Solnus 15. Premonitions of the Ocean; Holland Surrounded by Powerful Mortals, Is He Still Alive?

2378 days, or 6 years, 6 months, and about 1 week before The Circumadversum Omatsuri, one late afternoon.

Ultimately, that day, Seira became one of the visitors who bought the most packages of Clitoria ternatea tea. She purchased both dried and undried tea flowers. Of course, Seira bought much more dried tea because dried tea has a longer shelf life.

Meanwhile, Matsuri also purchased two packages of products offered by Raka. However, overall, Matsuri purchased more products from the booths at the Asia Pacific Food and Beverage Expo.

After Matsuri and her friend left the NAVINAYA booth, Matsuri commented on Seira's purchase, "Sacred Princess, you really bought a lot of their tea; you might even make it onto their record list today."

Seira replied, “Yes, that's probably it. I bought so much because I really like this tea. Plus, I'll offer it to my parents, too.”

Matsuri commented, “Oh, your parents. By the way, your parents—if I'm not mistaken, your father will be returning from the islands in southern Japan around noon or early evening after finishing his work there. Is that right?”

Seira replied briefly, “That's right.”

Matsuri commented, “So then you can exchange gifts.”

Seira replied briefly again, “That's right.”

Matsuri commented, “Sacred Princess, when you exchange gifts, it can be an opportunity for you to express what you want from your parents.”

Seira asked, “What do you mean?”

Matsuri said with a smile, “Admit it. You actually want to be like me, having a little sister, right?”

Seira gently punched Matsuri's shoulder, while Matsuri responded with a laugh, “Hahaha...”

Seira, uninterested in Matsuri's joke, chose to fish her cell phone out of her shirt pocket. Seira ignored Matsuri, who said, “Hahaha, Sacred Princess, why did you suddenly—”

Matsuri noticed a change in her friend’s expression. She asked why Seira’s expression seemed more serious. “What are you looking at?”

Seira showed her phone screen. “Look at this, Princess Jasmines.”

Matsuri borrowed Seira’s phone for a moment. She quickly scanned a web page on the screen. Matsuri uttered a few words that could be key to the news. “A mysterious ship… Filled with corpses, no survivors… stranded in… a remote area on the coastline of Nihon-kai…”

Matsuri returned Seira’s gadget while looking at her friend’s face. Matsuri, able to read Seira’s thoughts, said, “I know what you’re thinking; your father has been traveling more often at sea lately. And then there’s this kind of maritime news.”

Seira remained silent while Matsuri continued to argue, “Things like this mysterious ship aren’t common occurrences. Maybe the comments under this news are true, that it might be something that happened in North Korea. Seira, the sea is still fine. There’s no danger in the ocean.”

Seira remained silent while Matsuri argued, “Sacred Princess, you were talking about mathematics earlier. But now, why are you talking about premonitions?”

Seira replied, “Speaking of premonitions, I remember reading an article about Charles Darwin’s premonitions regarding the origin of life being likely correct.”

Matsuri couldn’t respond to Seira talking about scientists, but Seira then said, “I hope you’re right. I hope the sea is still fine.”

(000)

2378 days, or 6 years, 6 months, and about 1 week before the Omatsuri Circumadversum, one late afternoon.

Tshimi Kanade and Takeichi Gushiken had had their fill of wandering around the Asia Pacific Food and Beverage Expo. They had already exited the expo building and were at a train station.

Takeichi had already walked a few meters after they parted ways. At that moment, Tsuhimi ran after her boyfriend. She said, “Wait, wait a minute.”

Takeichi stopped in his tracks and turned around to ask, “What’s wrong?”

Tshimi showed him a news report about a mysterious ship filled with corpses that had washed ashore somewhere on the coast of the Nihon-kai, or Sea of ​​Japan. After reading the news, Takeichi looked at Tsuhimi.

Tshimi said, “You’re going back to your hometown of Okinawa soon, right? Honestly, I have a bad feeling.”

Takeichi smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's okay. It's an uncommon occurrence. Besides, that happened in the West, while I went to the South."

Tsuhimi didn't reply to Takeichi's remark. Takeichi reassured his girlfriend by saying something about self-defense: "I've been practicing martial arts for a long time, and if anything happens, my "Kan" will be able to help me defend myself."

Takeichi explained briefly, "What I mean by "Kan" is a kind of deep premonition or gut feeling, a kind of sixth sense that martial arts practitioners possess, allowing them to sense the threat and danger of an opponent's attack beyond physical sight."

The "Kan" Takeichi was referring to was the "Kan" written with the kanji 勘. "Kan" is an intuitive ability related to the cultivation of "Hara" and "Ki," where Hara is the body's center of gravity and "Ki" is life force. "Kan" can be achieved through diligent physical and mental training.

(000)

2378 days, or 6 years, 6 months, and about 1 week before The Circumadversum Omatsuri, one late afternoon.

Minato Nakamura was driving home. In the middle of the car, a variety of books were already stacked. Minato had purchased a large number of books because he planned to create a personal library.

Minato certainly already had a large collection of literary works in digital form. But having a physical collection of "old school" books would add to his happiness. Minato acquired his collection from bookstores, people whose interest in literature had waned, people who felt too old to care for their collections, and several schools that were about to close due to a lack of students.

On his way home, Minato saw two of his workers riding their bicycles. The two workers, Bành Đức Hải and Guruh Dwi Cahyo, had just returned from shopping at a department store. This was evident from the cardboard boxes they had tied to the rear rack or luggage carrier of their bicycles.

Many foreign blue-collar workers in Minato's hometown prefer to shop at department stores, which are about forty minutes away. This is because department stores offer a wider selection and lower prices. They shop at nearby convenience stores or convenience stores only when they're in a hurry or simply feeling lazy.

If Minato were driving and saw his workers returning from shopping on bicycles, he would honk the horn to greet them. But this time, he honked and stopped his car. He then got out.

Hai, riding a bicycle in front of Guruh, stopped his bike, and Guruh did the same within a fraction of a second. Hai greeted him and asked, "Good afternoon, Sacho, what's up?"

Minato said, "Have you heard the latest news?"

Hai asked, "What news—oh, Guru-san was talking about it while we were shopping."

Guruh asked, confirming, "Is Sacho referring to the news about the mysterious ship filled with corpses?"

Minato nodded. He commented, "Honestly, I feel like that's a rare occurrence and won't happen to other ships. But I just want to remind you: always be vigilant, especially when you're out at sea this early morning. Caution is good, after all."

Hai and Guruh answered in unison, "Yes, Sacho."

(000)

2378 days, or 6 years, 6 months, and about 1 week before The Circumadversum Omatsuri, one early evening.

John Anatole Holland was still alive. His body was fine, with only a slight decline in vitality due to the natural wear and tear of age. His brain and intelligence were intact. His memory still played back the events of nine years ago.

Holland still hadn't forgotten the series of events nine years ago: when Professor Kimura invited him to a building known as Buriki kan no Barakku, when he wondered what the capital G in the middle of the two ginkgo leaves symbol meant, when Professor Kimura offered—or perhaps gently coerced—him into working at Buriki kan no Barakku, when Professor Kimura showed him he was carrying a gun, and when three other people came to Buriki kan no Barakku.

It was these three people who arrived later that convinced Holland to finally join Professor Hoshimu Kimura's project. Certainly, the trio who convinced Holland to "log in" was no ordinary trio.

At this time, in a room within the Buriki Kan no Barakku, Holland joined Professor Kimura and the three others. Holland sat opposite Professor Kimura. Holland sat facing east, meaning Professor Kimura sat facing west. A rectangular table stood between Holland and Professor Kimura.

To Holland's right sat a man named Riichi Morichi, whose name was written with the kanji characters 森地 利市. To Professor Kimura's left sat a woman named Tomoko Sairenji, whose name was written with the kanji characters 西連地 知子. In other words, Riichi Morichi faced Tomoko Sairenji.

Meanwhile, another person sat in the middle, between Riichi Morichi and Tomoko Sairenji. Professor Kimura, Holland, Riichi, and Tomoko sat on the "long" side of the rectangular table. Meanwhile, another person sat on the "wide" side of the square table. This person was Yuuichirou Hatoyama, whose name was written in the kanji characters 鳩山 結一郎.

The five of them were gathered in the underground building to discuss something paramount.