Chapter 20: The World Stunned

The iron gates of Zhongfu Prison creaked open slowly. The prison guards on both sides automatically formed two lines, and from the center, Fujiyama Ken stepped out.

Fujiyama Ken was lean, with gold-rimmed, thin-framed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Beneath his straight nose, he sported the signature toothbrush mustache of a middle-aged Jepanese man. He wore a brown fedora, and beneath his black suit jacket, a white shirt was paired with a tie featuring a small, pale purple polka-dot pattern, all topped with a tweed overcoat. He appeared quite refined, much like a well-read scholar. The only difference was that in his narrow, elongated eyes, what flickered was not detachment or wisdom, but a light of cunning, ferocity, and cruelty.

The guards on both sides bowed to Fujiyama Ken and shouted in unison, "We respectfully see you off, President!"

Fujiyama Ken remained composed, walking forward slowly. However, the flicker in his eyes betrayed his true feelings at that moment. Although these men were merely the lowest-ranking members of the Flood Dragon Society, the fact that they were government officials—prison guards—still gave him a pleasant sense that everything was under his control.

Fujiyama Ken enjoyed this feeling of being worshipped by the masses, surrounded and followed; this feeling became even more intense when he saw the bustling crowd outside through the slowly opening iron gates.

He was the king of the underworld in one of the world's most powerful nations. Today, his return as a king would be like a hidden dragon rising from the abyss, churning up the heavens and clouds. It would allow the Flood Dragon Society to grow exponentially, promote the spirit of martial arts, protect the Emperor, drive out the Chana, recreate the glory of the Greater Arthurian Co-Prosperity Sphere, and achieve the unparalleled greatness of a man!

Of course, he did not know that just a few hours earlier, a young man from that powerful neighbor to the west had just said this to his comrades: "History is often set in motion by certain insignificant characters. Now, let us go and seize this insignificant character!"

If Fujiyama Ken had known he was being treated as a negligible nobody, he surely would have been so angry he would have vomited blood. But at this moment, Fujiyama Ken was stirred by his own lofty ambitions, his breathing becoming slightly rapid. His eyes shining with light, he strode toward the cluster of microphones and cameras. He was ready to deliver a passionate speech, to make all the people of Jepan understand his painstaking efforts and ambitions, to support him, follow him, and under his leadership, create a brilliant future the likes of which had never been seen in millennia!

But just as he strode forward, full of confidence, the moment he stepped out of the prison gates, Fujiyama Ken’s footsteps stopped abruptly, and his face turned completely gloomy in an instant.

The media crowd, which had been packed tightly together, suddenly began answering their phones collectively. Immediately, the entire crowd exploded like a bomb thrown into a fuel depot.

"Oh my god!"
"Heavens!"
"This is impossible!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'm on my way!"

After a burst of commotion, these reporters didn't say another word. They turned and sprinted in the opposite direction. Within moments, the entire street, over a thousand meters long and previously packed to the brim, became almost empty, leaving behind only cigarette butts and countless scraps of paper on the ground. A gentle breeze blew, causing the paper scraps to flutter up, looking so helpless and desolate.

"Is this the 'high quality' that the Jepanese are so proud of—that after a gathering, they must tidy up the scene and never cause trouble for others?" Standing before the Lexus 800 super-luxury sedan—which had already been started, its engine humming softly, and the interior air, temperature, and humidity adjusted to the optimal state—Li Yongzheng kept his expression normal, but felt nothing but disdain in his heart. "It’s really nothing more than that!" He glanced at Fujiyama Ken a few meters away, feeling even more contemptuous. *You think you’re some truly earth-shattering big shot? In reality, when faced with real events, you’re not even worth a fart!*

Despite his inner disdain, his actions were not slow at all. He reached out and pulled open the rear door of the Lexus 800, waiting respectfully to the side, and then, along with sixteen burly men from the Flood Dragon Society, bowed: "We respectfully welcome you, President!"

Fujiyama Ken’s face, which had been somewhat refined, was now hideous. He showed no mercy to these former confidants, turned, and sat into the wide, soft backseat, coldly squeezing out a single word:

"Investigate!"

The order of the Eighth Generation leader had to be executed immediately, of course. Li Yongzheng didn't say a word; he pulled out his mobile phone and dialed—although he had long known what had happened, he had to pretend to be completely unaware.

A moment later, Li Yongzheng’s mouth hung open, his face blank, and his speech became somewhat stuttering: "President, something huge has happened!"

Before the words had even faded, hundreds of meters away, cries of shock erupted into the sky. The massive wall of sound was clearly audible even inside the soundproof luxury car.

"Oh my god—"

The Lexus 800 sedan, escorted by four other luxury cars, sped along the wide road. By this time, the streets of Kyoto were in an uproar.

On the large screens on the outer walls of various office buildings, on computer screens in small cafes for customers to pass the time, and on television display models in shopping malls—at this moment, all were occupied by the same image. No matter which television station or online media outlet, all were broadcasting a shocking piece of news.

Although there was no live video, and not even a single picture, just the brief message read aloud by the news anchor was enough to shock even those who didn't care about politics or international affairs, leaving them with their mouths agape, unable to utter a single word.

On the television screen, a straight-faced anchor in a sharp suit, whether out of excitement or fear, had a voice that trembled slightly: "According to information just received by this station, four hours ago, the special forces of the Chana Republic suddenly mobilized on a large scale, launching simultaneous, massive surprise attacks on the East Ugu-Chate organization training camps within the borders of their northwestern neighbors, Khwarizm and Uzzistan, and launched a powerful raid on the East Ugu-Chate headquarters located within the borders of Alfghan. Military experts estimate that this operation will deal a devastating blow to the East Ugu organization. This renowned organization, known as the 'thorn in the side' of the Chana Republic, is about to face its doom..."

The news anchor had not finished speaking when he was drowned out by the enormous wave of sound erupting from the crowd.

There was no need to listen any further; these few hundred characters of news were enough to make people completely shocked and completely insane!

It was not just in Kyoto, and not just in Jepan; in the Minia Federation, the Luo-Ou Alliance, the Suus Federation, the Inga Empire—in almost every corner of the world, people could hear the same news and hear the same gasps of shock rising to the heavens!

People were excited, speculating, confused, and stunned.

But regardless of their moods or expressions, people reached a very similar conclusion at the same time: that ancient Eastern nation that had been sleeping for hundreds of years, that sleeping lion, that mysterious giant dragon, had finally unsheathed its long-sharpened sword!

When the divine dragon flares in anger, the whole world trembles!

"Bastard, baka, maru..." In the back seat of the Lexus 800, Fujiyama Ken completely tore off his refined mask, becoming neurotically irritable. He waved his fists and shouted curses: "This inferior race, these disgraceful Chana people, how dare they... I will make them pay a painful price! Ah—"

Fujiyama Ken roared hysterically. He did not see that Li Yongzheng, who was sitting in front of him, appearing to drive quietly, already had a cold, disdainful sneer at the corner of his mouth: "Inferior race? I hope that when you realize the fate you are about to face, you still have the mood to think that way..."