"This is Kakin? It doesn't look any different from the metropolises in other regions. I can't feel even a hint of the cultural heritage supposedly belonging to a 'Great Empire,'" Baise whispered, staring at the trendily dressed men and women on the street.
Ever since stepping off the airship, she hadn't seen a single symbolic ancient building. It was as if all historical monuments had vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a landscape of skyscrapers and modern entertainment venues.
Allen explained casually, "That's because thirty years ago, this nation underwent a silent coup d'état, often referred to as the quietest revolution in history. After the current King, Nasubi, ascended the throne, he implemented a radical modernization of the entire country. In just thirty short years, he used unknown methods to catch up to the massive industrial system that the V5 spent a century building."
He paused, glancing at the bustling cityscape. "But such rapid social transformation comes at a price. Everything you see now is part of that cost. To push modernization forward so quickly, the decaying, stagnant, and outdated feudal ideologies of the past had to be discarded, otherwise, they would have acted as a drag. Normally, a shift in social consciousness like this would take decades or even centuries. But Nasubi chose the 'one-cut' method, completely severing the Kakin of the past from the Kakin of the future. So, while the nation's history and civilization continue, their way of thinking and daily habits have undergone a fundamental change. If you came here looking for famous historical sites or hoping to enjoy ancient cultural traditions and exotic local customs, you're in for a massive disappointment."
"I actually think this is fine. At least there's no sense of alienation, and it's extremely convenient for eating, resting, and entertainment," Bodoro said, shrugging indifferently. As a martial artist, he didn't care how drastically Kakin had changed in thirty years; he just wanted to find a place to eat and fill his growling stomach as soon as possible.
"Where are we heading first?" Baise asked in an uncertain tone.
"Mmm… though I'd prefer to rendezvous with Kite first, he won't be here for at least another two days. Given how the hotels and inns are currently packed to capacity, our only choice is to find His Majesty Nasubi and have him arrange a place for us to stay," Allen decided after a brief moment of thought.
There was no other way. With so many people in the group, they couldn't exactly sleep on the streets. He had even offered ten times the normal price, yet couldn't find a single guest willing to give up a luxury suite. It was clear just how much passion the public felt toward this expedition and colonization effort.
Just as the group was crossing a lively pedestrian street, intending to hail a taxi to see the King of Kakin, a row of two black sedans suddenly pulled up to the curb.
Before the surrounding pedestrians could react, several men in black suits stepped out of the cars. The leader of the group bowed to Allen and greeted him in a highly respectful tone, "Good evening, Allen-sama. On behalf of the Royal Family, I welcome you to Kakin. Please, step inside the vehicle. His Majesty King Nasubi has prepared a lavish banquet and is awaiting the honor of your presence at the palace."
"Oh? I didn't expect His Majesty to be so hospitable, sending a private car less than fifteen minutes after I stepped off the airship." A meaningful expression surfaced on Allen's face.
There was no doubt that Nasubi was monitoring his every move; otherwise, he couldn't have sent people to intercept them so precisely.
"Of course! You represent the absolute limit of what individual human strength can achieve, and you are the most distinguished guest on this journey," the man in black flattered him shamelessly.
It was obvious that he had undergone professional training, and he was also a capable Nen user. No, not just him. Everyone from the drivers to the guards across these vehicles was a Nen user.
Realizing this, Allen gave a subtle look to Baise. The four of them split into two pairs, boarding the first and second cars respectively. Allen sat with Sanbica, who had the lowest combat capability, while Bodoro paired with Baise. This way, if an "accident" occurred in either car, they could prevent easy casualties.
However, these men in black clearly had no intention of making a move. They didn't even release a hint of hostility or wariness, safely delivering the group into a magnificent, luxurious palace.
Nasubi, who had been waiting for some time, immediately came out to greet them. He laughed and opened his arms wide, saying, "Welcome! Welcome, my young friend!"
"Your hospitality leaves me quite flattered," Allen replied, bowing slightly with a hand over his chest.
Although he often preferred simple and direct methods to solve problems, that didn't mean he didn't know how to wear a mask. On the contrary, deception and lying were things he excelled at. It was just that most of the time, Allen's opponents were so much weaker than him that he chose physical elimination instead. But now, facing the ruler of a powerful nation, killing him in public would be an open provocation to the laws, order, and international system of human society. Only a fool would act so recklessly.
"Hahahaha! If I hadn't seen you in battle, I wouldn't believe you were usually this polite. Though there may have been some small misunderstandings in the past, they won't stop us from becoming friends, right?" Nasubi probed with a loud laugh.
Allen nodded without a second thought. "Of course."
"Wonderful! I'm starting to like you more and more! Come, let's go upstairs. Exquisite food with Kakin's unique characteristics has been prepared. I'm sure you all must be hungry after your long journey."
With that, Nasubi led the way up the stairs to the dining room on the second floor.
In front of several long white tables, hundreds of meticulously prepared, hearty dishes were laid out. Beautiful young maidens stood holding wine bottles, waiting for the guests to be seated. Simultaneously, a band began to play elegant music.
What is "extravagance"? One only needed to look at this scene to understand. This was the power brought by wealth and authority.
Even though Nasubi was a Nen user himself, with a nauseating Guardian Spirit Beast standing behind him, killing him would be no trouble at all for Allen. Yet, through his power and wealth, this man could command countless people to serve and die for him.
Carrying their respective hidden agendas, the two soon took their seats. They enjoyed the feast while engaging in casual, non-committal conversation.
By the time the meal concluded, Nasubi had not mentioned the deceased Beyond or the team Ging had taken over. Similarly, Allen revealed nothing regarding his plans after boarding the ship.
After their mutual probing proved fruitless, the King of Kakin promptly sent the group to their temporary residence: a top-floor penthouse suite in a hotel right next to the port.