New chapter of Ordinary Person is out! (1/3 chapters)

 

 

Chapter 146

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

(POV switch – Mira)

The fool responsible for this debacle was the man known by the alias “Chatman”. He was a man from the intelligence bureau, one who possessed numerous identities and family registers under different names, and I did not even know his true one. Of those present here, the only person who would know his real name was undoubtedly Otou-sama.

This incident, if left unattended, could very well endanger Otou-sama’s position. I continued to search for an ingenious means to escape this crisis.

The issue lay in the fact that the only person who knew that the true culprit was “Chatman” was the woman whom Kouta had pinned to the ground. If she were silenced or made to give false testimony, “Chatman” would escape judgment and Otou-sama would be placed in peril instead.

There must be some effective countermeasure.

“Mira, hurry. Shall I erase her?” (Kouta)

“No! That woman is merely the executor. There is another, a mastermind above her.” (Mira)

I explained clearly through the translation device so that even Kouta would understand.

“I see. That has nothing to do with me though, does it?” (Kouta)

This is bad. Kouta now wears the same expression he had when he annihilated the terrorists. At this rate, everyone in the embassy would be wiped out. Emilia would be of no use. If anything, she might side with Kouta. The same goes for Adelaide, who is far too emotionally involved with him. As for Sofia and Haruka, their reactions are uncertain. They are usually reassuring allies, but as enemies, they are terrifying.

I have to act first. Yes, that is it. Strike before “Chatman” could. The enemy is not Kouta. The enemy is within our own ranks.

“Kouta, could we not resolve this matter through apology and compensation?” (Mira)

“100 million.” (Kouta)

“Understood. Allow me five minutes to negotiate.” (Mira)

I had bought us some time. All that remained was to explain the situation to Otou-sama.

“At this rate, this will turn into a matter of responsibility, Otou-sama.” (Mira)

“So, it would seem.” (Ambassador)

Good, he is responsive. Otou-sama surely understand that negotiation is now necessary.

“Let us take the initiative and apologize first, declaring that it was all due to ‘Chatman’. Then, without waiting for government approval, we can unilaterally reconcile with Japan.” (Mira)

“I will not be able to escape all responsibility, will I?” (Ambassador)

He was regaining composure. He was surely envisioning several possible developments from this point onward. However, I presented him with an outcome that his mind had not yet reached.

“The person who recommended ‘Chatman’, is there not a written record of that?” (Mira)

“There is. But would that be sufficient?” (Ambassador)

“Let us use information as a weapon and sway public sentiment to our side, just as we have been doing recently.” (Mira)

“If we hold an official press conference, I believe we can shape the narrative to some degree.” (Sofia)

Sofia supported my plan. However, that alone lacked impact. We needed something faster and more dramatic. If we failed to seize control of the narrative, others seeking to escape responsibility would soon thrust it upon us.

We must cause confusion first and then strike.

“Mira, let us use a live broadcast.” (Sofia)

“And hold the press conference amid the confusion, correct?” (Mira)

I nodded to Sofia, drawing courage from her confidence.

Since we were outside the dungeon, conducting a live broadcast at any time was possible. Otou-sama faced the camera and explained the events that had transpired, expressing his apologies and declaring that reparations would be made.

The woman accused as the perpetrator wept as she claimed that she had been coerced by “Chatman”. Though her beauty could not rival that of Emilia or Sofia, tears from a woman would undoubtedly draw sympathy from a portion of the audience.

Otou-sama emphasized repeatedly that the German government harbored no hostile intentions toward Japan. He explained that all of this was solely due to “Chatman” and the ambassador stationed in Minato Ward, Tokyo, both of whom had acted on their own accord.

The rest would now depend on time. We declared that a press conference would be held shortly and rushed to prepare the venue before the hour arrived.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)