The nation has erupted into mourning after the terrorist, Hulstrian supremacist HVF, or Hulstrian People's Front (which claims to be a legitimate political party), announced that its militant wing, the HVBA, or Hulstrian People's Liberation Front, had kidnapped and subsequently assassinated Minister of Justice Fukumoto Gonshiro, age 67. Mr. Fukumoto (whom the HVF condescendingly called 'Mr. Gonshiro' in an act of deliberate disrespect of Kunihito culture) was a loyal member of the Teikoku Sensen, and a man committed to justice for all Imperial citizens. He served diligently and actively, regularly making trips to up to five locations each working day primarily to ensure that all was well in the Empire's justice system.
The HVF made the announcement of the kidnapping over the internet, and demanded as ransom not money, but for the government to perform dastardly actions such as ending the Interracial Security System, making Hulstria Prefecture an autonomous region, legalizing the HVF, violent protests, and treasonous dissent, withdrawing
all police and military personnel from Hulstria Prefecture and other prefectures with a majority-Hulstrian population, and freeing criminals convicted of treason for their association with Hulstrian supremacist movements. After some time, it announced the murder of Mr. Fukumoto, and stated that the government had not responded. However, the government has explained that it was doing all it could to locate Mr. Gonshiro and free him without agreeing to any of the HVF's absurd terms. Detectives were working around the clock and SWAT teams have reported staying awake and on standby for days on end, though they were quick to assure our journalists that they did so voluntarily for Mr. Fukumoto's sake. All this was unfortunately in vain. Indeed, Mr. Fukumoto's body was only found in a dumpster in a village in Kuratha, with an entirely Kunihito populace of 308. Coroners determined he had been killed by stabbing up to three days prior.
Almost all cabinet officials, attended Mr. Fukumoto's funeral today. Defense Minister Kidehi Chojo delivered the eulogy, saying that he and Fukumoto had been best friends from childhood and that they worked together as Ministers like "hand in glove". He swore an oath to hunt down the HVF, its leadership, and its affiliates without mercy until they are either dead or "locked away deeper than our sense of brotherhood, which will be an impressive feat to match." In a televised address from his official residence and workplace, Prime Minsiter Takanashi Yoshihisa express similar sentiments, as well as great regret for being unable to attend. He informed the Empire that he was staying home in order to coordinate efforts to eliminate the terrorist groups, and said that that was the best thing someone of his position could do to honor Mr. Fukumoto. The Emperor released a statement expressing condolences and calling for retaliation.
The Prime Minister stated that his top priority was to uncover the identity of 'Black Knight', the shadowy leader of the HVBA and one of the most brutally militant members of the Hulstrian nationalist movement who is also one of its most openly racist. Black Knight heads the Knights of the Black Sun, a group within the HVBA that expresses alt-right views. As Chairman of the Teikoku Sensen, he also declared his disappointment in the Knights, saying that they and the Teikoku Sensen would have been able to cooperate well as sister organizations.
Ina Tomotada, a famous prefectural judge from Kuratha and a former lawyer, has been nominated by the Teikoku Sensen to replace Mr. Fukumoto.
