"This city had come alive again. It had cast off the threat of the ethereal spirits, the Evil Cult's delusions, the shroud of ignorance, the exploitation of class, blind madness, the oppression of oligarchs, and days as stifling and stagnant as dead water."
Shi Tiexin raised a hand, as though wielding the mighty power to remake heaven and earth and turn the sun and moon in their courses. The sun rose and set, the moon shone and slept, and as sun and moon alternated, time flew by. Tokyo below sped forward like a fast-forwarded film, changing day after day.
"Japan's greatest problem is its national character."
"When a person can do nothing but sweet-talk and whitewash peace, bow and scrape, they can only ever be a jester. Even dressed in gold and silver, they are still a monkey wearing a hat."
"But when a person can finally examine themselves thrice daily and walk the path of a gentleman, the great way will ultimately lead to heaven. Even if imprisoned behind bars, the heavens will still be broad and the earth vast."
"So it was with personal character, and so it was with national character. If you walk a petty path, then of course you can only be a petty Japan."
Shi Tiexin looked at Fujiwara Kyoshin.
"I will continue leading this place. I will teach its people how to face history head-on, recognize themselves, dig out their warped and narrow-minded thinking, and shed their whole collection of Underworld-era bad habits."
"I will carry out three great reforms here, shatter the rotten, rigid class hierarchy, and restore vitality to society."
"I will teach the people here what fairness, justice, courage, sincerity, frankness, diligence, kindness, and tolerance truly are."
"They will no longer be stray dogs barking hoarsely in the dark."
"They