Chapter 137: Arriving in China
As the departure date arrived, Otonashi Chiya naturally had to settle things with Denji, Kobeni, and Pochita.
"We have important business that requires us to travel for a few days. I'll have Big Sister Reze stay behind to keep you company," Chiya decided. He planned to take Shingetsu and the Hybrids to the Magic City, as they would serve as "bargaining chips" for him. However, he didn't feel comfortable leaving Denji, Kobeni, and Pochita completely alone, so he needed Reze to look after them.
"Understood! I will obey Master's orders unconditionally~" Reze replied with playful obedience.
"By the way, do you absolutely have to keep calling me 'Master'?" Chiya couldn't help but ask. He always felt the title invited misunderstandings and didn't want any unnecessary trouble later on.
"Is Master unhappy with it? Fine then, I'll change the way I address you." Reze seemed compliant, but the smile on her face gave Chiya a rather ominous feeling.
Kobeni, Denji, and Pochita were all very well-behaved; after all, this wasn't the first or second time Chiya had traveled far from home. Once he confirmed his new destination during the upcoming International Transfer, he could bring them all along.
The next morning, they took a direct flight from Tokyo Airport to the Magic City.
Regarding visas, Reze had already inquired with the President of the Magic City Devil Hunter Association. Normally, Devil Hunters participating in the International Transfer would need to arrange their visas in advance. However, with a special invitation from the Association President, they were granted a "Visa on Arrival"—meaning they could process their temporary visas immediately upon landing with the proper documentation.
As for the 15-day visa-free entry for Japanese citizens, that wasn't a thing in this era. In the world of Chainsaw Man during this time period, there was no such exemption. While the flight was in the air, Chiya and the others filled out their entry application forms.
A few hours later.
The plane landed at the Magic City Airport.
[Ding! Host has activated the achievement "Arriving in China." Reward gained: Fluency in Mandarin!]
Chiya was momentarily stunned. Is there a possibility... that I already knew Mandarin? It's practically my mother tongue. He would have much preferred attribute points as a reward... unfortunately, he couldn't bargain with the system.
After disembarking, Chiya led Shingetsu and the others to the designated area to process their visas. While the entry application and the President's invitation letter were sufficient, they added their previous work credentials for good measure. Before long, the visas were finalized.
The Magic City Devil Hunter Association had indeed sent someone to meet them. The man was a middle-aged individual with a square jaw, dressed in a formal suit.
"You must be Mr. Otonashi, invited by President Jiang. I will escort you to the Devil Hunter Association immediately," the man said, speaking to them in Russian.
His superiors had instructed him to do so, explaining that these guests all understood Russian. While only one of them supposedly didn't know Mandarin, Russian was deemed the most convenient medium for the group.
"Alright, thank you for the trouble," Otonashi Chiya said.
The middle-aged man then led them to a luxury limousine large enough to accommodate the entire group. Sitting inside and watching the scenery flash by the window, Chiya couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia; he had finally returned to China.
Magic City Devil Hunter Association
The exterior was even more grand and imposing than Tokyo Public Safety, resembling a complex of palaces.
"My apologies, but I must ask everyone except Mr. Otonashi to wait here for a moment. President Jiang wishes to speak with Mr. Otonashi privately," the middle-aged man said politely.
Shingetsu, Furia, and the other Hybrids remained silent, looking directly at Chiya. They were completely subject to his will.
"It's fine. I'll meet with President Jiang alone. You all stay here and wait for me—and remember, don't cause any trouble," Chiya told them.
"Understood, Lord Otonashi!" the Hybrids replied with a solemn nod. Shingetsu gave a slight lift of her brow, signaling her understanding.
Chiya was then led into the meeting by the middle-aged man, who quietly withdrew and closed the door behind him. The room appeared to be President Jiang's study, likely his private workspace.
"Hello, President Jiang," Chiya said, speaking directly in Mandarin.
The man before him was well into his years, likely in his late fifties or sixties. He had a "Mediterranean" balding pattern and plenty of gray hair, but his expression was majestic and his eyes resolute. He possessed a level of vigor that seemed at odds with his age.
President Jiang immediately stood up and walked over to shake Chiya's hand. "I finally get to meet you. Thank you for giving me this honor."
He didn't seem surprised by Chiya's fluent Mandarin. He had specifically investigated Chiya's background and discovered he was of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent; his father's surname was Yin (sound) and given name Wu (none), and his mother's surname was Chiba. Thus, it wasn't strange for Chiya to speak the language, even if he had lived in Japan until now.
Though information regarding Chiya's parents was scarce, that didn't matter. What mattered was whether he could secure this youth, who was currently under heavy scrutiny by the higher-ups, during the International Transfer.
"You're too kind, President Jiang. I should be the one thanking you for the invitation," Chiya replied, exchanging polite pleasantries.
"Hahaha, young friend, you are too modest. Please, have a seat."
President Jiang took out his finest tea leaves from a cabinet—a stash he only shared when receiving the most important of guests. Even as a high-ranking official in the Magic City, he didn't dare put on airs before this boy. Otherwise, he might end up with the same fate as the Soviet military and the Japanese Cabinet.
Both the top brass and Jiang himself were treating this with utmost importance. Think about it: the boy had just dealt with the Soviets and the Japanese Cabinet, and now he was attending the International Transfer—he was clearly looking for a new home.
While the youth was extremely dangerous, their intelligence suggested he was only a threat when seeking revenge. Normally, he was so mild-mannered he didn't even seem like a powerhouse. In other words, as long as they didn't "seek death" by antagonizing him, he wasn't dangerous at all.
If they could win him over during this transfer, it wouldn't be hard to convince him to stay long-term. This would be a massive achievement for President Jiang, so he was fully invested.
"I've heard that you plan to participate in our upcoming International Transfer," Jiang said as he finished brewing the tea, pivoting to business. "If you don't mind my asking, do you already have a destination in mind?"