanounits appeared in front of him, condensing into eight spheres.
At the same time, a map was projected onto the table.
"I would like to ask Dean Lu to go to these eight regions, go deep underground, and hide these things on the fiftieth floor," Bai Ze said.
The map projection also shows individual red dots.
After gaining control of a steel continental plate, Bai Ze understood the structure of the control center and how to obtain authorization.
Even if he doesn't personally enter the control center, he can still gain access remotely by using the "words become law" method.
Those AIs aren't living beings; controlling them would be much easier for Bai Ze than dealing with humans.
However, when permissions are changed, the interface of the AI in the control center should change, and the staff who are constantly monitoring the AI will most likely experience changes as well.
Even if they didn't notice, if someone came with the general's token to unlock the final control, they might still sense something was wrong.
Taking action prematurely without having control over all relevant personnel could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Therefore, Bai Ze planned to wait until the crucial moment before making his move.
He originally planned to do it himself, but now that Lu Qiuhuo has arrived, he is much more suitable than Bai Ze to take charge personally.
"Mu Yaoguang's Tai Su Wan Xiang Armor?"
Lu Qiudi looked at the eight spheres, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "They have abilities I don't know about?"
The Tai Su Wan Xiang Armor is famous in Dongxia, and its abilities are naturally widely known. As one of their own, Lu Qiuhuo knows even more about it.
"Well, perhaps Dean Lu and Yao Guang aren't close enough?" Bai Ze said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiudi looked intently at Bai Ze and said, "So you really are being kept by Mu Yaoguang."
Are we not close enough?
Compared to Bai Ze, their relationship is indeed not close enough.
but-
"Why does it have to be me being kept?" Bai Ze's smile vanished.
Why can't it be me who wins over Mu Yaoguang?
"Hehe." Lu Qiudi smiled politely.
She didn't say much, but it seemed like she said everything.
"As you wish, I'll deliver the items for you," Lu Qiudi waved her hand, putting away the eight spheres, and then asked, "And then?"
"Then, we'll just have to wait for the right opportunity," Bai Ze said.
Waiting for the start of negotiations between the two sides.
Just then, new content appeared in the news reports outside.
"A brief announcement."
The female host looked at the table and seemed to see unexpected news on the screen. Even with her professionalism, she couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
Then the female host quickly composed herself and said in an excited tone: "His Excellency the General takes the news that Area 11 will separate from the mainland very seriously and has immediately sent people to respond."
"General, your presence guarding the spatial rift has revealed unusual activity that has attracted a colossal beast from the deep sea. Currently, the Rift-Sea Mystic Whale is departing from the Antarctic Ocean and is expected to arrive near the East China Sea within a few days. At that time, it may cause a severe tsunami, threatening the coast of Dongxia and our country."
"To prevent our citizens from suffering, Your Excellency has decided to relocate Area 11 in a short period of time to avoid the tsunami. If the tsunami is too severe, Area 11 may have to return directly to Western Union territorial waters."
"If this happens, Area 11 will likely remain in Western Union territorial waters, and Your Excellency will secure an opportunity for the people of Japan to join Western Union."
The moment these words were uttered, a huge uproar erupted in the square.
However, these discussions were not criticizing the general for acting on his own initiative, but rather praising his love for the people.
"After all, it's a behemoth like the Rending Sea Whale; avoiding it is a rational choice."
"You mean the local area? It's been polluted for a long time and is uninhabitable. Just give up."
"Why don't we just join Western Union? Then we'll be proud members of Western Union."
..
The prevailing opinion in the square was to join Western Union.
Although news reports only say "possibly," most people have already assumed they have joined Western Union.
Or rather, they longed to join Western Union.
As for the compatriots who might exist locally, probably nobody cares.
The general has indeed achieved near-complete conquest of Japan, and now people are already thinking about joining the Western Alliance.
The general's response was indeed timely and impressive.
With this one strike, they directly seized the initiative.
"The matter concerning the relocation of the 11th District continent and joining the Western Alliance will be discussed by General Masashita and the five regent families of our Japan in two days."
"The negotiation venue will be fully open to the public, and a select group of citizens will be selected to observe. Those who are not granted entry can watch the event via live stream."
News reports are ongoing.
Bai Ze's eyes lit up. "Two days later?"
The negotiations should take place two days from now, but they will not be prior negotiations; rather, they will be supplementary discussions on what has already happened.
Although Bai Ze was still unaware of the details, he had already guessed that the complete separation of the Steel Continent and the mainland of Ying Kingdom would probably take place in two days.
Based on the vibration frequency of the steel continent over the past two days, the specific separation time should be within a few days.
The news reports that have emerged have further helped Bai Ze pinpoint the specific timeframe.
Given the strength of the general's side, there will be no back-and-forth negotiations with the Japanese; what will happen will only be a declaration.
As for the current news, it's just a smokescreen.
"Everything will be over in two days," Bai Ze said.
He stood up, and golden light appeared in his eyes.
After a day of rest, his mental energy had been restored, but Bai Ze felt it wasn't enough.
Two days from now, it will most likely be a tough battle, and he must make further preparations.
"Preparing to overturn everything."