Chapter 4

After arriving in Japan, Shangguan Xueying checked into the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka, located in the Shinsaibashi–Dotonbori area. It was one of the most convenient places to stay in the city—right by the JR station, and less than a ten-minute walk to the Shinsaibashi shopping district and the Dotonbori food street.

On her first day, after resting and adjusting to the time difference, she began her mission. She familiarized herself with the neighborhood and was pleased to discover that malls and supermarkets were everywhere. By day, she blended in as an ordinary tourist, wandering the streets with an alert gaze, quietly noting down shops that might stock the supplies she needed.

In a large supermarket, the sight of fully stocked shelves excited her. She started in the food section, quickly filling her basket with instant soup packets—seafood, vegetable, chicken, and more. She added long-shelf-life snacks like chips and corn crisps, carefully choosing three brands. Energy bars, rich in nutrients, were a must, and she picked up flour, yeast, and baking ingredients as well. In the frozen and canned food aisle, she stocked up on tomato, bean, and meat cans.

Moving on, she visited the household goods section. Radios, encrypted communicators—anything useful in an emergency—went into her cart. She selected some cigarettes and liquor, knowing they could serve as both comfort items and trade goods. In the home décor aisle, she chose small ornaments and picture frames to bring warmth to future life. Sports equipment and clothing caught her eye too; staying fit was essential.

From electronics, she picked headphones, chargers, and power banks. In the specialty foods section, she chose chocolates, candies, biscuits, and coffee in three flavors she liked. At the beauty and skincare counters, she carefully selected cosmetics and lotions with long shelf lives. She purchased clothes and shoes for different seasons and occasions, as well as high-quality luggage for transport.

Jewelry—necklaces, bracelets, earrings—though not urgent necessities, could upgrade her spatial storage. She picked a few exquisite pieces.

After scouting all day, she returned to the hotel. Using her psychic ability, she scanned the surroundings to make sure no one was nearby, then stored away her purchases into her spatial dimension. Later that night, dressed in black, she disabled the hotel’s surveillance and retraced her daytime routes, absorbing goods directly into her space. No matter how much she collected, the space seemed bottomless.

Shangguan Xueying knew that acquiring restricted items in Japan wouldn’t be easy, but she decided to take the risk. Through secret inquiries, she found contacts dealing on Japan’s black web.

In an abandoned, damp warehouse, she waited in disguise—mask and cap hiding her features. Her heartbeat echoed in the silence until a burly man with a sly look arrived, flanked by several intimidating men.

“Did you bring the goods?” she asked in a low voice.

The man smirked and waved his hand. His men carried forward several large crates.

“Here are the radio transmitters you wanted. They’re top-of-the-line. Just be careful not to cause trouble,” he said, opening a crate to display the devices.

She nodded, then glanced at another box.

“These are the firearms and ammunition—military guns, sporting rifles, hunting rifles, tranquilizer dart guns. Bullets and shells, all as requested,” he continued.

Xueying inspected the weapons and ammunition carefully, weighing their usefulness.

“And here—controlled blades. Daggers, tri-edged knives, spring knives with safety locks. One hundred in total, all premium quality.” He opened the last crate.

She picked up a dagger, testing its sharpness and grip.

“I’ve seen everything. No problem. But don’t think you can cheat me on the price,” she said firmly.

The man chuckled and quoted a figure. After bargaining, they settled on a price acceptable to both. She paid, and his men loaded the goods into her prepared vehicle.

Driving across Japan, Xueying stayed vigilant, scanning her surroundings with her psychic ability to ensure no tails. At a remote spot, she stored everything safely into her space. Only then did she relax, return to the hotel, wash up, and sleep deeply.

Over the next few days, she repeated this cycle. She shopped not just at supermarkets but also malls. She spoke with store clerks, learning about product features, while discreetly checking inventory levels.

In a sports shop, she found a new type of portable exercise equipment—lightweight but multifunctional—and bought several sets. At a cosmetics shop, she purchased a highly effective skincare product in bulk. Clothing and shoes were chosen for durability and comfort across seasons. In a jewelry store, she picked out a gemstone necklace, thinking it might one day serve as valuable barter.

Procuring tuna proved tricky, since stocks were limited. She contacted multiple suppliers and spent much time before finally collecting all the tuna available in Japan.

A week passed quickly. Her space was now brimming with goods. Though exhausted, she felt a sense of accomplishment—yet she knew it was still far from enough. On the seventh night, she packed her luggage and rested early.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into her room. Shangguan Xueying rose, packed her final items, and checked out. Dragging her suitcase to the airport, she reflected on her week in Japan, full of effort and gains.

At the airport, she smoothly completed check-in and boarded her 10 a.m. flight to the United States. Watching the shrinking city from her window seat, she felt both anticipation and uncertainty. But one thing was clear—whatever challenges awaited, she was prepared.

Closing her eyes, Shangguan Xueying began planning her stockpiling strategy for America…