The Devil's Playground

by Michael Reagan

surprised to say the least. When they had met and he outlined the peace plan of the President of United States, he had been shocked and angry.

  Despite having no love for Okazki because he thought the Prime Minister was a racist idiot that was leading his country into war, it didn't mean that he considered the Prime Minister a traitor nor himself for that matter.

  What Ashley was asking him to do was to open up a dialogue with the MPS so as to indicate that his organization wouldn't stand in the way of change of power in the office of the Prime Minister. Yuzo was so furious that he had nearly arrested Ashley on the spot because the plan involved the Iron Triangle. He hated the organization with a passion and even more Katamaya who he had once seen as a traitor for doing business with the North Koreans. The only reason he had not done so was because of the Emperor, who half way through the meeting had spoken to him by way of Ashley's CODEX that the Englishman had handed him.

  After the meeting with Ashley was over, as he had been instructed he went to the palace where he was told by the Emperor that he firstly he supported the secret peace plan and secondly it had been he who arranged for the Iron Triangle to meet to decide on the fate of the nation. Despite being disgusted that the man his people all looked to in a crisis was in league with the Devil, Yuzo made contact as per His Majesty's wish with his counterpart at the MPS via a man that the PSIA knew was their senior agent on the ground in Japan, to indicate that he was aware of the peace plan and would not stand in the way.

  Within hours the offer was accepted from Beijing and Yuzo was instructed that a trusted asset of the Englishman who would be leading the private discussions would be sent to handle the introductions. That asset, to his surprise, turned out to be Zhang Nu, the famous model that the Japanese men and women loved in equal measure.

  As Ashley had told him to do before he had gone dark a day ago to look after Hayashi, the Director-General of the PSIA muttered the words, "Our mutual friend says we share a Noble Purpose." He stated it without a flicker of emotion while offering his hand to tell him that the PSIA would remain in the sidelines.

  Yuzo examined the famous Oligarch for a second. He read a considerable amount about him since being brought into the picture by Ashley and the Emperor on what he was trying to do on behalf of their respective governments. He could see that he had the dark eyes of predator but also a sense of strength that indicated leadership as well.

  "A force of nature," he concluded.

  Yuzo responded quoting the code of the Samurai.

  "It is shameful for any man to die without having risked his life in battle, regardless of rank, so let me be clear, Sir Thomas, my role and purpose is to protect Japan from all enemies. If I feel for one moment that you seek to bring harm to my country and her citizens I will kill you," he said without a hint of emotion on his face.

  While Thomas dressed having left Yuzo with Mikhail in the lounge he looked at Zhang quizzically. The trust may have been gone between them but the feelings of desire remained.

  "I will miss you, Tommy," she said suddenly with a sad smile as she got up from the bed and crossed the floor until she was standing in front of him.

  He didn't comment as she tied his tie and looked up into his eyes.

  "There, all done," she said patting his shirt down seductively.

  "Jiang has told me to tell you that the Premier will call the President of the United States the moment Hayashi is named Prime Minister," she said.

  "Thank you," he responded.

  "No, thank you," she said with sad eyes. "Tom-" she said as if she wanted to share something but stopped.

  She refocused her gaze again.

  "The Emperor will be there tonight but our sources tell us that the Monkey will not go quietly so please be careful, my brave Monk," she said with her small sad smile.

  "I will," he said, kissing her cheek gently.

  The home of Seijo Tsunoda was stunning and traditional in every sense of the world. Water played center stage in its gardens and the large Bonsai and Mandarin trees carefully planted everywhere surrounding the modern Scandinavian designed residence in the centre of the grounds.

  Sitting at the semi circular table in the main lounge were the men who made up the committee of the Iron Triangle. In the middle was the Emperor, either side of him were Katamaya and Tsunoda as the hosts then to the left and right of the three men were the links between Japanese society and those that governed their lives, politicians from the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, and the heads of Japan's largest corporations.

  At the back of the room Thomas and Rob stood and watched as Hayashi presented the case for replacement of the Prime Minister. Under a whisper, Thomas tried to translate what was being discussed for Rob, but it was difficult. The emotions of those surrounding the Emperor were plain to be seen.

  "Hayashi is stating the case to the Emperor that the exclusivity deal on energy supply through CORETEXAS is a bad one," a key point of the deal. Thomas smiled. The politician was brave man with a 'honey badger' mentality of going up against a foe twice the size of him. The Emperor spoke in measured and clear tones.

  "The Emperor has received an assurance from Katamaya that he will allow the energy infrastructure companies to equally share his holding of fifty percent," Thomas translated to Rob.

  "Now that's interesting," Thomas said when Hayashi stated he wanted to return the Emperor to a more prominent place in Japanese society before explaining to Rob that it was clever move in a country that has had its standing in the world reduced.

  "Not to mention it reduces the influence of the far right wing in Japanese politics," Rob added, agreeing with him.

  Thomas chuckled at Hayashi's next statement, as it was a clear shot across the bows of the civil service-the real link between the Iron Triangle and the Government.

  "He just stated that if they select him to lead the government, he intends to implement a more streamlined and transparent civil service."

  Rob smiled as well.

  "Clever politics, as that will address the foreign business community's traditional complaints about the Japanese system," Rob said, referring to the high level of administrative discretion in the hands of powerful officials; impenetrable policymaking processes; and the invisible protection afforded to politically well-connected local corporations. The Iron Triangle was at the heart of these complaints.

  It was now the turn of the representative of the financial community, a man in his early seventies, to speak.

  "It appears that they will only sanction this if Hayashi will ensure that the sales of land and property to China is banned and the free trade of agricultural products are blocked, a key demand of U.S. negotiators in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks before the crisis."

  "Typical! Self-interest rules," Rob said with disgust.

  The rest of meeting went on for an hour and by the end of it, although Hayashi did his best to extract a deal that would give the Japanese people a stronger say in its political destiny, a lot would depend on whether Hayashi after the peace treaty was reached could strengthen his grip by winning the Upper House election the following year. With time now upon them to vote the Iron Triangle was called to do so by the Emperor.

  Unsurprisingly having all had their noses in the trough, it was unanimous. Hayashi was the next Prime Minister.

  Seijo Tsunoda observed the convoy of black Mercedes-Benzes of Hayashi's party leave the driveway of his house from the study. The deal he had struck with the Prime Minister was better than any of the scraps that the snake Yorijo Katamaya would ever have given him.

  He picked up the mobile phone, inserted the symbol of a "smiling face" and sent the text to the burner phone of the team who had been hired to carry out the assassination.

  The lead assassin observed the convoy as it approached.

  The ambush he had designed was complex and well planned and incorporated the use of multiple improvised explosive devices, rocket propelled grenades, machine gun fire, and small arms fire.


  What he hadn't anticipated was being forced to deal with a unit of Zaslon Commandos, two former Special Forces soldiers, and a member of the SAD.

  The heat and warm air of the explosive device and dusk hit the window screen of the lead Mercedes-Benz driven by members of the PSIA followed by small arms fire from the left hit the car.

  "Kontakt ostavili!" Igor shouted over the comms from the armored Mercedes-Benz to tell his men that the contact was coming from the left as the car was riddled with bullets.

  A second explosion from behind the rear of the Mercedes-Benz containing Hayashi, Thomas, and Mikhail immediately drew his gaze. A quick study told him everything. The way out by reversing was now blocked by the wreckage of the Mercedes containing the members of the PSIA.

  "IED!" his brain processed.

  Mikhail and Thomas, having ascertained the same thing reacted instantly, knowing they would be sitting ducks if they stayed where they were. In the seconds that followed under the return of covering fire being laid by Igor's team in the car in the front and just behind them towards the direction of the small arms fire from the left, they exited from the right side of the vehicle, grabbing Hayashi forcibly as they drew their weapons.

  The second the three exited from the car they were joined by the driver and two men from Igor's team, plus Rob with his Glock pistol drawn.

  A protective officer's training always tells him to wait and listen