As Misato Katsuragi stormed out with an imposing air, everyone looked at one another before quickly following her out.
Sure enough, the moment the gates of NERV opened, the emotions boiling within the crowd surged even more violently.
"NERV, get out of Japan!"
"Get out of Japan!"
Countless voices screamed slogans, as if Japan would instantly become a better place without NERV.
And when Misato Katsuragi strode out before the crowd, the chants erupted again—one wave louder than the last.
These shameless politicians…
Watching the chaos unfold, Misato was so furious her nose practically twisted. If it weren't for NERV, she thought, Japan might've already sunk into the ocean by now!
She'd never been the patient type—if she couldn't bear it, she wouldn't—so she immediately raised a loudspeaker and shouted at the crowd below:
"Listen up! NERV has always fought for the sake of humanity! All those monsters before—we were the ones who defeated them! I don't know what lies you've been fed, but NERV has always protected Tokyo-3, protected Japan! So I'm asking you now—leave this place! Trust in NERV!"
"Lies! Everything she says is lies! Don't believe a word!"
No sooner had Misato finished than a short young man in the crowd shouted at the top of his lungs, waving both arms like he was desperate to be seen.
"That's right! She's lying! Don't trust her! Who knows how many terrible things NERV's done behind the scenes? If NERV weren't in Japan, maybe the monsters wouldn't even attack us!"
"Exactly! Lapdogs of NERV—get out of Japan!"
"Get out! Get out!"
The crowd erupted again, louder and more riled up than before.
"Please, listen to me! Just let me speak!"
Misato, watching the scene unfold, felt so helpless she nearly smashed her loudspeaker. But she had no way to stop what was happening. A heavy sense of powerlessness surged within her.
The crowd wouldn't listen. Some people even looked like they were ready to storm NERV HQ and destroy it.
"Everyone, please calm down! Please, a moment of your attention!"
At that moment, a deep and strangely persuasive man's voice rang out from another side of the crowd. Instantly, all heads turned to see a middle-aged man in a suit standing atop a high platform, holding a loudspeaker in his hand.
"Look! It's Chairman Hattori!"
"That's right, Chairman Hattori! I can't believe he showed up now—what perfect timing. With him here, we've got our backbone!"
"Exactly! Chairman Hattori is a true defender of justice who never fears authority! He was the one who exposed NERV! Without him, we'd still be in the dark!"
The chatter echoed through the crowd—and into the ears of every NERV member present—filling them with cold, bitter smiles.
Especially Asuka and the others, who could only scoff. If you want to know what kind of man Hattori Kojiro is, they thought, just take a look at his son, Hattori Narumi.
Still, they waited to see what tricks Hattori Kojiro had up his sleeve this time.
"Everyone, please, a moment of calm!"
Waving his hand for quiet, Hattori Kojiro finally spoke:
"Looks like NERV couldn't sit still anymore. That's why they've come out now with their excuses. Just as I said a few days ago—our fight is reaching its final stage. All the filth hidden in the shadows will soon be exposed for what it truly is!"
"That's right! Chairman Hattori is right!"
Once again, many shouted out in agreement. But it was clear—these weren't ordinary civilians. More likely, they were Hattori's own hired agitators.
"This is the final moment of our struggle. So everyone, let's shout together—call for NERV to withdraw from Japan!"
Hattori Kojiro led the chant with great zeal, turning toward Misato:
"We call on NERV HQ to leave Japan!"
"NERV, get out of Japan!"
The crowd shouted, louder and filthier than ever. Insults and slurs filled the air, drilling into Misato's ears until her face turned pale, then green with rage.
"NERV must leave Japan! Do you hear that? It's the voice of the people! Our country is a democracy—and in a democracy, the will of the people cannot be ignored!"
Holding up his loudspeaker, Hattori's shameless face was completely exposed:
"Listen to the people! Leave Japan! Japan does not welcome NERV. Japan does not welcome the EVAs!"
"You… you're despicable! Chairman Hattori, you're truly ruthless! We at NERV have no grudge against you—why are you doing this to us?!"
Misato's voice trembled with fury, her jaw clenched so tightly her teeth ground audibly. If not for someone holding her back, she might've rushed up there and punched him.
"Minister Katsuragi, what are you talking about?"
Hattori Kojiro smiled darkly.
"I haven't done anything. This is simply the will of the Japanese people. Japan is a democracy. If the people demand NERV leave, then even the government cannot ignore that."
"You—!"
Misato was at a loss. She had no response.
At this point, she had no moves left to play. She glanced around desperately for support—especially toward Ryota Kitazawa.
But Kitazawa stood off to the side, pretending to be completely uninvolved, head tilted up as if there was something fascinating in the sky.
"In any case—let me ask you this," Misato bit out, "if the Ninth Angel comes, how will the Japanese military defend itself?"
"Hmph. That's for the military to decide," Hattori Kojiro said airily, brushing off her question as if it were nothing.
That's how politicians are—
They never care about reality. They only care about how much they can gain for themselves. And that selfishness is perhaps their cruelest trait of all.
Right now, Misato Katsuragi wanted nothing more than to kill Hattori Kojiro on the spot.
But she couldn't—because that would be a crime.
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