Chapter 116: The Meeting at the Official Residence

Fangshi Can stared at the notebook before him with a gaze concealing murderous intent, using it to ease the pressure weighing on his heart.

To him, the Prime Minister was the wisest and most capable man in the country—the only one with the ability to defy the consensus, turn back the tide, and sever the chains binding Japan.

And these people from the Liberal Democratic Party? Every one of them had been born into some aristocratic clan, old family, or political dynasty. The only reason they had risen to their present positions was the accumulated wealth and inherited influence of their forebears.

Yet their actual talents were pitifully meager. They were nothing more than blind kings, arrogantly ruling over tiny kingdoms of their own imagination.

Otherwise, how could they have been driven from power and reduced to an opposition party by the Social Democratic Party under the Prime Minister’s leadership, despite their obvious political foundations and financial advantages?

What was more, they knew nothing of how much the Prime Minister had done to plan this undertaking, nor how much effort and painstaking labor he had devoted behind the scenes to saving Japan’s future.

Fangshi Can had watched him attend meetings without sleep for days and nights on end, accepting invitations to banquets and speaking with one social notable after another in order to forge a consensus.

He had also watched the Prime Minister empty an entire large wooden crate of documents, examining every file from beginning to end in that office.

And after beginning his cooperation with Ito Mio, the Prime Minister had repeatedly made the arduous journey to the small building near the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, despite the dignity of his position as head of state, merely to help Ito Mio remain calmer and persuade her to stay inside instead of embarking on further killing sprees.

…

Something suddenly brushed across his consciousness, like an inconspicuous pebble catching beneath his foot. Fangshi Can sensed that something was wrong.

But as his thoughts continued to spread outward, that faint discomfort was promptly forgotten.

At that very moment, the Prime Minister addressed the Liberal Democratic Party grandees in a broad, resolute voice that nonetheless retained its courage and vigor:

“I understand your concerns. But when all is said and done, the most important point is this: you believe that even if we truly rely on that superhuman and escape America’s shackles to become an independent and powerful nation, our Social Democratic Party will still be the greatest beneficiary. As for your Liberal Democratic Party, you fear that you will only be pushed further to the margins.”

His words left the room silent for a moment. The others seemed to be searching for something with which to refute him, but the Prime Minister had already continued:

“Parties naturally favor their own and attack their rivals. That is only to be expected. But at this critical juncture in our nation’s revival, I find it deeply regrettable that you remain so fixated on such petty divisions.”

“Hmph.”

Fujiwara Akio gave a cold snort.

“And what good does it do to dress up your words in such lofty language and make such grand declarations? This concerns the interests of hundreds of millions of people and more than ten trillion dollars. Do you really think that with a speech like this, we will simply surrender all room for negotiation and stand by while you, in the name of ‘reviving the nation,’ use that Blood Woman you have won over to become an even more terrifying monster of power than the old GHQ?

“Of course, if you offer us benefits substantial enough in exchange, we are willing to agree. You successfully brought that superhuman back to the side of the nation, did you not? Since she considers herself a citizen, why can she not make some contribution to the national interest? Perhaps donate a little blood—or skin, bone marrow, something of that sort—so that we can see whether there is any way to mass-produce superhumans.

“And besides… might there be a way to prolong the lives of old men like us, who have exhausted ourselves in the service of the nation? To restore our youth and preserve our health forever? If you can accomplish that, you would not even need to issue an order. The entire Liberal Democratic Party would dissolve and join your camp.”

“Fujiwara, I must remind you…”

“That superhuman is neither the Golden Cicada’s disciple nor a mermaid. She is not some helpless creature that can do nothing but let others carve up her flesh. Nor can her body grant anyone eternal life. On the contrary, after evaluation, she may well be the most dangerous strategic weapon in the world.

“The abilities she has displayed thus far include movement at more than a thousand meters per second, matching the speed of the fastest fighter aircraft; the instantaneous consumption of more than ten thousand people; destructive power comparable to a small nuclear bomb; and the ability to disguise herself so completely that she cannot be detected once she disappears into a crowd.

“Given enough time, she might even be capable of destroying the entire world. We have already exhausted most of our strength simply trying to bring her onto the same side as us and prevent her from carrying out further massacres. Why, then, have you developed the absurd delusion that you could easily control her and dismember her into a collection of miraculous elixirs?”

…

The meeting ended in complete disarray.

It was only natural.

The few Liberal Democratic Party politicians stormed out of the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. Not long after they left, however, the Prime Minister instructed Fangshi Can to prepare a car for the National Diet.

“The Diet session is about to begin. Have you forgotten?”

Seeing Fangshi Can’s puzzled expression, the Prime Minister explained with a smile.

“Ah, I am terribly sorry.”

Fangshi Can bowed. He wanted to slap himself on the head to show how remorseful he was. As the Cabinet Secretariat’s General Affairs and Security Secretary, he ought to have known the Prime Minister’s schedule and the dates of every important national meeting better than anyone. Yet now he had needed the Prime Minister himself to remind him to prepare the car. The shame was enough to make him want to disembowel himself.

“There is no need to blame yourself, Fangshi.”

The Prime Minister patted him consolingly on the shoulder, and together they left the official residence.

The small building in the distance was utterly inconspicuous, but the moment Fangshi Can raised his head, he noticed it.

Perhaps it was because of the Americans’ sudden use of their ghostly domain. Perhaps it was because the Liberal Democrats had shamelessly pressed forward step by step, disregarding the greater good. In an instant, several ideas surfaced in his mind.

“Prime Minister… regarding the recent events, perhaps we could… invite Miss Ito to make a brief appearance?

“Let the Americans experience the power of a superhuman once and for all… much as they did during the CUBA crisis?”

The Prime Minister glanced at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. Fangshi Can felt the back of his neck grow clammy.

“Fangshi, the power of a superhuman is far too great. We went to such lengths merely to keep Miss Ito settled inside that small building. Do you really want to place an unstable nuclear bomb, capable of detonating repeatedly, at the very center of the international situation?”

Those words caused Fangshi Can to bow deeply once more in shame.

But the Prime Minister made him straighten up again, then gently praised him in a soft voice beside his ear:

“Still… I greatly admire your courage in taking responsibility and acting decisively, Fangshi. Continue to offer your suggestions in the future. I have always welcomed open counsel. Your analogy was simply not quite appropriate. You should remember that in the crisis that took place in CUBA, America was still the victor.”

“Yes, sir!”

Fangshi Can straightened his body, his legs taut.

The Prime Minister nodded at him encouragingly, then turned and walked toward the vehicles waiting below the steps.

No one noticed that, at the instant he turned away, a faint red light flashed in his eyes.

Not even Fangshi Can noticed.

He was looking toward the small building. Behind it and slightly to one side, the Cherry-Star Flag of the Prime Minister of Japan fluttered atop its flagpole, waving in the building’s direction.

“…I hope today’s business in the Diet proceeds smoothly.”

He thought this silently to himself.

Then he boarded another car bound for the National Diet.

End of chapter