67: Chapter 67 Tokyo Riot

On the top terrace of the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the smoke that had yet to dissipate in the direction of Yasukuni Shrine, his eyes flickering with a fanatical light.

The video released by Akai Shuichi had already caused a huge uproar on the internet. Speculation about the "mysterious attacker" was overwhelming; the phones at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Public Security Bureau were ringing off the hook, and the entire Tokyo Metropolis was plunged into unprecedented panic.

"BOSS, the second step of the operation can begin."

Ghost's voice sounded from behind, still in that hoarse tone devoid of any emotion.

Lin Long turned slowly, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth:

"Very good. Let this 'feast' become even livelier."

He returned to his room and changed into a custom-made purple suit, crisp and straight, yet it could not hide that aura of madness.

He put on a black hood to cover his face, and finally, clamped the grinning white clown mask onto his face—the person in the mirror was half elegant gentleman, half bloodthirsty demon.

"Let's go."

...

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, top-floor conference room.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it could drip water. Inspector Megure, Toshiro Odagiri, Police Superintendent General Hakuba, and several heads of the Public Security Bureau sat around the table, with photos of the crime scene and casualty lists from the Yasukuni Shrine bombing spread out before them; everyone's face was etched with gravity.

"It is currently certain that the attacker in the video is the culprit who blew up the shrine, but his identity is still being verified."

A Public Security section chief reported,

"We have screened all extremists with criminal records, and for the time being, we have not found any matching targets."

"Useless!"

A high-ranking cabinet official in a suit, his face full of rage, slammed the table and pointed at Chief of Police Hakuba, berating him,

"What time is it, and you're still saying these things! Yasukuni Shrine has been bombed, the Emperor has been injured, and seven ministers have been killed! This is a provocation against the entire nation!"

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his tone harsh and fierce:

"In the past six months, Tokyo has either seen ruthless bandits killing Zaibatsu, or terrorist organizations wanting to turn the Tokyo urban area into a battlefield."

"And now? A terrorist has even appeared who blew up the shrine that symbolizes our nation's spiritual sustenance."

"I don't care what method you use; within three days, you must catch the culprit!"

"Otherwise, from top to bottom, you should all commit seppuku to apologize to the Emperor!"

Just then—

"Boom—!!!"

A deafening bang came from the distance, and the entire Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department building shook violently; files and teacups on the table fell one after another, making harsh clattering sounds.

"What's going on?!" Everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Report!"

Wataru Takagi and Miwako Sato rushed into the conference room in a panic, their faces pale,

"To, Tokyo Tower... has been bombed!"

"What?!"

Everyone in the conference room stood up abruptly, their faces filled with disbelief.

Yasukuni Shrine was just bombed, and now Tokyo Tower has been hit? Are they going crazy?

The high-ranking cabinet official felt dizzy and nearly fainted; pointing at the door, he trembled with rage:

"Investigate! Go investigate immediately! I want to know who the hell did this!"

He couldn't stay any longer, slammed the door and left, leaving a room full of police officers and public security personnel looking at each other.

Police Superintendent General Hakuba took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and roared into the walkie-talkie:

"All units, pay attention! Proceed to Tokyo Tower immediately to maintain order! Rescue the injured! Seal off the scene! Also, notify the counter-terrorism unit to be on full standby!"

The entire Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department instantly fell into chaos, police cars roared out of the gates, heading in the direction of Tokyo Tower. No one noticed that the computer screens inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were quietly changing.

...

At the same time, every corner of Tokyo—the big screens in shopping malls, the monitors in office buildings, the televisions in residents' homes, and even the advertising screens on the streets—went black at the same time, and then, a familiar figure appeared.

A purple suit, a white clown mask, and the corners of the mouth curled into an exaggerated arc.

"Hello, friends in Tokyo, good evening."

The Joker's voice, processed through a voice changer, carried a strange cheerfulness and echoed in every corner of the city.

The citizens who were packing up to evacuate stopped in their tracks, the police maintaining order on the streets froze, and the doctors and nurses rescuing the injured in the hospital also looked up.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Joker."

He bowed to the camera with elegant movements,

"Perhaps some friends already know me—for example, those celebrities who once attended the 'tomizawa family banquet'."

The surviving relatives of the tomizawa family watching the live broadcast at home, as well as other celebrities who had attended that banquet, saw the Joker and their expressions changed instantly; they couldn't stop their bodies from trembling.

They would never forget that night: the blood, the gunshots, and the Joker's cold eyes.

"Long time no see, my lords."

The Joker winked at the camera, his tone playful, "Today, we meet again."

He paused, changed the subject, and said to all the viewers:

"My dear people of the island nation, I know you must be very panicked and very angry right now. Yasukuni Shrine has been bombed, and Tokyo Tower has also collapsed—but this is just the beginning."

"The purpose of my live broadcast today is very simple: to admit to everyone that I bombed Tokyo Tower."

The Joker spread his hands, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about the weather,

"By the way, I pay tribute to that 'hero' who blew up Yasukuni Shrine."

He bowed elegantly again, and when he straightened up, his eyes suddenly became sharp.

"But!"

The Joker's voice raised an octave, carrying a bewitching power,

"Compared to these buildings, what should be 'blown up' even more is this corrupt society!"

"You work hard and overtime every day, being squeezed like livestock, for what?"

"For a house you can't afford in a lifetime? To get your children into an expensive school? To be able to pay medical bills when you get sick?"

"And what about those high-and-mighty officials and rich people? They live in mansions, drive luxury cars, use your blood and sweat money to squander and enjoy themselves, and even collude to deceive you like fools!"

His voice grew more and more excited, and the gaze under the mask seemed to pierce through the screen and into everyone's heart.

"Are you willing to accept this?!"

"Are you willing to be treated like this?!"

On the street, a young man who had just had his wages withheld by his boss clenched his fists;

In an office building, a white-collar worker who had been working overtime for a month without overtime pay gritted his teeth;

In the slums, a family who had been kicked out because they couldn't pay rent, the mother held her child, her eyes full of despair.

"Now, the opportunity has come!"

The Joker's voice carried a fanatical incitement,

"We have hidden many 'gifts' in every corner of Tokyo—abandoned warehouses, under park benches, in trash cans—guns, ammunition, and clown masks just like mine."

"Go find them! Put on the mask! From today on, you are Joker! We are all Joker!"

"You can go smash the offices of the bosses who oppress you! You can go rob the banks that suck your blood! You can go take revenge on anyone who has ever bullied you!"

"No need to fear the police, no need to worry about the consequences!"

The Joker spread his arms, as if embracing the entire city,

"Because today, the whole of Tokyo is Joker!"

"Revel! Release your resentment and defiance!"

"Remember, destiny must be controlled by yourself!"

As his voice fell, the Joker made a face at the camera, and then, the screen instantly went black.

At first, the streets were deathly silent; everyone was digesting the Joker's words, looking at each other.

The police tried to turn off the screens, but found that all devices were remotely controlled and could not be operated at all.

A few minutes later, a man in worn-out work clothes trembled as he walked to a park bench, bent down, and pulled out a black package from underneath.

Opening it, he saw a pistol and a white clown mask inside.

He hesitated for a moment, looked around, and finally, put the mask on his face.

With the first, there came the second.

One, two, three...

More and more people found guns and masks from various corners and put on that symbol of madness.

Their eyes gradually changed from fear and confusion to fanaticism and anger.

"Kill!"

Don't know who shouted first, and then, gunshots rang out.

Someone rushed into a jewelry store, smashed the glass, and grabbed jewelry;

Someone rushed into an office building and opened fire on the boss who used to oppress them;

Someone set fire to a car on the street, and flames shot up into the sky;

Some even started attacking each other, just because the other person looked at them.

Gunshots, explosions, shouts of killing, women's screams, and children's cries intertwined, resounding through the night sky of Tokyo.

The police dispatched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were split into small groups and besieged by thugs wearing clown masks.

Their numbers were too few; facing this sudden "national riot," they were completely powerless. Some police officers were killed, some had their guns stolen, and others were so scared they threw away their weapons and fled in panic.

Beside the ruins of Tokyo Tower, thugs were looting relief supplies and even opening fire on ambulances.

Around Yasukuni Shrine, survivors of the right-wing factions and angry citizens had violent conflicts, and blood stained the ground red.

The entire Tokyo had completely turned into a living hell.

The Tokyo Security Force was also engaging in battle with these rioters. However, after the Joker's incitement, thousands of Jokers suddenly sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Law enforcement officers simply could not stop these Jokers and could only rely on their own defense lines to barely hold off the attacks of these Jokers.

...

In the monitoring room of the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long watched the chaotic scene on the screen, listened to the various sounds coming from his headset, and suddenly burst into crazy laughter.

"Yes! That's it!"

He clapped his hands, his tone excited,

"Revel! Dance! This is what you should look like!"

Ghost stood behind him, watching all this with an expressionless face, as if the living hell before him had nothing to do with him.

"BOSS, according to the plan, the weapons and masks we placed everywhere are enough to support this 'revelry' until tomorrow morning."

"Very good."

Lin Long's laughter gradually stopped, his eyes cold, "Let the music play."

Ghost nodded and pressed a button.

The next second, every broadcast speaker in Tokyo blared stirring music—Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5".

The magnificent melody and stirring rhythm intertwined with the gunshots, explosions, and screams on the streets, forming a strange and crazy "Death Symphony."

The rioters wearing clown masks, as if encouraged by the music, became even more excited.

They danced, fired guns, and set fires on the streets, releasing the darkness in their hearts to their heart's content.

Lin Long walked to the window, watching Tokyo in the distance with flames shooting into the sky, feeling the black energy and evil thoughts gathering toward him from all directions of Tokyo, and the corners of his mouth under the mask curled up again.

"Tonight, no one sleeps."

What he wanted was never just to blow up a few buildings.

The reason for inciting these people was mainly to stimulate the evil thoughts in their hearts, so it would be convenient for Lin Long to absorb them. And by the way, to take revenge for his previous life.

The melody of "Symphony No. 5" echoed in the night sky; Tokyo's "Joker Night" had only just begun.

And the price of this revelry would be countless lives and the sinking of a nation.