105: Chapter 105 The Mayor's Despair! A Mission Within a Mission!

It was at this moment that two gunshots from within the building suddenly caught the attention of the surrounding personnel.

The middle-aged mayor, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, felt his heart skip a beat. A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he roared at the surrounding armed forces and guards:

"Hurry and storm in! Do everything you can to ensure the safety of the hostage!!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Squad after squad of well-trained soldiers, equipped with various new types of gear, quickly vaulted over the walls and stormed into the building!

Strangely, the Special Higher Police intelligence team inside the building did not resist; instead, one by one, they drew their pistols and aimed them directly at their own temples!

"The Empire will triumph!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Bang, bang, bang—!

All the personnel roared fanatically, pulled their triggers in unison, and brain matter splattered everywhere, filling the scene with a pungent, bloody stench.

"Your Excellency Section Chief, through preliminary interrogation, this person did not speak. Judging from his bizarre behavior... he is suspected to be a secret agent of the Samsara Cult..."

Hearing this, there was a long silence on the other end of the earpiece. There was no outburst of rage, as if this had been anticipated.

"Leave the spy for the surrounding personnel; you should kill yourself."

"Hai-yi—bang!"

Another gunshot rang out. Outside the building, the anxious mayor, who had been pacing back and forth, felt his legs go weak and collapsed helplessly to the ground.

It was not because of the gunshot, but because he saw the Chen Family convoy appearing at the end of the street.

"It's over! My life is bleak and devoid of light!"

"I'll be pedaling a sewing machine until it smokes for the rest of my life!"

...

Tokyo.

The Prime Minister's residence.

The soon-to-retire Director of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau arrived in a hurry, accompanied by the Section Chief of the Special Higher Police.

"...The hostage is dead?"

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, it was my lack of strict vetting that led to this accident. I am willing to accept any punishment for this!"

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this matter has nothing to do with Director Jida. It is my fault, and I am willing to commit seppuku to apologize!"

Deep within the Prime Minister's residence, there were small bridges, flowing water, and cherry blossom screens, all filled with a rich, traditional Japanese atmosphere.

The Special Higher Police Section Chief, "Renchuan," quickly knelt, admitted his mistake, and explained to Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang that he was the primary person responsible.

"What is the use of committing seppuku? Can it reverse the death of the hostage?"

Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang sat kneeling before a low table, sipping a cup of tea, his expression surprisingly calm.

Putting down the teacup, Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang turned his gaze to the Director of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, "Jida," and asked calmly:

"Have you found out why the Samsara Cult took action to kill the hostage?"

"...My Lord, I am not entirely sure of the specifics, but based on the past style of the Samsara Cult, I fear it is to provoke a feud between the Empire and the Super-Duty Bureau."

Jida, whose frame was somewhat hunched and who had headed the Imperial Intelligence Bureau for nearly a decade, pondered for a moment before speaking in a solemn voice:

"Director An Lei of the Eastern Super-Duty Bureau possesses immense supernatural strength himself and controls the most powerful department in the East. If he were to fly into a rage and storm into Tokyo with his blade... I fear that, at present, no one could stop him!"

"Are you saying the Samsara Cult wants to play the trick of the snipe and the clam fighting, while the fisherman reaps the benefit?"

"Jida, has your mind slowed down with age, or do you feel that since you are near retirement, it doesn't matter anymore?"

Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang looked at Jida, who was kneeling before him, a cold light shooting from his eyes. "Or perhaps, with the end of the world imminent, you have developed other ideas?!"

"My Lord, I am wronged!"

Jida's face changed drastically, and he trembled all over. "I, Jida, have been in charge of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau for nine and a half years, and I have always been diligent and conscientious, never daring to slack off in the slightest, let alone harbor other rebellious thoughts!?"

"Oh, did I wrong you?"

Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang's expression returned to a state of unruffled calm. "Yanjing refuses to budge, and the Earth Federation's war against the East is about to break out. At such a critical moment, could the Samsara Cult be fools, wanting to jump out and provoke the Empire?"

Jida was stunned and instantly understood something. "My Lord, do you mean that the shooter is not a member of the Samsara Cult?"

"Jida, you are truly old and muddled. Do you not understand even this?"

After a bit of intimidation, Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang touched the katana by the table and said softly: "The person who fired the shot is indeed a member of the Samsara Cult, but his true identity is suspect."

Jida's pupils contracted, and he exclaimed: "A spy within a spy within a spy?"

"That person is someone from another spy organization who infiltrated the Samsara Cult!"

Soon, his face was filled with confusion. "Except for the Samsara Cult, all other countries in the world are focusing their energy on preparing for war. Who else would do such a thing that yields no profit?"

"Once such a thing is exposed, it will not only offend the Empire but also offend the world's first powerful, official supernatural department!"

"Hehe, is there really no one? I don't think so."

"My Lord, do you mean...?"

Jida immediately understood the implication of his words and pointed his finger gently to the west.

From the geographical position of the Island Nation, their west is that ancient and mysterious Eastern country!

"That's right. Apart from the Easterners, no other faction has any need to take such action."

Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang's expression was calm: "With the Spiritual Energy Revival and the descent of the supernatural, all kinds of ghosts and demons that previously dared not speak out are crawling out from dark corners, seeking a glimmer of a brilliant opportunity."

"This seems like an opportunity, but isn't it also an enticing poison that will cause them to lose their lives?"

"...My Lord, are you saying this is the counterattack method of those Families that fled the East a few days ago?"

"That is also true. Since they cannot retaliate against the Wang Family, they can only kill the hostage first, in an attempt to make Director An Lei and the Empire clash, and then cut off an important piece of the Wang Family!"

"This group of people was already involved with the Samsara Cult. They wouldn't take action if they weren't ready, but when they do, it's a checkmate!"

After knitting his brows, Jida sighed in admiration: "What a brilliant plan! The person who laid out this secret chess move must be a Genius!"

"It's just a pity that they encountered the wise and martial Prime Minister. Their ghostly tricks are of no use."

Jida was also a shrewd person; he took every opportunity to flatter, handling worldly affairs with absolute mastery.

The Special Higher Police Section Chief, Renchuan, who was kneeling nearby, heard their conversation, and a bone-chilling coldness surged through his entire body.

For the first time, he realized that in front of a true "top-tier Great Master of political intrigue," he was like a raw recruit, with a terrifyingly naive way of thinking.

Previously, he had been somewhat resentful that Jida was retiring and that his successor was not him, but "Songben," who was far away in the East in charge of general intelligence work. Now, that resentment had vanished without a trace.

Renchuan felt that he could only ever be a sharp spear, never the one who wields it!

"My Lord, the truth is clear. Should we inform Director An Lei of this matter to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings?"

"Misunderstandings?"

"We kidnapped the hostage first. Regardless of who pulled the trigger, Director An Lei will certainly hold the Empire accountable for the grudge."

"So there is no need to explain."

"Your priority is to purge the Imperial Intelligence Bureau. I do not wish to see a second spy from another organization. Do you understand?"

Prime Minister Caiyuan Sanlang's eyes gleamed with a dark light. As he spoke, he stroked the katana on the low table, his intentions perfectly clear.

Jida's throat went dry, large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he felt a slight pain in his abdomen. "My Lord, your subordinate understands. I will go handle it immediately!"

After speaking, he kicked Renchuan, and the two of them bowed and withdrew.