Three days later, on Nawajima in the Sakura Nation, a silver-haired girl wearing a baseball cap emerged from the airport, surveying her surroundings.
Without a doubt, this was Firefly. Her presence here was entirely due to the results of a Tarot reading she had performed three days prior.
After her rough interpretation, the conclusion could be summarized as: "Depart south, three, relax."
It's important to understand that each Tarot card carries a multitude of meanings. The Fool, for instance, can represent new beginnings, changes in direction, refined skills, the unwavering pursuit of one's will, and harnessing natural forces to achieve ambitions.
Conversely, when reversed, the card's interpretation shifts dramatically: weak willpower, difficulty getting started, straying onto the wrong path, lack of knowledge, deception, and failure.
Firefly's initial question during the reading had been: "When will I complete this phase of my objective?" To put it more plainly, she wanted to know when she would max out the progress on her second Identity within the System.
Undoubtedly, many of the interpretations associated with the Fool Card were completely irrelevant to Firefly's divination. After spending a considerable amount of time eliminating the obviously unrelated meanings, she pieced together the remaining elements to arrive at the interpretation above.
The first term, "Departure," was straightforward. As for the second, "Southward," Firefly opened a map, located her current position, and followed the southward direction until she reached the Sakura Nation.
She inquired in the Chat Group and immediately learned that the Dragon Nation was preparing to hold a summit with White Eagle in the Sakura Nation. This wasn't exactly a secret, but the specific time and location were classified.
The truly bizarre part was that the Sakura Nation authorities had learned about the impending summit on their own soil through Dragon Nation's online news, rather than receiving official notification from either the Dragon Nation or White Eagle.
Sakura Nation officials: ???
Returning to the main point, Firefly's divination question made it clear that she needed to engage in combat to achieve her objective. Did the divination's southward direction imply a high probability of conflict erupting during the conference?
As for the "Three" in the divination result, it likely referred to a time frame, while "Ease" might indicate the location.
After some contemplation, Firefly concluded that the "relaxing place" likely referred to a tourist city. Thus, she found herself in Nawajima, the Sakura Nation's most renowned tourist destination.
"To be able to divine the exact time and location with such precision... maybe I have a hidden talent for this after all?" she mused, hands on her hips. "I'm a divination prodigy!"
Back in the present, summer had just ended, and the weather was beginning to cool. With the peak tourist season over, the surrounding area felt strangely deserted.
The airport where Firefly stood was eerily quiet, with only a few scattered travelers wandering through its halls.
She quickly left the airport and headed to her pre-booked hotel. Now, she was faced with a dilemma: what to do next? She wasn't here for sightseeing, and after spending several days "relaxing" on the beaches of the European Union, she had temporarily lost her appetite for sandy shores.
Sitting on the hotel's plush king-sized bed, Firefly slipped off her shoes. Her legs, clad in white stockings, swayed gently as she leaned back and began scrolling through her phone with aimless boredom.
Meanwhile, Director Kong Zhiwang of the Dragon Nation Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, along with the Second Special Mobile Squad, and White Eagle's Wizard, Mad Lion, and Hunter, had all arrived in the city on separate private jets.
Firefly's divination had proven remarkably accurate. As Kong Zhiwang disembarked, he spotted a Sakura Nation man in a suit standing respectfully by the boarding ramp, posing as an airport employee. Kong Zhiwang knew better; this was Hojo Tatsuya, the nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The next moment, Hojo demonstrated his nation's unique brand of "hospitality." Bowing repeatedly, he stammered, "I sincerely apologize for the suddenness of your visit. We haven't had time to prepare a proper welcoming delegation or meeting venue..."
Hojo had likely been standing there for some time under the scorching sun, sweat beading on his forehead. Absurdly, perhaps due to the force of his bows, Kong Zhiwang watched several droplets of sweat fling from Hojo's brow, arcing toward him.
Kong Zhiwang discreetly stepped back and said, "That's not necessary. I'm not particular about formalities. As long as we have a place to talk, I'd be fine even with folding chairs on the street."
After a pause, he continued, "What about the White Eagle representatives? Have they all arrived?"
Hojo Tatsuya replied instantly, "Yes, they're here. The three of them landed about fifteen minutes ago and are currently in the VIP lounge."
"Take us there," Kong Zhiwang instructed. Behind him, the five members of the Second Special Mobile Squad disembarked. Dressed in identical full-body black uniforms, gloves, and masks, they left no skin exposed.
At first glance, their appearance might seem intimidating, but their masks completely undermined any sense of seriousness. Each mask depicted a different mahjong tile: One-Dot, Two-Bamboo, Three-Bamboo, Four-Bamboo, and Five-Bamboo.
Led by Hojo Tatsuya, Kong Zhiwang soon arrived at the airport's VIP lounge. Inside, a portly white man covered in rings and gold chains was complaining, "This place is ridiculously spartan! Are we really supposed to hold our meeting here?"
In truth, the airport's VIP lounge was already quite luxurious, with plush sofas, complimentary beverages, and even manga. But what might seem opulent to ordinary people likely felt rather modest to the White Eagle Eight, who occupied the pinnacle of power.
Mad Lion, however, sat with his legs crossed, arms draped over the sofa's backrest, completely hogging the entire couch. "Honestly," he chuckled, "you've just been spoiled by extravagance. I think this place is perfectly fine."
Mad Lion's voice boomed like an ordinary man shouting through a megaphone. Kong Zhiwang, who had just entered, even felt a slight ringing in his ears from the sheer volume.
The Hunter, a woman, idly twirled her revolver as she glanced at Kong Zhiwang standing at the lounge entrance. "Yo~ Director of the Dragon Nation Bureau of Anomalous Investigations," she greeted with a smirk. "Long time no see."