Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

117 – Each One’s Thoughts

「The new headquarters of the Liberal Clan. Final location confirmed near Obama City, north of Kyoto, Japan.」

「The lost 20 years, finally coming to an end. The surge in yen value begins.」

「The conditions presented by the leader of the Liberal Clan, Cha Myung-jun. ‘We will purify the radiation contamination in Fukushima’.」

「Why did the Liberal Clan choose Japan over Korea? Increasing criticism of the Korean government.」

「The world’s strongest country, the United States, failed in the final bidding. Joe Biden – the result of Japan, an allied country, winning the bid will not be disadvantageous to the United States.」

「The Liberal Clan. Planning to construct a new city the size of Osaka in the area received as a reward for winning the bid.」

「The leader of the Liberal Clan, Cha Myung-jun, revealed that the name of the new city will be ‘Liberty City’.」

As soon as the news of the Japanese government’s final bid was revealed, media outlets worldwide poured out a tremendous number of articles.

Among them, Japanese newspapers allocated more than half of their content to information and analysis articles about the Liberal Clan and Myung-jun, and on television, hundreds of special programs were scheduled to discuss the consequences of the Liberal Clan’s entry into Japan with so-called “experts.”

During this process, some experts also expressed negative opinions, with the most pointed issue being whether Japan could stop the growing Liberal Clan with its power in case of an emergency.

Appearing as a guest on NHK’s special broadcast, military expert Sato Hiromasa mentioned the conditions of the deal between the Liberal Clan and the Japanese government and said:

“If they harbor ill intentions, how will you stop them? With just 240,000 self-defense forces? Or with Japan’s awakener power, which cannot even rank in the top 10 in the world? The existence of the Liberal Clan is like sugar, sweet but poisonous. Right now, they’re intoxicated by the sweetness, but someday they’ll have to pay the price.”

Of course, there was some validity to Hiromasa’s opinion.

Moreover, as it was never a welcome sight for Korea-born Awakener to take over Japanese territory in a country where all sorts of hate-filled literature were bestsellers, Hiromasa’s opinion quickly gained support from right-wing extremists and began to emerge as the mainstream opposing view.

‘Do not abandon Japan’s pride.’

‘Do not hand over Japan’s precious territory to Koreans.’

Not even a day after the announcement, protests were formed, and crowds gathered nationwide, holding pickets and flocking to the port to criticize the prime minister for daring to sell off Japan’s precious territory.

And what they faced was a 20-meter-tall giant robot standing on the deck of the Izumo, which had left with the prime minister for negotiations and was heading towards the Pacific.

“Please step back!”

“It’s dangerous, please move back!”

As the police, who had arrived in advance to control the scene, shouted, the protesters unknowingly stepped back.

Then, even before the ship dropped anchor, Knights, who had been standing on the deck, bent his knees and, with a burst of flames from the thrusters on his back and legs, leaped into the air.

The sight of a 27,000-ton giant ship swaying with just one jump was shocking enough, but the sight of a 20-meter giant robot landing in a hero landing pose to absorb the shock was even more spectacular.

As soon as Knights landed, despite activating all the thrusters used for the jump to absorb the impact, the concrete floor, unable to withstand Knights’ heavy weight, cracked mercilessly, and huge cracks spread in all directions as if lightning had passed through.

The huge collision sound caused by the collision of steel and concrete. The sound of rockets from the thrusters emanating from Knights’ body until the moment of landing, the heavy mechanical sound generated by the giant machine’s joints momentarily bending.

As if watching a scene from a science fiction movie rather than reality, the protesters gathered at the port could not close their mouths.

However, what was even more shocking was what happened after Myung-jun, controlling Knights, landed at the port.

In the backdrop of Knights, kneeling gracefully in a hero landing pose, a towering pillar of water shot up from the sea, reminiscent of special effects in old tokusatsu shows, as ten Marine Type Knights simultaneously leaped into the air.

– Boom! –

Breaking through the exploding water column, ten blue giant robots soared into the air. Like bodyguards escorting Myung-jun’s Knights, they landed one by one around the perimeter, spreading sonic booms and water sprays in all directions.

Finally, as the tenth Marine Type Knight landed on the ground, all the Knights, including the one Myung-jun was piloting, began to straighten their waists simultaneously.

“That’s…”

In fact, Sato Hiromasa had a similar experience in the past. When a life-size Gundam was exhibited in Odaiba in the past, he had also seen the Gundam model exhibited there.

However, what was before him now conveyed a sense of pressure completely different from what he had felt back then. If the emotions he felt back then were a mixture of ‘wonder’ and ‘awe,’ the emotions he felt now were closer to ‘fear.’

The emergence of a transcendent existence that seemed to mock the “scientific prowess” accumulated by humanity over thousands of years. And the fact that the pilot of that was not Japanese but Korean filled him with endless fear.

However, his anxiety disappeared like melting snow as soon as he saw the breastplate gloves of the Marine Type Knights standing proudly under the sun before his eyes.

Ten blue robots surrounding Myung-jun’s Knights like a crescent moon.

Because on each chest and shoulder glove was drawn a red circle surrounded by a white square.

The sight of a large Japanese flag engraved on the chest and shoulders of the 10-meter-tall blue giant robot.

It had enough power to soften the vigilance of all the protesters gathered there to oppose the demonstration.

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***

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“I… think that’s roughly how we’ll make our entrance.”

One hour before Prime Minister Ishida and Myung-jun arrived in Tokyo Bay.

Myung-jun explained the plan for their arrival in Japan to Prime Minister Ishida.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Ishida asked Myung-jun why such a grand entrance was necessary.

“It seems very impressive, but is there a need to go that far?”

“We need to soothe the resentment over handing over the right to use Japanese territory to Korean-led awakener clans. Anyway, it’s essential to have the wholehearted support of the Japanese people for us to operate freely in Japan.”

“But the sudden landing of 11 giant robots, which can easily neutralize tank units, can actually instill fear. It could be seen as a form of invasion by some.”

“For that reason, I plan to draw the Japanese flag on the external armor of all the Knights except for the one I control. Anyway, this contract includes a condition to transfer Marine Type Knights to Japan. However, there is one thing you must ensure.”

“Please tell me…”

“I will allow the Rising Sun flag, but not the Imperial flag. Even on the Marine Type Knights we provide. If any Marine Type Knight with the Imperial flag is found, we will immediately retrieve the production facilities and forcibly recall all Marine Type Knights.”

“That… why? If you could please explain the reason…”

“It’s simply because I personally dislike the design of the Imperial flag. If you don’t like it, you can cancel the contract now and start over. We’re not the ones who will be disappointed.”

Prime Minister Ishida couldn’t say anything in response to Myung-jun’s attitude, which strongly implied, ‘If you’re not satisfied, then leave.’

He was well aware that allowing Myung-jun to inscribe the Japanese flag on the Marine Type Knights in the first place was a “consideration” for his own position, which could become precarious due to this contract.

Prime Minister Ishida nodded, accepting Myung-jun’s conditions.

“…We will do as you say.”

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***

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Looking through binoculars from the bridge of the Izumo-class helicopter carrier, Prime Minister Ishida lowered the binoculars with a satisfied expression. Then, he turned to his aide, who was also holding binoculars beside him.

“What do you think?”

“It’s exactly as Mr. Myung-jun said. Everyone looks like they’re dreaming. The expressions of the protesters, which were filled with hostility and resentment just moments ago when your Knights landed, softened instantly as soon as they saw the Japanese flag on the Marine Type Knights. And the Japanese citizens who were watching live on TV were the same.”

The aide quickly showed the Prime Minister the image of the Knights’ arrival, which had taken over social media.

“A divine guardian appears to protect Japan?! A fleet of giant robots in Japan!?”

The photo, with a headline that sounded like gulping down hot soup, was taken in a composition that made even the Prime Minister’s heart flutter, knowing that all of this was a carefully calculated production.

A huge aircraft carrier belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force standing like a background.

And lined up in front of it were robots with Japanese flags drawn on them. Because of the magnificent picture drawn by the robots with Japanese flags on their chests and shoulders, which would excite anyone with Japanese nationality.

With just two cans of red and white spray paint, Myung-jun had managed to evoke such enthusiastic responses. Adjusting the timing of handing over the robots as promised, and pre-drawing the flags that the Japanese government would eventually add anyway.

Through this small timing adjustment, Myung-jun swiftly turned the tide of public opinion opposing the entry of the Liberal Clan.

Prime Minister Ishida, watching the protesters, felt Myung-jun’s words echoing in his mind.

‘Human beings are surprisingly weak to emotions. Just a few drawings of symbols can change one’s thinking and attitude by 180 degrees.’

And as if to prove Myung-jun’s words, the citizens participating in the protest began to lower their pickets one by one.

Pickets with provocative slogans such as “Don’t hand over territory to Cho Seung-jin” and “The contract with the Liberal Clan is null and void.”

And shortly after, a protester in the crowd couldn’t contain his overflowing emotions and shouted out.

“It’s a divine guardian!”

“The Liberal Clan has come to Tokyo Port to protect Japan!”

“Now Japan is the strongest! Long live the Liberal Clan!”

“Hurrah! Long live the Liberal Clan!”

Watching the crowd through the cockpit monitor inside the Knight, Myung-jun quietly smirked.

Because he found it foolish how the protesters suddenly changed their attitudes just because a few red circles were drawn.

To Myung-jun, a nation was neither a grand nor a precious entity.

If he hadn’t regressed, he would still be trapped underground in the Ministry of National Defense, endlessly swinging a hammer.

A being that gives nothing but asks for so much.

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