The Japanese Parliament was holding an emergency meeting. The entire chamber was in chaos. Every parliamentarian was furious, waving their hands vehemently and shouting angrily.
Around them, numerous reporters pressed their camera shutters, their faces filled with excitement as they captured a moment destined to be recorded in history.
Not long ago, the Itogami Island Management Corporation in the Pacific Ocean suddenly declared its independence, aiming to establish its own Night Empire. This abrupt event shocked the world and was a direct slap in Japan's face.
Although the true rulers of Itogami Island were major global consortiums that jointly built the artificial island to harness the power of the Cleansing, nominally, Itogami Island was under Japanese jurisdiction. This was mainly because the artificial island wasn't highly productive, and its material resources couldn't sustain itself.
Japan fully controlled the supply of materials to Itogami Island, using it as a means to dominate the artificial island.
But who would've thought that this island, which seemed perfectly secure in every aspect, would suddenly seek independence?
How dare they?
In Parliament, every member condemned the Itogami Island Management Corporation. Facing such separatist forces, it was only natural for parliamentarians to voice their condemnation. This was true political correctness.
Amid the parliamentary chaos, Japan's top officials were also holding a private meeting.
"Night Empire? Wasn't the Blazing Banquet just held? Why are they establishing a Night Empire so quickly?"
In the Japanese Cabinet, a heated discussion was underway. The Chief Cabinet Secretary, assisting the Prime Minister, reported the specific situation, and after his report, the Prime Minister shouted in anger.
"What is the Lion King Agency doing? Why wasn't the completion of the Blazing Banquet and the emergence of the Fourth Primogenitor reported earlier?"
Itogami Island, where the Blazing Banquet was held, and the Lion King Agency, its organizer, were both Japanese entities. In any case, Japanese officials should have been the first to know about the birth of the Fourth Primogenitor and attempt to control their power.
However, no one expected to see news of Itogami Island declaring independence and establishing a Night Empire on TV.
"Trash, they're all trash!"
"Who is this Fourth Primogenitor? What's their name, their personality, their governing philosophy? Don't tell me you don't even have this information."
"Hontouni Sumimasen!"
The minister responsible for intelligence bowed deeply with his large frame, shouting an apology with well-practiced movements.
"Get out! Just get out!"
No information about the Fourth Primogenitor?
There was only a report about Itogami Island declaring independence. Beyond that, there were no reports of large-scale amnesia incidents worldwide or mass transformations of ordinary people into vampires.
Was the Blazing Banquet truly held? Maybe?
But a Fourth Primogenitor who hadn't performed Intrinsic Time Stacking might not be that powerful yet, right?
Instantly, the Cabinet members, previously furious, restrained their expressions and showed excitement.
If it were a Fourth Primogenitor in their prime, with twelve Calamity-Tier Beast Vassals, they wouldn't dare say a word.
But if it was a Fourth Primogenitor who hadn't absorbed enough memories or accumulated significant magical power, then there was no need to worry.
Thinking this, the Chief Cabinet Secretary pondered for a moment and said, "We don't know what powers the Fourth Primogenitor possesses. Their existence is only a legend."
"But even if it's the Fourth Primogenitor, I don't think they can take on an entire nation."
The Chief Cabinet Secretary's words made the surrounding Cabinet members nod.
A Primogenitor might be very powerful, but could they fight a nation?
If they could, why had the First, Second, and Third Primogenitors stayed in their corners for thousands of years, living only in their Night Empires, letting imperial forces protect them? If they were truly that powerful, wouldn't they have unified the world already?
It could only be said that humans didn't understand the true meaning of a Primogenitor's existence or their power. Even the weakest Primogenitor, if willing to unleash their full strength and unopposed by another Primogenitor, could easily wipe the earth's surface clean.
Every Primogenitor was a true monster capable of destroying a nation. The low-profile demeanor of the other three Primogenitors gave humans the illusion that Primogenitors were strong but not as formidable as imagined.
"Itogami Island doesn't receive external materials. We just need to cut off shipping routes to Itogami Island and establish a no-fly zone. With Itogami Island's material reserves, they'll collapse on their own within a month."
"Itogami Island's total population is only five hundred sixty thousand. The total forces they can mobilize across the island are about a thousand."
"The only ones to watch out for are the Witch of the Void, Minamiya Natsuki, and the Fourth Primogenitor, who hasn't shown their face."
"With Japan's national strength, crushing Itogami Island is a foregone conclusion."
"The only thing we need to worry about is the Cleansing on Itogami Island." The Chief Cabinet Secretary voiced his concern.
Regardless of any comparison of strength, Itogami Island couldn't withstand a single attack, yet it still sought independence. It was hard to believe this had nothing to do with the Cleansing. These Cabinet members, as true elites ruling the nation, couldn't possibly fail to understand this.
"If that's the case, it's even better. This shows two things. First, the Cleansing is nowhere near as powerful as we imagined."
According to legend, the Cleansing had the power to change the world and end the war between humans and Deva. They also knew the technological level of ancient Deva. This meant that if the Cleansing was truly that powerful, they wouldn't need to struggle—just wait for death.
"Second, don't forget the truth about Itogami Island."
The Altar of Cain. Itogami Island itself was a massive magical weapon of mass destruction. They could fully use someone else's knife to kill.
"The Sanctuary Treaty nations absolutely cannot allow a magical weapon with such destructive power to become independent."
"At that time, the Sanctuary Treaty nations will surely invade Itogami Island. And the incomplete Fourth Primogenitor and the Cleansing…"
The Prime Minister tapped the table, and the secretary beside him quickly recorded the meeting's contents.
Every Cabinet member here showed greed and excitement.
After all, they had studied the Cleansing ruins for so long, and the level of the Cleansing was more or less understood. But that didn't mean there were no gains. Rather, only a Cleansing at this level might fall into Japan's hands instead of competing with major powers.
Japan had an absolute geographical advantage—Itogami Island was in Japanese territory. Now that Itogami Island had proactively declared independence, this was Japan's best opportunity, as the island was nominally theirs.
After careful analysis, the Cabinet members saw this as a war they were certain to win. The advantage was theirs.
"Send people to the Lion King Agency. Inform them that this incident involves Japan's territorial integrity."
"Per our agreement with the Lion King Agency, they must send sufficient combat personnel to assist us."
"We must capitalize on the fact that the Fourth Primogenitor hasn't completed Intrinsic Time Stacking and capture them."
"Oh, and don't forget the Astrology Bureau. We must ensure the Fourth Primogenitor falls into our hands."
Many Cabinet members saw the Prime Minister acting flawlessly. They all put on serious expressions and bowed.
"The Prime Minister is wise."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The Whispering Garden, a separate dimensional space accessible only to Sanctuary Treaty nations, major powers, and Night Empires, was a meeting place for leaders of various great powers.
Led by the three Night Empires and Primogenitors with veto power, supported by other nations, its purpose was to avoid armed conflicts through negotiation. Now, due to the announcement from Itogami Island's official TV station, the Whispering Garden had descended into controversy.
"Everyone has received the news, right?" someone wearing a mask said in an aged voice. "As the cursed territory of Cain, Itogami Island is a magical weapon of mass destruction not permitted by the Sanctuary Treaty."
Around them, the atmosphere grew heated. Representatives from the major powers participating in the meeting joined the dispute.
"Of course. A magical weapon of mass destruction like this must be eliminated!"
"So our proposal is to send troops to destroy Itogami Island!"
"A sinful altar like Itogami Island shouldn't exist in this world!"
The others weren't fools either. They could naturally guess what Japan was thinking. The Fourth Primogenitor hadn't fully completed the Blazing Banquet. At least in terms of magical power, they surely weren't as strong as the three ancient Primogenitors.
This was their chance. As long as they captured the Fourth Primogenitor, they could fully control this strongest vampire. Of course, they all tacitly avoided mentioning their true ambitions, only talking about destroying Itogami Island.
After all, the Whispering Garden was established by the three Primogenitors. What if they exposed their ambitions for the Primogenitor's power?
As everyone suppressed their excitement and discussed forming an attack force, on a high platform unnoticed by anyone, in the central position reserved for the three Primogenitors, a new chair had appeared at some point.
"You're just watching them discuss how to attack you?" Giada propped up her delicate face with interest, asking Aslan curiously.
"What's the big deal?" Aslan shrugged casually, looking at the representatives of various powers below, their faces flushed as they competed for troop deployment quotas.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly, as if he were watching a flock of sheep discussing how to fight a butcher.
"Besides, these achievements are a bit insufficient. I still owe Central Core a lot of merits."
When you're suspected of having a weapon of mass destruction, you'd better have one.
Coincidentally, Aslan did have one—and he was the weapon itself.