Chapter 212: Osaka
Early in the morning, Ai Jiangtu arranged a tour bus to take the whole team to Osaka.
As captain, he quietly calculated the timing. Whether it was the Feiniao City incident or the evil spirit at Yanming Temple, both had been resolved far faster than expected. The former had earned Mo Fan a Commander level Soul Essence, and the latter had given Zhao Manyan the Wooden Fish connected to Baxia.
The team had gained quite a lot, but Ai Jiangtu could not help feeling that the others were becoming too relaxed. Compared to the true difficulty of the National Team experience, their recent journey had almost felt like a field trip.
By noon, Ai Jiangtu received word from the mentors that Grand Mentor Feng Li was feeling troubled.
The mentors had originally wanted to increase the difficulty of the experience. However, if the mission was made too dangerous, Mo Fan might gain tempering from it, but the rest of the team might not survive.
Ai Jiangtu glanced at Mo Fan, who was sitting by the window with his eyes half closed. The guy looked like he was resting, but Ai Jiangtu knew very well that Mo Fan was probably thinking about resources again.
Raising a team was troublesome, but controlling Mo Fan was even more troublesome.
Mo Fan was the kind of person who treated danger as an opportunity. The sea monster swarm around Japan’s Ocean Battle City might be a disaster to others, but to Mo Fan, it was probably a perfect farming ground. With enough Soul Remnants and Soul Essences, he might even grind his way toward stronger spell levels.
On the bus, the group watched the seaside scenery behind them gradually fade into the distance.
Suddenly, several people cried out in shock. On the mist covered sea surface, they saw what looked like a small island floating in the distance.
Soon, the island slowly sank and disappeared from view.
Jiang Shaoxu was still startled. “What the heck was that?”
Mu Ningxue looked at the sea thoughtfully. After a brief hesitation, she said, “Could it be Baxia, the underwater shadow creature, following us?”
Everyone was startled by her words and found them very plausible.
Mo Fan glanced out the window and said calmly, “That’s right. No need to worry about it. If it keeps following us, that might even be better. It’s like having a personal bodyguard.”
Zhao Manyan immediately hugged his bag. The Wooden Fish was inside, and after knowing it was connected to Baxia, he had become both excited and terrified.
Gong Yu laughed dryly. “A top tier creature as the National Team’s bodyguard... that is pure prestige.”
Mo Fan glanced at him. “You sound relaxed now. If it really surfaced beside you, you would probably be the first one to faint.”
Gong Yu’s expression stiffened. He wanted to retort, but after remembering the enormous shadow beneath the sea, he swallowed his words.
While the National Team members chatted on their way to Osaka, Yanming Temple underwent a drastic change after they left.
A monk named Nanami suddenly went insane and confessed to all the horrific crimes he had committed. The other monks and pilgrims were shocked and furious. They subdued him and handed him over to the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the end, the monks Nara and Miyata were cleared of all charges. Statues were erected in their honor, and the older monks repented day and night in shame.
As for the one who had triggered the truth, Mo Fan had already left silently with the team.
He had no interest in acting as judge over anyone. All he had done was help expose the truth and let the local authorities handle the rest.
Now, it seemed the outcome was not too bad.
The National Team’s bus soon arrived in Osaka.
The location of the Osaka National Pavilion was quite interesting. It was situated on two opposing peaks around seven or eight kilometers inland from the coastline.
These two mountains, known as Sentinel Peaks, looked remarkably similar. Their cliffs were rugged, their slopes steep, and the winding road coiled around the mountain waist. Occasionally, one could see sharp turns with nothing but a cliff on the outside.
The National Pavilion sat atop the mountain, also known as the Twin Sentinel Towers. From afar, it looked like two grayish white castles standing tall on the peaks.
Between these sister towers, spanning the deep chasm, was a hanging wooden corridor. There was only one mountain road, so to get from one tower to the other, one had to walk across the suspended passage.
To put it plainly, it was a narrow corridor between two heavens, connected by a hanging bridge.
Even so, the National Team members were all impressed.
Jiang Yu exclaimed, “The eaves of the Twin Sentinel Towers actually serve as watchtowers. From here, looking south, you can see the most intense marine battlefield in all of Osaka. No wonder so many military officials choose to live here... Who would have thought? This Japanese Pavilion is seriously imposing!”
When they arrived at the West Sentinel Tower, guarding the gate were two Japanese mages dressed in traditional samurai style robes.
As they saw the group of young people approaching, their eyes sharpened, and they were just about to intercept them.
But at that moment, a beautiful woman dressed in a kimono, holding a floral parasol, proactively stepped forward. Her steps were small and graceful as she approached.
She looked young, but her temperament was refined and mature. Her posture was elegant, her expression gentle, and the faint fragrance around her gave her a noble charm.
Seeing this scene, Mo Fan raised an eyebrow slightly.
The members of the Chinese National Team all wore serious expressions, assuming the situation was about to turn hostile. They had expected the Japanese National Pavilion to greet them with arrogance or suspicion, but this woman’s attitude was surprisingly warm.
To their surprise, the mature beauty walked past the guards and stopped in front of Ai Jiangtu first.
She bowed politely and said in soft Chinese, “You must be Captain Ai Jiangtu. I am Mochizuki Chikako, and I have come specially to welcome China’s esteemed National Team.”
Ai Jiangtu nodded calmly. “Thank you for receiving us.”
Mochizuki Chikako smiled gently. Her gaze then moved past Ai Jiangtu and landed on Mo Fan.
The moment she looked at him, her expression changed slightly. It was not fear exactly, but a kind of careful respect.
“You must be Vice Captain Mo Fan,” she said softly.
Mo Fan was a little surprised. “You know me?”
Mochizuki Chikako held the parasol slightly toward him, blocking part of the scorching midday sun. Her tone became even more courteous. “Your name has already spread far beyond China. After the Ancient Capital calamity, the Hangzhou Totem incident, and your recent performance, it would be strange if we had not heard of you.”
The others immediately looked at Mo Fan. Bitch Commander-level is too easy nowadays I could even survive a strike from a ruler-level beast.
Zhao Manyan whispered, “Damn, Mo Fan, you’re famous even in Japan now?”
Mo Fan replied seriously, “A handsome and powerful man always shines wherever he goes. ”
Nanyu sighed. “Can you not ruin the atmosphere?”
Mochizuki Chikako did not seem offended. Instead, she smiled faintly and continued, “Japan respects powerful mages. A young mage who can face Commander level creatures and survive major calamities is naturally worthy of courtesy.”
Ai Jiangtu glanced at Mo Fan.
He knew very well that the Japanese side must have gathered information on their team. As the official captain, Ai Jiangtu would naturally be recognized. However, Mo Fan’s reputation seemed to have caused an even stronger reaction.
That was not strange.
Ai Jiangtu was known as a steady and powerful captain.
Mo Fan, however, was known as a violent and unpredictable battle monster.
For a National Pavilion about to face them, the second type was far more frightening.
Mochizuki Chikako gently introduced, “The Twin Sentinel Towers are a vital place in Japan. Other than the West Sentinel Tower, please do not enter the East Sentinel Tower on the eastern peak. That place is actually an international prison used to detain many high risk mage criminals.”
“It is heavily warded. Even Super Tier mages do not enter without permission.”
“Apologies for the many restrictions.”
Ai Jiangtu nodded with understanding. “We will follow your rules.”
Mo Fan looked toward the East Sentinel Tower.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The East Sentinel Tower.
So that was the birthplace of the Red Demon.
The place looked peaceful from the outside, but Mo Fan could faintly sense that the air around the eastern peak was much heavier. It was not simply because of prisoners. There was something more sinister hidden there, something that had been gathering darkness for a long time.
Mochizuki Chikako noticed Mo Fan’s gaze and softly reminded him, “Vice Captain Mo Fan, the East Sentinel Tower is not a place suitable for visiting.”
Mo Fan smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m a very rule abiding person.”
Zhao Manyan almost choked.
Nanyu turned her head away.
Even Ai Jiangtu’s expression twitched slightly.
Mochizuki Chikako clearly did not believe him either, but she still maintained her graceful smile. “Then please follow me. The Japanese National Pavilion has prepared a reception for all of you.”
As she walked ahead, Gong Yu muttered quietly, “They are being too polite. It feels strange.”
Jiang Shaoxu smiled. “Of course they’re polite. They probably investigated us already. Ai Jiangtu is the captain, and Mo Fan just killed a Commander level creature before even reaching Japan. If they still acted arrogant, they would be asking for trouble.”
Mo Fan nodded with satisfaction. “Smart people live longer.”
Ai Jiangtu said calmly, “Do not get careless. Courtesy does not mean weakness. This is still their territory.”
Mo Fan shrugged. “I know. If they are polite, I will be polite.”
Zhao Manyan asked, “And if they are not polite?”
Mo Fan grinned. “Then I will teach them how to be polite.”
The group followed Mochizuki Chikako into the West Sentinel Tower.
Behind them, the two samurai robed guards exchanged uneasy glances. They had heard the rumors too.
China’s National Team had arrived.
Their captain was Ai Jiangtu.
And their vice captain was Mo Fan, the young mage who was already being treated like a walking disaster.