บท 36: Chapter 36-Useless Escapes!
Chapter 36
SHIBA MIYUKI
The world was in turmoil as Japan reeled from the massive attacks on its sovereignty by the GAA. The two pronged attack on two of Japan's iconic cities of Tokyo and Yokohama had shaken the world, and yet even more surprising had been Japan's response to this aggression.
Officially Japan had two strategic class mages, the Empress of the Night Maya Yotsuba and the mage known as Maheshwara, the one responsible for the Scorched Halloween incident from half a decade ago, her brother. Even though Japan had never official admitted to the existence of a mage by that alias.
But now Japan had just unveiled their third and probably their most dangerous weapon to the world. Inei Yotsuba was now being claimed forth as Japan's third Strategic class magician, and the whole world was simply in awe of his prowess.
Of the two cities attacked by GAA, the attack in Tokyo had been repelled by the combined might of JSDF and TMC, while for Yokohama the attack had been rebelled by a single magician. One magician, and the retaliation had been so swift, so absolute and targeted that only three days after the attack life in Yokohama had gotten back to normal.
And even now week later the news cycle all over the world was dominated by visuals from Yokohama, of a singular magician repelling an entire army.
"They are thinking of giving him a new classification," a voice interrupted her from behind, startling her as Shiba Miyuki turned back and found a bald man standing behind her, looking at the screen of her tablet.
The man was Japan's hidden weapon, a shinobi, a master of ancient magics and ninjutsu and her brother's teacher, Yakumo Kokonoe.
"Yes, the proposed name is calamity class," she added, and the name was being floated by the American press whose reaction to Inei's appearance had been heated and extreme.
"Yes, an interesting classification, but an apt one, don't you think Miyuki-chan," he asked with a smile as he sat down beside her.
"Perhaps, but they are simply trying to isolate him further. And then there is this argument of his response being over the top, and that Japan should have tempered their response," she added as she shut down the tablet, and the man shrugged.
"It is no wonder that they are saying this. The USNA now feels threatened, for years now they have been lagging behind Japan in terms of producing elite magicians and now Japan has their third strategic class magician," and she understood that.
"We have gone from being subservient allies to a credible threat to the USNA hegemony, and they are not happy about it," he added with a smile.
It was because of this threat that she found herself here in this old dojo atop the mountain, because apart from the existential threat from the USNA, there was another threat that loomed for her family much closer to home.
For the past few weeks a cold civil war was being fought in Japan's magical world as the two main powerhouses of the Ten Master Clan Council went against one another trying to gain the upper hand before the fateful meeting set to take place in a few days.
The common people remained oblivious to the tension that was brewing in the shadows, but every magician worth anything knew that the landscape of Japan's Magical Society was set to change drastically.
"Why are you providing us protection?" she asked. Soon after the Yokohama attacks as soon as they had returned to their city, the bald monk had come to their home and had invited the four of them, including herself, her brother, Inei-san, and Mayumi-san to the dojo and had offered it as sanctuary.
They were hesitant initially to take the offer, given the man's dubious and secretive loyalties, but they were ordered by their aunt to accept the offer and now so they had been lounging in the seclusive dojo for a week now.
Initlally she had thought that it was because of Inei-kun, who had exhausted himself after that inhuman display of magic. But still, both herself and her brother were enough protection against any threat, but still their aunt had asked of them to accept the offer.
"Am I offering you any protection?" the bald monk asked with a smile, and she frowned.
"Or more specifically do any of even need my protection?" he asked with a chuckle as he leaned back and sighed.
"No, we do not," she answered honestly.
"That is true, then answer me Miyuki-chan why are you here?" he asked, and still despite contemplating over it for days she had reached no answer.
"I do not know," she admitted her defeat and saw his lips turn up.
"Then let this old sensei of yours educate you my child," he spoke enthusiastically.
"Well, the answer is rather simple, you are here because Japan is preparing for war," and those words were said so non-chalantly, that she was stilled for a second.
"War?" she asked, and the man nodded, the smile and enthusiasm vanished as he turned towards her.
"The GAA and the USNA both now feel threatened by Japan's might and have joined hands. And soon enough they will both join hands and demand that Japan hands over one of its strategic class magicians to them," and now the reason behind isolating Inei-kun became clear.
"Has the demand already been made?" she asked because otherwise, this paranoia would not make sense.
"It has been. The USNA has unofficially called for the extradition of Inei-kun, and have made the threat in no uncertain terms that if Japan does not comply with their orders they will target him, and Japan," and so that was why they were here.
"That is why we are here to protect us from the USNA?" she asked and he chuckled.
"No actually. It is to protect the USNA from you people," and she raised a brow at that.
"Believe me Miyuki-chan, I am not lying to you. These matters are much complex and people on both sides are trying to cool down the tensions as we speak, unsuccessfully I will say. But still, efforts are being made to put an end to this nonsense, and if during such times, a USNA operative is killed by Inei-kun or tries to attack him. It would put an end to these discussions and bring us all closer to a war," and so that was why their aunt had asked them to take the offer.
"Have there been any attempts?" she asked and the man simply smiled, not giving her an answer.
"You said that these peace efforts were not going well," she asked, and he nodded.
"Yes, and that brings us to the second reason I have brought you here," he said.
"To bring together Japan in case of direct war..."
And just as he had said those words she saw a car stop at the front gate of the monastery, and frowned as the bald monk beside her smiled and stood up.
"It seems it is time to make peace," and suddenly the car doors opened and she stilled as she saw the person walking out of it, even as detached as she was from the TMC she was able to recognise the man rather easily.
He was one Japan's strongest magicians, and the head of its second most influential clan, the Saegusa Clan. The One-Eyed Fox, Saegusa Kouichi.
The man gave his driver a nod, as he walked into the monastery with a butler, as the Yakumo-sensei walked forward and greeted him.
"It is good to see you, Kouichi-kun. It was wise of you to accept the parlay offer," the man said, the younger black-haired man did not answer, she saw him look towards her before he turned away and looked at the retired shinobi.
"I would like to meet my daughter," he spoke strongly.
"Now," and he was rather forceful, and yet Yakumo Kokonoe was not bothered as he simply smiled, but before the man could say anything another voice cut in sharply, and all three of them stilled as another person suddenly appeared from behind them, her presence manifesting out of nowhere.
"All in due time, Kouichi-kun," and it was her aunt, the fabled Mistress of the Night—Maya Yotsuba.
"I think we need to sort out a lot of things before that..."
0000
GU JIE
"It was good advice," Gu Jie commented as he sat there back in his castle in GAA, having evacuated from Japan's territories a day before the massive offensive in Yokohama and Tokyo was launched.
Despite his hopes for the offensive, there was always a shred of doubt when it came to that clan. The Yotsuba clan magicians were not regular magicians, and a significant amount of caution was advised when dealing with them and all for good reason.
"Indeed, we are lucky that we got out of Japan when we did," his greatest soldier and advisor, Zhou Gongjin added as both of them eyed the massive screen infront of them and watched the very target of their operation levitating over the city of Yokohama as if a diety.
One magician. That was all it had taken to dismantle the whole attack. Inei Yotsuba had slaughtered thousands and had not even flinched. And it seemed to him the boy in question had somehow gotten rid of the control seals he had placed on him, making it impossible for him to control him.
That would be a problem.
A massive problem.
"What became of our assets in Japan," he asked.
"All our assets were destroyed hours after the attack, I believe the Electron Sorceress was behind the attack, and now we are cut off from every operative. Their status remains uncertain," Zhou answered dutifully as Gu Jie shook his head.
"There are reports on the media that there is infighting amongst the various factions in the TMC council but nothing can be said with certainty...."
And before Zhou could their conversation was interrupted as the screen went off for a second before the news was replaced by a familiar face of a blonde American, the very person that had helped them coordinate the attack on Japan.
"Your plans seem to have failed, Gu Jie," the American sage, the one they called Raymond Sage Clark, added as he appeared on the screen with a cold expression.
"The boy was able to get rid of the magical sequence that I inscribed into his being somehow. Probably by one of the Yotsuba magicians," he added and such a shame it was.
"Is that so?" the man questioned as Zhou Gonjin nodded.
"Indeed, we are certain of it," and with that things would have to change. Their plans would need to be altered.
"That is a shame, but at least one good thing came out of this attack," and with that several headlines popped up on the screen beside him, highlighting the fears about the excessive power possessed by Inei Yotsuba and the Yotsuba clan as a whole.
"You were right, Japan has grown too strong and now our fears are shared by the USNA government and now that containment is no longer an option, we must turn towards the only option left," and Gu Jie perked up at that, for this was his desire.
Revenge on the Yotsuba and though his own options may have been limited, now the USNA was willing to lend him their power to do the deed few could ever even think of accomplishing.
"Extermination," he offered, and the American man nodded.
"Indeed. A team from the USNA has already been dispatched. I believe we should coordinate our efforts. If Japan refuses to hand over Inei Yotsuba, we must take him out ourselves," he nodded.
"GAA will work with the USNA. Japan's powers must be curbed, though I must warn you the Yotsuba will not stand by and let us kill one of their own so easily," and the American nodded.
"I know, but it is what must be done. Moreover, the USNA is not Dahan. The Yotsuba may be strong, but we do not fear them; in comparison to the USNA, they are nothing."
0000
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