Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 632 - 573: Citizens

The shop owner immediately perked up at the mention of the band. "Which album of theirs is your favorite?"

"The first one..."

"’Witch’? Indeed, that album didn’t start with high sales, but once it made its way out of the United Kingdom and was released in the United States, it broke a million copies within a year. My favorite track on it is ’Magic House,’ a song inspired by the Grimm Fairy Tales’ ’Candy House Adventure’—it masterfully combines traditional heavy metal with classical music styles..."

The shop owner animatedly discussed rock music-related topics. Li Ang, who couldn’t understand a thing, could only nod along, occasionally voicing his agreement.

Fortunately, a call from upstairs interrupted the shop owner’s endless chatter. He smiled apologetically, rose, and went upstairs, casually turning on the television.

Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know the first thing about rock music; continuing the conversation would have exposed him.

DING-A-LING.

The landline phone on the bar rang. Li Ang picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hello?" A deep male voice came through the phone. "Is this Li Ang?"

"Yes, it is."

"Good. I’m Xing Hechou, the Director of the Special Affairs Administration. I’m currently speaking to you from the command center in Yin City." The voice on the other end inquired, "Is your location safe?"

"It’s safe for now."

Li Ang paused for a moment. "The Special Affairs Administration?"

"A department newly established in response to the meteorite event. What the Japanese side told you is true. Since the meteorite fell three months ago, a portion of those who came into contact with Meteorite Fragments began to exhibit special abilities that current science can’t fully explain."

Xing Hechou spoke quickly. "Countries around the world are gathering Meteorite Fragments and Superpower Users. Some of their abilities can greatly propel scientific progress and breakthroughs. Their significance is no less than Einstein’s introduction of the mass-energy equivalence formula. For those nations, it’s worth starting a war over. Your situation is indeed very dangerous."

"I understand." Li Ang nodded. "What should I do?"

"Our near-Earth orbit satellites have observed that the Shinagawa District, where you are, and the surrounding urban areas have been put under traffic control. Therefore, you cannot reach the Embassy," Xing Hechou said. "I’ll provide you with three addresses. These are trustworthy secret offices in Japan, all of which are within the traffic control areas. You can go there directly without needing identification. If you need them to, they can come pick you up."

Secret offices? So, spy or special agent safe houses, eh? Li Ang hesitated. If Japanese or US authorities discovered that special agents had come here, it could endanger Hagiwara Jin’s family. Better not.

"No need. Just give me the addresses, and I’ll make my own way there."

"Alright." Xing Hechou was quite straightforward. "Once you arrive at the safe house, we will plan a maritime escape route for you.

"You must be quick and stealthy, as the abilities of Superpower Users are incredibly diverse. Some of the users who have been captured by the Japanese and US sides possess tracking and even locating abilities.

"We’ve already sent people to collect the Meteorite Fragments from the house you rented, and your parents are now under our protection. Please don’t worry.

"To prove my identity and the credibility of what I say, in 10 minutes, during the live broadcast of the CCTV News Channel’s news program, there will be a segment on the Tokyo attack case. The reporter will slip in the words ’White Dove.’ Hearing those words will confirm my identity."

"Okay." Li Ang exhaled a sigh of relief and firmly memorized the three addresses and contact details Xing Hechou had given him before hanging up.

The Special Affairs Administration... If they’ve already established an administration, there must be a lot of Superpower Users. Li Ang was preoccupied with what Xing Hechou had said about some users possessing tracking and locating abilities. He hastily ate a couple more bites of his meal, barely filling his stomach.

"Has our guest had enough to eat?"

Footsteps were heard from the stairs as the shop owner came down, accompanied by a woman in a kimono—presumably Hagiwara Jin’s mother. She was in a wheelchair, being slowly carried down the stairs by a chair lift, with her husband beside her.

(A chair lift is a type of elevator that clings to the wall; with a press of a button, it moves up and down along a track. It’s mainly used to assist the elderly or patients with mobility difficulties.)

"I’ve had plenty, thank you very much." Li Ang stood up to express his gratitude once again. Although it was just a meal and two international calls, for him, in his current situation, they were a godsend.

"No problem at all." The shop owner smiled cheerfully as he pulled out a well-preserved CD case and handed it to Li Ang. "My wife and I both like Death Sabbath. This is their second album. I bought an extra copy when I was young, and it has been sitting at home all these years. Meeting someone with similar niche interests today must be fate, so I’m giving it to you."

"This is too precious; I can’t accept it." Li Ang wanted to decline, but given the shop owner’s enthusiasm, he had no choice but to accept the CD with a rose and skull print on it. He felt somewhat guilty to begin with, and now that he had received a CD, he felt even more embarrassed. What a pity he hadn’t brought any money with him...

"Is your wife having difficulty with her legs?" Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, his eyes flashing.

"Eh? Yes. Sacroiliitis." The shop owner’s wife, still in her wheelchair, nodded in confusion, not understanding why Li Ang had asked.

"May I take a look?"

Under the surprised and puzzled gaze of the couple, Li Ang gently placed his hands on the shoulders of the shop owner’s wife and then closed his eyes. Elemental Material transformed into extremely fine black threads, which quietly pierced into the woman’s Body.

Sacroiliac joint... found it.

Sacroiliitis is an orthopedic condition, generally divided into secondary and primary types. The former is related to increased pressure on the weight-bearing joint’s cartilage, while the latter is mostly influenced by age, physique, genetics, and other factors. It can cause patients pain, morning stiffness, and joint spasms. In severe cases, the pain can be so unbearable that walking becomes impossible, making life a torment.

Li Ang kept his eyes closed, controlling the black threads to first take over the spinal nerves and block the sensation of pain, then burrowing into the iliac and sacral bones to repair the cartilage and replace the muscle. Cartilage that was difficult to repair by conventional means was easily healed by Elemental Material.

The shop owner, standing aside with furrowed brows, instinctively wanted to push Li Ang away. However, his wife, still in the wheelchair, merely had a blank expression. Her feet trembled slightly, but she didn’t seem to be in any pain.

"It’s done." After a moment, Li Ang withdrew the Elemental Material. He lifted his palms, rubbing them tiredly, and said, "That should do it. After a period of adjustment, your wife should be able to walk again."

"What?" The shop owner, utterly shocked and disbelieving, moved to shield his wife, still in her wheelchair, behind him. "Just who exactly are you...?"

"Think of me as a grateful citizen who knows how to return favors." Li Ang picked up his scarf from the back of the chair, wrapped it around himself again, and nodded toward the shop owner and his wife. "For your safety, please make sure not to tell anyone I was here."

After saying this, he casually waved his hand and turned to leave the Izakaya.

"..." Gazing at Li Ang’s departing figure, the shop owner’s brow remained tightly furrowed, his shock and suspicion undiminished.

"Husband?" His wife’s astonished voice came from behind. He turned to see her gently leaning on the countertop, shakily standing up, her face completely free of pain!

What on earth?!

The couple stared at each other in utter amazement.

Just then, NHK television broke in with a news report. "...A spokesperson from the Police Department announced in a press conference just now the latest developments in the subway attack investigation. All the criminals hiding in Tokyo have been apprehended; only one ringleader remains at large."

On the TV screen, a photo of Li Ang appeared.