Naoki arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport precisely at 19:18 local time. The plane landed smoothly after the tense turbulence incident.
Using Spatial Refraction, he easily passed immigration officers' checks without being detected. He entered a public restroom, and moments later emerged again, already in the airport's public area.
"This is my first time setting foot in China." His voice hushed amid the bustle.
He pulled his small suitcase, walking toward the airport exit.
Beijing Capital International Airport at night was a panorama of lights and activity.
The terminal's high ceilings were illuminated by bright white lights, reflecting off the gleaming marble floors. Hundreds, even thousands of people passed by: foreign tourists with curious expressions, locals returning home or departing on business, families reuniting with hugs and smiles.
Announcement sounds in Mandarin, English, and several other languages echoed occasionally, accompanied by the clinking of luggage trolleys and eager footsteps.
Beijing is indeed one of the world's top tourism destinations, holding the record as the city with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a single city. Its historical, cultural, and modern attractions draw tourists from all corners of the world, despite Western propaganda, especially American, that often tries to tarnish China's image.
"First things first, find a place to stay. Without a passport, any hotel will reject foreign tourists, and might even quietly contact the police."
Naoki left the airport area and was immediately greeted by the hustle and bustle typical of a major Chinese city.
Beijing no longer 'sleeps' at night. The local government was actively promoting the "Nighttime Economy" with various light festivals like at the Great Wall, organized and clean night food markets, and the Sanlitun area which had become a center for modern lifestyle, bars, and nightlife entertainment.
"Compared to Japan which is experiencing population decline and an atmosphere that's often too quiet, China is actually overpopulated and full of energy." Naoki felt somewhat ironic about the difference between these two neighboring countries.
However, throughout his journey along the street, he began to receive hostile looks, suspicion, and even unconcealed hatred from some locals who recognized him as Japanese from his appearance and demeanor.
"They're not even trying to hide their discrimination against Japanese people."
Naoki observed several people turning away or whispering with displeased expressions. However, he understood this behavior.
The dislike or negative sentiment of Chinese society toward Japan had deep and complex roots.
Historical wounds were the most fundamental factor. Between 1931 and 1945, Japan occupied most of China's territory. Horrific events like the Nanjing Massacre, where hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and soldiers were brutally killed, left deep trauma that continued to be passed down through education and collective memory.
Not to mention the existence of Unit 731—a secret Japanese unit that conducted cruel and inhumane biological and chemical experiments on Chinese citizens—which further exacerbated this historical hatred.
"I can understand their feelings." Naoki acknowledged casually. "Indonesia was also colonized by Japan during World War II. Although the period was shorter, the brutality of Japanese soldiers in Indonesia is often considered more barbaric than the Dutch colonizers."
Because of this understanding, Naoki didn't feel disturbed or offended by the open dislike he received.
In fact, deep in his heart, he never considered Japan as his true homeland.
To him, Indonesia remained home, even though he hated the corrupt government and problems there. Japan was merely the stage where he currently stood, a world he utilized for his own ambitions.
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After walking for about half an hour, leaving the crowded airport area, Naoki finally found a suitable temporary residence.
It was a simple small house in a residential neighborhood that appeared quiet. From the outside, it looked empty and dark, with no signs of life. The house was likely temporarily abandoned by its owner.
To avoid being recorded by surveillance cameras that were everywhere in China, Naoki relied on his Peach Blessing. With Spatial Refraction, he approached the house, then used «Ame-no-Mitori» to create a portal into the house, entering without touching the door or windows.
Once inside, he treated the house as if it were his own. He turned on the lights with minimal risk, hoping neighbors would think the owner had returned home.
From family photos on the wall, it appeared this house belonged to a middle-aged married couple with two children—a teenage daughter and a son who might be around Naoki's age.
Where had they gone?
Perhaps on vacation to relatives' homes in the countryside. The timing was perfect, coinciding with the Lunar New Year national holiday, when Chinese people typically return to their hometowns to gather with extended family.
"What I'm about to do next includes criminal activities." Naoki said to himself. "Better to disguise myself just in case to anticipate unwanted situations."
He checked the rooms one by one, and finally found the boy's room. Upon opening the wardrobe, he found what he was looking for.
"Just as I thought..." Naoki was slightly amused. "Whether in Japan or China, teenage boys generally have a chuunibyou phase. They must have bought cosplay costumes or their favorite 'cool' style clothes."
Among t-shirts with game character prints and regular jackets, there was a set of "Dark Assassin" themed clothing—a black outfit from head to toe that covered almost the entire body, leaving only a gap for the eyes. Exactly what he needed.
"Preparation complete. Time to depart."
After saying that, Naoki activated «Pandemonium».
His pupils immediately changed, emitting a golden-blackish Inverted Cross pattern. Behind his back, a faint visual of the Qliphoth Tree diagram appeared momentarily. The Thaumiel slot at the top, containing «Ame-no-Mitori», glowed with a faint light, indicating the Peach Blessing he was accessing. The diagram then faded, but the cross pattern in his eyes remained, a sign that «Pandemonium» was still active.
Even after obtaining two additional Peach Blessings that filled other slots, Tenka's «Ame-no-Mitori» remained the Peach Blessing he used most frequently and most versatally.
That spatial manipulation ability was too flexible and powerful, becoming the backbone of almost all of Naoki's current strategies and mobility.