Chapter 201: Chapter 198: Tokyo Cage
"Let’s take East Japan as an example, Mr. Shen. Do you know who mainly controls the upper echelons of East Japan’s politics?"
Yamaguchi Sora adjusted his suit. He looked like a courteous man in his forties, sitting across from Shen Feng and asking with a gentle expression.
If it weren’t for the eerie yellow, poisonous fog all around, the people impaled on Tokyo Tower behind him who were struggling and wailing without end, and the blood on the ground that had pooled into a lake, Shen Feng would have thought he was in a coffee shop, discussing politics with a middle-aged salaryman from East Japan.
He smiled faintly, shook his head, and said, "I don’t know."
Although he had done plenty of research on East Japan before coming here, he really hadn’t prepared for its political landscape.
’But now that he thought about it, in the manga from East Japan he used to read, sons often inherited their fathers’ professions. A chef’s son would become a chef, a Hokage’s son would become a Hokage. It was an indirect reflection of East Japan’s social ossification.’
Yamaguchi Sora held up one hand, fingers spread. "Five. East Japan’s entire political sphere is basically controlled by five families: the Hatoyama Clan, the Asou Clan, the Koizumi Clan, the Abe Clan, and the Fukuda Clan. These are the five great hereditary political dynasties. As for so-called ’democracy’... Haha! Only those who have been thoroughly brainwashed would think East Japan is a democratic country."
Watching Yamaguchi Sora—the leader of the Celestial Divine Association, the man who had unleashed the Evil Spirit Virus and turned millions of people into monsters—suddenly discuss the politics of East Japan with such a serious expression, Shen Feng couldn’t help but feel a rising sense of absurdity.
’Perhaps this Yamaguchi Sora once aspired to a career in politics, but eventually realized he had no chance. That must be why his resentment festered into hatred, leading him to summon the Master of the Void and attempt to destroy East Japan along with all of human civilization.’
’The history of East Japan was full of such paranoid and fanatical individuals.’
’Polite in trifles, but lacking in true principle.’
But all he wanted to do now was stall for time, so he simply nodded and said:
"That is quite tragic."
Yamaguchi Sora continued, "Take the current prime minister, for example. His maternal grandfather and his father were both prime ministers. A former prime minister from the Koizumi Clan is his mentor, and yet his own father was the teacher of that same former Koizumi prime minister. The connections are so convoluted. It’s a complete pipe dream for any outsider to enter the upper echelons of politics. They could never get the approval of these hereditary elites."
Shen Feng couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. He genuinely hadn’t known about any of this before.
"The common folk are even more easily misled by false, exaggerated narratives. They’re immersed in mechanical, repetitive labor, toiling generation after generation. It’s gotten to the point where laughable titles like ’God of Sushi,’ ’Rice-Cooking Immortal,’ ’God of Tempura,’ and ’God of Lacquerware’ have appeared. And they take pride in these things, content with their situation, just like a herd of livestock out to pasture." Yamaguchi Sora’s words were tinged with sorrow; he actually looked as if he pitied the state of the world.
Shen Feng suddenly found himself more interested in this Yamaguchi Sora.
’As expected, anyone capable of destroying the world could never be a mediocre person.’
’This Yamaguchi Sora was definitely a sociologist, a philosopher. But the path he’d chosen was absolutely not for some greater good. It was just to satisfy his own paranoia and madness.’
Shen Feng smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, a wine flagon and two cups materialized on the metal tabletop. Though they were empty, Shen Feng lifted the flagon and mimed pouring, "filling" both cups. He raised one and said:
"Brother Yamaguchi, your profound words deserve a toast. It’s a shame we have no wine, so this will have to suffice."
With that, he mimed draining the cup.
Yamaguchi Sora laughed heartily, picked up the other empty cup, and said:
"Even if there were real wine, I doubt Brother Shen would dare drink it. Still, using empty cups as a substitute is an interesting touch."
With that, he also mimed taking a drink.
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter, like old friends reunited after many years. Yet, a cunning glint flashed in the depths of their eyes.
"However, Brother Yamaguchi, I don’t completely agree with what you’ve said. Your country’s so-called Gods of Craftsmanship have their admirable aspects as well. From the perspective of pure skill, their ultimate mastery and their almost fanatical pursuit of quality are truly worthy of respect," Shen Feng said, his expression turning serious. "Moreover, no matter how hermetically sealed a rigid society may seem, there are always cracks one can slip through. Besides, things are far from the point where people cannot eke out a living. That is hardly a reason to destroy everything."
Yamaguchi Sora gave a sinister laugh, the corners of his mouth suddenly splitting wide, almost reaching his ears. His voice was chilling as he said, "Of course that’s not the reason. The true reason is to welcome the descent of the Master of the Void and attain eternity... But aren’t you trying to stall for time, Mr. Shen? Me talking so much, isn’t that exactly what you wanted?"
Shen Feng returned the chilling smile. ’The message for the Purification Society should have arrived by now,’ he estimated. "You’re right," he said. "I’m just about ready on my end."
The moment his words fell, the Gray Tide behind him suddenly surged. Having silently swelled to the size of a football field, it now crashed toward Yamaguchi Sora and the nearby Tokyo Tower like a raging tidal wave!
By now, the entire area around Tokyo Tower was surrounded by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of zombies. They were all silent. The key to everything was this tower. If he could just take it, maybe he could stop all of this!
Yamaguchi Sora’s body showed no resistance as the raging Gray Tide struck it. He was instantly torn into a heap of shredded flesh and then swallowed by the tide!
Shen Feng didn’t for a moment believe his opponent would die so easily. Without the slightest hesitation, he once again directed the Gray Tide to surge toward Tokyo Tower.