NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 99



Only Krnovel

Kyungsung Blues (7)

“Move quickly!”

“Put that box here, and hey! Why is a truck coming in here? Bring it to the entrance!”

“While monitoring the movements of the Korean Garrison Command… … .”

The Government-General of Korea was noisy.

Usually, it was so quiet that it felt a bit deserted, except for the special investigation team that was trying to catch the ghost of Gyeongseong, but today, everyone was running around like a calf with its tail on fire, giving off a bustling feeling.

‘It seems that Governor-General Saito is also troubled by various issues due to what happened in Japan.’

A battle situation that was almost like a civil war broke out in the middle of the Japanese mainland, right in the heart of the capital city, so any normal person would be at a loss.

Especially since the target of the battle right now is none other than the military that must protect the country, it is not worth mentioning how complicated the governor’s mind must be.

‘It is likely that the only armed force that can move at the discretion of the Governor-General is the police, as it is not even known to what extent the two army divisions currently stationed in Korea have connections with the Japanese mainland.’

This is just my guess, but Governor-General Saito is probably seriously considering whether or not to attack the headquarters of the Korean Garrison in Yongsan.

Since the situation on the mainland was unfolding unpredictably, if things went wrong, the army forces that were pushed back in the battle could move the garrison forces in Joseon to make Joseon a base, or even if that were not the case, they could try to get rid of Saito, who was from the navy.

‘But when it comes to actually moving, there are probably more than a few things to worry about because of the aftermath.’

If we assume that the Government-General of Korea mobilizes all police in Gyeongseong and Gyeonggi-do to attack the headquarters in Yongsan and the military bases in the surrounding areas, what are the chances that the police will be able to successfully subdue the military?

I don’t know the details, but I don’t think it’s very likely.

Of course, among the police, there were some who had served as military police during the previous military dictatorship, and they also had considerable experience from previous operations to suppress South Korea, so they had some ability, but after all, police are just police.

Even if the police fought the military, the result was obvious.

So, rather than taking immediate action, Governor-General Saito probably decided to fortify the Governor-General’s Office and major government offices and wait and see how things turned out.

“Phew… … .”

I glanced at the envelope in my inside pocket.

Right now, in my coat pocket, I have something that will completely blow away Governor-General Saito’s worries and solve the chaos unfolding in the Japanese archipelago.

And I’m going to show this to Governor Saito and ask for his help.

If you just listen to it like this, it’s not that difficult.

But the moment I show this document to Governor Saito, the Governor will ask me.

“Kuroda-kun, where did you get this?”

Then I would answer like this.

“I got it with the help of my local sources in China.”

Then, Governor Saito will look at me with a suspicious gaze and examine my face carefully.

“As an informant… … . Well, as the president of a newspaper company, it’s only natural that he would be sensitive to information.”

“Yes.”

Governor Saito smiled as he said so.

But judging by the slightly changed tone of voice and unusual behavior from a while ago, it seemed like he didn’t trust me.

“As you may know from the rumors floating around the streets, the situation in the home country is not very good right now.”

“I heard that the damage to Tokyo and its surrounding areas was severe due to the earthquake… … Is it really that serious?”

“It’s serious… … . Yes, it is serious.”

Governor Saito rose from his seat and walked around me in circles with a slow gait, as if he was spinning a wheel.

“The earthquake left not a single building intact on the streets of Tokyo, and people were trapped under the rubble.”

“Oh, like that.”

“In this situation, a typhoon that had just landed in the southern region slowly moved northward, pushing strong winds, causing the fires that had started from the earthquake to turn into a large fire that was engulfing Tokyo.”

“Oh my… … . There must be a lot of casualties.”

At the mention of casualties, Saito stopped dead in his tracks, then turned around and smiled.

“Sadly enough, I heard quite a few people died.”

“Oh my… … .”

“What’s even more terrifying is that in this national disaster situation, people who need help are dying because they don’t get help in time.”

“The earthquake must have caused buildings to collapse and roads to become a mess, making it difficult for rescue teams to move as they wish.”

Saito shook his head.

“Of course, there is a reason for that, as you say, but something more serious is happening in our country right now.”

“What is a serious incident…?”

“You know everything, so why are you pretending not to know?”

Governor-General Saito’s face was full of smiles, but there was a secretly murderous atmosphere.

But I smiled along with him as if I knew nothing.

“I don’t know what your Excellency the Governor is talking about.”

The smile disappeared from Governor Saito’s face and his expression quickly turned grave, and he urged me in an even heavier tone.

“Hey, Kuroda. I have been cherishing your loyalty to the Empire and have given you many benefits and gifts… … . But I never thought you would betray me like this.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I have already found out that you and the Joseon Garrison Command are in close contact and have been working together on several projects!”

As Governor Saito spoke, he picked up a wad of paper from his desk and threw it at me.

I couldn’t confirm what was written on the countless piles of paper fluttering in the air, but I guessed that it probably contained a story about some kind of deal made between Kuroda Kyuichi and the army.

“Now, the war-mad lunatics are throwing all the achievements of their predecessors to the ground in the name of protecting their own positions!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This all happened because of the article you contributed to the Chosun Ilbo!”

“Haha, that’s an exaggeration. How could a single piece of writing by a scholar move a great empire?”

“Really? Then what is this?”

Governor-General Saito then thrust the petition I had handed him earlier in front of my eyes.

“It’s strange, but all the people listed here are people I’ve met once or twice or at least heard of.”

“Is that so? That’s interesting.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but even though I’ve been pushed out of the mainstream of politics, I’m still someone who can play a senior role in politics, and yet I didn’t even know something like this was being made.”

“I’m glad you know now.”

Governor Saito asked me in a tone that seemed to barely contain his boiling anger.

“I won’t make it long, where did you get this? Did you steal it from the army guys? Or did you make up all of this stuff one by one!!!”

“As I said earlier… … .”

“A person who has never left Joseon territory since birth has an informant in China? Even a passing dog would laugh.”

“Isn’t there something mysterious and auspicious in this world that the Governor doesn’t know about? Isn’t this one of them?”

Governor Saito straightened his posture and asked me.

“I ask again, where did you get this?”

“I got it from my source in China.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Well, isn’t this something the Governor would like to believe to be false?”

“… … .”

Governor Saito’s eyes wavered slightly at my words.

If this petition is true, as I said, then this incident was not a random battle between the Army and Navy, but a well-planned coup.

Naturally, the latter situation was more serious than the former.

I spoke softly to Governor Saito, who had been pressing me like lightning just a moment ago but had closed his mouth, and calmed him down a little.

“Your Excellency, I am a man who is ready to give my life for my country at any time. And I am also one of those who are most heartbroken by what is happening in Japan now.”

“… … .”

This is not a lie.

I am a person who loves and cherishes my country (Republic of Korea) more than anyone else, but I am so frustrated with the mess that is unfolding in Tokyo right now, five minutes before it happens, that I feel like I am going crazy and going crazy.

“What if this petition here is real, and what if it was made up by someone else?”

“what?”

“Wouldn’t some external shock be needed to calm down the two armies in Tokyo that are going crazy right now?”

“Shocking?”

“Yes, it’s shocking.”

I picked up the petition that had fallen on the floor and placed it back on Governor-General Saito’s desk.

“I only gave you the means to resolve this matter because I thought Your Excellency the Governor was deeply troubled by matters at home. I have no other intentions.”

“… … .”

“Even if a swordsman chooses his sword, isn’t it true that the sword does not choose its master? I just hope that Your Majesty will swing this sword and cut down the traitors of the empire with one stroke.”

“… … .”

Governor Saito said nothing.

That means you’re worried about that much.

There is no way to know whether the petition in front of you is real or fake.

But even if you think about it a little, you can see that this will be a very important turning point in this incident.

“Your Majesty, as a warrior of the Empire of Japan, how can you stand by and watch while your country and your lord are in danger?”

“Quiet. I’m thinking about it right now.”

“You have to grab the opportunity when it’s right in front of you. If you keep thinking about this and that, it’ll be too late.”

“I told you to be quiet.”

“Cool reason is necessary for humans, but it can also pour cold water on moments when things should be heating up, causing us to lose time.”

The governor’s worries continued to deepen.

But don’t worry.

If Governor-General Saito had doubts about the authenticity of the petition or had any doubts about me, he wouldn’t have even thought about it.

The reason he is reacting like that is because he believes that the Yeonpanjang here, or at least Nana, is real.

Now there is only one thing I have to do.

Giving Governor Saito a gentle push from behind.

“Heroes are not heroes because they are braver than others. They are braver for five minutes longer when the time comes when ordinary people cannot.”

“As Ralph Waldo Emerson said.”

“You know.”

“… … I read his poetry collection in the United States.”

Courage is a realm of emotion.

Although Saito appears to have a certain level of cool-headedness compared to other Japanese people, he is also just a samurai born in medieval Japan and living in modern times.

And like other people, he was also a person who had the unique Japanese spirit represented by Bushido deep in his heart.

“If you are a true warrior, you should defeat your lifelong enemy, choose a place to die, and shed your blood to die.”

“… … .”

“Now is the time.”

Governor Saito hesitated for a moment, then returned to his desk and sat down in his chair.

Then he asked me with a face that seemed more tired than before.

“Phew… … . Kuroda.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I thought I knew what kind of person you were and that I was playing with you in my hands, but now I see that it wasn’t you but me who was playing in the Buddha’s palm.”

“We all are like that.”

“Even if this goes well, you will have no choice but to be investigated by us. Do you understand what I mean?”

Even if this goes well, the Army and Navy suffered great losses, so it is only natural that they would look for the person who messed up the situation.

Governor Saito is telling me that he cannot help me in such a situation.

“Of course.”

“And the same goes for me.”

Saito let out a deep sigh.

And then he muttered as if talking to himself.

“From now on, I will fight for a people’s government that is of the people, by the people, and responsible to the people.”

“It’s for a good cause.”

Governor Saito silently picked up the whiskey on the desk and poured it into a glass.

Then he swung his chair around, turned his back on me, and sipped his glass.

“This is the end for me with you.”

“That’s too bad.”

“I won’t ask you to spit out everything you’ve been given.”

“That’s fortunate.”

I quickly scanned the documents scattered on the floor while Governor Saito turned around.

Just checking to see if there’s any information that might be helpful to me.

“The Imperial Police will no longer protect you, so now you too are trapped by the ghost of Gyeongseong.”

“hmm.”

I am a body that is not free from myself.

That was a funny thing to say.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already made sure I have a way to make a living.”

“Is that so? I hope so.”

I snatched up a few documents from the scattered papers on the floor that were related to Kuroda Kyuichi’s place of origin.

They all seemed to be documents from the investigation team, but they all contained many unclear aspects compared to the known location of my birth, and many stories that didn’t make much sense.

‘It looks like it was just overlooked because it was buried under a pile of paperwork.’

Seeing Miwa’s net slowly closing in on Kuroda’s neck, it seemed like it was time to wash away his identity.

“Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.”

“Are you leaving?”

“yes.”

“If I go now, when will I see you again?”

“Won’t I see you when I die?”

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

Governor Saito held a glass of sake in one hand and gestured for me to come with the other.

I gave him a quick pat on the back of the head and left the governor’s office.

It is unclear what will happen in the future, but this may provide some measure of calm to the runaway army and navy.

‘Now that we’ve bought some time, let’s get moving for real.’

With the Japanese Empire in turmoil and darkness gathering over their path, it was time for the ghost of Keijo, who had been dormant for some time, to emerge from the world once again.

‘I guess I should finish up the work at the Gyeongseong branch first.’

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 100