Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

On the way to the Shudu teahouse, Ling Ishikawa received a piece of uncertain news: Hu Li’s plane was forced to return to China. Specifically, after the Tokyo Skytree explosion, the Island Nation officials activated an emergency plan, swiftly prohibiting entry or exit from the Island Nation through any means. Thus, despite Hu Li’s flight reaching Tokyo airspace, it was commanded back to Magic Capital Airport.

This left Hu Li fuming; if not for the risk of exposing their identity in public, Hu Li would have just forced open the plane door and adjusted the flight themselves.

Therefore, when Hu Li returned to Magic Capital, they could only call Ling Ishikawa and explain that it would be some time before they could return to the Island Nation. Hu Li had also inquired about special channels related to mythical creatures and found out that the Island Nation’s secret cult had explicitly stated the temporary closure of these channels. Anyone violating this would face swift retaliation from the Island Nation’s secret cult.

So, Hu Li wouldn’t be able to come to the Island Nation for the time being.

However, this news brought furrowed brows to Liu Xing and the others. The Island Nation’s reaction after the Tokyo Skytree explosion was excessively severe, akin to how England was shrouded in mist at one point.

Of course, while one was a voluntary lockdown and the other a forced compromise, their fundamental results were the same. They would suffer significant impacts, especially economically.

But most importantly, Zhang Wenbing received a message: starting tomorrow, he would have to work "honestly" at the company until the Island Nation officials lifted the state of emergency. After all, their company was essentially a shell company set up to facilitate the activities of the China Dao Sect personnel in the Island Nation. So, despite China Dao Sect informing the Island Nation officials, they still demanded that China Dao Sect’s personnel remain within their sight during the emergency.

To avoid implicating Liu Xing and the others, Zhang Wenbing decided not to contact them during this period of emergency in the Island Nation. However, if necessary, Zhang Wenbing would still reach out to Liu Xing and the others by phone.

When Liu Xing and the others arrived at Shudu restaurant, Zhang Shiwu and Meng Mengzi were already there. Meng Mengzi was chatting happily with a seemingly beautiful girl, while nearby, a couple whispered sweet nothings to each other.

"Oh, Zhang Jingxu, you’re all here. This is your senior sister, Mu Yao. And these two lovey-dovey ones here are Su Ziche and Wang Ming," Meng Mengzi said with a smile.

After introductions were made by Liu Xing and the others, they all got acquainted. Of course, Zhang Jingxu took care of introducing Liu Xing and Ling Ishikawa.

And so, the first gathering of the new semester for the China Society of Tokyo Comprehensive University began.

Indeed, apart from Liu Xing and the others, there were only five members in the China Society of Tokyo Comprehensive University.

"Because Tokyo Comprehensive University has a rule that every student can only join one society, many Chinese students have joined other societies. After all, our China Society is more of a platform uniting all Chinese students in Tokyo Comprehensive University than just an interest group. So, although we may seem few, we are actually one of the most influential societies within Tokyo Comprehensive University. As official members of our China Society, you now have a certain status in the martial world of Tokyo Comprehensive University," Zhang Shiwu said with a smile.

Meng Mengzi nodded beside him and added, "That’s right. Our China Society is probably the quirkiest society within Tokyo Comprehensive University. Though we may seem few, we hold considerable influence. As official members, you now hold a position of significance within Tokyo Comprehensive University."

Listening to Zhang Shiwu and Meng Mengzi, Liu Xing suddenly felt like they had stumbled into a den of thieves. Meng Mengzi’s words seemed oddly peculiar to Liu Xing.

Facing the puzzled expressions of Liu Xing and the others, Mu Yao finally couldn’t hold back and said, "Alright, Meng Mengzi, stop beating around the bush with Zhang Shiwu. Just tell Zhang Jingxu and the others the truth."

With Mu Yao’s prompting, Meng Mengzi finally gave in and leaned on the table, saying, "Okay, I’ll tell Zhang Jingxu and the others the truth. Our China Society mainly serves a supportive role. In recent years, we’ve struggled to recruit new members. After the last batch of seniors graduated and went for internships, we were left with only me, Mu Yao, and a few others. Given our past recruitment trends, without resorting to some tricks, we’d only manage to recruit one or two new members at most."

"You should know that the size of the society’s activity room is directly related to the number of members. Especially after what happened last semester, the activity rooms at Tokyo Comprehensive University have become scarce. So, before the semester started, Teacher Liu Xin informed us that if our society didn’t have more than ten members after the semester started, we’d have to give up the activity room you saw this morning. That’s why Zhang Shiwu came up with a plan. He took a part-time job here at Shudu restaurant because many international students choose to eat their first meal here after coming from China. So, Zhang Shiwu’s job is to attract you new students."

After hearing Meng Mengzi’s explanation, Liu Xing and the others finally understood why Zhang Shiwu had been so enthusiastic earlier. He had come prepared.

"Of course, although Zhang Shiwu is intentionally guiding you to join our China Society, our society’s benefits far exceed those of other societies. As a supported society of Tokyo Comprehensive University, we receive funding annually. So, we have monthly gatherings, society members receive birthday gifts, and most importantly, upon graduation, society members receive a special gift. Besides, our China Society is quite liberal. You can use the activity room anytime and enjoy free drinks and snacks. That’s why other societies call us the Tea Drinking Society. So, I suggest you stay with our China Society," Mu Yao said with a smile.

Upon hearing Mu Yao’s words, Liu Xing and the others had no intention of leaving the China Society. After all, it seemed like the most suitable society for them now.

Freedom.

So, Liu Xing and the others happily declared that they wouldn’t leave the China Society, bringing a sense of satisfaction to everyone.

And thus, the welcome dinner of the China Society officially began, with the recent Tokyo Skytree explosion naturally becoming the first topic of discussion.

Or rather, the current global hotspot is the Tokyo Skytree explosion incident. After all, the Tokyo Skytree is a landmark of the Island Nation and the world’s tallest tower, comparable in international status to the Twin Towers of the United States of America.

Therefore, various media outlets worldwide are discussing who might be behind this Tokyo Skytree explosion and why they would do such a thing.

Of course, at times like these, certain terrorist organizations from the Middle East are sure to jump on the bandwagon. But discerning individuals know that these terrorist organizations are just opportunists. After all, these terrorist organizations don’t have a valid reason to come to the Island Nation to carry out terrorist attacks.

Terrorist attacks still follow basic... procedures.

"I think," Zhang Shiwu said seriously, "this Tokyo Skytree explosion incident is very likely orchestrated by some cult organization in the Island Nation. Only cult organizations would commit such heinous acts."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, surprised that Zhang Shiwu was also insightful, quickly grasping the essence of the matter.

Meanwhile, Su Ziche, who had been displaying affection, nodded and said, "Exactly, Zhang Shiwu, you’re absolutely right. I also believe that the Tokyo Skytree explosion was the work of some cult organization in the Island Nation. If I remember correctly, a few years ago, when the Tokyo Skytree was still under construction, a cult organization came forward claiming that building a tower as tall as the Tokyo Skytree was disrespectful to the God of the Sky and would incur the god’s wrath. They demanded that the Island Nation authorities stop building the Tokyo Skytree. Naturally, the Island Nation authorities ignored that cult organization. But after the Tokyo Skytree explosion just happened, I specifically searched online for that cult organization and found that they are still active. They even consider the collapse of the Tokyo Skytree as the will of the God of the Sky... Of course, now the Island Nation authorities have arrested the main members of this cult organization."

Indeed, people who court death will meet their demise.

Liu Xing understood that the cult organization mentioned by Su Ziche was probably not a secret cult, as almost all secret cults develop clandestinely. Unless, like the Cult of the Cadaver, they become powerful or inflate to the point of wanting to usurp the authority of a country, they would choose to come out into the open.

But at this moment, Meng Mengzi expressed some concerns, saying, "Speaking of which, up to now, the Island Nation authorities have not disclosed the specific details of the Tokyo Skytree explosion incident. It seems strange because places like the Tokyo Skytree have high-level security surveillance from every angle. According to media reports, the lower part of the Tokyo Skytree wasn’t heavily affected. So logically, with the surveillance footage from the Tokyo Skytree, the culprits should have been identified, right?"

Zhang Jingxu nodded, stroking his chin. "Exactly, logically, by now, the Island Nation authorities should have been able to identify the suspects through the surveillance footage from the Tokyo Skytree. But up to now, the Island Nation authorities have not responded. That indicates that the Island Nation authorities have probably already identified the masterminds behind those suspects, and the identities of these suspects’ masterminds may be sensitive. Therefore, the Island Nation authorities are unsure how to proceed for the time being."

Just then, the television program playing in the Shudu restaurant timely switched to the Tokyo Skytree, which had been blasted into two sections.

At this point, the casualty figures of the Tokyo Skytree explosion incident had been largely confirmed - about sixteen hundred deaths and tens of thousands injured.

Such a high casualty figure exceeded Liu Xing’s expectations. As Liu Xing thought, the Tokyo Skytree, as a communication tower, didn’t have many people working or visiting inside. And although the Tokyo Skytree collapsed onto surrounding buildings, its destructive power shouldn’t have been too great. So at most, there should have been around a thousand deaths.

Unexpectedly, the death toll was now half again as much.

This made Liu Xing suddenly feel that something was amiss, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

But at this moment, the television screen had switched to a temporary podium set up, with a middle-aged man standing on it, appearing somewhat dignified.

According to "Watanabe Ryuusei’s" memory, this middle-aged man was the current president of the Island Nation - Inukai Abe.

Obviously, Inukai Abe was about to announce the first investigation report of the Tokyo Skytree explosion incident.

So, the attention of everyone in the Shudu restaurant was focused on the television.

On the TV, after some introductory remarks, Inukai Abe went straight to the point, saying, "According to the preliminary investigation by the police, we can now confirm that there were a total of four suspects - three men and one woman - who caused the Tokyo Skytree explosion. They carried some kind of small explosive device that could pass through security scanners into the Tokyo Skytree’s 300-meter observation deck. Then they detonated the explosive device, destroying the Tokyo Skytree. Currently, because the explosion site has not been completely cleared, we cannot determine whether these four suspects are dead. But based on the current situation, these four suspects are likely dead. As for further investigation reports, we will announce them in three days."

A display screen next to Inukai Abe also revealed the appearance of those four suspects.

After reading the investigation report, Inukai Abe hurriedly left the scene.

Liu Xing rubbed his chin, knowing that those four suspects were probably players from other modules. And since they dared to orchestrate this Tokyo Skytree explosion incident, it meant they should have prepared an escape plan. So, they were most likely not "dead without a corpse" as Inukai Abe claimed.

It seemed that he and his group still had a chance to meet those four players.

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