Her thoughts churning again, Kotori felt a headache brewing.
Schicksal, or rather Mobius, was clearly dead set on having her and her sister.
Kotori couldn't count on Ratatosk to protect them; she could only hope to secure greater authority for herself, so she wouldn't be left with nothing when the time came.
This conversation had served as both a warning and a lesson for Kotori.
Her smooth sailing within Ratatosk wasn't just due to her and Shiori's special status—one a Spirit, the other the only candidate who could seal Spirits—but also because of Ratatosk's internal power struggles.
The prevailing attitude towards her was largely 'peace above all.' If she strongly opposed something, that was usually the end of it.
But Mobius was different. She wasn't like those in Ratatosk who treated Spirits as entities to communicate with. In her eyes, Kotori saw an obvious desire for research.
Thinking this, Kotori nearly bit through the lollipop in her mouth. She had achieved her goal of testing the other party's attitude, but the result had placed her in an extremely awkward position.
This was clearly a warning, wasn't it... Damn it...
Amber hadn't fully grasped the subtle maneuvering between the two. In the jujutsu society, she held absolute authority, with no one below daring to challenge her.
So, when it came to being well-versed in political intrigue from a high position, it was completely unrelated to her.
But that didn't mean she lacked intuition. Based on her gut feeling and her understanding of Dark Amber, it seemed Kotori's situation wasn't great right now?
If only Rita were here.
At this moment, Amber couldn't help but miss Rita's sharp mind, which could easily help explain the situation.
The main business of the day was over, and it had yielded a terrible outcome. Even Shiori could see that Kotori's mood had hit rock bottom. So, Amber didn't stay long at the Itsuka residence and soon left with Origami.
She never expected that a simple visit would leave both Origami and Kotori so withdrawn.
On the other side, Rita, who had finally finished dealing with the two major powers in Japan, felt her fingers itching, relieved that she hadn't brought Durandal along.
Otherwise, wouldn't they have been utterly disgusted by these politicians' faces?
There were three parties at tonight's reception. One was, of course, the Japanese officials who had close ties with Ratatosk. Another was the AST, which was now essentially under DEM's thumb.
The AST was, in principle, part of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and thus an official organization, but... well, let's just say those in the know, know.
Having military power doesn't mean you can hold onto it firmly, because troops need logistical support—in ancient times, it was provisions and equipment; it's the same in the modern era.
The AST needs funding from the Japanese government to survive, but... what if another party provides funding? Like DEM.
Of course, DEM, as a legitimate organization, can't openly control a nation's armed forces. So, it's not 'providing' but 'donating.' The AST now receives money from both the Japanese government and DEM, so you can't really find fault with it on the surface.
As for how a private company manages to 'donate' to an official body... well, don't ask too many questions.
In short, although the AST is still nominally part of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, it's already filled with DEM's influence.
In other words, while this was ostensibly a three-party discussion between Japanese officials, the Self-Defense Forces, and Schicksal, Ratatosk and DEM were also effectively involved.
When it came to passing the buck and being downright annoying, these politicians were true experts. Each was shrewder than the last, yet they loved playing the fool just to irritate you.
This wasn't really the intention of Japan or the AST. Rather, both Ratatosk and DEM didn't want a third power setting foot in this tiny island nation.
Ratatosk was somewhat better, merely showing resistance to hint that even a powerful dragon shouldn't suppress a local snake—you can come, but don't take us too lightly.
DEM's stance was much simpler: just oppose Schicksal at every turn.
Whatever Schicksal does, we'll do the opposite.
Especially after Ellen's unexpectedly swift defeat, Westcott had taken an unprecedented interest in Japan, and the resistance and opposition to Schicksal from various quarters had become quite aggressive.
An outsider might think DEM had made some major breakthrough. Westcott certainly wanted everyone to think so, but Dark Amber just sneered at this. It was all bluster.
They were all smiles when they thought they could match us, but the moment they perceived us as a threat, they turned into rabid dogs, trying to show they're not to be trifled with.
Rita let out a soft sigh.
Fortunately, the outcome this time was not bad.
The Japanese side had basically accepted Schicksal's 'protection,' they just needed Schicksal to give them a face-saving narrative.
The AST, on the other hand, stated that protecting their homeland didn't require Schicksal's intervention.
Both sides' attitudes were pretty much as expected.
Although the AST was Japan's only high-end armed force, they were still just a military force. It was unrealistic for them to interfere heavily with Schicksal's entry.
The only area where they could show resistance was in future Spirit-related incidents. No doubt the Immortal Blades would face more tests then.
Returning to the Schicksal hotel with a heart full of weariness, it was only upon seeing the golden-haired girl in the room that her fatigue finally began to fade.
"I'm back late, Lady Durandal," Rita apologized. "Did you go to the Itsuka residence alone?"
"No, I ran into Origami at the training ground. We went together after that."
Amber studied Rita's expression. "You look tired too. Let's get some rest quickly. It's already late. We need to maintain sufficient energy and focus so we don't fall behind on tomorrow's work and training."
"Please don't worry, Lady Durandal. A proper maid always maintains a composed demeanor."
Touched by the concern, Rita offered a warm smile, then gave a brief report on the day's events. She knew her mistress usually didn't pay much mind to these details, but this routine served not only as an information debrief but also helped Rita herself unwind.
After listening to Rita's summary, Amber nodded. "So, our main mission here at the Japanese branch is... to cause trouble for DEM?"
"Simply put, yes."
Rita didn't deny it. "Bishop Mobius is convinced this place will become a stage where Spirits frequently appear, hence the arrangement here. DEM will inevitably cause trouble for Schicksal as usual, but actually, this particular arrangement doesn't require us to do much personally."
"After all, the key figure is Shiori."
"Correct. So, all we need to do is lead DEM by the nose."
Rita smiled. "Moreover, Bishop Mobius will be arriving in Japan today. Please be prepared, Lady Durandal."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.