Tokyo, the Dai-ichi Life Building.
Inside an office building less than a moat's width from the Imperial Palace, MacArthur sat in the conference room, signing various documents with a grim expression.
Tapping on the table, Liu Ren looked toward the executives of Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Yasuda, and the other zaibatsu seated nearby. "Now that you've signed, when do you plan to hand over your conglomerates' core technical archives?"
Hearing Liu Ren's demand, the executives turned immediately to Mamoru Shigemitsu, as this was not part of the agreement.
Meeting their desperate glances, Mamoru Shigemitsu began, "Mr. Liu, regarding this matter, I feel..."
*Smack!*
With a backhanded flick, Liu Ren hurled a fountain pen directly into Shigemitsu's face. Ink splattered all over him, leaving him looking thoroughly pathetic.
Ducking aside cautiously, MacArthur could not help a twitch of his mouth.
"You feel? Who the hell gave you the right to have a say? Who do you think is sitting here? I'm here representing the New York Syndicate to negotiate with you! If you don't like it, I'll take troops and seize it myself!"
Glaring coldly at Mamoru Shigemitsu, Liu Ren turned his head. "Supreme Commander, what do you think?"
"I believe Liu is correct. Regarding the coming arms embargo, you must comply, or we will take all necessary measures!"
Fixing Shigemitsu and the others with a stern glare, MacArthur immediately lined up on the same front as Liu Ren.
After all, while they had their differences, those were strictly a matter of their respective stances. When it came to the arms embargo, if MacArthur dared allow these munitions factories to withhold their core archives, Liu Ren would chew him out right alongside them!
Faced with Liu Ren's overbearing force, Mamoru Shigemitsu could only clench his fists in silence, not daring to resist.
Anyone with eyes could see by now that the American military intended to dismantle their military-industrial system. But could they resist?
They could not. For out in Tokyo Bay, the American aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers used to bring them to heel were still anchored!
The revised agreements were signed once more. Shigemitsu and the others bowed and withdrew.
Tapping coldly on the table, Liu Ren did not show the slightest hint of emotion.
He understood all too well that these people feared strength but had no reverence for virtue. Give them the slightest crack, and they would turn to tear at their master!
Looking at Liu Ren, MacArthur said, "Will such heavy-handed suppression not provoke conflict? Liu, you handle things far too aggressively!"
"This telegram came from New York. You'd better read it for yourself."
Slapping a document down in front of MacArthur, Liu Ren rose, smoothed his suit, and walked out.
Looking down at the telegram in his hands, MacArthur fell instantly silent.
This was not Liu Ren's decision alone; it was the agenda of the entire New York Syndicate.
They did not merely want the arms industries of Mitsubishi and the other zaibatsu—they intended to seize total control over this nation through its banking system.
Silently laying down the telegram, MacArthur said nothing.
After all, this was no longer an issue of the Silver Rock Group alone. A monster known as the military-industrial complex was greedily gorging itself on the flesh and blood of the defeated.
Right now, the New York Syndicate was merely the first to strike. Who would follow? The Boston Syndicate? The Los Angeles Syndicate...?
Thinking of the networks and resources controlled by those syndicates, MacArthur could not help drawing a sharp breath.
Now he finally understood why Liu Ren was so aggressive. No one could stand in the way of them reaping the spoils of victory!
***
A few days later, at a Mitsubishi munitions plant.
Watching the various machines and assembly lines being dismantled, the workers stood off to the side, not daring to speak.
Stepping forward in fury, an engineer seemed about to object, only for a nearby guard to smash a rifle butt across his face, sending blood spurting.
"You can't do this! You can't take away the Mitsubishi Group's most vital assets!"
Weeping aloud, the engineer scrambled up hysterically, roaring in despair.
Watching the scene with a cold expression, Liu Ren sneered, "Since he loves these machines so much, load him onto the transport ship right alongside them!"
At Liu Ren's words, two guards dragged the man away at once.
Witnessing this, a manager rushed forward in a panic. "Sir, you cannot do this! He is our—"
*Smack!*
A backhand slap cracked across the manager's face. Liu Ren glared at him coldly. "Who gave you permission to approach me? Drag him outside and put him down. He intended to assassinate me."
The moment Liu Ren finished speaking, Forrest drew his pistol, hauled the man out of the warehouse, and fired.
As the sharp gunshot cracked, the engineers and workers fell dead silent.
In that moment, they finally understood what American hegemony truly meant!
"Round up every engineer here. Pack their wives and children onto the ships as well. Anyone who refuses, take care of them!"
Speaking with utter detachment, Liu Ren ordered his men to take the roster and begin seizing people.
What he wanted was not just to destroy the zaibatsus' arms manufacturing, but to thoroughly shatter their backbone—
so that even if they ever sought to rebuild, they would have to spend twenty years in agony, silently nursing a broken spine!
Learning that Liu Ren was tearing down arms factories like a madman, MacArthur remained silent when faced with Mamoru Shigemitsu's protests.
What could he possibly say? Interfere? Don't be ridiculous—the New York Syndicate stood behind Liu Ren!
Silver Rock Arms was no longer the small outfit of years past. Their defense operations now spanned the entirety of the United States Armed Forces!
When Liu Ren had reports drafted and the Pentagon signed off on them, it was no joke. It was absolute reality!
***
Two days later, at an estate.
Just as Prince Asaka believed he had escaped the dragnet, living in seclusion with his wife and children, rapid gunfire erupted all around the grounds.
Staring around in shock, before Prince Asaka could even react,
men in black military greatcoats charged in from outside, pulling their triggers on the surrounding servants and nannies.
*Da-da, da-da-da!*
A howling metal storm tore through bodies, sending people collapsing helplessly into pools of blood.
Terrified, Prince Asaka tried to flee back toward the house. He had only taken a few strides when a thrown axe struck him violently in the back.
"Aargh!"
Collapsing to the ground in agony, Prince Asaka crawled desperately forward.
Watching her husband in horror, his wife had not even managed to scream for help before the approaching man brought an axe down straight onto her head.
*Crack!*
Looking at the shattered watermelon, Liu Ren bared his teeth in a cold, savage grin. "That's right! This is what true righteousness is! Smashed your brains straight into your rib cage!"
Advancing step by step, Liu Ren wrenched the axe free with one hand and seized Prince Asaka by the hair. "You're pretty good at hiding, aren't you? No wonder I couldn't find you in Tokyo—you scurried all the way out to Shizuoka!"
With that, Liu Ren reversed the axe in his grip and hacked down violently into Asaka's body.
"This stroke is for my compatriots! This stroke is for Jinling! This stroke is for my fallen soldiers! This stroke is for the martyrs who bled and sacrificed their lives over fourteen years! This stroke..."
Watching Liu Ren hack away like a madman, Forrest stepped forward. "Liu, he looks pretty dead already."
"Fuck! Fuck!"
Swinging the axe in another furious, full-circle arc, Liu Ren roared, "Get up! Did you hear me? I told you to get your motherfucking ass up!"
"Khh... khh..."
Dark red blood gushed continuously from Asaka's mouth. He could no longer form a single word.
Tilting his head, Liu Ren glared down at him and suddenly bellowed, "You motherfucker, you dare sneer at me?!"
*Slash!*
The razor-sharp axe swept across, and the round watermelon tumbled into the distance.
Tossing his hair back, Liu Ren wiped the blood from his cheek and spat, "Fuck!"
Chapter 76