Chapter 307 Laying low
"Also, there's one more thing you need to take note of, boss." Kato's tone shifted into a more solemn one, grabbing both Daniel and Emma's attention.
"A few days ago, the Hojo Shogun suddenly announced the border to be closed—no one gets in or out. I think the reason your plane crashed is that you got shot by anti-air or a military plane from the government. So, if you want to go to mainland Japan, you should have a permission document from Lord Kuroda. That way, you'll be able to avoid a lot of trouble," said Kato.
"Do you know why he announced the closed border once again after he just announced the open border?" asked Daniel.
"No, Boss. But I think he announced the border closing not long after he declared his marriage and the opening of the border to the world. As of right now, there are still many foreign reporters trapped in Edo and can't go back to their homes. Maybe… he chickened out and got afraid about opening the border, so he changed his mind midway." Kato answered truthfully, adding some of his insight.
"I see…." Daniel nodded, then thought, Is it possible that the Shogun did this because he realized that I'll come to get his ass myself? Well… that is highly likely. Since he's a Shogun, it means he should know about the Curtained World and also know about me.
Since he decided to come here without good intelligence backing him up, it's normal that such things would happen. Even though he knows some basic information about Japan from Envy, Japan is an isolationist country, and information is hard to come by. He can't blame her for that.
"Then, do you know how to get to the nearest human civilization?" Daniel asks. He has decided to move to a place where he can find materials and use magic.
"Oh, about that, Boss. Okinawa, Naha state is just 20 nautical miles north from here. If you want to find a place to lay low and heal the lady, Okinawa is the best place to start," Kato explained.
"Wait… Okinawa? Isn't that the first place Japan decided to test their open border policy?" Daniel confirms what he knows.
"That's right, Boss. Okinawa is like a special area for Japan right now. They have different governance policies and laws, and also, Lord Kuroda is one of the lords that preside in Okinawa."
"You said 'one of.' Does this mean Kuroda is not the sole ruler despite being the most powerful?" Daniel asks once again.
"No, you misunderstood, Boss. I said he is one of the most powerful; there are also people who can defy him. Since the money and profit from the tourist and business in Okinawa are so absurd, it's impossible for the noble clans in Kyoto to let Lord Kuroda sit here peacefully and eat all the cake here," Kato explains, gesturing with his hand to express the notion of the 'impossible.'
"I thought so." Daniel nodded.
After Daniel gathers some bits and pieces of information from Kato, he turns toward Emma.
"Ladies, pack your belongings; we will move to Naha state now," Daniel said. He then picked up Seraphina, who's still unconscious in stasis, and moved her toward the speedboat outside.
After everything is done, and the ladies' clothes and belongings are moved to the speedboat, Daniel quickly drives it toward the direction that Kato told him—toward Okinawa, Naha state.
—
Nestled on the southwestern coast of Okinawa, the pristine beauty of Naha's beach beckons to tourists and travelers alike. With its powdery white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the beach offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Palm trees sway gently in the warm breeze, casting dappled shadows on the shore.
Tourists flock to this idyllic destination, drawn by the allure of relaxation and the vibrant marine life beneath the surface. Snorkelers and divers explore the coral reefs that teem with a kaleidoscope of colors, while beachgoers soak up the sun, their laughter blending with the rhythmic lull of the ocean waves.
As the red makeshift armored speedboat passes the tourist beach from afar, Daniel, who is steering the boat, watches with a hint of envy. Oh, how he wishes he wouldn't have come here to cause trouble but instead to enjoy a happy vacation with his family and his little princess Sylvana.
"Next time, I should bring them here for a nice vacation," Daniel uttered to himself.
The red makeshift armored speedboat skims above the waves toward a secluded corner of the old dock, guided by Kato. Since Daniel lacks the required documents or visa, they can only use the smuggling route to discreetly enter the island.
Daniel stopped the boat at one of the pontoons on the dock and sent Kato to negotiate with one of the dock master's employees at the checkpoint, who was registering goods and gathering information about the boats and ships docking at the location.
"Can I sell that boat to you guys?" asked Kato as he pointed at the boat.
The dock employee stopped writing in his notebook, leaned out of his checkpoint window, and observed the boat Daniel pointed at. What he saw were three foreigners—two beautiful women and a daunting foreigner male in a long trench coat.
If his eyes weren't deceiving him, he thought he saw a remarkably large caliber handgun within that trench coat, along with various blades and knives. As for the boat, its red color, makeshift armor, and conspicuous markings hinted at its owner.
"Isn't that boat owned by that show-off who turned a freighter into his base?" the dock employee asked for confirmation.
"What? You don't dare to buy it? That's fine, I know you still need to..." Kato was about to continue his attempt to BS his way to get the employee to buy the boat but was stopped midway.
"Whoa, hold your horses, dude. If you're trying to pull some BS to get me to buy this heap of junk, that trick is overused here," the dock employee said with a knowing smile, embarrassing Kato a bit since his trick didn't work.
"And you don't have to hard-sell me that boat. We, the Tenshoku group, are always open to any opportunities to f*ck with any of Kuroda's men over! Hahahaha! We'll buy it!" The employee laughed in satisfaction as he shook Kato's hand to close the deal.
After Kato and the dock employee made a deal, Daniel stepped in front of the checkpoint and whispered something into Kato's ears.
"Oh, by the way, nii-chan, do you have any place for us to lay low? Preferably a place that won't ask unnecessary questions," Kato asked with a cheeky smile.
"My pleasure. You can stay on the third floor of that building. There's a free room at the end of the corridor. It's 100,000 yen per night, pay for 7 days in advance, even if you only want to stay for one day," the employee said, pointing towards a wooden building that looked like an old apartment. The first floor had a strange sushi bar named 'Gluttony Sushi Bar,' with the name written in English, not Japanese.
"Hey, 100,000 yen a night for this kind of room quality? Don't you think it's too much? Besides, why do we need to pay 7 days' rent in advance like that?" Kato protested.
"It's our policy, dude. Why don't you kindly go to the Tenshoku Group HQ and ask the higher-ups yourself?" the employee retorted with a smile.
"Are you sure you're not shitting us?" Kato asked suspiciously.
The dock employee shrugged, as if saying it wasn't his fault; it was just the policy.
Kato turned toward Daniel, asking for his opinion, to which Daniel nodded. He didn't want to create too much noise as he wasn't exactly entering here legally.
"Fine! Have it your way." Kato divided the money he received from the dock employee and paid the rent for 7 days in advance.
The dock employee received the money with a bright smile.
"By the way, I recommend the sushi there. It's really good. Even though the chef is a bit eccentric and weird, don't let that fool you; the chef's skill is the real deal!" the employee said with a thumbs up.
"Okay," Kato nodded with a wry smile before leading Daniel and the girls toward the wooden building.
After Daniel's group departed, the dock employee began to laugh suspiciously, bringing a stack of money he had just received to his lips.
"MMMmuua! Damn... foreigners are like fat sheep. Fleecing them is so easy," he said as he pocketed some of the money.
Daniel's group arrived at the free room at the end of the corridor. The room's door had numerous talismans plastered on it, looking very suspicious.
"I swear, if anything happens at night, I'll strangle that shithead myself," Kato cursed in Japanese the moment he saw the current condition of the door.
Thus, the three entered the room. However, instead of finding a messy space, the room was surprisingly neat and clean. If it weren't for the dozens of talismans on the door outside, this room could easily pass as one of the nicest, and they wouldn't feel too bitter after being fleeced by that greedy dock employee.
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