It is Kokang and Changchun

　"Stop joking. I'm just a cosplayer. How can I be the real Xiang? Uh... Besides, would that kind of militaristic thug discuss people's livelihood with you?" Xiang began to try every possible means to cover himself up and firmly denied the result of Ozawa Takuma's reasoning.

　Ozawa Takuma noticed something strange on Hibiki's head. He laughed heartily and said, "Hahaha... Hibiki-san, touch both sides of your forehead."

　"?" After hearing what Ozawa said, Xiang subconsciously touched his forehead with both hands. He felt a sharp touch at his fingertips, and the demon horns that had been hidden appeared.

　Seeing Xiang's panic, Ozawa joked, "Look at you, you're not very good at transformation. You showed up when you were nervous. And you still say you're not Xiang?"

　"...Okay, I... am indeed Xiang from the former 6th Destroyer Squadron of the Combined Fleet." Xiang had no choice but to cover his face and admit it.

　When a KanColle goes out, be wary of KanColle players. This is a "little lesson" that Xiang learned from this experience.

　"By the way...Comrade Ozawa, what do you think of us?"

　Ozawa Takuma stood up from the sofa and poured Xiang a glass of water while saying, "Kalashnikov once said, 'The rifle is not evil, it's the person who pulls the trigger who is evil.' The same goes for you, Xiang, otherwise we wouldn't be discussing this here today. The real evil is the fascist ruling class and the chaebol who support them behind the scenes."

　Hibiki: "Thank you for your understanding, Comrade Ozawa. But the problem is, not all of our former Combined Fleet ships have the same awareness as me. Some are even... still immersed in the past."

　Takuma Ozawa: "That's exactly what I'm saying. All the ships in the former Combined Fleet, no matter who they were, were lovely and beautiful. But this beauty and loveliness was poisoned by certain backward and reactionary ideas.

　I hope that those of them who have been poisoned will one day wake up from this dark iron house and work together to destroy it. Only then will they be able to find their true selves."

　Hibiki: "I understand your feelings, Comrade Ozawa. This is what I'm doing..."

　-------

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　The next day, the Fukushima Prefectural Government, which had thought it had calmed the situation, was being slapped in the face by the stark reality.

　Under pressure, the Fukushima Prefecture government compensated Kono Hiramine's medical expenses and compensated the residents living near the chemical plant explosion.

　However, if someone slaps you several times and then gives you a Dorayaki, will you forgive him?

　Coupled with strict controls and curfews, the insignificant carrot-and-stick approach not only failed to achieve the desired effect, but also had the opposite effect.

　The people of Fukushima could not accept the county government's recent idiotic actions and took to the streets to further protest.

　This time the scale is larger than yesterday's, with more than 5 participants, and the main roads in Fukushima Prefecture have almost become sidewalks.

　It is worth mentioning that the people of Fukushima exercised considerable self-restraint during the protests, and the amount of infrastructure damaged by the demonstrations was not large.

　But despite this, the authorities' attitude remains very tough.

　The Fukushima Prefectural Police Chief shouted at the demonstrators: "I tell you, if you don't disperse, we will disperse you exactly like we did yesterday!"

　Chapter 43: The Ominous Incident at Fukushima (2)

　The protests continue, the Fukushima Prefectural Government is still playing Tai Chi, and people's anger is accumulating.

　For safety reasons and at the suggestion of Takuma Ozawa, Xiang disguised herself seriously today. She put her hair on top of her head, put on a woolen hat, sunglasses and a medical mask, and joined Takuma Ozawa in protesting with more than 5 people.

　"Comrade Ozawa, a piece of news just popped up on your phone." Xiang picked up the phone and showed it to Takuma Ozawa.

　Because the sunlight was so strong, Ozawa Takuma squinted and read the entire article carefully. The gist of the article was:

　The Fukushima Prefecture Taxation Office has officially approved the production of "Nekka" liquor and issued a production license to the brewery. The brewery can now increase production and export it to other countries, but is not allowed to sell the liquor to the public within the country.

　After reading this, Ozawa Takuma was very angry and squeezed out four kana pronunciations from between his clenched teeth: "ばかやる (馬鹿野郎)!"

　Then he looked at Xiang and said, "We must let as many people as possible at the march know this fact! If possible, I will confront the relevant authorities face to face!"

　At this time, the crowd in front seemed to become more agitated.

　"What's going on over there?" Ozawa Takuma's attention was drawn to the commotion ahead. However, due to the large number of people ahead, he couldn't see what was happening.

　Xiang said, "Why don't I climb higher and take a look."

　After saying that, Xiang nimbly climbed up a traffic sign on the side of the road and looked at the target from a distance to see what was going on.

　"Comrade Ozawa, it seems that there is a person who looks like a government official coming out over there." Xiang truthfully reported what he observed.

　Ozawa Takuma asked: "What does it look like? Can you describe it briefly?"

　"Let me take a picture for you." As he said that, Xiang took out his mobile phone and took a picture of the official. Then he jumped off the traffic sign and showed it to Ozawa Takuma.

　Because the distance is quite far, in order to capture the people, the lens magnification was adjusted to a very high level when taking pictures, resulting in lower pixels of the photos, but the people can still be roughly distinguished.

　Looking at the official in the photo, Takuma Ozawa recognized him immediately.

　"Baka Yaro! That's him, the current governor of Fukushima Prefecture. He's been hiding like a turtle these past two days, but is he finally willing to come out and see people today?"

　Xiang asked, "So what should we do next? Should we squeeze forward?"

　Takuma Ozawa said, "Of course. Generally speaking, in domestic situations, if an official comes forward, it means they intend to have a dialogue. So we can't miss this opportunity."

　So Takuma Ozawa pulled Hibiki along and slowly squeezed forward as much as possible in the crowded crowd.

　On the roof of a Mazda car at the front of the parade, a leader was using a loudspeaker to encourage the demonstrators.

　Behind a wall of riot police, the governor of Fukushima Prefecture stood on a makeshift platform, holding a microphone handed to him by someone next to him and spoke to the marchers.

　"Fellow citizens, this stalemate is not a solution. Let's have a good talk."

　After hearing the county chief's words, the leader of the march sneered and said sarcastically, "Hey, isn't this the county chief? After being an ostrich for so long, he finally came out? I also want to talk to you—on behalf of the countless people behind me!"

　"First, I would like to put forward the following basic demands: ① The case of Kono Hiramine must be retried and placed under public supervision. ② Pollution treatment and compensation for the chemical plant explosion must be open and transparent! ③ Subsidies for the nuclear accident from many years ago must be paid in full. ④ The curfew and martial law orders must be lifted, and arrested protesters must be released..."

　After listening to your requests one by one, the Fukushima Prefecture governor shook his head and said, "No, I can't possibly fulfill all of your requests."

　"Why? Give me a reason!"

　The Fukushima Prefecture governor countered, "First, our county's finances are tight, and we can't pay out the full amount of compensation. Secondly, the Kono Hiramine case was explained clearly at the previous press conference, so I won't elaborate here. Furthermore, we're already handling the chemical plant, but for everyone's safety, we won't make it public..."

　The county magistrate's Tai Chi-style speech was heard by the leaders standing on the roof.

　It was very unpleasant. He said loudly:

　"Sato (Fukushima Prefecture Governor's surname) Baka! Explain it clearly! Yes is yes, no is no, stop playing ambiguous words here!"

　"Sir, you are really uncultured. We wanted to have a good talk with you, but you continue talking like this?" County Magistrate Sato showed a disdainful expression and accused.

　The leader of the march sneered and said, "You've been hiding from the crowd and are only now coming out to face the people's calls. Who is so uneducated? You say you're short of money, but why are you willing to spend so much on PR for such a rubbish? Billions of yen, how many Fukuda Yukichis would that cost? Why can't this money be used to do something real and compensate the people?"

　At this moment, the leader of the march felt a touch on his calf. He looked down and saw a man who looked to be in his early 30s calling him.

　The leader asked quietly, "Sir, is there something wrong?"

　"Yes, I want to speak to that Magistrate Sato. I just received another piece of shit about Fukushima on my phone."

　The leader thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, and then jumped off the roof of the car, handed the megaphone to him, and told him, "Try to argue your case as much as possible. This guy is very smooth!"

　"I know."

　"By the way, sir, what's your name?" asked the leader.

　"Ozawa Takuma."

　"Ozawa Takuma? I remember that."

　After climbing onto the roof of the car, Takuma Ozawa raised the horn and pointed it at the county governor.

　When Governor Sato saw the parade's speaker replaced, he thought, "A change? They must be giving in. Even if you keep replacing them, you can't expect us to completely compromise."

　"Governor Sato, I just saw a new news report on my phone. It says that the Fukushima Prefecture Taxation Office has officially approved the export of Nekka Brewery's liquor to China. However, this liquor is only sold in China and not domestically. Could you please explain why?"

　Governor Sato broke out in a cold sweat and quickly defended himself, saying, "This wine is sold specifically to China, and it's also to promote Fukushima's high-quality food."

　Ozawa Takuma said, "So, the quality of this wine should be pretty good, right?"

　"Yes," Sato replied.

　"Then why are good wines only sold abroad and not domestically? Why are good things not used by our own people but only given to others? What kind of practice is this?" Ozawa Takuma questioned County Governor Sato harshly, and then said:

　"Let's make a hypothetical! If this wine is flawless and only supplied abroad and not domestically, does that count as worshipping foreigners? If this wine is flawed, then your approval makes sense. Do you remember the radioactive fish from a while ago? I seriously suspect there's something fishy about this wine. If there really is, then your exporting it is a public display of disgrace!"

　County Magistrate Sato was extremely anxious and denied it stubbornly: "Don't slander others' innocence out of thin air. Please provide evidence to prove your statement, otherwise I will sue you for defamation!"

　"True gold fears no fire. Please, County Magistrate, please ship this batch of wine out, conduct a public inspection, and broadcast it live! Let's see if there's anything wrong with this wine?!"

　"I have no comment to make!"

　"No comment, that's probably because you're guilty. Could this batch of wine be some secret? Aren't you bullying an honest person?"

　……

　While Takuma Ozawa and Governor Sato were arguing with each other in front of the parade, around the other direction of the parade, Ji Haitang Yuli was faithfully recording the entire process of the parade.

　According to normal arrangements, she should have returned to Kanto today after attending the press conference on the Kono Hiramine case; but she did not expect that a demonstration would take place in Fukushima.

　As a journalist and someone who witnessed this grand parade with my own eyes, how could I not record it?

　So she applied to the newspaper headquarters to stay for two more days in order to collect more real-time materials.

　"Yu Li!" Ji Haitang heard a voice calling from behind Yu Li. She turned around and saw that it was her college classmate and roommate.

　"Hey, Wenwen. What brings you here? When did you come to the Northeast?"

　The woman called Wenwen held a round fan in her hand, fanning herself gently and said with a smile, "Oh my... Guoguo, what are you talking about? You should know that wherever there is news, there is Wenwen. I am not saying this casually."

　Ji Haitang Yuli sighed and said, "Are you coming here today to make some big news?"

　"No, I will report the truth this time." Wenwen assured Ji Haitang.

　Ji Haitang Yu Li looked suspicious and said, "You? You're going to report the truth? You once told me that you rose to prominence in the newspaper by fabricating and exaggerating stories. Will you go back and report the truth?"

　"Guoguo, that's wrong. People have to eat. I do news about celebrities. People under someone's roof have to bow their heads. As for the country and the people's livelihood, I will always be that honest and upright person."

　However, Ji Haitang Yu Li was still skeptical.

　As she spoke, Wenwen raised her digital camera and captured the scene of Takuma Ozawa and Governor Sato arguing in the distance.

　Ji Haitang Yuli noticed the Canon digital camera in Wenwen's hand and asked, "Where's that Leica M3 you had in college? Why don't you use it anymore?"

　"Things of sentiment are not convenient for work. Besides, the photos taken with the plastic ring camera need to be washed, which is not enough to satisfy the

　"It meets the current demand for immediacy in news releases. So I put it away," Wenwen replied.

　Wenwen then extended an invitation to Ji Haitang Yuli: "I'm going to interview the people who are marching. Guoguo, do you want to come with me?"

　"Well, this is a good opportunity to see if she's recording the truth." Ji Haitang Yuli thought so and agreed.

　At this moment, at the front of the parade, blood spurted from the left shoulder of Takuma Ozawa who was debating. Then, a policeman who was in the same line with Ozawa fell in a pool of blood almost at the same time as Takuma Ozawa.

　"Comrade Ozawa? Comrade Ozawa! Someone come, take him to the hospital quickly..." Xiang supported Ozawa's body which was about to fall off the roof of the car, and shouted desperately.

　At the same time, on the rooftop of a hotel far away from the demonstration, a girl with white hair and red eyes was loading the bolt of the M700 sniper rifle in her hand.

　Gazing at the chaotic scene through her 8x scope, she said with a hint of regret, "Tsk, it was a bit off. I was clearly aiming for the heart... Never mind, the target has been achieved. Now all we have to do is evacuate."

　Then, she began to send a message to her superiors via the mental network: "This is Deep Sea Vanguard xxx. Our mission to disrupt the parade has been completed. We are now preparing to evacuate. Over."

　Chapter 44: The Ominous Event in Fukushima (3)

　All the people in the front row of the march witnessed the entire process of Ozawa falling and were shocked.

　Although the police explained that they did not fire any shots, the protesters did not believe them at all.

　"Police shot!"

　"Go check on the guy who was shot just now and see if he's okay..."

　"Shooting now? That's not necessary, is it?!"

　"Now that they've opened fire, there's nothing more to say. Let's go!"

　"Charge! The police are here, so why don't you stand up? Can you handle so many people? Beat them up!"

　The rage that has already ignited will burn even more fiercely in the strong wind.

　The crowd began to violently attack the human wall formed by Fukushima riot police, throwing whatever they could at the police. The police, because some of their own men were injured, believed that the gunfire was caused by the public and began to violently suppress the march.

　Xiang was pressing on Takuma Ozawa's wound to prevent further bleeding, and the blood that kept oozing out dyed her white little hand red.

　Several people spontaneously stood up to maintain order around the place where Takuma Ozawa fell, while others called for help in rescuing him.

　A middle-aged woman heard that something happened to Takuma Ozawa, so she rushed over and gave Ozawa's wound a simple hemostatic treatment.

　"Little sister, please carry the injured to my pharmacy first. It's no use staying here. There are so many people here that the ambulance can't get in."

　Xiang nodded and said, "Okay, where is your pharmacy?"

　"It's not far, just around the corner, less than 200 meters," the middle-aged woman replied.

　So, the few people protecting Ozawa tried to clear a path through the crowd.