Chapter 406: Japan in Chaos

The sun had already set when Koizumi who was working at the residence jumped at the sound of gunfire nearby.

“W-what’s going on?”

What could be causing such sounds near the Prime Minister’s residence?

Koizumi moved his trembling hand to press the intercom trying to assess the situation.

But before he could finish dialing the office door burst open and his secretary rushed in.

“Prime Minister! Emergency! Attackers have assaulted the residence!”

“W-what did you say?”

“We need to get you to safety immediately.”

Koizumi stood there dumbfounded unable to process the situation.

What madman would dare attack the Prime Minister’s residence?

“Prime Minister! Prime Minister! Please snap out of it sir!”

“Hah… hah…”

Only after the secretary called out several times did Koizumi finally regain his senses.

Taking a deep breath Koizumi rose from his seat.

“What’s the situation?”

“They haven’t breached the residence yet but it looks like they’ll break through soon.”

“What? Our security forces are being pushed back? That’s impossible!”

Koizumi shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

“Who is it! What lunatic would do this!”

“We haven’t identified them yet. The Ground Self-Defense Forces stationed nearby are coming to assist. For now Prime Minister we need to ensure your safety…”

“Are you telling me to turn tail and run? Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting?”

The moment he left the Prime Minister’s residence it would be over for him.

The unprecedented situation of a nation’s leader fleeing – even if he survived this he’d never maintain his position as Prime Minister.

“I’m heading to the underground bunker.”

“Prime Minister that location isn’t safe either.”

“Enough. You said the Self-Defense Forces are coming right?”

Ignoring his secretary’s protests Koizumi began fiddling with the bookshelf in his office.

A moment later the bookshelf split apart revealing a hidden steel door behind it.

When Koizumi entered the passcode the thick steel door swung open.

“Get in.”

Relying on dim lighting they descended deep underground until they reached a spacious area.

He searched his memory for the light switch.

When he flipped it the space lit up brightly.

“Let’s head to the conference room.”

Koizumi stood before the largest of several doors and entered another passcode.

The heavy steel door opened with a groan. Once seated in the conference room Koizumi addressed his secretary.

“Let’s have some coffee.”

The secretary nodded at Koizumi’s seemingly composed demeanor and entered a small room adjacent to the conference room.

However Koizumi hadn’t actually regained his composure.

“Damn it! Who could it be? The Dae Dong-hui? No it can’t be. Daigo Tadashige is dead. Where the hell did that bastard Araki disappear to? Ah! Kim Mu-hyeok you idiot! How could you let Araki slip away? Damn it damn it!”

Left alone he began cursing and showing signs of anxiety.

His legs trembling Koizumi now started grinding his teeth.

“No no that’s not it. Who could take down Daigo Tadashige in one go? That person did well. Now it’s time to show my abilities to show who I really am. Yes that’s right!”

Muttering ominously Koizumi picked up the phone. After a few rings the call connected.

“This is Prime Minister Koizumi. I don’t care if the residence crumbles – kill them all! Deploy tanks whatever it takes just crush them!”

A manic gleam appeared in Koizumi’s eyes.

Even the secretary returning with coffee flinched at that look…

* * *

The news broadcast switched to the press conference room where a statement would be delivered.

Koizumi hadn’t appeared yet.

― Please wait a moment. The Prime Minister will be here shortly.

The voices of numerous reporters could be heard while the official in charge wiped sweat from his brow trying to calm them.

The sudden military action in Japan had left the Prime Minister’s residence partially destroyed.

A national symbol had fallen. This event shocked not just the Japanese people but the entire world.

It was only natural for foreign correspondents to have questions.

― This isn’t something I can comment on. The Prime Minister will address your questions after delivering his statement.

Reporters wouldn’t be reporters if they backed down so easily. Despite the officials’ best efforts to contain them the journalists continued their noisy clamoring.

Unlike domestic reporters who could be controlled by force the officials were powerless against the foreign press corps.

― We apologize we apologize. Please wait just a moment. The Prime Minister will be here soon.

The officials repeated the same phrases like parrots while the reporters continued their uproar.

“What a mess.”

Lee Chan-jong nodded at my comment.

“At least Prime Minister Koizumi appears to be safe. If he’d died in that chaos not just Japan but all of East Asia would have fallen into turmoil.”

“True. Now that they’ve suppressed the coup I’m curious to see how Koizumi will act.”

I wondered what moves Koizumi would make next focusing intently on the news.

― The Prime Minister is entering.

At the official’s announcement camera flashes erupted simultaneously.

Koizumi walked slowly with a stern expression not even flinching at the lights.

After taking his position on the platform he stood silently observing the reporters for a while.

Suddenly he bowed deeply in apology. Rising again Koizumi stepped up to the podium.

― Citizens of Japan I am Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro. Yesterday we experienced a devastating incident.

Koizumi began calmly explaining the overview of the incident.

― Though we’ve suppressed the rebels the damage is beyond words. The Prime Minister’s residence lies half-destroyed and our pride has been shattered. I cannot forgive them. Nor can I forgive those who share their ideals.

Koizumi’s hardline statements began.

― I will now explain about an organization that has been operating in Japan’s shadows. I speak of the group known as Dae Dong-hui.

My eyes widened. He was willing to reveal information that could potentially expose his own weaknesses.

Koizumi had officially brought Dae Dong-hui which had been operating in the shadows into the light.

― Dae Dong-hui is an organization that dreams of returning to the past. A return to militarism! A return to imperialism! They are the dark forces behind all of this.

A bomb bigger than the one dropped on Hiroshima had just fallen in the heart of Tokyo.

“Boss Koizumi’s making a bold move.”

I nodded at Lee Chan-jong’s words while trying to hide my shock.

“Indeed. I didn’t expect this either.”

No matter how angry he was I never thought he’d openly expose Dae Dong-hui.

I’d assumed he’d handle things quietly but he’d completely defied my expectations.

― We will release the names of all Dae Dong-hui members to every media outlet. Everyone will know who they are and what they’ve done.

Koizumi fixed the cameras with a determined gaze.

― I will never submit to them. I will not stand idly by while Japan regresses to its past. My dear citizens please watch me. I ask you. Please trust in me once more.

Koizumi stepped back from the podium bowed deeply again then continued.

― Among the members of the House of Representatives the House of Councillors the chaebols who control our economy and even among long-serving bureaucrats there are Dae Dong-hui members. Their agents had infiltrated our cabinet as well. Yesterday’s tragedy and the deaths that resulted were the consequence. The Prime Minister’s residence was destroyed. This is Japan’s reality. Citizens I ask you to believe in me and follow my lead.

I caught a glimpse of madness flickering in Koizumi’s eyes.

“…He’s changed.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Let’s keep watching.”

― Japan must change now. We must transform our faction-ridden politics and break free from the past. We can’t allow such organizations to corrupt Japan any longer. Citizens please help me.

Koizumi kept repeating himself. He painted Dae Dong-hui as evil and himself as good.

To my eyes they were all the same but the public would likely see it differently.

Finally Koizumi concluded his statement.

― You may now ask your questions.

Koizumi pointed to one of the reporters with raised hands.

― Hello Prime Minister. Sam Klien from the Washington Post.

After introducing himself the reporter immediately asked his question.

― Are you saying this Dae Dong-hui organization orchestrated this military action? If so who’s the mastermind? What exactly happened?

Though Sam fired multiple questions at once Koizumi answered calmly and methodically.

― I’ll answer one at a time. Yes Dae Dong-hui was behind this incident. The leader of Dae Dong-hui was Daigo Tadashige. He’s already dead killed in the recent Yakuza uprising.

Damn he’s exposing that too? He fearlessly revealed even Daigo Tadashige.

― The person who directly ordered this military action was Inamoto Junichi former Joint Staff Chief of the Ground Self-Defense Forces and the perpetrator who attacked the Prime Minister’s residence under his orders was First Lieutenant Colonel Arimoto Eiji commander of the special forces. Other key facilities including the National Assembly were also attacked.

After about an hour of questions and answers with reporters Koizumi wrapped up the session.

― That will be all for now. We’ll send compiled information to each media outlet. Please I beg you. Share everything with the public exactly as it is.

I turned off the TV after watching Koizumi bow one final time.

I closed my eyes and reflected on Koizumi’s statement.

‘This is an unexpected situation…’

Though unexpected I had no intention of just watching.

I needed to steer events in a direction that would benefit me.

When I opened my eyes again I’d sorted through all my thoughts.

“Director Lee have all remaining personnel focus on Japan. I want daily morning reports covering government movements financial sector activities bureaucratic actions as well as media and civilian group activities.”

“Yes I’ll handle it.”

“I can’t tell yet if this situation will help or hurt us. But it could be an opportunity. The longer Japan remains in chaos the better our chances might become.”

The small stone I’d thrown had created massive ripples. Even I couldn’t predict what would happen next.

After all my memories of the future were completely useless in this situation.

“We should meet with Koizumi first and then decide our next move. It’s a bit difficult now, so let’s schedule it for next week.”

“Boss, entering Japan now is dangerous. We haven’t confirmed Araki’s location, and there might still be remnants loyal to the Dae Dong-hui.”

Manager Ma’s concerns were valid. I decided to partially accept his opinion.

“Alright, let’s wait and see how the situation develops before making a decision.”

“Understood, sir.”

“By the way, Koizumi seems to have changed a lot. He wasn’t the type to seek solutions like this before…”

The madness I saw in Koizumi’s eyes still troubled me.

Several days passed.

Kim Hak-gwon appeared quite shocked by the coup in Japan.

There was a growing sentiment that what happened in Japan could also occur in Korea.

He began properly investigating the military clique generals he had previously dismissed from their posts.

Additionally, an investigation into field-grade officers was launched.

A storm swept through the Korean military.

If the purge during the previous president’s term was just a passing breeze, this time Kim Hak-gwon, armed with justification, began his sword dance in earnest.

The media widely reported on the existence of a second private organization within Korea.

“The ghosts of Hanahoe are resurrecting.”

The military clique incident that broke out before the presidential election threw the political situation into chaos.

The Conservative Party faced the risk of annihilation once again, while the Progressive Party seized the momentum to criticize both the Conservative and Moderate parties.

“As expected, Choi Seon-man’s name is missing.”

I put down the newspaper I was reading and picked up the phone on the table, fiddling with it.

As I pressed the speed dial, a calm classical melody played.

The call connected before the music could play more than a few times.

– Boss Kim.

“Yes, Chairman. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

It was time to deal with the traitors who had turned against Yoon Chang-ho.