Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 464: Dark Day (3)

Dragon Raja 3

His descent ignited a frenzy among the Shishou. The eerie wails, like the cries of infants, drowned out the sound of the waves as thousands of Shishou clawed at each other, swinging their iron-crushing tails as they surged toward Kaiyō Island.

Caesar manned the heavy triple-barrel rapid-fire machine gun, staring at the golden eyes that were drawing closer and closer. The stench of death filled the air, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest. Chu Zihang, silent as always, shouldered a shoulder-launched missile launcher and aimed at the center of the Shishou horde. His battle-hardened nature was on full display; the creatures were already within effective range, but he waited, hoping for them to gather into a tighter formation. Anjou, controlling the grenade launcher, aimed the sights at the horde, his bloodlust rivaling Chu Zihang’s as he considered which head to take out with his first shot.

“When King Leonidas of Sparta stood with 300 warriors at Thermopylae, facing Xerxes’ 500,000 men, it must have felt like this,” Caesar muttered.

“Yes, yes, I’m totally feeling the Spartan vibe,” Anjou murmured in return. “If I had known it would be this bad, I wouldn’t have come.”

After a few seconds of silence, Caesar and Chu Zihang exchanged glances, and even Chu Zihang, with his usual stoic expression, cracked a smile. Anjou’s lips twitched with a hint of amusement as well.

Yes, this was their Thermopylae. Throughout human history, the Secret Party had always stood firm at the frontlines, burying the ambitions of countless Dragonlords. From the moment they joined the Secret Party, they understood the nature of their mission and the sacrifices they might have to make. Since they had accepted this responsibility and its potential costs, they could only hope for the most spectacular battle possible—especially someone like Caesar, who thrived in chaos. The scene before them was grand indeed, as grand and tragic as the Gattuso family’s legacy of grandeur. Caesar was pleased.

Anjou slowly pressed down the trigger, and as the first explosive round left the barrel, the rapid-fire machine gun and the missile launcher erupted with bright flashes. Fire and metal rained down on the Shishou, and countless serpentine figures were thrown into the air amid the waves of explosions.

Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, things were deteriorating.

“I… uh, can I say that the Tokyo government is organizing rescue efforts? Can I tell people not to worry and that help will arrive soon?” Tokyo Governor Kogane Hiraishi was sweating nervously. “Is there anything else I can say? ‘Help is on the way’ sounds pretty hollow. Will people even believe it?”

Since the tsunami hit Tokyo, the air-raid sirens had been blaring repeatedly, but no significant figure had stepped forward to speak to the public. All contact with the Prime Minister’s office had been lost, and his status was unknown. The Emperor and his family had already been evacuated on a plane. It would be inappropriate for them to issue a public statement of reassurance from a flight leaving Japan. The burden of addressing the people fell on Kogane Hiraishi. As a politician known for his performative skills, this was the one thing he could do. He had downed two bottles of sake and three cans of beer to muster the courage, knowing full well that this was just an act. He couldn’t offer the people anything beyond words of encouragement. But a good performance could instill hope; a bad one would lead to chaos, and he would become the villain of Japan.

Just a few minutes earlier, his party had called to remind him that if he successfully rallied public confidence, they would back him in the next Prime Minister election. If he failed? Well, while it wouldn’t be the end of him, losing his party’s support was a certainty.

For someone like Mori Takako, a high-level politician, losing the support of her party might be tolerable because her family had enough power and influence to continue. But for a third-tier politician like Kogane Hiraishi, without party backing, he could never have risen to the position of Governor of Tokyo. He was practically poor, still struggling to pay off his mortgage after all these years. If he lost his political standing, his personal life would be in jeopardy. He couldn’t count on the next generation to take over either; his only child was a daughter, and it was unlikely that she would inherit the political influence of the Hiraishi family.

“You’re right, it’s not enough. It needs to be more specific,” said Sakurai Shuuichi, helping him organize his thoughts. “We can’t do much about the disaster, but there are gangs looting in the city. You could address that and divert public attention.”

“What’s the name of that gang again?”

“The Oni Clan, led by someone called the ‘Osho.’”

Governor Hiraishi cleared his throat. “How about this: ’During this unprecedented disaster in Tokyo, any looting or violent behavior will be considered a crime against the nation. I hereby sternly warn the Oni Clan and its leader, Osho, that your actions will face the full force of the law. Justice may be delayed, but it will surely come! If you have the guts to rob and kill civilians, do you have the guts to come after me? I am Tokyo Governor Kogane Hiraishi! My office is in the Tokyo Meteorological Agency Building, and I’ll be waiting for you in the lounge!’”

After delivering these bold words, the governor slumped back down. “Should I bang on the table and glare for more effect? That might make it seem more powerful.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t give out our exact location… They might actually come. This isn’t just any gang; they’re bona fide lunatics,” Sakurai Shuuichi replied, clearly unimpressed by Hiraishi’s tough act.

“Then… should I say they can wait for Kogane Hiraishi to visit them personally?”

Sakurai Shuuichi pondered for a moment. “Expressing righteous anger is good, and threatening the violent elements is fine, but it still needs something more… something that can really shake people to their core.”

“What could that possibly be?” Governor Hiraishi scratched his head anxiously.

At that moment, the phone on the table rang—it was Kogane Hiraishi’s phone. He glanced at the number, and a sudden twitch appeared at the corner of his eye. It was his home number. Kogane Hiraishi’s residence wasn’t far from Shinjuku, an area where he could hear intermittent gunfire in the distance. In other words, it was a dangerous zone. From the moment he left home until now, he had been in a state of anxiety, unsure how to save Tokyo or salvage his political career. It was only now, as if waking from a dream, that he remembered his family.

“Ko-ko? Ko-ko, is that you? Don’t be afraid, it’s Dad. Quickly, find a high place to hide and don’t stand outside…” Sakurai Shuuichi, not wanting to eavesdrop on the governor’s private matters, stepped back at a respectful distance, though, being a hybrid, his hearing was much more sensitive than a normal person’s. He could vaguely make out the sobbing on the other end of the line.

In public, Kogane Hiraishi was a star politician, a symbol of Japan’s future, but in front of his daughter, he was simply a middle-aged man, not very capable, yet doting on her and hoping she would succeed. Sakurai Shuuichi knew this well—despite being labeled a star politician, Hiraishi was actually a newcomer propped up by the party, often bowing and scraping within the party to gain support, living off a limited political salary, and secretly seeking help from major business owners to fund his daughter’s education abroad.

If Kogane Hiraishi were a more powerful leader, he could have easily arranged for a helicopter or a boat to fetch his daughter. But he didn’t dare use state resources, afraid of the trouble it would cause. All he could do was offer meaningless reassurances over the phone.

After hanging up, Kogane Hiraishi seemed to sober up. His face was more serious now, adding a stern edge. “I’ve become governor, yet I can’t even protect my daughter. You’re right, Shuuichi. I can’t just put on a show. I need to say something that strikes the soul. I bet I’m not the only father in Tokyo who feels this way, right? I can sense the hearts of the citizens now. Start the live broadcast—I’m ready.”

He resumed drinking in silence, though now, instead of calming his nerves, the alcohol made him seem more like a warrior preparing for battle.

By the time the technical team connected the video signal to screens across Tokyo, the governor had downed an entire bottle of sake. He placed the bottle firmly on the table, and Sakurai Shuuichi quickly removed it to avoid it appearing on camera.

“On this disastrous night, I, Kogane Hiraishi, am with you, working together for Tokyo,” the governor’s voice was deep, exuding rare masculine charisma. A five-star politician and four-star actor, his opening remarks immediately projected the image of a responsible man, and Sakurai Shuuichi silently applauded him.

“I fully understand the helplessness the citizens must be feeling right now, and I feel it too. I have a daughter named Koko. She’s 18, very timid, and still waiting at home for me. My wife passed away early, so it’s just the two of us, father and daughter.” The governor sighed deeply.

Sakurai Shuuichi thought, though the sentiment was sincere, it might be too somber and dampen the public’s spirits. He quickly wrote down “Be strong” on a cue card and held it up for the governor to see.

Kogane Hiraishi nodded slightly, indicating he understood. “But I’ve decided to stay here and fight for the safety of Tokyo. Alongside me are the entire technical team and the officials from the Tokyo Meteorological Agency. They have all chosen to remain.”

Sakurai Shuuichi thought to himself, Some didn’t choose to stay; their helicopter was sabotaged by the principal, leaving them no way to escape.

“To be honest, I’m really worried about Koko. She’s so young, hasn’t seen much of the world, and she’s quite pretty,” the governor’s voice cracked a bit. “We live near Shinjuku, and armed gangs are looting amid the disaster, gunfire everywhere. How could Koko have ever seen something like this?”

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