Chapter 303: Chapter 235: Recuperating on the Immortal Mountain, Turmoil Stirs After a Long Absence (Part 2)

But now, the actions of the Japanese government seemed rather abnormal.

There had to be a reason for this.

"I’m afraid one of Japan’s Ancient Ones has made a move. The Japanese government is just waiting for the final result. They don’t want to apologize. Instead, they want to put Yi Beidou’s head on display."

Wei Cheng took a deep breath and offered his deduction.

"If it’s as you say, and an Ancient One has intervened, the battle shouldn’t have lasted three days. It’s impossible for so much time to pass without any news."

Zhao Ping was puzzled.

Even a Saint Expert couldn’t possibly fight a bloody battle for three days and three nights. That was too much of an exaggeration.

"I’m afraid Yi Beidou has run into danger. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been missing for this long. It doesn’t fit his style. Investigate! Keep investigating! Mobilize our assets across Japan and see if you can find any clues!"

Wei Cheng’s expression was incredibly grave.

He knew that the previous battles were just appetizers. The involvement of these secretive figures marked the beginning of the real danger.

If Yi Beidou didn’t appear for a long time, it was highly likely he was already dead and gone. But if he did appear, Japan would be forced to bow its head completely, and a tidal wave would sweep across the world.

As everyone watched, the three-day countdown came to an end.

"It’s starting! It’s about to start! Has the Great Demon King started to move?"

"Are those high-and-mighty bigwigs about to suffer?"

"..."

Heated discussions had already erupted online. Many people were waiting anxiously, constantly refreshing their web pages, eager to witness the breaking news the moment it happened.

One hour.

Two hours.

Until... an entire day had passed.

Still, nothing happened.

The Japanese government made no sound, and Yi Beidou did not appear anywhere in Japan.

"What’s going on? Didn’t the Great Demon King say he would start an all-out war if the Japanese government didn’t apologize? How is it that a whole day has passed and everything is still calm and quiet?!"

"He didn’t make a big threat and then secretly leave Japan to go into hiding, did he?"

"Impossible. That’s not the Great Demon King’s style at all."

"..."

A lively debate was taking place below the post. Soon, one comment caught everyone’s attention and was quickly pinned to the top.

"Just got some inside information. All of Japan’s top officials have hidden themselves in a doomsday-level underground bunker, acting like cowards hiding in their shells. The defenses on that place are so strong, it would probably be impossible for the Great Demon King to break in with his bare hands, even if he were twice as strong. I bet he’s completely helpless right now."

"I have a bad feeling about this. Japan’s leaders are all in hiding. If the Great Demon King can’t find them, will he fly into a rage out of humiliation and start causing chaos, threatening the safety of ordinary Japanese people?"

This message suddenly struck everyone as very plausible.

It was precisely because Japan’s leaders were hiding in their "turtle shell" that they remained safe.

But this also triggered a huge public outcry among the Japanese people. With his individual strength, the Great Demon King was a walking time bomb in any city. If Japan’s leaders were hiding and he couldn’t find them, would he vent his anger on the general public?

If a war really broke out, would Tokyo suffer widespread destruction?

The common people were in danger while their leaders hid like cowards—all over something that could have been resolved with a simple apology.

Inside the underground bunker, Japan’s top officials were gathered in a conference room.

"Prime Minister, what is the situation? Public opinion is turning against us. The people are demanding an explanation. We can’t keep cowering here, or many things will grind to a halt!"

"Indeed, Prime Minister. You must give us some definite information. What is Yi Beidou’s current status? When can we leave this place?"

"..."

The eyes of Japan’s top officials all turned to the man seated at the head of the table, Japan’s Number One.

At this moment, the expression on Japan’s Number One’s face was also shifting uncertainly.

’If Yi Beidou were dead, I should have received news, or even his body, by now. It shouldn’t be this silent.’

’However, given Yi Beidou’s personality, if he were unharmed, he would have already caused a huge disturbance within Japan by now.’

’What exactly is the situation?’

He didn’t know either.

"Gentlemen, we have done a personality analysis on Yi Beidou, as you are all well aware. If he were still alive and well, Japan would certainly not be this quiet. Even if he couldn’t attack us, he would definitely be causing a scene in the Tokyo City District to force us out of hiding, wouldn’t he?"

"Let’s wait another two days. If there’s still no news of Yi Beidou, then this problem will most likely have been resolved, and we can leave this place."

Japan’s Number One said. Given the current domestic situation, they indeed couldn’t stay away for too long. Otherwise, the entire country would destabilize, and someone would inevitably use this as a reason to attack them and force them from power.

Six days was a long time. If Yi Beidou were unharmed, it was impossible for him to wait this long.

After the meeting, Japan’s Number One took out the secure phone and contacted an important figure in the Japanese Imperial Family. He inquired about the developing situation and informed them of the decision he had made in the meeting.

"Your Excellency, rest assured. The Japanese Imperial Family has existed for many years, and we know one thing deeply: there is nothing that *that* person cannot handle. Otherwise, why do you think our Royal Family was able to remain unscathed after the defeat back then?"

"However, that individual is truly elusive. If he doesn’t contact us, we have no way of contacting him. Perhaps the matter has already been completely resolved. I agree with your plan. Let’s give it two days. After two days, we will reappear before the public."

The voice on the other end of the line spoke faintly, filled with a strong confidence that also eased the doubts in the heart of Japan’s Number One.

「The fifth day.」

「The sixth day.」

It was still calm and quiet within Japan’s borders.

At the same time, the tide of opinion online had gradually begun to shift.

"It’s been six whole days! The Great Demon King hasn’t shown up! This makes no sense! Could something have happened to him?"

"True. Even if Japan’s leaders are hiding in their doomsday bunker, he could still attack various government agencies. It’s impossible for things to be this quiet!"

"Could it be that the Japanese leaders have refused to apologize because they used some secret means to eliminate the threat of the Great Demon King?!"

"..."

As time went on, more and more people began to suspect that something had happened to Yi Beidou.

After all, the impression the Great Demon King had left on them was one of power, ferocity, and grandeur. He always made good on his word, possessing an arrogance like that of a Deity looking down upon the mortal world.

How could such a figure go back on his word and make no move at all?

Then, something even more shocking happened.

News broke online that Japan’s top officials had left the doomsday bunker and returned to their respective posts.

At first, everyone thought it was just a rumor, but soon, pictures were leaked by "relevant personnel."

Japan’s Number One attended an important meeting held that day, and Japan’s Number Three even appeared on a live program.

This news instantly sent a shock through everyone’s hearts.

Japan’s top officials had reappeared. They were no longer hiding in their turtle shell, yet they were still safe and sound!

The Great Demon King did not appear again, as if he had vanished into thin air.

This situation led more and more people to believe that Yi Beidou had likely been dealt with secretly by Japan’s leaders. Otherwise, there was no explanation for this phenomenon.

「Within the Special Security Bureau.」

"Is the reappearance of Japan’s leaders confirmed? It’s not some kind of propaganda stunt, is it?"

Wei Cheng asked Zhao Ping.

"It’s confirmed. Our intelligence agents have verified it. All of Japan’s top officials have returned to their posts. They’ve all appeared in person, not through recordings or propaganda tricks."

Zhao Ping’s expression was extremely grim.

He, of course, knew what this meant.

Japan’s leaders had reappeared, safe and sound, while Yi Beidou was still missing without a trace and had taken no action. This pointed to only one possibility.

That Yi Beidou had been killed.

’Could it be? Is this rising star really going to fall just as he was beginning to ascend?’

The implications behind this were even more terrifying.

Yi Beidou could suppress an entire nation by himself. No one in their own country dared claim they could stand against him. Yet, even a man like this had fallen at the hands of those hidden entities. Just how terrifying was their power?

"I want to see him if he’s alive, and I want to see his body if he’s dead! Keep investigating!"

Wei Cheng said in a low voice. He refused to believe Yi Beidou would die like this. Besides, the Japanese government still hadn’t given a direct response.

But in the eyes of countless netizens and the general public, thanks to the deliberate spread of information by certain interested parties, Yi Beidou was as good as confirmed dead.