Chapter 406: Rescue (Part 2)

Just as Yamamoto Tomoya was turning Mingzhi Shrine into an impregnable fortress, Chen Che also launched his operation.

Under the cover of night, Chen Che and Akiyama Minako snuck into a seaside villa.

Inside the magnificent villa, a sorrowful atmosphere permeated the air at this moment.

The lights in the villa's living room were dim, and a faint sadness filled the air.

The originally luxurious decorations had been replaced by white and black cloth drapes, and a portrait of the deceased hung on the wall; in the Photograph, he was smiling, as if comforting every friend and relative who had come to pay their respects.

In the center of the living room, a long table was covered with white candles and fresh flowers; the candlelight flickered, reflecting on every heavy face.

Among the bouquets, the scents of lilies and chrysanthemums mingled, seemingly telling of the fragility and impermanence of life.

Below the portrait, an exquisite urn sat quietly, surrounded by memorial cards and funeral couplets sent by friends and relatives, the lines filled with longing and reluctance to let go of the deceased.

The sofas all around were filled with people; they were either bowing their heads in silent mourning or speaking in low voices, recalling the time spent with the deceased.

Some had tears in their eyes, others wore expressions of grief, and every face was etched with deep longing for the deceased.

Children were held tightly in the arms of adults; they perhaps did not yet understand the meaning of death, but they could feel the heavy atmosphere all around.

On the other side of the living room, several women were busy preparing tea and refreshments; their movements were gentle and slow, trying their best not to make too much noise so as not to disturb this quiet mourning. The scent of tea and the faint aroma of pastries drifted through the air, bringing a touch of warmth to this heavy atmosphere.

Outside the door, people stepped in softly from time to time; their footsteps were heavy and slow, each person expressing their final respects to the deceased in their own way.

Akiyama Minako asked Chen Che with her eyes, and after receiving a response, she straightened her clothes and walked slowly into the mourning hall to offer incense and pay her respects to the deceased.

Afterward, she approached a young, beautiful woman wearing mourning clothes.

The woman's eyes were swollen from crying; she first subconsciously bowed to return Akiyama Minako's greeting, but then slowly straightened up, only to suddenly freeze, her slightly haggard face full of astonishment and surprise, as well as an disbelief that it was real.

"Mi... Minako... is it really you..."

The woman exclaimed, and Akiyama Minako covered her mouth in time, then signaled with her eyes, and the two left the mourning hall and came to the corridor of the villa.

"Minako, it really is you! I'm not dreaming, am I!"

The woman cheered with joy, as if seeing Akiyama Minako had caused today's sorrow and haggardness to vanish in the blink of an eye.

Akiyama Minako held the woman's hand and smiled: "Risako, it's me, you aren't dreaming."

Chida Risako opened her arms and pulled Akiyama Minako into a tight embrace, laughing and crying at the same time: "I thought... I thought you were in the fire too... That's great! It's really great!"

Akiyama Minako patted her friend's back to comfort her, then turned her head to look; Chen Che was leaning against the corner of the corridor, waiting quietly.

"Risako, I came to find you because I have something I want to tell you." Akiyama Minako gently pushed Risako away and got to the point.

Chida Risako wiped away her tears and said: "Tell me."

Akiyama Minako paused and said: "Risako, that fire was not an accident..."

"What?! Is everything you said true?!"

Chida Risako screamed in shock and disbelief, her face full of astonishment.

Akiyama Minako grabbed her hands, her face solemn: "Risako, I know this is hard to accept, but this is the truth. Fortunately, you didn't go to the Takiji Group that day. Regarding Uncle Chida... I am truly very sorry. Moreover, I am currently being hunted by people from the Shadow Organization. I came to find you, firstly to tell you the truth, and secondly, I hope you can help me."

Chida Risako took a few deep breaths, calmed her emotions, and said: "Thank you for telling me this. Minako, what do you want me to do to help you?"

"Help me arrange a helicopter and a boat capable of long-distance travel... preferably a fishing boat."

Akiyama Minako said.

Chida Risako frowned and asked: "Why do you need these things?"

"Risako, don't ask about too much; it's better for you this way... Also, I want to tell everyone the truth, and I want to organize a protest to petition at the Highest Palace. I hope you can help me contact others and organize enough people."

Akiyama Minako continued.

Chida Risako nodded: "I understand, you want to seek justice for those who died!"

"Okay, I will help you! I also want to seek justice for my father's death!"

Chida Risako said with a face full of determination.

Akiyama Minako hugged her friend: "Thank you, Risako."

The city skyline was lightly shrouded in morning mist, but in this bustling city, a wave of anger was surging through the streets and alleys.

The sun had just appeared on the horizon, but thousands of citizens had already gathered on the streets; their faces were filled with dissatisfaction and anger, and their voices converged into a soul-stirring roar.

In the crowd, there were office workers in suits, students in school uniforms, retired elderly people, and housewives with children, though their momentum and stereotypical attire were completely different.

The placards in their hands were written with slogans like "Severely Punish the Murderers" and "Reveal the Truth" in vivid colors; these slogans appeared particularly striking in the morning light.

Their footsteps were firm and powerful, each step like a challenge to authority.

"The Shadow Organization killed cruelly, created tragedies, and harvested wealth! This is a despicable and shameless act; murderers must pay with their lives! Give us back the lives of our families!"

In the crowd, Akiyama Minako had a red cloth strip tied around her head and shouted loudly with a megaphone in her hand; this voice was quickly picked up by others, turning into a deafening chorus.

"Murderers must pay with their lives!"

"Murderers must pay with their lives!"

The echoes reverberated between the high-rise buildings, as if even the forest of steel and concrete were trembling because of it.

In the high-rise buildings on both sides of the street, windows were tightly closed, and occasionally curious residents would secretly open a crack to peek at this massive protest.

On social media, the live broadcast of this protest was spreading rapidly, and the eyes of the whole world were focused on this city, focused on this roar of the "people."

As the protest march continued to grow, Chida Risako began to sing at an opportune moment, singing songs of resistance; these songs spread rapidly among the crowd, becoming their common language and the horn of battle.

The singing was filled with accusations of injustice and anger at evil; they ignited everyone's heart like a flame.

In the center of the city, that palace symbolizing the highest power remained high above, as if mocking the clamor below.

But today, these ordinary people who were usually unknown, their voices were louder than any crown, and their will was firmer than any scepter.

They wanted the people in power to hear them, they wanted the whole world to hear them—they were no longer silent; any evil must be exposed under the sun, and anyone who committed evil must be punished, no matter who they were!

The protest march was vast and mighty, and it looked like it was about to approach the Palace of Power.

Inside the palace, a man in a suit with a cold expression stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the scene outside through the glass.

He is called Ito Yudai, the confidant of this palace's master, responsible for the master's safety and all related matters.

"Sir, it has been investigated clearly; the marching crowd is mainly composed of the relatives of the wealthy individuals who died at the Takiji Group that night, and some members of the public who were incited to join in the commotion."

The subordinate stood respectfully to the side and reported.

Ito Yudai's brows were tightly locked, his face full of solemnity, and he ordered: "Send men to stop them."

At the command, fully armed security personnel surged out from within the palace, standing at the end of the street in battle formation; their equipment was modernized, with riot shields and helmets gleaming in the sunlight.

……… "One million words reached!!!! It really hasn't been easy! For a newcomer like me, this is absolutely a milestone moment!

Thank you to all the readers for your long-term support; without you, I truly could not have persisted until now. I am truly so grateful, infinitely grateful!!!

Additionally, taking advantage of such an important moment today (for me), I would like to chat with everyone about the situation of this book.

From publishing this book in April of this year until now, counting fully, it has already been eight months, and it is almost the end of the year; this book is also nearing its conclusion. Right now, the story in Japan is about to enter its climax, and after it ends, there is one more event, which is the reappearance of the vanished main villain, after which it will be completely finished. I know that finishing at one million words really isn't much, but according to my own planning, it counts as successfully completing the initial task. Moreover, although the performance of this book is just that of a flop, it did indeed exceed my expectations, so overall, I am still very happy.

Of course, writing to this word count, many drawbacks have also become prominent, and I have also discovered many of my own shortcomings; I will still need to strengthen my learning in the future.

So, I would like to thank all the readers here again for your tolerance; as I said before, without you, this book could not have persisted to this word count!

After this book concludes, I will continue to write a new book next year. We will talk about the new book when this one is finished; I welcome everyone to come and support it then! Thank you, thank you!!!

It is not easy for a person to have something they love. Acting for the sake of one's passion is in itself a very happy thing. Of course, it would be even happier if one could earn a little money on the path of pursuing what one loves!

Finally, thank you again for the support and companionship of all the readers. I wish everyone that all your wishes come true every day and that you always keep a smile on your faces!!!"