mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 97 Why Not Kneel
Chapter 97 Why Not Kneel
Chapter 97 Why Not Kneel
Governments around the world convened emergency national security meetings, and intelligence agencies worked at full speed to analyze Xia Jie's capabilities, intentions, and weaknesses, and to urgently assess their own countries' ability to respond to similar threats and their contingency plans.
The military's special forces and secret research departments were all placed on high alert. At the urgent request of the Japanese representative, the UN Security Council discussed the international security crisis arising from the extraordinary phenomena.
Meanwhile, in Japan, at the eye of the storm, an unprecedented crisis of panic, anger, and trust in the government and the royal family has ensued.
Protests and demonstrations surged on Honshu, Hokkaido, and Kyushu, the remaining three main islands, with people demanding that the government immediately take the strongest measures to rescue their compatriots and eliminate the tyrant! The stock market crashed, and social order was disrupted.
Inside the emergency meeting room of the Japanese cabinet, the atmosphere was so tense it could drip water. The Prime Minister's face was ashen as he stared at the Arisaka flag, adorned with menacing dark red symbols, fluttering in front of the Kochi Prefectural City Hall on the screen.
"Counterattack? What can we use to counterattack!" The Defense Minister's voice was hoarse. "The battle footage analysis is in! Conventional weapons, whether bullets, artillery, or even probing missile attacks, are almost ineffective against Xia Jie and the energy field around him! His spatial teleportation abilities and soul manipulation are completely beyond the scope of modern military responses! A forced attack would only cause more casualties among our soldiers and innocent civilians, and enrage that monster—it would be utterly pointless!"
"Are we just going to stand by and watch a million people on Shikoku Island become slaves? Why don't you become a slave yourself? Are we just going to watch that tyrant continue to expand until our Japan is completely wiped out?" another person said indignantly.
"We beg the Imperial Family for a solution! We implore the Onmyoji to intervene and save our people!"
"We still have the Onmyoji! He could easily suppress Xia Jie before, and now he can definitely turn the tide and save the collapsing empire!" Finally, someone shouted out this name, as if they had grasped the last straw.
The meeting room fell silent. All eyes turned to the head of the Abe family, who was present but remained silent throughout the meeting.
Abe no Yoshihira felt the burning, desperately expectant gazes of the crowd, and beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. As the bridge between him and the Onmyoji Abe no Gen, the pressure he was under at this moment was immense.
The head of the Abe family took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, and slowly spoke, his voice deliberately heavy: "Gentlemen, I have already reported the situation on Shikoku Island to Lord Abe Genji through the emergency channels of the Shrine."
Abe no Yoshihira paused, then, meeting the eager gazes of the crowd, continued, "My lord—my lord was furious upon hearing the news."
"Is the heavens truly condemning Japan?"
"What are we going to do?!"
The group was in despair, not because of the plight of the Japanese on Shikoku Island, but because they felt a sense of shared fate and feared that they too might become slaves.
"However," the head of the Abe family changed his tone, his voice becoming even more strained, "His Excellency clearly stated that during the last battle at the Imperial Palace, he forcibly activated the power of the Three Sacred Treasures, which were not yet fully refined. Although he forced Xia Jie to retreat, he also suffered a backlash, and his very essence was damaged. The power of the Sacred Treasures was greatly depleted and needs time to be nurtured again with the power of faith and will."
He raised his head, his eyes revealing genuine helplessness and anxiety: "The Yin-Yang Master said that Xia Jie's actions this time have shown even greater power and ferocity than before. If we rush there now, not only will the divine artifacts be insufficient in power, but our own injuries will also affect our performance. I'm afraid—I'm afraid we will have little chance of winning, and we might even end up in danger, shaking our very foundation."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the flames of hope that had just been ignited in everyone's hearts. The air in the meeting room froze again, and the sense of despair deepened.
"My lord is not standing idly by!" The head of the Abe family quickly added, "My lord has already given instructions! First, starting immediately, launch a nationwide, highest-level faith gathering ceremony! Centered on the shrine, all shrines and temples will cooperate, calling on the entire nation to pray devoutly to the Three Sacred Treasures day and night, offering the purest faith and aspirations!"
"The adult needs a massive amount of faith power to accelerate the nurturing of the divine artifact, restore himself, and deduce a stronger Yin-Yang technique to counter Xia Jie's evil magic!"
"Before that, we must hold fast to the three islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, and Kyushu, and guard against the infiltration of Xia Jie's forces. At the same time, we must gather our faith and wait for the right opportunity! We must not launch a large-scale attack on Xia Jie and his demonic army, so as to avoid unnecessary casualties and escalating the situation."
"Understood—" The Prime Minister wearily closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them a moment later, a resolute glint in his eyes. "We will act according to the Onmyoji's divine decree! Mobilize all resources to carry out the decree! At the same time, reveal part of the truth to the people, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and call on the entire nation to unite and overcome this difficult time together!"
The order was issued swiftly. Driven by fear and the instinct for survival, the Japanese national machine began to operate with unprecedented efficiency. Honshu, Hokkaido, and Kyushu were placed under de facto military control and religious mobilization, all sea and air routes to Shikoku were strictly blocked, and border patrols were increased to their maximum capacity.
After the initial panic and anger at the government's incompetence, the people of Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido learned that the Onmyoji had a complete plan and needed the support of the entire population. A feeling of grief mixed with hope began to spread.
Spontaneous prayer activities began to appear at shrines, temples, and even on the streets.
Koji Tokugawa, the Prince of Yuxia, entered with slightly hurried steps and a strange expression. He bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, several guests have arrived outside the capital. They claim to be from a distant country that holds great respect for Your Majesty's great achievements and request an audience."
"Oh?" Xia Jie raised an eyebrow, put down the map and books, and a hint of interest curved his lips. "Far—"
Guests from the other side? Interesting! Let them in. I want to see how these barbarian representatives behave in front of me and my land.
Three lean men, dressed in modern attire, bowed slightly anciently but respectfully to Xia Jie, who sat in a high-backed chair, seemingly blending into the shadows. It was not a modern diplomatic gesture, but rather a tribute to a powerful being.
"Your Majesty, the King of Xia," the leader's voice was neutral and calm, easily inspiring a sense of closeness, "please allow us, on behalf of the nation, to extend our greetings to you. Congratulations, Your Majesty, on establishing an unparalleled foundation in the land of four kingdoms."
Xia Jie leaned back in his chair, tapping the armrest with his fingers, but did not respond immediately. He simply let the invisible imperial pressure spread, making the temperature in the room seem to drop a few degrees.
"Why don't you kneel before me?"
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