Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: The Disaster Approaches Like a Tsunami (7)
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Rewind the clock just a bit—to me, just now entering the nuclear power plant.
-Bald head like a desert! Bald head that can't even be greened up! Hair that won't grow no matter what!
-Hmm… What kind of spoiled brat has a princess title like that? And I went and reserved her as the next lady of the Ammunition Group. I'm crazy, crazy.
Over the phone came the faint background music of Baldy versus the Spoiled Princess. Their suffocating, all-out battle.
To snarl at each other like that right from the first meeting—both of them were impressive in their own way.
"What kind of comedy routine is this? At this point, it's basically an impromptu skit… Ow!"
Thwack. I'd shaken my head out of habit and smacked it against the ceiling.
Being nearly 180cm tall and crammed into this much narrower space was definitely uncomfortable.
I muttered to myself without even rubbing my sore head.
"The inside of an armored vehicle is ridiculously cramped. Anyway…"
The dire interior situation.
A bundle of rusted rebar bars protruded grotesquely from the concrete structure.
If not for the armored vehicle's endless tracks, entering would have been impossible.
"The condition is worse than I thought. It had earthquake-resistant design, but it must have taken the tsunami head-on, huh?"
Boom. The small armored vehicle crushed debris as it advanced.
With no windows and completely sealed, I relied on the external camera's fuzzy feed, gradually picking up speed.
"Good thing I scouted it beforehand. There's a huge difference between knowing the path and not."
At least Chief Watanabe had allowed a tour right before the disaster hit.
More than I'd expected… Chief Watanabe was competent. At that final meeting behind the plant, he was the one I trusted most on technical matters.
As the growling tracks rumbled, I recalled that meeting in my head.
'Alright, let's make this quick. My final goal is to enter the plant and use the robotic arm to flip the coolant supply switch.'
From what I remembered, the Fukushima nuclear plant turned into a catastrophe because of the coolant supply issue.
They delayed pumping in seawater—which would ruin the reactor forever—and in the end, the core melted down.
Chief Watanabe nodded, deeming it reasonable. But then, unease flickered, and he asked me seriously.
'What if… the coolant supply is completely jammed due to mechanical failure?'
'That's why we have this robotic arm. And the avatar play with you nosey folks.'
Truth be told… Chief Watanabe had pointed out a valid worry.
But there was no other way now, and showing fear would just tank morale.
When you have to push forward, you do it bullheadedly.
I pointed to the front of the small armored vehicle and continued.
'The camera connected up front will stream straight to this phone screen. Via video call.'
'Hmm…'
'Then you nosey guy controls me. Telling me how to move, which wires to cut and splice, etc.'
Do your best with what's given.
That's all there is.
I'll do everything I can, and the rest… leave to the heavens.
'As long as we get the coolant in, everything's solved. The hopeless disaster, the permanent shutdown of Fukushima. All gone like it never happened.'
My final words, spoken like a vow to myself.
With that, I left everyone behind and stepped into this gateway to hell.
Was I lost in thought? The interior facilities came easier than expected. I reported the situation to the outside via phone.
"Primary gate entered. Chief Watanabe, any anomalies ahead on your screen?"
-Yeah… It's fine. Just go straight. Turn right there for the secondary gate. Then the reactor.
"This… Ugh!"
Thud. A sudden violent shake.
Something heavy must have dropped from above onto the vehicle.
The rear armor—the weakest part—seemed dented, pressure building on the legs. But the real problem was elsewhere.
"Radiation levels… This is bad. Crazy high. Coolant's probably all gone by now. If we're not careful, the whole plant's toast."
Radiation seeping through a slight gap. Levels inside the vehicle were rising steadily. Good thing I had the suit… otherwise, I'd be dead already.
On top of that.
"Chief, Chief Watanabe? Communications are glitchy. Weird on your end too?"
Communication breakdown.
High radiation wreaked havoc on regular phone semiconductors.
"Seems like radiation's messing with the signal. Normal video call's out. Switching to emergency mode."
-Chairman? …Are you…?
Voice buried in static crackles.
As I hooked up the emergency comms gear and waited for boot-up.
"Ah, all set. Testing the connection… Huh?"
Screech, squeak. Eerie noise like a ghost's wail.
A massive crash from above as something toppled. A huge shock hit me.
A shock that knocked me unconscious.
* * * *
'But Chairman. That plan, problem.'
A dream…?
In the haze, memories surfaced from the final strategy meeting.
The Western technician—nosey guy—had some real expertise, voicing concerns.
'Radiation strong. Comms cut, we're screwed. Totally screwed.'
'We have plans. No Plan B is for idiots.'
So I popped the hood to show the spaceship-grade comms device.
Nosey guy's eyes bulged at the blatantly ancient relic.
'This total old junk relic!'
'Ancient but reliable. Radiation won't cut it. Downsides: black-and-white, slow as hell, crap quality.'
'As long as it works… We manage controls somehow…'
'So take good care of me. Avatar fun depends on how good the pilot is.'
A sudden chill of pain.
As the warm haze faded, harsh reality slammed my body.
And with it, my senses returned.
"Before pilot, the avatar's gotta survive first. Cough! Cough!"
Even avatars suck sometimes.
Suddenly felt bad for Advisor Yoo Se-na. Making a mob boss's moll hurl insults, pitting her against a national princess in kendo.
Guess I'm a shitty boss.
"Inner wall collapsed? Close call. No…"
Body moved somehow, engine chugged along, robotic arm intact.
But… the real issue: radiation spiking while I was out.
Now truly dangerous. Delay too long, and even the suit won't save me from damage.
"Disaster… Can't last long even suited up."
Prioritize finishing fast. I spoke into the emergency comms.
"Ah, ah. Can you hear me? Chief Watanabe, nosey guy?"
-Now clear! Chairman still alive?
Nosey guy's voice—surprisingly welcome.
"Like hell I'd die. Minor issue, but gotta hurry and wrap this. Plan B, switching to emergency comms now."
-Okay!
Plan B going smoothly, thankfully.
But crossing the secondary gate into the reactor's depths, I couldn't hide my shock.
"Ah… This is bad."
Coolant nearly drained.
The reactor, glowing red-hot, blasted fearsome heat—even felt inside the vehicle.
"Chief Watanabe? Coolant system's busted. Flipping the switch won't cut it."
-See a metal box on the right? Open that first. Minimal damage inside.
I opened the metal box as Chief Watanabe directed and nosey guy explained the controls.
-Ah, simpler fault than thought. That wire's tangled. Cut the power supply line… Huh?
"Chief?"
What I thought would resolve easy.
But at the final hurdle, a brutal ambush awaited.
-Chief Han, can you… tell colors?
Plan B's biggest flaw.
-Screen's black-and-white… Need to connect the red wire…
* * * *
Inside the Prime Minister's armored limo.
After the report from the LDP Secretary-General, the Prime Minister sank into his seat and spoke.
"I don't enjoy whipping, but when the house is at stake, a disobedient dog needs the stick."
After blackmailing with footage from Kaneyama, the bureaucrats finally stopped their rice-bowl squabbles.
At last, the command center was organized.
"Wise words, Prime Minister. Their asses weren't even on fire yet—just raising the stick straightened them out."
"Black-haired beasts are all the same. Anyway."
Peeking through the curtain at the outside.
Fukushima city, ravaged by quake and tsunami, looked like a war zone—utter desolation.
"Whew… What a ruin."
"Our apologies, Prime Minister."
"Can't blame anyone for an act of God. Post-disaster handling matters more. In that vein."
The Prime Minister sighed wearily.
Slowly, he named someone who should have been a pillar of the command center.
"TEPCO's Nakamua President. Doing a press conference now?"
"Yes. Had it prepped as ordered. Hey, bring that."
Secretary fetched the tablet PC.
Screen showed Nakamua at Fukushima city hall, brazenly spouting nonsense.
-Chief Watanabe's lost his marbles! No wonder he's exiled to that dump!
Nationwide live broadcast.
Prime Minister frowned.
"Pathetic."
"He's… like that. Petty."
"Let's hear what else he says."
Clutching the mic like a rock star, Nakamua ranted.
His blame target No. 2 was a foreign conglomerate chairman, not even Japanese.
-Why'd Han Seo-jun barge into the nuclear plant? All bravado! Those women glued to him, that's why!
Words that could be seen as near-blasphemy toward Princess Hina and the Imperial Household.
Could spark a political firestorm. Prime Minister was appalled.
"Hah… He's thrashing about."
"Ahem, I'll tell them to cut it."
"Wait. That…?"
Prime Minister stopped the Secretary-General from shutting off the screen.
Channel switched scenes to the anchor.
Behind the anchor, a background clip showed a familiar figure.
"Princess Hina? At the Fukushima plant? Why?"
Studio in chaos.
After internal huddle—visible staff—the anchor spoke up, voice flushed.
-Tokyo TV exclusive. Ammunition Group Chairman Han Seo-jun entered to stop reactor meltdown.
-We received footage from the vehicle inside. Connecting now.