The Puppet Government Will Be Established

Dark undercurrents surged through the world, treacherous and ever-changing. The horrors already unfolding offered no hope, while horrors yet to come were brewing—delusions born of ambition.

Perhaps some people knew in advance, but the vast majority remained unaware. Even among those who knew, some felt only excitement, because the greater the chaos, the more they stood to gain.

The Shanghai Bund remained much as it had always been. Poor ordinary people earned enough to support their families through a steady job; their children learned a little more each day and chattered about it over dinner. They drank a little liquor and found brief happiness. Yet the next day, shifting prices and the rampant Japanese on the streets would fill them with worry. They could not feel the prosperity of the Shanghai Bund.

Those who could feel the prosperity of the Shanghai Bund could mostly see the danger hidden behind it. They did not worry about making a living, but they fretted over business and their future, terrified that they could not control their own destinies. Still, they all wore smiling faces.

In mid-August, the site where the Japanese consulate had previously held its reception was once again crowded with prominent figures. This time, the event was a meeting between Wang Zhaoming and representatives from all walks of Shanghai society, organized by the Japanese.

Though it was called a meeting, Wang Zhaoming did not stay long. He merely delivered a speech at the start of the reception, raised a glass with everyone, then left with Doihara Kenji.

He was afraid, which was only natural. The guests invited to the reception were a mixed lot. Though they were called prominent figures, their backgrounds were difficult to pin down. With so many people present, it was entirely possible that members of the two