Chapter 114
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Mr. Sunset (1)
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All schedules were either postponed or rushed through like beans frying in lightning.
Even though my leave had been approved before departure, time was still tight.
For a typical officer, it would have been plenty of time to meet family and friends and tie up loose ends. But was I your typical officer? No way. With all the messes I'd stirred up, this was just karma coming back to bite me.
"Go sell a ton of 'em."
"I'm not a salesman, sir."
"Aren't you now, appointed by the nation itself? Who ends up pocketing the cash from those tank sales? It all circles back to you eventually, so put your all into it."
Shameless profiteer.
But it was true that a chunk of the tank purchase money would flutter straight into my account, so I didn't argue.
"You won't get to see the new model launch."
"I'm disappointed, but there's nothing more I can do. I'll be watching Mr. Ford's exploits from across the Pacific."
"Feel free to call me Ezell from now on. Haha."
I probably wouldn't touch Ford business for a while.
Same with The Sun. It was an independent paper with plenty of 'friends' besides us. We'd used it once for our gain, so it was time for a cooldown.
The next person I met was someone a bit uncomfortable.
"Great show. You handled Congress like a pro."
"I just testified earnestly. How could I presume to 'handle' representatives of the American people?"
Hoover slouched in his chair, critiquing my congressional performance.
"I don't make a hobby of plucking hairs from a lion's mane. No need to worry— I won't touch Major Kim."
"We can just take what we each need mutually. No point in pretending to be partners; there are no secrets in this world."
After I'd ripped into him with facts—'The intel you gave me was garbage. What kind of investigator can't even distinguish Japanese from Ryukyuans?'—Hoover's new obsession became sniffing out the intimate dealings of minority groups and small organizations.
I knew his type well. People whose expertise was their pride.
He'd risen to power on that one skill alone, so it wasn't ordinary pride. Getting schooled by a non-expert like me must have stung bad.
"Gaining broad intel on... well, Negroes—pardon me, Blacks—and Asians is a huge personal win."
"Don't we both share the goal of protecting this country? No need for us to clash. Heh heh!"
Most of Hoover's informants were white anyway. Good luck infiltrating other races with them. It'd be like me slipping Miller into the KKK.
What did I gain from cooperating with Hoover?
Simple.
Now I decided who the reds were.
Anyone foolish enough to reject Eugene Kim's merciful hand and stir up good Asian Americans would end up in Hoover's basement closet for the full torture tour.
Those types were potential traitors anyway. Legally cutting out the rot? Perfect treatment.
The last person I met was the only Navy guy I knew.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon. Congrats on the promotion, Major Kim."
"Thank you."
"Heard you had a daughter. Brought some baby stuff as a simple gift."
King, roped into Navy messenger duty just because we had a passing acquaintance, looked distinctly unenthused.
No need for chit-chat, so he cut straight to it.
"Know about the naval arms talks in D.C.?"
"Just that they exist."
Why would I care about seal business?
As if expecting that, he handed over some documents.
"These are from the State Department's pen-pushers; this is Navy's take. For your reference."
"Got it."
"The current administration is pushing disarmament hard. Halting new ship construction, scrapping launched ones, banning fortifications at key spots. As a Navy man, it's baffling. Makes you look impressive for saving the tanks."
"I barely lifted a finger. Congress finally saw reality, late as it was."
King nodded bitterly.
"I've got a tight schedule, so I'll head out. Stay healthy in that filthy Jap den."
"What could go wrong? It'll be fine."
After tearful goodbyes with my precious family, I stopped in San Francisco for final cleanup, then met Consul Oota.
"The Empire finally has the honor of welcoming Major Kim."
"Ugh, now I'm worried. Won't it make your side uncomfortable if I show up?"
"Nonsense! We invited you. Rest easy—we'll handle everything."
After that opener, Oota hesitated, then spoke gravely.
"You're politically savvy, so I'm not too concerned, but do you know the Empire's political landscape?"
"No, not really. I'd love to hear from you."
I knew the Army and Navy snarled at each other like enemies under one roof.
Oota's explanation was brief—couldn't exactly say 'Our politics are a mess!' to a foreigner.
Notably, even Japan—where I thought the military ran everything—had strong politicians and bureaucrats.
"Of course, Prime Minister Hara was assassinated recently—"
"What? The PM's dead? Is it safe for me to go?"
"Of course! Just a lunatic's rampage. No terrorism or subversive plot. The homeland's already preparing to ensure not a hair on your head is harmed."
Damn, creepy.
More headache-inducing than Japanese politics was how to handle me, Eugene Kim, protocol-wise.
During the Great War, Japanese media—obsessed with clicks... er, circulation—had hyped 'Asia's Great Hero Eugene Kim' nonstop. Army, Navy, politicians—all hyped me for quick gains.
But now, Japan was clashing with America over arms limits.
Roll out the red carpet for a U.S. officer? Bruises national pride.
Treat me like yesterday's rice? But they invited me—piss off the prize recruit Eugene Kim?
"It's a bit weird."
I interrupted.
"Why not just... not invite me? Problem solved."
"That's the dilemma—we couldn't."
For some reason, Japanese media had latched onto rumors of 'Eugene Kim deploying to China.'
Never mentioned in D.C., so just tabloid hacks chasing sales.
But the rumor hardened into fact:
[Kin General, Deployment to China Confirmed!!]
[Outrageous! How can the Empire fail to welcome Asia's Great Hero?!]
[US-China Encirclement Looms; Empire's Fate Hangs by a Thread!]
[100 Million Subjects Unite to Honor Kin General!]
"What nonsense is this? No fact-checking in Japan?"
"You know better. How often has truth mattered? Sometimes I question my job."
They're insane.
I can't grasp Japanese common sense. Something's happening, but my logic rejects it.
"Due to all this, you'll be Admiral Togo's guest—the Empire's greatest hero hosting a foreign war hero. Not state guest status. Definitely not."
They're desperately patching excuses.
"So the Navy will host you..."
"And?"
"No idea if the Army will sit still."
There it is.
Navy hosting an Army hero? Pride killer. Even our proud U.S. Army would bristle; Imperial Army? Unpredictable. Impressive. Truly impressive.
With my head spinning more, I boarded the Pacific-crosser after wrapping up stateside prep.
Right before boarding, I gleefully grabbed a newsboy and bought The Sun.
Couldn't resist. Had to have it.
[Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur Engaged to Louise Cromwell Brooks!!]
[Wedding of the Century—Pershing's Fury?!]
[US Army's Scandal of the Century! Who is She, the Woman War Heroes Beg?!]
It finally blew up. Thousands of klicks from ground zero—pure relief.
Thanks to the general's 'care,' I'm Tokyo-bound instead of Philippine jungles. Gratitude runs marrow-deep.
I could almost see the D.C. mushroom cloud and Marshall's screams in 3D IMAX.
But not my problem.
Kuhahahahaha!
Around when Eugene Kim set off,
Tokyo, Empire of Japan.
"Word from the San Francisco consulate: Kin General has departed."
Army Minister Yamnashi Hanzo drummed the table.
"Is Kin General a seal by any chance?"
"No, sir!!"
"Then what?"
"Army!!"
"So why the hell is he coming as those damn seal pups' guest?! Shit! This trashes Army honor!!"
The assembled Army brass swallowed retorts like 'You got played by Navy tongues at the talks, and now what?' A glorious Imperial general knew the line between speakable and suicidal.
"We'll yield anything else, but escort duty is ours, whatever it takes. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!!"
"If Kin ends up like PM Hara, we're all seppuku-bound."
The generals paled.
An Asian-skinned American officer dying in Japan after showing yellow pride? They'd beg for seppuku over the noose.
America would rage, demand payback.
And before the bill arrived, Imperial subjects would torch the culprits' homes and lynch three generations.
"Any idiot thinking 'some Korean trash'—get out now. He's future U.S. Army leader. Make him fond of the Empire, somehow! Clear?"
Should be fine.
No—must be.
Another incident, and we'd be 'the country that stabs every guest.'
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Tokyo...
"Whose guest is Kin General visiting as?"
"Admiral Togo's!!"
"Perfect chance to screw those land crabs! Yield anything else, but escort is ours. Got it?"
Navy Vice Minister Ide Kenji, standing in for talks-bound Navy Minister Kato Tomosaburo, ranted fiercely.