Between the mountains, the Mountain God Shrine.
Two days later, the ruins of the Prime Minister's Official Residence were still being cleared, but the core of power had quietly shifted to this shrine, imbued with an ancient sense of awe.
The former core of power in the capital, along with all the buildings symbolizing power, had lost all meaning.
As for other shrines?
Kishibe Rohan had only seen them occasionally produce some extraordinary individuals, some of whom were Stand Users, others possessing various strange abilities, but he had never seen their true gods.
If they couldn't display the power of true gods, then he wouldn't care about them. When they finally showed true divine power, then they could discuss matters of authority.
It was currently a break, and Kishibe Rohan sat in a quiet room temporarily arranged by a Shinto priest. This was originally a place for the priest's meditation, but now it served as his command center for negotiations with the other side of the world.
A heavily encrypted satellite communication device rested on an antique sandalwood table, completely out of place with its surroundings.
The screen lit up, showing a conference room of one of the highest decision-making bodies in the US military. The face of a four-star general appeared on the screen, his expression stern, with an unconcealed astonishment and a hint of greed in his eyes.
"Mr. Rohan," the general said, getting straight to the point, his voice emanating from the speaker and breaking the shrine's tranquility, "energy readings in Japan and the surrounding areas have shown unprecedented violent fluctuations in the past 48 hours. That is an unimaginable power.
Our satellites even captured a golden light that pierced directly through the sky. I hope to receive an explanation, as a friend who has helped you."
"Explanation?" Kishibe Rohan elegantly picked up a freshly brewed cup of matcha, holding the teacup handle with his thumb, index, and middle fingers, and gracefully took a sip.
A faint smile played on his lips, a composure that came from wielding absolute power. "General, instead of listening to my pale explanation, why not witness the 'result' with your own eyes?"
He didn't operate any equipment; he merely raised his eyes slightly. A large screen on one side of the quiet room automatically lit up, splitting into several frames, revealing a shocking scene.
One of the frames showed the central square of a capital in a small Southeast Asian country.
Just yesterday, violent anti-American protests had erupted here, with images of burning American flags making global news.
However, at this moment, the people in the frame had fanatical and unified expressions. They were orderly throwing piles of imitation flags of the old regime into bonfires.
And next to them were individual pyres, where their former leaders were tied, currently sizzling as they were roasted, while the fanatical army stood by, with no intention of stopping it.
Instead, they were helping the residents better light the fires and roast these leaders, all while loudly singing praises about America.
Another group of people was raising a massive American flag, singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" loudly, and although their pronunciation was strange, the fanaticism was chillingly real.
The four-star general fell silent. As a high-ranking military officer with immense power, he naturally had access to relevant information, but he hadn't considered that Kishibe Rohan was behind it.
After all, they hadn't used Kishibe Rohan's methods to interfere in that region; they were busy brainwashing Europe to willingly become their blood bag and didn't have time to deal with such places.
And the other scenes shocked him even more.
Another frame switched to a city street in a disputed region of eastern Ukraine.
The crowds, originally filled with opposition and tension, now displayed an eerie "harmony." In the past, some people here were pro-Russian, others pro-American, a region where America had invested heavily in a color revolution.
But now, it was completely different from the past, a sight that even made the general feel fear.
People from pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian factions, though still gathered separately, had their hostility replaced by a bewildered obedience in their eyes. They began mechanically clearing roadblocks and graffiti from the streets.
It was as if past conflicts had never happened, and from the new banners, a sense of anticipation for American mediation and order was clearly conveyed through the camera.
The four-star general even felt that if they sent troops now—no, even just an diplomat—this entire country would surrender to them and be excitedly eager to become their colony.
"A small demonstration," Rohan said, taking a sip of matcha, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather, then picked up a small cookie and took a bite, showing an expression of enjoyment.
"Through some 'mediums' for precise consciousness guidance, combined with a little bit of... well... 'miraculous' environmental suggestion in the local area, reshaping regional collective cognition is not difficult. Making them 'crave' order, 'believe' in freedom, and 'love' the America that can bring all this, is easier than imagined.
All I need is to send someone to distribute a few flyers; it's very simple."
He put down his teacup and gently tapped the table with his fingertip.
The screen display changed again, showing more detailed relevant data. "Look, this is a Ukrainian poll currently being compiled. I had people investigate their current views on America.
Now, the proportion of those who are pro-American has reached 99.7%. This isn't just propaganda, General; this is 'optimization' and 'calibration' from the subconscious level."
A long silence fell on the other end of the communication.
Only the sound of people gasping and suppressed breathing could be heard in the US military conference room.
This ability had far exceeded the scope of psychological warfare or information warfare; it was almost... the power of a god, making him feel fear.
And he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if such power were used against America itself?
After a long while, the general's voice spoke again, with unprecedented solemnity. His voice no longer carried the arrogance of a patron speaking to a subordinate, but rather the reverence for a true ally, or even a higher-ranking individual.
"...Mr. Rohan, the power you've displayed... is astonishing. What are your demands?"
Kishibe Rohan leaned forward slightly, the cold, inhuman red light of a strong person flickering in his eyes again, bringing a heavy sense of oppression even through the screen.
"My demands have always been simple."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness. "First, I want you to use all resources to ensure that my 'purification' plan for Japan is free from any external interference. Of course, you are no longer needed for this now.
I only need time. I already have absolute control to clear all the old, corrupt, and outdated 'impurities' from this land, to forge it into a perfect new world model.
But I don't want to turn them into machines; a world of only robots is boring. I want you to completely isolate this country, so that everyone here can gradually and consciously learn and progress, becoming perfect individuals who love manga."
"Second," he paused, and the screen switched back to his face, that artist-like countenance now filled with cruel rationality, "regarding that troublemaker, Kira Yoshikage, I demand that the US military intelligence system fully cooperate in locating him, but you are not to kill him.
I want to personally torment and eliminate him, little by little. If you kill him, preventing my revenge, then Ukraine's present will be America's tomorrow."
He almost unchallengeably set the tone for dealing with Kira Yoshikage, leaving no room for refutation.
The general was silent for a few seconds; he dared not speak. This was not something he could decide, but the people listening to this conversation through his earpiece could decide and give him instructions.
After a few minutes, the people on the other end of the earpiece seemed to have finished their discussion, and he finally nodded slowly.
"Understood. We are clear on matters related to Kira Yoshikage.
We will mobilize all resources. But your 'purification' plan... the scope must be kept within an acceptable range, otherwise, we won't be able to control it."
'It seems the higher-ups have given up on the Arrow in Kira Yoshikage's possession?'
The outwardly cold general mused inwardly, but dared not express it.
Rohan smiled, a cold and fanatical smile. "Good, that's right. You're moving on the Middle East now, aren't you? As long as you catch Kira Yoshikage and send him to me, I'll make them like Ukraine."
A transaction based on divine power and a mad will was concluded in the quiet room of the ancient shrine.
Japan's future was completely mortgaged, and an all-out encirclement targeting Kira Yoshikage, from the current strongest government on Earth, was about to begin.