---

On the other hand, the Japanese Government seemed to be losing its mind.

“What on earth happened? I only instructed them to send a destroyer to show off our armed force, not to go this far!”

Of course, it was only natural.

The destroyer that was merely sent for a display ended up crashing headlong into Dokdo and ran aground. Moreover, the Dokdo Coast Guard fought to the death!

There’s no way this can be packaged as an ‘accident.’

A soldier invaded another nation’s territory and killed that nation’s soldiers?

That’s grounds for war, equivalent to a declaration of hostilities.

There’s no need to dig through history.

Even in modern times, if such an incident were to occur, they would likely lash out with pointed words and fully mobilize their troops to the borders. And if communication still failed there, a declaration of war would follow!

“And what’s this? A ghost? What the hell does that even mean?!”

What’s driving them even crazier was the existence of the ghost.

A military force going off on its own and attacking soldiers of another country?

That shouldn’t happen, but it hasn’t been impossible due to precedent.

After all, during the Empire of Japan, one of the three great nuisances, Mutaguchi Renya, recklessly attacked China, which triggered the Second Sino-Japanese War.

If you think about it, an extreme right individual could lead an impulsive attack, or external influences from other factions could provoke extreme actions.

However… a ghost?

It wasn’t the Self-Defense Force member who attacked and killed but a ghost did it!

What kind of nonsensical nonsense is this?!

I absolutely cannot understand why a ghost would even show up!

“No matter how I think about it, this is utterly ridiculous. Suddenly a water ghost appears in the Japan Sea, killing both Self-Defense Force members and coast guards? Is this something that could just happen by coincidence?”

The Prime Minister was certain.

There was no way it was a coincidence.

It simply couldn’t be!

“That water ghost was the one that used to just skulk around the shores near North Korea. And even then, it couldn’t venture far because of the exorcism facilities that Korea poured money into. Plus, do you even know how diligently Korea monitors that ghost? And we’re also keeping a close watch on the eastern part of North Korea! So suddenly a bunch of evil spirits is showing up in the Japan Sea? They broke through the exorcism facilities set up by Korea, slipped past Korean surveillance, and our monitoring system, just to pop up in the Japan Sea? Is this truly a coincidence?!”

No matter how much chaos the world sees, if this is deemed coincidence, then it’s downright too much.

“Speak the truth. Who are the culprits behind this?”

Whether it’s divine punishment from above, or the foolish act of a person.

Someone’s intention was certainly involved!

And naturally, it couldn’t have been God who orchestrated this, meaning the culprit must be human.

“Tell me, who has had the audacity to do something as ridiculous as this?”

The strongest suspects were the extreme right factions.

Those who scream at every chance that Korea needs to be punished.

Those who don’t hold back glorifying the Empire of Japan, despite having never experienced a war themselves, acting like they are destined military geniuses.

They are way too obsessed with Korea, making one suspect them of being dark, pro-Korea forces!

“I’m saying this right now, don’t think you can just shut your mouths and slip away quietly. The fact that you created such a mess and take no responsibility for it is absolutely unacceptable.”

The Prime Minister spoke with a horrifying expression, more ferocious than the usual mask of a friendly politician.

“Cover the stinky things with a lid? Sure. Not a bad idea. It could have been possible.”

He paused for a moment, then took out a newspaper and threw it down.

Then he ground his teeth so fiercely it could almost be heard.

“Until these damn articles came out!”

『Korea’s negligence, the Japan Sea has turned into evil spirits.』

『Korea can’t even manage its own waters properly. A territorial redefinition needs to happen.』

『Self-Defense Force members who died in their prime. Korea must take responsibility for their deaths.』

These articles filled the front page as if they had captured an exclusive story.

The large headlines snatched the attention of onlookers, while the large photographs embedded in the newspaper drew gasps of astonishment.

“This is truly astonishing. If you are going to write about something like this, you should have at least shown it to the government first, but these garbage journalists just published it without a second thought. They just went ahead and threw it out there!”

Japanese journalists can operate anonymously.

Naturally, being anonymous allows them to be active and publish articles that barely scratch the surface of truth without a care. Since they hardly bear responsibility, notions of conscience or journalistic ethics are quite rare among them.

However, even such journalists fear power.

They well know that the thin veil of anonymity and journalistic duty can be easily stripped away in front of authority. For that reason, they avoid reporting sensitive issues related to politics whenever possible, and even if they do, they do so with caution in consideration of the powers-that-be. Even if it is a considerable issue at hand.

They won’t disregard that caution unless they are utterly confident that they have nothing to fear in the long run.

“Hehe, so you think my political life is finished, huh? Truly a bunch of arrogant and shameless bastards….”

The Prime Minister chuckled hollowly.

These damn journalists were currently betting on his downfall.

They predicted that his political life would end, resulting in him becoming paralyzed… or at the very least, reduced to a state resembling a vegetable, which allowed them to use this hot story without hesitation.

“Alright… that could be the case. So I’ll ask again. Who is responsible for dragging ghosts aboard the destroyer and creating such a filthy situation?”

“….”

“….”

“….”

“Everyone’s keeping their mouths shut…. Huh. This is so frustrating to witness. All of you, get out!”

The Prime Minister’s anger surged as he watched those power holders acting jumpy and anxious as if they cared what others thought.

He barely suppressed his rising rage and issued the order to dismiss them.

As for what he said was dismissal, it was nothing more than a euphemistic way of saying ‘get the hell out of my sight, you bastards.’

The Prime Minister glared at them until the last person left the room. Once they were all gone, he slumped down into his chair and hung his head.

“Damn these extreme right bastards, damn the extreme left… not one of these extremists is any good….”

The Prime Minister sighed, a voice tinged with tears.

He lamented and regretted.

“I shouldn’t have listened to the right-wing idiots… I shouldn’t have sent the destroyer…”

It was empty regret.

At that time, they had no choice but to send the destroyer.

There was a need to express the dissatisfaction brewing within Japan externally and to cover this dark atmosphere with ‘national pride.’

So even if he could turn back time, the Prime Minister would still have no choice but to send the destroyer.

Moreover.

What if he chose not to send the destroyer?

Wouldn’t something like this have happened anyway?

No.

A similar incident would surely have occurred.

The extreme right individuals known to the Prime Minister were exactly the type to seize upon this golden opportunity, capable of any outrageous act, no matter how foolish or nonsensical it seemed to common sense.

So whatever he said meant nothing.

It was merely a way to ease his conscience a little, a sort of complaint.

But even knowing that fact, the Prime Minister could not lift his head easily.

He continued to bow his head like someone filled with regret, closing his eyes as if struggling to gather himself.

When at last he raised his head after a long silence.

“…It can’t be helped.”

His eyes were gleaming.

That gleam was undeniably what could be termed madness.

“It’s already spilled water, like oil thrown into a fire.”

There’s no way to remedy this.

This situation cannot be reversed.

Bending down?

If he even slightly concedes to Korea, the citizens would rise in protest.

Dissatisfaction would erupt from within like a volcano and set the Prime Minister ablaze.

Negotiating with Korea?

It’s impossible now that lives have been lost.

The Dokdo Coast Guard has died, and the Self-Defense Force member has perished.

Negotiations won’t proceed easily.

Both sides quietly covering this up?

With articles like this exploding, that is also impossible.

With the internet having developed to this extent, such a thing could never happen and would just leave an explosive bomb to blow up in his face at some point in the future.

So, what’s the answer?

Should he shoulder all the responsibility to prevent war?

Is that the best option available to him?

No.

That’s not it.

Even if he stepped down and took the blame, it would be useless.

The new Prime Minister would certainly lean towards the extreme right.

Following the surging public will, the common sentiment.

So the new Prime Minister would nonchalantly provoke war.

If that happens, his personal sacrifice of taking on responsibility would be in vain.

No, he’d be treated like a fool and ridiculed.

Certainly, that would be the case.

So what would be the best option?

What choice should he make?

“Yeah… I’ll have to go all the way to the end.”

The Prime Minister agonized and finally made his choice.

The best path.

To protect his political life and his power.

A choice that provides an opportunity for revenge against those bastards who caused such chaos using the power he managed to retain.

The Prime Minister picked up the phone and issued commands.

“…Send the Maritime Self-Defense Force to Takeshima. We’ll claim it’s for searching for the Self-Defense Force members inside the grounded destroyer.”

In his tone lay.

“Even if Korea warns us or tries to stop us, we’ll just push through. And once we succeed in entering…. We’ll settle in and occupy it.”

Madness seeped through.

 

---