『Behind the Scenes of the World』
The nights in Washington, D.C., were long. Even after the lights in the Capitol went out, politics never came to an end. If anything, the night was when politics truly began.
The lights were still on in Senator Gilbert's office. Thick stacks of documents lay piled across his desk. The papers ranged from yellowed old sheets to freshly printed pages, and most of them had been blacked out with black ink.
Redacted reports.
There was no official title. Yet in one corner of the cover, a single line had been printed in small letters.
CLASSIFIED INVESTIGATION REPORT — TOP SECRET
Gilbert leaned back in his chair and turned a page.
"Just look at this. Look at the state of it."
His secretary, Ellen, stood on the other side of the desk. She was a young, composed woman, but unease showed in her expression.
More than half of each page had been blacked out. Almost none of the text could be read. The few scattered words that remained were all the more disturbing for it.
Organization… political intervention… long-term plan… national governments…
Gilbert tapped the paper with his finger.
"The investigative committee spent three years on this. They poured an enormous amount of taxpayers' money into it. And this is what we get. A report full of blacked-out passages."
Ellen answered quietly.
"Even so, it's better than not releasing it at all…"
"It's the same as not releasing it."
Gilbert turned another page.
More redactions.
And more.
Yet here and there, fragments of sentences remained, as though someone had accidentally overlooked them.
Influence over political decisions… financial institutions… international organizations… long-term infiltration…
Gilbert spoke in a low voice.
"This isn't a conspiracy theory. This is an investigation conducted by the government itself."
Ellen remained silent.
"Which means there's a possibility that someone has been manipulating politics from behind the scenes."
Silence settled over the room.
Gilbert looked out the window. The Washington skyline stretched before him.
"The question is how far it goes."
He spoke slowly.
"How deeply has this organization infiltrated the system?"
Ellen took her time before answering.
"The report states that it may have influence over Congress, the financial sector, intelligence agencies, and international organizations."
"What about the United Nations?"
"It says only that there is a possibility."
"Does the President know?"
Ellen hesitated for a moment.
"I don't know."
Gilbert laughed.
"You don't know, huh?"
He closed the report.
"If an organization really exists that can manipulate politics, then democracy is a theatrical performance. Elections, Congress, all of it."
Ellen spoke firmly.
"Senator, this report must not be made public."
"Why not?"
"Because they'll eliminate you."
Her voice was quiet, but the words carried weight.
Gilbert fell silent.
Then, slowly, he spoke.
"Do you believe it? This report?"
"…Half of it."
"Half?"
"The other half might be even worse."
Gilbert gave a wry smile.
"You're a good secretary. A realist."
He opened the report again.
Amid the sea of black ink, a few words remained.
Global network… several centuries… manipulation of political direction…
Gilbert murmured.
"Several centuries?"
Ellen did not answer.
The clock in the office passed midnight.
Washington was quiet.
But politics was not.
Staring at the report, Gilbert spoke.
"If this organization really exists…"
He looked at Ellen.
"Then this isn't a problem for the American government alone."
"No."
"It's a problem for the entire world."
Silence lay between them.
At last, Gilbert spoke with the resolve of a man who had made up his mind.
"I'll make it public."
Ellen closed her eyes. Her expression held both frustration and a sense of helplessness.
"Senator…"
"Democracy cannot stand on a foundation of secrets."
Outside the window, the sky gradually began to brighten.
The night ended, and the morning light streamed into the room. A new day was beginning.
Mornings in Washington came early.
Television stations and newspaper offices began their work.
The news that day reported the following:
SENATOR GILBERT FOUND DEAD AFTER LATE-NIGHT ROBBERY
According to police, the incident had occurred in an alley. The perpetrator remained at large, and no political motive had been identified.
The news anchor read the report in an even tone.
Congressional officials described it as "a deeply regrettable incident."
The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department stated that the investigation was ongoing.
That was all.
In Gilbert's office, the documents that had covered his desk had already been cleared away.
The redacted report had disappeared as well.
As though it had never existed in the first place.
Politics continued, as it always did.
Somewhere, someone was watching in silence.
Behind the scenes of democracy.
『Behind the Scenes of the World』 — The End