"Welcome to Japan; you've arrived at Haneda International Airport - Terminal 1."
Lin Zhi turned to the monitor that rested on one of the many pillars throughout the busy airport. He tilted his head as he read the monitor.
'22:00? It's getting late; I think Yuriko should be preparing to sleep by now...'
The middle-aged man scratched his black hair out of habit. The monitor switched display, revealing the weather forecast for the next few days.
Lin Zhi frowned, and soon after his phone started vibrating as it received signal. He quickly pulled it out, revealing a black smartphone, his brows raised as he read the preview notifications.
"Anna: Why did you leave?" - 30 mins ago.
"Anna: Reply!" - 30 mins ago.
...
...
...
...
"Anna: I'm giving you twenty minutes to respond." - 29 mins ago.
"Anna: Reply." - 7 minutes ago.
"Anna: Reply." - 7 minutes ago.
"Anna: Reply." - 7 minutes ago.
"Anna: Reply." - 6 minutes ago.
Lin Zhi started texting back, "Sorry, I was on the plane."
[You can't reply to this conversation.]
'Did... I get blocked?' Lin Zhi shrugged, choosing not to dwell on it as he unlocked the rollers of his briefcase.
The airport was loud; advertisements echoed throughout the station. As Lin Zhi reached for his white earbuds that came with his phone, he stopped as his ears perked up.
"World of Fourteen VR! Come join the bestselling VRMMORPG for over three years!"
'Huh? World of Fourteen? Not World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14?'
Lin Zhi did not have much contact with the 'normal' world after the circumstances regarding his transmigration, most of his memories from his new body were fragmented, and not to mention, a majority of them was lost.
The only part of his 'new' memories that he could trust, was his daughter. He knew that he has a daughter, adopted daughter but a daughter nonetheless.
'She's... 17 this year I think...?'
As he reached the entrance, he could see a black limousine honking at him before stopping right in front of him. The tourists around him turned to look at him, wondering why it stopped in front of him.
Three bodyguards, each almost a head taller than he was walked out. They stopped in a meter before him and opened the door for him as they lowered their heads.
"Welcome back to Japan Lin-sama, where would you like to go?"
Lin Zhi handed his briefcase to one of the bodyguards and waved the other tourists goodbye before getting in the limousine.
"Home." He stated before leaning back on the leather seat.
"We'll reach Azabu in twenty minutes Lin-sama."
Two bodyguards sat next to Lin Zhi, while the last one drove the limousine.
Lin Zhi reached inside his khaki pants, pulling out some chocolates and offering them to the two bodyguards.
"It's milk chocolate," He smiled before throwing another chocolate which landed perfectly next to the dashboard near the driver.
"Lin-sama, we cann--"
"Whaaaat, it's just some sweets, everyone likes chocolate. You want some caramel as well?" Lin Zhi smiled, interrupting the bodyguards as he took out some more candy from his pockets and shoved it into the hands of the reluctant bodyguards next to him.
"Would you like something to drink? Wine?" The bodyguard to his left opened up the mini-fridge by his side, revealing all sorts of luxurious alcohol as he waited for a reply.
Lin Zhi took a glance at the drinks before turning to the bodyguard, "You got strawberry milk?"
"..."
"Orange juice?"
"..."
"Apple juice?"
"..."
"Fanta?"
"..."
"Coke?"
The bodyguard took out a red glass bottle, opening it without a bottle opener before handing it to Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi took a swig of the coke before pointing at his briefcase that laid right next to the driver. "Oh right, the case contains a 5000 years old lotus, heard that the old man's growing more and more white hair."
"The Prime Minister offers his thanks in advance."
"Oh no," Lin Zhi interrupted, "I should be thanking him for watching out for Yuriko when I was away."
The honored guest closed his eyes in comfortable silence as he enjoyed the slight bumps of the limousine on the road. The luxurious vehicle slowly came to a stop, the bodyguard to his left whispering into his ear. "We're here."
The bodyguard then proceeded to open the door, as Lin Zhi walked out, he couldn't help but be comforted by the small 2-floor house that laid before him. Not to mention, it was quite a fantastic sight. Especially when it's dwarfed by the traditional houses to its left and right.
This was Azabu, the residential district that housed the richest of Japan, where many embassies and top corporations laid.
The retired worker reached for his pockets again, taking out a handful of red-wrapped chocolates before handing them to the bodyguard closest to him. He winked at them as they stared confusingly at him.
"What? It's limited edition Phoenix Chocolate from Indonesia, it can raise your lifespan by 5 years y'know? I got them as a gift, make sure to share them." He laughed as the bodyguards gave him 90-degree bow.
"Take care of yourselves," He said as he waved them off, the limousine disappearing into the distance.
Lin Zhi turned to the small house in front of him; the lights on the second floor were already off.
He walked straight into the door, banging his head against the lacquered wood.
A metaphorical lightbulb went off in his head. "Oh, right! It's not an automatic door!" He laughed as he reached for his gold-coated key card.
He then proceeded to swipe the air, before realizing that the door didn't accept key cards either.
Lin Zhi laughed again as he remembered that this wasn't his workplace as he reached for the doorknob.
The medium-sized 168cm tall black-haired man tried to twist the doorknob, realizing that it wouldn't budge.
Lin Zhi started sweating for the first time ever since he got back into the country. His brown eyes narrowed as he gave off as he raised his hands in an exaggerated motion.
"...Open Sesame...?"
The door remained closed.
Something hit Lin Zhi's arm; his head turned up only for his eyes to be hit by water as well.
'Oh, it's starting to rain too.' Lin Zhi let out a soft sigh as he ignored the light rain and started walking around the perimeter of the small house.
He realized that the bathroom window wasn't properly closed, using this to his advantage, he jumped and grabbed onto the ledge. He swept his other hand upwards, using one hand to unlock the rest of the window before squeezing through.
Rarely would anyone invade a house in the Azabu residential district, considering how much police patrolled this area. He was quite lucky that no police was near, not that it matters.
'I'll just get the Prime Minister or something," He laughed as landed face flat into the bathtub.
Being locked out left of his own house, Lin Zhi no choice but to enter like a criminal.
'It's my fault for forgetting the keys,' He shrugged.
Now he has a family to return to.
No actual knowledge of WoW and FFXIV needed.
More anime characters to come.
"Open Sesame" is a magical phrase in the story of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in One Thousand and One Nights. It opens the mouth of a cave in which forty thieves have hidden a treasure.
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