While Su Yan was completely immersed in his own world, an unexpected incident occurred in Japan.
"What's going on? Why has Brazil interrupted their scientific cooperation with us?!" Prime Minister Yamamoto Rokujushi barked in frustration.
Like the United States, Japan had approached those countries that had secured rental qualifications, offering to cover the high rental costs in exchange for joint research on the Iron Man Suit.
Initially, Brazil had agreed. Since someone else was willing to foot the astronomical rental fees, they were more than happy to cooperate. Furthermore, Japan only sent two or three researchers to join the team.
During this time, Brazil's own scientists could fully benefit from Japan's research experience and findings. After all, Japan was world-renowned for its technological prowess, and their professors and doctors possessed technical expertise far superior to Brazil's.
"Your Excellency," a high-ranking Cabinet official said cautiously, "Brazil is demanding that we share our complete research results. Otherwise, they will no longer grant us any access."
The cooperation between Brazil and Japan had gone smoothly at first. However, after only a few days, the Japanese scientists had already left the Brazilian team far behind in terms of progress.
The Japanese were clever; they shared a portion of their findings but withheld the most critical data for themselves. They hadn't expected the Brazilians to catch on so quickly. Furious, the Brazilian side demanded that Japan hand over the full results.
But Japan was not so easily intimidated. As both sides reached a stalemate, Brazil finally proposed to end the partnership and kick the Japanese scientists out of the group.
"Those damned Brazilians!" Yamamoto Rokujushi slammed his hand on the desk. "With their backward technology, it was an act of mercy for us to share even a portion of our findings! Now they have the audacity to push for more!"
"Prime Minister, perhaps we should take a step back," the Cabinet official suggested. "We've tried contacting other nations to seek joint research opportunities for the Iron Man and the Nanomechanical Particles... but many were snatched up by the United States and others.
The remaining countries are unwilling to take the risk and have refused to cooperate. Currently, Brazil is the only one willing to work with us. If we lose this opportunity, I fear we will never get close to those two super weapons again. At the same time, our progress will fall far behind other nations!"
A lack of progress wasn't the scary part having no opportunity at all was. Once they lost momentum and the advantage of being early, Japan's international standing would begin to slip.
Due to the fallout of WWII, Japan was not permitted to maintain a standing army, leaving them only with the small JSDF. Instead, police were everywhere. If they could successfully incorporate these two technologies, both the police and the JSDF would gain formidable combat strength.
But if other countries took the lead, they would inevitably be at a disadvantage. Given the ambitions of the Japanese people, how could they allow such a thing to happen?
"Fine, share the complete research results!" Yamamoto Rokujushi finally compromised for the sake of the bigger picture. "The research pace cannot slow down; it must be accelerated!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!" The Cabinet officials breathed a sigh of relief.
"You may go," Yamamoto Rokujushi waved them off, and everyone left immediately. He picked up a telephone and dialed a secure, private line.
"This is Yamamoto Rokujushi."
"Identity confirmed, Prime Minister. Please state your command."
"I want you to assassinate Su Yan. What are the chances of success?"
The line went silent for a moment.
"Prime Minister, I must be honest with you. Even if our Department 8 takes action, the probability of successfully assassinating Su Yan will not exceed ten percent."
Department 8 was an assassination organization exclusive to the Prime Minister. Unlike the Kamikaze Department, which served the nation, Department 8 answered only to the Prime Minister. Often, their job wasn't to eliminate outsiders but to clear away obstacles within the Cabinet itself.
"What if we hire an international assassin?" Yamamoto Rokujushi's eyes flashed with a ruthless light.
"The odds would rise to forty percent," the voice replied. "The number one ranked assassin in the world, Red Blade. Since his debut, he has never failed a mission. Many powerful figures have died by his hand, but to this day, no one has ever seen his true face. It is said that anyone who has seen him is already dead."
"Him, then," Yamamoto decided instantly.
"However, his fee is extremely high. If we want him to move against Su Yan, it will start at at least one billion dollars."
Yamamoto Rokujushi frowned at the figure. One billion dollars was truly a staggering price. For most international assassins, even a ten-million-dollar bounty was considered a top-tier mission that would allow them to retire for life.
But Yamamoto understood why the price was so high. This was Su Yan, after all. The fact that so many countries had failed to kill him previously proved how difficult the task was.
"Fine. Contact him now and get a specific quote."
Yamamoto Rokujushi hung up. A few moments later, the phone rang again.
"Red Blade is willing to accept the mission, but the price he gave is... ten billion dollars," the voice said. "Not a penny less, or he won't lift a finger."
"Ten billion dollars?!" Yamamoto Rokujushi gritted his teeth.
This guy wasn't just demanding an arm and a leg he was practically committing daylight robbery! What did ten billion dollars represent? That much money could build several aircraft carriers!
Yamamoto considered it again and again. "Reply to Red Blade! Ten billion is fine, but I will not pay a single cent as a deposit. I must see Su Yan's corpse before I release the funds!"
Yamamoto decided that he wouldn't be the only one paying this bill. If the cost was distributed, it would no longer be an issue. Su Yan's existence had already stirred up the winds of the world... As long as he was eradicated, this massive hidden threat would be gone forever.
As for the Iron Man and Nanomechanical Particles leased by other countries, the Chinese government would surely take measures to reclaim them. Whether those countries were willing to hand them over was another story. Either way, it would achieve his goal of throwing the entire world into chaos.
And in that chaos, he would only need to make a small move to reap the benefits he desired—stealing the Iron Man and Nanomechanical Particle technology for Japan.
"Prime Minister, he agreed," the voice said. "However, he wanted me to pass on a message. If the money isn't there when the job is done, the next one to die... will be you."
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