Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 522: I love you
Riyadh, The Palace.
A dark blue night sky enveloped the city. Shining golden lights diffused outward, making the Palace compound appear even more magnificent and spectacular, as if it were a resplendent gem embedded in the ground.
In the meeting room, gold, white, and red hues intertwined, bright and vivid.
Yet the Crown Prince himself, the true master of this nation, was dressed very modestly, wearing only a red and white checkered headscarf and simple traditional attire.
On such an important occasion, he even wore a pair of slippers.
There was no helping it, as events had unfolded too urgently. He had been awoken from bed and, without even time to wash his face, plunged into analyzing the situation.
He leaned casually in his chair, hands resting on his knees, saying nothing, yet his presence already inspired both respect and fear in those around him.
Many rumors about him circulated within the country.
Some believed he was an innately cold and cruel tyrant, known for imprisoning his birth mother, overpowering his own father, and eradicating all royal opposition with ruthless methods.
Others saw him as an ambitious and progressive monarch, driving reforms and anti-corruption efforts, bringing fresh hope to the nation, and believing him capable of changing the country.
On international social media, his image leaned towards that of an influencer.
Judging solely by his appearance, it was hard to imagine the kinds of policies he implemented domestically.
However, no matter how the outside world judged Salman, he always ruled the country in his own way.
He glanced over the silent Ministers, then his gaze shifted to the nominal King and Prime Minister.
He was a decrepit old man, his face showing no trace of the authority Salman recalled.
Salman couldn’t help but imagine what the old King had looked like in his youth: powerful and majestic, a king whose word was law, who had even managed to change the traditional rule of fraternal succession.
Without a doubt, this was the father he loved.
Unfortunately, whenever power came into play, kinship tended to thin.
Their relationship had been good, but the sudden emergence of the Different World made the old King feel as though he could live another five hundred years. Consequently, he became reluctant to retire and enjoy leisure as an idle elder, attempting to meddle in affairs related to the Different World.
Of course, Salman had no desire to let him live another five hundred years. Where in the world was there a Crown Prince for five hundred years?
So, during this cabinet meeting, when the old King asked questions, Salman chose silence.
Nobody in the meeting room dared to answer, and the silence continued to envelop the space.
It made the old King understand what they meant by ’once people depart, the tea cools’—his influence had faded.
Salman was satisfied with the behavior of those around him and spoke softly, "You may introduce the incident that occurred in Jerusalem."
"Yes."
The head of the Investigative Bureau immediately responded loudly, quickly standing to show respect to the Prime Minister. "At 12:45 AM in Jerusalem, internet reports surfaced about a forest emerging within the city.
"The situation inside is unknown.
"What we know so far is that the emergent forest occupies Jerusalem and an area extending roughly two kilometers around it.
"According to our intelligence, Secretary of Defense Nock and Prime Minister Tani are both unharmed.
"Minister of the Interior Tony and Minister of Finance Pavel are said to have broken their legs, Minister of Health Rencesis cannot be contacted, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs..."
The head of the Investigative Bureau shared the information he had gathered from internal sources.
After listening to his report, Salman turned to look at the old King and smiled, "Father, do you have any further questions?"
"No."
The old King tugged at his collar, feeling a chill in the air even though winter had yet to arrive.
He was very old, even older than Nett at eighty-seven, and indeed not in the best condition to handle national affairs.
The old King had previously been willing to relinquish power, largely due to his advanced age. Who knew that a Different World would suddenly appear?
Now the old King deeply regretted relinquishing his power so early. He even thought he shouldn’t have appointed a Crown Prince in advance. He could understand why ancient kings were always wary of Crown Princes and other heirs. The ancestral laws should never have been changed.
Though filled with regret, the old King still declared, "We must snatch that land back from the hands of the thieves!"
He emphasized this point for a simple reason: that forest might conceal treasures, or perhaps, a fruit that could prolong life. Without systematic exploration and investigation, no one could deny the possibility that it held what he desired.
Salman spoke up, "Naturally. General Viraat, are the army, navy, and air force assembled?"
"Rest assured, 150,000 troops are urgently gathering and are expected to depart in half an hour!" General Viraat, with his large beard, responded in a resounding and forceful voice.
A flicker of hesitation crossed the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ face before he spoke, "Prime Minister, should we not communicate with the United States first, inquire about intelligence, and then make a decision?"
After the event unfolded, the United States had been the first to call, urging them to stabilize their domestic situation and refrain from entering foreign territories and causing trouble.
Salman had naturally seen the relevant reports but wasn’t concerned. With a composed expression, he said, "This is a Holy War.
"Jerusalem is our Holy City. It has been in the hands of thieves for a long time. Now, it is time for us to welcome Jerusalem back into the embrace of the Arab world.
"This is not just our desire, but the wish of all Arab countries."
Salman’s tone was filled with certainty.
In military matters, he was rather unremarkable, often thrashed by the less formidable forces next door.
However, in the political arena, he was undoubtedly a king-tier player.
Salman knew he might not necessarily have to fight in this Holy War himself, but without demonstrating the resolve to do so, he couldn’t secure more benefits.
As for that forest, Salman naturally coveted it greatly; it might hold secrets to eternal life or extraordinary powers. Who could refuse such a temptation? Salman could not. Obtaining those things would be immensely beneficial for the country, and for him.
Therefore, he had to project an image of fearlessness towards war, a willingness to draw his sword. "What you beg for on your knees is mere garbage others are willing to dispense. Only what you seize while standing tall are treasures others are unwilling to relinquish!"
Salman then stood up, his eyes sweeping over every minister present.
His resolute gaze pierced them like a needle, injecting a dose of fortitude as he declared loudly, "We do not fear war!
"We must fight for all that is rightfully ours. No one can take the Holy City of Jerusalem from us.
"If they want to drag their feet, then I will be the one to fire the first shot!"
"Yes!"
The ministers present responded enthusiastically without any further hesitation.
Even the old King’s eyes showed a hint of admiration; he now held a mixture of love and resentment for this son of his.
...
From Saudi to Iran, the night enveloping the Middle East seemed to turn to day as squadrons of warplanes prepared for takeoff and millions of troops began to mobilize across the land.
The so-called national borders became meaningless at this moment, ready to be crossed at any time.
Online, Salman’s calls for a Holy War and support for their brothers in the Liberation Front rapidly spread through the media of the Arab world, extending to the entire globe.
He turned a deaf ear to the condemnations from the Western world.
The shadow of the Holy War loomed over the land.
Nett was deeply troubled.
The situation had deteriorated to its worst possible point.
After all, that forest was right there. If they were even a second late, others could enter and potentially find and conceal some treasures.
But Nett had assumed they would engage in discussions. Instead, Salman, disregarding all propriety, declared a Holy War without any prior communication.
The surrounding countries, even if they didn’t wish to bolster Salman’s influence, were driven by mutual interests to rally under the banner he had raised.
"Damn peasant!" Nett gritted his teeth and cursed. He and that man had enough grievances to fill a book.
In the current situation, the aircraft carrier groups in the Mediterranean were completely unable to suppress the situation.
The Middle East has always been war-torn, a situation distinct from the conflicts in Africa.
The wars in Africa are incessant but have never resulted in the formation of a true, organized military force.
In terms of organizational ability—Nett wasn’t underestimating them—even some gangs were better organized.
Those people could fight for hundreds more years and still remain a ragtag bunch, incapable of achieving anything significant.
The Middle East, through its constant warfare, had forged forces that truly qualified as armies.
Without relying on unconventional weapons, based solely on soldiers and conventional weaponry, Nett suspected the U.S. Army might not be able to defeat those forces.
"What are the other countries saying?"
The Secretary of State, understanding which countries Nett meant, replied promptly, "Their opinions are united: to prevent the spread of warfare.
"We should be able to issue a joint statement condemning and halting their so-called Holy War."
"Issue that statement immediately! We strongly condemn their inhumane actions and warn them not to enter that forest before we do!" Nett slammed his right hand on the tabletop, his anger palpable. "If they dare to enter, that would be tantamount to declaring war on us!
"Also, tell Tani to hurry up and get the Secretary of Defense to authorize our people to command the troops."
"We have lost contact with Tani," the Secretary of State replied. "The Secretary of Defense is also lost in that forest, and there seems to be some problem with Tani’s phone location."
This news left Nett looking utterly helpless. "Immediately have the United Nations pass a resolution to ensure peace in the Middle East!" he ordered. "Anyone who dares to instigate war at this time will be met with force! We will uphold freedom and democracy!!"
"Yes."
The Secretary of State nodded. Pushing through such an emergency procedure was straightforward.
If the five permanent members reached a consensus, such a meeting usually wouldn’t take long.
...
「Tokyo, Ayase Station.」
Aozawa stepped out of the station. Scorching sunlight plummeted from a sky nearly devoid of clouds. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
The pedestrians on the street seemed no different from usual. He carried meat and vegetables, walking towards the Morimoto family home, intending to store them before heading to Jerusalem to take a look.
