Long-term salvation

However, Rhodes didn't have any good means of transportation now, so he naturally accepted the private jet, pretending that he didn't know about Ains's little thoughts.

"Sir, your bourbon." The stewardess came over and poured a small glass of wine for Rhodes. She also placed a recent Japanese newspaper on the table. "This is the newspaper with a date as of yesterday. Mr. Irons told us that you understand Japanese."

"Yes, thank you. And please thank the rest of the crew for me. I had a very good experience on this trip."

Rhodes thanked her politely. His eyes swept over the stewardess's fingers and saw traces of years of holding firearms - she was obviously an agent or security personnel trained by Atlas Corporation. Then looking at the age of the private jet pilot... maybe he was flying the B52 long-range strategic bomber. Wait, it seems that the B52 is not retired yet.

Thinking about all this, Rod reached out and picked up a newspaper and handed it to Nikki, Little Red Riding Hood and Yang who were sitting on the sofa.

Rhode didn't bring the Kivotos students and Marian with him on this trip to Japan; they would serve as sparring partners for the soldiers at Hill Manor. As Nikki, Marian would also need to learn more systematic knowledge and experience in cooperating with humans in combat, and pass this experience on to new Nikkis—including the inevitable mass-produced Nikkis.

Marianne gladly accepted the task.

"I didn't expect Abigail to not come with us. I thought she'd want to try some Japanese desserts," Little Red Riding Hood stretched, then lay on Rhodes's lap, holding up the newspaper and looking at the pictures on it. "She seems to be obsessed with playing with the Crane girls lately."

"Little girl, that's normal," Rhodes said calmly. He carefully read the news in the newspaper and determined that Japan's development direction was not much different from history.

Japan's housing bubble has begun to burst, and signs of economic recession and depression are beginning to emerge.

"Yang, how much liquid funds do we have now?"

Rhode asked the dark-haired Nikki, who reported a less-than-optimistic figure, primarily due to the time it takes to recoup the funds after various products are released to the market. The situation would improve significantly after the next batch of shipwreck treasures was auctioned.

Just as Rhode was about to discuss the Japanese acquisition with Yang, pain suddenly erupted from the depths of his brain, entwining every nerve like withered thorns. The pain grew increasingly intense, hammering against his skull from within, making a thumping sound. The tide was rising! The inner world was trembling. Rhode abruptly stood up, sending Little Red Riding Hood tumbling under the sofa.

Here?! On a plane?!

Rhodes put on the all-seeing eye mask and walked towards the cockpit with his head covered. Seeing him like this, the two Nikkis immediately took out their weapons and opened the cabinet door where the parachutes were stored.

"Mr. Rhodes, what's going on..." The stewardess ran over quickly. The other two stewardesses besides her also looked confused. "What happened?"

"Be prepared to make an emergency landing or abandon the plane."

After gritting his teeth and finishing his words, Rhode stumbled into the cockpit. The captain and co-pilot were staring at him in astonishment. The young man before boarding the plane looked rather menacing. If he hadn't been unarmed, they might have thought he was planning a hijack! This was a pretty good joke...hijacking his own private plane.

"Where are we now? Be more specific," Rhodes said through gritted teeth. He had the urge to jump out of the plane. "Also tell me the altitude...don't use feet!"

"The plane is approaching Hokkaido, Japan, at an altitude of 8500 meters and we are descending steadily."

Hokkaido, what else could be around here?

Rod frowned and returned to the cabin, only to see the worried looks of Nikki and the other crew members.

Sitting back on the sofa, Rhode felt the sudden pain begin to subside. He carefully considered his words and comforted the others:

"It's okay. Go ahead and do what you need to do, but don't leave the parachute and other survival supplies too far away. By the way... Miss Taranya, please make me a cup of hot cocoa. Coffee is fine, but add more sugar and milk. - Map! Is there a map on this plane?"

"Yes, I'll get it for you."

Taranya, that was the stewardess's name. She turned around a bit nervously to get a map, but Rhode's all-seeing eyes revealed that she was a "local" and already knew about the existence of the other world. It was obvious that she was arranged by Irons, as could be seen from her unprofessional service skills.

"Commander, what just happened?" Yang reached out and stroked Rhodes' forehead, feeling some cold sweat. "Were we attacked?"

"Do not……"

Frankly speaking, Rhodes really didn't want to deal with the inner world incidents at an altitude of several thousand meters. If it was a close call, it would be fine, but if the plane had some minor problems, he would have to go back to the inner world to read the bar, not to mention the fate of others.

Several different maps were spread out on the table. Rhodes reached out and drew a circle at his current location with a pen, but his broken memory did not provide any useful information. It seemed that the pain just now was just an illusion.

"Maybe something happened above us or below us," Little Red Riding Hood also frowned. It was the first time she saw Rhode like this, and she didn't even have the heart to say her usual funny words.

Above and below the plane...that's indeed an idea.

Rhodes turned over the topographic map and saw a faint trace along the Japanese archipelago - the Kuril Trench - this trench was the starting point of a series of trenches, extending from the southwest edge of the Bering Sea to the southern end of the Philippine Trench, and connected to the Mariana Trench.

deep sea?

Rhode, feeling somewhat discouraged, threw the marker onto the map and leaned back against the soft sofa, feeling a genuine worry in his heart.

Compared to space, it is more difficult for humans to enter the deep sea, especially to carry out long-term, large-scale exploration and monitoring operations at a depth of ten thousand meters. And if a crack is opened in the depths of the Pacific Ocean and something emerges from it...

No, perhaps the crack had already opened, and something had already come out. Just now, when the plane passed over the Thousand Islands Trench, Rhode's severe headache was more like a reminder from the system.

But now, Rhodes had no time to deal with the deep-sea trench that was temporarily inaccessible. He also needed to respond to a girl's request and a scholar's invitation.

Chapter 93: Letter from Minamigami Village

The plane landed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport, wrapped in the roar of steel thunder.

Construction on the second runway, originally scheduled to begin in 1986, has only just begun. Due to protests and riots by ordinary Japanese, the airport is now surrounded by metal fences and heavily armed police patrol the observation towers. It looks more like a military base than a civilian airport.

Narita International Airport was bustling with passengers, looking like a theater in a state of over-the-top closure, with many arriving and even more leaving. The mix of adults chatting and children crying was a bit unsettling.

When Rod and the two Nikkis walked through the slightly noisy crowd and out of the terminal, a white Mazda 626 (fourth generation) was parked on the side of the road, and the middle-aged man standing next to the car had been waiting for a long time.

"Sawai Soichiro," the man who had achieved the "impossible feat" in another world introduced himself. A modest smile crossed his face, and the anticipation in his words seemed almost tangible. "I should have met you a long time ago, but unfortunately, I've been so busy with so many academic conferences lately."

"I'm looking forward to this meeting," Rhodes said calmly. He extended his hand to shake Sawai's. "If you have something to say, let's talk in the car first... Speaking of which, I don't know your profession yet. Irons and the other directors didn't tell me much."

"Haha, then why don't you put on that magic eye patch and see for yourself?"

"You are very open-minded."

"No," Sawai Soichiro shook his head. "I wanted to satisfy my curiosity—I'm very interested in things in my other world. You know the theory of parallel universes? I'm sure you know."

"So……"

Rhodes put on his all-seeing eye patch and carefully looked at the man in front of him:

【Souichiro Sawai (Japanese astronomer, director of the Kogito Foundation)】

【Origin: Ultraman Tiga】

Description: Astronomer and researcher of extraterrestrial life. Gentle and humble, considerate of his subordinates and optimistic about the future of human society. However, he becomes exceptionally calm and ruthless when faced with crises and necessary sacrifices. A supporter of "real-world prioritization" within the Cogito Foundation.

【Attitude: Trust/Expectation/Delight】

Another proponent of "real world priority," like Irons, but considering their personalities and their actions in the original world, it's understandable. In fact, Rhodes also hopes that humans can focus on extraterrestrial exploration and colonization, rather than fighting on a single planet for dear life.

"how?"

"What can I say?" Rhode shrugged. He put the luggage in the trunk and asked the two girls to get in. After he got in, he slowly said, "Thank you for your trust."

Sawai Soichiro laughed loudly upon hearing this, started the car and drove towards the center of Tokyo.

Buildings in Japan's major cities are often so tightly packed that, viewed from above, greenery is almost invisible. They resemble prisons of steel and concrete, where countless people are born, grow old, and die. They live in a conformist way, trapped in the confines of the news media and national conventions, and even take pride in it.

The roads weren't particularly wide, and most people traveled by subway or tram. It wasn't a bad time, so there weren't any traffic jams, but even so, looking out the window didn't offer a more comfortable feeling. Those with keen eyes had sensed the onset of depression, their expressions revealing a deep sense of worry, but what could they do? It was easy to get in, but not easy to get out.

Rhodes looked at the city. It would completely solidify from this year on. The once brand new buildings would slowly become old, and then be painted with a new layer of paint in an attempt to cover up the almost unnoticeable aging.

"I received a letter," Sawai said, his words bringing Rhodes back from thirty years later. "To be more precise, I found it while sorting through my father's belongings. It was sent many years ago by a folklorist named 'Mabe Seijiro'. There were also several other letters signed by 'Munakata Ryozo'. Judging from the wording, it seems to be from the former's disciples, requesting my father to investigate - to investigate 'Minamigami Village', the village that disappeared from the map."

Kaishin Village?

Fragments of memory surfaced in Rhode's mind. That was the setting of the classic Japanese horror game "Zero: Crimson Butterfly." He wondered if the Zero series in this world would connect to the worldviews of Koei's "Ninja Gaiden" and "Nioh" series...

"The letter lay unopened for many years until I discovered it."

Sawai Soichiro sighed, leaning back in the driver's seat, his hands on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the rumbling, stagnant traffic ahead.

"Out of interest, I investigated the past of Minamigami Village and discovered that a reservoir was being planned there, and that there had been a number of disappearances... This was clearly connected to the events of the Otherworld. I couldn't allow this to continue. But before I left, Dr. Alan Grant suggested I seek your help. Unfortunately, I'm just an ordinary scholar, and my understanding of firearms is limited to how to activate the safety and pull the trigger."

An ordinary scholar?

Rhode was secretly shocked. What you did can't be described as ordinary - it's simply a miracle! In that era, uniting mankind and establishing a unified supranational entity was simply a miracle, the kind of idealized existence that only appeared in fantasy works.

Now that I think about it, Sawai's appearance in this world might be a form of self-rescue for human civilization.

"I will go to deal with the affairs of that village. Where is the specific location?" Rhodes asked.

"In the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, a little west of Lake Origen. I also asked some friends to help me, as a backup."

"Gunma Prefecture, I wonder if there are any AE86s racing on the mountain roads at night."

Many people's fox wives are named after Akagi Mountain in Gunma County... Rod didn't know whether he would get help from the ship girls in the future, but he was looking forward to it very much.

"Racing? I don't want to run into those underground racers at night," Sawai said with a smile. "Young people these days are so active, so impatient. I don't know if that's a good thing."

"It's going to be a good thing."

Driving from central Tokyo to Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture takes just an hour and a half, but taking the train or Shinkansen adds a significant extra time. However, the destination, Minamigami Village, is located in the mountains of northern Gunma Prefecture, near Niigata Prefecture, so planning your route is crucial.

Because of this, Sawai did not plan to go there immediately today, but planned to take Rhodes and his group to find a place to stay in the outer area of ​​Tokyo first, and then set off tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

This fulfilled Rod's wish. He just wanted to find a cute elf in this huge concrete jungle.

Chapter 94: Traveling through the Cities

After dropping off their luggage at the hot spring hotel they had booked long ago, Rhode and the other two immediately said goodbye to Sawai and left the hotel, ready to take a closer look at this bustling metropolis.

It was evening, and the undulating sea of ​​steel and concrete was suddenly illuminated by a glimmer of light, its initial warm yellow transforming into a dazzling neon shimmering with countless hues, a dreamlike experience. Countless people had left their hometowns, dreams in mind, to take root here, either to grow old or to decay, but in every case, they had become part of the living, pulsating heart of the city.

Rod rented a yellow Fiat 500 and drove with the two Nikkis through the side streets, merging into a stream of cars with red taillights flashing from time to time. After asking for directions several times without success, Rod had no choice but to park the car in a narrow alley. Not far away was a vending machine with a bright light inside.

After getting off the car, Rod stood next to the vending machine, lit a cigarette, looked up at the night sky, and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. Then, the sound of cans colliding and falling came from the side.

"Slusho? What a weird name!" Little Red Riding Hood took out three cans of drinks with different flavors. She kept the strawberry flavor and handed the other two to Rhode and Yang. "Here, your share. Ah, here are the coins for change... Seriously, when will humans stop using coins?"

"For this country, I'm afraid even 30 years won't be enough."

Rhode complained expressionlessly. He took a sip of the cantaloupe-flavored drink and immediately found it quite delicious, giving him a strange sense of joy. As he thought about this, Rhode saw a name on the bottom row of the ingredient list on the cans:

Tagruato Co.

This name seems familiar...

After noticing Rhodes's gaze, Yang came over and leaned against Rhodes. After taking a look, he smiled and explained:

"This company was formerly known as Power Hands, but it was acquired by a Japanese businessman named Yoshida Ganou a few years ago and renamed. They're now involved in offshore oil exploration. The beverage brand you're holding is a subsidiary of Tagrut. I remember there were a few others, but they're primarily focused on the extraction and processing of marine resources."

After listening to Yang's explanation, Rhode frowned slightly, thinking of his experience before coming to Japan on a private plane. However, he did not say much at this time. Instead, he said to Nikki with a hint of teasing:

"It seems like you've done a lot of research. What, has the funding been secured?"

Hearing this, Nikki rolled her eyes charmingly and said unhappily:

"Before leaving, Yuuka transferred several million dollars to her account. I wonder where she saved that money from... ahem, 'I can't let Sensei suffer outside,' ah, that's what she said anyway."

"What a domineering little accountant! He wants to be kept."

"Why don't you let me support you?" Black-haired Nikki's eyebrows curved slightly like a crescent moon. She used a fan to cover the lower half of her slightly red face and said with a smile, "I earn more than anyone else, both now and in the future."

"Rich woman, please—"

"What nonsense are you two stirring up in front of others again?" Little Red Riding Hood said, her eyes wide open as she took a sip of her drink expressionlessly. "Hurry back to the car after you finish your cigarettes. It's freezing outside."

Rhode's eyes widened, and just as he was about to say something teasing, Little Red Riding Hood blocked his mouth with her own drink, which still retained the warmth left by the girl's cherry lips. After taking a sip of the equally sweet strawberry-flavored drink, Rhode shrugged and raised his hands in surrender.

Looking at Little Red Riding Hood who suddenly seemed a little angry, Yang, with a hint of triumphant smile on his face, tapped Rod on the head with his fan and followed him towards the car.

Rhode sighed, then downed his drink in one gulp and shoved the can into the trash can next to the vending machine. He took out his cigarette case and lightly counted the remaining cigarettes, planning to buy another one later. Red Apples were definitely out of stock, but Marlboros were certainly available. Seven Stars were a popular choice among Japanese, so he might give it a try sometime.

Walking toward the Fiat, Rhode noticed that the city road opposite the car had become significantly busier than it had been half an hour earlier. Young girls in short skirts and thick tops occasionally walked by, laughing and playing. Meanwhile, the adults, both men and women, were dressed appropriately for the season. It was as if they had been instantly put into a cocoon after entering society.

Rhodes got into the car, and the cold and slightly turbid air outside was immediately isolated. The warmth inside the car made his body shiver subconsciously.

"Commander, are you planning on picking up Her Royal Highness tonight?" Little Red Riding Hood asked, her tone completely devoid of any shame or anger. She was sitting in the passenger seat, but the small car was making Nikki's long legs feel quite uncomfortable. "Or should we wait until you're done with the matter at Kaigami Village?"

The girls who followed Rhode all knew about this more or less - Rhode had a tryst with a sickly girl on the other side of the world in his dreams. As a result, he had to endure the girls' questions every morning during breakfast after waking up.

"It won't be easy to get her discharged. We might even have to forcibly remove her," Rhodes said in a deep voice. He turned the steering wheel to the right, merging the Fiat into traffic. "Also, from what I've heard from her, Mu Ji is just a freelance painter. He's been wandering around for so long. How could he have the money to stay in the hospital for so long? Someone is funding the hospital, or rather... funding research."

Rhode tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and turned to look at Little Red Riding Hood. Colorful light and shadows streaked across the red-haired Nikki's beautiful face, as if she were wearing an ever-changing Noh opera mask.

"Are you prepared to shoot at humans?" Rhodes asked.

The neon lights from the buildings along the road shone into the car, making it seem particularly dark and quiet.

"If I cry about this, will you comfort me?" Little Red Riding Hood asked.

"Will you forgive me if I'm happy about this?" Yang chuckled.

"...How could you two ask such opposite questions? You've agreed to make fun of me, right?!" Rhodes raised his eyebrows and reached out to grab Little Red Riding Hood's face, causing Nikki to scream and then pull Rhodes' face with even greater force.

Yang, who was sitting in the back row, watched the two people's playfulness, but her expression was much more relaxed... Since the first day she came to this world, she had examined her body system. The clauses that restricted Nikki in the dark had long disappeared, replaced by - always obey any order of Rhode.

Rod didn't need to ask questions about this, but he still considered Nikki's feelings.