My and Their Anime-Style Otherworldly Survival Adventure

"You must be Yuan Jiuxiao?" Tian Tong Juzhicheng's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "The Holy Emperor specifically requested you to be his bodyguard, and I hope you can live up to this trust."

Jiu Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. He vaguely remembered that the old man in front of him was the mastermind behind Hiruko Kageyu's recent troubles. It was hard to say whether the old man was the one who orchestrated the attack on the Holy Emperor, staging this scene of the thief crying "stop thief!" No matter how weak the security at the Holy Residence was, it wasn't a place that a petty thief could easily infiltrate. If the problem originated from within, everything would make sense.

Jiuxiao stood up straight, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "I will do my best to protect the Holy Emperor. Withdraw your men. Since the Holy Emperor has entrusted her safety to me, her safety will be the responsibility of my agency during this period."

Jiuxiao's words were extremely impolite, practically screaming "I don't trust you." Although Tendo Kikunojo needed the Holy Emperor as a puppet and wouldn't easily choose to eliminate her, she couldn't help but be wary of the old man resorting to desperate measures. At worst, she could replace him as the supreme commander of the Tokyo region; it just wouldn't be as easy to control as the Holy Emperor.

Kikunojo Tendo frowned, quite dissatisfied with Kusho's attitude. "Are you trying to teach me how to do things? Your little office dares to talk about protecting the Holy Emperor's safety? I have countless elites under my command, why would I need a brat like you to interfere!"

Jiuxiao sneered and mocked without any politeness: "Countless elites? Then why is His Majesty the Holy Emperor lying in a hospital bed now? He couldn't even defend against a mere petty thief. Is this what you call elites? Forgive my bluntness, but if you're getting old and your eyesight is failing, why don't you retire and give the opportunity to the younger generation? No matter how bad Tokyo's financial situation is, it can still support a group of retired old guys."

Upon hearing this, Tendou Kikunojo's face turned ashen. In all his years, he had never been so openly humiliated. He laughed angrily, saying, "Fine, fine, fine, you little brat! I'll see what you're capable of protecting His Majesty the Holy Emperor!" He gave a signal to the security personnel around him, who immediately understood and stepped forward, ready to subdue Kyuujo.

However, Jiu Xiao remained unfazed, not even moving an inch, simply staring coldly at them, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He blatantly threatened, "I advise you not to make any rash moves. At this distance, no one can stop me from taking your life. If you don't believe me, just try."

"You!" Kikunojo Tendo was stunned by Kyuu's imposing aura and speechless for a moment. He pointed at Kyuu, his trembling finger revealing his apprehension. While Kikunojo Tendo was adept at politics, he had no good way to deal with someone like Kyuu, who possessed extremely high individual combat strength and didn't play by the rules. He couldn't very well deploy a large number of Self-Defense Forces and police to deal with him, especially since Kyuu had the secret support of the Sima family.

Seeing this, the surrounding security personnel involuntarily stopped in their tracks, and the atmosphere froze instantly. Just then, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and began to berate Jiu Xiao.

"Yuan Jiuxiao, how dare you threaten a high-ranking government official in broad daylight? Do you have any respect for the law? Do you even respect the law?"

Jiuxiao glanced sideways and said disdainfully, "And who are you? Besides, I hate it when people point fingers at me. I'll let it go with Tendo Kikunojo because he's Kisara-nee's grandfather. But who do you think you are?"

The middle-aged man clearly hadn't expected Jiuxiao to be so arrogant. His face flushed red, and he shouted angrily, "I am Kazumitsu Tendo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Tokyo. How dare you, a mere police officer, insult me ​​at will?"

Jiuxiao suddenly realized, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips: "My apologies, my apologies. So you're Kisara-nee's half-brother. And the Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism? Unbelievable, unbelievable. I suppose your skill in pointing at people is a family trait? Are all the people in the Tendo family so rude?"

Tendo Kigeng:? ? ?

Upon hearing this, Tendo Kazuhiro trembled with rage. He hadn't expected that Jiuxiao would not only show no fear of his status but would also intensify his mockery. He glared at Jiuxiao, his voice almost squeezed out through clenched teeth: "Yuan Jiuxiao, don't go too far! This is Tokyo, not a place for you to run wild!"

Neither side was willing to back down, and a stalemate ensued, creating a tense atmosphere. Fortunately, a nurse emerged from the Emperor's ward with her instructions.

"Which of you is Yuan Jiuxiao? His Majesty the Holy Emperor has woken up and specifically requested to see you." Although the nurse's voice was soft, it made Tendo Kikunojo and Tendo Kazumitsu secretly breathe a sigh of relief. They had never seen such a naive young man as Jiuxiao.

Jiuxiao nodded and followed the nurse into the ward. As he passed by Tendo Kikunojo, he paused slightly and whispered to him, "Keep your little schemes to yourself. If the Holy Emperor dies in an accident, I will kill you first, regardless of whether there is any evidence or not. Don't doubt my ability to do so."

Upon hearing this, Kikunojo Tendo's pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran down his spine. His first thought was, "Has what I did been exposed?" But he quickly reassured himself that this matter had been handled very discreetly, and that Kusho couldn't possibly know anything about his deal with Hiruko Kagetane. However, Kusho's gaze and tone made him dare not be careless in the slightest.

Afterwards, Jiu Xiao was brought before the Holy Emperor, who assigned Xia Shi to stand guard by the door. Inside the ward, the Holy Emperor lay quietly on the bed, her face pale. Her gaze, through her bangs, went straight to Jiu Xiao, as if trying to see through his heart.

"Mr. Yuan, can I trust you?" The Holy Emperor's voice was very weak. This assassination attempt had greatly shocked her, and her voice trembled slightly.

Jiuxiao gazed into the Holy Emperor's eyes, nodded slightly, and said, "Yes, we are partners fighting for the same cause. In China, this kind of relationship is called 'comrades.' As long as you don't betray your original intentions, I will stand firmly on your side."

"Staying true to myself... I've always been working hard for the safety of Tokyo, yet this has happened. Sometimes I wonder if I really did something wrong." The Emperor's words were tinged with confusion and bitterness, like a lonely traveler searching for a faint light in the vast darkness.

Jiuxiao sighed; he both loved and hated the indecisive ruler before him.

"There are some things I don't know whether I should say, but since you asked, I will speak frankly. Your Majesty, your kindness and benevolence are your strengths, but also your weaknesses. Your initial intentions are good; you want to protect everyone in Tokyo. But sometimes, to achieve this goal, you must learn to make some difficult choices, even decisions that may be unpleasant to others."

Upon hearing this, the Holy Emperor's eyes dimmed slightly. She, too, was well aware of these principles. However, putting them into practice was incredibly difficult. Just as her attempt to enact the Gastrea Law had encountered formidable resistance from all sides, those seemingly righteous words concealed their own selfish desires and calculations. She too wished to act swiftly and decisively, but she lacked the necessary authority.

Shaking his head helplessly, the Holy Emperor asked, "Mr. Yuan, what do you think I should do?"

What to do? Just let it be. Jiuxiao really wanted to say that, but he held back.

"Are you sure you want me to tell you? Then I won't hold back!"

The Holy Emperor nodded, signaling him to continue. Jiuxiao organized his thoughts before speaking, “You trusted Kikunojo Tendo too much. Perhaps he genuinely wanted to assist you before, but your friendly attitude towards the Cursed Children displeased him. After you revealed your intention to introduce the new Gastrea Law, the conflict between you reached an irreconcilable point. Kikunojo Tendo hates Gastrea and the Cursed Children because his wife died in the Gastrea War. Do you know? Hatred is a very powerful force; it can distort the human mind and make people do things they wouldn't normally dare to think of. Kikunojo Tendo is such a person; he has been blinded by hatred, and for revenge, he even…”

Jiuxiao's words came to an abrupt halt; he almost blurted out the plot of Tendo Kikunojo and Hiruko Kagetane from his past life. Recounting things without concrete evidence would only diminish the credibility of his words.

Jiu Xiao grasped the Holy Emperor's hand and continued, "Just focus on being yourself. I believe it won't be long before you see the true colors of the Tian Tong family. If by then you still think Tian Tong Ju Zhi Cheng is trustworthy, then I have nothing more to say." As he spoke, Jiu Xiao secretly channeled a healing magic into the Holy Emperor's body to help her suffer less and recover sooner.

After concluding his conversation with the Holy Emperor, Jiu Xiao slowly withdrew from the room, leaving the Holy Emperor alone in deep thought. Outside the door, Xia Shi, who had been dozing against the wall, immediately woke up upon hearing the door open. Seeing Jiu Xiao emerge, he quickly stood up straight. Xia Shi rubbed his stomach and whispered, "I'm hungry..."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao gently patted Xia Shi's head and said with a smile, "Let's go, I'll take you to eat something good, as a treat for yourself."

Xia Shi's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. "But, what about the safety of His Majesty the Holy Emperor..."

Jiuxiao explained nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I've already taken care of it. Those people won't dare to make any rash moves anytime soon."

Xia Shi is very intelligent because she possesses the dolphin factor, giving her an IQ of 210. Recalling Jiu Xiao's conversation with the two celestial children, she seemed to understand something, but she didn't ask any further questions. She simply nodded silently and followed Jiu Xiao out of the hospital.

The two walked through a long street and arrived at a well-known restaurant in Tokyo. It was nearly late at night, but the restaurant was still brightly lit and bustling with people, seemingly unaffected by the outside world's disturbances.

After ordering several specialty dishes, Jiu Xiao and Xia Shi found a seat by the window. The Tokyo night view outside the window was picturesque, with flashing neon lights reflecting the city's prosperity and hustle and bustle. However, behind this beauty, countless unknown secrets and struggles were hidden.

Watching Xia Shi wolf down her food, Jiu Xiao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. This girl only showed her childlike side when eating. Seeing Jiu Xiao hesitate to eat, Xia Shi looked up and asked, "Mr. Yuan, why aren't you eating? The food at this restaurant is delicious; if you don't eat, I'll finish it all!" As she spoke, Xia Shi playfully shook her chopsticks, a grain of rice clinging to the corner of her mouth, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Seeing the grain of rice on the corner of Xia Shi's mouth, Jiu Xiao subconsciously reached out and removed it. Under Xia Shi's questioning gaze, Jiu Xiao put it into his own mouth... Xia Shi's face instantly turned red, like a ripe apple. She stared at Jiu Xiao in surprise, momentarily forgetting to react. The noisy sounds in the restaurant seemed to disappear at that moment, leaving only the two of them sitting opposite each other.

"Mr. Yuan, what... what are you doing?" Xia Shi stammered, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with both shyness and anticipation. It was truly a mystery what she was expecting.

Jiu Xiao quickly realized what was happening and explained, "Sorry, I'm used to it at home. Sometimes the kids don't eat properly, so I just do this... I didn't realize it just now, it was an unconscious thing..."

Jiu Xiao's explanation calmed Xia Shi down a bit, but for some reason, he felt a little disappointed. Xia Shi tentatively asked, "Is the little one you're talking about your sister?"

Jiuxiao smiled and shook his head, a hint of doting in his eyes. "Sister? You could call her that, but we're not related by blood. There's also my originator. She has rabbit genes and is about your age, but her personality is far less mature than yours. You can get to know her if you have the chance. I think you two would get along very well."

Upon hearing this, Xia Shi felt a strange sense of loss welling up inside her. She gently stirred the soup in her bowl and said softly, "So Mr. Yuan has a starter now. I really envy you..."

Chapter 103 What about me?

After the meal, Jiu Xiao asked, "Xia Shi, what are your plans for the future? According to the regulations of the International Initiator Supervision Organization, after your facilitator dies, you have to return to the organization to wait for reassignment. I think you probably don't want to go back there, right?"

Xia Shi's eyes dimmed slightly as he lowered his head, deep in thought. "I..."

Seeing that she hadn't explicitly refused, Jiu Xiao assumed it was just a game. Taking Xia Shi's hand, Jiu Xiao decided for her, "If you don't have anywhere to go, how about coming to my house? My house is quite big."

Xia Shi raised his head, not directly answering Jiu Xiao's question, but instead asking, "Mr. Yuan, are you worried about me? Or are you like this with every cursed child?"

Jiu Xiao was taken aback; he realized he couldn't answer the question. It was impossible for him to feel equal affection for every cursed child. Everyone has their own scales, and while Jiu Xiao didn't intend to categorize people into different classes, favoritism was undeniable. If he had to choose, he would definitely choose the girls around him. As for Xia Shi, besides his past life's feelings, he genuinely wanted to help her.

Seeing Jiu Xiao hesitate and remain silent, Xia Shi couldn't help but reveal a mischievous smile: "Mr. Yuan, I imagine you have very few friends, don't you? You could have just told me a lie, but instead you're seriously considering this question. You're truly an incredible person. I'm a little envious of Yan Zhu; she must be very well protected by you, right?"

This time, it was Jiu Xiao's turn to be different. In both his past and present lives, the number of people he could truly call friends was very small. Xiao Yuan and the others didn't count, because they were his wives... But this kid in front of him was far too mature and intelligent, wasn't he? He had discerned almost everything about his thoughts in just a few words. Jiu Xiao had indeed offended many people because of his straightforward and outspoken personality, so he basically didn't have any friends in the past.

With a dry laugh, Jiu Xiao tried to explain, "Haha, well... actually, when it comes to friends, quality is more important than quantity, right? Besides, I genuinely believe that meeting someone worth getting to know deeply is far more meaningful than having a group of casual acquaintances. As for Yan Zhu, she is indeed a very important person to me, and naturally I will do my best to protect her." Jiu Xiao's words carried a hint of seriousness, but also revealed a touch of helplessness.

Xia Shi nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Jiu Xiao's answer. "So, Mr. Yuan, can I understand that you're worried about me, or at least want to help me out of goodwill, right?"

"Yes, and not entirely. Fate is a mysterious thing. I feel we are very connected, so I want to do as much as I can for you." Jiu Xiao said vaguely. He couldn't possibly tell people the tragic ending of Xia Shi that he had seen in movies in his previous life, could he? That would be too cruel and too unbelievable, and would easily make him seem like a lunatic.

Xia Shi smiled slightly, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "Thank you, Mr. Yuan. If you don't mind, please let me be your friend."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao was both amused and exasperated; he hadn't expected to be pitied by a little girl. Smiling, he reached out and gently patted Xia Shi's head. "Should I say thank you? If you really consider me a friend, don't be so formal. How about we change how we address each other?"

Xia Shi blinked, seemingly pondering a suitable form of address. After a moment, a playful smile appeared on her lips: "Then... Brother Jiuxiao, is that alright?"

"Why 'Big Brother'? It makes me sound like a gangster. How about calling me Onii-chan?" Jiu Xiao joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Upon hearing this, Xia Shi was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing, his eyes curving into crescent shapes.

"Onii-chan... Could it be that Brother Jiuxiao is a siscon?"

So what if I'm a sister-complex? Did I eat your rice?

Jiu Xiao quickly waved his hand to clarify, deliberately putting on a serious expression as he explained, "No, no, no, you misunderstood. Actually, I'm a total lover; I like any cute girl." After saying that, Jiu Xiao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

After bringing Xia Shi home, Jiu Xiao took out slippers from the shoe cabinet and said to Xia Shi, "Come on, change your shoes. Make yourself at home, don't be shy."

Xia Shi looked down at her small feet, then at the slippers that were clearly much bigger than her feet, and a troubled expression appeared on her face. Seeing this, Jiu Xiao slapped her forehead and laughed, "Look at me, I forgot that your feet aren't even as big as mine. Wait, I'll go find you a pair that fits."

As he spoke, Jiu Xiao strode into the room and pulled out a pair of brand-new, cute slippers from his collection. He had prepared them for Yan Zhu, but she hadn't worn them because she thought the color was too pink. Now they came in handy.

Xia Shi put on the suitable slippers, nodded in satisfaction, and whispered, "Brother Jiuxiao, you've really thought of everything."

Jiu Xiao led Xia Shi into the living room, where Yan Zhu was curled up on the sofa watching cartoons and munching on snacks. Seeing Jiu Xiao return with a strange little girl, Yan Zhu's eyes widened in surprise, and she forgot to eat her snacks.

"Jiuxiao, you finally couldn't resist and laid a hand on the little girl? I'll take you to turn yourself in now. If the circumstances aren't too serious, you'll only be locked up for five years at most. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you outside."

Jiu Xiao's face darkened. Yan Zhu was getting more and more mischievous. He rolled his eyes speechlessly and decided to tease her.

"Enju, let me introduce you. This is Natsume Senju. She is my new Initiator. From now on, you will be working with Kisara-nee."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhu jumped up from the sofa, scattering her snacks all over the floor, and pointed at Xia Shi with an incredulous expression: "Her? The Initiator? What about me?"

It's clear that Yeonjoo is really flustered right now; she's even forgotten how to address herself normally.

Jiuxiao nodded seriously, "That's right. Don't be fooled by the fact that Xia Shi is about your age. She's a genius Initiator, and her strength shouldn't be underestimated. As for you, you're no longer needed. From now on, you'll be a member of the Kisara family."

Yeon-joo's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up as if they might burst at any moment. Her voice trembled, choked with sobs, as she said, "Kyu-soo...you...you big idiot, you womanizer..."

The commotion in the living room soon drew the attention of the other girls who were busy in the kitchen. Sania, holding a spatula, frowned slightly and looked at Jiuxiao and the unfamiliar little girl next to him with a puzzled expression. She asked, "What's wrong, Jiuxiao? Did you make Yanzhu angry again?"

Jiuxiao quickly waved his hand, looking innocent, and said, "No, I just introduced Yanzhu to a new friend, and the little guy started acting up."

Enju retorted, "He's not a new friend! Jiuxiao said he doesn't want me anymore and wants to find this person named Qianshou Xiasheng to be his new starting point! He even wants to give me to that cowgirl, Kisaragi..."

Upon hearing this, Kisara also poked his head out of the kitchen doorway with a dark face, hands on his hips, glaring at Enju: "Who are you calling a cow girl? I think you're asking for a beating! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

After a flurry of activity, Jiu Xiao explained the truth to everyone, revealing that he had deliberately concealed the fact that the Holy Emperor had been assassinated. Everyone readily accepted Xia Shi, except for Yan Zhu. Jiu Xiao's earlier joke seemed to have made the little girl feel a bit threatened; she was currently glaring at Xia Shi with displeasure.

Kisara asked, "So this mission was a failure? That guy named Hiruko Kagetane isn't really planning to summon Scorpio in the Tokyo area, is he?"

Jiuxiao nodded, looking completely unfazed, and said, "Yes, the mission failed. But don't worry too much, I already have a plan."

Jiuxiao's so-called solution was a plot-driven kill, replicating Rentaro's method of defeating Scorpio. All he needed to do was prepare some glowing metal projectiles beforehand; he didn't have a glowing metal prosthetic arm, and if that didn't work, he'd have Fate unleash a wide-area spell. In short, it wasn't a big problem; if all else failed, they'd just have to make things difficult for the citizens of Tokyo...

Two more days passed, and Jiu Xiao, completely resigned to his fate, gave up on searching for Hiruko Kagetane and the Seven Stars' legacy. Tokyo was so vast; finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially since Hiruko Kagetane was deliberately hiding. Jiu Xiao decided to adopt a different strategy—waiting for the rabbit to run into the tree stump. He believed that since Hiruko Kagetane had a plan to summon Scorpio in the Tokyo area, he would eventually slip up.

During these two days, Jiu Xiao wasn't completely idle either. He contacted Wei Zhi and asked her family's technical team to inspect the "Sky Ladder" to prevent any unexpected problems. The Sky Ladder's official name is the Linear Electromagnetic Projection Device, a railgun module capable of launching metal projectiles with a diameter of less than 800mm at sub-light speed. It's the superweapon that destroyed Scorpio in the original story.

Under the meticulous inspection of the professional team, every component of the "Sky Ladder" was examined one by one, from the energy core to the electromagnetic launch system; no detail was overlooked. This inspection indeed revealed a problem: the Sky Ladder's automatic aiming system was malfunctioning, potentially causing it to fail to accurately lock onto targets at crucial moments. Upon learning of the situation, Wei Zhi immediately dispatched top-tier technicians to repair it. Jiu Xiao also decided to personally oversee the entire repair process to prevent any deliberate sabotage. After all, this was a crucial tool capable of easily resolving problems; nothing could be allowed to go wrong.

At the same time, Jiu Xiao decided to fleece Tokyo thoroughly.

That afternoon, Scorpio arrived as promised. It was a bizarrely shaped monster, bearing no resemblance to a scorpion whatsoever. Scorpio had dark brown, cracked muscles, covered in scars as if it had contracted smallpox, with protrusions growing on the scars. Eight sickle-shaped, barbed objects pierced the skin from its neck, head, and right eye. Its head was abnormally large, with a bird-beak-like, curved object extending unnaturally from the corner of its mouth. Its remaining left eye was pitifully small. It walked on two legs and stood approximately 400 meters tall.

As soon as Scorpio appeared, it wreaked havoc at the docks near Tokyo. Countless buildings collapsed under its onslaught, towering waves surged on the sea, and the screams of terrified Tokyo residents echoed throughout the city, as if the entire city had been plunged into an apocalyptic catastrophe.

Although the Tokyo government evacuated citizens immediately, their defenses proved utterly ineffective against such a terrifying monster. Scorpio's destructive power far exceeded expectations; even the strongest defenses crumbled like paper under its attack. The Self-Defense Forces, entrusted with immense responsibility, were helpless against it. Countless shots rained down on Scorpio, like tickling it, causing almost no real damage beyond fueling its rage. Scorpio seemed like an invincible demon, wantonly trampling every inch of Tokyo's land.

The Tokyo government and major family businesses jointly issued an emergency warrant for the capture of Scorpio, with the bounty skyrocketing from 100 billion yen to 10 billion yen. The International Initiator Watch also promised to elevate anyone who could defeat Scorpio to the top 50 of their IP ranking and award them the virtual rank of Major General. While this rank was practically useless, offering only a degree of command authority without actual authority, it could be used to intimidate in crucial moments.

Jiuxiao stood atop a tall building, coldly observing everything. He didn't want to end up like Rentaro, who killed Scorpio and gained nothing, with his entire 10 billion yen commission going down the drain.

After the bounty reached its peak of 100 billion, Jiu Xiao contacted the organization that issued the commission and signed a waiver. Its main content was regarding the city during the campaign against Scorpio.

Jiuxiao and his team assume no responsibility for any incidental damages. All losses will be borne jointly by the government and the major conglomerates.

After the signing was completed, Jiuxiao had Fate take him to the Heavenly Ladder. To ensure a high success rate, Fate used Lightning Shackles, a pre-set capture spell that they had placed in advance along Scorpio's path. As Scorpio stepped into the trap area, Lightning Shackles suddenly activated, golden lightning instantly binding Scorpio like a cage, rendering his massive body immobile. He roared and struggled, but to no avail.

According to Fate, this magic, besides its control effects, can also enhance the effects of lightning magic. It's just unknown whether it can increase the power of the linear electromagnetic projection device.

Jiuxiao, who was waiting inside the Heavenly Ladder in advance, immediately activated the auto-aiming system of the linear electromagnetic projection device after discovering that Scorpio had been hit. Once the target was locked, Jiuxiao only needed to pull the trigger.

With a hissing sound of electricity, the linear electromagnetic projection device was successfully launched. A metal projectile, enveloped in blue light, streaked across the sea at supersonic speed, heading straight for Scorpio, which was tightly bound by lightning shackles.

The electromagnetic cannon, accelerated to near-light speed, exploded on Scorpio's massive body, instantly unleashing a dazzling light and a massive shockwave. Scorpio was pierced through, its immense energy exploding within it. It let out a deafening wail before tumbling backward. In the next instant, Scorpio was blasted into countless fragments amidst the blinding light, utterly and completely dead.

Chapter 104 Tina makes her grand entrance!

Whose milk? .jpg

At the same time, the immense energy destroyed most of the port, towering waves submerged the surrounding buildings, and ships were tossed about by the gale like kites with broken strings, creating an unprecedented catastrophic storm on the sea.

Jiu Xiao secretly rejoiced at his wise decision to sign the waiver in advance; otherwise, the money he earned might not have been enough to cover the losses. About a month passed after this incident. In the past month, Xia Shi had completely integrated into Jiu Xiao's family and become the initiator of the "Mokugen" (a type of martial arts) movement.

On this day, the Holy Emperor summoned Jiu Xiao again, and thanks to his secret treatment, the Holy Emperor was discharged from the hospital in just a few days.

Upon arriving at the Holy Residence once again, Jiu Xiao discovered that the Holy Emperor's guards had all been replaced. After the two sat down, the Holy Emperor began to explain the reason for summoning him.

"Mr. Yuan, thank you again for saving the Tokyo area. Actually, I called you here today to ask you for a favor."

Jiuxiao bowed slightly, displaying due humility, while secretly wondering what the Holy Emperor wanted. After all, given her status and power, anything she personally requested was no small matter. The last time the Holy Emperor had entrusted him with such a serious request was when he was tasked with finding the Seven Stars' inheritance.

"Your Majesty, you flatter me. I'm just doing my job for the money. Besides, you've said it so many times on the phone, over and over again, that I'm getting embarrassed. I wonder what Your Majesty needs me for this time?" Jiu Xiao's voice carried a hint of helplessness. He really couldn't accept the Emperor's praise, since no matter how you looked at it, Jiu Xiao was the biggest beneficiary of this whole affair.

The Holy Emperor took a sip of tea from the table, looked intently at Jiuxiao, and slowly said, "Even so, I still want to thank you in person. In addition, the day after tomorrow, President Qi Wu, the leader of the Osaka region, will be making an informal visit to the Tokyo area. I hope that you can serve as my personal bodyguard during this time and protect my safety throughout."

Jiuxiao was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why don't you just leave this kind of thing to that old guy, Tiantong Juzhicheng? Qiwu Xuanzong, that old fox, is not so easy to deal with. Who knows what kind of trap he has in store for you."

“Of course I know that, but Assistant Minister Kikunojo went to visit China and the White Bear Kingdom a few days ago. President Qi Wu specifically chose this time to visit; he must have some ulterior motive. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I'd like to hire you.” The Holy Emperor shifted his gaze to the guard standing by the door and continued, “You know how unreliable my guards are…”

Jiuxiao felt ashamed. Although it was true, was it really appropriate to say it so bluntly? He secretly grumbled to himself, but he also understood the Holy Emperor's predicament. He nodded slightly, agreeing to the request, after all, Tina seemed to have appeared around this time.

"Alright, but you have to follow my instructions throughout. As for your guards, just have them keep watch on the perimeter and don't let them interfere with my operations. By the way, what happened to your former guard captain, Takuto Howaki?"

Jiuxiao had almost forgotten about this scumbag. If he hadn't come to the Holy Abode again, he would have almost erased the name from his memory.

Upon hearing this name, the Holy Emperor was visibly embarrassed and remorseful. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "I've already had someone secretly investigate Takumi Howaki's matter. I never imagined he was secretly torturing and murdering a Cursed Child. If it weren't for your reminder, I would have been completely fooled by him. After his last conflict with you, he spent over a month in the hospital, and upon his discharge, I dismissed him from his post. I'm sorry, this is all I can do. As you know, even though I discovered his secret torturing and murdering of a Cursed Child, I can't give him the punishment he deserves. After all, the Gastrea Law hasn't been officially implemented yet..."