March 23rd, 2016 10:30. Japan Honshu Tokyo Prime Minister’s Cabinet conference room.

Inside the Prime Minister’s Cabinet conference room, men were in discussion. Prime Minister Abe, who was seated in the center of the room, spoke as he looked at Minister of Defense Shibasaki. “How is the US weaponry purchasing project progressing?”

Minister of Defense Shibasaki bowed his head guiltily and answered, “Currently we’ve finished negotiating seven out of the eight purchasing deals. We’re in the last phase of negotiating the additional imports of F-35A fighter jets. It seems it’ll be difficult to purchase 220 jets, and the agreed number will be 120 jets. I’m sorry, sir.”

Prime Minister Abe spoke with an unsatisfied look on his face. “120 jets… Isn’t that smaller than expected?”

Director of Research Nakamura from the Defense Research and Weaponry Strategy Department answered instead. “Prime Minister, if we purchase those 120 jets along with the standard 42, it’ll be 162 jets in total. Our nation’s air superiority and influence will be stronger than not just Korea, but also any nation in Northeast Asia. Also, the X-2 stealth fighter jet we just finished developing? It’s currently in testing, and it’ll be more than able to assist with the other factors.”

“Is that so? Is the X-2 project progressing smoothly then?”

“Yes, currently we’re conducting a final test with two prototype jets. When the tests are completed, we’ll have no trouble going into production within a year.”

“That’s good news. Our technological capabilities are world-class, so no need to worry about that. Please make sure things go smoothly until we go into production.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Japan has been joint-developing the next-generation stealth fighter jet ‘X-2’ with the American corporation Lockheed Martin since 2009. Currently, development is finished, and they’ve succeeded in the virgin flight and testing performance.”

After the Director of Research Nakamura finished speaking, Minister of Defense Shibasaki continued, “Prime Minister, as Director of Research Nakamura has just said, why don’t we finish the negotiations with 120 jets and try to purchase F-22 jets later?”

“If a deal could be made, then purchasing about 120 F-22s wouldn’t be bad, but I’m not sure if the US Senate would release the regulations on F-22 jets.”

“When we were negotiating purchasing F-35 jets, we also asked about the F-22 jets. An unlikely financial problem in the US caused a halt in purchasing and manufacturing F-22 jets, but if we purchase them, then the US showed a positive response toward lowering the price per unit. Therefore, we’re using all of our human resources to lobby the US Senate.”

“Very well. Minster of Defense Shibasaki, conclude the negotiation with 120 F-35 jets and use any means necessary to purchase the F-22 jets also. We must complete the project; it will be the centerpiece of the Japanese Navy. No matter the cost.”

“Yes! We’re trying to begin negotiations with the USSC, as we’re getting in contact with them now. We’ll try to deliver good news soon.”

“This is of utmost importance. China’s causing steady conflict over the Sengaku archipelago. As an ordinary country, we must make sure there are no cracks in our defense over the territory. We must succeed in the Japanese Naval project for this reason. Please come back with a sure answer as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Prime Minister Abe. We’ll do all we can to achieve the goal of the Large Naval forces of Japan.”

Prime Minister Abe used the Pyeong Yang bombing terrorist attack and the threat of war in the Korean peninsula as a chance to show his militaristic ambitions. He also used this opportunity to stir public opinion and spread the fear that war could spread throughout Northeast Asia. His intention was to raise anxiety among the masses, then he used this national concern as an excuse to declare a state of emergency, change the nation’s status as ordinary, and amend the peace constitution all in one fell swoop. Also, he elevated the self-defense forces to a self-defense military. He alerted the international community of Japan operating a formal military. There were protests from civilian groups and opposing parties, but the fearmongering during the threat of war made the changes be supported by most Japanese citizens.

Japan elevated its yearly defense spending from 1% of its GDP to 3%, and it became the third nation in terms of defense spending with $15 trillion in total. Abe’s government used 50% of the additional $10 trillion in its budget to spend in purchasing American weaponry businesses.

America approved the export of the weapons in lieu of their economic recession and their lowered influence over Northeast Asia with heavy resistance from China. The weaponry sales would have a positive impact on their economy. It would lower their financial burden, allowing maintenance of its military forces overseas with Japan’s increased involvement. To close the deal on one of the largest weaponry exports, the US decided to bury the corruption scandal from Lockheed Martin with Korea and agreed to amend the missile guidelines.

“Everyone, we must use the tensions in the Korean peninsula as much as possible. It’s a chance for our large corporations to recover while Korea’s companies are swaying under the economic crisis.”

“Yes, Prime Minister!”

The newly appointed Minister of Economics Okazaki Shinzi, a typical looking Japanese man with neatly combed hair, spoke. “How are Korea’s current economy and the status of our corporations?”

Minister Okazaki Shinzi brought out some documents and answered, “After the terrorist attack from August 15th in Pyeong Yang, Korea’s 2015 fourth-quarter economic growth fell by 2% and their first-quarter growth rate for 2016 also fell by 2%. Their domestic market is in shambles, and Korea is steadily lowering their base rate. We believe it’ll be difficult for Korea’s domestic market to revive in a short period. The large corporations are actively marketing towards foreign markets, but the threat of war within the peninsula is making it difficult to find sources for exports.”

“How are we responding to this?”

“We must see this as a chance to revive the industries that fell behind in Korea: electronics, vehicles, and semiconductors. It’s very difficult to maintain market dominance once it’s been taken. This is a prime chance, and each corporate CEO and government bureaucrat must agree to support each other to achieve market dominance. Our government must devalue our Yen currency to aid the corporations to increase exports.”

When the topic of devaluing the Yen came up, Minister of Labor Promotion Uchida butted in. “Minister Okizaki, if we further devalue the Yen, then it’ll cause the prices of imported goods to increase and burden our citizens.”

“Minister Uchida, a chance like this won’t come again. We must seize this opportunity. Even if our citizens may suffer for it.”

Minister of Labor Promotion Uchida glared at Minister Okazaki and spoke loudly. “What? How much more must our people suffer?”

“Enough! That’s enough!” Prime Minister Abe banged on the table to halt the argument. Prime Minister Abe felt irked by Uchida’s words. As a member of the opposing party, he was prone to go against any project he proposed. Prime Minister Abe spoke with a loud, determined tone. “Minister Okazaki, continue devaluing the Yen currency and find a way to continue aid to our corporations. It’s time to regain the 20 years our nation has lost.”

Japan was a defeated nation from World War II. It had to pay $4 billion as reparations to America. When the Korean War began June 25th, 1950, they began acting as a strategic supply base for America. The country’s profits elevated to the second largest economic nation; however, when the 21st century came, neighboring nations (including Korea) began developing economically. Japan, which once held market dominance and technological superiority, lost it to Korea and fell into an economic depression for 20 years over electronics and semiconductors. While Korea faced the threat of war, Abe could elevate the economy and market dominance of Japan while also developing a fully-fledged military to empower the nation.

* * *

March 25th, 2016 13:30. Kangwon-do, a training center in the mountains.

There were 20 men carrying heavy packs hiking up a steep mountain. The steep hill was normally hard to walk over, but the 122nd class of the NIS group training was scaling it. Namgoong-won was one of the men breathing heavily and running up the trail.

Namgoong-won finished the welcoming ceremony on Monday and received various supplies. From Tuesday to Friday, each morning and afternoon they ran up the mountain. During the first hike up the mountain on Tuesday, many trainees did not make it to the top and vomited as they experienced near-death. Other trainees were from special forces or had been training before entering the NIS, so they had no trouble. Namgoong-won was not able to handle the mountain hikes, as the only exercise he had done after getting out form his military service was using his fingers to type on a keyboard.

Namgoong-won could only think while he was hiking. ‘Had I known it was going to be like this, I should’ve at least jogged in the mornings. Why did I join the NIS? To go through this trouble?’

Namgoong-won felt like giving up when it was only the first week of the 12-week training exercise, but he was consoled by the other agents running beside him. Since Namgoong-won was an internal agent he only had to endure 12 weeks, but the others were field agents, so they had to go through 24 weeks. Once they reach the mountaintop, they had time to take a break and talk with some of the other trainees.

Lee Ja-sung joined the special forces right out of high school, and he had been in the force for six years before joining the NIS. He was very extroverted, and he was able to get closer to Namgoong-won by talking with him since the first day. Lee Ja-sung walked up to Namgoong-won during their break and asked him, “Namgoong-won, you’re from Investigation Unit 1, right?”

“Why?”

“Hey, you know agent Lee Hye-jin?”

“Yes.”

“I heard she’s good-looking… Is it true? Is her body nice too?”

Namgoong-won suddenly felt anger without even realizing it. “I don’t know; why don’t you see for yourself later?”

“Why are you being pissy? Is she cute or not?”

“Man, I don’t know…”

Namgoong-won stood up from his seat.

“Where are you going?”

“The restroom. Why? You wanna come with?”

Namgoong-won showed a bit of temper and walked towards the forest without looking back.

Lee Ja-sung thought, ‘It’s not even a big deal, and he isn’t answering me. That’s suspicious…my NIS instincts are telling me that there must be something about him…”

Lee Ja-sung began using his instincts as a NIS agent to sniff out info from Namgoong-won. Every time he was bored, he would ask Namgoong-won about Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin as a way to entertain himself during the strenuous training exercise.

* * *

March 25th, 2016 19:00. Kangwon-do, NIS group training exercise building entrance.

After dinner, there were 30 minutes before the nighttime training began. Namgoong-won was sitting on a small bench to get some fresh air.

When he was tired, he missed his family. He missed his loving mother, father, younger brother, and even his friend Kang Kyung-ho. When he remembered that he would never see them again, he wanted to sob. He would lose motivation. When he felt like that, Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin came to mind.

‘It’s only been five days since I’ve seen her, but I miss her so much. I miss her especially today, despite how she teased me everyday,’ he thought.

When he remembered Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin’s face filled with tears on the day he left for training, he missed her even more.. Namgoong-won stood and returned to the classroom to continue his training.