Three hours remained in the flight. Yasushi kept busy, sorting through the evidence Nandini had sent over from her investigation of the council members he had been targeting. Each document and report she provided gave him more leverage, and he was satisfied with her progress. She had completed about half of her work on the leader of their group, which was already yielding promising results.
He opened the latest email she had sent. Scanning its contents, he felt a mix of irritation and understanding settle over him. At the bottom, her words read: "I regret not being able to join you. Circumstances won't allow me to travel there with you, but I'll do my best to accompany Lord Shiva if the opportunity arises. If that isn't possible, I'll stay behind and continue the investigation. By the time you return, I hope to have more to show."
Yasushi leaned back in his seat, letting out a long sigh. He was disappointed, though not surprised. He had hoped she could persuade Shiva to come along, but he didn't dwell on the matter. Whether Shiva agreed or not wasn't something Yasushi could control, so he shoved the thought aside, redirecting his focus to the task at hand.
"Yasushi, want food?" Xinyi asked, stepping into the room he shared with Jingliu, nibbling on a cupcake as crumbs fell from her hands.
"Sure," he said without lifting his eyes from the laptop in front of him. She wandered closer, holding the half-eaten cupcake up to his mouth. He took a bite, chewing as he kept scrolling through the screen.
"What are you doing~?" she asked, tilting her head to peek at the screen, her voice carrying the curiosity of someone with too much free time.
"Looking over what Nandini sent me for the homelessness project," he replied, his attention still glued to the laptop as he clicked through another email. "I'll wrap this up soon. Did you need something, or are you just here to bug me?"
She grinned, leaning on the desk slightly as she continued eating. "Not really. Everyone else is just hanging out, waiting until we get there. We're landing around eight tonight, right? I heard it's going to be cold since winter's almost here."
"Yeah. The UK stays cold most of the time anyway," he said, pausing just long enough to glance at her. "You should probably switch to something warmer before we land. I doubt what you're wearing now will cut it."
"Noted," she replied with a shrug, shoving the last bite of her cupcake into her mouth while he logged off for the moment.
He slid his laptop into the bag slung over the chair, stretching his shoulders before straightening. "Alright, enough of that. Let's go watch a movie or something," he said, already moving toward the door and motioning for Xinyi to follow.
Her face lit up as she quickly agreed, her steps falling in line with his as they left the room. The mood between them now felt lighter, transitioning from work to simply unwinding together.
Though their destination was London, where advancements in quantum technology were under development, his thoughts weren't entirely on the trip's purpose.
He'd been anticipating this visit, but not just for professional reasons. Somewhere in the quiet corners of his mind, he considered the possibility of finding a connection to his old life before reincarnation — a life he hadn't thought about often but never truly abandoned.
Still, he restrained his expectations, reminding himself not to expect too much. His relationship with his family in that former life had been strained at best. The memories didn't spark any warmth, only a dull acknowledgment of the past. Yet, the chance to see if they existed in this version of reality persisted in the back of his mind, unresolved but persistent.
+-+
Hours passed, and their flight touched down smoothly. To both Jingliu and Xinyi's surprise, the chill in the air wasn't as biting as they had expected.
"I thought there'd be snow... but this is just cold?" Xinyi said, her eyes scanning the surroundings, her tone carrying more curiosity than disappointment.
"The United Kingdom doesn't see snow very often," Yasushi replied, already stepping forward with his hands tucked into his coat pockets. "It's more of a rare occurrence, usually making headlines when it happens. Based on weather reports over the past few years, the last time it snowed was two years ago. If they get a white Christmas this year, it'll probably be all over the news. It's nothing like Ginsukimura, though, where the snow sticks around for eight months straight. The UK just isn't built for it on the same scale."
"But they're not completely unprepared either," he added, his voice practical. "Salt for the roads and snow-clearing equipment still exist here, just not to the extent you're used to. Still, what you're wearing might be a bit much. You'll probably overheat soon."
Yasushi's glance moved across the group, pausing on their layers of winter clothing. Everyone except Yinhaie, who had chosen her outfit wisely, seemed overdressed for the situation. He didn't bother mentioning himself — his own clothing struck a balance that fit the environment without drawing attention.
"You seem to know a lot about this place, huh?" Yunxue asked, her attention fixed on Yasushi like he was some kind of walking encyclopedia.
"Well... I was English before I reincarnated," he admitted with a shrug and a slight smirk. "I know more about this country than most of you probably care to hear about." He glanced over to their left and pointed. "For instance, if you look over there, you'll see a shop called Marks & Spencer. They sell all sorts of things — clothing, food, drinks, and random bits and pieces people might need."
As they walked through the open terminal, the group turned their heads as instructed. Sure enough, there was a smaller version of the store sitting on their left. Unlike the ones typically found in shopping malls, this one was compact and designed to fit within the airport's limited space.
They took in the sight, some more intrigued than others, but before anyone could comment, a taller man suddenly wrapped Yasushi in a firm hug, causing the entire group to stop in their tracks.
"…Dad, please…" Yasushi muttered, his voice barely audible as his face turned noticeably red.
Yuji Futakao laughed, patting his son's shoulder before stepping back. "I'm glad you could all make it," he said, glancing around at the group. "You'll be staying at the same villa as us. Jingliu and Xinyi, your parents will be there too," he added, then turned to walk ahead. "It's late. Let's head to our home for the week and grab some dinner."
No one argued. They followed after him, their footsteps quick and quiet as they exited the airport. Outside, a sleek car waited for them. They climbed inside without hesitation, finding that it was spacious enough to fit everyone comfortably.
There wasn't the usual awkward shuffle to make room or decide who sat where. Once everyone settled, the car started moving on its own.
"It's driving itself?" Yasushi asked, leaning forward slightly, his eyes scanning the dashboard. "Is this running on quantum tech or something?"
Yuji turned slightly in his seat, grinning at Yasushi's interest. "Yeah, quantum systems are part of it, but there's also AI involved — something that's just shy of general intelligence. It's close to what some people imagine when they talk about advanced, thinking AI. Expect some incredible changes coming soon."
The rest of the ride passed in an excited discussion about the possibilities. They bounced ideas off one another, speculating about the implications of AI that could form its own thoughts, interpret feelings, or even express opinions. Enthusiasm bubbled through their voices as they considered what the future might look like with such advancements.
+-+
They arrived quickly at a house so large it could almost be mistaken for a castle. Its design spoke of an era long gone, with walls that seemed to have withstood centuries. The gardens, however, were immaculate, and the gates gleamed as if polished regularly. The contrast between the aged structure and its well-kept surroundings left everyone speechless as they looked out through the car windows.
When the car finally stopped, they stepped out and stood in silence, taking in the sight before them. Yuji chuckled at their reactions.
"Wait until you see what's inside," he said, gesturing for them to follow him as he walked toward the entrance.
The group trailed after him without a word, glancing back as the car smoothly drove off on its own, once again reminding them of the advancements they were witnessing. It felt as though they were stepping into a world where technology and reality blended seamlessly.
When they reached the large front door, it swung open on its own. No one touched it, and the unexpected automation drew another wave of stunned looks from the group. They entered cautiously, glancing around as their eyes adjusted to the spacious interior. The house was filled with staff, but there were also machines — robots, to be exact — moving about as if they belonged there.
Yasushi turned to his father, his curiosity apparent. "Dad…are those robots controlled by AI?"
Yuji nodded. "They are. Right now, they're still in the experimental phase, so there are kinks we need to work out. But," he added, his tone filled with assurance, "we're confident that within a few years, these will be fully operational. You're looking at what's coming next."
"Dinner time now, not business," Yuji said, his tone light but clear. "There's one rule in this house: once you're inside, no work talk. Leave it all at the door. Sure, the robots and gadgets you see around are tied to what we're developing, but here, we use them like any regular customer would. Consider yourselves testers, nothing more." With that, he motioned for everyone to follow him toward the dining room.
The journey took several minutes, the sheer size of the house making it feel more like a small expedition. The ceilings soared above them, each room they passed adorned with chandeliers, oil paintings in gilded frames, and an array of vases and statues on intricate pedestals. Every detail in the décor seemed designed to remind the viewer of the home's deep history and the wealth that had maintained it.
When they finally entered the dining room, a large table dominated the space. Around it sat Xinyi's and Jingliu's parents, who waved in greeting as the group filed in. Everyone found their places, and for a moment, the room settled into silence.
"Welcome, welcome! I'm so glad all of you could join us tonight," Liang Yang, Jingliu's father, said with a wide smile. He glanced around the room, his expression almost daring anyone not to share in his excitement. "Quite the place, isn't it? This house has been standing for over two centuries. Of course, we've integrated quantum-powered AI tech to bring it into the modern age. You'll see more of it tomorrow, but for now — let's eat!"
"It's definitely interesting, not something you see every day," Yasushi said, his tone light, almost amused. "Feels like we've wandered onto the set of some futuristic movie or something."
Liang Yang chuckled, his shoulders moving slightly as he nodded. "I don't blame you for thinking that. It does have that kind of atmosphere, doesn't it? But no, this is all real. Even your rooms have some advanced AI systems integrated into them. That said, everything is local — nothing gets uploaded to any server-based clouds or tracked by external systems. Your data stays secure."
"What does 'local' mean, exactly?" Xinyi asked, her brows drawing together in curiosity.
Yasushi leaned back a little, taking the question as his cue to explain. "Local AI works directly on the device it's installed on, using the computer's own hardware — its processor and memory — to handle tasks. It doesn't need to connect to the internet, so it's fast, and everything it processes stays on your device. That's what makes it private and secure."
He paused for a moment, then added, "The downside is, of course, that how well it works depends entirely on how powerful your hardware is. If the system isn't up to par, it might struggle with more demanding tasks. And upgrading to stronger hardware can cost quite a bit."
He let the explanation settle, giving Xinyi a moment to take it all in before continuing.
"Cloud-based AI works in a completely different way," Yasushi began, his tone even, measured as he laid out the explanation. "Instead of everything happening on your device, it relies on much larger and more powerful machines — servers — that are located elsewhere. You access these servers through an internet connection. They handle all the complicated tasks that your device might not be able to manage on its own. This setup allows you to use advanced AI tools, even on older or slower devices."
He paused briefly, then continued, "But it's not without its drawbacks. Since everything depends on the internet, it might not work as smoothly if your connection is weak or unreliable. On top of that, because your data has to travel to and from these servers to get processed, it raises concerns about privacy. You're essentially sharing your information with a system outside your control."
To help clarify, he added, "Think of it this way: local AI is like owning a gaming console in your home. Everything happens right there in your living room, under your control. Cloud-based AI, on the other hand, is like streaming a game over the internet. All the heavy work happens somewhere else, and you're just seeing the results on your screen."
Xinyi gave a slow nod, her expression somewhere between understanding and cautious uncertainty. "I… think I get it," she said, her voice quiet but with a hint of effort, as though trying to piece together the comparison in her mind.
Yuji chuckled, his hand clapping Yasushi's shoulder with a sense of ease that made the conversation feel like an everyday exchange rather than a lesson. "I didn't think my son knew anything about AI! It's not something most people dive into, at least not yet. The field is still kind of niche, but give it a few years, and it's going to explode. You've got a good start," he said, his voice carrying a note of pride that didn't go unnoticed.
Yasushi rubbed the back of his neck, his expression turning slightly awkward as he responded, "It's not that I know much. It's just… I've heard a lot about other cloud-based systems, so I just swapped in 'AI' where it made sense." He glanced away as he finished, his face taking on a faint pink hue.
Yuji's laughter came again, lighter this time, just as Xingyu, Xinyi's father, added himself to the conversation. "All right, let's rein it in. We agreed — no work talk while we're in this house. But Yasushi, that was a good breakdown. You explained it well. Tomorrow, we'll get into the details once we're all in work mode, so don't worry about it for now. Tonight's for relaxing and eating."
The agreement came easily, with everyone nodding or chiming in. The group returned to their meal, the sound of utensils tapping against plates filling the air as the conversation turned lighter.
Talk of projects and technical concepts gave way to stories, jokes, and updates on one another's lives. Any concern about awkwardness or tension melted away as the evening carried on, replaced by a comfortable atmosphere that made the gathering feel natural.
+-+
Later that night, Yasushi and Jingliu were sharing a room in the house. Their room included access to a small balcony, where both of them had settled into chairs. They sat quietly, looking at the cloudy night sky above, its patches of light obscured by shifting layers of gray.
"We've got a whole week here," Yasushi said, his eyes fixed upward, tracing the outline of the clouds. "Let's make the most of it."
Jingliu glanced over at him, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah... but do you feel like you belong here?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of hesitation as she shifted her focus entirely to him.
Yasushi remained silent for a few moments, his brow furrowing as he considered her words. Finally, he shook his head. "I can't say I do. Most of what I remember from this place is bad. But then again," he added, his tone softening, "it's strange. Because in my last life, I lived in this country. It's a part of me, in a way, and sometimes I miss it. Even with that, though, I wouldn't trade the life I have now for anything from my past."
Jingliu gave him a small smile before leaning in to wrap her arms around him. Her hug was quiet and warm, an unspoken agreement to leave the heaviness of the past behind. The two stayed there for a while longer, their conversation drifting into lighter topics.
Yasushi talked about odd facts and little memories he had about the area, sharing what he knew of the country's quirks and traditions. Eventually, the pair decided to call it a night and returned to their room to rest.