As Zhang Jie was about to board his flight from New York to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, his phone vibrated.
He pulled out his phone and saw a text message from Veronica.
"The KH Alliance has called off the hit on you. I'll contact you once you arrive in Shibuya, little brother ~ — V"
After glancing at the message, Zhang Jie deleted it.
"You're the boss now; you decide where we go. Anyway, you'll reimburse the travel expenses."
Once on the plane, Zhang Jie's first priority was to get some good rest. He had a premonition that his upcoming trip to Tokyo wouldn't be so simple.
He didn't know how long he had slept when he vaguely heard the flight attendants' announcement.
The cabin lights dimmed, as if an invisible hand had gently lowered their brightness.
Outside the window, dusk was settling, and the clouds, like cotton soaked in ink, pressed heavily at the edge of the horizon.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent and expect to arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo in approximately twenty minutes. The local weather is light rain, and the temperature is 18 degrees Celsius. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Thank you for flying with us."
The captain's voice came over the loudspeaker, deep and steady, with a metallic quality. After speaking in English, he immediately switched to Japanese, which Zhang Jie unfortunately couldn't understand.
Before he finished speaking, a slight stir rippled through the cabin. Some people put away their tray tables, others straightened their seatbacks, and still others quickly closed their laptops, the glow of their screens flickering briefly in the dim cabin.
The flight attendants began to walk slowly down the aisle, their fingers gently brushing over each row of seats, checking every detail.
"Please ensure your seatbelt is fastened."
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable gentleness.
Passing a mother holding a baby, she leaned slightly and reminded softly, "There may be turbulence during landing, please hold your child securely."
The indicator lights came on, accompanied by a crisp "ding" sound.
The cabin became completely silent, with only the low hum of the engines, like some giant creature breathing deep within the clouds.
The scenery outside the window began to change.
The clouds gradually thinned, and through the broken gaps, the lights of the ground appeared, at first just scattered points, then connecting into a continuous expanse, like scattered stars casually strewn across the earth.
Descending to Haneda Airport.
The roar of the engines gradually softened, and the wings sliced through the thick clouds, like a blunt knife cutting through damp cotton.
Below, Tokyo's lights blurred in the rain, turning into a hazy golden sea of light, occasionally illuminated by lightning, then quickly receding back into darkness.
Raindrops slanted against the porthole, trailing winding streaks of water that distorted the city's outline into flowing neon.
Tokyo's silhouette was faintly visible in the rain and fog, and the neon lights blurred by the moisture, transforming into a hazy sea of light.
The fuselage vibrated slightly, and the sound of the landing gear deploying was dull and clear.
"We are about to land. Please reconfirm that your electronic devices are switched to flight mode."
The announcement sounded again, this time with a hint of tension in the captain's voice.
The roar of the engines gradually diminished, replaced by the whoosh of air rushing over the wings.
Haneda Airport's runway gleamed coldly in the rain, transforming from tiny points of light into a straight band of light, extending towards the distant, hazy control tower, piercing the darkness of the rainy night.
The moment the tires touched the ground, the fuselage gave a gentle shudder, followed by the roar of the reverse thrusters, and the immense inertia pressed people slightly back into their seats.
Outside the window, rainwater was swept up by the airflow, drawing silvery arcs on the runway.
"Welcome to Tokyo."
The captain's voice carried a relieved smile.
The cabin lights came back on, illuminating every tired yet relaxed face.
Zhang Jie, however, watched out the window in silence.
Deep down, Zhang Jie harbored a unique sentiment towards this country, but he couldn't quite describe what that emotion was.
He would think about it later, when he had the chance.
Rainwater snaked into rivers on the porthole, blurring the lights of Haneda Airport.
The moment the cabin door opened, damp wind, carrying the residual heat of the engines, rushed in. Ground staff in bright yellow raincoats directed traffic on the runway, their figures swaying in the rain, like moving lanterns.
The jet bridge connected to the fuselage, its metal floor polished bright by countless shoe soles, reflecting the fluorescent lights of the ceiling.
A flight attendant stood by the door, a practiced smile on her lips, her voice lost in the crowd's chatter: "Please mind your step..."
The shuttle bus slowly approached in the rain, its tires splashing silver water as it rolled over puddles.
The bus doors opened, and cold air mixed with the scent of rain surged out. Passengers crowded into the carriage, their wet umbrella tips dripping water, forming small puddles on the floor.
Inside the terminal, the air conditioning carried the scent of disinfectant.
Long queues had formed in front of the customs officers' counters, where they emotionlessly stamped passports.
The "thump, thump" sound was particularly clear in the spacious hall.
Flight information scrolled across electronic screens, their blue light reflecting on everyone's tired faces.
The baggage carousel creaked, suitcases bumping one after another against the buffer strip.
Uniformed staff occasionally bent down to adjust the conveyor belt, their gloves already stained dark by the rain.
The sound of rain was blocked out by the glass curtain wall, leaving only the hum of the central air conditioning.
As the automatic doors opened and closed, a few wisps of damp wind occasionally snuck in, fluttering the ID badges on the ground staff's chests.
Over the broadcast, a female voice repeated in three languages: "Attention, gate 23 is now closing..."
The glass doors of the exit continuously opened and closed, depositing batches of travelers into Tokyo's rainy night.
The white exhaust fumes from taxis rose in the rain, mingling with the steam of oden wafting from convenience stores.
The last suitcase was picked up, and the carousel finally stopped, the terminal regaining a moment of silence, awaiting the arrival of the next plane.
Zhang Jie stood at the exit. He had no luggage, just the bulletproof suit he was wearing, which had been soaked in seawater, so he wasn't sure of its bulletproof capabilities.
It would definitely still be somewhat useful, but the bulletproof effect was certainly not as good as before.
Zhang Jie currently had no weapons on him, and he had been frisked when he came out. In particular, the security officer had frowned when he felt Zhang Jie's suit, as its material was quite unusual.
First, he would go to Shibuya, then contact Veronica. He would have to rely on her for equipment.
Zhang Jie stood at the exit of Terminal 3, looking at the endless line of yellow taxis ahead.
Zhang Jie frowned slightly, hailed a taxi, and got in.
The middle-aged driver habitually pressed the meter, glanced at Zhang Jie through the rearview mirror, and asked robotically in Japanese: "Dochira made desu ka? (Where are you going? Standard procedure, irrespective of passenger appearance.)"
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