While traveling with Gozo (or rather, being dragged along on a trip), Yugen had been targeted by the Strategic-Class magic Ozone Circle in Australia. He had neutralized it instantly and even memorized the sequence.
While that alone might not have been enough to indict the UK, Yugen had "felt" that Australian military magic was derived from the same system as the British. He trusted that instinct.
"So, Yugen," Tatsuya asked, "do we inform the target of the plot?"
"This is a top-secret mission. Telling them too early might cause unnecessary panic or drive the saboteurs to desperation. We'll prepare everything and inform them just before the party."
Yugen trusted the target, but he couldn't be sure the target's associates wouldn't talk. If the enemy realized they were caught and panicked, they might resort to firing off Strategic-Class magic just to go out in a blaze of glory. That was a headache Yugen wanted to avoid.
"We'll likely receive a formal request for cooperation from the GAA government soon to help capture their deserters. We'll accept, of course... though if the worst happens, I'll deal with it myself."
The names most associated with the GAA in Japan were Chen Xiangshan and Lu Ganghu. Yugen hadn't forgotten the incident involving Zhou Gongjin, but having GAA deserters wandering around Japan was a nuisance he wouldn't tolerate. He had no objection to hunting them down.
The next day, as Yugen and Miyuki were walking to class, Shizuku stopped them.
"Yugen, Miyuki. Did you have a nice day yesterday?"
"Reasonably," Yugen replied. "What's up, Shizuku?"
"I was wondering if everyone wanted to go to Okinawa together."
The invitation was exactly as Yugen remembered from the "original story." He listened without surprise.
"Okinawa? You mean for the artificial island? Your father's company is an investor, isn't it?"
"Yeah..." Shizuku pouted slightly. "It's great that things move so fast when Yugen's involved, but I feel like I'm being cheated out of a conversation."
"Hey, don't look at me."
Shizuku's father, Ushio Kitayama, was the head of one of Japan's leading conglomerates. It was natural for him to invest in the artificial island Saika Shinto off Kumejima. Incidentally, the Uwaizumi construction firms were heavily involved, and the Kagurazaka family had invested through the Kamisaka Group as well. Yugen's weary expression at Shizuku's pouting drew a round of giggles from Miyuki, Honoka, and Himeri.
"I'm sorry, but Miyuki and I already have family business in Okinawa during that time," Yugen explained.
"Is it Kagurazaka business?" Honoka asked.
"This year is the fifth anniversary of the Okinawa naval battle. There are meetings for the memorial service and ancestral rites for the spring equinox. Since I'm a former member of the Ten Master Clans, I'm going as the Mitsuya representative. For Miyuki, well, that's obvious... Ow! Miyuki, why are you pinching me?"
"Yugen-san, you're being unfair," Miyuki pouted.
"I don't see how..."
He apologized for stealing her chance to explain, but Yugen could only sigh as he was targeted by a flare of jealousy.
"So," Miyuki corrected with a huff, "onii-sama, Yugen-san, and I are heading to Okinawa as soon as the closing ceremony ends on the 23rd."
"I see," Shizuku said. "If you have any free time, do you want to hang out?"
"Of course, Honoka. I'll call you if we can make it work," Miyuki promised.
It was a normal, peaceful day. Then came March 15th—Graduation Day. The ceremony proceeded without a hitch. Yugen, as the current head of the Club Management Group, presented a bouquet to the former head, Hattori, without incident.
His only complaint was that he had been forced to read a valedictory address. Normally, it was a task for the Student Council President alone, but out of some strange sense of "consideration," the faculty had decided both the Student Council President and the CMG head should speak. Yugen had written it in a hurry, taking great care to be as professional as possible. When he finished, Tatsuya had asked him: "Did you eat something bad?" He found the lack of appreciation insulting.
March 17th, Sunday.
Yugen and Tatsuya were in a conference room at the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion headquarters in Kasumigaura. They were joined by Kazama, Sanada, Yanagi, and Kyoko (Fujibayashi). Neither Yugen nor Tatsuya was in uniform. Kyoko had greeted Tatsuya with a hug—a fact Yugen decided to keep to himself—before Yugen sighed and tapped a stack of papers.
The Gu Jie incident had caused some friction, but this current mission was a direct "order" from General Soga to Major General Saeki. Since it involved the potential collapse of the peace treaty, Saeki hadn't been able to refuse.
"Lieutenant Colonel Kazama," Yugen said, "why am I the one giving the briefing?"
"Since the highest-ranking person in the room is a Lieutenant General, I simply followed protocol," Kazama replied with a straight face.
Kyoko, Sanada, and Yanagi couldn't help but chuckle at Kazama's joke, while even Tatsuya offered a wry smile. Realizing he was fighting a losing battle, Yugen gave in.
"Fine... I appreciate you all gathering while we're in the middle of a restructuring. The goal is to prevent a sabotage operation targeting the completion ceremony of the artificial island Saika Shinto off Kumejima."
Intelligence confirmed the saboteurs were already in the country. There were "tourists" from both the GAA and Australia, so they couldn't afford any lapses.
"For this party, heads of state from the SSA and France will be visiting. The SSA has offered to assist with security, and we've accepted. Apparently, their representative is a Strategic-Class Magician."
"The SSA... so, Miguel Diaz?" Kyoko asked.
"It seems to be someone else. I hear he's called the 'Return of Rudel.' He's had some training from my grandfather, so his skills are the real deal."
Since the enemy might use Strategic-Class magic (at least "officially"), Yugen had no issue with accepting additional help. He had heard from Gozo that the man was possessed by "something strange," but Gozo had decided it wasn't a Parasite or anything instinctively malicious, so he had let it be.
"The Lieutenant Colonel will have overall command of this operation. His team of four will head to Okinawa ahead of us to scout the saboteurs. Major Kazama—I mean, Special Officer Ooguro—and I will join you after the ancestral rites. However, we won't be acting as soldiers. Tatsuya Shiba will be there as a magician of the Yotsuba, and I will be there as a magician of the Kagurazaka family. Please keep that in mind."
"Understood, sir!" Kazama replied.
"Tatsuya, you okay with this?"
"Yes, sir. I will carry out the mission with the utmost sincerity."
"...Tatsuya."
Yugen stared at Tatsuya, who had just offered a crisp military salute as a Special Officer, looking utterly deadpan. The adults in the room couldn't help but laugh at Yugen's exasperated expression.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"