Chapter 39: I Rise, You Fall

Japan was in chaos. Thousands of people flooded the streets, demanding Prime Minister Nagato's resignation. It was the largest mass demonstration in the country's history. But the resignation demands were ignored. Instead, troops were deployed, with a clear order: disperse, and if necessary, shoot on sight. The entire world condemned the act, while the nation that was supposed to be a beacon of peace descended into chaos.

Inside the luxurious Prime Minister's office, Commander Narada appeared, staring at Nagato with a cold gaze.

"You think I came here to save Arata and get his charges dropped?" Narada said.

Nagato, who looked panicked, remained silent.

"No. I came here to save you... from him," Narada continued, his voice calm but full of threat. "You don't know what you've just unleashed. He won't just take your life, but also what you value most: your reputation."

Narada turned and left, leaving Nagato alone in his panic.

Night fell. Amidst the chilling silence, one by one, the guards outside the building suddenly dropped. They were taken down without a sound, without a trace. The figure moved like a shadow between the pillars, removing every obstacle. That figure was Arata.

Arata entered and stood before Nagato. He didn't carry a weapon, only a gaze that was cold and empty. Nagato trembled, kneeling, and begging for forgiveness. "Arata, please, whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Money, power, anything! Just don't kill me!"

"Are my friends' lives so cheap that you can just bribe me like this?" Arata pointed a pistol at Nagato, his face expressionless. "You think money and power can bring them back, huh?"

Arata pulled the trigger. But he didn't fire. He lowered the gun. He saw a helicopter arrive, and JSDF troops surrounded the building.

"You! You! Arrest this kid!" Nagato yelled, thinking he was about to be saved.

However, what happened next shocked Nagato and his bodyguards. The JSDF troops instead handcuffed Nagato. Nagato was taken out of the building. Outside, media crews and citizens who were covering the news immediately started recording the event. "The Prime Minister has been arrested! Commander Arata Masamune carried out the arrest!"

How did all of this happen?

It all started when Arata regained consciousness. He saw Pierson beside him. Arata asked Pierson to gather his students and tell them the truth.

They gathered in Arata's apartment. Chisa, who was very worried, arrived early. She was shocked to see Arata was still alive and immediately hugged him. "You idiot! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I couldn't, Chisa. If I had, your life would have been in danger too," Arata replied. He explained everything, from the failed mission in Mecronia, the death of his friends, the betrayal by Collins and Nikolai, and most importantly, Prime Minister Nagato's involvement.

"So, the real war is a political one?" Chisa asked, her eyes welling up.

Arata nodded. "Yes. We can't just kill him. That would only trigger a bigger chaos. We have to reveal the truth behind all the lies."

Arata turned on the projector, displaying all the data Natasha had gathered. Their plan was set: Shion would hack all the media servers to spread the news, while Akari and Mei used their connections to pressure politicians. Daigo and Alena would rally the masses, while Reiji, whose father was the National Police Chief, would ensure no one got in their way.

In another place, Pierson and Natasha had returned to their respective countries. They began to cleanse the spy networks of The Serpent and ARAAF within the CIA and FSB, ensuring all the data would get into the right hands.

A week later, Commander Isshin Narada was sworn in as the new Prime Minister. He began to gradually expose Nagato's sins to the public. The remaining terrorist forces of ARAAF and The Serpent across the world were being hunted down and eliminated.

Arata finally returned to his old profession, teaching at the Academy. He stood in front of the gate, watching his students gather to welcome him back. Akari, Shion, Mei, Daigo, Alena, and even Reiji, they were all there.

Seeing his students, Arata smiled. "The real battlefield has just begun," he whispered to himself. "And I'll fight on a desk with chalk."

Arata walked back into the academy, ready for his new battle.

THE END.