Signal Wave (Part 1)

Kitayama Yukie, who had long lived in seclusion, suddenly went out by car, making it a modest piece of news in this residential district. Housewives watched from gardens, streets, bedrooms, and every other possible vantage point, gathering details in preparation for today's gossip.

Those gazes and vulgar little thoughts certainly could not escape Snake Tongue. In the past, she could not be bothered to waste thought on them, but today, she surveyed the residential district through the car window with considerable interest, taking in the gardens on either side of the road and the vaguely familiar faces within and beyond them.

Compared to the vast, monotonous Cloud End, what was wrong with being vulgar? Those pale faces painted with foundation and lipstick shone with splendid color too!

The hired professional driver silently drove on, the route having been arranged long ago. After leaving the residential district, they entered the lakeside highway along the southern shore of North Mountain Lake. The foundation of this high-standard magnetic track had been built exceptionally high; when it was constructed, it had also served as a second breakwater. From the car, they could clearly see the boundless emerald waves of North Mountain Lake.

As for the powerful camphor tree by the lake, nearly thirty meters tall, it still steadily towered over one end of the lakeside highway. Even from here, one had to look up at it. Its spreading crown and side branches truly resembled the outstretched arm of a giant spirit, standing between North Mountain Lake and Ban City and naturally inspiring awe.

Because of its majestic bearing and the miraculous tales that had circulated for decades, Sagaemon still received no shortage of offerings, even during the day on a workday.

Even through the car window, Snake Tongue could sense an increasingly harmonious spirituality