My role ends here
As Prime Minister Koizumi entered the press conference room, the waiting reporters were busy pressing their camera shutters.
- My fellow citizens.
Koizumi bowed briefly and raised his head. His face was filled with sorrow.
― Our Chief Cabinet Secretary, Representative Hiroyuki, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
Koizumi briefly explained the incident and then moved on.
― This terrorism is a challenge to public authority and an attack on our cabinet. I will use all the powers I have to track down the perpetrators of this incident and bring them to justice.
He read the manuscript in a sorrowful voice and gave a long speech.
"They are responding quite strongly."
I stared intently at Koizumi on TV.
The tone of voice and the look in his eyes filled with sadness, as well as his posture as he spoke directly to the camera, were all calculated actions.
If you didn't know, you would have thought that Koizumi was truly mourning Hiroyuki's death because his acting was so good.
Koizumi's speech has ended.
But Koizumi did not go down right away, but had a question-and-answer session with reporters.
The first reporter to be pointed to Koizumi asked a question.
― Prime Minister. Do you know why Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki was at that restaurant at that time?
- I don't know.
― I know that the restaurant is a secret restaurant owned by the yakuza organization Yamaguchi-gumi, and is a place where politicians and businessmen meet secretly. It's a place you can't even get into without a membership. But why on earth was Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki there? Why was he there, at that time? And why was he found dead there?
Koizumi hesitated for a moment before answering the question that cut to the heart of the matter.
― I knew that such a restaurant existed. But there is still no result as to why the Chief Cabinet Secretary went there.
Although Koizumi gave a general answer, the reporter seemed unwilling to stop.
― According to reports received by our media outlet, one of the two people found dead with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki is the second-in-command of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Do you have anything to say about this?
The reporter's question was suspiciously detailed. I turned my head and asked Director Ma.
"Sir, you haven't reported this to the press yet?"
"Yes, boss. Not yet."
The information had not yet been provided to the press.
I intended to pass on the information when they had fully stretched their imaginations and their curiosity was at its peak.
It was because they wanted the end of this situation to be directed towards the Japanese sect of the Heavenly Church.
However, Koizumi opposed this situation from spreading to the point of becoming a cult.
The religious issue was a very complex one, especially in Japan.
Japan has already experienced the Aum Shinrikyo terrorist attack.
Now that there are still many politicians who believe in religion, if the issue of the Church of Heaven were to arise again, I couldn't even guess how far the repercussions would spread.
That doesn't mean I have any intention of leaving the Japanese Church of Heavenly Church alone.
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It was also part of my plan to keep the firewood flowing by passing information to the press.
- Nothing has been confirmed yet.
― But this is clearly against the Prime Minister's policy. The Chief Cabinet Secretary, the second-highest ranking official in the current cabinet, had a secret meeting with the second-ranking head of a yakuza organization. I don't know what it was about, but it's the exact opposite of the Prime Minister's repeated statements about driving out organized crime from Japan!
As the reporter continued to point out, Koizumi did not hide his discomfort.
- What kind of answer would you like to hear?
- If that's true, what are you going to do? Are you going to investigate Yamaguchi-gumi?
That reporter asked this question with a plan.
It seemed like he already knew to some extent that Koizumi and the Yamaguchi-gumi had connections.
― I have already given instructions to the Metropolitan Police Department to begin a search and seizure of the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters.
The reporter who asked the question and the reporters nearby were also in an uproar.
In response, Koizumi spoke in an even stronger tone.
― I will never compromise with any violence. I left the Yamaguchi-gumi alone because they accepted my policies and stopped their violence. I repeat, I have no relationship with them.
The reporter who had asked a question about Koizumi's firm words kept his mouth shut.
Since then, several reporters have asked questions, but only general answers have been given.
- I'll end it here.
The moderator quickly ended the press conference, and Koizumi left the venue.
- Prime Minister! Prime Minister!
The reporters desperately called the Prime Minister, but he did not return.
The announcer's face appeared on the screen again. He explained the situation at the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters, saying it was an emergency report.
There was no video, only subtitles and the announcer's words explaining the situation.
Just then, my cell phone rang.
"Yes, Prime Minister."
- Mr. Kim.
As soon as the speech was over, Prime Minister Koizumi called.
"I enjoyed your speech. You prepared well."
- Have you already leaked the information to the press?
Despite my praise, Koizumi immediately got to the point in a serious voice.
"Not yet."
― We have thoroughly controlled the scene. However, the Yomiuri has already identified all of the individuals.
Look at this? Koizumi was suspicious of me.
"I told you that I haven't handed over any information yet. Isn't it possible that there are spies from the media in the Metropolitan Police Agency, not me?"
―······.
"And if I had handed it over, it would have been accurate information, not inference. So don't catch that person and question him, and proceed as planned."
―······I will believe you.
Contrary to his words of trust, his words were full of distrust.
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But it didn't matter whether he suspected it or not. There was something else that mattered.
"How did you hear about the field report?"
― As planned, I plan to make it seem like Hiroyuki was hit by a grenade during a fight between yakuza.
"We've set up the scene like that, so there shouldn't be any major problems. If we dig deep, we might not find anything strange, but we don't plan on investigating for too long, do we?"
- That's true. They said he killed him cleanly in one blow.
His voice was so cold that it was hard to believe that he was the type of person who would be so heartbroken when he made his speech.
He displayed a dry attitude, as if he had no feelings even though his enemy was dead.
"It was a bit tangled, but I cleaned it up neatly. It wouldn't be good if there were any traces of unnecessary resistance."
― I plan to shake up Yamaguchi-gumi this time. Originally, I was planning to just give them a little trouble······. Now that the reporters have caught wind of it, I think I need to take a more aggressive approach.
"You can do whatever you want, but Yamamoto is absolutely not allowed. If you want to capture Yamamoto, it would be better to kill him."
― Of course. We can't arrest Yamamoto. If we do, the yakuza might start acting up again. But we'll do it to the extent that they'll be afraid of the public authorities to some extent.
Since I scared him so much this time, Yamamoto will probably do as I say for a while.
So, if you leave Yamamoto alone, anything will do.
"Let's do that."
― I heard that next week, Korea will send a diplomatic delegation to discuss the 7th block issue. They will also bring board members from two oil companies, one Russian and one American. Do you plan to attend?
"No. My role ends here. I don't think I should be involved in the rest of the problem. I think I should be doing something else."
This was an opportunity to cleanly organize the two religious groups in Korea and Japan.
― What are you planning to do in our homeland······.
"People won't die anymore. So don't be so sensitive."
- Well, then.
"But if you say I'm not here and don't go through with our agreement and change your words, then you'll see me as your enemy."
- I know. I'm not that stupid.
It was just after I saw with my own eyes what happened to the person who got on my nerves.
Koizumi will probably be quiet for a while too.
"When people's attention is focused on Hiroyuki's death, resolve the 7th Block and North Korea issues quickly. That way, you can minimize the backlash."
- I'll take care of it. Then let's contact each other again.
Koizumi hung up the phone first.
I scoffed as I put down my dead phone.
"Koizumi has made up his mind."
"It seems so, Boss. Judging by your unusual movements, I think you have no intention of ever raising a rival like Hiroyuki again."
"I don't know how long I will be in power, but while I am in power, I will never create any more enemies. If I just let my enemies grow, I am just that kind of politician."
Just then, a hastily scheduled program appeared on the TV screen.
In broadcasts analyzing Prime Minister Koizumi's speeches, only words praising his achievements poured out.
* * *
The moment when Japan was turned upside down.
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The Church of Heaven, which had lost its owner, was quickly taken over by Kim Seon-ja.
"Lord! Please hold poor Hyun-soo in your arms······."
Kim Sun-ja, the woman who created the Church of Heaven with Han Seong-jin and Han Hyeon-su's biological mother.
She was now truly rejoicing over Han Hyun-soo's death.
Although no one was sure if Han Hyun-soo was dead, Kim Sun-ja knew that Han Hyun-soo was dead.
Han Seong-jin was captured and she attempted to take control of the Church of Heaven.
But Han Hyun-soo moved one step ahead of her, and she was pushed away.
Kim Sun-ja waited in the Holy Land, consulting with the Japanese religious leaders. She knew the greed of the Japanese religious groups better than anyone else, and she incited them from behind the scenes.
"amen!"
Kim Sun-ja cried out loud. Tears flowed down her cheeks, which had become plump from the Botox injections.
Many of the believers gathered in the chapel saw her tears and also shed tears.
All they could see was the tears of a mother who had lost her son.
No one knew Kim Seon-ja's dark intentions.
"amen!"
"amen!!"
Believers shouted 'Amen' following Kim Sun-ja.
Kim Seon-ja opened her mouth, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction at the sight.
"My husband and Messiah, President Han Sung-jin, was humiliated by unbelievers, and my son and the second leader, Han Hyun-soo, is now unknown in Japan. I believe that all of this is a trial that God has given us. Our faith is······."
The worship service led by Kim Sun-ja began.
The believers bowed their heads and clasped their hands together.
Only her voice echoed through the chapel.
The two men standing at the very back of the chapel watched the scene for a while before leaving.
"Brother. Are you going to just let your mother eat this?"
The two men who came out of the chapel were Han Hyeon-jin and Han Hyeon-woo.
Han Hyun-jin snorted at Han Hyun-woo's question.
"You're a competitor too, you punk. Don't act like we're friends."
"Brother. If we keep going like this, you and I will end up like duck eggs in the Nakdong River. Let's not do that and first kick out mother, and then divide it between you and me. If we keep going like this, there will really be no place for us to stand."
Han Hyun-soo took control of the church, and the two brothers were completely excluded from the Church of Heaven.
In particular, Han Hyun-jin, who was a powerful future leader, was banned from all outside activities and had to report wherever he went.
As if remembering that moment, Han Hyun-jin gritted his teeth and said.
"That can't be. Do you have any good ideas?"
Han Hyun-woo nodded with a bitter smile.
"I have evidence that my mother is behind this disappearance of Hyun-soo."
Han Hyun-jin asked back in surprise.
"What? Is that true?"
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Han Hyun-woo nodded.
"Oh. Hyunsoo is no longer of this world."
"······Are you saying he died?"
"Then. We won't be able to find the body either?"
By chance, Han Hyun-woo was able to hear a secret conversation between his mother and the Japanese church.
I found out all about her plans and recorded it all.
"Will the believers elect the mother as the next leader even after knowing that she was involved in Hyun-soo's death?"
"That can't be true."
Han Hyun-jin shook his head and looked at Han Hyun-woo with a suspicious look.
"But why are you revealing that to me? If you reveal it, you'll have the upper hand."
"Brother. We're brothers. We can share it, so why does one person have to eat it all? And······. Your support base is better than mine. The pastors like you more, too."
When Han Hyun-woo spoke honestly, Han Hyun-jin spoke with some of her doubts dispelled.
"Okay. Show me some evidence first. Then we can talk again."
Han Hyun-woo laughed brightly at Han Hyun-jin's words and then took him to where the recording file was.
There was a cold, harsh reality there, with mothers eating their sons and sons joining hands to eat their mothers.
< My role ends here >
< It's a mess here too, it's spicy >