Chapter 493: Boiling a Frog in Slow Water

Su Hao's first reaction was instinctive repulsion.
He had just donated a billion US dollars to the IAEA to protect the environment.
How could he suddenly be asked to work on what is arguably the most environmentally damaging technology on Earth?
"Chairman Su, SMR is different," Li Huilin explained.
"While it's not absolutely zero-pollution, it minimizes environmental impact to a minimum, and on a very small scale.
Once we successfully develop it, it will completely reshape the global energy landscape.
If our country can be the first to promote this technology, the future will be limitless!"
The instant her words fell, a surge of electricity rose within Su Hao's body—his extraordinary intuition sending him the clearest signal possible!
"So, from a longer-term environmental perspective, we ultimately have to return to this path, right?"
"Yes. Because of the Eastern European war, Europe has abandoned 'denuclearization' and chosen to embrace nuclear energy again.
The old vicious cycle has begun again.
Only by developing a more environmentally friendly and safer next-generation nuclear technology can we completely break this cycle!"
"Good! Coordinate this with headquarters and let them take full responsibility for pushing it forward."
Alright, Su Hao's role ends here.
He's always been self-aware in this specialized technical field. Rather than an outsider instructing insiders, it's more efficient to leave it to the professional team at headquarters to negotiate with the IAEA.
"However, with our strong stance against Fukushima's emissions, won't the Japanese government react strongly?"
"Yes. But they won't dare to take a hard line.
If the IAEA publicly declares that Fukushima's water quality is problematic, Japan's economy will suffer a devastating blow."
Moreover, public opinion in Japan regarding the pollution issue is now severely divided.
Even before the discharge began, conspiracy theories that "the Japanese fish are completely soaked in radioactive material" were already rampant.
The shadow of the Fukushima disaster was far deeper than imagined.
Forcing the discharge under such public pressure would only further damage Japan's national image.
Therefore, many people opposed the discharge.
Su Hao himself was one of the opponents.
"So, we can only delay for a year at most. But even after a year, we still can't stop it?"
"Yes, discharging into the sea is the Japanese government's established policy, and their will is very firm."
It seems that it's ultimately just a delaying tactic...
"Is it impossible for them to change their minds?"
"Unless... there's a major reshuffle of their political core, it's very difficult."
Strangely, upon hearing the words "major reshuffle," Su Hao felt a jolt in his heart again; that familiar electric current returned!
"Um, excuse me, are there any elections in Japan this year?"
"Ah, yes. There are local elections and mayoral elections in several regions."
Could it be...?
"Could you please bring me a list of candidates?"
***
Japan, Prime Minister's Official Residence.
"Baka!! Make us wait another year?! Are they dreaming?!"
The Prime Minister angrily slammed the document on the table.
"However, Your Excellency, the IAEA's stance is very firm. If we go against their wishes, the loss to the country will be catastrophic."
"Though humiliating, we have no choice but to temporarily comply with their arrangements."
The Chief Cabinet Secretary explained, sweating profusely.
The IAEA had sent people to investigate and personally declared "no problem."
Now, they've suddenly changed their tune, saying they want to reinvestigate. It's obvious something's fishy going on!
"Behind this is Fang Huan Investment, right?"
"Yes. It's said they spent a billion US dollars just to get the IAEA to change its tune and delay our 'polluted water' from entering the market for a year."
"Fang Huan…why are they suddenly getting involved? It can't really be for protecting the environment, can it?"
"According to our intelligence, Fang Huan seems to…plan to enter the nuclear energy field, and we, Japan, have unfortunately become their 'pledge of allegiance' for establishing their authority and negotiating."
Fang Huan Investment…is going to get into nuclear energy?
A chill ran through the Prime Minister's heart for no apparent reason.
"Sigh, these bastards, what are we supposed to do with them?"
He slumped wearily into his chair.
If it were any other company, he would have a hundred ways to teach them a lesson.
But the other party was Fang Huan!
An entity he absolutely could not, and dared not, be an enemy of!
Because his and his current government's current position, their stable grip on power, was Fang Huan's "masterpiece"!
Back then, it was Fang Huan who accepted their "request," swiftly and decisively placing former Prime Minister AB on the political altar, thus establishing the current regime.
This deal was the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
This dirty deal, if exposed, would trigger the biggest scandal in the history of Japanese politics!
Therefore, he dared not touch Fang Huan, not even a hair on her head!
Once that behemoth is angered, it will unleash a cataclysmic upheaval in the entire Japanese political arena!
“Also, Your Excellency, there’s a very strange rumor circulating.”
“What rumor?”
“It’s said that Fang Huan Investment is providing political donations to candidates running in this year’s local and mayoral elections.”
“Isn’t that normal? They’ve done this to so many countries before…”
“No, this time is different.” The Chief Cabinet Secretary’s voice trembled.
“On the surface, they’re supporting candidates who oppose the Fukushima pollution.
But a closer look at these candidates’ backgrounds reveals a… an extremely terrifying commonality.”
“A terrifying commonality?”
“A significant portion of the candidates receiving funding from the Fang Huan Group this time are of Japanese descent!”
“What?!!” The Prime Minister jumped up from his chair.
“Some have one parent who is from China, while others are naturalized Japanese immigrants who came from China years ago.”
“Wait…you mean, Fanghuan Investment is using nuclear wastewater as an excuse to plant a large number of people with Chinese ancestry into our Japanese political arena?!”
Some might say, what can a mere company change even if it provides some funding?
But that’s Fanghuan!
They wield the two most powerful brainwashing tools: media and social networks!
They can use their control over Japanese social networks to launch a massive, widespread campaign for these candidates.
At the same time, they can unleash endless negative information on their competitors!
Even more terrifying is that since Japan fully opened up, a large number of Chinese companies have already conquered and seized control of the economic lifelines of major cities.
What if these companies also joined forces to fully support these Chinese candidates?
"Could it be... that Fang Huan and his gang want to take over the entire Japan..."
A chilling thought, as if plunged into an ice cave, crept into the Prime Minister's mind.
Perhaps it's not apparent now.
But what about ten or twenty years from now?
In the long run, like a frog being slowly boiled in water...
When a Chinese Japanese person, nurtured and supported by Fang Huan, finally ascends to the pinnacle of power in this country and becomes the Prime Minister...
Then...
wouldn't this country...
become Fang Huan's backyard, a colony he can take at will?!