Ken stood in front of the rundown house, disappointment etched across his face. This was not the grand welcome he'd imagined upon arriving in Japan.
With a resigned sigh, he made his way toward the house, his curiosity piqued by the sight of a letter resting on the porch. Picking it up, he unfolded the paper and began to read:
"Dear Ken,
As you can see, you'll be living alone until further notice in Japan. Things work quite differently here than in America, or so I've heard. To help you navigate this new world, I've included data on Japanese customs and their language on your data chip. Just access it to download into your brain chip later.
The AU tournament is set to begin in a week's time, which should give you a chance to get accustomed to your new surroundings. Also, if you happen to be accepted into Aztec University, do me a favor and refrain from getting into any trouble. I'm too busy to hire fake parents for you, so please behave, you dumbass.
Good luck."
Ken couldn't help but shake his head as he finished reading. Sentinel might be a pain in the Ass, but he was also looking out for Ken in his own peculiar way.
Ken, now standing in the porch of the old house, glanced around, feeling the privacy of his new surroundings. Couldn't help but think what he was gonna do with all this space and Land.
With newfound determination, he decided to just use this as his chance to get stronger and more time to figure something that had been on his mind. He then shouted, "Open Status!" A virtual window screen materialized in front of him, resembling something straight out of a video game:
[ Status ]
Name: Ken
Race: Cyborg
Level: 103
Strength: 100 (Growth Blocked)
Agility: 37
Endurance: 51
[Access to Further Information Has been blocked. Requirements must be met.]
Ken pondered what "Growth Blocked" could mean,
"Hmm, even now, passing level 100, my access to further information is blocked," Ken mused. "If this 'Status' has more abilities than just a tracker, maybe it can help me grow stronger. But what's the requirement?"
Ken's curiosity nagged at him, but he couldn't dwell on it for long. As he entered the house, cobwebs brushed against his face from all directions, and water dripped from the ceiling. The house was in a state of disrepair far worse than he'd initially thought.
But as he ventured deeper into the house, Ken's smirk widened. "Well, well, Sentinel, you do know me well," he muttered with a grin. In the center of the house, he discovered five large bags filled to the brim with money. A note sat in front of them, and Ken reached for it.
"I would never let a fellow money lover like you go broke near a city so rich, Sentinel," he read aloud, and then he looked at the bags. He was simultaneously shocked and elated at the amount.
"$100 million is no joke," Ken whispered to himself, his eyes wide as he beheld the fortune before him. "Well, I guess I might as well go shopping and Fix Up this House then."
In reality, it was 25 million Yen, given the exchange rate. Still, it was a staggering sum. Ken took a moment to let the reality of the fortune sink in. This unexpected windfall was a game-changer, no matter how you sliced it.
With newfound determination, he initiated the download of the Japanese language that Sentinal had talked about. As the data installed, he felt a surge of confidence. Ken had the customs memorized, the accent mastered, and even peculiar fetishes understood - thanks to his fully downloaded chip data.
A sly grin spread across Ken's face. "The perks of being a cyborg are amazing, honestly," he thought. Armed with this knowledge, he calculated that Kyoto was only 15.3 kilometers away. That translated to a mere six-minute run. With a quick stretch and a gleam of excitement in his eyes, he declared, "Here I come, City of Riches!"
Ken got into a running position, his body surging with electrical energy. The roar of engines accelerating filled the air as he burst forward with incredible speed. He covered the 15.3 kilometers to Kyoto in a flash, effortlessly carrying the five bags of money with him.
But as he approached the city's outskirts, he encountered the imposing presence of the Dome. This formidable barrier, created to protect cities during the advent of superhuman powers, was an awe-inspiring marvel. It utilized Lodestone technology, rendering the barrier invisible and making it seem as though the area it covered didn't exist at all.
Ken came to a halt, staring at the undetectable force field before him, when suddenly, a colossal eye appeared within the barrier, seemingly a part of it. The gigantic eye fixed its gaze on Ken, and an eerie voice echoed from within, "It's 100 Yen *400USD to proceed, outsider."
Ken Fell to the floor in shock but quickly regained his composure. He knew who this was, the gatekeeper of Kyoto's Dome, Hero Spectacle, ranked 70th in Japan for his surveillance abilities. Ken bowed respectfully and handed over the money to a group of people who had appeared out of nowhere, just as mysteriously as the giant eye.
As the money was taken, the colossal eye disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, granting Ken access to the city of Kyoto.
As Ken stepped through the invisible barrier of the Dome, his eyes were met with a dazzling and futuristic cityscape. The city of Kyoto was unlike anything he'd ever seen, a testament to the blending of technology and urban living. The Dome that shielded the city not only protected it but also gave it an otherworldly, cyber atmosphere.
Blazing lights illuminated the streets in all directions, turning the city into a perpetual Night. Skyscrapers stretched high into the heavens, their towering forms a testament to the city's ambition. Some of them seemed to defy gravity, extending above, their upper levels bathed in the soft glow of neon lights.
Flying cars zipped through the sky, their sleek and aerodynamic designs showcasing the latest in transportation technology. They moved with graceful precision, creating intricate patterns in the air. The streets below were bustling with a sea of people, their attire a fusion of traditional Japanese style and futuristic fashion. Neon signs adorned buildings, advertising holographic shows, shops, and restaurants. Billboards projected dazzling holographic ads, each one vying for attention in a city that never slept.
Alongside the high-tech elements, Kyoto had also managed to retain its cultural identity. Ancient temples and traditional gardens were nestled amidst the gleaming skyscrapers, creating a unique blend of the old and the new.
Ken couldn't help but reflect on the surroundings as he thought to himself, "This is what one of the world's top-class countries is like, huh? Finding a bank is going to be much more challenging than I initially thought."