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Pollution.

It’s literally pollution.

The water quality in parts of Tokyo has mixed with mushrooms and acquired harmful components, leading to mild heat sensations, discomfort, abdominal pain, and intense hunger when consumed.

It wasn’t a deadly poison, but it was enough to cause inconvenience to people.

The feature of this mushroom was that it didn’t actually harm the consumer. While it did raise one’s temperature slightly, it didn’t elevate it enough to cause protein mutations or physical abnormalities, and though there might be a slight lethargy and headaches, it didn’t leave any lasting effects. The tightness in the chest was merely an annoyance during breathing, causing no real issues.

In fact, there were cases where the bronchial tubes improved once the effects of the mushroom wore off.

Abdominal pain and intense hunger were similar. Generally speaking, it caused abdominal pain and possibly severe stomach cramps, but nothing beyond that. The mushroom’s components would stick to the stomach lining, strengthening it, preventing serious damage from almost anything consumed, and at times even temporarily enhancing the digestive system. So, even if one ate something they shouldn’t have, they’d be fine.

When distinguishing between poison and medicine, this mushroom leaned more towards the medicine side.

But if it were just a medicinal effect, Jinseong wouldn’t use it.

This mushroom had two deadly side effects.

One was the intense hunger.

Even amidst suffering, one would feel an unbearable level of hunger, akin to what you’d feel after days of starvation, making it almost feel like you were struck with ravenous cravings.

Naturally, such an appetite would render daily life nearly impossible.

And the other was the strengthening of parasites.

This mushroom enhanced the digestive system while simultaneously boosting any organisms that were already parasitizing the body. It amped up the nutrients available to the parasites, making them grow and reproduce easily, and if they found themselves in an energy-rich environment, there was a slim chance they could even absorb a trace of energy, thereby making them resistant to typical medications.

Of course, this slight enhancement meant that it wouldn’t take much to kill the little buggers with just two pills of medicine, but still.

But that was the crux of the matter, wasn’t it?

Slightly stronger than usual meant they could remain in the host’s body without detection, quietly siphoning nutrients away.

“Let’s see… what’s going to happen…”

Jinseong opened his third eye and gazed far towards Japan.

In his vision, the scenery of Tokyo was vividly visible.

People were hurriedly grabbing goods from the supermarket.

And patients were pouring into hospitals to the point of overflowing.

* * *

“What the hell! What on earth is happening? What is going on?!”

The Prime Minister was utterly bewildered.

He couldn’t understand the situation at all, where misfortune seemed to coalesce into a solid form and swarm in.

It was unfortunate.

Like shit, it was unfortunate.

“It’s not like Amaterasu is angry, so why are so many strange things happening lately….”

The Prime Minister muttered in lament.

Recently, there had been a spate of unfortunate events in Japan.

Landslides were happening, the Yatadoarangkryu were threatening politicians, and it turned out those guys were actually evil creatures that gained strength through sacrifices, exposing it to the world, while peculiar politicians aggregated to threaten the Prime Minister’s faction…

Truly, shit was hitting the fan at all hours.

Was that all?

No, it didn’t end there.

In Korea, an imperial relic was discovered, and crazy capable people went to steal it, only to be caught. There was speculation that the Emperor might be involved, though nothing but gut feelings to support it.

Diplomats had been dying one after the other, and it was in such a blatant manner that it seemed like they were testing Japan’s patience.

And just yesterday, a bomb terror incident occurred at the Korean embassy in Japan.

“Oh, Amaterasu…”

All of this didn’t unfold over a long period.

Just when it seemed they had grasped the situation and could sigh in relief, it would blow up, blow up, and then blow up again.

Such a miserable string of events, indeed.

“…it has been confirmed that the water quality in Minato Ward has been polluted following the terror incident. Unknown substances have been detected in both tap water and underground water, and symptoms of poisoning are evident in those who have consumed it…”

Click!

The Prime Minister ground his teeth as he read the report that came to him.

He simply couldn’t read it with a sane mind.

“What is going on? What in the world is happening….”

Bomb terror.

The Korean embassy in Japan had exploded.

While the bomb’s power wasn’t strong enough to completely obliterate the embassy, the aftermath was a different story.

After what was presumed to be a homemade bomb detonated, the embassy caught fire, and no amount of water could put it out. The flames raged on despite the firefighters’ efforts, charred the entire embassy black, and the heat and embers remained, preventing any entry.

The only fortunate point was that the flames didn’t spread beyond the embassy.

Thanks to Japan’s knowledge of responding to fires, it was fortunate that they were facing a catastrophe that wouldn’t have seemed out of place to call a major fire if it were any other country. The threat and intensity of the flames that consumed the embassy were indeed fierce.

Another relief was that no embassy staff had died.

Many were injured, but all were at a level that wouldn’t jeopardize their lives.

It wasn’t even likely to leave lasting disabilities, so it could be said that they weren’t in a position to be held accountable.

‘They shouldn’t get caught. Those bastards who made our diplomats die one after another…’

Instead, Japan could make a bold proclamation.

“You Koreans may have killed our diplomats, but we saved your diplomats from an accident and sent them back unharmed.”

That could be said.

Yes.

They could have made such a declaration… if only the culprits hadn’t bombed the embassy while shouting “Long live His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘…the identities of those individuals have yet to be identified. An investigation is currently underway to the best of our ability…’

Even the identities of those two remained undisclosed.

They couldn’t find anyone matching their descriptions after scouring all foreigners who entered Japan, and they still hadn’t identified any Japanese residents in Tokyo matching their profiles. Due to this, a nationwide investigation was taking place, but there was no telling when this “nationwide investigation” would conclude.

Japan’s competent police force would eventually find them…

But whether that “eventually” would be days or months from now was anyone’s guess.

“Time, we need time…”

The Prime Minister’s complexion turned pale as he skimmed through the report again.

His face was a picture filled with all the worries and troubles of the world, while his white hair seemed to have grown even whiter, likely due to stress. His hair, reminiscent of a beast’s fur, had become so brittle that it fell out from the roots, wafting down to the floor and showcasing signs of baldness, while the wrinkles on his forehead deepened. Moreover, it seemed as if concerns and worries were clinging heavily to those wrinkles.

All of this was due to stress.

The Prime Minister’s face appeared to have aged ten years overnight, as if it had faced the full force of life’s tempests, and the tips of his fingers began to tremble. The mental strain was beginning to manifest physically.

“Time…”

No matter how many times he read the details in the report, no solution emerged.

To wrangle through this damned affair, time was essential.

Time to negotiate with Korea, investigate the terrorists, and to explain to the public.

With just a little time, even a few months… even just a few weeks, he could manage to handle this somehow.

If he had just that little time, he wouldn’t have to publicly apologize, nor would he face any threat to his life. His political career would continue uninterrupted. They could stem any declines in safety ratings or public order assessments that this ass of a terror incident would produce, and minimize the damages incurred.

Yes.

Just time.

Just time.

Time…

“…There’s no time…”

The Prime Minister muttered in a voice thick with emotion.

“Damn it, what kind of poison have they unleashed? What even is this…?”

He clenched the report tightly, his voice tinged with tears.

The report he held contained information about symptoms of poisoning observed in certain areas of Tokyo.

The richest district in Japan, often referred to as a haven flourishing with power holders, Minato Ward.

Alongside Minato Ward, the commercial district known for its prosperity, Shibuya Ward where the Meiji Shrine is located.

Also known for being affluent, Meguro Ward.

…

…

…

It was confirmed that water quality pollution centered around Minato Ward, and incidents of poisoning were rampant in their affluent neighborhoods. People flocked to supermarkets and grocery stores as if there were riots, stockpiling food and even resorting to violence and robbery, with serious incidents occurring. Moreover, taking advantage of the chaos, theft and robbery incidents spiked significantly.

It was a horrific display that was hard to believe from a peace-loving ethnicity.

“The safest and cleanest tap water in the world is….”

A madness stemming from insatiable hunger and fear.

That insanity was gradually spreading.

 

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