noveltune Chapter 132 Summoning the Evil Dragon
Chapter 132 Summoning the Evil Dragon
(Bonus chapter for chapter two~ The author is completely exhausted)
Thursday, November 10, 1988.
Nine o'clock in the morning.
Tokyo, Kasumigaseki.
This is the central hub of Japan's administrative power. The gray government buildings form a silent wall, isolating the hustle and bustle of Chiyoda Ward from the outside world.
In a small meeting room in the Minister's Office of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the heavy velvet curtains were tightly drawn, and the air was filled with the pale blue smoke from burning premium "Peace" brand cigarettes.
The smoke was so thick it almost condensed into water droplets.
Seven or eight solemn-looking men sat around the long conference table.
Seated at the head of the table was the Vice Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, who held today's "Wenwen News" in his hand, the newspaper rolled into a tube, and was rhythmically tapping it on the table.
"Is this your explanation?"
The vice-official's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent room.
Sitting opposite him was a vice president of NTT. This usually powerful figure in the business world had a gloomy face and puffy eyes, clearly having not slept all night.
"Vice Minister, the technical department has conducted a thorough investigation."
The vice president unbuttoned the top button of his shirt collar, as if an invisible noose was tightening around it.
"The physical overheating of the switch is just a symptom. The real reason is that it has been maliciously attacked by external non-standard signals."
He pulled a pre-prepared technical report from his briefcase and pushed it to the center of the table.
"S-Food's convenience store network uses a TCP/IP protocol originating from the US military. This 'heretic' technology, which has not been certified by the Japanese JIS standard, bypassed our core monitoring network and forcibly accessed public lines."
The vice president looked up, solemnly intending to shift the blame for the financial disaster onto a convenience store.
"This is no longer a simple technical malfunction; it's a technological intrusion targeting Japan! We must strike hard!"
"A company that sells rice balls privately built a communication network independent of national regulations. This behavior led to a serious data backflow, commonly known as a 'signaling storm,' which was the real culprit that burned out the switch's temperature control module."
Several professors from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo—the so-called "official scholars"—took off their glasses, took out white handkerchiefs to wipe away non-existent dust, and then nodded slightly to indicate their "academic approval" of the conclusion.
The vice-official stopped tapping on the table.
He gave the vice president a long look.
In this country, monopolies and regulators are always in cahoots. Now that the accident has happened, if NTT is admitted to incompetence, then the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which failed in its oversight, is also to blame.
But what if this is a "safety incident" caused by "unruly external forces"...?
That completely changes the nature of the matter.
But... the Saionji family isn't someone to mess with either...
The vice-minister was somewhat irritated. But if he didn't shirk responsibility... and allowed the Saionji family to humiliate the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications like this, what would become of the Ministry's authority?
"Since it's an unauthorized access."
The vice-official tossed the rolled-up newspaper into the wastepaper basket with a soft thud.
"Then pull it out."
……
11:00 AM.
Otemachi, NTT Headquarters Building.
Second emergency press conference.
Unlike yesterday's sweaty, bowing and apologizing public relations minister, today's person in the spotlight is NTT's Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, his hair was neatly combed, and behind his gold-rimmed glasses were a pair of sharp and arrogant eyes.
Behind him, a huge projection screen displayed a dazzling and complex network topology diagram.
"We have pinpointed the exact source of yesterday's communication disruption."
The CTO did not bow.
He held a laser pointer in his hand, and the red dots jumped on the chart, finally settling firmly on a red area marked "S-Food Private Node".
"After a 24-hour technical review, we regret to discover that this incident was not simply a traffic overload."
He spoke very quickly, spouting a string of obscure technical terms—such as "non-standard protocol," "signaling loop," "port overflow," and "illegal bypass."
The reporters in the audience were completely confused, unsure how to take notes.
Simply put...
The CTO took off his glasses, his gaze sweeping across the room, his tone filled with a heartbroken anger.
"In pursuit of so-called 'efficiency,' certain private companies have arbitrarily introduced American equipment that does not meet Japan's national security standards. They have built an illegal 'extra-legal network' and are attempting to forcibly parasitize NTT's public infrastructure."
"This kind of reckless technological experiment is like plugging high-voltage electricity directly into a household socket."
"Smack."
He snapped his fingers.
"This is the truth behind the meltdown of the Marunouchi Bureau's switchboard."
The flashbulbs started flashing wildly.
"This is not just a business violation."
The CTO's voice rose a few octaves, echoing throughout the hall through the microphone.
"This is a hostage situation to the communications security of all 12 million citizens of Tokyo. As long as this 'illegal access point' exists for even a second, Tokyo's phone lines could be cut off again at any time."
"In order to protect the interests of the people, NTT will cooperate with relevant departments to take all necessary measures."
……
1:30 PM.
Newbridge, S-Food Data Center.
This place is located on the second basement level of an inconspicuous office building. There are no windows, only the low-frequency hum of countless servers and the faint sound of cold air blowing from the air conditioner vents.
Shimomura Tsutomu sat in a swivel chair, a Chupa Chups lollipop dangling from his mouth.
His hands flew across the keyboard, while the screen displayed real-time transaction data from convenience stores throughout Tokyo.
"drop--"
The access control system suddenly emitted a piercing long beep.
The heavy security door was violently pushed open, slamming against the wall with a loud "bang".
Shimomura Tsutomu turned around in surprise.
A group of men in gray uniforms poured in. They wore badges that read "Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Supervision Division" and "Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Community Safety Division" on their chests, and carried seals and toolboxes.
"Who are you? This is a private server room..."
"Shut up."
The leading official coldly interrupted him, slamming an "Administrative Enforcement Order" stamped with a bright red seal onto the control panel.
"S-Food is suspected of violating Article 13 of the Telecommunications Business Act by operating a Category I telecommunications business without authorization, and its equipment has significant safety hazards."
The official waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.
"As instructed by the minister, the area is to be sealed off immediately."
Several technicians immediately rushed to the server rack.
They ignored Shimomura's attempts to stop them and didn't follow the normal shutdown procedure. They went directly behind the server and grabbed the thick black cables.
"Wait! That will result in data loss..."
Just as Shimomura Tsutomu was about to stand up, two policemen grabbed his shoulders from both sides, pressing him firmly into the chair.
Well... this scene seems somewhat familiar.
He had no choice but to give up resisting.
"Pull it out."
The official gave the order.
"collapse--"
Dozens of network cables and power cords were forcibly pulled out at the same time.
The constant, breathing-like sound of the fans in the server room vanished instantly.
All that remained was the distinctive "buzzing" sound of the power being cut off.
The green data stream on the screen froze instantly, then turned into a deathly darkness.
The official walked up to Shimomura Nobu and looked down at the furious genius hacker.
"Is this what you call 'future technology'?"
He chuckled dismissively and kicked at the scattered cables on the ground with his toe.
"It doesn't even have a network access permit; it's just an illegal building constructed on the beach."
"Take it away. Confiscate all hard drives as evidence."
……
3 PM.
On the streets of Tokyo, public opinion has once again shifted dramatically.
NTT, which was being vilified by the public this morning, has now transformed into a "victim" of safeguarding national communications security. S-Food, on the other hand, has been portrayed as a "technological terrorist" that will stop at nothing to make money, even at the cost of damaging telephone lines.
In Akihabara's electronics district, a giant outdoor TV screen is broadcasting a special NHK report.
In the video, several university professors with gray hair are talking animatedly in a studio.
"The American technology that S-Food introduced lacks the necessary security verification..."
"Does setting up a private network constitute an invasion of citizens' consumer privacy? This is a question worth pondering..."
"Japan's telecommunications sovereignty must not be allowed to fall into the hands of these irresponsible private companies..."
Inside a FamilyMart convenience store in Shibuya.
A housewife, holding two rice balls, was about to pay. She glanced at the black POS machine on the counter, then looked at the news on TV.
She withdrew her hand.
"Um... can I pay if I don't scan this machine?"
The housewife asked cautiously.
"Excuse me, if you don't scan the code..." the shop assistant said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Then I won't buy it."
The housewife threw the rice ball back onto the shelf as if she'd been electrocuted, grabbed her purse, and hurried out of the store. It was as if some explosive monster was lurking inside that machine.
Panic spreads faster than the virus itself.
Under the combined strangulation of bureaucracy and monopoly giants, S-Food's technological advantages are being gradually eroded by administrative orders and rumors.
……
dusk.
Akasaka, top-floor office of Saionji Industrial Co., Ltd.
The setting sun bathed the entire office in a blood-red glow. The phone rang incessantly, all from partners calling to inquire or even demand contract termination.
Fujita put down the receiver and walked to the sofa with a serious expression.
"Young Miss".
"speak."
Satsuki sat on a single sofa, an all-English magazine open on her lap. She was engrossed in reading, seemingly unaffected by the almost explosive, tense atmosphere around her.
"The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has just officially sent the letter."
Fujita Tsuyoshi's voice was deep.
"They demanded that we stop all POS machine data uploads within 24 hours, dismantle all 'illegal' network devices, and undergo a full technical review."
"otherwise……"
Fujita paused.
"S-Food's business license will be revoked."
This was the decisive blow.
For a chain retail enterprise, losing the internet and data is like being thrown back to the Stone Age.
"oh."
Satsuki responded with an unusually calm voice.
She wasn't angry or panicked. Instead, she reached out and gently turned a page of the magazine.
That was the latest issue of Time magazine.
On the cover is a white American man with a tough expression and hawk-like eyes—Clayton Utter, the current U.S. Trade Representative.
Next to his photo was a bold headline:
Super 301: The Weapon of Trade War
"So, they've finally resorted to administrative power?"
Satsuki closed the magazine with a soft click.
She stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Below me, Akasaka-mitsuke is bustling with traffic. Not far away, in Kasumigaseki, the government buildings representing the highest power in Japan stand tall in the twilight, like an unshakeable fortress.
"Wow...you're so cooperative."
Satsuki's lips curled into a cold smile.
"If they don't escalate the matter to the level of 'obstructing free trade' and 'rejecting international standards,' how can I possibly invite those greedy Americans into the game?"
She turned around and looked at Fujita.
"Fujita."
"exist."
"Call the U.S. embassy."
Satsuki threw the Time magazine on the table.
"Tell Ambassador Mansfield that I'd like to invite him to dinner tonight."
"It's at the Hotel Okura."
"By the way, I'll tell him that I have a 'fascinating story' about the Japanese government's use of administrative means to maliciously block American high-tech products, which I'm sure the trade representative in Washington will find very interesting."
Fujita was taken aback for a moment, then a glint flashed in his eyes.
"Yes."
He picked up the encrypted phone and dialed the number that was already in his contacts.
Outside the window, night has fallen.
Tokyo Tower lit up.
But behind that light, an even greater storm is brewing on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.
This time, the hunter was no longer alone.
She summoned the evil dragon.