Chapter 44: A Century Apart
Half a month later, the Tamar finally docked in Hong Kong.
Robert Stark greeted Ryuji with a practiced smile. "Mr. Ryuji, it's been so hard to catch a glimpse of you!"
"Oh? Is Mr. Stark doing well?" Ryuji replied with a faint grin.
"No complaints, though I must admit, our last conversation left me curious. I've been hoping to see you again."
Ryuji smiled politely. "Really? Don't worry. We'll meet again. After my brief stay here, I'll be heading to the United States."
This comment made Robert Stark pause, confusion flickering in his expression.
"Well then, goodbye for now, Mr. Stark." Waving casually, Ryuji led Diana and their companions off the ship.
As they walked away, Ryuji couldn't help but smirk to himself. Meeting the Stark family was far too entertaining to let it pass without some fun.
He wasn't here to curry favor or gain power. No, this was personal. If he played his cards right, he could position himself as a sort of honorary uncle to Howard Stark. Imagine it—becoming Tony Stark's "grandfather" by association.
The thought of Tony having to awkwardly call him "grandpa" during the Battle of New York someday sent a ripple of laughter through Ryuji's mind. The mental image alone was worth the effort.
Robert Stark, on the other hand, watched them leave with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion. "Send a message to General Wilson in the UK," he instructed his head of security. "Have him dig into this 'Ryuji.' I want to know everything about him."
"Understood, sir."
---
The Tamar wasn't heading to the United States, only making a stop in Hong Kong to change crew. Robert Stark needed to transfer to the Victoria for his journey to New York, a process that would take another ten days.
"Boss, here's the key card for the Repulse Bay Hotel," Samir said, approaching with haste after sorting the accommodations.
"Good. Let's take some time to rest," Ryuji replied, taking the card.
The trip had left them drained, and while Samir had been the one paying for their expenses thus far, Ryuji felt no guilt. Neither he, Diana, nor Doutzen had any money to their name, after all. Still, he made a mental note to figure out a way to earn funds once they reached the States.
---
After a much-needed bath, Ryuji stepped out onto the balcony of his hotel room, gazing at the unfamiliar yet vaguely recognizable cityscape before him.
Hong Kong in 1919 bore almost no resemblance to the bustling metropolis he remembered—or, rather, would remember in the future. The streets, buildings, and harbor were all relics of a different time, unrecognizable yet steeped in the essence of history.
It was surreal. In his previous life—or perhaps the life ahead—he'd only visited Hong Kong once, and even then, it had felt foreign. Now, standing amidst its colonial-era backdrop, it was even more detached from the modern-day image etched in his memory.
"This must be Central," Ryuji murmured to himself as he wandered through the district the next day.
The old HSBC building, Queen's Row, and the piers came into view, each a fragment of a past he had only read about. These landmarks, though familiar from old photographs and films, felt alien up close.
"This street looks familiar," he mused, stopping at a cobblestone road that had an air of recognition.
It took him a moment to recall, but the memories surfaced. This was Pottinger Street, a location often featured in classic Hong Kong films from the '80s and '90s.
---
Diana's voice broke his reverie. "Is that... a braid? Do all your people wear those?" she asked, pointing to a man in the distance.
Ryuji followed her gaze and blinked in surprise. Sure enough, the man sported a traditional queue hairstyle.
For a moment, Ryuji felt a pang of unreality. It was like stepping into a historical drama. He vaguely remembered reading about the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the eventual abolition of the queue, but seeing it in person was surreal.
"What did you say?" the man barked angrily, overhearing Diana's comment.
But as he turned and saw that it had come from a foreign woman, his expression shifted. Instantly, he bowed his head, muttered an apology, and hurried away.
Diana frowned. "Why did he run off like that?"
Ryuji sighed, grabbing her hand. "Let's not dwell on it. Come on, we've got a city to explore."
---
The days in Hong Kong passed quickly, though not without frustration. Ryuji had been hoping to find individuals with strong potential—those worthy of inheriting mystical abilities. But as he observed the locals, he grew increasingly disheartened.
The colonial rule had crushed their spirits. Most of the people he encountered walked with hunched shoulders and vacant eyes, burdened by lives of hardship and subjugation. It wasn't just about magical aptitude; these people lacked the fire, the drive to rise above their circumstances.
"This place isn't going to work," Ryuji muttered to himself after another fruitless day.
Magic required more than raw talent—it demanded strength of character, a willingness to take risks, and a sense of purpose. And in Hong Kong's current state, those traits were hard to come by.
Perhaps he would have better luck inland, where people still fought tooth and nail to survive. But even that came with risks—warlords ruled the interior, and traveling there would mean navigating a political minefield.
For now, Ryuji set his sights on the United States. If he couldn't find a suitable candidate here, maybe the land of opportunity would offer better prospects.
With a hint of regret, Ryuji and his companions boarded the Victoria and began the next part of their journey.
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T/N: Guess what? Mark your calendars, because today at 9:45 PM (GMT+8), a brand-new translation is dropping! I'm beyond excited for this one, and I hope you'll love it as much as I enjoyed working on it.
Oh, and since today's my birthday, I'm feeling extra generous—get ready for a 5-chapter mass release on the Law God in Marvel fanfic at the same time as my new fanfic dropping time. It's my little thank-you for all your support and encouragement so far.
If you want to dive even deeper or simply can't wait for the updates, head to patreon.com/TLLina for exclusive early access to chapters. Let's keep the hype alive!