Japan's Great Panic!

"The latest edition of the Daily News!"

"Super Sandstorm 'stops' in Hachioji!"

"Hurry and buy a newspaper! The most terrifying Sand Tornado in history has appeared in Hachioji City!"

There were twelve or thirteen-year-old boys, with dark skin and wearing dusty hats, pushing their bicycles and shouting to passersby.

Whenever an adult walked by with coins or banknotes, they would smile broadly and pull out a brand-new 'Osaka Daily News' from their bag.

Men and women who bought newspapers either walked alone to the roadside or gathered in twos and threes. Residents of major Japan cities were very concerned about the Dust that had suddenly appeared in the past few days.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"With such a huge Tatsumaki, wouldn't Hachioji City be finished?"

"Luckily it's far away from us, it's terrifying!"

Soon.

When they saw the pictures in the newspaper, gasps of surprise echoed through every street.

Although the image is somewhat obscured by the technology of the box camera and is in black and white, the angle from which it was taken is quite good.

One photo is taken from a high angle, and the other from a low angle.

The former, viewed from bottom to top, vividly showcases the height of the Sand Tornado, like a tiny human looking up at a towering Titans.

The latter seems to have found a mountain far from the city center to capture the scene of the Sand Tornado standing tall in the city center in a very clear way.

Given that Japan cities are generally characterized by densely packed wooden structures, high population density, and narrow roads, one can imagine the apocalyptic scene that must be there now.

The same photos and similar reports were also published in newspapers distributed by various newspapers in Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Sapporo, and Kobe.

In Tokyo, the capital city, the newspapers with the largest circulation are naturally the Asahi Shimbun, founded in 1879, and the Niroku Shimbun, which was founded only twelve years ago.

"How could there be such a huge Dust?"

"Are we going to be coming to Tokyo next? No way!"

"That's impossible. How could a desert as small as Tottori produce such a massive sandstorm? Even if you moved all the sand from there, it wouldn't work."

While people in areas far from Hachioji City might only be surprised by all this, the residents of nearby towns were genuinely terrified.

In particular, several cities that are completely adjacent to Hachioji City, such as Hino City, Tama City, Akishima City, and Akiruno City, have seen an influx of families relocating.

A tense atmosphere began to permeate the entire Tokyo Metropolis.

Meanwhile, various departments of the Japanese Government were in complete chaos.

From the several disaster-stricken cities that Crocodile had passed through before, a large number of distress calls and intelligence information began to come in.

According to preliminary data from surviving officials in various locations, the death toll alone exceeds five thousand, with countless others seriously or slightly injured. A large number of houses have been completely destroyed. This does not even include Hachioji City, as it remains out of contact with the public.

The Prime Minister and ministers are currently discussing whether to send Emperor Majesty the Emperor and key government officials to Tokyo for a temporary respite.

[Tap tap tap tap.]

Just then, a Cabinet Secretariat hurriedly entered the tatami-floored conference room and looked at Prime Minister Kato, who was sitting cross-legged in the seat of honor.

"Your Excellency, the Japan Meteorological Agency just reported that the Sandstorm Tornado in Hachioji City has dissipated, but it seems a major earthquake also occurred there."

"Earthquake?"

Prime Minister Kato and the two ministers of state looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Director, it couldn't be an earthquake! This is a crack nearly 300 meters long. If an earthquake of that magnitude had occurred, Tokyo would definitely have felt the tremors strongly!"

Japan Meteorological Agency, an earthquake expert, his face flushed, shouted urgently.

"Then tell me, how did this huge crack come about?"

The nearly fifty- Director Nitani Ergu was well aware of the other party's reasoning, but what else besides an earthquake could create such a large opening in the earth?

Look at the latest photos coming from over there. Putting aside the central area that's almost completely flattened, the huge gash that looks like a knife cut into the city is truly shocking and terrifying.

"This"

The earthquake expert stared at the photograph on the table, speechless, thinking to himself, "Yes, it seems that no other natural phenomenon besides an earthquake can achieve this effect."

But his profession strongly contradicted this undeniable fact.

"Director, I would like to make a trip to Hachioji City myself!"

While the Japanese Government and Japan entire nation were gripped by panic and shock, back on the Sea Star Homeworld, the chairpersons of the Otherworld Strategy Committee's command center were also discussing the matter.

"Crocodile has captured Muzan Kibutsuji and Nakime, and Horobi on his way back with Guts and the others. However, he killed all the 'Twelve Kizuki' under the pretext that they were too much trouble. They were all excellent experimental subjects!"

Chairman Fernandez sighed repeatedly; he could already imagine Dean Fritz's resentful tone and gaze.

"I don't think it's a big Muzan Kibutsuji has him, he can have as many demons as he wants. In comparison, Crocodile's abilities are a natural counter to these demons, which is something to be careful about."

Kongming felt that if there was a need to send Muzan out on missions in the future, it would be a way to intimidate Crocodile.

"Then let Crocodile personally escort him and Nakime to Impel Down. As for how to control them, I'm sure they'll have a way over there."

Chairman Fernandez laughed.

"That's a good idea. There are still two months before the official start of the war, which is enough time for him to make the round trip," Kongming nodded in agreement.

"But Crocodile has caused quite a stir this time. Look, this is the latest newspaper report collected by our outsourced scouts!"

Vice Chairman Bulwo Gabriel, who was in charge of administration, pointed to several open newspapers on the conference table, his tone clearly displeased.

"As mentioned before, the Aokigahara Forest, the source of the 'Super Sandstorm,' will definitely be the focus of the Japanese Government's investigation!"

"Let CIPHER POL handle this; after all, they're the professionals. Our only requirement is that it not be discovered within two months."

Chairman Fernandez said dismissively.

Crocodile's actions, though seemingly reckless, actually tested the depths and complexities of the Japanese Government and the world at large.

Clearly, they had no power or means to resist Logia ability users, or rather, they had no concept of such catastrophic supernatural power.

Just like the reports in these newspapers, it was completely treated as a natural disaster.

That's actually quite strange.

Although Muzan Kibutsuji and the 'Twelve Kizuki' were not as strong as their own, they each possessed unique abilities.

However, they did an excellent job of keeping it a secret. Not only did most of the public treat it as a legend, but even the Japanese Government seemed unaware of it.

Regardless, his level of attention to the Japanese Government is declining rapidly, so what if it was discovered in advance?

At worst, we can just send out one or two high-level combatants to hold them off.

This other world, although it has a large population, advanced technology, and interesting local resources, seems to lack high-end combat power, which is their Achilles' heel!

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