Tokyo: The Prime Minister's Office
In the global political landscape, one side was a junior partner, and the other was a leading power of the West.
As a diplomat stationed at the embassy of this leading power, Spencer's individual status might not have been the absolute highest, but in Japan, he represented the face and dignity of an entire Empire. Therefore, as long as Spencer didn't go too far, even murder and arson would be quietly covered up and paid for by the Japanese high command. He was someone who could move freely with total diplomatic immunity.
Yet, he had just called Atsuomi Ayanokoji in an absolute, breathless panic. He didn't even expect the Prime Minister to solve the problem; he merely wanted Atsuomi to buy him time!
The profound, terrifying meaning behind this made the Prime Minister go completely numb.
Someone is trying to kill him? And the police are in on it?
Atsuomi's first instinct was the classic paranoia of a ruler: There's always some treacherous subject trying to harm me. But he immediately dismissed the thought of ignoring the plea. He and Spencer were locked in a relationship of mutual destruction. If Spencer went down, Atsuomi's black-budget operations would be exposed.
He hurriedly picked up the secure private phone, quickly assuring the terrified diplomat. "Mr. Spencer, whatever you're doing, come to my government hall as soon as possible. You are a distinguished guest of our country, and I will demand an explanation from the MPD no matter what. But if you have done something wrong, I need you to come here and confess it to me immediately."
Clap... clap... clap...
Just as the words left his mouth, the slow, mocking sound of applause suddenly rang out from the doorway of the Prime Minister's private office.
"Indeed. A response truly fit for a Prime Minister."
The words were perfectly veiled in false politeness. Atsuomi had phrased his response to Spencer to sound like he was asking the diplomat to "confess his mistakes" to give him face and maintain Japanese authority. But in reality, everyone in the room knew what was going on. Atsuomi was desperate to know what Taboo Spencer had touched.
Who!?
Atsuomi stared coldly at the intruders who had somehow bypassed his elite security detail.
"Minister Daigo Fujiwara..." Atsuomi narrowed his eyes.
This was truly an unprecedented, aggressive meeting. Atsuomi's heart sank. He was completely bewildered as to how Daigo had gotten inside, but one thing he knew very well: he was in massive trouble.
Perhaps... this time, I will actually be overthrown by this bastard.
"May I ask a question?" Atsuomi asked, maintaining his stoic facade.
"Please, go ahead," Daigo smiled, stepping fully into the room.
"What could possibly have caused such a severe humiliation for a British Diplomat? Why are the police hunting him?"
Daigo almost flashed his classic, triumphant smile.
"You want to know? There's someone here who would be very happy to explain it to you."
Who?
"Kiyotaka Ayanokoji."
Atsuomi's pupils constricted violently. He stared at the teenage boy who stepped out from behind Daigo's shadow—a boy who should have been locked away or expelled, a boy who should never have been standing in the Prime Minister's secure office.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji looked at the man who had subjected him to the White Room. His expression was as blank and unreadable as ever.
He bowed politely. "It's been a long time, Father…"
Tokyo: The Sawamura Estate
Disaster!
Absolute disaster!!
Sayuri Sawamura felt an overwhelming sense of urgency, pacing anxiously back and forth in the grand living room of her villa.
She had called Spencer, but his phone was unreachable. She had called the Sawamura family's corporate headquarters, but they were in a state of absolute, frantic chaos.
She didn't know why, or exactly when it had started, but within the span of a few hours, the Sawamura family had practically found themselves paralyzed in Tokyo. Their businesses were technically still operating, and their executives still held their positions, but suddenly, all of their assets were facing the highest level of government inspection. All of their accounts were locked under the most rigorous, aggressive audits. Supply chains were cut. Contracts were abruptly voided.
Who did my Sawamura family offend?
Impossible...
Sayuri's charming face was covered in cold sweat, turning a sickly, snow-white pale.
The Sawamura family had always maintained a relatively low profile. Essentially, their status was similar to the Yukinoshitas—wealthy, provincial elites. They were powerful, yes, but they were at the very bottom of the true upper-class hierarchy. Therefore, describing the Sawamura family as cautious and meticulous was perfectly apt.
She had inquired at the clan headquarters, and indeed, no one in the family had caused any trouble or stepped on any political toes recently.
Since that was the case, then the sudden, targeted annihilation could only be because of one person…
"Spencer…" Sayuri whispered, her nails digging into her palms.
This is truly, utterly ruthless… Is 'Great Britain' all you care about?
Sayuri wasn't too heartbroken by this conclusion. She had always known her husband's true loyalties. It was expected. But she never imagined Spencer would be so coldblooded as to completely disregard the Sawamura family's survival while executing his schemes! He had provoked an untouchable enemy and left his Japanese wife and daughter to absorb the wrath.
What to do… What do I do…?
Sayuri knew the Sawamuras would be in increasingly lethal danger as the hours ticked by. Although she didn't know what Taboo Spencer had touched, it must have been something catastrophic to bring down this level of coordinated government suppression.
If this storm didn't blow over, the Sawamura family would be entirely erased.
This wasn't Sayuri exaggerating her fears; she could truly feel the suffocating crisis. As a member of the elite, how could she not recognize the signs? The higher-ups were methodically cutting off all their escape routes. They weren't just imposing sanctions—they were preparing to wipe the Sawamuras out completely.
A violent chill ran down her spine. She slumped onto the sofa, her lips trembling.
Impossible! I can't let this happen! Don't scare yourself, Sayuri, think!
Sayuri frantically dialed the private numbers of powerful political figures with whom the Sawamuras had maintained long-standing, expensive relationships.
There must be a way out!
However, with each dead tone or swift rejection, Sayuri's face grew increasingly pale and weak. They were radioactive. No one wanted to touch them.
It wasn't until she reached an elderly politician—a man who had been a mentor and deeply kind to the Sawamura family for decades—that her call connected. She gripped the phone desperately.
"Grandpa, what happened?! My Sawamura family is..." Is there any hope?
After a long, heavy silence, the aged voice finally spoke, offering a final, grim word of advice.
"Sayuri... I have booked two flight tickets for you. Only two spots. That is absolutely all I can do without destroying my own family. From this moment forward, consider me an enemy of the Sawamura clan..."
Click. Her delicate hand trembled as the dial tone droned in her ear.
In her mind, Sayuri had only one thought: The sky has fallen.
She understood exactly what the old man meant. The two tickets were for her and Eriri to escape the country with only the clothes on their backs. The final word, "enemy," was enough to prove that this wasn't just a political squabble. The entire might of the Japanese shadow government was unified in their intent to obliterate the Sawamuras.
Complete annihilation.
Spencer!! Sayuri hated him. She hated Spencer for treating them as disposable collateral. She hated her own powerlessness. But most of all, she hated that her sweet, innocent Eriri would have to live the rest of her life as a hunted fugitive. Eriri was still just an otaku child who didn't understand the cruelty of this world...
This undeserved disaster was too great. It was enough to completely crush her spirit.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to force down her turbulent emotions. She couldn't afford to panic now. She still had to protect Eriri.
Just as she was about to call her daughter downstairs to pack a single bag and flee into the night, her cell phone rang unexpectedly.
Looking at the caller ID, her eyes widened.
"Yukinoshita?"
After hesitating for a agonizing moment, Sayuri finally answered the phone. The Yukinoshitas had recently survived a massive political storm themselves; perhaps they knew something.
"Good evening, Mrs. Sawamura," a young, cheerful, yet dangerously sharp voice chimed from the other end. Haruno Yukinoshita. "Time is incredibly short, so I'll get straight to the point. Does your Sawamura family still want to live…?"
!! ? ?
"…What do you mean?" Sayuri asked, gripping the phone like a physical lifeline, her expression incredibly tense.
"I can help you find a way to survive this annihilation," Haruno purred. "But... there are conditions~"
Sayuri didn't even hesitate. She would gladly put the entire Sawamura legacy in shackles if it meant saving her daughter's life. "I accept. Whatever the condition is, I agree."
"My, how decisive! I like that," Haruno giggled sweetly. "Alright then, since you agree… go take a bath first, Mrs. Sawamura."
"…"
Huh?
Sayuri Sawamura's desperate, calculating mind completely blanked.
Take a bath?
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