Kyoto, North Garden Road.
Chen Jialuo was jolted awake by a rapid pounding on the door.
As he climbed out of bed, he wanted to curse whoever had such terrible timing, but before he could even open his mouth, the door was kicked in from outside.
Three beams of flashlight glare struck his face at once, so bright he could not open his eyes.
He instinctively raised an arm to shield himself from the light. Before he could cry out, he was dragged from the bed and pinned face-down against the icy floor.
His right cheek pressed against the tiles, and from the corner of his eye, he saw several people standing in the doorway, all dressed in dark blue uniforms.
"Chen Jialuo? Western Continent national?" The leader's voice was cold as iron.
"I-I'm a Great Xia citizen! I have a Great Xia passport! I entered legally!"
He struggled and shouted, his voice filled with fear, along with a trace of defiant stubbornness.
No one paid him any attention.
Handcuffs had already been fastened around his wrists, and the cold metal made him shudder.
He was dragged up from the floor and staggered outside.
The hallway was already packed with people, all residents from his floor.
There were men and women, old and young. Some wore pajamas, some were barefoot, and some still held children in their arms.
Every face bore the same expression—fear.
"You can't do this! I want to see a lawyer! I want to contact my embassy!" a blonde woman shrieked, her voice echoing through the narrow hallway.
She wore a silk nightgown, her hair disheveled, as though she had just been dragged out of bed.
An official in a black uniform walked up to her expressionlessly, a document in hand.
"Betty Williams, Western Continent national. Your