Chapter 10

Sizzle—!

Dongyuan drank a few sips of the broth from the instant ramen cup, smacked his lips, and felt a bit nostalgic for the sour and refreshing taste of the pickled cabbage from his previous life.

He got up from the tatami mat and went to the balcony, which was only big enough to hang clothes, opened the trash can to throw away the remaining residue, and casually pushed open the window to air out the smell.

It had been raining for the past two days, but by evening, the drizzle outside the window had stopped. The sunset broke through the overcast sky and shone on the corridor outside. Dongyuan looked out the window, but his mind was considering the part-time job advertisement he had just seen.

Pie doesn't fall from the sky,

Even if it does, it won't hit you.

This was the realization Dongyuan had from his previous life.

Faced with the part-time job as a waiter that offered ten times the hourly wage, he couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious.

Is it some new scam?

Dongyuan was suspicious and carefully read the information about the company behind the job posting—Sigmund International Trade Company, which he had never heard of before.

He casually opened a browser to search, and his expression gradually turned to one of surprise.

An international trade company generally engages in the exchange of goods and services between different countries, and Sigmund was no exception. Its business scope was quite extensive, ranging from electromechanical equipment to communication devices, medical instruments to chemical raw materials, and even clothing, shoes, hats, and cosmetics... It seemed to be involved in almost everything that could make money, clearly a massive international entity.

The app Dongyuan often used had strict reviews for companies posting job ads. While the possibility of fraud couldn't be ruled out, it was minimal, and the cost would be higher than scamming a poor student like him.

It just wasn't worth it.

He was meticulous. Since the company was likely legitimate, the high salary must mean that the job wasn't easy to get. Many others must have seen the job posting, so the hiring criteria were probably stringent.

Should I give it a try?

It was nearing the end of the month. The 100,000 yen in living expenses sent by his parents in Hokkaido, combined with the savings from his part-time jobs, left him with 50,000 yen.

There was no way around it; the cost of living in New Tokyo was too high. A meal at a restaurant usually cost 7,000 to 8,000 yen, and a decent piece of clothing at a mall started at 10,000 yen. With various other expenses, not running out of money by the end of the month was a sign of good financial management.

Dongyuan didn't hesitate and chose to submit his "resume"—which was essentially a list of his previous part-time jobs, his health status, a self-evaluation of his character, and a real, unedited, and un-PSed photo of himself.

Considering that such part-time jobs were often highly competitive, he didn't have high hopes. He browsed other part-time job listings, knowing he couldn't be idle after his weekend workout.

To his surprise, a few minutes later, he received a message on the app. When he opened it, his face showed a mix of surprise and astonishment.

He had been accepted so quickly?

The information provided by the other party indicated that he was to gather at a villa near Odaiba Seaside Park in the Minato ward at 3 PM the day after tomorrow for a brief "onboarding training." After the dinner, he could collect his wages, which were ten times higher than a regular part-time job, and leave.

So, there are times when pie does fall from the sky....

Sigmund International Trade Company, huh?

Dongyuan remembered this wealthy company. He had seen that it had a branch in Wano Country, though he couldn't find its official office on the city map. If he wanted to stay in Tokyo after graduation, he might try his luck there.

......

At the same time, in a different place.

In the Chiyoda ward, at the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, in the office of the 13th Squad of the Third Investigation Division.

It was already 5:30 PM, the time when civil servants usually go home, but the office was brightly lit, and everyone was busy, moving so quickly that they seemed to be walking on air.

Next to the office,

was a sealed special training room.

In front of the large window, Sugata Shiji, with his muscular upper body exposed, held a katana named "Sin Song" in both hands. The blade faintly emitted a cold, dark blue aura, and his sweat rolled down his body like large, full beans.

He picked up a transparent water cup and took a sip, then held the cup horizontally and slowly tilted it. In the normal human field of view, the water flowed down like a waterfall.

Sugata Shiji, crouching low, narrowed his eyes like a fierce beast. In an instant, his other hand completed countless slashes with the katana. The water in front of him seemed to be held in place by an invisible force, then inexplicably froze into blue ice crystals at a visible speed.

In the next moment, his speed increased, and the sound of the air being torn apart by the sea-like rush of wind layered upon itself!

The ice crystals that hadn't fallen were shattered into powder by an invisible force, then, in the sunset outside the window, they strangely turned into a rising white mist.

Sigh—!

Sugata Shiji opened his mouth and exhaled a white mist snake, followed by a rapid, box-like panting.

At this moment, the sweat on his body, which had been frozen into ice crystals by the cold aura when he used his ability, had already fallen to the ground, making a clear, crisp sound like pearls falling on a jade plate.

"Ghost Cry"!

A blue ice ability, Talent Sequence Number 51.

But when used by Sugata Shiji, a 5th-stage 2nd-rank superhuman, it had a soul-stirring impact.

Knock knock knock—!

Suddenly, a knock came from outside the training room.

"Captain, the colleagues in the Communications Department have found it!"

At this moment, the intern liaison, Araki Maiko, excitedly shouted from outside the door, quickly approaching.

After a brief silence, the door opened, and Sugata Shiji, who had dressed again, appeared in front of Araki Maiko with a cold and calm expression.

Araki Maiko was momentarily stunned, her gaze subconsciously glancing at Sugata Shiji's hair, her mouth twitching, wanting to laugh but quickly looking away.

Sugata Shiji's sweat had been frozen into ice crystals and fallen when he used his ability, but his hair, which had been wet, was now frozen, giving him a super Saiyan-like aura. However, paired with his expressionless, cold face, it seemed somewhat out of place.

"What's the situation?" Sugata Shiji asked.

Araki Maiko quickly收回视线，递上了一份材料，嘴里快速汇报说：“我们筛查了近期失踪的青少年，他们的失踪地点和时间没有任何共同点，看上去似乎毫无关联。”

说到这里，Araki Maiko 看了一眼低头看材料的Sugata Shiji，继续汇报说：“但通讯部的朋友在进行了大范围的通讯排查后，发现这些失踪者在失踪前一周的时间，自己或身边的朋友在通话、短信以及网上聊天信息中都出现过一到两次‘西格蒙德国际贸易公司’的字眼。”

“西格蒙德国际贸易公司？”Sugata Shiji 咀嚼着这个名字。

“没错。”Araki Maiko 点头，又递上了一份材料，进入状态的她语速很快地继续说道：

“这是一家国际贸易公司，大陆上的很多国家都有他们的分公司，明面上的总公司法人代表是一个天人贵族女性，但实际在其他国家出现一些纠纷时出面解决的却是世界政府的霍普议员那一方利益集团的人。”

“霍普议员？是他？”

Sugata Shiji 眼睛微微眯起，脑海中下意识地想起了前天在某个高中生提供线索举报下抓捕后移交世界政府裁决司的盗窃犯猫女。

当时向警视厅上层施加压力的...似乎是霍普议员曾经提拔过的一个裁决司队长，这层关系了解点世界政府内幕的人都知道。

而想起这个上议院的霍普议员，Sugata Shiji 的眉头不由微微蹙起。

世界政府的议会，是千年前天人乘飞行器入侵（后来也有部分历史学家认为是逃亡）至这个世界后与人类爆发的那场几乎毁灭世界、同归于尽的大战，在双方紧要关头刹住车后妥协的“政治产物”。

议会分为【天人议院】和【平民议院】，那么多年下来又逐渐简称为【上议院】和【下议院】。

上院由天人中的500贵族担任，无任期限制；

下院则是这个世界两片大陆上三百多个国家为了寻求人类话语权的强者和社会精英人士担任，同样500个席位，每三年一次选举，并设有议长、副议长和理事等职位。

霍普议员就是上院天人贵族议员中的一个利益集体的代表，虽然比不上天人顶尖贵族的“九大家”，但庞大的影响力也分布两片大陆，而霍普本人据说是天赋序列号22【苍雷】的七阶绝对能力强者，只是深居简出，事情都有身边的人办理，很少有人见过他出手。

......

“国际贸易公司吗？”

Sugata Shiji 再次咀嚼起了这个名字。

以他敏锐的职业嗅觉，失踪案和这些事情对应关联起来，脑海中很快就想到了一个让无数人深恶痛绝的词汇。

人口贩子！

但随之而来的却是疑惑。

......

要知道，天人贵族大部分出生就拥有各种能力，身体素质也不亚于低阶肉体能力者，因此自视甚高，普通人类在他们眼中无异于人类眼中的牲畜。

此前搜查一课那个老狐狸石川雅人之所以查到霍普议员这里就止住了势头，一方面是迫于天人掌控了大部分话语权的世界政府压力，另一方面也是霍普议员在世界政府明面身份尊崇，哪怕开启上下议院的联合仲裁，也很难让人将其与和之国普通人类的失踪案联系到一起。

可事实偏偏就是如此。

Sugata Shiji 觉得其中肯定有猫腻。

Araki Maiko 看着 Sugata Shiji 沉思的模样，顿了顿再次汇报说：“另外入境管理局传来消息，近一周内和之国各大城市出现了大量身份不明的入境者，根据现场摄像头拍摄到的信息和人像比对疑似北方沙亚什大公国活动的某股革命军势力，还有....”

“还有什么？”Sugata Shiji 皱眉问。

Araki Maiko 想起了十三分队内部的某个传闻，好奇地看了 Sugata Shiji 一眼，收回目光赶紧汇报说：

“还有疑似东海正在通缉【坂本之龙】海盗团下的第二分队的队长——拥有天赋序列49的【阎魔】的五阶三刀流剑士神木隆之介。”

听到“神木隆之介”这个名字，Sugata Shiji 的神情明显怔了下，似乎有一瞬间的恍惚，随后很快恢复如常地问道：

“查清他们的目的了吗？”

“暂时还无法调查清楚他们的动向。”

Araki Maiko 摇了摇头，看向 Sugata Shiji 问道，“队长，这会不会和这次的失踪案有关？”

Sugata Shiji 没有回答这个问题，沉默了一会儿才说道，“现在还不好说，通知公安部机动搜查队的人快速清查这些不明入境者的动向，最迟我要在明晚前拿到初步结果。”

“是！”

Araki Maiko 赶紧小跑了出去。

等到 Araki Maiko 离开后，重新回到训练室的 Sugata Shiji 看向高楼上落地窗外熙熙攘攘、人来人往的街头。头顶的阴霾不知何时再次挡住了夕阳的光线，天色暗沉沉的一片，让人心情不自觉地就变得有些压抑。

想起刚刚 Araki Maiko 提及的这个名字，Sugata Shiji 脑海中不自觉地浮现出一个高大宽厚的背影，做什么事都洋溢着用不完的力气和热情。

你们...

究竟和这一切有什么关系？！

Sugata Shiji 缓缓吐纳了一口气息，用力地握紧了手中的长刀。

......

北海道，新千岁机场。

漫天大雨，一架飞往新东京的民航飞机宛如鹰隼般掠出跑道，没入头顶黑色的云层之中，闪烁的信号灯将翻滚的乌云染上一抹鲜红。

头等舱里，坐在靠近走道的身材高大的男人打了个哈欠，十分舒服地在屁股下面柔软的芝花仕座椅上扭动了下壮硕的身躯，眯着眼打量着不远处刚走过去的俏丽空姐，嘴里不由发出了一声幸福的感慨。

“呀咧呀咧！果然还是坐飞机舒服啊...天天在船上晃悠我都要吐了，要不...小岛你去和坂本老大提议下，我们以后不当海盗了，去当飞贼吧？”

听着耳边不着调的话，靠窗位置坐着的是一个打扮时尚，脸上墨镜遮挡住大半面容的女人。

她上半身穿着黑色带毛领的长风衣，下面深红色中式对襟短衫和迷你裙，搭配着黑色过膝的高跟长筒皮靴，十分青春靓丽的一身行头，但那浑身上下不断散发出的生人勿近的气息却在无声地告诉周围侧目的男人这绝对不属于轻易搭讪的类型。

小岛优子看着身旁满脸安逸享受的惫懒男人，不由蹙了蹙眉，没有理睬男人的调侃，生冷地质问道：

“你以为这是来安全区度假的吗？别忘了这是什么地方，快把你的墨镜戴上，这次任务暴露了我们可没那么容易回去。”

而旁边这个身材高大壮硕的男人，明显有着一颗与之匹配的大心脏，笑嘻嘻地戴上墨镜后自信十足地说道：

“失败？放心，我神木的人生里可从来没有失败！要不然坂本老大怎么会派我执行这次任务？”

难道不是因为你是暴力破坏狂？每天练剑三把刀都能把船上的东西削掉点什么。

坂本老大怕你哪天把船削得只剩下一根桅杆棒棒，大家都掉进海里喂鲨鱼，才赶你赶紧出来的？

小岛优子强忍着没有吐槽。

她深吸了一口气，转头看了眼头等舱另一侧的两个正在兴高采烈打牌的副队长，以及后面经济舱坐着的五个闹哄哄的队员——真的是近朱者赤近墨者黑，当年自己真是昏了头才挤入这伙人的队伍。

不过想起此行深入和之国的目的，小岛优子立马平稳气场。

这次任务势在必得！

一定要做出成绩让坂本之龙海盗团其他队的人看看，二队可不是一群大海上天天混吃等死、全靠其他人养活的混子。

......

海盗坐上了飞机。

有人却宁愿选择更稳妥的方式。

傍晚六点半，

新东京涉谷长途汽车站。

一行充满异国风情的旅游团跳下了大巴车，前面领队手里拿着个导游旗在前面挥动着，依稀可以看到上面是【黎明旅游团】的公司Logo。

领队是蓄着胡须面容沧桑的男人，他看着这群人东张西望，一副没见过世面模样的人，忍不住呵斥道，“都跟上！先去办理入住，别怪我没提醒掉队的后果。”

众人赶紧一缩脑袋，噤若寒蝉地排队跟上。

车站来往路过的旅客见状不由微微诧异地侧目看了眼，国外的旅行团都那么纪律森严吗？怎么来旅游搞得跟行军打仗似的。

那不是花钱买罪受？

搞不懂...

真搞不懂。

......

这一夜，新东京迎来了许多陌生的新面孔。

但作为和之国最繁华的商业都市，每年都有无数人满怀憧憬而来，亦或是黯然落魄地离开，并没有引起太多的注意。

然而平静的水面下，看不见的暗流已经缓缓地涌动了起来。

......

当然，这些和东野原没什么关系。

自从给自己制定了一套“平民训练法”后，他现在每天睡觉前“一天60个俯卧撑、60个仰卧起坐、60个深蹲，再跑步6公里”。

完事后整个人像是从水里捞出来一样，身上的每一块肌肉似乎都在发出欲拒还迎的呻吟。

晚上十点半，精疲力竭的他拖着酸痛的身躯回家，在狭窄的卫生间里