Chapter 38: The Truth Behind The Lie

"Hello, Masamune."

Collins aimed his pistol, its barrel gleaming under the flickering emergency lights. "You should have died. And you should have told my son I said hello."

"That's easy, I'll kill you," Arata replied, his eyes burning with rage.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A series of gunshots suddenly erupted from a dark corridor. Pierson stood there, his pistol smoking. Collins stumbled, three bullets lodged in his body. However, Collins managed to fire back, and a bullet hit Pierson's shoulder.

"No!" Arata screamed, pulling Collins's leg. Collins fell, his body hitting the cold water that indicated the base would soon be flooded. Arata jumped in, dragging Collins down into the murky water.

Pierson could only hold his wound, watching Arata and Collins disappear into the dark water for their final battle.

In the freezing water, Arata choked Collins, but Collins fought back with the last of his strength. "You're trying to kill me?" Collins gasped, his face covered in blood. "You'll fail!"

"YOU KILLED MY TEAM!" Arata screamed, his tears mixing with the dirty lake water.

"You don't know what it's like, kid!" Collins yelled back, his attempts to fight becoming weak from his gunshot wounds.

Suddenly, an explosion separated them. It caused the ceilings to fall, and the water around them to surge.

"Arata! Forget about him! This base is about to be destroyed!" Pierson shouted, holding his wounded shoulder.

Arata turned, his eyes filled with determination. "Go now!"

Pierson knew that Arata could not be stopped. This was no longer about a mission. This was a personal vendetta. Pierson escaped, occasionally looking back, watching the entire base crumble behind him.

Arata returned to Collins. He managed to land a barrage of blows, and the battle ended quickly. Arata saw a rope used for repairs. He quickly wrapped it around Collins's neck. With his last ounce of strength, he pushed Collins toward a window. The glass shattered, and Collins fell. His body hung in the middle of the base, which was now filled with water.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Arata was thrown against a wall, where he now leaned. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He knew death was near. A sense of satisfaction filled his heart as he saw Collins's body; his revenge was finally complete. He knew his job was done.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A massive explosion destroyed the base. The buildings collapsed, and the lake water swallowed everything. Arata disappeared amid the fire and smoke.

Japan was in an uproar. TV stations across the country showed a photo of Arata's face. "Japan's most wanted fugitive, Arata Masamune," the news anchor said. "The terrorist leader responsible for the attack on the Hokkaido military base. Wanted dead or alive."

Nagato had executed his plan. He declared a national state of emergency. JSDF troops were deployed to control civilian protests. However, it was no use. Amidst the chaos, the data Natasha had copied was leaked to the public. The truth behind the lie was finally revealed.

"Evidence of Prime Minister Nagato's involvement in the attacks!" a TV reporter yelled.

"Japan was deceived by its own government!"

"Prime Minister Nagato is a traitor!"

At a calm lake, Pierson managed to pull himself ashore. He watched the sunrise, thinking Arata was dead. However, in the distance, he saw a figure lying on the lakeside.

It was Arata. He had survived. He was unconscious, badly wounded, but still alive.

The truth had been revealed. But the bigger war had just begun.