Solving Middle Age Crisis by Intelligence System-Chapter 562 - 376: Multiple Fronts Erupting

The following morning, a piece of news caused an uproar in Japan.

The former Prime Minister and the old Family Head of the Hatoyama Clan—Hatoyama Norio, passed away last night from a sudden heart attack.

Interview vehicles from major news agencies clogged the street outside the Hatoyama Clan’s old residence, reporters jostling forward, trying to glean more details from Hatoyama Kiichi’s tense expression.

On NHK’s morning news, the anchor reported the news in a heavy tone, the backdrop repeatedly showing footage of Hatoyama Norio delivering a speech in Congress years ago.

Inside the Prime Minister’s Residence, when aides hurriedly reported this news to the Prime Minister, there was surprisingly little shock on his face, as if he had already anticipated this outcome...

His heart fluttered, instantly giving rise to countless speculations.

"Also... there’s one more thing, Mr. Liu Zhengyi called again, inquiring about the detained Huaxia person. Do you want to return his call personally?"

Without a second thought, the Prime Minister waved his hand: "No need, tell him for me that the Huaxia person violated Japan’s laws and needs to undergo investigation by the relevant departments."

He had already made a deal with Hatoyama Kiichi, and the latter would be the representative of the entire Hatoyama Clan, able to provide more support than the Soft Bank Company could in the future.

Seeing the Prime Minister’s resolute attitude, the aide didn’t say much more.

After leaving the office, he immediately phoned Liu Zhengyi, conveying the Prime Minister’s meaning in a tactful manner.

On the other end of the line, Liu Zhengyi paused, although he had suspected that they might be up to something, hearing this decision still made him somewhat angry.

I invested serious money to elevate you, and yet you can’t even grant me face in such a trivial matter. How can I expect you to help me secure benefits in future policies?

"Alright, I understand. Convey to him not to regret it!"

Liu Zhengyi uttered a harsh statement and hung up. Then he promptly shared the news with Fu Wentao.

Over ten minutes later, several parties met in the conference room again.

Fu Wentao sat at the main seat, expressionless, saying, "Your Prime Minister made his choice even before the morning came. It’s time for us to respond."

The three exchanged glances, knowing they couldn’t shirk the responsibility.

Though helping Fu Wentao pressurize the Prime Minister might cost them a bit, losing cooperation with the Fu Group would incur greater losses in the future.

They didn’t hesitate further, each calling their subordinates to make the necessary arrangements.

At the same time, multiple major projects that Soft Bank invested in Japan suddenly announced suspension.

Mitsubishi also declared externally that the planned military ship component deliveries for next week would be postponed, while several automobile factories entered equipment inspection status, with all production lines halted.

Understand that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is indeed Japan’s major supplier for the military, with the automotive industry accounting for nearly ten percent of Japan’s GDP. Once this news emerged, government phone lines were instantly overwhelmed.

More critically, Seven&I Company directly informed that all 711 stores in Japan were closing, citing upgrades to a national supply chain system, with reopening dates to be determined later.

Bear in mind that nearly twenty thousand 711 stores island-wide, providing everything from morning meal boxes to utilities payments and delivery pickups, had already infiltrated every crevice of everyday life.

Stores unexpectedly shut down collectively, salarymen unable to buy breakfast cursed at subway stations, solitary elderly flustered by setback in paying utilities, inciting an uproar on social media.

Citizens fumed over the government’s incompetence in supervision, an overwhelming tide of public discontent surged towards the Prime Minister’s Residence.

And all this unfolded within a few short hours.

At Tokyo’s Prime Minister’s Residence, the Prime Minister had just hung up after a reprimanding call with the Minister of Defense, hardly able to catch a breath before the Chief Cabinet Secretary rushed in: "Prime Minister! The residents’ complaint calls are about to blow up the residence’s phone lines! Protesters have already appeared on the streets!"

"What’s happening!? Why did it suddenly turn into this?"

The Prime Minister hurled a teacup onto the ground, the jarring sound of shattered pieces reverberating through the office.

"How should I know why this happened!" he yelled furiously, his morning-styled hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot.

Even now, he still couldn’t believe Liu Zhengyi dared to mess with him.

Nor that Mitsubishi and 711 followed along to embarrass him!

To understand, he was the Prime Minister now, the most powerful man in Japan! Weren’t these men afraid of being held accountable?

Seeing the Prime Minister in such an agitated state, the Chief Cabinet Secretary dared not continue speaking, slinking away to prepare a press conference to stabilize public sentiment.

The Prime Minister slumped into his chair, pulling out his phone and dialed Hatoyama Kiichi’s number, shouting at him: "Get over here immediately!"

He began to regret collaborating with him, never anticipating such fierce reactions from Liu Zhengyi and the others.

On the line, Hatoyama Kiichi could hear the Prime Minister’s fury too, hastily heading to the Prime Minister’s Residence despite needing to handle his father’s affairs.

"Prime Minister, don’t worry, I am very well connected with Mitsubishi’s Vice President, I’m contacting him now..."

Before Hatoyama Kiichi could finish defending himself, the Prime Minister slammed down the phone, heavily hurled his mobile onto the desk.

The office descended into silence, only the faint chants of protesters outside served as needles pricking his taut nerves.

He leaned back in his chair, quickly weighing whether to terminate his collaboration with Hatoyama Kiichi.

The promised rewards hadn’t even been tasted yet, continuing like this and his seat might become unstable.

Twenty minutes later, Hatoyama Kiichi stumbled into the office, prepared to explain when the Prime Minister pointed and berated him: "Look outside! Civilians are protesting outside the Residence, government phones have all been bombarded!"

"Where’s your so-called support!? Your family’s influence!?"

Though Hatoyama Kiichi panicked internally, he outwardly strove to maintain composure: "Prime Minister, I..."

Before he could finish, a staff member rushed in again to report urgently: "Prime Minister! Tokyo’s police headquarters has urgently reported that gang elements in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya have suddenly taken to the streets causing disturbances!"

"Several stores on the commercial streets of Shinjuku were smashed, small-scale clashes even occurred at Osaka’s subway station, the police headquarters called in full staff, but the agitators continue to gather!"

"Many citizens have already been injured!"

"Gangs?!" The Prime Minister erupted from his chair, eyes wide, "Damn! How dare they? Who gave them the guts?!"

At such sensitive times, public disorder was evidently incited by someone behind the scenes, exploiting civilian discontent to fan the flames, clearly aiming to stir up chaos completely.

Standing beside, Hatoyama Kiichi blinked, seemingly struck by a revelation.