"Young Master, what should we do now? It seems like they have encountered a conflict with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in international waters. But that shouldn't be the case! Our deployment is positioned near Russian waters, without infringing on their territorial sea..." The bodyguard expressed his confusion.
"Get the Kremlin on the line immediately, and also have someone contact our embassy in Japan!" Mavi decisively instructed his subordinates. At the same time, he personally boarded a yacht, preparing to head to the deployment area to assess the situation.
Half a minute later, Russian National Security Advisor Mikhail answered Mavi's call. "Hello? Mr. Mavi, what can I do for you?"
"Here's the situation, Mr. Mikhail. My men were near the waters of Sakhalin Island when they were intercepted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. We have lost all communication with them. I believe this matter should be brought to the attention of the President. Throughout the entire incident, my men were well within Russian territorial waters..."
Mavi meticulously relayed all the details he had to National Security Advisor Mikhail. On the other end of the line, Mikhail let out a small sigh before responding in a serious tone, "Understood, Mr. Mavi. I will report this matter to the President immediately."
Mikhail sighed because, not long ago, Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister had been persistently seeking negotiations with the Russian President regarding the ongoing territorial dispute over the Northern Territories.
The so-called "Russo-Japanese Northern Territories Dispute" refers to the four islands between Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's Hokkaido—Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan, and Habomai.
Russia refers to these islands as the Southern Kurils, while Japan calls them the Northern Territories. Due to historical reasons and the islands' strategic military and resource significance, Russia and Japan have been locked in a prolonged dispute over their ownership.
Thus, the first major initiative of Japan's new Prime Minister was to reclaim these four islands from Russia. Securing these islands would not only serve as a testament to his leadership and dominance but also grant Japan access to their abundant resources.
For example, the waters around the Northern Territories are where warm and cold ocean currents converge, creating a rich fishery known as a "treasure trove of marine life." Additionally, two of the islands are located in volcanic zones, boasting vast geothermal energy reserves.
Beyond their resource value, the Northern Territories hold immense military significance. Their natural concealment makes them ideal for complete communication control. Historically, Japan concentrated its core naval forces on these four islands before launching the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, an operation that proved successful.
Given this context, it was highly likely that the maritime conflict Mavi's men encountered was orchestrated by Japan as a form of protest against the Northern Territories' current status.
As Mavi arrived at the designated waters on his yacht, he noticed that the three ships originally stationed there were now completely missing.
"Mr. Mavi, I suspect your men and their ships have been detained by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force," a Russian army major deduced based on his experience.
Since there were no shipwrecks or debris, it indicated that a large-scale firefight had not occurred. Additionally, the absence of floating bodies suggested that Mavi's subordinates had likely been captured and taken aboard Japanese vessels—or perhaps even transported to Japan itself.
Assessing the situation, Mavi realized that the army major's judgment was probably accurate. It seemed Japan was deliberately provoking trouble.
In this lifetime, Russia had yet to dispatch its Tu-95 bombers to circle Japan's airspace. Consequently, Japan, ever ambitious, continued to test the patience of its neighboring countries, instigating conflicts just as it had in the past.
Five minutes later, the Kremlin called back. "Mr. Mavi, we have already informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A diplomat will be dispatched to Japan immediately to negotiate the release of the detainees."
"I would like to be involved in the negotiations as well. These are my men—we cannot simply abandon them," Mavi insisted. He understood Russia's diplomatic approach; after all, regardless of the nature of the conflict, diplomatic engagement between nations was necessary.
Directly resorting to military action over a dispute could lead to catastrophic consequences for both the country and its citizens.
"Understood, Mr. Mavi. Let's meet at Tokyo Airport tomorrow morning. The diplomat assigned to this case is Mr. Ahmed, the same official who assisted you in resolving the Turkish impoundment of the Varyag aircraft carrier." The assistant on the phone informed him.
"Got it," Mavi replied solemnly before hanging up. Some countries just never learn their lesson. Back in World War II, Japan had clearly lost the war, yet they refused to surrender and instead launched suicidal resistance. They claimed that unless the Americans wiped out every last one of them, they would fight to the bitter end.
Frustrated, the Americans resorted to dropping ten thousand tons of incendiary bombs to set Tokyo ablaze. Yet, stubborn as ever, Japan still refused to capitulate.
In the end, left with no alternative, the United States deployed two newly developed atomic bombs, instantly "nuclear-solving" the issue.
"Young Master, are you really going to Japan?" Butler Ivan asked with concern upon hearing the news. This was no trivial matter—if handled improperly, tensions could escalate dangerously.
"Yes, I'm going tomorrow." Since his rebirth, this would be Mavi's first time setting foot in Japan. He was uncertain about what kind of reception awaited him there. However, he had no choice—he had to ensure the safety of his subordinates.
Moreover, the promotional video he had filmed was now in the hands of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. If he failed to retrieve it and rescue his men, he might as well bash his head against a wall in disgrace.
As Mavi was preparing for the diplomatic meeting, news agencies with insider information wasted no time in publishing sensational reports online—without verifying their accuracy.
"Breaking News: According to the latest reports, 18 Russian nationals were detained by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in the disputed waters. It is rumored that they attempted to trespass into Japanese territorial waters and were subsequently captured along with their vessels."
"Major Incident! At 4 PM today, 18 Russians allegedly attempted to ram Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and were arrested."
As soon as this international news broke, it sparked a global uproar and heated debates online.
An uninformed French netizen commented under the article, "Oh my god! These 18 Russians must be out of their minds! Did they drink too much vodka and decide to charge at Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force? Japan is a traditional naval powerhouse, and its economy is nine times the size of Russia's."
(End of Chapter)