The transfer of authority regarding Special Officer Ooguro Ryuuta—Tatsuya's military status—that Yugen had declared to Kazama was a pivotal shift. It meant that, moving forward, the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion would require Yugen's explicit approval to deploy Tatsuya. Should they attempt to bypass this, they would find themselves permanently cut off from the intelligence provided by Yugen, who served as their primary strategist. Yugen trusted that Kazama understood this without the need for further threats.
"Major Kazama," Yugen continued, his tone steady. "I am offering the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion an opportunity to clear the air regarding the recent friction. I want you to handle the Humanists—or shall we call them 'terrorists-in-waiting'? Specifically, I want your unit to deal with the remnants of Blanche, its subordinate organization Egalite, and the No Head Dragon."
"Are you sure you want to be that explicit?" Kazama asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Quite. After all, the corpses used in the recent terrorist incident were all paupers from the Yokosuka slums. Leaving such a situation unchecked is a grave matter of national defense."
The evidence was clear: the kidnapping of those paupers had been led by none other than the "Puppeteer," Enma Oumi. While Gu Jie lacked an Echelon III-compatible communication system, Yugen's intelligence confirmed that the bodies—outfitted with boosters in Zhou Gongjin's former hideout—had been transported to Oumi's estate.
However, as there was currently no physical evidence to warrant an arrest, Oumi's fate had already been sealed: he would be eliminated by Gu Jie himself. This would, conveniently, add a charge of murder to Gu Jie's growing list of crimes.
To prevent further discord between security organizations, Yugen was redirecting the military to assist in capturing terrorists that the police struggled to handle. This order had already been requested through General Soga and would be issued as a "Request for Dispatch from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense." Yugen had already secured the necessary "understanding" from both ministers to ensure the paperwork aligned.
If the battalion refused this, Yugen was prepared to question the very purpose of a specialized magician unit.
"This may indirectly look like cooperation with the Ten Master Clans, but this incident is no longer just their problem. It is a matter of the dignity of every magician in this country. If you cannot recognize that, then I have no further reason to associate with you... I leave the interpretation of that to you, Major."
Personally, Yugen didn't want to sever his private ties. But unless he moved with the resolve to cut all military ties, neither the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion nor the 101st Brigade would truly act. Having said his piece, Yugen rose quietly, gave Kazama a slight bow, and left the room.
(Still, when I think about it, it feels unnatural...)
In the original timeline, Retsu Kudo and Hiromi Saeki were rivals. But Retsu was approaching ninety, while Saeki was fifty-nine—a late stage for a soldier, but still thirty years younger than Kudo. A romantic history seemed unlikely. It was more natural to assume Saeki harbored a professional admiration for Kudo, and when he retired from the military to form the Master Clans without inviting her, she felt "betrayed." It was mere speculation, of course, as he could hardly ask them directly.
When Yugen returned to the Shiba residence, Miyuki was waiting for him at the entrance as always.
"Welcome home, Yugen-san."
"I'm back. Is Tatsuya out?"
"Yes. He has work for the Yotsuba family and mentioned he would be late."
Tatsuya had located one of Gu Jie's hideouts and intended to strike today. He had brought Fumiya and Ayako along, and for extra security, he had requested Lina's assistance. Tatsuya's decision to include Lina was based on intelligence regarding a USNA crewman—Benjamin Canopus—who was likely aboard the cruiser monitoring the cargo ship Gu Jie had used.
"Well, with Tatsuya there, the chance of failure is practically zero... I think I'll take a bath first."
"Understood."
Yugen knew the USNA military would likely move once they caught wind of Gu Jie. He also anticipated the use of "Cast Jammers," similar to the Parasite incident. Their only miscalculation would be the quality of the CADs used by Tatsuya, Fumiya, and Ayako. Yugen didn't plan on boasting, but as one half of "Taurus Silver," he had spared no effort in hand-crafting those units.
The following day, Tatsuya's motivation was visibly dampened. While he had identified Gu Jie's location through his Psion patterns, he had prioritized rescuing Fumiya and Ayako when they fell into a trap. Since Ayako was a candidate for his fiancée, his concern was understandable.
While they had successfully nullified the CAD interference from the Cast Jammers, the enemy had responded by steadily increasing their numbers. They had been overly cautious of the Yotsuba magicians, and eventually, Tatsuya decided it wasn't worth the escalation. Lina had apparently asked if she should fire the Brionac, but Tatsuya had declined, not wanting to expose her identity to the US military just yet.
"...I'm sorry, Yugen."
"Don't apologize, Tatsuya. If these things were settled in a day, no one would struggle. Besides..."
"?"
"Even if they are family, the fact that you can worry about people other than Miyuki is proof that you're growing as a human being."
Tatsuya hadn't exactly walked an elite path paved with roses. On the contrary, he had been subjected to a brutal, Spartan upbringing that had stripped away most of his intense emotions. But the loss of intensity didn't mean the loss of emotion itself. Yugen pointed out that being able to show those feelings to someone other than Miyuki was a sign of maturity.
"...I really can't win against you, Yugen. Is this that 'wisdom of age' you talk about?"
"Drop it. That actually stings a little."
As they relaxed after dinner, Miyuki—wearing an apron—handed Tatsuya a box. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day, but ever since Yugen had entered their lives, it had become customary for her to give out her handmade chocolates a day early.
"It's a day early, but here you go, Brother."
"Thank you, Miyuki."
"You're very welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have work to do."
As Miyuki disappeared back into the kitchen, Tatsuya opened the elegantly wrapped box to find rows of perfectly formed chocolates. To Yugen's eyes, they looked indistinguishable from those found in a high-end boutique.
"...I say this every year, but she could honestly sell these in a shop," Yugen remarked.
"I agree... Want one?"
"No thanks. If I touched those, Miyuki would never forgive me."
From the kitchen, the sounds of Miyuki and Minami working together drifted out. Yugen reflected on how strange it was that the "primary wife" and the "concubine" (in their social arrangement) got along so well. He was truly grateful he didn't have to deal with the constant drama found in soap operas.
"By the way, tomorrow is your birthday, Yugen. I've arranged a present, so please accept it without hesitation."
"...I'll look forward to it."
Last year, Tatsuya's gift had been sensible, but Miyuki's—in addition to the chocolate—had been "Miyuki herself," a gift that required more careful handling than a piece of precision machinery. Yugen had long since stopped trying to guess what would top that.
As his status grew, Yugen often received gifts that were frankly a burden to store. Having traveled the world with Gouzou, his circle of acquaintances was vast. Since his personal data listed his birthday, the influx of gifts had only increased since he became a Kagurazaka.
"I just realized," Tatsuya said, "I haven't received many birthday presents in my life. What about you, Yugen?"
"In my case... I often get things that make me think, 'What on earth am I supposed to do with this?'"
High-end jewelry was fine, but land deeds were a headache. He had once received a deed for a plot of land from an Arab Union; apparently, they figured since it was just desert, they'd toss it his way. He decided to put it to use, however.
Having accumulated various plots of land abroad, Yugen had established "Hiryuu Shipping," a private maritime company under the Kamizumi family umbrella. Employment was generally limited to those who had mastered Shinkage-ryu, along with "Traditional" magicians and treated enhanced soldiers he had taken in secretly. He left the accounting and administration to non-magicians, creating a symbiotic relationship.
For pirates, jumping a Hiryuu ship was like jumping straight into hell. The Amu Company, once a trade front, had now become the Tokyo branch of Hiryuu Shipping. Mototsugu's assessment was that the crew was strong enough to potentially take down a STARS captain.
"I think this year, it won't be a 'someone else's problem' for you either, Tatsuya."
"...Based on my mother's behavior lately, I suspect I'm in for something unpredictable as well," Tatsuya sighed.
Maya, eager to finally act as a "mother" to her biological son, was likely to send something extravagant. Tatsuya's deep sigh suggested he was already mentally preparing for the impact.
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