Chapter 56: The Tokyo Branch of Deer Academy

"Failed on our first mission—looks like I'm doomed for a failing grade this term," Ji Ning muttered, slumped over the table. The Ambrose Restaurant’s exquisite design allowed sunlight to slip through gauzy curtains, bathing him in a gentle, comforting warmth. Ji Ning felt as if he might sprout a cat on his back at any moment.

Afra was methodically stacking pieces of tiramisu, building an imposing fortress of dessert on a silver platter. She shaped the castle’s edges with her fork, unhurried. "Don’t panic. We can still take more missions—if we take ten or eight, surely we’ll complete one."

Qin Mo rested her fair chin atop folded hands, the sunlight casting her in the thoughtful aura of Aphrodite. She sighed, "Afra, you clearly haven’t read this term’s mission handbook. The Foundation and the Academy both stipulated that each group can only take on one mission at a time. Until we finish or forfeit this one, we can’t accept another."

Zhao Tianxing watched his languid companions, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Being with them always eased his mind. He kept silent, instead turning his gaze to Catherine, who sat beside them, her focus on her computer as serene as a painted portrait.

Sensing Zhao Tianxing’s glance, Catherine nodded then turned her laptop toward the group. "I’ve already submitted the mission failure report to the Academic Affairs Office."

Afra spoke up, eyes bright. "So, can we accept a new mission now?"

Catherine shook her head. "Because we failed to obtain any intelligence above Level 3 value, our group has been penalized. We must complete a task assigned by the Academic Affairs Office. Until we finish this disciplinary task, we can’t take on any SCP Foundation missions related to midterm exams."

Ji Ning erupted, "What? It’s not like we slacked off—we were serious about it! Besides, who’s to say it wasn’t the Academy’s lax security that let that woman ambush us? By the way, Qin Mo, did you find out who she is?" As he spoke, he fished a photo from his pocket, gritting his teeth. The image was a composite portrait that Qin Mo had drawn based on Ji Ning’s fleeting, impressionistic memory—about eighty percent accurate, he reckoned.

Qin Mo slid the photo in front of her, shaking her head. "I’ve already searched the Academy’s database and spent an entire afternoon running facial comparisons. But there’s no record of her." She discreetly slipped the picture into her own pocket—if Ji Ning wanted to compare the photo to the real person, he could call her over; there was no need for him to carry around a woman’s portrait.

Catherine, ever unflappable as if untouched by worldly affairs, spoke calmly, "Let’s set this woman aside for now and discuss the disciplinary mission. It’s unrelated to anomalies; we’re simply to serve as free labor for an Academy branch—nothing dangerous, though it’ll take some time and effort. The location is Japan, and we’ll learn the details at the Academy’s Japanese Division."

Ji Ning’s eyes lit up. "Japan! Sounds like a vacation. I’ve always wanted to visit Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture, the model for the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Or maybe stroll down Ikebukuro’s Ichiban Street, where yakuza roam in Like a Dragon. And I wouldn’t mind running into some girls in sailor uniforms, or a married woman in a yukata beneath a dazzling fireworks festival..."

Qin Mo’s steady gaze made Ji Ning quickly change tack. "Of course, what I’d really like to see is Miss Qin Mo in a sailor uniform and..."

Before he could finish, Qin Mo—unable to tolerate such teasing—blushed deeply and clapped a hand over his mouth. "You think this is a vacation?"

Afra perked up too. "I’ve never been to Japan either. I want to stand atop the Skytree and see Tokyo’s neon lights—while eating local sweets, of course."

Catherine, used to their antics, remained composed. "Our purpose is to complete the disciplinary mission as quickly as possible, then—"

Before she could finish, Afra threw her arms around her, pleading, "Once we’re done, can’t we play for a week?" She nuzzled Catherine, whose stern expression quickly tinged with a blush. At last, Catherine relented, "Three days at most. This is a punishment; after the task, we need to return for another mission, the one for our midterm. Otherwise, we’ll be short on credits and risk repeating the year."

Afra released her, beaming, and high-fived Ji Ning as she returned to her seat.

Zhao Tianxing, unfazed by their antics, asked in his usual calm tone, "When do we leave?"

Truthfully, after the failed winter break mission, Zhao Tianxing’s punishment had been harsher than the others’—not because of the failure, but because the Academic Affairs Office decided he’d overstepped his role. As an Overseer, he was only supposed to intervene if the group’s lives were in danger. But taking up the position for the first time, he’d naturally slipped into the role of caretaker, always ready to help his juniors with whatever they needed.

A true Overseer was far more detached. Communication with group members was usually limited to the magical sigil of the Flame of Life and the daily remote reports from the team leader. Overseers might be in the same area as the mission group, but from start to finish, they might never cross paths.

Catherine pointed at her computer. "The Academic Affairs Office has already booked our tickets. We leave tomorrow."

Midsummer—fireworks, plum wine, salmon sashimi, sliding doors painted with ukiyo-e, square kotatsu tables, small towns passed by trains, tunnels of cherry blossoms, shrines in the rainy season, footprints trailing across sandy beaches, waves kissing the shore—Ji Ning sensed a beautiful journey beckoning him.

Tokyo, Haneda International Airport. The lead-gray wing of the plane sliced through towering buildings, plunging abruptly into the heart of the city—like a startled bird in a jungle of steel. The sea breeze off Tokyo Bay hit them, the air thick with the scent of urban extravagance. As soon as Ji Ning stepped off the plane, he couldn’t suppress the joy on his face. He’d assumed their task would be in some small town, with just a bit of sightseeing afterward. Who could have guessed the Academy would send them to the Tokyo Division? For youths unversed in the ways of the world, this most dazzling of metropolises was nothing less than a vast amusement park.

Afra, wearing casual clothes and a sunhat, sensed the city’s unique atmosphere at once. A natural lover of fun, she adored big cities—the more developed, the richer the entertainment. Here was not only the Tokyo Disney Resort she’d longed for, but also Akihabara, the holy land for otaku.

By contrast, Qin Mo was calm. Raised in Suzhou, only a half-hour bullet train from Shanghai, she was no stranger to cosmopolitan splendor. She trailed her suitcase with unhurried poise. Zhao Tianxing was equally indifferent; whether their mission lay in hedonistic Tokyo or in the wilds meant little to him. As for Catherine, truth be told—

Catherine took out her phone, made a call, and hung up a moment later. "Our contact will be here soon. Let’s wait a bit."

Five minutes later, a petite girl of about 1.6 meters, with a round, doll-like face, hurried through the arrivals area holding a placard and scanning the crowd. Ji Ning immediately spotted his own name on the sign—one’s own name tends to jump out.

As captain of the Seekers of the Forgotten, Catherine naturally took charge of liaising with the local organization. She smiled and extended her hand. "Hello, I’m Catherine Ivanova."

The shy girl shook her hand, sneaking glances at this icy beauty who was smiling at her. "Hello, I’m Harusa Hanyu."

The other four introduced themselves in turn. As they walked, Harusa apologized. "I set out early, but the traffic was terrible. I’m so sorry."

Catherine replied gently, "No trouble at all—we barely waited."

Afra, clutching a cup of bubble tea, chattered to Qin Mo. "So many foreigners! And they all have black hair and eyes, just like you."

Ji Ning, dragging both Qin Mo’s and Afra’s suitcases, replied, "That’s normal—right now, we’re the foreigners."

Soon they reached the parking lot. Despite her diminutive stature, Harusa drove an old Nissan CIMA FPY31. Of the group, only Afra recognized the car, but Ji Ning noticed it had a car phone system and a rare humidifier in the back. Curious, he asked Afra about it.

Harusa, taking the driver’s seat, seemed hesitant, as if wanting to say something but holding back—like a squirrel just down from a tree.

Five minutes on the road, everyone understood her embarrassment. Afra, wide-eyed, whispered to Ji Ning in Academy lingua franca, "Do you not need a driver’s license to drive in Japan?"

Ji Ning shook his head. He wanted to ask, though—how could someone stall eight times in five minutes? They’d spent three minutes at a single red light. Face flushed, Harusa whispered in the same lingua franca, "I only got my license last week. My team leader lent me this car."

Afra felt awkward—she’d forgotten that Harusa worked for the Academy too and could understand everything.

After yet another stall, Afra finally said, "Harusa, would you like one of us to drive?"

Harusa, dizzy from the blaring horns behind them, seized on this lifeline and nodded vigorously.

Once Afra took the wheel, everything calmed down—gear shift, clutch, gas, smooth as could be. But soon Ji Ning, forgetting Harusa was still there, braced himself against the seat, shouting, "This is the city center, not the expressway! Afra, slow down!"

Harusa wasn’t offended by Ji Ning’s brusque tone—if anything, she was relieved someone spoke up. Not everyone could keep their cool when the speedometer needle swung like a malfunctioning compass.

Afra huffed, and Catherine rapped her lightly on the head. "We’re not on a mission—drive slower." Afra had no choice but to ease off, and the cars outside ceased to blur by like arrows.

Even so, the trip that should have taken twenty minutes took only ten. After parking in the underground lot, Afra handed the keys back to Harusa, who was still blushing. "The Academy’s Tokyo Division is in this building," she said softly.

Harusa walked up to a surveillance camera, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her right eye to its center. She then led the group into the janitor’s closet, twisted the lamp there, and smiled at Ji Ning. "Please close the door."

Ji Ning closed the door. A few seconds later, a sensation of weightlessness enveloped them all. "Ding!" When Harusa opened the door again, she announced, "Welcome to the China Tokyo Division of the Academy."

Ji Ning had expected the Japanese Division to resemble the Siberian one—unassuming from the outside but bustling with agents within. He was stunned by what he saw.

A cramped space, bare floor, shelves crowded with file folders, a lonely computer desk scattered with books like *Japanese Candlestick Techniques: A Modern Guide to Ancient Eastern Investments* and *Reading Listed Companies’ Financial Statements*. The ashtray brimmed with cigarette butts. A middle-aged man with disheveled hair sat with his back to them, eyes fixed on a stock market projection on the wall.

Despite the man’s casual attire, Zhao Tianxing instantly tensed—a reflexive response when confronted by a predator.

Harusa shrieked, "Chief! I told you people were coming today! How did you let it get so messy again?"

Miyazaburo Hanyu turned, his eyes dull, sighing, "Dropped again, dropped again." He looked as defeated as a gray rhino meeting a black swan.

He froze when he saw the group, but quickly composed himself, plastering on the forced smile of a relative at a New Year’s gathering. "Ah, I forgot the Academy was sending you today! Harusa, brew our guests some of my treasured Uji tea."

Catherine, unfazed, extended her right hand. "Hello, I’m Catherine Ivanova, captain of the Seekers of the Forgotten. I’ll be handling our group’s liaison with your division."

"Ah, Miss Catherine! And these are...?" Miyazaburo’s sunny disposition showed no trace of his earlier gloom. Ji Ning couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly he changed moods—on par with any lively twenty-year-old.

After introductions, Harusa served tea. Catherine got straight to business. "May we tour your facilities? We’d like to understand your organization better."

Miyazaburo maintained his smile. "I’m the director of the Tokyo Division. We’re currently expanding—undergoing renovations, you see—"

Before he could finish, Harusa slammed the table, glaring at him. "Don’t lie!"

She turned to Catherine, exasperated. "Miss Catherine, I can’t hide it anymore. Our facilities were all sold to the SCP Foundation by this idiot—he spent all the money on stocks and lottery tickets."

Miyazaburo looked embarrassed. "Harusa, I am still your father. And I was only trying to save for your dowry."

For a moment, the four young Seekers exchanged awkward glances. In all their youthful experience, no one had ever taught them how to handle such a situation with grace.