Chapter 152
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“President?”
“Ah.”
“Are you alright? I called you several times but you didn’t respond.”
I snapped back from my dazed state.
‘Was that just now a gunshot?’
At first, I thought it was a gunshot, but thinking about it again now, it might not have been.
How to describe it.
It felt more like fireworks, perhaps.
But seeing how something chilling and strongly red brushed past, it seemed like something unusual was about to happen.
“About Japan.”
“Yes, President.”
“Does Japan have a severe gun problem?”
“Guns…?”
“Yes. I was wondering if they smuggle a lot of guns because of the yakuza there.”
The Vice President tilted his head.
Even I thought it was a strange question.
“Both Japan and Korea are countries very sensitive about firearms. In fact, Japan has tracked down and confiscated all guns smuggled by the yakuza. If a gun problem arises, it’s likely not just the police but the counter-terrorism headquarters and even the military would move.”
“So guns are generally left untouched?”
“Yes. Also, both Korean gangsters and Japanese yakuza have lost much of their former influence due to continued government crackdowns.”
In our country too, when gun incidents happen, they’re mostly things that occurred in the military.
Japan also reportedly has almost no gun incidents within cities.
‘Then was that really not a gunshot but something else…?’
I thought about touching former Prime Minister Dobe’s profile again, but I didn’t want to feel such terrible emotions again, so I just left it.
Those who haven’t experienced it wouldn’t know.
Every time images, sounds, and a series of emotions like this flash by, cold sweat covers my whole body and it feels like all my strength drains away.
“By the way, President. Why are you suddenly asking about that………………”
“Ah. Just curious. Anyway, so it’s safe to say gun incidents almost never happen within Japanese cities.”
“Yes. Like in our country.”
Then that was fine.
And although my intuition showed me something strange, it seemed positive about this investment.
“Please convey to Japan. If these are the conditions, I’ll invest generously.”
“Yes. But……they want a brilliant strategy from us to reverse approval ratings, don’t they? What do we do about that?”
“Even people who’ve grown old in political circles haven’t found a way—how would we know? So let’s leave that part out and just send a positive signal for now.”
“Yes. Then I suppose we shouldn’t expect too much.”
“Still, just in case, please prepare for investment at the group level. And look into in detail what fields would be good to enter in Japan right now.”
“Yes, President.”
As the Vice President said, I didn’t have high expectations.
The reason the LDP was putting forward such extraordinary conditions was to seek advice from us.
A brilliant strategy that could reverse the currently trailing approval ratings.
But how could we, who know nothing about politics, provide that?
“Right now, it seems like it’d be hard to reverse approval ratings even if something happens.”
They say you never know what’ll happen in the world, but this time, it looked difficult for the LDP to beat the opposition.
***
“Did we get a response from Gwangwoon?”
“Yes. They say they’re positively accepting our conditions.”
“Then did they also convey a strategy for us to beat the opposition?”
The LDP leadership members’ eyes sparkled.
If Gwangwoon accepted the proposal, didn’t that mean they gave them what they wanted?
“Well. There was nothing about that.”
“What? No, what do you mean there was nothing about that?”
“Exactly as I said. Only the response that they’re positively accepting our conditions and will begin preparing for investment—nothing else.”
“Did we perhaps convey the message wrong?”
“We clearly stated our position. That we need help to overcome the crisis facing our LDP.”
And yet they accepted only those extraordinary conditions without mentioning any plan for that?
“Isn’t this basically trying to get a free meal?”
“Exactly. How much do they look down on us that……!”
The leadership members who felt mocked were getting angry.
Prime Minister Yoshida calmed them down.
“Everyone, no need to get angry.”
“But Prime Minister. Gwangwoon is trying to only accept the conditions we offered, isn’t it?”
“They know too. That for our conditions to be fulfilled, our LDP must win the election.”
“Then could it be……..”
“It’s one of two things. Either they’re not telling us what the exact plan is, or they really have no plan at all.”
Only then did they understand somewhat.
That Gwangwoon accepted this proposal could mean they were formulating a plan.
“So let’s wait and see. They might contact us again soon. If they really have no plan, won’t these conditions naturally disappear?”
“What if they really reverse the approval ratings?”
“That……!”
Prime Minister Yoshida paused for a moment.
Honestly, sending such conditions to Gwangwoon was a grasping-at-straws mentality.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t see a way to reverse this situation.
Would Gwangwoon be any different?
But what if they really pull it off?
Then the Japanese government would have to accept all those tremendous conditions.
“Well, let’s think about that when we get there. As everyone knows, it’s realistically difficult to accept all those conditions, isn’t it? We can pretend to accept and stall for time.”
It surely wouldn’t happen, but if Gwangwoon really helped break through this crisis, they planned to accept only a few of the initial conditions and stall on the rest.
Accepting all of it would be no different from making Japan Gwangwoon’s underling.
“So we just have to wait quietly until Gwangwoon gives us some hint?”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you know where our former Prime Minister Dobe has been going yesterday, today, and will go tomorrow? All across Japanese cities. He’s personally working the ground to raise even a little more of our LDP’s approval ratings. That man is out there working so hard—should we just sit here?”
“Ah…….”
He meant don’t just sit here, get moving yourselves.
“Everyone get moving to get even one more vote. Victory can never be obtained for free.”
***
Former Prime Minister Dobe, who was traveling to campaign areas, had his ears open everywhere even though he was far away.
“Tch. I told them they should absolutely never extend their hand to Gwangwoon.”
Dobe laughed at the foolish leadership.
Extending a hand to those who put Japan in this state? Are they sane?
Gwangwoon even sent a response that seemed to be mocking the LDP.
In truth, they had nothing to lose.
“Those guys are probably going to make a new deal with the opposition if the LDP suffers a crushing defeat in this election.”
Dobe knew too.
That no matter what they did, it would be hard to reverse approval ratings.
Gwangwoon probably knew that too, which is why they were acting that way.
“But you never know. A miracle might happen. That’s why I keep going out to campaign.”
“Prime Minister. But aren’t you wearing a bulletproof vest again today?”
“Bulletproof vest?”
At the security chief’s words, Dobe burst out laughing.
“What bulletproof vest in a country without guns? Besides, I have to meet citizens and shake hands, and wearing such a thick bulletproof vest would actually have a negative effect. And do you know how hot the weather is outside right now? I’d collapse from heatstroke walking around in that.”
If this were America, maybe.
Japan was a country safe from firearms.
“Above all, aren’t you all protecting me? If something happens, block it right away.”
“Yes, don’t worry about that.”
Guns aside, the summer weather right now was murderous.
If he campaigned in a bulletproof vest on a day like this, he’d definitely collapse.
“Then let’s go.”
Dobe felt responsible for the LDP’s approval ratings falling this much.
If only he hadn’t attacked Korea back then, if only he hadn’t provoked Gwangwoon, the LDP would have easily won the election.
But now Japan was crumbling. The LDP was crumbling together with it.
That’s why they had to save it.
If they revived this party, they could set Japan right again.
Even if the odds looked bad, you never know with elections. If they moved forward hoping for a miracle, there was belief that they could definitely win.
“Please believe in our party just one more time. We will definitely restore this country to its former glory!”
Just as he was shouting in front of citizens,
BANG!
Startled by the sound of fireworks going off behind him, Dobe looked around.
“What was that just now?”
Was it fireworks set off as a prank?
That thought lasted only a moment.
“….?”
Someone was hurling curses at him.
Frowning, he turned his head, and there stood a man holding a gun.
Aiming right at Dobe.
“Wh-what!”
BANG!
He had no time to dodge in his shock.
The bullet fired from the gun barrel struck Dobe directly.
***
“H-how did this even happen?! A gunshot wound!”
The LDP leadership rushed to the hospital where Dobe had been transported.
The Prime Minister had canceled all his schedules and was rushing over.
“Apparently some guy shot former Prime Minister Dobe out of personal grudge.”
“I know that, I heard already. But weren’t bodyguards spread out everywhere? And they couldn’t stop one shot? Does this make any sense?”
“It happened so suddenly, and they apparently never imagined anyone would aim a gun at former Prime Minister Dobe.”
Even so, they were bodyguards protecting a former Prime Minister who had represented a nation.
And they couldn’t stop a mere civilian, one who fired a crude gun made with a 3D printer?
“And didn’t the assailant miss the first shot?”
When the first bullet missed, the assailant aimed at Dobe again after a few seconds and fired.
It was a short time, but none of the bodyguards, whose top priority should have been protecting Dobe’s person, moved.
“They said they initially thought it was fireworks going off and didn’t overreact, but…………”
Prime Minister Yoshida couldn’t shake his suspicion.
They only select Japan’s best bodyguards to protect Prime Ministers—how could they make such a mistake!
“So, what’s former Prime Minister Dobe’s condition?”
“They’re doing everything they can, but they told us to prepare ourselves mentally.”
Yoshida squeezed his eyes shut.
This was a tragedy.
How could a former Prime Minister of Japan be shot?
This was a national disgrace.
“But Prime Minister. I know this is extremely delicate to say right now, but…………… this might actually be our opportunity.”
“What?”
“First, we declare a national emergency response, and if former Prime Minister Dobe passes away, we immediately hold a grand state funeral. So that everyone’s attention is focused. And we must firmly show our resolve that we will never tolerate such violent incidents.”
“Are you saying we should frame the opposition as the culprit?”
“Yes. We paint it as if the opposition, who feared former Prime Minister Dobe’s influence, orchestrated this. The election is only a few days away anyway. If we stall and delay the investigation just until next week while creating conspiracy theories to damage the opposition’s image, our LDP might be able to pull off a reversal.”
Here with former Prime Minister Dobe hovering between life and death, the cabinet members were seeing this as an opportunity instead.
What terrible people.
But Yoshida, who was listening, was also a politician to his bones.
“I thought there was absolutely no way for the LDP to win……..”
Was there always a way out even when the sky crumbles?
“Let’s do it. First declare the emergency response, and I’ll prepare to release a statement.”
“Yes. We’ll also prepare countermeasures at the party level.”
No one was worried about Dobe’s condition.
They were actually hoping he would pass away like this.
Because his death would be the only way to save the LDP.
“But wait. About this shooting incident. What grudge made the culprit do such a thing?”
“That’s still under investigation. I hear it might be related to some cult, but it’s not confirmed.”
“Could this….. possibly be connected to Gwangwoon?”
“!?”
Those who were about to move quickly all flinched at those words.
“This happened after Gwangwoon said they’d accept our proposal. A brilliant strategy that we said would never happen—a way for the LDP to reverse approval ratings—has appeared.”
“P-Prime Minister. Does that mean Gwangwoon did this to former Prime Minister Dobe………!”
“Does it make sense that elite bodyguards couldn’t stop one shot like that? And out of nowhere, some random civilian shows up with a gun and targets the Prime Minister? Does this really seem like coincidence?”
It was hard to believe that a civilian shot and killed Dobe despite bodyguards being present.
Such an unbelievable thing happened after contact with Gwangwoon.
Not a single person here believed this was some incredible coincidence.
“Then what should we do…………”
“What do you mean what do we do—like it or not, an opportunity has been created. The last chance to reverse this election. For now, we have no choice but to seize this opportunity. We’ll think about what comes next after we win the election.”
The leadership members all nodded at the Prime Minister’s words.
They never thought the situation would be reversed this way, but for now, they needed to save the party.
“………”
After quickly sending them off, Prime Minister Yoshida’s hands and feet began to tremble.
Dobe was about to die.
Whose fault was this?
Was it Gwangwoon’s fault for killing Japan’s former Prime Minister?
Or was it the LDP’s fault for proposing a deal to the devil called Gwangwoon first?
The devil had moved as contracted.
But what would happen if they couldn’t give what was promised?
“………”
Prime Minister Yoshida’s throat went dry as he swallowed.
If you made a contract with the devil, you’d have to pay the appropriate price.
Even if it meant making this nation an eternal underling.
<End of Chapter 152>