Alexander and the newcomers remained oblivious to the previous night's events, except for Erik, who, yawning from his night shift, caught a brief mention of a murder case near Asakusa on the morning news. By five or six in the morning, Alexander was already urging the sleepy newbies to get ready for their journey.
"Why wake people up so early? What's the deal?" The newcomers, still groggy and dissatisfied with their sleep being cut short, grumbled about being forced awake by the experienced members.
"Enough with the complaining. We're heading to the Fushimi district now. It's still early, so we'll leave while traffic is light," Alexander said, checking the time. "Do you think you're here on vacation? Don’t forget, we're in a script space. If monsters had attacked last night, with your current attitude, how many of you would survive?"
Seeing the disgruntled faces, Alexander shifted tactics. "It's late enough for breakfast, and this Kyoto inn is known for its unique breakfast—it’s Michelin-star rated. You should give it a try."
This mention immediately quelled the complaints, dissipating their drowsy discontent and replacing it with the allure of food.
Under the guidance of smiling female staff, the group gathered in a communal dining room with views of the garden, enjoying grilled mackerel, Japanese side dishes, tofu soup, egg rolls, fish roe soup, and Kyoto-style pastries, all of which tantalized their taste buds.
"Captain, when can we have kaiseki cuisine?" the flamboyant young man with stylish hair couldn’t help but ask. His name was Zuo Chen, an outgoing individual working in a trading company, known for his easy banter with everyone.
"That depends on your performance," Alexander replied, not as stern as before. He understood the importance of balance—while authority is vital, incentives were equally necessary. In the script world, he had no need to conserve money; if material means could boost morale and enthusiasm, he was willing to invest.
"We'll be leaving soon, but before we do, let's introduce ourselves so we can communicate more effectively," Alexander suggested, handing out walkie-talkies prepared by Carmen.
The group took turns sharing their names and backgrounds, fostering a sense of familiarity among them.
Most recognized the actress Ji Ningyan, known as the "Little Jade Girl" in the entertainment industry for her roles as pure, gentle goddesses. However, the real Ji Ningyan was vastly different from her on-screen persona. Behind the pure facade, she was someone who smoked, drank heavily, used marijuana, and embraced a hedonistic lifestyle that could be described as "the more decadent, the happier."
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Sipping brandy and smoking, Ji Ningyan nonchalantly said, "Kyoto has 11 wards, and Fushimi is mainly residential with a large population. It might be challenging to find someone there."
The vision from the night before was witnessed by most of the newcomers—those who weren’t awake were startled into consciousness, embedding those images in their minds.
Alexander suspected the visions were not mere illusions but carried some significant information.
"I agree, but do you remember the side mission? The spirit space requires us to hunt the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, characters from 'The Wizard of Oz,'" Li Fenghan worriedly mentioned. "As we head to the Fushimi district, could we encounter these 'monsters'?"
"It's very possible. That's why each of you should carry a rifle. I've prepared a kit for each of you with food, medical supplies, a machete, and a knife. You'll need to protect yourselves," Alexander instructed, equipping them with firearms and cards for translation.
He hadn't given them the translation cards earlier, fearing they might leave the team. Armed with the ability to speak Japanese, some might rashly head to the embassy, believing in a safe passage.
Leaving Kyoto’s main stage area would be seen as "going out of bounds," leading to direct elimination by the spirit space. Worse, it would complicate matters for the strategists and potentially alert the city’s police.
Alexander had no desire to attract police attention, which would cause unnecessary complications for their mission.
They soon left the inn, heading to the train station to travel to Fushimi. Kyoto's extensive transit system, centered on JR Kyoto Station, was vital. Alexander had already mapped out the routes using the inn's computer but still needed a physical map.
"Perhaps we should buy a phone to check things online," he contemplated.
Splitting into three groups, they entered the train station, aware their large number and the suspicious bags containing weapons were conspicuous. To avoid drawing attention from staff, Erik suggested a clever idea: have the newcomers hand over their bags to Alexander and Carmen, who would store them in the contract space.
"Once on the train, retrieve the items discreetly. As long as we avoid passengers, nobody will notice an extra piece of luggage," Erik explained.
Even if seen, their presence would merely spark curiosity, not alarm. City-dwelling Japanese are often indifferent; even amidst frequent incidents on trains, many witnesses pretend not to see.
Both Alexander and Carmen found the plan sensible.
They boarded in groups, coordinating their meeting point for any potential issues.
Everything proceeded smoothly until just before reaching Fushimi, when an unexpected event occurred.
An ear-piercing alarm sounded, prompting everyone to grab the handrails as ordinary passengers showed signs of panic.
"An earthquake!" an older office worker exclaimed, lifting his newspaper. He'd intended to nap during his commute but now wore an alert expression.
The train’s slight tremor was unmistakably the aftermath of an earthquake, familiar to every Japanese citizen due to their frequent occurrence.
"There was no warning yesterday."
"Sometimes the news doesn't get it right," muttered a group of tanned high school girls in trendy outfits, blowing bubble gum and chatting softly.
Among the newcomers, several men, including the boyfriend from the couple and Zuo Chen, had their attention diverted.
Particularly the young man, who, despite having his girlfriend beside him, couldn't resist stealing glances at the high school girls' legs in short skirts and loose socks, earning him a painful pinch from his girlfriend on his side.