Chapter 557: Shadows of Espionage in Edo
The Japanese diplomat had gone into the embassy upright and was carried out on a stretcher. He was immediately sent to a hospital. At this point, Kade still didn't realize the trouble he had caused. He had no idea how fanatical these Japanese, who usually bowed and scraped before him, could become.
"Damn those Germans! Did they beat him? Why was Lord Ichiro Tsuruta carried out like that?"
"They must have done something to him. Lord Ichiro was always in good health. It's no coincidence that something happened to him inside the East African embassy. Something's fishy."
"We must seek justice for Lord Ichiro. This cannot go unanswered."
"Baka yarō! How dare those Germans humiliate us...!"
Outside the East African Embassy in Edo, the crowd of Japanese rabble launched into wild speculation, convinced that East Africa had mistreated Tsuruta Ichiro.
It was understandable—Edo newspapers had already printed headlines about East Africa's "invasion" of the Sakishima Islands, deeply wounding Japan's national pride.
Naturally, there were outraged citizens. But there were also indifferent onlookers, especially peasants from the countryside just trying to make a living in Edo. Unlike privileged city dwellers, they didn't care about national honor. Some even took pleasure in the chaos.
The sentiments outside the embassy varied. Yet the number of radicals was not small, especially given Japan's increasingly extreme education system.
Among the crowd, a few men in hats observed silently. They blended in well with the Japanese, but if one looked closely, they were much taller.
"Looks like we were right. The people in this country are far too extreme. We should act early."
"Too many eyes here. Meet tonight at the usual spot."
Night fell.
After confirming that no one was watching the embassy perimeter, the same young men from earlier entered the East African embassy.
Knock knock knock…
"Who is it?"
The knock startled Kade. Still in his pajamas, he crept to a drawer, pulled out a pistol, and hid it behind his back.
He remembered clearly that the embassy had been locked for the night. Anyone knocking now was likely bad news. Other embassy staff were either asleep or had left for the day.
"Minister Kade, it's one of us."
Hearing German relaxed him a bit—but the voice didn't belong to anyone on his staff.
"Who are you?"
"I'm with the East African National Defense Security Bureau."
Kade opened the door. He had heard of that agency but wasn't exactly sure what they did. Since it had "defense" in its name, he assumed it was a military department.
Had Kade been from the military, he wouldn't have associated them with the army at all. In fact, he might have been annoyed by their use of the name.
The Bureau operated in secrecy, and its late founding meant few people knew what it did.
Kade knew about it only because he had once seen an office labeled as such and asked casually—but no one could explain its function.
The term "defense" misled many, suggesting military ties. In truth, the Bureau's role went far beyond that of standard military intelligence—it had a broad and varied scope.
For example, in Afghanistan, East Africa's interference had fueled chaos. While Britain struggled to maintain control, East Africa had quietly fanned the flames. Afghanistan's irregular forces proved formidable in the mountains, embarrassing the British.
The British tried to suppress news of their failures, but Russia, right next door, saw everything and jumped at the chance to support East Africa's efforts—especially after setbacks in the Ottoman Empire.
Of course, that only worked because East Africa had laid the groundwork in Afghanistan. Without a platform, Russia wouldn't have bothered. But East Africa made it worth the risk.
Operating in Japan was much easier. Abroad, appearance was key, and East Africa's ethnic diversity allowed them to blend in. While not as mixed as South America, East Africa still had a wide range of faces.
Much like Japan's own efforts to map the Far East, the East African National Defense Security Bureau was doing similar reconnaissance in Japan.
As for dealing with the Japanese government, East Africa used white agents. The Japanese couldn't distinguish between Europeans, so East Africa could claim to be from any obscure country—like Montenegro. That "Montenegrin-Japanese Trade Association" was entirely staffed by East Africans.
East Africa had a surprisingly thorough understanding of Japan, performing well in intelligence across many regions.
In contrast, Ernst didn't need such efforts in Germany or Austria-Hungary. Thanks to noble connections, he could get most of the information himself. In German territories, East Africa focused more on commercial intelligence to benefit the Hechingen Consortium.
Once the man's credentials were verified, Kade's suspicions eased.
"What brings the National Defense Security Bureau to my door at this hour? Isn't this overstepping boundaries?"
"Minister Kade, please don't take offense. We may be from different departments, but we're both abroad. Supporting one another is crucial. I came to warn you—Japanese public sentiment toward East Africa is very hostile. You should prepare accordingly, especially on the security front."
"Hm? You mean the Japanese might attack?"
"It's hard to say. They've stormed the British embassy before. This current conflict could escalate—after all, land is involved..."
"They wouldn't dare, would they?"
"It's uncertain. Maybe not officially—but rogue elements might act. And if things go south, their government could blame individuals and walk away clean."
"I'll consider your warning—but I'll need to consult with the homeland first."
"Of course."
The National Defense Security Bureau was a brother agency. It couldn't interfere with the Foreign Ministry but could offer advice. If something went wrong, it wouldn't be blamed.
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