Chapter 122
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Collapse of the Imperial Capital (2)
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When I was a kid, there was an earthquake in San Francisco.
It was truly horrific.
The city lost its position as California's number one to Los Angeles because of that blow—no need to say more.
Terror.
Fear.
Chaos.
Disorder.
Until things were somewhat under control, I'd never felt such desperation or uncertainty about what each day would bring.
And now, an even more intense quake than that one was striking here.
A horrific vibration that made each second feel like a minute.
The ground shaking worse than on any ship I'd ever been on.
Dust flying from the building next door, flimsy wooden houses collapsing with thunderous roars.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!"
Screams seemed to echo from afar, but against the massive roar of heaven and earth shaking, a mere human voice was just a faint tickle in the ears.
Before this vast scene of destruction, everyone was speechless.
"Ha, haa. Is it over?"
"Everyone okay? Anyone hurt?"
The moment the shaking stopped, I jumped out of the car and scanned the street.
A fierce wind whipped my face, but I had no time to worry about something as trivial as the wind right now.
"My God."
It should have been a peaceful Saturday.
Smoke and screams rose from all over Tokyo.
After the horrific shaking, flames erupted from every direction as if waiting to devour this massive city.
"Shit."
"I-is this an earthquake?"
"Turn the car around right now. Head to the embassy."
"What about the contract?!"
"You worried about the contract now? We're all gonna die! Earthquakes don't just come once! Driver, floor it!"
"Yes, sir!"
At that moment, the earth shook again.
Not as world-shattering as before, but terrifying all the same.
"What are you doing? Go, now! The shaking stopped—move!"
"Yes, sir!"
Cars were scattered everywhere on the roads, but we somehow maneuvered through and headed back to the embassy.
We were the only car rolling down the road.
Drivers and passengers alike had abandoned their vehicles, staring dumbfounded as this glorious city—built up over half a century since the Restoration—crumbled under divine punishment.
"The wind."
"Pardon?"
"The wind's especially strong today."
"There was a forecast about a typhoon approaching."
"Can they put out all those fires?"
"The fire department will... handle it, right?"
"Did you see those buildings collapse earlier? Forget the fires—what about the people buried under them?"
Most of the buildings filling Tokyo were wooden.
Cooking smoke had been rising everywhere around lunchtime.
Gale-force winds relentlessly battering as the typhoon's influence closed in.
Every sign pointed to the worst.
Kugugung!!
"U, uwaaa!!"
"Get to the middle of the main road! If a building collapses, we're done for!"
"Yes, sir!"
Shaking.
More shaking.
Quakes kept coming nearly every minute.
By the time we barely made it to the embassy, my unease had become reality.
"Tokyo! Tokyo is burning!"
"Mi... ch... ."
A massive inferno engulfed Tokyo.
"You're safe! I was so worried!"
After roughly shoving a pale-faced Azel into the embassy, Hajime and I went straight to meet Ambassador Cyrus E. Woods, who had replaced Warren.
"How's the relief prep going?"
"I've armed all the embassy guards. We need to secure our citizens in Tokyo first, right?"
"Got it. Hajime, join them."
"What about you, Major?"
"I... need to meet some higher-ups."
"That sounds like the right call."
Another aftershock hit, cutting our talk short, and we lit cigarettes while pretending not to notice our trembling hands.
"Worst timing possible. Really."
"You think the Japanese government can't overcome this disaster?"
"This isn't just Japan— no country could handle it easily. The prime minister died just a week ago. With the nation's core, Tokyo, in this state amid all that, what can they do?"
Think.
Got to think. Think.
First priority: relief for Americans. That's my mission and duty. Can't neglect it.
"The guards are too few, so we'll need help from police... or the Japanese army."
"Agreed."
"I have connections in the military, so I'll handle them."
"Then I'll meet the bureaucrats."
"Hajime, head out now. The embassy alone won't hold everyone—use my place too."
"Understood."
"Oh, use my house as well! Here, the keys."
We quickly divided tasks, and just as I was about to head out to see our Japanese army friends, a car sped into the embassy.
"Is everyone safe?!"
"No injuries on our side. Glad you're okay."
"Thank goodness. Forget the event—stay somewhere safe for now."
Terauchi looked visibly flustered too. It was natural to be thrown by such an unprecedented calamity.
"I know you're busy, but can we talk?"
"Of course. Don't worry about the Americans' safety. The Army Minister has already ordered the troops deployed for relief."
"It's a different issue."
This had to be the Great Kanto Earthquake.
I thought it was '25, but it's '23. Damn it.
This quake wasn't the tragedy's end.
It was just the beginning.
I'd rather avoid it if I could, but even in the heart of this disaster, I apparently wasn't heartless enough to ignore the coming horror.
"On the way back, I saw buildings collapsed and fires everywhere—truly horrific."
"The Empire has endured quakes many times and overcome them. We'll manage this one too. Please trust us."
No. I can't.
"Of course I trust you all, but Japan's political situation is so chaotic right now, isn't it?"
"...It is."
"Someone has to take responsibility. I'm just a bit worried this might spiral in an unfortunate direction."
Terauchi pondered briefly, then seemed to catch my hint.
"Are you concerned about the Koreans? That this chaos and rage might be turned on them?"
"Many here in Tokyo are people I've... groomed. Folks I can take to America and use well. Plus, if Japanese-Korean relations sour, it puts me in a tough spot."
How to stop the Kanto Massacre?
As if I knew. I'd be a god if I did.
But I had to pull every string I could.
"I have no desire to meddle in your internal affairs, but I think this quake could be a golden opportunity for the Army."
"Opportunity?"
"Yes. Opportunity. Major crises like this are the ultimate test of a leader's ability in the eyes of the people."
It always was.
Same with the San Francisco quake, and in my past life in Korea, big disasters always put the government under the microscope.
"If the government fails to help people who've lost homes, property, families, and are in despair, they'll lose faith. If the proud Army steps in to restore order then, who do you think they'll trust?"
"Wise counsel. Thank you for your insight."
This was the line. Pushing further would be risky.
God, I hope some wind fills these Army guys' sails.
"We'll dispatch a few companies from the Guards Division to help secure the Americans in Tokyo."
"Thank you! Truly!"
"It's only natural for U.S.-Japan friendship. I'll head out first."
"Yes, good luck."
Soon after, more Japanese troops joined, and Hajime and I roamed Tokyo, checking on American survivors and guiding them to temporary shelters.
A hellish September had begun.
As expected, panic gripped the entire nation.
The massive inferno threatening to swallow Tokyo was still raging fiercely even a day later, and just setting up tents on every open plain to house refugees pushed Japan's administration to its limits.
In a Japan where radio wasn't widespread yet, the press was half-paralyzed, and wild rumors spread unchecked.
"I heard Koreans are massacring people!"
"Reds and Koreans are setting the fires!"
"They say the government got swept up in the quake and everyone's dead!"
"Tokyo's east side was all washed away by the sea?!"
Fanning these flames? Incredibly, the Japanese government itself.
More precisely, the leadership couldn't agree even among themselves in the face of this unprecedented disaster, and on top of that, the field operatives were going berserk independently.
"If Koreans act suspiciously, the government will crack down immediately! Loyal subjects, stay calm and trust the police and military!"
Even as this was announced, secret orders went out simultaneously: "Find Korean crimes and make headlines out of them."
The government was scrambling to disband vigilante groups and such, but local police were opening armories for them on their own, and soldiers were killing people at will left and right.
Loss of control.
The high and mighty elite dimly sensed it.
"So, General Kin said that?"
"Yes."
With the new cabinet forming on September 2nd, Yamanashi Hanzō had stepped down as Army Minister.
But respecting elders was a tradition since the Restoration.
Though pushed out this time, Yamanashi still wielded massive influence in the military.
"Tanaka's strutting around now that he's reclaimed the Army Minister post. But how long can he hold it?"
"I believe Your Excellency is the one to lead the Imperial Army."
"I know your loyalty to the nation."
I could guess why General Kin said that.
Needing Korean support too, he couldn't just stand by while they died before his eyes, nor could he intervene aggressively— that was his bind.
"How's the army holding? Are the troops under control?"
"Difficult. With the ground shaking nonstop, everyone's on edge."
"I imagine so. Indeed."
This was his chance.
The perfect opportunity to oust those annoying rivals and etch into the subjects' minds that only the Army protected them.
"Listen well."
"Yes."
"From now on, monitor the police closely for any mischief."
"The police, sir?"
"Yes. Those bastards will surely stoop to foul deeds. If we establish they're not protecting subjects but spreading rumors to stir unrest, we can purge them immediately!"
After some thought, he told Terauchi:
"And meet General Kin again."
He absolutely couldn't refuse. Hell, he'd basically suggested it first.
"We need his fame now. Tell him: wouldn't he like to be the hero of the Koreans?"