Chapter 1958 – 1958. Let’S Get This Party Started
A national emergency.
That was no exaggeration. Terrorists had illegally occupied one of Japan’s islands and suddenly declared independence. The 30,000 residents of Kahashima were practically hostages. Because it was an island, it was difficult to move troops in and invade recklessly. The Japanese government and the Hunter Association were facing the worst-case scenario.
Moreover, the current high-ranking Japanese officials were anxious. They were worried that Kahashima’s independence might spread to other citizens.
Currently, there was a lot of discontent in Japan. For 30 years, economic growth had stagnated while prices were rising sharply. The public’s dissatisfaction was gradually building up.
The number of citizens supporting Baekrim was also increasing over time. There was a growing anxiety that Baekrim might start with Kahashima and lead to the division of Japan.
However, they wanted to resolve the Kahashima situation as soon as possible. By any means necessary. Even if it meant a considerable number of casualties, they could never recognize the independence of a local city and had to stop it.
So, as soon as the Japanese government and the Hunter Association heard that Baekrim had occupied Kahashima, they called in Japan’s S-Class Hunters.
However, Japan’s S-Class Hunters were uncooperative.
“It’s not like Baekrim is massacring ordinary citizens… Didn’t they call it New Japan? It’s still Japan, so what’s the problem? It’s not serious enough for me to get involved.”
Most of the Japanese S-Class Hunters had similar reactions. They dismissed it as not serious enough for them to get involved. The Japanese government and the Hunter Association had no choice but to back down.
In the past, the government had tried to force S-Class Hunters to comply. They tried to exploit their weaknesses and manipulate them as they pleased. And that S-Class Hunter had defected to Baekrim and became a terrorist. They realized that trying to handle S-Class Hunters carelessly could backfire.
The government also went to see Amatsuka Koyori. She was a Japanese S-Class Hunter, a miko of the Fuka Shrine, and the master of the Wind God Guild.
She was also a young hunter who had recently become an S-Class. As such, she was relatively cooperative with the Japanese government and the Hunter Association. Of course, that was only compared to other S-Class Hunters. Unlike Han Ah-young, she had become an S-Class Hunter and remained secluded in the Fuka Shrine, using her position as a miko.
“All matters in Japan are decided by the Wind God. The Wind God has not given me any instructions. I must train to receive the Wind God’s will that will come down someday.”
“Amatsuka-nim! If this continues, Kahashima will really become independent! In the worst case, Japan could be divided! Please do not turn a blind eye to Japan’s crisis!”
“If Japan is divided, that is also the will of the Wind God.”
“If the Wind God wants the destruction of Japan! Will Amatsuka-nim accept it as it is?!”
“Of course. Because that is fate. I don’t feel any reverence for the Wind God from you. Leave the shrine immediately. And know that if you ever set foot in the Fuka Shrine again, I won’t stand idly by.”
Koyori said, raising her energy. The high-ranking official, overwhelmed by the energy of the S-Class Hunter, had to leave the Fuka Shrine with a pale face.
“Damn it. I heard that the S-Class Hunters in Korea are relatively cooperative… What’s wrong with Japan’s S-Class Hunters? They all lack patriotism! If only they were half as good as Han Ah-young…”
Even if they were frustrated, there was nothing they could do.
At that moment, Amatsuka Koyori’s smartphone vibrated. Someone had sent a message. A message from an unknown sender.
-It is the Wind God. Help the sister Han Ah-young. Make sure they do not die.
Amatsuka Koyori narrowed her brow.
“This is absurd. How dare they impersonate the Wind God?”
The Wind God appeared through her body to convey his will. There was never a time when he conveyed his will through messages like this. Amatsuka Koyori, who usually did not get angry, felt enraged and stood up. The most suspicious culprit for doing this was the Japanese government. It had been less than five minutes since the rude high-ranking official had left the shrine, which made it even more likely.
“I can’t let this go. I will make them pay the price!”
Just as she was determined to storm the Japanese government, another message arrived.
Amatsuka Koyori’s eyes widened in an instant.
-Do as you’re told. Boob Miko.
“It’s the Wind God!”
The tone was close to a curse, filled with annoyance. It was definitely the Wind God’s tone.
Vrrrr!
A third message followed.
-You can take the prayer beads out of your butthole.
“Yes, Wind God! Everything is as the Wind God wills!”
She immediately took out the prayer beads that were inside her butthole.
“Haaahhh!”
• • •
Kahashima, which was receiving the attention and concern of the world, was relatively peaceful inside, unlike the fuss outside.
Kahashima was a small area that Baekrim had been working on for a long time. Although it was an island with a population of only 30,000, it had a well-established infrastructure to the point that it could be called a small city, and Baekrim had been deeply involved in its development. It was already information that most of the residents of Kahashima knew.
Even if Baekrim openly operated in Kahashima, no one said anything.
“Baekrim is more trustworthy than the Japanese government.”
“What has the government ever done for us? They just collect taxes and don’t do anything. During the last typhoon, our neighborhood was without power for two whole months!”
“Even when we expressed our complaints, it was only briefly mentioned on the news. And the only support we got was a bunch of paper crane trash.”
The hearts of the Japanese people. Paper cranes. The residents who saw a truck full of them during the disaster were even more despairing.
“It’s better this way. A capable and fair artificial intelligence is more trustworthy than incompetent politicians.”
“Does this mean we won’t be discriminated against anymore?”
“I hope all the public officials who play with my taxes are punished and sent to prison.”
It was not difficult for Hase and the Machine Emperor to settle in.
And the week was peaceful. Although the Japanese mainland was planning to enter Kahashima, eliminate the Machine Emperor, and kill Hase, the residents didn’t care. It wasn’t like trade with the Japanese mainland had been cut off. They could just live their lives as usual. However, a little anxiety was growing among the residents.
Clank, clank!
Machine samurai patrolled the city as if they were on patrol. The residents couldn’t help but feel nervous. They were robots that could massacre dozens of ordinary people in an instant. It was inevitable that they would be wary of them.
It was then. The machine samurai’s eyes turned red, and they suddenly ran and chased after a man who had suddenly appeared from an alleyway and grabbed him.
“Aaaah! L-let me go!”
“Koetchi Ikumi. You are under arrest for illegal dumping.”
“I didn’t dump it! A receipt just fell out of my pocket!”
“Then why didn’t you pick it up right away?”
“I didn’t know! I didn’t know it fell!!”
“No. You knew. According to the laws of New Japan, illegal dumping is a fine of 10,000 yen. Please pay within a week.”
“10,000 yen?! Just for a receipt falling out of my pocket?! Don’t make me laugh!!”
“You didn’t drop it, you dumped it.”
“Do you have proof? Do you have proof?!”
“Yes, it was recorded on a nearby camera.”
“Do you know who my uncle is? He’s a lawyer! Do you think I’ll just stand by and let this ridiculous thing happen?!”
“There are no lawyers in New Japan. You have broken the law, and you must pay the price. No matter how minor the crime, a crime is a crime. There must be no crime in New Japan.”
“You damn tin can!”
The Japanese residents who saw the scene looked away.
Didn’t that man break the law first? He said that the receipt came out of his pocket, not that he dumped it? There’s even video evidence? It’s that guy’s fault for breaking the law.
Vroooom!
It was then.
A truck was speeding recklessly down the road nearby. Two machine samurai were clinging to the truck, struggling to stop the machine.
“Nishishiba Jushiro! Stop immediately! Your crimes are increasing even now!”
“If you do not reduce the speed of the truck within the next 5 seconds, we will take action!”
“Shut up!! Is it fair to suspend my license just for speeding?! If my license is suspended, I’ll have no way to make a living! I’m going to get out of this damn island! Get out of my way!!”
“Nishishiba Jushiro. Speeding is not the problem. You are currently drunk.”
“It’s not even a can of beer, it’s just a sip! Can’t I even have a sip?!”
“No, you cannot. According to the laws of New Japan, drunk driving results in immediate license suspension and two years in prison.”
“Eat shit!!!”
The driver became even more enraged at the machine samurai’s calm words.
“We will subdue you for the safety of the citizens.”
The machine samurai smashed the truck. The sturdy truck was helpless against their steel fists and was destroyed. They grabbed the speeding truck, forcibly stopped it, tore off the door, and dragged the driver out. In the process, the driver’s right arm was torn off, but the machine samurai emotionlessly said what they had to say.
“The Machine Emperor judges according to the laws of New Japan. Considering that there were no casualties, we sentence you to 40 years in prison.”
“At, at my age, 40 years is like telling me to die…”
“The law is absolute.”
Then an ambulance arrived, picked up the driver, and left.
This kind of thing happened all over the city. The Machine Emperor did not let any illegal act, no matter how minor, go unpunished. If you smoked on the street, you were fined, and if you disobeyed, you were arrested. The existing public officials were no exception. In fact, it was even worse for them.
“Two years ago, you received a bribe from a merchant of the Hana Merchant Association.”
“I, I just received some mackerel!”
“In return, you ignored the order and quickly processed the merchant’s work. Am I wrong?”
“That’s… I just wanted to do that work first! It was two years ago! Is it fair to give me 5 years in prison for something like that?!”
“No matter how minor the crime, the sin does not disappear.”
“Damn it! He was my friend’s father! I just did him a favor, why are you doing this?!”
“Was the price of selling your conscience sweet?”
“It was salty, you bastard!”
• • •
I ordered the Machine Emperor to install a monitor in front of me, where I was sealed. Thanks to that, I could use Cheon-an to see what the Machine Emperor was doing.
‘Is this the New Japan that he wants? A country by the law? Amazing.’
In order to be fair and just, there needed to be a standard. He set that standard as the law. It was so extreme that people were complaining, but he didn’t even bat an eye.
“In the end, it’s just a matter of not breaking the law. We must not show leniency for even the smallest things. That is the beginning of equality. Someday, people will realize it.”
He praised the Machine Emperor for doing a good job.
I couldn’t understand him, but I just watched and waited for an opportunity. I had a plan of my own.
‘I’ll betray him when he needs the Machine Emperor’s power the most. Originally, I was going to find his weakness and kill him… but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll seal him.’
I don’t know anything about sealing techniques. So I called an expert. Amatsuka Koyori. Japan’s S-Class Hunter miko and Japan’s best onmyoji. The reason I told her to help Han Ah-young was because I knew that Han Ah-young wouldn’t just leave quietly even if I sent her a message.
‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It’s written in the Code of Hammurabi. Let’s do it by the law.’
