Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 119 Tokyo Uprising: National Shock and Cultural Apocalypse

At nine o'clock the next morning, sunlight filtered through the thick curtains of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, casting dappled shadows on the carpet. Lin Yan woke up leisurely; the night's "work" had no effect on him, and he felt even more refreshed. He stretched and habitually scanned the outside with his spiritual sense. Everything in the hotel was as usual; waiters were quietly busy, and customers were enjoying breakfast.

Around 11:30 a.m.

Woo-woo-woo-woo!

A sharp, urgent, and continuous siren suddenly shattered the relative tranquility of Tokyo's morning! This was not an air raid siren, but a security siren that was only sounded when a major emergency occurred. The sound came from all directions, as if the entire city had been instantly thrown into a tense rhythm.

Immediately afterwards, more and more sirens came from afar, becoming increasingly dense, from the initial patrol cars to the later roars that could only be heard from large convoys of police cars and even trucks, all speeding toward Chiyoda Ward, Bunkyo Ward, and Setagaya Ward.

Lin Yan's lips curled into a slight smile. It began.

A soft knock came from outside the suite. Lin Gang and Wang Yuling appeared at the door almost simultaneously, their expressions calm, but their eyes both carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Young Master, it seems something serious has happened outside," Lin Gang said in a low voice.

"It's alright, it's none of our business." Lin Yan waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned. "Where's Lin Er?"

"Lin Er went downstairs to check the situation and also arranged breakfast," Wang Yuling replied.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Er appeared at the end of the corridor. He walked quickly, holding several newly printed Japanese extra editions and morning newspapers, his expression... somewhat strange.

"Young Master," Lin Er handed the extra edition to Lin Yan, his tone carrying an indescribable subtlety, "something terrible has happened. Tokyo, and perhaps all of Japan, is in chaos."

Lin Yan took the newspaper; the ink was still wet. The front page headline was a huge, bold, red-highlighted headline, filled with exclamation marks and question marks:

Shocking Case! National Diet Library, University of Tokyo, Seikado Bunko... Multiple Core Institutions Looted by "Ghosts"! Millions of Books Vanish Overnight!

Extraordinary Phenomenon? The Most Bizarre Theft in History! The Library is Intact, but the Books Have Vanished!

Cultural Apocalypse? my country's Academic Foundations Suffer a Devastating Devastating Blow!

The report was incoherent, filled with shock and disbelief. It roughly described how, starting this morning, the Institute for Oriental Culture at the University of Tokyo, the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, the National Diet Library (old building), and the Institute for Research in Humanities at Kyoto University all discovered a startling situation almost simultaneously: all their collections, whether on shelves or locked in vaults, from the most precious national treasures to the most ordinary academic journals, had vanished without a trace!

All doors and windows were intact, the alarm system had not been triggered, there were no eyewitnesses, and no fingerprints, footprints, or tool marks were left. The interior of the library was as clean as if it had just been built and had not yet been put into use, with only empty bookshelves and cabinets remaining.

"...According to the duty officer at the Institute of Oriental Culture, everything was normal when he checked in the early morning, but he discovered something was wrong when he handed over his shift in the morning, and he almost fainted..."

"...The director of the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, facing the empty stacks, wept uncontrollably, repeatedly murmuring, 'Is this divine punishment?'..."

"...The Library of Congress has been completely sealed off, and cabinet officials rushed to the scene, their faces ashen..."

"...The same is true from Kyoto; the scene looks like it's been cleaned by the most skilled cleaner, but all the knowledge has been taken away..."

"...Police have initially determined this to be an extraordinary, unpredictable event of immense scale, and have requested the Self-Defense Forces' assistance in sealing off the surrounding area and launching an investigation, but so far they have no leads..."

The newspaper articles could barely describe the panic among the authorities and the public. This had completely transcended the scope of an ordinary criminal case; it was more like a paranormal event that defied scientific explanation, or perhaps… a miracle? Or a supernatural occurrence?

Downstairs at the hotel, the desperate cries of newsboys and the buzzing of crowds could be heard on the street, a sense of confusion, panic, and disbelief permeating the air. The radio had also interrupted its regular programming to broadcast this earth-shattering news on a loop, the announcer's voice trembling.

"Looks like the news spreads pretty fast." Lin Yan put down his newspaper, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather. "Let's go downstairs for Chinese food and hear what everyone's talking about."

The four arrived at the hotel's rooftop restaurant. Sure enough, almost all the guests were talking animatedly, a mix of languages, filled with shock and all sorts of speculation.

"My God, how is this possible? All the books!"

"Is it a new Soviet weapon? The kind that can make people disappear?"

"Is it haunted? I've said before that those ancient libraries are prone to attracting unclean spirits!"

"The losses are enormous! This is a cultural catastrophe!"

"The police are all incompetent! How could there not be a single trace!"

Lin Yan enjoyed his exquisite Japanese breakfast with elegance, listening to the surrounding discussions in a pleasant mood. Lin Gang and Wang Yuling stood guard by his side with expressionless faces, while Lin Er quietly translated some of the more valuable comments to Lin Yan.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government and apparatus have fallen into unprecedented chaos and panic.

The phones in the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters were ringing incessantly, practically exploding with calls. The Superintendent General, his face ashen, roared at his subordinates in the conference room, but everyone was at a loss. The crime scene experts returned, pale-faced; their expertise was utterly useless in the face of this case. There were no signs of forced entry, no signs of transport (calculate the volume and weight of millions of books—how many trucks would it take to move them overnight? And how could they possibly escape detection?), no motive (why only steal books? And all of them?). The logic didn't hold. They could only classify it as a "major special incident" and report it to the Cabinet.

The atmosphere at the Prime Minister's official residence was heavy. Cabinet ministers, including the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Minister of Defense, and the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, all wore grim expressions. The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology practically wanted to commit seppuku; for this to happen during his term was tantamount to being a sinner for all time. The Minister of Defense faced even greater pressure: Was this an attack by some unknown force? Did it mean that homeland defense was practically non-existent? What if next time the attackers didn't steal books, but equipment or even military materials from important military facilities? The thought of this possibility sent chills down the spines of all the ministers.

Following cabinet orders, the Ground Self-Defense Force swiftly deployed, with heavily armed soldiers sealing off all streets surrounding the four incident sites, setting up long cordons to prevent any unauthorized personnel from approaching. Helicopters patrolled overhead, attempting to find any possible clues about air transport, but to no avail. The scene was tightly sealed off, as if a nuclear leak had occurred.

The news caused a massive upheaval in the academic world. Countless professors, scholars, and researchers reacted with disbelief, followed by utter devastation. Their life's work—materials, unpublished manuscripts, and the academic environment they relied on—vanished overnight! Universities like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University were brought to a near standstill, a scene of widespread devastation. Many senior professors, unable to bear the blow, collapsed and were hospitalized. This was not merely a loss of property, but a disruption of knowledge and a emasculation of culture; its far-reaching impact is immeasurable.

Rumors were flying everywhere. Some said it was the Americans' doing, using some cutting-edge technology; others said it was a super operation by Soviet spies; some firmly believed it was the work of spirits or monsters; still others linked it to World War II, believing that the wronged souls of those who died in the war had returned to seek revenge... Panic was spreading, and bookstores and libraries were crowded with anxious citizens, as if they were worried that their books would also disappear.

The entire nation of Japan, from top government officials to ordinary citizens, was immersed in an atmosphere of shock, confusion, panic, and disbelief. This "invisible robbery" was like a massive psychological bomb, shaking a country that had just emerged from the ruins of war.

The person who started all of this is now leisurely sitting in the restaurant of Tokyo's most luxurious hotel, finishing the last of his miso soup.

"It tastes good." Lin Yan wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and said, "Lin Er, go pay the bill. We should leave this noisy place and head to the airport. Next stop: America."

His gaze swept across the street outside the window, where sirens continued to sound, his eyes indifferent.

Your Majesty, this is just collecting a small amount of interest!