Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 334: Crimson Soil (7)

Dragon Raja 3

“Exploring the incubation site is unlikely, but there is a plan to lure them out for a final battle,” Shio said slowly.

“Let’s hear it.”

“The ancients knew of the existence of the Akioni River. Ancient texts speak of a crimson river beneath Thunder Valley that winds its way to near Tokyo, where it eventually emerges and joins the surface rivers. In normal times, the underground river is clear, but during times of frequent earthquakes, the river turns red. Since we know the location of the Akioni River’s exit, we can dig a tunnel there and execute our plan to slay the god,” Shio said slowly. “But this will require the most advanced digging equipment and a massive amount of funding.”

“What kind of equipment?” Chisei asked.

“I’ll need the super tunneling machine used for the construction of the English Channel Tunnel.”

The family heads exchanged glances. The equipment that Shio requested was truly astounding. The English Channel Tunnel was a monumental project that connected under the English Channel, and the construction crew had creatively used a super tunneling machine for that project. The machine was shaped like a giant bullet, with a diameter of nearly six meters. Its conical head was entirely made of high-strength alloy, covered in coarse threads and coated with diamond particles. It advanced with a powerful tracked system, and its rapidly rotating head cut through rock as if slicing through tofu, rumbling deep within the earth and leaving behind a tunnel six meters in diameter. This machine, like the Diriašte, was a “legendary device,” and it would take at least a year to build a new super tunneling machine.

“Explain your plan,” Chisei said, his expression calm.

Shio opened his laptop and turned the screen toward Chisei. “The Akioni River’s outlet is located to the west of Tokyo, where it seeps to the surface and merges with the Tama River. About twenty years ago, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government commissioned Maruyama Construction to build new underground drainage facilities for Tokyo, and the Iwanami Institute was involved in the design. The project was called G-Cans, code-named the Iron Dome Temple. The Iron Dome Temple system extends all the way to the Akioni River’s outlet. To accommodate the excess water from both the Akioni and Tama Rivers, we constructed the No. 13 Storage Well near the outlet. It’s a massive water storage well, and the water there is often deep red, earning it the nickname ‘Red Well.’”

The screen displayed blueprints of the Iron Dome Temple. A 12-meter-wide drainage pipe branched off toward the Red Well. That deep well was located in the mountains, less than twenty kilometers from central Tokyo.

“I plan to submerge the super tunneling machine into the Red Well and excavate a tunnel directly to the Akioni River. The tunnel will be six meters in diameter and approximately 1.5 kilometers long. The super tunneling machine can dig 1,000 meters per week, and if we work around the clock, I can have the tunnel reach the Akioni River within ten days,” Shio continued. “Once the tunnel is completed, the water from the Akioni River will flow into the Red Well within a few hours, and with it, the dragon subspecies. The god-slaying work will take place in the tunnel and the Red Well.”

“What means do you plan to use to kill the god? Are you going to station gunmen or place high-explosive bombs at the tunnel entrance? Those weapons won’t be effective against a Dragon King-level target,” Fūma Kōtarō said.

“No, I’ll use mercury,” Shio said slowly. “On the international market, mercury is priced at around $30,000 per ton. I’ll need 5,000 tons of mercury to reenact the myth of Susanoo slaying the Yamata no Orochi. I’ll flood the Red Well with 5,000 tons of mercury. Even the god’s embryonic form will be violently corroded by the mercury. I’ll also throw thermite incendiary bombs into the Red Well. Those bombs can generate temperatures of 3,000 degrees Celsius, which will not only vaporize the liquid mercury into mercury vapor—far more dangerous to dragons—but the intense heat will also damage the Dragon King-level target. However, thermite incendiary bombs and such large quantities of mercury are not cheap, so I’ll need significant financial support.”

“Do we need to airlift the tunneling machine from Britain or France?” Chisei asked.

“No, it’s already in Tokyo, prepared for a new undersea tunnel project. Renting it will require a deposit of 5 billion yen, plus a daily usage fee of 1.8 billion yen.”

“One last question. What if the mercury and thermite incendiary bombs don’t work?” Chisei stared into Shio’s eyes.

“Then I will have failed. I will draw my sword, jump into the Red Well, and fight the god myself. What other choice do I have? I’ll have to atone for my failure,” Shio said calmly.

Chisei raised his hand, and Yasha immediately handed him a long sword. Chisei tossed the sword across the table to Shio, who was momentarily stunned.

“Crow, can we get thermite incendiary bombs and mercury?” Chisei asked.

“As for the thermite incendiary bombs, I know where to get them. There’s a group called ‘Musashi’ in Tokyo Bay—they’re experts in international arms smuggling. They have stockpiles of such things in their warehouses near Tokyo Bay.”

“I’ll handle the mercury. Give me three days,” Sakura said with a slight bow.

“Withdraw 20 billion yen from the family’s reserve funds and issue a check to Miyamoto,” Chisei said, still locking eyes with Shio.

“No problem, the cash will be available within three hours,” Sakura replied.

Shio drew the sword from its sheath and saw the engraved sixteen-petal chrysanthemum crest.

It was an Ichimonji Norimune, a ceremonial sword crafted for the imperial family. Among the treasured blades in the Yamata no Orochi’s collection, this one held an exalted position. Normally, the family head would carry it, and it was only used during solemn ceremonies. Yet, Chisei casually handed over this priceless treasure as if it were just a weapon. Shio was about to refuse, but then he saw Chisei sitting at the far end of the long table, with the black clouds behind him rolling over Tokyo’s sky like a tide. Chisei sat amid the approaching storm, as imposing as a towering mountain peak.

In the span of a single night, this once-lackadaisical young man had suddenly become sharp and resolute, as if a great decision had formed within him—a decision as cold and keen as a long sword.

Shio suddenly realized he was speaking to the emperor of Japan’s underworld, a man who could call the shots on Japan’s fate. With a single word, he could mobilize vast family funds, and with another, the entire Japanese underworld would move at his command. If there was anyone left in Japan who could stand against the god born to bring about the end of the world, it was Chisei.

This was a war against a god, and in this war, no one could refuse the command of its leader.

Shio held the sword in both hands, stood up, and bowed deeply. “I will give it my all!”

The meeting ended, leaving only Chisei sitting at the table, while Sakura stood behind him, warily scanning the surrounding buildings to guard against any potential snipers hiding behind a window.