sinovels Chapter 288 Equipment Enchantment
Chapter 288 Equipment Enchantment
Chapter 288 Equipment Enchantment
Stepping onto the soft, white snow of Hokkaido's ski slopes and breathing in the crisp, refreshing air, everyone's bodies and minds, exhausted from working non-stop, instantly found complete relaxation.
After changing into professional ski suits, Kitahara Shin and Matsu Takako were the first to ski onto the slopes. Their movements were light and fluid, clearly showing that they were both experienced skiers.
Watching Kitahara Shin roam freely in this pure white world, Matsu Takako's eyes behind her goggles couldn't help but look a little dazed.
She couldn't help but recall their last skiing trip together. Back then, she was still a bit naive and confused, while the man who held her hand in the snow, leading her to experience speed and freedom, had unknowingly become the most irreplaceable support in her life. That wonderful, unspoken understanding, resonating with her on the snow, stirred a warm ripple in her heart.
Because of her experience, Matsu Takako naturally took on the role of "ski instructor" and began to teach her older sisters step by step.
The women's athletic talents were on full display at this moment.
The most surprising person was Nanako Matsushima. Not only is she tall, but her core strength and balance are also exceptionally good. After only half an hour of learning from Takako Matsu, she was able to glide smoothly on the beginner slope on her own, and occasionally even made a few beautiful turns.
Second on the list is Izumi Sakai. Although she learns slowly, she is calm and composed, following the instructions taught by Takako Matsu step by step. Even though she skates very slowly, she rarely falls and maintains a very elegant posture.
The remaining two—Akina Nakamori and Rie Miyazawa—have completely become the "silly beauties" of this ski resort.
These two top actresses, who are stunning and charismatic on stage and in front of the camera, seem to have their limbs attached to them as soon as they put on skis, completely out of their control.
"Oh no! Nobu-kun, help!" As soon as Akina took a step, her legs involuntarily turned inward, and she cried out as she plunged straight into the snowdrift.
On the other side, Rie Miyazawa fared no better. In an attempt to maintain her balance, she frantically gesticulated wildly in place, eventually losing control and collapsing onto the ground, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
Watching the usually aloof national goddesses make such a fool of themselves, Kitahara Shin couldn't help but laugh out loud. He glided over and personally pulled them out of the snow pits one by one, patiently supporting their waists and arms, and personally guiding them on how to shift their weight. In this pure white world filled with laughter, there was no backstabbing or scheming of the entertainment industry, only the purest and warmest everyday interactions.
The skiing trip came to an end in the afternoon.
Since they planned to go hunting tomorrow, preparing a reliable set of equipment in advance was of paramount importance. After lunch, Kitahara Shin enthusiastically took Matsu Takako and Nanako to a high-end outdoor hunting equipment store, the largest in Hokkaido, in Sapporo.
Upon entering the store, Kitahara Shin activated his system vision.
He was now like a seasoned expert browsing through an antique market, his eyes scanning the dazzling array of items on the shelves. With his increased strength and broadened horizons, ordinary "white equipment" emitting a faint white light was no longer of any use to him. His minimum goal now was "blue equipment" with special attributes.
However, after browsing two floors and looking at several stores, Kitahara Shin couldn't find a single item that emitted a blue light that satisfied him.
Seeing Kitahara Shin raise his eyebrows slightly, as if searching for something specific, Matsu Takako, who had been following him, couldn't help but ask with some doubt, "Are you looking for some particular brand? Those hunting knives and winter clothes I saw earlier were all of very good quality."
Kitahara Shin turned to look at Matsu Takako, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind.
He was well aware of a hidden mechanism in the system: ordinary items, once touched by the women around him with whom he had deep ties, or given to him as gifts, had a certain chance of being "enchanted" and transformed into system equipment with powerful attributes.
He suddenly wanted to test whether Matsu Takako also had this strange effect.
"It's nothing, I just feel it's not quite right for me yet." Kitahara Shin smiled and led the two women directly into the gun control zone at the back of the store.
In Japan, gun control is very strict, but hunters with valid hunting licenses are allowed to handle and use hunting rifles in designated areas and under the guidance of a guide. Given Kitahara Shin's current financial resources and social status, obtaining all the necessary permits for armed hunting would be a simple matter of having his secretary, Mukoda, make a few phone calls. Of course, he was the only one in the entire group authorized to fire a gun.
In the shooting range area, Kitahara Shin picked out a well-made double-barreled shotgun, then turned and picked up a high-precision tactical binocular from the shelf next to him, casually handing it to Matsu Takako.
"Could you get this for me?" Kitahara Shin said.
Matsu Takako obediently took the binoculars, and although she had some doubts, she still held them obediently in her hands.
After a while, Kitahara Shin reached out and took the binoculars back.
The moment he touched the object, a faint blue light immediately lit up Kitahara Shin's vision!
really!
The item panel appears: [Matsu Takako's Tactical Binoculars (Blue). Additional effects: Increases dynamic visual capture by 20%, and has a slight deterrent lock-on effect on medium to large wild animals.]
Looking at the blue armor that had been successfully enchanted and now bore the prefix "Matsu Takako" to its name, Kitahara Shin's lips curled into a satisfied smile. This effect would be a tremendous boost to his hunting trip in the mountains tomorrow.
Later, at the indoor live-fire range, Kitahara Shin picked up a shotgun and showed the two women beside him what a true sharpshooter was.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Deafening gunshots rang out one after another, and the moving target a hundred meters away was almost always a perfect ten-ring shot. His movements were swift and his eyes were cold and stern. The strong masculine hormones emanating from him amidst the smoke of gunpowder made Nanako's eyes sparkle with admiration, almost as if stars were appearing in them.
As Kitahara Shin deftly removed the spent cartridges, he secretly pondered that if the intimidating effect of this batch of enchanted equipment were added, it would be hard to say who would be the prey if they really encountered a wild bear in the snow forest tomorrow.
We returned to our hotel suite that evening.
As soon as she entered, Nanako excitedly grabbed Akina and Rie, gesturing wildly as she praised Kitahara Shin's heroic performance at the shooting range that afternoon, practically portraying him as an omnipotent super agent.
After hearing this, Rie Miyazawa frowned slightly and looked at Nobuki Kitahara with some concern: "Your marksmanship is accurate, but you're going hunting deep in the mountains tomorrow. I've heard the wild animals there are very wild. Isn't it too dangerous?"
"Oh, Rie, you're overthinking it!" Nanako waved her hand with a look of blind self-admiration, her tone firm and unwavering. "With the teacher around, there won't be any problems. We can just follow him and play without worry!"
Seeing Nanako's completely captivated expression, everyone smiled knowingly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the living room, Matsu Takako was cooperating with Kitahara Shin in doing something rather strange, with a puzzled expression on her face.
Kitahara Shin handed Matsu Takako one item after another: non-slip boots, tactical gloves, goggles, and even a compass, which would be needed for tomorrow's hunting trip.
"Touch it once, then give it back to me," Kitahara Shin said in a serious tone.
"Huh? Oh————" Although Matsu Takako had no idea what kind of mysterious ritual this was, she still obediently did it, playing with each piece of equipment in her hands for a while before handing it back.
As Kitahara Shin took it, he reviewed the system's feedback in his mind, finding it increasingly unbelievable.
He discovered that Matsu Takako's success rate in "enchanting" equipment was ridiculously high! After she touched ten ordinary pieces of equipment, six of them actually emitted light. Although most of them were green equipment, two of them were blue equipment.
The probability of this was far beyond his imagination. Although the gifts that Rie Miyazawa, Akina Nakamori, and Nanako had given him before were often extremely rare "purple equipment" once they were successfully enchanted, and the attached attributes were incredibly powerful, those situations usually required a great deal of emotional investment as a trigger.
Matsu Takako's special ability to mass-produce blue and green equipment simply by "touching" it is truly amazing. What he finds even more interesting is that every piece of equipment she has touched has its name prefixed with "Matsu Takako's".
Looking at the pile of equipment shimmering with a faint light before him, Kitahara Shin stroked his chin. He had a vague feeling that he hadn't fully grasped the deeper mechanisms behind this system and these "beauty equipment." There were definitely more interesting and unknown gameplay elements hidden within.
However, with Matsu Takako as our human enchanting machine, tomorrow's snowfield hunt is sure to be very exciting.
On the third day after arriving in Hokkaido, the group split up into two groups.
Akina and Rie stayed in Sapporo city to buy local specialties.
Meanwhile, Kitahara Shin, along with Nanako, Izumi, and Matsu Takako, officially entered the snow-covered mountain hunting grounds under the guidance of a local experienced guide hunter.
Before heading into the mountains, the guide solemnly explained the ironclad rules of winter hunting in Hokkaido: the rampant Ezo deer can be legally hunted, but if you encounter protected wild animals, even if they attack, you can only retreat or use a specially made tranquilizer gun.
Despite the numerous rules, Kitahara Shin not only had all the necessary documents, but he also memorized several legal provisions after hearing them only once. His fluent and composed answers impressed even the director.
Their feet crunched on the thick, knee-deep snow. All around them was a dense, primeval pine forest, their breath freezing in the sub-zero air. Although the three women were bundled up in thick winter clothes, the chill of the deep mountains and the oppressive feeling of the raw, natural world still sent shivers down their spines.
However, looking at the broad back of the man walking at the front, steadily holding a double-barreled shotgun, the women felt an unparalleled sense of security.
Soon, with the help of Matsu Takako's tactical binoculars enchanted with "Intimidate and Visual Capture," they spotted a large, robust Ezo deer gnawing on tree bark on a sunny snow slope.
Kitahara Shin lowered his body, his movements swift and decisive. Pulling the bolt, cocking the gun, aiming—all in a single, almost instantaneous motion. "Bang!" The muffled gunshot shattered the deathly silence of the snowy forest, and the distant Ezo deer fell to the ground, killed instantly.
Just as the guide excitedly stepped forward, ready to handle this rich trophy, a sudden change occurred!
The bushes not far to the right suddenly shook violently, accompanied by heavy breathing. A huge adult wild boar, covered with black stubble, was stimulated by the strong smell of blood and its eyes turned red as it rushed out!
This wild boar weighed at least two or three hundred pounds, with protruding tusks. It possessed a strong sense of territory and fierce wildness, and charged towards the crowd with its head down.
The sudden turn of events terrified the three women, and Nanako even nearly collapsed onto the snow because her legs went weak.
Even the guide, who was used to working in the mountains, turned pale with fright and immediately shouted, "Watch out! Get out of the way!" He immediately raised his hunting rifle, assumed a fighting stance, and stood in front of everyone.
At that critical moment, Kitahara Shin's eyes instantly turned icy. He didn't retreat a single step; instead, he took a sudden step forward, shielding the three women behind him with his body. Facing the raging beast so close at hand, he was like a precise, emotionless machine, raising his double-barreled shotgun once more.
"Bang!"
A deafening gunshot rang out in the snowy forest. The ferocious wild boar, less than five meters from Kitahara Shin, exploded in a spray of blood on its head. Its massive body, propelled by inertia, slashed a deep furrow in the snow before crashing to its knees at his feet, twitching twice before dying completely.
The entire snow-covered forest was deathly silent, with only wisps of white smoke rising from the muzzles of the hunting rifles.
Director Xiang immediately lowered the raised gun and quickly surveyed his surroundings. He looked at the dead wild boar, then at Kitahara Shin, who had calmly lowered his gun, and swallowed hard. "Mr. Kitahara, your marksmanship and composure—are truly remarkable."
Even those of us who spend most of our lives in the mountains can easily lose our aim when faced with a wild boar charging wildly. Your shot just now was brilliant!
Nanako, Izumi, and Matsu Takako, standing behind him, watched Kitahara Shin's tall and straight back, their hearts pounding wildly for a long time.
The intense masculine hormones and absolute control he exuded in that instant completely captivated them.
As evening fell, the group returned to their hotel suites safely, carrying a sumptuous feast of prepared wild game.
As soon as you open the door, a rich aroma of food and the warmth of the heating hit you.
In the spacious open kitchen of the suite, Akina and Rie were busy chatting and laughing, wearing home aprons.
Akina used to be completely unskilled in cooking, but after Kitahara Shin shared the effects of the "chef's knife" with its special properties with her, her culinary skills improved by leaps and bounds.
Nowadays, cooking has become a way for Akina to relax and enjoy herself, and she can turn all kinds of ingredients into top-notch dishes that are perfect in color, aroma and taste.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Kitahara Shin shed the chill of the wind and snow, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
He walked over quietly, and to everyone's surprise, he naturally stretched out his arms and hugged Rie, who was chopping vegetables, and Akina, who was simmering soup, from behind at the same time.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Kitahara Shin said softly, then turned his head and kissed Rie's fair cheek hard, followed by a kiss on Akina's cheek.
The sudden intimate gesture made the two unsuspecting women blush instantly.
Rie Miyazawa, displaying her haughty nature, symbolically twisted her slender waist in an attempt to break free, and said coquettishly, "What are you doing! You're still covered in snow water, and everyone's watching—" But her hands, which were originally chopping vegetables, honestly didn't push him away forcefully; instead, they softened.
Akina leaned gently against his chest, her cheeks slightly flushed, a sweet smile lingering in her eyes, and asked softly, "How did the hunt go today? Did you encounter any danger?"
Standing not far away, Matsu Takako, who had just taken off her winter coat, blushed instantly at the uninhibited and bubbly scene of intimacy before her. She didn't know what to do with her hands and feet and could only pretend to be adjusting her shoes.
However, her heart was racing, and a rather bold thought unconsciously flashed through her mind: since she had chosen to stay by this man's side, she would definitely have to get used to this warm and harmonious family scene with women on both sides.
This relaxing vacation in Hokkaido came to a perfect end with a very warm dinner.
The holiday ended, and I returned to Tokyo. It was just the beginning of 1997.
Kitahara Shin immediately abandoned his vacation laziness and secretly summoned Sasaki to his office to begin arranging initial plans in response to the impending Asian financial crisis.
Thanks to the early warning system's sandbox, the Southeast Asian sector has already flashed a glaring red high-risk signal. Unusual fund movements by international financial giants like Soros are beginning to emerge.
But Kitahara Nobu knew very well that this kind of super financial war involving the exchange rates of multiple countries was definitely not something that could be decided overnight. This was a long and protracted war that was destined to last throughout 1997 and even extend into the following year.
Therefore, what he needs to do now is not to blindly go all in, but to secretly "build positions" and "set up firewalls".
Kitahara Shin directly allocated an initial $200 billion in overseas working capital to Sasaki. He then had Sasaki personally lead a team to register hundreds of offshore shell funds with multiple layers of cross-shareholding in the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands.
Subsequently, this two billion US dollars was broken down into smaller amounts, like drops of water flowing into the ocean, and began to be released in batches in the foreign exchange market.
Quietly establishing an initial short position in Thai Railways. At the same time, to prevent the storm from affecting mainland Japan in the later stages, Kitahara Shin also allocated some funds to set up a reverse hedging defense on Nikkei index futures, protecting all the real economy industries under the Kitahara Group that rely on foreign trade.
"This initial investment of two billion US dollars will most likely generate unrealized profits in the coming months as Soros and his team make their initial forays into the Southeast Asian market. A conservative estimate is that we can reap a return of three to four hundred million US dollars in the first phase," Kitahara Shin calmly instructed Sasaki, sitting in his boss's chair. "But this is just an appetizer. This is destined to be a long-term battle. Continue to reinvest all the initial profits into the cash pool. You just need to keep a close eye on exchange rate fluctuations overseas with your team and await my next instructions."
Sasagi nodded solemnly, took the thick, top-secret operational plan, and left.
After handing over the core financial investment work to others, Kitahara Shin became a hands-off manager.
He is a leader who knows how to delegate. Financial warfare requires patience and time to develop slowly. As long as he follows the warnings in the trading platform step by step, the final victory will naturally fall into his hands.
For Kitahara Shin, his true main job and enjoyment in 1997 was still making movies.
Judging by the timeline, the finished film of "The Investigator" has already been sent to Europe, and its participation in major overseas film festivals is fast approaching; while in Hong Kong, the script polishing and core casting of "Infernal Affairs" are also approaching the crucial moment of finalizing its release date.
The tumultuous year of 1997, which belonged to Kitahara Shin, had only just begun.
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