2-3-1 Yongtian Town, Chiyoda District, the Prime Minister's residence is located here, with a total construction area of 25,000 square meters, comprising five floors above ground and one underground.

The five floors above ground are mainly used for the offices of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as the Chief Cabinet Secretary, along with several meeting rooms and reception rooms for different situations.

The underground floor is the crisis management center, equipped with a strategic headquarters meeting room, a strategy office, an intelligence aggregation room, working 24 hours to specifically handle major emergencies. A coup would first need to control this area.

Miyagi Youcai, a Police Chief, came uninvited to the Prime Minister's residence seeking an audience with the Deputy Prime Minister, unsurprisingly stopped by the guards.

"Please report for me, I am Police Chief Miyagi Youcai from the Criminal Department of the Police Headquarters, I have important matters to report to Prime Minister Yutian, can you bear the responsibility for delaying significant affairs?" Miyagi Youcai shouted fiercely at the guards while showing his credentials.

The guard certainly couldn't bear the responsibility, so one stopped him while another went to the reception desk on the first floor to report, leaving it up to the reception staff to decide whether to report this matter to Prime Minister Yutian's secretary, who would then decide whether to report to Prime Minister Yutian.

If anyone in this chain deemed it unnecessary to report upward, Prime Minister Yutian would never know Miyagi Youcai sought him out.

Thus, the higher one's position, the more likely they become blind and deaf; many things you see, you see only because those below you thought it necessary for you to see them.

Therefore, cultivating your own trusted aides is crucial.

The identity of Police Chief Miyagi Youcai helped him.

The reception ultimately reported this matter to the secretary of Prime Minister Yutian, Fujimoto Ryoji, who deliberated briefly after hanging up the phone, deciding first to see Miyagi Youcai himself before deciding whether to take him to see Prime Minister Yutian.

Fujimoto Ryoji exited the main building of the residence, from a distance sighting Miyagi Youcai being stopped at the door by guards.

As he approached, the guards immediately saluted.

"Police Chief Miyagi, I am Fujimoto Ryoji, the secretary of Prime Minister Yutian. The Prime Minister is very busy, if you need to see him, you may tell me, and I'll relay your message." Fujimoto Ryoji said in a calm tone.

The guards returned to their posts.

Clearing space for the two to talk.

"Secretary Fujimoto!" Miyagi Youcai bowed respectfully, hesitating momentarily before deciding to tell the truth, "Renping Kuniaki died last night."

"What?" Fujimoto Ryoji was taken aback; as Prime Minister Yutian's secretary, he knew Renping Kuniaki was one of their own, promptly saying, "Come with me."

His words fell as he turned to head to the office building.

"Yes!" Miyagi Youcai hurriedly followed.

This was his first visit to the Prime Minister's residence, and upon entering the building, an inexplicable pressure enveloped him, instinctively making him reserved, not daring to breathe deeply or look around, keeping his head down, following closely behind Fujimoto Ryoji's heels.

Taking the elevator to the 5th floor, Fujimoto Ryoji led Miyagi Youcai straight to Prime Minister Yutian's office, raising a hand to knock on the door, "Prime Minister, it's Ryoji."

"Come in."

Fujimoto Ryoji pushed open the door, ushered Miyagi Youcai inside, bowed, and said, "This is Deputy Director Miyagi Youcai, Police Chief from the Criminal Department of the Police Headquarters. He says Renping Kuniaki died last night."

"What?" Prime Minister Yutian was similarly startled by the news, his gaze like knives landing on Miyagi Youcai, "What exactly happened?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency Prime Minister, Director Renping did not come to work this morning. Deputy Director Asai Youki just held a press conference, stating there were accusations against Director Renping for alleged rape, and last night Aoyama Xiu Xin personally brought people to ask him to cooperate with the investigation, but Director Renping jumped to his death out of guilt." Miyagi Youcai respectfully reported.

"Damn it!" Prime Minister Yutian cursed gloomily after hearing, the veins on his hand resting on the desk bulging, instantly realizing it was surely Renping Kuniaki who was exposed, thus being killed by Yanchuan Shilang.

This lawless murderer!

Yet, in front of Miyagi Youcai, he maintained composure, took a deep breath and looked up at Miyagi Youcai, saying, "You did well, go back."

"Yes! Please rest assured, Prime Minister, although Director Renping was harmed by villains, my position will never waver because of this, and I am willing to remain loyal to the Police Headquarters for you! Please lead us to victory and avenge Director Renping!" Miyagi Youcai declared firmly.

Prime Minister Yutian discerned Miyagi Youcai's implicit pledge of loyalty and desire for advancement; even the unclear death of Renping Kuniaki, a Director, did not deter him but rather saw it as a rare opportunity.

Indicating he's genuinely eager to progress, even tossing aside concerns of life and death, making him a ruthless character, since so, why not give him an opportunity? After all, with Renping Kuniaki dead, he had no one at the top level of the Police Headquarters.

With this thought, his demeanor and tone softened, nodding and saying, "If Director Renping knew he had a subordinate like Mr. Miyagi, he would feel comforted in heaven as well. Good, in that case, let Mr. Miyagi be responsible for the unfinished business left by Director Renping, ensure to win over Miyazaki Junichi!"

"Yes! I assure you to complete the task! I will not disappoint you!" Although Miyagi Youcai didn't know what exactly winning over Miyazaki Junichi entailed, he agreed first. Excitedly, he bowed deeply.

He knew this matter was a test, once accomplished he would be valued heavily by the other party, and once Prime Minister Yutian wins the election, he would surely be handsomely rewarded; even if he loses ultimately, he'll certainly assign new roles to him, a capable officer.

Prime Minister Hatanaka looked at Fujimoto Ryoji, "Ryoji, take Mr. Miyagi downstairs and explain this matter to him."

"Yes!" Fujimoto Ryoji responded, then turned and said warmly, "Mr. Miyagi, please come with me."

"Yes!" Miyagi Youcai first bowed to Prime Minister Hatanaka before following Fujimoto Ryoji out.

As the office door closed, the warm expression on Hatanaka Zizi's face was once again replaced by gloom. The crucial position of Police Director General at the Police Headquarters had finally come under his control, yet before it could play any significant role, it had already fallen apart. How could he not feel frustrated?

As for supporting a new candidate for the now-vacant Director General position, that was impossible. The police system was Yanchuan Shilang's stronghold, and even though the Public Security Committee was not entirely united, his control over the police system hadn't degraded to such a degree.

Regarding the senior levels of the police system, the only thing he could do was promise lucrative positions to win them over or buy them off.

However, with Renping Kuniaki as a cautionary tale, it would now be considerably harder to bribe those high-ranking police officials.

This made Miyagi Youcai all the more important, at least enabling control over some mid-to-lower-level officers through him.

In the Police Headquarters, it's essential to have one's own force. This force can be weak, but it needs to be there when the police are needed to ensure there's someone available.

"Ring, ring! Ring, ring!"

A sudden ringing of the phone interrupted his thoughts.

"Moshi moshi." He answered casually.

"Prime Minister, Minister Yamahana Shigeru is here."

"Alright." Hanging up the phone, Hatanaka Zizi composed himself and walked out of the office to a reception room on the fourth floor. With a heavy expression, he pushed the door open, bowed, and said, "Sorry to keep Mr. Yamaoka waiting."

"Not at all, Prime Minister Yutian, you're busy with countless affairs of state. It's fine as long as I didn't interrupt your important business," Yamahana Shigeru stood up to return the courtesy, then asked curiously, "Seeing Hatanaka's expression doesn't look good, did something happen?"

Hatanaka Zizi exhaled, nodded, and said in a very heavy tone, "I just learned that Police Director General Renping Kuniaki has died. He was my man."

Yamahana Shigeru was taken aback, "My condolences."

"Condolences? I'm very angry." Hatanaka Zizi shook his head, said in a mocking tone, "First it was Oda Hidehiko and Tengji Yu, then it was Renping Kuniaki. From a Diet member to Police Director General, three important officials fell in just a few days. If every cabinet formation goes like this, we might have to consider increasing the seats for Diet members, otherwise, seven hundred or so people won't be enough to kill off."

"This is indeed a bit too much. Political struggle should be about ideological differences and shouldn't escalate to physical elimination," Yamahana Shigeru also dissatisfied with Yanchuan Shilang's ruthlessness, it was simply madness.

Hatanaka Zizi laughed, his expression sorrowful and despairing, "Unfortunately, it's often these ruthless individuals who win. Mr. Yamaoka, if we don't cooperate, we'll hand over this disaster-prone country to such a demon!"

"For the country, for the people, please, Mr. Yamaoka, set aside your prejudices and join hands with me, I implore you!"

After speaking, Hatanaka Zizi bowed deeply.

"Hatanaka, I do not agree with Yanchuan Shilang's governance philosophy, but I also do not agree with yours. Cooperation is possible, but there's always a primary and secondary, and we've never been able to agree on that. Why bring it up again?" Yamahana Shigeru shook his head helplessly.

Hatanaka Zizi, hearing this, raised his head and, with a serious expression, said to Yamahana Shigeru, "This term, I ask Mr. Yamaoka to support me, and next term, I will support Mr. Yamaoka. With Amaterasu as my witness, I swear on the honor of my Hatanaka family ancestors, I will not break my promise!"

Yamahana Shigeru still shook his head without speaking, leading first a prime minister then another, not even a child would believe such words.

"Mr. Yamaoka!" Hatanaka Zizi raised his voice and vehemently said, "The Liberal Democratic Party is growing stronger. If we don't join forces, they'll inevitably come back to power. And with the previous lessons learned, they won't be so easily removed this time."

"Do you want Japan to once again become a country ruled by the Liberal Democratic Party? Do you want to let that ruthless Yanchuan Shilang come to power and purify dissent, making a mess of the country?"

"If we don't join forces, we will both lose. In that case, why not admit defeat now? At least I can secure some benefits."

He explained the stakes, used the national duty to compel, and threatened with conceding.

Finally, Yamahana Shigeru seemed moved. If Hatanaka Zizi truly surrendered, Yanchuan Shilang would certainly accept it gladly, and their Socialist Party would be at a loss.

It was difficult for the Liberal Democratic Party to step down, and once they were back in power, it wouldn't be easy to unseat them again. Moreover, the Liberal Democratic Party would certainly govern as a single party, while a new government could ensure coalition governance. Even if Hatanaka Zizi broke his promise in the next term, the Socialist Party would still have the strength to compete.

"Please let me consider it, Hatanaka."

For the first time, Yamahana Shigeru softened.

"Yes! Time waits for no one, please make a decision as soon as possible, Mr. Yamaoka!" Hatanaka Zizi relaxed, bowing again, knowing this matter was settled, and that what remained were just the details of the two-party cooperation.

Thanks to Yanchuan Shilang, it was precisely because he was becoming increasingly strong and ruthless, forcing Yamahana Shigeru to consider accepting cooperation with him.

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