Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 3, Section 03: The Secret Abode of the Three Nines

[Reward Items]

【Soul Swap (Newcomer Reward; all trophy rewards in this game have been automatically replaced with higher-level reward items):】

Brass Trophy – Notes from Sanjiu Secret Abode (Basic Introductory Techniques for Abode Masters)

Silver Trophy - Soul-Gathering Umbrella (with locust wood as its bone and white paper as its skin, it nurtures lonely souls and attracts wandering ghosts).

Golden Trophy - Transcendent Pill (Upper Grade 3, Top Grade Mortal)

Platinum Trophy - Spirit-Infused Fiery Eye (Discerning Evil and Breaking Through Illusions, Tracing Clues and Finding the Source)

[Achievement: Possess Paper Dolls *5 (Used with blood to imbue them with power; strength unknown, will not become stronger when encountering stronger opponents)]

This is all the rewards that Shinichi Higashiyama has obtained so far through the Soul Swap Game.

The Three-Nine Secret Abode and the Spirit-Nourishing Fire Eye were automatically infused into his body upon his acquisition.

The so-called "Three Nine Secret Mansions" is a unique technique in the "Mantra of Mansions and Stars". The "Three Nines" refers to the twenty-seven mansions, which is less than the traditional twenty-eight mansions except for the Ox Mansion.

It was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism around the Tang Dynasty, and subsequently formed the profession of Sukuyoshi in Japan. At its peak, it was on par with Onmyoji, vying for the right to formulate and interpret the calendar.

It can be simply understood as the profession of astrology and fortune telling. Later, it lost to the Onmyoji in the struggle, split into several factions, and slowly faded from the stage of history.

Ono's commentary signifies that this is a secret transmission belonging to the Ono school of Shingon Buddhism, which is part of Esoteric Buddhism, also known as Eastern Esoteric Buddhism.

The ranking system of the Star Masters can be summarized as five stars shining on the moon, and the full moon entering the yang.

Having received this knowledge, Higashiyama Shin started as a Five Star Master, capable of accurately predicting fortune and misfortune, subtly altering minor aspects of luck without cost, and even having a faint sense of impending doom.

Just as described, the Spirit-Nourishing Fiery Eye can tell if someone is lying, detect extremely subtle traces for tracking, and even see through illusions and ghosts. However, he hasn't found a place to verify it yet.

When the Three-Nine Secret Constellation and the Spirit-Nourishing Fire Eye are combined, a wonderful reaction occurs. Even if he doesn't know the other person's birth date, he can still see the other person's recent fortunes, but not in as much detail as he could if he knew the birth date.

He took the Transcendent Pill yesterday, but there didn't seem to be much change. He just had a lot more energy and could be full of vitality after only sleeping five hours a day. He also seemed to have more strength.

Dongshan Shen estimated that this pill would work slowly in the body, rather than all at once.

At least he could feel that he had gained some strength when he woke up this morning.

I glanced at the game's countdown on the screen; there were still over forty hours left, roughly two days, before the next free game would rotate out.

The game store and player invitation options are still grayed out and inaccessible; you may have to wait until the new game is rotated out the day after tomorrow.

Even if the feature to invite players is available, he doesn't plan to touch it for the time being. He can't predict what trouble or benefits this feature will bring him, unless the benefits obviously outweigh the troubles. He'll have to see how the game and its instructions work.

The appearance of the game system completely overturned Higashiyama Shin's plans for the future, but he was not annoyed at all, he just found it interesting.

That's right, what's the point of Tokyo being so calm and undisturbed?

Let him see the dark side of this world, and whether it harbors any unknown lost secrets.

Early the next morning.

When Dongshan got up with dark circles under his eyes and walked out of his room, his older brother had already prepared breakfast and lunch.

Good morning, bro.

"Hurry up and wash your hair, don't be late on the first day of school."

Without turning his head, Dongshan Shen continued frying eggs.

Dongshan quickly washed up, dried his hair, and sat down at the dining table.

Today's breakfast is a homemade sandwich, soy milk, and a salmon rice ball.

It has Chinese, Western and Japanese elements.

"Brother, why are you up so early?" Dongshan Du asked while munching away.

“If you go to bed early, you’ll naturally wake up early.” Higashiyama Shin glanced at his dark circles, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

In fact, he woke up at five o'clock, feeling incredibly energetic. He then went to the apartment's 24-hour gym, exercised for an hour, and made a preliminary assessment of his physical strength.

Then I came back, took a shower, made a bento box and breakfast, and it's only a little past seven o'clock now.

"I can't get up early even if I go to bed early, and the spring break is too short. It would be great if it were a month long," Dongshan complained.

Their school has a 4-day spring break, and school starts today, April 4th, which is not short compared to most schools.

Halfway through his meal, Higashiyama Dokusai suddenly slapped his forehead: "Isn't Chiba-neechan coming today?"

"She went to her father's place for spring break and hasn't come back yet."

"Aunt Chiba is almost as busy as our dad, she's such a strong woman. But I definitely want to marry a wife who can wait for me at home and who can cook. With your cooking, well, even half of it will be good." Higashiyama sighed.

"Didn't you say you wanted to be a kept man? Your wife is a successful businesswoman who earns money, and you can be a stay-at-home dad, isn't that great?" Higashiyama Shin ruthlessly exposed him.

"Well, that was what we talked about last year. I thought about it a lot and decided that a gentler girl is better. I can work hard to support the family in the future!" Dongshan Du defended himself. What "thought it a lot and decided"? It's just like shooting an arrow first and then drawing a target. This guy must have gone out to meet his girlfriend last night.

This is what a young boy with a small head controlling a large head looks like.

They'll cry and shout that love is all a lie and that they want to be kept by a man after they break up.

Young and naive, he didn't know the value of a woman's company and mistakenly took a cute girl for a treasure.

After breakfast, the two went out.

Stepping out of the elevator, the first floor of the apartment building features a luxurious lobby resembling that of a high-end hotel.

"Wow, are there techniques for making cookies?"

"Of course, that's what my best friend who owns a bakery told me. Oh dear, I was so busy chatting that I have to go to work now. Otsuka manager, you can try the method I just described when you have time."

"Haha, I'll try it when I get home tonight. Be careful on the road, Mrs. Ito~"

Natsuki Otsuka, the apartment manager with impeccable makeup and a professional outfit, waved goodbye to the resident who was leaving.

Then, turning his head, he caught sight of the two Dongshan brothers. As if he had spotted prey, his eyes lit up, and he jogged over and pinched Dongshan Du's cheek.

"Dongshan-chan, are you going to school today? Be careful on the way. I heard there have been perverts on the subway lately, and they like delicate little boys like you the most."

"Aunt Otsuka!" Higashiyama Totsu struggled to break free and hid behind Higashiyama Shin. "I'm a chuunibyou this year! Stop pinching my face like a child."

"Oh dear, he was calling me 'sister' just a few days ago, and today he's calling me 'auntie'! Higashiyama-nii isn't cute at all anymore." Otsuka Natsuki looked at Higashiyama Shin with a pitiful expression. "Higashiyama-nii is still so handsome today. He must be very popular with girls at school~ What a wonderful youth."

As they were talking, he reached out his hand, but Higashiyama Shin politely dodged it without making a sound.

"Brother! Hurry up and go!" Higashiyama grabbed Higashiyama Shin and ran out of the apartment, otherwise Otsuka Natsuki would go crazy again.

Otsuka Natsuki put away her pitiful expression, smiled and watched the two brothers' departing figures for a while before turning back to greet and greet the other residents who were leaving.

The apartment is not far from the subway station. Take the subway from Komagome Station to the next stop, Hon-Komagome Station. After getting off the subway, walk another two or three hundred meters to reach Komagome Academy, which is a college where the junior high school and senior high school are the same. Shin Higashiyama and Doku Higashiyama both study at this school.

Dongshan Shen Gao Yi, Dongshan Du Zhong Er.

"Yo, Higashiyama-kun!"

Good morning, Higashiyama-chan.

"Hey, can you be a little more distant? Don't call me 'chan'!"

"Higashiyama-kun! Good morning!"

After greeting a few classmates he knew, Higashiyama Shin parted ways with Higashiyama Doku and headed towards the teaching building of the higher education department.

After changing into his indoor shoes at the shoe cabinet, he passed by several classrooms and arrived at his own classroom.

"Three groups per year."

Before even stepping inside, Higashiyama Shin felt the atmosphere was strange. Why was his class so quiet compared to the other classes?
Today is the first day of registration. Students will first gather in their classrooms, and then go to the gymnasium for the opening ceremony when the time comes, after which they will receive their textbooks.

There are no classes in the morning, and with a new environment, people will chat with each other, whether they know each other or not, so the atmosphere should be relaxed and playful.

However, when his gaze fell on the podium, he instantly understood everything.

A fierce-looking man, who looked more like a ruthless killer than a teacher, stood behind the podium. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and his shadow almost completely obscured the door.

Even his slightly loose formal attire couldn't hide his strong, broad muscles. He was holding a document in his hand, probably a list of students, but he exuded the aura of someone preparing to assemble troops to fight a rival gang.

The blackboard behind him read: [Teacher: Ikeda Ei] [Email: ***@yahoo.co.jp] [Phone:]

It's obvious that this is their class's "homeroom teacher," and he's a bit of a tough guy.

The students below were as quiet as quails. Even when they were talking, they only dared to speak in hushed tones and did not dare to make eye contact with this yakuza boss-like teacher, Ikeda.

"Mr. Ikeda, do we need to sign in?" Shin Higashiyama asked as he approached the podium.

"Hmm." Ikeda handed over the list with a blank expression.

Higashiyama Shin took out his pen, found his seat, and signed his name. The list was still arranged according to the seating arrangement, so he could also find out where he was sitting.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the king's hometown, but rather a front-row window seat, practically right under the teacher's nose.

"It's a pity, isn't it?"

Behind Higashiyama Shin, Chiba Shion, who had been resting her chin on her hand and gazing out the window, looked at him. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her naturally aloof and world-weary face.

"is a bit."

However, Higashiyama Shin's Spiritual Fiery Eyes could see it.

(End of this chapter)