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Japan, the History Compilation Committee (Tokyo branch)
"Ah, crap…"
Kaoru Sayanomiya, the branch Chief, rubbed her temples as she surveyed the mess inside the luxury hotel suite.
Her subordinates were sprawled drunkenly across the room. The air still reeked of alcohol, and the low table was cluttered with half-eaten fugu and other seafood dishes.
"At this rate, nobody's getting any work done today." She sighed.
Just then, the sliding door opened and in walked Amakasu Touma, dressed like a salaryman in a coffee-colored suit and glasses.
"Ah, Lady Kaoru, you're awake."
"Oh… it's you, Amakasu." Her voice was still hazy from a hangover.
Amakasu Touma came from a ninja family that had served the Sayanomiya clan for generations. He was one of Kaoru's most trusted aides, helping her run the Committee.
The Committee itself was a shadowy organization formed by four old families in Kyoto, Seishuuin, Kuhoutsuka, Renjou, and Sayanomiya.
The committee's job was to control and manipulate information using sorcerers and spiritualists—to keep the existence of magic and supernatural disasters hidden from the public, all while preserving the traditional families' grip on power.
Kaoru was the young Heir of the Sayanomiya family, one of those four.
Still massaging her forehead, she muttered, "Remind me again—what exactly were we celebrating last night?"
"Oh, that I can answer." Amakasu smiled.
"Apparently, because Japan has its Campione now."
"Ohhh, right."
Kaoru's eyes lit up in sudden recollection. "The new king across the sea!"
Now she remembered.
The news that Japan had gained a Campione was cause for celebration.
In this world ruled by Campiones, history hadn't exactly matched what Ryo remembered.
Two centuries ago, the Qing dynasty—which should have lasted until 1912—collapsed with Luo Hao's rise. Since then, her cult had flourished and the new China surged forward with unstoppable momentum.
From that point on, China's daily routine became bullying its neighbors, declaring its invincibility, throwing around slogans like 'attack us if you dare,' and even eyeing Siberia—all thanks to Luo Hao's overwhelming might.
At that time, it had taken the Russian Tsar and the Korean royal family bankrupting themselves to summon Marquis Voban—one Campione against another—to restrain her aggression.
Japan had just opened its borders back then, and after witnessing the massive wars next door, it chose the safer path of lying low for over a century, quietly expanding its influence into Southeast Asia. Even so, about a hundred years ago, it still ended up crashing hard and taking heavy damage.
Rumor said Madame Aisha had stirred things up, and when Luo Hao learned about the existence of the Monkey God, she'd flown into a rage. The result: the infamous "Cult Invasion" of Japan, a war that nearly destroyed the nation.
The Four Families, along with all of Japan, fought desperately and bravely. They countered the Chinese overwhelming numbers and even won many battles against the Cult, showing that bravery can defeat numbers.
But because of that, the Seishuuin clan had their headquarters flattened, left for Luo Hao to vent her rage on for months. If not for Voban sneaking into Korea and slaying two gods—forcing Luo Hao to rush back—the death toll would have been far worse.
So now, with their Campione, of course the Committee members were thrilled, especially after hearing the King went to China first.
Naturally, they had thrown a party. Some even started betting on how long it would take China to surrender, with quite a few wagering heavily that the new king would kill Luo Hao outright.
After all, word from Europe was that the newcomer had already defeated the King of Swords—and in less time than Luo Hao herself had managed years ago.
Even Kaoru herself had tossed in a few hundred thousand yen.
Kaoru's lips curled into a sly smile. "So… any word on casualties?"
"No reports yet," Amakasu replied with a glint behind his glasses. "It's the cult's stronghold, so intel will take time."
Several half-awake subordinates chuckled drunkenly. "I bet the mountain's already piled with corpses."
"No way, I'm calling it—the entire 108 elders were wiped out. Didn't they all mobilize?"
"Bah, you might as well claim the cult leader herself got killed."
"…Honestly, I kind of hope she did." The group burst into raucous laughter.
Kaoru ignored them, accepting a cup of hangover tea from a server. After draining it, she frowned.
"By now the intel should be coming in. Amakasu, where's the machine?"
"In the next room." He gestured politely.
Everyone piled in, crowding around three fax machines like gamblers around slot machines.
Kaoru sat at the front, calmly sipping hot tea while she waited.
...
Half an hour later, the first machine beeped to life. The room instantly went silent. Dozens of eyes locked onto the paper as it slid out, full of coded jargon mixed with noise.
Kaoru skimmed the first sheet aloud:
{Report: 11:30 AM, Lu Yinghua led cult elders in successfully intercepting the new king, Ryo Yagami, at the airport.}
{11:34 AM, Cult Leader Luo Hao appeared and clashed directly with the new king.}
{11:36 AM, both sides ceased hostilities. Luo Hao admitted defeat… and handed over the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains.}
The room froze.
"What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Don't ask me!"
"Maybe they'll fight again later. Lord Yagami wants to kill her, but only after he's squeezed every profit out of her."
"The new king won't be blinded by beauty, right?"
The machine kept beeping, spitting out more paper. Kaoru grabbed the second page.
{12:30 PM, internal reports state the new king has proposed marriage to the cult leader. Wedding date pending. The Elders now debating the auspicious day for the ceremony.}
Kaoru: "…"
The Committee: "???"
"Fake, right?" Even Amakasu blinked.
Kaoru was stunned. Then her face twisted in fury as she turned on her people.
Everyone flinched back a step, pale as sheets.
What the hell was wrong with the world?! China was the bully, and now the big bad bully, Luo Hao, was engaged to Japan's new light, Ryo Yagami? What next—were they supposed to send wedding gifts?
Actually… they probably would. And not just gifts, but lavish tributes.
For a moment, they got a taste of what those side characters in manga go through. The adult manga kind—tags like NTR or my bully went after my mom. That same miserable vibe hit them hard.
DING!— The second fax machine chimed.
Kaoru's stomach twisted in disgust.
She groaned and waved weakly. "Amakasu, you do it."
Amakasu bowed slightly, stepped up, and read aloud: "From our operatives in America. Ryo Yagami has departed Los Angeles. Flight records confirm his destination: Japan."
The words sank in. Kaoru and Amakasu exchanged the same thought.
Would he be their light… or their doom?
.
.
.