Ch.424Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (22)

Even if police were mobilized to suppress the protests, there was much dissent within the police force.

“Why aren’t they stopping the Black people but trying to stop us?”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to formally suppress the anti-racial discrimination protesters!”

As if someone were encouraging them from the shadows.

Things kept moving beneath the surface.

“Hey, you bastard! This is insubordination!”

“I’d rather die than take orders from a Black person.”

Before long, those of pure bloodlines began calling themselves “Yamato people” to distinguish themselves from Black people.

And George found himself holding his head in frustration at the daily conflicts between Black people and the Yamato people.

Should he seek help from America in this situation?

If America offered help, how much could they provide? It would likely just provoke things further.

How would America even help in the first place?

Would they deploy American troops to forcibly suppress the protests? That wouldn’t happen.

“If America offers help, what would those self-proclaimed ‘Yamato people’ say?”

The one fortunate thing was that wartime operational control remained with the United States, but wouldn’t this mean they’d have to throw scraps to both sides?

What if he sought help from AI Anastasia at a time like this?

He wondered if it might be better to just let this lead to impeachment, but America wouldn’t allow that either.

George of the Kanto Republic found his thoughts becoming increasingly complicated.

* * *

The situation in East Japan was deteriorating daily.

The pure-blooded Japanese had begun calling themselves “Yamato people.”

They had started proclaiming themselves as the true Japanese, and it seemed they were secretly requesting help from West Japan.

Come to think of it, when fights broke out at universities, it was always West Japanese students fighting with East Japanese Black students. Considering this, it seemed unlikely that East Japanese Yamato people would fight with West Japanese people.

Rather, anti-Black sentiment within East Japan was intensifying significantly.

But the problem was that pure Black people numbered over ten million, and mixed-race people made up just as many, making the Yamato people a minority.

“What will happen now?”

-“Nothing will change immediately. Of course, if things continue like this long-term, problems will arise.”

So not right now, he meant.

“If there’s a way to deal with this? Should we stop South Africa’s instigation?”

-“Yes. The fire has already been lit. Of course, East Japan won’t collapse easily because of this.”

“I suppose not.”

The citizens might become somewhat divided, but it wouldn’t collapse easily.

Wasn’t East Japan a country where gun ownership was prohibited?

With America backing them, what could be done in East Japan?

“Sigh. East Japan is truly a pitiful country.”

“Could it split apart like the Dual Empire?”

“Will Black President George create a Kanto Federation?”

-“That’s possible.”

“What about in the worst-case scenario?”

We need to consider the possibility of civil war, however remote.

If that happens, it would be a civil war between Yamato people and Black people, and such a conflict would inevitably invite intervention from neighboring countries.

The Yamato people would certainly seek help from West Japan, which shares their pure bloodline, and the Black government’s wartime operational control lies with America.

In that case, a major conflict would likely erupt.

Something like the Korean War of 1950, but limited to East Japan.

If the Yamato faction wins, they would certainly unify with West Japan, but if asked whether they could easily defeat the Black population, the numbers are so large that it might be evenly matched.

Ideally, America and the Co-Prosperity Sphere would limit themselves to just providing weapons.

-“In the worst-case scenario, the Yamato people might demand autonomy.”

“The Yamato people want autonomy?”

That wouldn’t remain simple autonomy.

East Japanese Yamato people feel a strong sense of kinship with West Japanese people.

Once autonomy is achieved, this new Yamato autonomous region would certainly try to unite with West Japan.

If that happens, the balance of power would collapse.

-“That’s quite reasonable. If Black people aren’t expelled, it’s a possibility. But deciding on civil war… America wouldn’t stand idle.”

That’s true. The Kanto Republic is the successor to the Empire of Japan.

America essentially beat a defeated opponent, put them in a coffin, and when that wasn’t enough, pulled them out of the coffin to beat them again.

Socialists, anarchists, and remnants of Imperial Japan rose up but were ruthlessly suppressed.

What would become of them later?

Their numbers greatly decreased, but resentment toward America would remain.

They needed to survive, so they somehow saved the country with the influx of Black people, but in the current situation, with tensions between Black and Yamato people intensifying and America taking the Black side.

Wouldn’t that cause chaos?

Although Imperial Japanese remnants were completely eliminated, if they learned their history, anti-American sentiment might explode.

The country of East Japan would be destroyed. This isn’t my fault.

I merely threw out bait, and South Africa is using it.

No, wait, this needs some consideration?

“But wouldn’t America try to find the source of the instigation?”

With America’s power, they might discover South Africa’s involvement.

Setting aside how likely that is.

-“There is a possibility.”

If I were America, I’d try to find the cause and deal with it.

Once they deal with it, there would be no more instigation, and they might offer carrots to the Yamato people to pacify them.

This seems to require sophisticated political maneuvering.

“Well, we can deal with that when the time comes, right?”

-“Yes. And they’ll try to put out the most urgent fires first.”

Honestly, it might be fun to cause some trouble now. America hasn’t discovered us yet, right?

Later, if America says something, then we can say, “Ah, I’ll look into it.”

But it might be better to be cautious.

“We should at least avoid being discovered. Maria?”

“I’ll approach through Okhrana to find out.”

Maria pulled out the Okhrana card.

Yes. Since South Africa has stepped in, this won’t end easily.

Let’s observe the situation, and if America approaches more sharply than expected, we’ll need to resolve it then.

* * *

United States of America

The racial discrimination conflict in East Japan. Surprisingly, America remained calm.

“I always knew this day would come.”

They had anticipated this.

Given how many Black people they had relocated there, they expected the Japanese in the Kanto Republic to eventually rise up.

Honestly, even the election of a Black president was unusual.

“Was it right to relocate Black people there in the first place?”

“At the time, anti-Black sentiment was so strong that not relocating them would have caused immediate chaos.”

“I believe there was also a proposal to relocate them to Liberia.”

Liberia relocation.

There was a plan to deport Black people to Liberia, but it was buried by Anastasia’s plan to relocate them to East Japan.

“The Roman Treaty, which pretended not to while sending Black people everywhere, would hardly approve. Stop talking about digging up a dead child from its coffin. We need solutions. Could this lead to civil war?”

“Hmph, since when did Japanese people become herbivores?”

Honestly, civil war seems unlikely.

Gun ownership is prohibited, making it difficult to obtain firearms privately.

“Don’t forget. These are the remnants of Imperial Japan who fought to the end.”

“The numbers on both sides are large. Relocation would be impossible.”

Is it possible to relocate so many Black people? Even if it were possible, where would they go?

No place would accept them, and if they were brought back to their home country, America would face difficulties again.

“What about sending only volunteers to West Japan?”

“Does that make sense? It would be like stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

It would definitely be like stirring up a hornet’s nest. Such a move would likely further divide Black and Yamato people.

“First, we need to catch whoever is instigating this.”

“The intelligence agency will look into it.”

America was moving exactly as Anastasia had predicted.

* * *

East Japan Pure Blood Yamato Association.

The Yamato people of East Japan began gradually increasing their influence behind the scenes.

This period was very short.

Dissatisfaction with Black people had existed for a long time, and they were further angered by the fact that unification was impossible because of them.

The Yamato Association had even set up a website and was essentially forming a new government.

Around that time, the government issued a directive telling them to stop.

The Yamato Association was outraged by the government’s directive and held an executive meeting.

“These bastards are telling us to stop now.”

“Why aren’t they telling the Black people to stop?”

“What do you expect with a Black president? Does that make any sense? Damn Black people.”

With a Black president, they were certainly favoring Black people and discriminating against Yamato people.

“We should have resisted when America said they would relocate those people. Even if life was difficult, to think that those darkies make up half the population!”

How could Black people make up half the population in a land where Yamato people, yellow-skinned people, lived?

“Since Black people outnumber us in voting, we might only have Black presidents from now on.”

This was a major problem.

Since the Kanto Republic began, there had already been three Black presidents, and even regular Japanese presidents were heavily influenced by Black people.

To put it bluntly, Black people also had high birth rates, so if they deliberately voted only for Black presidents, Yamato presidents might never appear again.

“Shouldn’t we overthrow them at this point?”

“Do we have guns? What do we have?”

They had neither guns nor swords. In other words, they had no means to rise up.

But even if it were possible, it would be a distant prospect.

Could civil war break out in such a peaceful era? Civil wars typically occur in less civilized places like Africa.

“If we request help from the Japanese Federation, wouldn’t they support us?”

“The moment the Japanese Federation intervenes, this would lead to a world war.”

So, intervention by the Japanese Federation would be disastrous.

The Yamato Association didn’t intend to cause division recklessly.

They needed to either receive the benefits that the “damn Black people” had taken, or expand their authority to a level that could be considered sufficient autonomy.

“Let’s propose a compromise. And let’s also request mediation from the Roman Treaty.”

“Yes. We only have Anachang.”

Thus, the Yamato Association’s first goal was to secure benefits.

* * *

Racial tensions in East Japan were becoming increasingly serious.

If gun ownership had been possible, there might have been shootings.

Honestly, who would have thought things would explode like this so soon after South Africa stirred up racial discrimination?

It’s only been a few months. How much discontent must have been simmering beneath the surface for this to erupt?

They even formed a private organization called the Yamato Association, something like a provisional government.

“I received a personal letter from the Yamato Association.”

“Oh, is it from the Anastasia supporters?”

“All East Japan Anastasia supporters moved to West Japan, so it’s not them. Though there’s a possibility new ones formed later.”

“Then they must be requesting mediation to resolve the Black issue.”

“The Yamato Association’s request is truly absurd.”

“What is it?”

“Well, from the Yamato people’s perspective, this might be their maximum concession. See for yourself.”

I passed the letter to Maria III.

The letter from the Yamato Association was full of praise for me, desperation, and pleas.

And above all, demands for new reforms.

They claimed that Black and Yamato people could never mix and integrate, so they wanted a system like Austria-Hungary.

In other words, they wanted special privileges for Yamato people to receive the same equal rights as Black people.

The problem was that this actually had little significance.

Although there had been three Black presidents, they had only implemented policies to check the small underlying racial discrimination. Yamato people had never been discriminated against.

But the Yamato people, outnumbered in population, were anxious.

Even mixed-race people with skin closer to yellow were siding with Black people, so the Yamato people were on a declining trend. If Black people wanted, they could elect Black presidents, Black congressmen, and even all the way down to grassroots civic organizations.

This was what made them anxious.

“Equal political representation for Yamato people as Black people have. Dividing the military between Black and Yamato people to eliminate unnecessary friction. These are the basic demands, and Black people should not interfere in Yamato-majority local governments, and the opposition party should be dominated by ethnic Yamato people.”

Maria enumerated each point.