306-310

Chapter 306: Failure

*"What... is this?"*

Accompanied by the crisp sound of gunfire, Takayama came to a halt.

Looking down at the blood seeping from his body, a sharp, searing pain instantly consumed his mind.

*"No... I refuse to accept this..."*

Clutching the wound in his chest, from which blood continued to gush, Takayama's face contorted in agony. He never expected that the members of the Special Rapid Response Unit sent to capture him would be so decisive—opening fire without hesitation, completely disregarding the surrounding civilians.

The gunfire erupting on the street threw everything into chaos.

*"I haven't changed this country yet... I was so close..."*

Reaching out toward the crowd before him, his mouth filled with the metallic taste of his own blood.

*"Just a little more... and I could have changed this rotten world."*

The hopeful light in his eyes dimmed.

*Thud—*

Losing the last of his strength, Takayama's body collapsed powerlessly to the ground. A pool of blood spread rapidly from the wound in his chest.

*"Keiko... must... kill..."*

His lips parted and closed weakly, like a fish out of water, as he murmured his final words.

*"Target has been neutralized!"*

A hand was raised, signaling the chaotic crowd to quiet down.

The Special Rapid Response Unit members cautiously approached Takayama’s motionless body, confirming that all signs of life had ceased before reporting back to Sakai through their earpieces.

*"Confirmed."*

---

### Kyoto, Metropolitan Police Headquarters

Receiving the report from the Special Rapid Response Unit, Sakai nodded expressionlessly, jotting down a note on the paper before him.

In a way, Takayama’s death had been inevitable.

After all, everything he had done had long exceeded the boundaries of reason. In terms of danger, he surpassed even the world's most notorious terrorists.

*"..."*

After issuing instructions for the cleanup operation, Sakai closed his eyes, waiting for the final outcome.

He needed Takayama’s death to confirm his theory.

*"Chief Sakai!"*

However, it didn’t take long for the anticipated confirmation to arrive.

*"Urgent news from Tokyo—The Minister of Defense has been found dead in his official residence!"*

Sakai’s eyes snapped open as he turned to the officer delivering the report.

*"What time was the Minister’s death recorded?"*

*"Twelve minutes ago."*

Glancing at the time noted on his paper, Sakai compared it with the Special Rapid Response Unit's report.

Takayama had been shot dead thirty minutes earlier.

Which meant that even after the death of their sworn enemy, Keiko Watanabe’s thirst for vengeance had not been quelled.

*"Warn all ministers and the Prime Minister—the threat remains. For national security, they must avoid exposing themselves to danger."*

Striking through the recorded time of death on his paper, Sakai issued a grave warning to the political elite in Tokyo.

*"Bring me all intelligence reports related to Keiko Watanabe, immediately."*

---

Horikawa High School

*"Attention all students, school is now dismissed!"*

"…No suffering, no accumulation, no annihilation, no path. No knowledge, no attainment. With nothing to attain, the Bodhisattva, relying on the Perfection of Wisdom, is free from obstacles in the mind. Because there are no obstacles, he has no fear, is free from perverted views, and reaches ultimate Nirvana. All Buddhas of the past, present, and future rely on the Perfection of Wisdom and attain supreme, perfect enlightenment..."

*"All students still on campus, please leave immediately. Do not linger inside the school grounds."*

"…Therefore, know that the Perfection of Wisdom is the great divine mantra, the great illuminating mantra, the supreme mantra, the unequaled mantra, capable of removing all suffering. This is true, not false. Therefore, the Perfection of Wisdom mantra is proclaimed: Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha."

The chanting of Buddhist sutras from Kinkaku-ji Temple blended eerily with the school’s broadcast announcement.

As students passed by the open courtyard, bags slung over their shoulders, they curiously observed the monks sitting in a circle, solemnly reciting their prayers.

Lately, strange things had been happening at Horikawa High School.

However, for most students, these were nothing more than rumors circulating around campus.

Only a handful had actually witnessed these events firsthand.

Yet, the presence of monks from Kinkaku-ji gave credence to the rumors.

It seemed that something had indeed happened—something beyond their knowledge.

Under the curious gazes of the students, the monks continued their solemn chanting, unfazed by the surrounding commotion.

The school board had paid a hefty price to invite Kinkaku-ji to perform this ritual, and the monks were determined to conduct the ceremony with due professionalism.

At first, watching a group of monks chanting in unison seemed intriguing.

But after a while, the novelty wore off, and the students, heeding the school’s repeated dismissal announcements, gradually dispersed.

*"Endo, do you think this exorcism ritual will actually work?"*

Standing by the courtyard, Shimada couldn’t shake the feeling that the chanting had soothed his previously unsettled nerves—though he wasn’t sure if it was just a psychological effect.

Turning to his friend beside him, he asked hesitantly.

*"Will it really send that guy away?"*

*"I don’t know."*

Endo, watching the monks with an unreadable expression, shook his head.

*"I hope it works. That way, I won’t have to worry about those suicide notes anymore."*

Glancing briefly at the school building, Shimada sighed. Ever since the ritual began, the school had been rushing to dismiss students early, and with teachers patrolling the grounds, there was no chance for him to stay behind.

*"I heard this ritual is supposed to last the whole night. The monks will be chanting until morning."*

Even though he was distracted by the suicide note situation, Shimada couldn’t help but be impressed.

He had no problem pulling an all-nighter for video games, but the thought of chanting sutras nonstop until dawn sounded like torture.

*"Don’t they get exhausted?"*

*"I don’t know if they do, but we need to head home now. The teachers are coming to check."*

As Shimada marveled at the monks’ endurance, Endo cast a thoughtful glance toward the old school building before turning back.

*"Let’s go."*

---

Chapter 307: The Headless Statue

"… Night ye, Namo, Aliye, Balukate, Shapolaya, Bodhisattvaya, Mahasattvaya, Maha Karunika, Om, Sabala Faye, Sutana Dasha. Namo, Sigilita, Imon Aliye, Balugite, Shifola…"

Late at night, Horikawa High School.

After school hours, all the students had already gone home.

Under the school’s artificial lighting, a group of monks from Kinkaku-ji Temple continued chanting scriptures in the open courtyard.

Tok—Tok—

"Senior brother, it's my turn to lead the ritual now. The principal has prepared a meal for us in the auditorium. You should eat while it's still warm."

A monk emerged from the direction of the school auditorium and addressed the senior brother, who was seated in the courtyard, rhythmically striking a wooden fish.

"Then I’ll leave it to you," the senior monk, Shinsei, replied.

He paused his drumming, stretched his stiff wrist, and handed the kenchi (a ritual instrument) to his junior brother.

"It’s my duty," the younger monk replied softly as he accepted the instrument.

His face was mostly hidden under his monk's hood, leaving only a small part of his mouth visible.

Shinsei slowly uncurled his stiff legs, standing up after sitting in the same position for too long. He turned to glance at the other monks, who were seated around him in meditative postures, hands clasped together, chanting the Great Compassion Mantra.

Pressing his palms together in a gesture of gratitude, Shinsei acknowledged his hardworking companions before walking toward the school auditorium with stiff, deliberate steps.

As he departed, the monk who had taken over his place sat down, lifted the kenchi, and resumed striking the wooden fish.

Tok—Tok—

He accompanied the rhythmic beats with soft chanting, blending into the steady flow of scripture echoing through the empty school grounds.

Inside the auditorium, Shinsei stepped forward.

Since the hall was only temporarily used to prepare meals for the monks, only a single dim light was switched on in the corner, casting shadows over the rows of simple vegetarian meal boxes arranged for them.

"Has no one eaten yet?"

Shinsei was surprised to see that most of the meal boxes remained untouched.

He had thought he was the last one to arrive, yet many of his junior monks still hadn't eaten.

"They should eat soon. I don’t want them going hungry."

Feeling a slight pang of guilt, he picked up one of the meal boxes from the table. The plain, simple food lacked much appeal, which was probably why his junior monk had only described it as something to "fill the stomach."

In Japan, some Buddhist monks—depending on their sect—are allowed to drink alcohol, eat meat, and even marry. For many, monastic life is more of a family tradition than a true spiritual calling.

However, in a traditional temple like Kinkaku-ji, the monastic rules were still strictly observed.

Shinsei opened the meal box, clasped his hands together for a brief prayer, and picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks. Just as he was about to take a bite, a faint, unpleasant stench drifted into his nose.

"...What is that smell?"

He frowned and lowered his chopsticks.

"Did something die in here? A rat, maybe?"

The thought instantly killed his appetite.

Tap, tap, tap—

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed through the auditorium.

"Who’s there?"

Shinsei instinctively turned his head, his gaze falling upon a faint shadow shifting in the dimly lit corner of the hall.

Furrowing his brows, he asked hesitantly, "Is that one of my junior brothers?"

He assumed it was a fellow monk who had come for a meal.

Tap… tap…

But the figure in the shadows gave no response.

Instead, it continued its slow, deliberate approach.

The closer the footsteps came, the more unease crept into Shinsei’s mind.

"Are you a school official from Horikawa High?"

He tried again, suppressing his rising anxiety.

"…"

Still, no answer.

The figure merely advanced, step by heavy step.

As it moved into the dim light, Shinsei finally saw it clearly—and what he saw made his blood run cold.

His face twisted in horror.

There, in the weak glow of the auditorium light, stood a moving plaster statue.

Its neck was bare—headless.

In its hand, it clutched a gleaming cleaver.

Step by step, it advanced toward Shinsei.

Even without a head, Shinsei could feel its gaze locked onto him.

"This… this isn’t possible… Why…?"

The serene composure he had always maintained shattered in an instant.

His meal box slipped from his hands, its contents spilling across the floor.

Shinsei stumbled backward, his face pale with panic.

"Could it be…? Are the rumors about Horikawa High true? Is this really the work of vengeful spirits?"

Bang!

In his terror, he crashed against the edge of the podium, but he barely registered the pain.

All his focus was on the headless statue, cleaver raised high, approaching relentlessly.

Desperate, Shinsei clutched the prayer beads around his neck.

"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deep prajnaparamita, clearly perceived that all five aggregates are empty, thus overcoming all suffering and distress. Sariputra! Form is not different from emptiness, and emptiness is not different from form; form itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is form. The same applies to sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. Sariputra! All dharmas are marked by emptiness…"

Clutching his prayer beads, he shouted the Heart Sutra, hoping to ward off the spirit.

But no matter how fervently he chanted, the headless statue was unaffected.

It continued its slow, methodical march toward him.

"No… The sutra isn't working!"

As his last hope crumbled, despair filled Shinsei’s eyes.

His gaze darted to the corner of the auditorium—where several familiar corpses lay sprawled on the floor.

"Those are…!"

Recognition flashed through his terrified mind.

But before he could utter another word, the headless statue reached him—and the cleaver came down.

"Aaaahhhh!"

"… Sila Sangha, Amuka Ye, Svaha. Svaha Maha, Asiddha Ye, Svaha. Jaki La, Asiddha Ye, Svaha. Padma, Katsidha Ye, Svaha. Narakinchi, Pakalaya…"

Tok—Tok—

A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the auditorium.

Outside in the courtyard, the monks of Kinkaku-ji remained seated, chanting the Great Compassion Mantra as if nothing had happened.

In front of them, the monk striking the wooden fish continued his ritual—even as fresh blood trickled down from his severed throat.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 308: Target Selection

*12:50 AM*

Kyoto, inside a room prepared by the Metropolitan Police Department.

"The time is almost here."

Sakai glanced at his wristwatch, his expression growing more serious.

He was currently in a room that he had requested from the police department.

The walls were covered with intelligence regarding Keiko Watanabe—interrogation records from the class reunion, testimonies from students at Horikawa High School, and the autopsy report of the corpse unearthed from the time capsule.

Everything seemed to have started the moment Keiko's body was dug up from that capsule.

At the same time, Sakai had discovered some peculiar records while investigating Horikawa High School.

The school's history was quite long, dating back to the Meiji era. However, there were few detailed records of its early days. The only written mention appeared in Kyoto Miscellany from Showa 12 (1937), which noted that the school's original building had been severely damaged by a typhoon that year, leading to a temporary closure and reconstruction. The old school building that still stands today was completed during that period.

According to Kyoto Miscellany, during the reconstruction, workers excavated a dismembered female corpse from beneath the original school site. Despite being buried for an extended period, fresh blood was still oozing from the wounds when the body was unearthed.

It was said that many of the construction workers who made the discovery went insane.

To resolve the situation, the Kyoto government took over and attempted to recover all parts of the body. However, despite their efforts, they were never able to locate the most crucial part—the head. Pressed by construction deadlines, the government eventually ceased the search and cremated the remains that had been found.

From that point onward, strange incidents frequently occurred at Horikawa High School. Students would mysteriously vanish or die under bizarre circumstances.

However, these eerie events did not persist for long and eventually faded away.

Over time, Horikawa High School became just another ordinary school.

The only reason Kyoto Miscellany recorded the event was to document it as a ghost story.

Had it not been for the disturbance caused by Takayama, which forced Sakai to investigate Keiko Watanabe and the related clues, the entire case might have been forgotten in the annals of history.

Based on Kyoto Miscellany's account, Horikawa High School had always been an unusual place.

Sakai had a hunch—perhaps this was the root cause of the school's recurring supernatural events.

Yet, despite uncovering these clues, reality did not afford Sakai much time for contemplation.

The second hand on his watch ticked past 1:00 AM.

Suppressing the theories racing through his mind, Sakai took a deep breath, picked up the phone in the room, and spoke:

"Keiko... Keiko, can you hear my voice?"

"……"

A brief silence followed, stretching time endlessly within the room.

Outside, the Special Assault Team was on high alert, ready to take action the moment something went wrong.

Then, amid the tension—

"I can hear you~"

A soft giggle echoed from the other end of the line.

Even though Sakai had expected it, the moment he heard Keiko Watanabe's voice, goosebumps spread across his arms.

Suppressing the unease welling up inside him, he followed the testimonies of the bullied students from Horikawa High School and mimicked Takayama’s approach in the video.

"Keiko… Keiko, please avenge me… Punish the one who bullied me…"

"Kill them. His name is Yoshikuma Kojima."

Inside the room, Sakai calmly spoke the name he had prepared.

Yoshikuma Kojima—the central figure in the recent controversy at Horikawa High School that had sparked a massive public outcry.

To suppress the backlash from the incident he caused, the authorities had gone to great lengths, even sacrificing scapegoats to cover it up.

After Kojima had been transformed into a mass of red threads, he was transported to a military base in the Kyoto outskirts for research. There, the investigating team made a shocking discovery.

Logically speaking, being completely wrapped in such a dense mass of red threads should have left no possibility of survival.

However, after scanning the red threads with electromagnetic waves, the researchers uncovered an astonishing truth—these seemingly inanimate threads were alive.

Even more unsettling, the threads inside were still slowly growing and shifting.

The scientists in charge of the study proposed a chilling hypothesis—Kojima might still be alive.

The red threads functioned much like biological tentacles, sustaining his vital signs.

Though current research had yet to determine exactly how the red threads operated or how they prevented Kojima from suffocating, the very idea was disturbing enough.

Upon learning that Kojima might still be alive, Sakai immediately incorporated this information into his plan.

Originally, his target had been Keiko herself.

His intention was to confuse her killing pattern, thereby saving the Cabinet ministers who were now trapped in a life-or-death crisis.

But he knew all too well—this strategy was a desperate gamble.

If it failed, it would result in total failure.

Thus, the existence of Yoshikuma Kojima presented a new opportunity.

"……"

Upon hearing the name from Sakai’s lips, Keiko fell silent on the other end of the call.

Feeling the weight of that silence, Sakai's grip on the receiver tightened, his palm growing damp with sweat.

He hesitated—should he go all in and reveal Keiko Watanabe’s name as the target instead?

After all, at this point, how much worse could things possibly get?

"Alright~"

Just as Sakai wavered, Keiko’s playful voice echoed through the phone again.

Hearing this, he finally exhaled the breath he had been holding.

As he looked down at the now-disconnected phone in his hand, he wiped his forehead.

In truth, it wasn’t just his forehead—his entire back was drenched in sweat.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 309: Lockdown

*Ring, ring, ring—*

Late at night.

In the outskirts of Kyoto, inside a research facility.

The sudden ringing of a telephone echoed through the vast, empty laboratory.

A researcher standing in front of a massive bundle of red threads furrowed his brows upon hearing the incessant ringing.

"Who would be calling at this hour?"

A hint of irritation flashed through his mind. Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away from the strange red threads before him and took a step toward the ringing phone.

*"Dr. Kobayashi!"*

Suddenly, a special rapid-response unit burst into the laboratory.

One of the officers addressed the puzzled researcher: *"From this moment on, the special rapid-response unit will be taking over all operations at this research base."*

*"What?!"*

Dr. Kobayashi's face immediately showed shock and disbelief upon hearing the officer’s words.

"Why? I’ve just made a breakthrough in my research on the red threads! If I continue studying them, I’ll uncover their secrets. This could be a revolutionary discovery! You can't just take this away from me!"

Kobayashi had never encountered anything like the red threads before. They were neither metal nor fiber, yet they were astonishingly resilient. No conventional physical force could damage them, and only fire could affect them. However, as soon as the flames were extinguished, the burned sections of the threads would regenerate.

It was this remarkable self-repairing characteristic that led Kobayashi to theorize that the red threads were capable of movement. He had even concluded that someone—specifically, Yoshikuma Kojima—was still alive inside them.

"You don’t understand! This is an extraordinary discovery! The existence of these red threads will change the world! This is an entirely new material, something unlike anything science has ever documented before—"

As a researcher, Kobayashi displayed unwavering dedication to his work in front of the rapid-response team.

However, his passion did not change their orders.

Amid the persistent ringing of the phone, the special unit forcibly escorted Dr. Kobayashi out of the research facility. The site was then sealed off under strict orders, preventing anyone—including Kobayashi—from approaching it again.

The government's purpose in shutting down the facility was not to take over Kobayashi’s research or to continue studying the red threads.

It was to ensure a complete lockdown—to permanently trap Yoshikuma Kojima within the red threads.

Along with him, they would also be sealing off Keiko.

*Clang!*

The heavy iron doors of the laboratory were slammed shut, and the power supply was cut off.

In the coming days, the government would arrange for the entire facility to be sealed with concrete.

As the iron doors closed and the electricity was cut, the once brightly lit laboratory was swallowed by complete darkness.

*Ring, ring, ring—*

Even in the pitch-black room, the urgent ringing continued, as if demanding that the intended recipient answer the call.

But this time, Keiko would never pick up the phone.

The massive bundle of red threads sat motionless, just a short distance away from the ringing telephone.

---

### *Creak, creak—*

*Late at night, at the Shimada residence.*

Inside his bedroom, Shimada lay on his bed.

The conversation he had with Endo earlier that day lingered in his mind—especially the part about the will. This left Shimada feeling deeply uneasy.

He hoped that the monks from Kinkaku-ji, who had performed the ritual at Horikawa High School, would be able to exorcise whatever was haunting the school. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn’t be that simple.

As he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, a strange creaking sound suddenly came from his window.

Hearing the noise, Shimada froze in place. Slowly, he turned onto his side, half-opening his eyes to peer toward the window.

His room was on the second floor.

*"Could it be a bird?"*

The creaking sound outside continued. Doubt crept into Shimada’s mind.

*"But even if it is a bird, isn’t it a bit too late at night for one to be moving around?"*

*Clatter!*

Just as his thoughts ran wild, the window— which had been shut—was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

In the pitch-dark room, Shimada saw a vague, shadowy figure struggling to climb in through the window.

*"This is impossible...!"*

A look of pure shock spread across Shimada’s face as he watched the figure enter.

He instinctively clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the scream that was about to escape.

Through his blurry vision, he saw the shadow climb fully into the room. The figure then carefully turned around and closed the window, making sure to latch it shut.

Then, it turned its head toward the bed.

The instant Shimada realized the figure was looking at him, his body reacted before his mind could—he squeezed his eyes shut.

He didn’t need to see. He could feel it.

That thing was staring at him.

*"……"*

Time passed in agonizing silence.

After what felt like an eternity, the suffocating weight of the figure’s gaze finally shifted away.

Taking the smallest of risks, Shimada cracked open his eyes just a sliver.

Through the faint gap in his vision, he saw the figure walking toward his desk. It reached into its clothing and pulled out an envelope, placing it carefully on the desk.

*"Just a little longer... almost done..."*

A barely audible voice whispered from the figure.

At that moment, everything clicked for Shimada.

The figure was delivering the final will.

That explained how the previous letters had appeared in his room.

Clearly, the monks from Kinkaku-ji had failed to exorcise it.

The thought sent a chill through Shimada’s body.

He kept watching as the shadowy figure stood motionless in front of the desk after placing the letter down.

Just as he was about to wonder what it would do next, it suddenly moved in the darkness.

Seeing the shift, Shimada reflexively shut his eyes once more.

Then, he heard the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps—growing closer.

The figure was heading straight toward his bed.

As the eerie presence neared, Shimada’s mind replayed his conversation with Endo. His fingers, hidden beneath his blanket, clenched instinctively.

*"Between me and Shimada, only one of us will survive."*

Shimada's heartbeat quickened.

The figure was right next to his bed.

He braced himself. Just as he was about to strike—

*Silence.*

The footsteps stopped.

The sudden stillness caught Shimada off guard.

For several seconds, he controlled his breathing, trying to remain calm.

Then, cautiously, he cracked his eyes open and scanned the room.

The figure was gone.

No sound of the window opening. No creak of the door.

It had simply… vanished.

Shimada’s face twisted in confusion.

And then—

A terrifying realization struck him.

The last sound he had heard—the final footsteps—had stopped *right beside his bed.*

That meant, if the figure hadn't left the room…

*It could only be hiding in one place.*

*Under his bed.*

*(End of Chapter.)*

Chapter 310: Resignation

“Everyone, the crisis has been resolved.”

Nagatacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo—Prime Minister’s Official Residence.

In the conference room, the Prime Minister relayed the news from Kyoto to the Cabinet ministers.

However, despite this announcement, the expressions on the ministers’ faces varied. The Minister of Defense spoke up, voicing the unease that everyone felt.

“Prime Minister, can we truly confirm the authenticity of this information? After all…”

The deaths of two key Cabinet members had already dealt a heavy blow to the ministers' morale. The higher one's status, the more they feared death—because they had too much to lose and were unwilling to let it all go so easily.

“I understand your concerns.”

In fact, it wasn’t just the Cabinet ministers who were skeptical—the Prime Minister himself had doubts about Sakai’s security report.

After all, Asō’s death had been far too strange, and the Minister of Defense had been killed within the heavily guarded official residence. It was even said that a Shinto priest from Meiji Shrine had been present at the time, yet he was still unable to prevent the minister’s death.

Thinking about this, the Prime Minister clutched his aching stomach. A thought that had lingered in his mind ever since Minister Asō’s mysterious death surfaced once more.

“To be honest with you all, my health has been deteriorating significantly since the beginning of this year. My chronic colitis, which has not improved despite treatment, has severely affected my daily life. And in recent weeks, the supernatural events surrounding us have only worsened my condition. Starting a few days ago, I’ve been experiencing severe episodes of coughing up fresh blood…”

The Cabinet members were visibly shocked by the Prime Minister’s sudden revelation about his health.

However, some of the more astute ministers quickly picked up on something.

They exchanged glances, reading the same ominous message in each other’s eyes.

Ignoring the commotion around him, the Prime Minister continued speaking.

“Given that my worsening condition has already begun to impact my daily duties—and may even affect future decisions that will shape Japan’s future—I have made a painful decision. I will resign as Prime Minister.”

“What? This is so sudden…”

“Prime Minister, the election is just around the corner…”

“If you resign now, it will seriously impact our party’s chances in the upcoming election!”

The Cabinet erupted in an uproar at the Prime Minister’s shocking declaration.

In fact, the shock of this announcement even surpassed the fear brought by Keiko Watanabe’s situation.

If the Prime Minister were to resign at this critical moment, a new election would have to be held immediately. This would throw Japan’s political scene into turmoil, and as a new Prime Minister took office, the positions of many Cabinet members would be at risk.

“Please, everyone, there’s no need to persuade me any further.”

Watching the chaotic room, the Prime Minister’s attitude remained firm.

“With my current health, I am no longer fit to remain in this position. Continuing to serve would only bring disaster upon the nation.”

Of course, his resignation wasn’t entirely due to health reasons.

As Japan’s Prime Minister, he had access to the country’s most advanced medical care. Any cutting-edge treatment in the world was at his disposal.

While colitis was a serious condition, with Japan’s top-tier medical system, it could at least be managed effectively.

The real reason for his resignation lay in Keiko Watanabe’s phone call.

After a long night of calculations and discussions, the Prime Minister’s family had reached a conclusion.

Even though Sakai had confirmed that Keiko Watanabe’s immediate crisis was over, for the sake of safety, the Prime Minister decided to step down for the time being. By announcing his resignation, the target of Keiko Watanabe’s calls would shift away from him. He could use his “treatment period” to observe whether the crisis had truly passed and return at an opportune moment.

While Keiko Watanabe’s supernatural influence was terrifying, in some ways, it had worked to the Prime Minister’s advantage.

Within the Liberal Democratic Party, aside from himself, both Deputy Prime Minister Asō and the Minister of Defense had been significant political threats.

However, due to Keiko Watanabe’s involvement, both of them had died mysteriously.

With their absence, the Prime Minister’s control over the party had strengthened. Even without the title of Prime Minister, he could still exert influence over Cabinet decisions through other means.

“For the future of our nation and to live up to the expectations of the people, I ask that you do not try to stop me. Right now, the most important task is selecting my successor. While the opposition party may not pose a major threat, we must remain cautious of their moves.”

The Prime Minister’s reminder brought the Cabinet ministers back to reality.

They immediately resumed their heated discussions.

Since they could not change his mind about resigning, their priority now was ensuring that their own power remained intact after he stepped down.

The meeting room was once again thrown into chaos.

The Prime Minister watched the ministers argue with a faint smirk of ridicule on his lips.

---

*“Political Earthquake in Japan: Prime Minister Announces Sudden Resignation!”*

The next morning, Japan was shaken by the unexpected resignation of the Prime Minister.

Many citizens were confused—how had the Prime Minister, who had been in office just the night before, suddenly stepped down?

“…It is with great regret that I must report this news to you all. Due to health reasons, I have no choice but to step down at this time… My illness has reached a critical point, and I must prioritize my treatment. Once my condition improves, I will consider my next steps…”

On television, the Prime Minister delivered his resignation speech in a sorrowful tone.

“Resigning?!”

Kyoto—Metropolitan Police Department.

Watching the Prime Minister’s speech, Sakai’s expression turned unreadable.

Unlike the vast majority of the uninformed public, he had a vague idea of the true reason behind the resignation.

He just hadn’t expected that Keiko Watanabe’s influence would ripple so far—even though she had been confined to Professor Yoshikuma’s laboratory on a remote island.

Despite this, the Prime Minister had still made such a decisive move.

It was clear that his resignation would cause an unprecedented political upheaval in Tokyo. Many prominent figures in government would likely lose their positions.

However, for Sakai, none of this mattered much.

After all, Japan wasn’t truly run by the high-ranking politicians in the public eye.

It was the vast bureaucratic system behind them that dictated the country’s real future.

---