81: Chapter 81 American Soldiers Enter Tokyo

Inside the communications room of the US military base on Okinawa Island, red signal lights flashed rapidly.

Catherine stood before the encrypted communicator, her voice trembling slightly with anger as she reported the details of the attack at the pier and the protest marches on the streets of Tokyo to the Washington headquarters.

"...The thugs were armed and launched an organized attack against us, and the support from the island nation's Public Security arrived a full fifteen minutes late! This was definitely no accident!"

Catherine's voice carried an unquestionable accusation, "What's even more intolerable is that the street protests have spiraled out of control. They are chanting slogans like 'Expel the white-skinned people,' and some are even openly burning the Stars and Stripes! This is a blatant provocation against us!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, followed by the cold voice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "I understand. Stay at the base on standby and protect the remaining personnel. We will handle things in Tokyo."

After hanging up, Catherine's tense body relaxed slightly. She walked to the window, watching the fighter jets taking off and landing at the base, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes.

She knew that Washington would never tolerate such "humiliation," and Tokyo was destined to be anything but peaceful in the coming days.

Tokyo, Prime Ministers Official Residence.

Several core cabinet members were gathered around a table discussing how to deal with the public protests when, suddenly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs' private phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his expression changed instantly, and he walked quickly to the corner to answer it.

In less than half a minute, the Minister of Foreign Affairs' face was as pale as paper. He hung up the phone and walked back to the table, looking devastated, his lips trembling: "It... it was the US Department of Defense calling."

"What happened?" the Prime Minister asked hurriedly.

"They said... the US military investigation team was attacked at the pier; four people died, and two were injured."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs' voice carried a sob, "They believe we intentionally delayed support, and they also said... said the street protests were tacitly approved by us!"

"What?!"

The Prime Minister stood up abruptly, his chair sliding far back, "We had no idea this would happen! What is wrong with Public Security?!"

"The US Ambassador is already on his way, saying he wants to 'negotiate in person'," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said with a bitter face.

Everyone looked at each other, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.

Not long after, the US Ambassador walked into the conference room with two aides, his expression grim. He skipped the polite pleasantries and slammed a document directly onto the table.

"Mr. Prime Minister, Ministers."

The Ambassador's voice was icy, "My government expresses strong condemnation for the events that occurred today. The US military investigation team came to assist with counter-terrorism at your country's request, yet they were subjected to an armed attack, and your country's Public Security department intentionally delayed rescue—this is unacceptable!"

"Mr. Ambassador, there must be some misunderstanding!" The Prime Minister hurriedly explained, "We absolutely did not intentionally delay anything; it might have been an error in execution by the lower levels. We will investigate immediately..."

"Misunderstanding?" The Ambassador sneered, interrupting him, "Are the street protests also a misunderstanding? Are the slogans chanting 'Expel the Americans' also a misunderstanding? Your government cannot even control its own citizens, nor can it guarantee the safety of our personnel; what qualifications do you have to talk about 'cooperation'?"

The cabinet members' faces turned pale and red, but no one could refute him.

They had indeed failed to control the protest situation, and there had indeed been a lapse in the rescue. Faced with the US side's questioning, they could only remain speechless.

"Enough, I don't want to say anything more." The Ambassador stopped smiling, his tone becoming tough, "To ensure the safety of our personnel, and also to help your country stabilize the situation, we have decided to mobilize part of the forces from the Okinawa Island base and station them in Tokyo starting tomorrow to assist your country's police in maintaining order."

"What?!" The Prime Minister and cabinet members shouted in unison, "That is absolutely out of the question!"

Letting the US military patrol the streets of Tokyo? This was nothing short of a huge humiliation! It was tantamount to declaring to the whole world that the island nation could not even control its own capital and needed foreign troops to maintain order!

"Mr. Ambassador, this involves our country's sovereignty; we absolutely cannot agree!" The Minister of Defense stood up excitedly, his face flushed.

"Sovereignty?" The Ambassador raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of mockery, "When your country couldn't protect our personnel, and when thugs on the street openly attacked the US military, why didn't you think about sovereignty then? When you needed our security treaty to guarantee your safety, why didn't you think about sovereignty then?"

He took a step forward, looking down at the Prime Minister: "Mr. Prime Minister, this is not a request, but a notification. Washington has issued the order; at 8:00 AM tomorrow, soldiers from the Okinawa Island base will appear on the streets of Tokyo on time. If your people choose to cooperate, then everything will be easy; if not..."

The Ambassador paused, a chilling smile curling his lips: "Don't forget, the 'Little Boy' from Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still lying in the museum."

This sentence was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing fiercely into the hearts of everyone present.

That was the island nation's eternal pain, a brand left by a power they could not resist.

The US Ambassador stopped looking at them, turned around, and left with his aides, leaving behind a room full of dead silence.

The Prime Minister collapsed into his chair, covering his face with his hands, his shoulders trembling slightly.

The other cabinet members also lowered their heads, their eyes filled with humiliation and despair. They knew that this time, there was truly no way out.

"Agree... to it." The Prime Minister's voice came from between his fingers, hoarse and powerless, "Send out the notice; tell the Self-Defense Forces and the police to cooperate with the US military's actions, and try... not to have any conflicts."

No one objected. They could not afford the consequences of resisting.

Public Security Command Headquarters, Kazami Yuya's office.

"Snap!" A mobile phone was slammed hard onto the ground, its screen shattering instantly.

Kazami Yuya's face was flushed, his eyes bloodshot, his chest heaving violently, like a trapped beast enraged with nowhere to vent.

On the phone just now, the Chief Cabinet Secretary had spent more than half an hour practically roaring at him, dragging every detail out to berate him, from the delay in the pier rescue to the submission of data.

The Chief's words lashed him like a whip—"Do you know what a huge price we've paid because of your acting on your own initiative?! The US military is going to be stationed in Tokyo! Are you satisfied now?!"

"This is too much! Truly too much!" Kazami Yuya punched the wall, blood seeping from his knuckles, "We are Public Security! We are the people who guard this country! And now we have to watch foreign troops patrol our capital! What is this supposed to be?!"

"What's wrong?" A calm voice came from the corner.

Amuro Tooru was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of untouched coffee, his expression indifferent, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

Because of his undercover status, he could not appear in public easily and had come to Kazami Yuya's office secretly under the cover of night.

Kazami Yuya turned around and saw Amuro Tooru. His emotions calmed down a little, but his tone was still filled with anger: "Mr. Amuro, you don't know... because of today's attack, the US military has actually ordered soldiers from the Okinawa Island base to move into Tokyo tomorrow, saying it's to 'help us maintain order'! The Cabinet... the Cabinet has been forced to agree!"

Amuro Tooru's hand holding the coffee paused, and his brow furrowed imperceptibly.

He hadn't expected the US side to be so tough, bypassing the sovereignty issue entirely to send troops. This was no longer just pressure; it was naked aggression.

"What about the public's reaction?" Amuro Tooru asked.

"What kind of reaction could there be?" Kazami Yuya gave a bitter smile, "Just received news that large-scale protest marches have already started in places like Shinjuku and Shibuya, and some people even stormed the US Embassy in Japan. Once the US military takes to the streets tomorrow, I really don't know what kind of chaos will break out."

Amuro Tooru was silent for a moment, his fingertips lightly tapping the side of the cup, making a crisp sound.

"Where is that Catherine's investigation team now?" Amuro Tooru asked.

"They should be on standby at the Okinawa Island base," Kazami Yuya said, "I heard they lost four people, and they are now under tight security."

A glint of sharpness flashed in Amuro Tooru's eyes: "The US military's move into Tokyo is nominally to 'maintain order,' but given Catherine's personality, she will never sit still. Their real target is likely still the Black Organization and 'The Joker'."

"Then what do we do?" Kazami Yuya asked, his tone filled with a trace of confusion. Faced with internal and external troubles, he felt so powerless for the first time.

"Do what you should be doing." Amuro Tooru put down the coffee cup and stood up, "Continue to track the traces of the Black Organization and keep a close watch on the US military's movements."

"As for the matter of the US troops moving into Tokyo, you and I both understand that this is already inevitable and cannot be stopped." Amuro Tooru sighed and said.

"When the US military takes to the streets tomorrow, tell your people to try their best to exercise restraint and avoid direct conflict."

Amuro Tooru's voice carried a hint of fatigue. He lowered his head, put on his hat and sunglasses, and opened the door to leave.

"Also, try your best to protect the protesters."

Kazami Yuya watched Amuro Tooru's retreating figure, opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, did not make a sound.

Outside the office, the sound of sirens could be heard faintly, clearly preparing for tomorrow's "US military move-in."

Kazami Yuya knew that tonight in Tokyo, sleep would be impossible.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the city, Lin Long looked at the news notification on his phone about "US military to move into Tokyo tomorrow," a playful smile curling his lips.

"It's getting more and more interesting." He said softly, raising his glass in a distant toast to the night sky outside the window, "US military, the public, the government, the Black Organization... all the contradictions have gathered together. Next, it's time to light the final fire."

A ghost appeared silently behind him: "BOSS, what do you need us to do?"

Lin Long put down his glass, a flash of madness in his eyes: "Tell those 'protest leaders' to prepare a 'big gift' for them when the US military takes to the streets tomorrow. Remember, it needs to be shocking enough, enough to... make Tokyo completely boil over."

"Yes." The ghost disappeared into the darkness, and Lin Long looked back out the window.

He could almost see the scene on the streets of Tokyo tomorrow—US armored vehicles driving by, angry crowds throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, gunfire and slogans intertwining, the whole city falling into unprecedented chaos.