Chapter 1 A Different Meaning?

Suren never saw that elegant old lady again after their meeting on the deck.

Nor were there any signs of his identity being recognized or any accidents occurring.

It seemed she had genuinely just come to meet her great-granddaughter's friend to fulfill a final wish before passing away.

But Suren couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting had a deeper significance.

After pondering for a long time without understanding, he stopped thinking about it.

He remained holed up in his cabin.

On the evening of the fourth day of the voyage, the fleet finally arrived at Edo, the capital of Yamakage.

...

"Alright, let's disembark!"

The ship docked with a violent jolt, and the travelers in the cargo hold grabbed their luggage and squeezed out of the compartments.

Suren unhurriedly walked onto the deck and immediately saw dozens of three-masted sailing ships docked at the pier. The masts flew the skull-and-crossbones pirate flag of the North Sea King's pirate crew, and the sails were painted with the colorful "fat skull" flag of Ikhshiel Peon, the "Gluttonous General" of the Ninth Fleet.

These were all warships, and most were equipped with advanced cannons sent by the Mafa Empire.

There were also traces of shelling on the pier. It didn't seem like a fierce battle, but more like a deliberate display of military might, firing a few cannons to shatter some turrets before stopping.

Suren disembarked and hadn't walked far before seeing a group of young people in black uniforms marching on the pier, shouting slogans.

"Resolutely oppose the Non-Resistance Treaty! Eliminate the traitors!"

"Strongly demand that the Takeda Shogunate join the war and drive out the invaders!"

"We pledge to fight to the death and reclaim Akaine Port!"

"..."

The marching crowd was agitated, and Suren recognized their attire as that of students.

The students blocked the pier exit, handing out leaflets to travelers arriving in Edo, detailing what had happened.

Suren was handed one as well.

After a glance, he roughly understood the situation.

Apparently, a day ago, the Ninth Fleet had arrived in Edo with great fanfare, fired two shots, and the Takeda Shogunate, which held absolute military power in Yamakage, had "knelt" without resistance. They then signed a non-resistance treaty, allowing the North Sea Fleet to directly enter the capital of Edo.

In reality, if they had fought to the death, the Shogunate, with all the country's forces, would have been able to put up a fight.

At least, they could have inflicted heavy damage on the newly formed Ninth Fleet.

Their complete lack of resistance was what angered these students so much.

However, after reading the account, Suren saw the "insidious" nature of the Takeda Shogunate.

By signing the non-resistance treaty, they had shifted all the "contradictions" onto the divine Kanbe Imperial Family.

If the Imperial Family agreed to be ruled by outsiders, their faith would inevitably collapse.

If they disagreed, the Shogunate could use the North Sea Fleet to deal with the Imperial Family.

In the end, a large Yamakage still needed rulers. The Shogunate might have lost some "reputation," but their power was even greater than before.

...

Suren looked at the passionate young people on the pier, as if seeing the shadows of the pro-imperial and Meiji Restoration movements from his past life.

In recent years, Yamakage had had some contact with the outside world, and court officials had tried to start new schools in Edo, thus cultivating a group of knowledgeable young students.

As a transmigrator, he naturally understood that this was an inevitability of social development.

With the development of civilization, the torrent of history would inevitably eliminate outdated systems that did not conform to the laws of development.

Even though Suren felt that Miko was his friend, he didn't think that this trend could be changed by an individual.

The arrival of the North Sea Fleet was probably the "fuse." Even if they hadn't come, the deepening class contradictions would sooner or later become a prairie fire, sweeping through Yamakage.

However, Yamakage's current situation seemed a bit special.

If he hadn't met Katyusha's great-grandmother before, Suren probably wouldn't have cared about these political matters at all.

But now, seeing these people, a conspiracy theory suddenly popped into his head: could these student movements also be driven by that "third force" behind the scenes?

"Divinely ordained imperial power" and the "Shogunate" were deeply rooted in Yamakage. If that third party wanted to control Yamakage, then these two forces would have to be overcome.

The best method Suren could think of was a "change of dynasty."

Yamakage's resources were actually very abundant, with advantages in gold, silver, iron ore, fisheries, timber, and transcendent materials... but backward productivity limited the development of these resources.

If it were Suren himself, a primitive and backward Yamakage would definitely not be an ideal territory.

Making it stronger would maximize profits.

For example, starting a steam-mechanical revolution.

Suren felt that if he could think of it, the person behind the scenes could definitely think of it too.

...

"Miss Miko's trouble is really not small..."

Suren muttered to himself, stuffed the leaflet into the collar of his dirty robe, and walked up the blue stone steps into the city.

He contacted Chihiro using his communicator.

They had traveled by land and arrived two days earlier.

That gambling-addicted woman was carefree and was currently gambling in a gambling den controlled by the Black Dragon Society.

This was Edo, and although the Takeda Shogunate had immense power, the imperial Kanbe clan also controlled most of the city, so they didn't have to worry about being surrounded and killed by a large force as they would in other places.

Chihiro was bold and skilled, so he let her do as she pleased.

Suren wasn't very interested in gambling, so he wasn't in a hurry to meet her.

He walked out of the pier and slowly headed towards this ancient capital.

From the riverside pier, there was a ten-meter-high stone wall. Passing through the gate, Suren stepped onto a six-horse official road.

Edo was the largest city in Yamakage, with a population of hundreds of thousands. Its prosperity couldn't compare to the industrialized cities of Luying, but it was still bustling with activity.

It was evening, and the sky had already darkened. Large snowflakes were falling from the sky, and the pedestrians on the street gradually thinned out.

Lanterns were gradually lit in the city, and the orange light illuminated a corner under the eaves, connecting into a line, like fire dragons winding through the city.

The streets were lined with closely packed blue-tiled houses. The shops along the street displayed signs for grain, cloth, pharmacies, butcher shops... and other daily necessities.

At a glance, there were almost no traces of industrial buildings in the city.

A very primitive agricultural society.

Having eaten dry food for several days, Suren's mouth felt a bit bland. He planned to find some hot food to fill his stomach.

But as he walked, passing by the street, he happened to see a bookstore closing up for the day.

He thought for a moment and walked in. A room full of blue-covered thread-bound books came into view, along with a strong smell of ink.

Suren wanted to buy a few books about Yamakage's ghosts, monsters, and customs.

The books in these shops were much more abundant than those in Pirate City.

While searching, he thought of the old lady he had met on the ship and asked, "Boss, do you have any books by the great writer Fujiwara Hayato?"

"Of course."

The owner, a small old man, replied and pointed to a wall.

There were dozens of books there, all works by Fujiwara Hayato.

Suren glanced at the titles, all paranormal novels about the strange monsters and legends of Yamakage.

He picked out a few he hadn't read and said, "Boss, please wrap these up for me."

"Alright."

Perhaps because he felt he had met a big customer while closing up, the owner smiled happily.

As he grabbed the books, he said, "Mr. Fujiwara is superior in writing about ghosts and demons. His works are the most wonderful monster novels I've ever seen. Even though I've read idle books for decades, when I read those stories, I often wake up from my dreams in fright, as if the monsters in the books have come to life and are disturbing my dreams..."

Suren nodded in agreement as he listened to the old man.

This wasn't boasting for sales. He had read a few before.

The monsters in the stories were incredibly vivid, leaving a deep impression on him.

Moreover, he also felt that this "great writer" Fujiwara Hayato was shrouded in mystery.

Words can reach the divine, and the law of poetry is one of the highest laws that can condense a godhead.

For his stories to be written so vividly and realistically, he definitely couldn't have done it without seeing those monsters.

But encountering so many monsters and still being alive was no simple feat.

Suren guessed that he was very likely a high-level professional.

Although Suren didn't understand this professional sequence, he had seen it before.

For example... the wandering poets of the Daru tribe, and that girl Katyusha.

That ability of "words becoming law" was still fresh in his memory.

Suren hadn't heard of this Fujiwara Hayato before, but seeing Katyusha's great-grandmother collecting this great writer's manuscripts, he inexplicably felt that there was a story inside.

Thinking of something, Suren asked another question, "Boss, is Mr. Fujiwara Hayato from Edo?"

"No."

The owner shook his head and said, "As far as I know, Mr. Fujiwara is an adventurer from overseas. He traveled all over Yamakage, which is why he wrote these ghost stories. He eventually settled in Edo and lived in the Asakusa Temple outside the city for more than ten years. Many of his writings are still left in the city. The book you have in your hand, *Fairy Tales*, is Mr. Fujiwara's last work. The monks at the temple heard that he had been writing an earth-shattering masterpiece, seemingly depicting the affairs of the gods, often causing celestial phenomena... Unfortunately, decades have passed, and that work has never been seen. Some say Mr. Fujiwara is dead, some say he went on a wandering journey, and some say his inspiration dried up and he went mad..."

"..."

Suren supplemented some information he didn't know after hearing these words.

He thought to himself: so, Katyusha's grandmother said that the old friend she wanted to meet was probably this Fujiwara Hayato. Could he still be alive?

Fujiwara Hayato still has an unreleased masterpiece?

The owner's words also piqued his interest.

Suren didn't think too much about it, paid the money, and walked out of the bookstore.

...

The afterglow of the winter sun faded quickly. Suren was delayed in the bookstore for a while, and when he came out, it was completely dark outside.

The lights of the city were another unique scene.

Suren walked on the street, and a thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the side of the road.

There were various unique izakaya (Japanese pubs) in the city. Suren saw one in the distance called "Kiku's Izakaya," and the storefront looked good, so he planned to go have something to eat.

He walked over, but before he entered, he saw two thinly dressed beggars trembling in the wind and snow, begging. One was lying on the ground with a flushed face, as if he had a high fever. The other was looking at the passersby with pleading eyes. If he couldn't get any money, his companion would die in this snowy night.

In Yamakage, there were many such beggars.

Suren took out a few copper coins from his pocket and threw them casually, and they fell into the broken bowl with a "clang."

He didn't look at the grateful gaze cast at him, and lifted the blue cloth curtain with a wave pattern.

The shop wasn't big, with seating for about four or five tables.

The shop sold homemade sake and also had food: ramen, sushi, and some strange-named fried skewers and stewed skewers.

These foods were available in Pirate City, but the taste was better here.

Having not eaten hot food for a few days, this meal was a great enjoyment for his taste buds.

Suren ate, occasionally sipping sake, while flipping through the book he had just bought.

But as he was eating, a message suddenly came through his communicator.

"Hurry to 'Tenkai Pavilion'! That 'Number One Beauty in the World' is about to appear!"

Chihiro's tone was a little excited.

It seemed she thought the focus of Suren's attention wasn't the Black Dragon Society leader, but the "beauty."

Suren was genuinely interested when he heard this.

The role that Mite Yaya was playing in the Edo game was very special, and it was one of the things he was most curious about here.

...

Suren didn't eat too much, and packed a few fish ball skewers to go, eating as he walked.

He casually asked around, and the "Tenkai Pavilion" was in the C district, near the original silver coin mint, a prosperous area known as "Ginza."

He hired a carriage and quickly arrived, hearing the commotion from afar.

Before him was a scene of bright lights and revelry. Gambling dens, taverns, bathhouses, and geisha houses were everywhere. This was the nightlife district of Edo and the most prosperous area. It used to mainly cater to foreign merchants, but now it was filled with pirates from the North Sea King's Ninth Fleet.

As soon as Suren walked onto the street, he frowned as he looked up. A few cold corpses caught his eye.

They were several geisha dressed in kimonos with heavy makeup. They had been dead for some time, and their skin was already turning blue. Their bodies were hung at the entrance of the geisha house, fluttering in the wind like flags, with a hint of horror.

It was as if they were a warning or punishment for something.

Suren's hearing was very good, and he heard the whispering of passersby.

He immediately understood that these were geisha who had been forced to death by pirates.

Traditional geisha sold their art, not their bodies. There were rules in place, and the patrons who frequented them knew this, and everyone lived in peace.

But now the pirates had come as invaders, and they were naturally unscrupulous. The people of the Takeda Shogunate had housed the pirates here, waiting on them with good food and drink. The geisha were powerless to resist the humiliation. Some succumbed, while the staunch ones hanged themselves outside the geisha house.

Suren walked past with a blank expression. When he passed through an alley, he transformed, changing into pirate attire.

Nearly ten thousand pirates had poured into Edo, and almost every shop in the Ginza district was packed.

The "Tenkai Pavilion" was even more so.

It was a vast three-story building, with heavily tattooed thugs at the entrance.

Suren recognized them as members of the Black Dragon Society at a glance.

This gang controlled almost all the entertainment venues in Edo.

Suren, in his pirate attire, was not stopped and entered smoothly.

After passing through a corridor, he suddenly heard a clamor.

Looking again, it was a dueling arena, with two sumo wrestlers wearing only loincloths competing on the platform.

The gamblers below were shouting at the top of their lungs.

Suren immediately spotted Chihiro, who was shouting hoarsely.

This gambling-addicted woman seemed to have bet a lot, cheering enthusiastically for the red side she had bet on.

Suren didn't bother her and stood under the ring, watching the match.

"Hahaha, these fat pigs are actually quite nimble."

"No, they are honorable rikishi (sumo wrestlers)."

"Oh, the next match is a Yokozuna (Grand Champion) level sumo match. Even in Edo, this level of competition is rare..."

"Who do you think will win the next match?"

"..."

Soon, two more heavyweight sumo wrestlers entered the ring, colliding like trucks and turning into a bloody mess in the blink of an eye.

The gamblers were instantly excited.

Suren also watched with interest.

These sumo wrestlers looked clumsy, but they were very fast.

Each palm strike brought a visible gust of wind, whistling like a cannon. When it hit the opponent's body, it was like a hammer blow, creating ripples.

Even a Tier 3 professional might not be able to withstand this level of attack.

Pretty strong.

While watching the match, Suren also glanced at the people in the gambling den.

Most of them were pirates from the other squadrons of the Ninth Fleet that he had seen before.

Suren even saw a few "teammates" who had managed to escape from the Swordsmith Village.

...

After a while, another match passed.

As they chatted, the topic of conversation became ambiguous.

"Tsk tsk... I heard that Mite Yaya, the number one geisha in Yamakage, will be performing later. I've heard for a long time that the 'Number One Beauty in the World' is in Yamakage. I wonder if it's true."

"The captains said they've seen her before, and she's really beautiful! Not only is her face the most beautiful in the world, but her figure is absolutely amazing. It is said that her skin is exquisite and translucent, like a jade carved lion..."

"I've heard that too. I came all the way here just to see if that legendary 'White Jade Lion Yaya' is really as beautiful as rumored..."

"Hehe, I wonder what it feels like to ride such a 'jade lion'."

"Don't even think about it. It is said that even the captains can't get an appointment to see her."

"..."

Suren was a little unimpressed after hearing this.

If someone said that the strongest warrior in the world was so-and-so, he would still agree.

But saying "Number One Beauty in the World" made him skeptical.

Suren had seen many beautiful women: Mirror, Miko, Yuta, Sabina, even Chihiro, who never dressed up... weren't they all absolutely beautiful?

Moreover, "beauty" not only described appearance but also included temperament.

Onee-san (older sister), loli (young girl), long black hair, different styles, it was impossible to compare them.

In such a large world, who would dare to say that they could sit firmly on the title of "Number One Beauty in the World"?

Suren was just curious as to how this Mite Yaya managed to sit firmly in the chair of the "Black Dragon Society Boss."

Just by her looks?

Impossible!

Before long, the huge venue suddenly became quiet.

Someone shouted, "Lady Mite is here!"

Everyone looked over.

In the corridor on the second floor, a beautiful woman in a kimono walked gracefully. When she appeared, everything around her seemed to dim. Only she was radiant.

Suren also glanced over.

But with that one glance, his usually calm heart suddenly exploded with stormy waves.

He couldn't hide the shock in his eyes, and blurted out in his heart: "Pandora!"

At that moment, he finally knew what cursed object the old rune man had brought when he defected from Luying!