The speedboat carved a white wake across the sea as it raced toward international waters.
Eastern Japan's warships and helicopters followed closely five kilometers behind, like sharks drawn by the scent of blood, neither daring to come too close nor willing to give up.
The atmosphere remained tense.
On the speedboat, the Japanese Emperor huddled in a corner, soaked to the skin and trembling.
The sea breeze swept over his wounded body, bringing cold and pain.
But what frightened him even more was the young man before him, Yue Xiaofei.
He had no idea what fate awaited him next.
Yue Xiaofei ignored him, standing at the bow and gazing into the distance as he faced the sea breeze.
The members of the Reverse Scale Squad each attended to their duties.
Ugly Ox checked the speedboat's propulsion system to make sure nothing could go wrong.
Man-Rat Han Duoduo held her tablet, her fingers flying as she constantly monitored nearby radar signals and communications channels.
Wild Chicken had reverted to his usual flippant self. Holding his phone, he flipped off the massive fleet behind them, then snapped a selfie with it in the background.
"Hey, what do you think? Once we take this old geezer back, should we braise him or steam him?"
Wild Chicken rubbed his chin, looking utterly serious as he considered the question.
The Japanese Emperor shuddered at those words, nearly wetting himself on the spot.
"All right, stop scaring him."
Yue Xiaofei turned and glared at Wild Chicken, then walked over to the Japanese Emperor and looked down at him.
"Remember what I told you!"
Yue Xiaofei's voice was as cold as ice.
"Within three months, return every single artifact you stole from the Dragon Kingdom!"
"Within one month, burn every last memorial tablet in that toilet!"
"Within