The ten-minute report had an unimaginable impact on China, both good and bad.
The good news was, starting from the report identifying 13 as Wing, prosecutor's offices across the country were busy receiving surrendering government officials. They brought their ill-gotten gains and turned themselves in one after another. Their only request was that the prisons they were sent to must be heavily guarded. The amount tallied within three days shocked the world: 6.2 billion! The nation was forced to convene the National People's Congress, promoting over 175 officials at the municipal level and above. Other vacancies would be filled later by outstanding performers from various regions. Inspection efforts were intensified across all regions, and penalties for corruption, bribery, and abuse of power for personal gain were increased. The heaviest penalty was a special suspended death sentence, with confiscation of property. The definition of a special suspended death sentence was exile to the border regions to develop land; after becoming unable to work, the death penalty would be executed. Although cruel, not a single citizen across the country opposed it.
The bad news was, the "Special Operations Team Seven," considered a national representative, declared treason, causing military morale to plummet. And they followed 13, who was abandoned by the country, whom everyone considered a madman. The most terrifying part was that this madman also controlled the horrifying SEED. For a time, rumors of the nation's impending doom spread among the populace, and public sentiment began to waver. To resolve this situation, Zhao Xiang gritted his teeth and pushed Adam to the forefront. As the commander of China's strongest army, Adam assured the nation he would eliminate all cancerous tumors endangering national security. Zhao Xiang never anticipated the effect of this guarantee. With his personal charisma and affable words, Adam became an idol in China's military and political circles. His influence in China surpassed that of Special Operations Team Seven and 13. Seeing the country getting back on track, even becoming more prosperous than before, Zhao Xiang was bewildered.
Fifteen days passed since the report. 13 seemed to have suddenly vanished from the Earth; the killer "Wing" no longer appeared. Humans are forgetful creatures; 13 began to disappear from public discourse.
May 19, 2005, in the basement of the Special Operations National Defense Force headquarters near Beijing...
"Mr. Koizumi, do you remember how many days you've been here?" Adam sat on a simple wooden chair, hands crossed over his chest, holding a folder in one hand. Observing the environment, it was a narrow, dimly lit secret room. A single pendant light swung, illuminating Adam's handsome face one moment, and the face of the man bound to the wall the next. This man was covered in blood, his face bruised and swollen. Given his state, "beating" was a gentle description.
"Commander, I've told you no less than thirty times! I am just an ordinary Japanese tourist. Your actions are illegal! If I can get out, I will definitely publicize this matter! China will lose face completely! Cough... cough..." The man on the wall coughed.
"Japanese tourist?" Adam smiled. "Your tour group initially had 137 people. Today is the forty-fifth day since you came in. Currently, you are the only one left alive. If you had died along with your fellow group members, I would believe you were a tourist. But unfortunately, after enduring torture sessions from over forty individuals, you are still alive. This is no longer about physical endurance. You are a spy, rigorously trained."
"What kind of logic is that?" Koizumi looked mockingly at the dark ceiling.
"Actually, the purpose of bringing you all here was initially just to boost the army's morale, to alleviate the tediousness of camp life. Who asked you to offend China in the past? Do you know how many push-ups, how many kilometers of running are required tomorrow just to earn the qualification to torture you? But you are truly impressive, lasting forty-five days and still able to talk to me so naturally. Given your tenacity, I've changed my plan. Would you like to hear this plan?" Adam looked questioningly at Koizumi. "However, I will only tell it to Mr. Koizumi the Japanese spy, not Mr. Koizumi the tourist."
He didn't speak.
"Rest assured, my plan is definitely beneficial to your country. Perhaps it can even fulfill your long-held dream—global domination!" Adam said calmly.
"Are you joking?" Koizumi said contemptuously. "As the commander of China's ace army, why would you consider the interests of a long-standing enemy? Even a child understands this logic. Are you insulting the intelligence of Great Japan?"
"I don't joke with people I dislike." Adam's face turned serious; the basement felt even colder. "With your unenlightened brains, you dare call it intelligence? To me, you are no different from monkeys in the forest, just a group of monkeys trapped on a small island, fantasizing about your own power."
"Your Excellency keeps insulting my country! I, Koizumi, swear that if I can get out, I will expose China's ugly face to the world!" Koizumi gritted his teeth, glaring fiercely at Adam.
"I don't want to beat around the bush anymore. I want your country to start a war!" Adam looked back at the furious Koizumi, whose face instantly froze.
"Did... did I hear correctly? You want my country to start a war? Against which country?"
"Truly slow-witted." Adam sighed and shook his head. "You didn't hear wrong. I want you to wage war against the countries surrounding China, spread the flames of war to every corner of Asia, and ultimately escalate this war into World War III!"
If Koizumi was frozen before, now he was completely dumbfounded.
"There's no point explaining it clearly to a spy like you. You might as well help me deliver something to that fellow with the same surname as you." Adam stood up, pointing to the folder in his hand. "If you agree, I will release you and let you return to your country. What do you think of this proposal?"
"How can I trust that what you say is true?" Koizumi gave Adam a tacit glance.
"You have no choice." Adam walked over to him and began untying the ropes. "If you don't believe me, I will let you continue to be used to boost army morale until you die. Then I will capture another batch of Japanese. I assume you're not the only Japanese spy in China, right? This plan isn't very time-sensitive. I'm not in a hurry." After speaking, the ropes on Koizumi were untied.
His feet barely touched the ground, somewhat unsteady; Koizumi almost fell. Rubbing his numb wrists, Koizumi said casually, "I have seen Your Excellency's sincerity. But aren't you afraid I'll kill you? Back home, I'm a top-tier hand-to-hand combatant. Killing someone barehanded is too simple."
"I advise you to dispel the wicked thoughts in your mind." Adam threw the folder in front of Koizumi and walked towards the door. "On Earth, there is no creature that can harm me barehanded." With that, he closed the door.
Returning to his office, Adam issued the order to release the Japanese man from the dungeon. The soldiers were somewhat perplexed by their superior's actions. Adam's explanation was: "Such a large tour group disappeared in China. Although others might not say anything, we still need to give them an explanation. We can say they had a car accident while sightseeing in a primitive forest, and this person is the sole survivor."
The explanation was satisfactory, but the soldiers were still somewhat dissatisfied, as they could no longer effectively practice their interrogation skills in the future.
Looking at the distant sunset through the window, Adam unconsciously smiled. Since his birth, everything had developed according to his conceived plan. Every step, every person was within his calculations. He firmly believed he was a great god, just like his ancestors. The blood of Atlantis would once again become sacred and inviolable on Earth. The fate of any violator was only destruction.
For example, the "false god" 13.
Thinking of him, Adam's fists clenched. He was the only existence that deviated from his plan. He violated the noble bloodline of Atlantis. Therefore, he must die!
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
That night, Koizumi, in the hospital, recounted his terrifying 45-day experience to the reporters.
Just like the story Adam fabricated, it was practically a modern version of "Robinson Crusoe." Living with wild beasts, drilling wood for fire – the more miserable, the better. When speaking of China's attitude towards him, Koizumi gritted his teeth and praised them lavishly. Active rescue, enthusiastic treatment. As he spoke, he couldn't help but shed tears. Some reporters even considered writing a book.
The news reached Japan, and the Japanese side reacted strongly. While vigorously praising China's angelic benevolence, they requested Koizumi's extradition back to Japan as soon as possible. Chinese diplomats readily agreed to their request, the only condition being that Japan must reimburse some expenses incurred during the rescue operation, totaling twenty million RMB. China's statement was: "The rescue operation lasted 45 days, mobilizing over 1,700 military personnel and civilians to search the mountains. Due to the dangerous environment, each search personnel was equipped with top international wilderness survival gear."
When the bill was faxed to Japan, the Prime Minister almost fainted from anger. The bill provided by China included not only two sets of replacement clothing (Adidas) per person but also oxygen tanks, periscopes, mountaineering running shoes (Nike)... practically everything imaginable was added. With this set of equipment, apart from being unable to fly, one could go anywhere on Earth.
Anger aside, Japan, in order to learn the true situation from this spy, still agreed to China's "reasonable" request.
On the morning of May 20, 2005, Japan paid. In the afternoon, Koizumi was put on a special Japanese plane.
The true story of the whole incident was: when the Japanese tour group passed through the outskirts of Beijing, they were intercepted by well-equipped Special Operations soldiers, taken back to headquarters under the pretext of inspection, and the "work" of boosting army morale began. After the Beijing Public Security Bureau received the report, the Special Operations side had already given prior notice. So, they just briefly recorded it on scratch paper and threw it in the wastebasket. Roughly calculated, China's investment in rescue supplies was probably just that one sheet of paper. Those in the know lamented: "What an expensive piece of paper!"