Chapter 24: Going to School Makes Me Happy
"It's the first time I've heard about Head Balloon having any rights!"
Sitting in the office on the third floor of the Prime Minister's residence, Uesugi Kiyoshi complained to the Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawano Satsuki.
"Do I also need to provide benefits, an 8-hour workday, and meal allowance?!"
Kawano Satsuki is the son-in-law of Aisha family's head Aisha Ichiro, while Uesugi Kiyoshi is the biggest supporter of the Aisha family.
Their relationship built on money and power is incredibly strong, so they can speak without worry.
"You could agree to treat them like regular employees, of course, as long as they sign a contract and fingerprint."
Kawano Satsuki took a sip of the gin in his glass and chuckled, saying, "Actually, you should consider yourself lucky, that Qianniao Xianai is a member of the Head Balloon protection organization. If she had followed the teachings of Head Balloon, you might not have met me."
"Huh? There's a religion like that?" Uesugi Kiyoshi was shocked.
"Anything powerful and mysterious will naturally have worshippers. In Japan, there are religions that worship viruses. But then again, because of you, this sect is now on the brink of dissolution."
They both burst into laughter.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Kawano Satsuki put down her glass and got straight to the point.
"Uesugi, you didn't come all this way just to chat with me, did you? Is there a financial issue or a legal problem holding you back? Please tell me, I will do my best to help!"
Uesugi Kiyoshi glanced at the half-closed door and lowered his voice, "Actually, I have no ulterior motives, I just want to learn about the organization in our country that deals with strange events."
He wanted to seek help.
This world is just too dangerous!
After all, how long has he been here? Only two or three months, and he has already encountered three strange incidents!
The events happening now have been luckily resolved, but what about in the future? There will always be events that cannot be handled with just personal abilities, so one can't leave everything to chance, right?
By utilizing the power of the country and combining it with his own foresight, perhaps this is the way to bring some stability to life.
"Strange events? Organization?" Kawano Satsuki seemed very surprised. "You must be joking, how could such an organization exist?"
"Um, maybe you don't know, but there's a secret organization set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Defense, like the Special Forces Unit, or something like that?"
In cartoons, there are always mysterious organizations, handsome men and beautiful women, crosses, and magical symbols.
"In the country of Japan, when I say there isn't, then there isn't."
Kawano Satsuki sounded extremely confident.
"There isn't one now, and there won't be one in the visible future. If you want to persuade the Prime Minister or others to establish a similar organization, then it's best to give up!"
"Why?" Uesugi Kiyoshi slapped his forehead in realization, "Could it be that Your Excellency thinks that Head Balloon is the only strange event that has happened?"
"Of course not!"
Kawano Satsuki sat back in her seat and took out a stack of files from the bottom drawer, handing them to Uesugi Kiyoshi.
"You'll understand once you take a look."
The file had the stamp of the Japanese police on it, with lots of detailed information and pictures. Uesugi Kiyoshi quickly glanced at it and saw many familiar scenes.
The narrow drainage pipe was blocked by the body of a young girl. Her head and torso were no longer visible, only her hands were shaking helplessly outside.
The body of the high school student who was set up by classmates and buried in the soil was seven to eight meters long, and still growing. The skull had already emerged from the ground, resembling spring bamboo shoots after the rain.
A huge slug slowly wriggled on the tree in the courtyard, leaving a trail of sticky slime. On its back was not a shell, but the head of a girl, with an incredibly sad expression.
......
"Before the Head Balloon arrived, these strange events had already been happening frequently, unknown to ordinary people. We are well aware!" Kawano Satsuki put away the file and calmly said.
"Then why did you..."
Uesugi Kiyoshi couldn't understand the government's actions.
Kawano Satsuki glanced at his watch and patiently explained, "It's simple. With an organization comes responsibility. If the duty is not fulfilled, one must take responsibility. But who can guarantee that the anomalies can definitely be resolved?"
"Since that's the case, let's not have a specific organization or designated person in charge, so people's anger won't be directed at the government."
His logic was so tight that Uesugi Kiyoshi was momentarily speechless. After holding back for a while, he continued, "What if we encounter another event like the Head Balloon, and can't solve it, what should we do then?"
"In that case, Japan should be done for. Who will come after us for responsibility then, ghosts?"
Kawano Satsuki glanced at her watch again and apologetically smiled.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Uesugi, there’s a press conference later. As the Chief Cabinet Secretary, I must attend. Goodbye."
"Please wait."
Uesugi Kiyoshi stopped Kawano Satsuki, hesitated for a moment under his questioning gaze, and asked, "If a civilian, like me, were to establish a similar organization, would it receive government support?"
A look of surprise briefly crossed Kawano Satsuki's face. After pondering for a while, he smiled and nodded, "Of course, but with conditions."
"Please go on."
"You should support the government with your actions!"
"Of course," Uesugi Kiyoshi sighed in relief.
It wasn't until the next day that he understood what it truly meant to support the government with practical actions.
A long list was sent from the Prime Minister's residence, with over five hundred people listed, ranging from teenagers to elderly individuals.
Kawano Satsuki thoughtfully marked each person in red and blue - red for their connections, from ministers to governors, and even including two distant relatives of Kawano Satsuki.
Blue indicated suggested salaries.
Uesugi Kiyoshi quickly calculated that this would result in an extra billion yen in monthly expenses.
In return, he would gain the support of the entire bureaucratic system.
"It's still worth it."
He took a deep breath, comforted himself, then threw the list to Anda Tuozhen.
"I'm leaving these people to you. Give them nice job titles, find a place for them in the company, but don't place them in the upcoming Special Event Research Institute!"
Anda Tuozhen looked at the list and jumped up as if she had been burnt by fire.
"President, I think it's more suitable for you to handle these people!"
"I have something else to do!" Uesugi Kiyoshi hurried out of the office.
"May I know what it is, President?"
"Go to school!"
Going to school was the only thing that could make him happy now.
