In every era, there are always those who collude with Humanists within the USNA government or seek to exploit them for their own ends. The conversation between Yugen, Mototsugu, and Mio continued, the gravity of the situation settling around them.
"So... what you're saying is, this is a USNA government scandal?"
"In essence, yes," Yugen replied. "To make matters worse, they are even providing support to factions planning acts of terror."
"Let me guess. Edward Clark is one of them?"
"Precisely."
The National Science Association of the United States of North America—commonly known as the NSA. To the uninitiated, the name suggests an institution dedicated to magic research or scientific technology. While publicly touted as a government agency for technological promotion, including information security, the reality is far different.
Its acronym, NSA, is a deliberate nod to the "National Security Agency"—the intelligence organization under the Department of Defense in the former United States. The National Science Association was established specifically to obscure the existence of the original NSA while remaining deeply involved in its system architecture. The most egregious example of this is arguably the global interception system known as Echelon III.
Furthermore, the old rule that "The NSA is commanded by a Lieutenant General" remains alive and well. The current director is an active-duty Lieutenant General of the Army.
Effectively, the NSA operates as a branch of the USNA military, enjoying a form of extraterritoriality to protect classified intelligence, including Echelon III. As one of the system's primary developers, Edward Clark holds de facto authority equivalent to a Major General or Brigadier General. This influence explains why he could take such a high-handed attitude toward Lina, the Commander-in-Chief of Stars.
"What kind of person is this Edward Clark, really?" Mio asked.
"On the surface, he's an expert in information security—a scholar, so to speak. In reality, he is an NSA agent and an ambitious man who seeks to control the world."
"Control the world? Does he intend to become the USNA President?"
"That may well be a stepping stone in his grand design."
When Yugen had secretly inspected the Echelon III program, he discovered several unauthorized alterations made by Clark. Upon analysis, it became clear that the system was rigged to transmit data regarding the Yotsuba family directly to a private server in Clark's home. It was a flagrant misappropriation of power, yet the USNA government and the Department of Defense turned a blind eye, judging that it did not conflict with national interests.
However, Yugen couldn't help but wonder if he was the only one who saw nothing but ruin in Clark's path, even if the man did manage to seize the Presidency. The only thought that crossed Yugen's mind was, Is he insane? Making an enemy of Tatsuya? The man is practically begging for death.
At best, the USNA would be plunged into a new ice age; at worst, it would be reduced to scorched earth. Yugen foresaw a future where the nation might vanish from the map entirely.
The reason Yugen was sharing this with Mio—one of the Thirteen Apostles—was not only due to her role as a guardian of the nation but also because he intended to enlist her help in the future capture of Gu Jie.
"Honestly... the scale of this is immense," Mio murmured. "Do you really think the USNA will bare its fangs at us?"
"The 'Scorched Halloween' incident is likely a major factor. And you can be certain that Great Britain and the New Soviet Union will poke their noses into this as well."
Britain still played a part in the operation of Echelon (historically, the UKUSA Agreement linked the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). It was entirely possible the USNA would drag Britain into the conflict through these channels. As for the New Soviet Union, Bezobrazov had been overwhelmed by Yugen's Strategic-Class Magic during Halloween. Clark would likely approach them by offering a chance for vengeance.
"Besides, there is a precedent with the USNA," Yugen added. "Last winter, members of Stars were hidden among the exchange students sent here. Even their Commander, Angie Sirius, was present."
"Wait... I never heard anything about that from Father."
"During that incident, His Excellency Kudo took Psion information bodies known as 'Parasites' back to the former Ninth Lab. The Parasidolls created from that research were then used in the Steeplechase Cross-Country event at the Nine Schools Competition."
"W-What?!" Mio's voice rose in shock. "Why would they do something like that? That's a massive problem!"
"I had heard about it beforehand," Mototsugu interjected grimly, "but hearing it laid out again... it's outrageous. Expulsion from the Ten Master Clans isn't enough; stripping them of their Numbers wouldn't be enough."
To Mio, this was a bolt from the blue. Even while staying at the main Itsuwa house, she had received reports on the Master Clans Conference from her father (now recovered, Isami shared necessary national defense information with her). But the involvement of the Kudo family with Parasites was a shock so great she raised her voice, forgetting herself—though, naturally, a soundproofing barrier was already in place. Mototsugu had learned of it through the Divine Generals, but he still couldn't hide his astonishment.
Yugen chose not to mention that the Saegusa family had also been involved; if Mio knew, she would likely be rendered speechless. Later, when Yugen learned that the engagement between Hirofumi Itsuwa and Mayumi Saegusa had been dissolved—and that the Itsuwa family had approached the Mitsuya family instead—he had been privately relieved that the Itsuwa clan had narrowly avoided being dragged down with the ship.
"His Excellency Kudo took that step for the sake of his grandson, Minoru," Yugen explained. "That situation has already been handled. Minoru is currently recuperating at the Fujibayashi household to keep him out of the Kudo family's sight."
"I assume since it was you, Yugen, you figured out what he did immediately. So... what is it you need me to do?"
"I appreciate how quick you are to understand. There is an individual planning a terrorist act against this country. We believe the USNA military will deploy Stars to silence him. When that happens, Mio-san, I need you to use Abyss to neutralize the USNA naval vessels."
Compared to Tatsuya's Material Burst, Mio's Abyss allowed for precise adjustments in scale and power, making it perfectly suited for containing ships without destroying them. The USNA might lodge a diplomatic complaint later, but Yugen had already accounted for that; the government would issue a statement claiming the magic was used to prevent the escape of a terrorist. As for airborne threats, Yugen was confident they could be handled by forcibly triggering the "Breaker Code"—a safety mechanism embedded in flight spells that forced a landing when the caster's Psion levels dropped below a certain threshold.
"We will preemptively ban night navigation for civilian vessels in the Kanto region and along the Pacific coast under the pretext of high-alert anti-terrorism measures," Yugen said. "Any ship that ignores the ban likely has a guilty conscience."
"Is there a possibility Gu Jie might flee toward the Sea of Japan?"
"Unlikely. With the Yotsuba in the Chubu region, the Kamiizumi in Gunma, and the Kagurazaka in Hakone, if he manages to slip through that net, I'd be tempted to praise it as a divine feat."
"Ah... yes, that would be impossible," Mio agreed.
After all, Gozo had boasted that he would "personally deliver the final blow" to Gu Jie. It was easy to imagine the Kamiizumi family establishing a rigorous surveillance net across the northern Kanto region. If a terrorist attack were to occur in Hakone, the site of the Master Clans Conference, it would enrage the Kagurazaka family. The two Guardian families would unite to demand a resolute response from the government. Faced with such pressure, the government would be forced to act swiftly to avoid being branded as weak, though fear of retaliation might still paralyze them.
However, Yugen had already prepared for that outcome. He had briefed the Emperor during the audience at the end of last year. If the government remained spineless, the National Defense Force would eventually act on its own accord. Yugen needed the government to get serious about civilian control.
Hearing Yugen's plan, Mio instantly judged escape to be impossible, drawing a wry smile from Mototsugu.
"The ringleader is the man named Gu Jie, whom Mother spoke of at last spring's Master Clans Conference," Yugen continued. "His specialty is a form of Spirit Magic involving human manipulation—specifically, Necromancy, the control of corpses. Naturally, sensors designed to detect living organisms will not pick them up."
"Yugen, is this related to the recent spate of disappearances among the homeless in Yokosuka?" Mototsugu asked sharply.
"Almost certainly. I believe Gu Jie intends to strap explosives from stolen, outdated USNA missiles onto them and use them for suicide bombings."
Corpse manipulation bypassed the victim's resistance. implanting simple commands was not difficult, and by severing the connection at the moment of detonation, Gu Jie would suffer no backlash. However, if his target was the Master Clans Conference, that actually worked in Yugen's favor. If Gu Jie believed he could execute a terror attack with zero risk, he would walk right into the trap.
"I assume there's a plan for the terror attack, so I won't ask more... but what about the Kudo family?"
"Naturally, they will be held responsible," Yugen stated coldly. "But first, I need Retsu Kudo to perform one last job as the proposer of the Master Clans Conference."
"...Seppuku?"
"Why would you jump to that? We aren't in the Sengoku period," Yugen sighed. "The Kudo family will be demoted to the Eighteen Assistant Houses at the next Selection Conference. They will be barred from promotion back to the Ten Master Clans for a standard period of fifteen terms—sixty years."
This "sentence" was calculated based on the years since the establishment of the former Ninth Lab. It was a penalty for abandoning the responsibility to reconcile with the Traditionalists. However, if they performed services that significantly benefited the national interest, the term could be shortened.
Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remained that they had neglected the Traditionalist problem for at least thirty years. While this could also be said of the Kuki and Kuzumi families, they were excluded from punishment this time, as weakening the defenses of the Kinki region was not an option.
"Furthermore, the current head, Makoto Kudo, will step down within the year. The right to appoint the next head of the Kudo family will be transferred to the Fujibayashi family. Since His Excellency's youngest sister married into the Fujibayashi clan, and considering they overlooked the Kudo family's actions regarding the Parasidolls, they must bear at least this much responsibility."
"A-Are you serious?"
"Deadly serious. This is the bill coming due for relying entirely on Retsu Kudo for so long. Incidentally, it has been decided that Minoru will be adopted into the Mibu family before the Selection Conference. Officially, he will be hospitalized at the affiliated hospital of the National Magic University."
Yuzo Mibu, the pillar of the Mibu family, was a practitioner of Shin-Kage-Ryu swordsmanship, and Yugen had relied on that connection. One might wonder why Yugen had to interfere in another family's succession, but this setup ensured that if Makoto Kudo tried to focus on Parasidoll development again, Yugen could arrange for him—and his collaborator, Major General Saeki—to be sent to the "front lines."
This was a final ultimatum. If the Kudo family used this opportunity to wash their hands of corruption and live uprightly, fine. If not, they would be crushed. Yugen had given them a chance to recover; whether they lived or died depended entirely on their next moves.
It went without saying that if they tried to seek help from the Yotsuba via Kyoko, or the Jumonji via Minoru, Yugen would not forgive it. Now that he was the head of the Kagurazaka family, the feud with the Kudo family was no longer someone else's problem.
"Mio-san, regarding what we've discussed: The Yotsuba and Mitsuya families have already been informed that Gu Jie is targeting the Master Clans Conference. You may convey this to Lord Itsuwa, but do not use any electronic media. Furthermore, treat the information regarding the USNA and the Kudo family as equivalent to 'State Secrets.' Do not speak of them."
"I understand, but why no online communication?"
"Gu Jie possesses a hacking tool. Think of it as something capable of intercepting almost all communications and information. When you inform Lord Itsuwa, you must use a soundproofing field and speak only in person."
"...Understood."
Yugen did not explicitly name Hlidskjalf, but the mention of a hacking tool was enough for Mio to grasp the severity of the threat. The idea that the enemy had the means to seize their information was shocking. It was natural to assume that if they could do it, there was no reason the enemy couldn't.
Regardless, Yugen believed that warning the Itsuwa family about the potential attack would secure their cooperation. He had intentionally not hidden the location of the conference to ensure Gu Jie would attack there.
Gu Jie understood nothing.
To cause a suicide bombing in Hakone, the site of the Master Clans Conference... That act would not drive the Yotsuba from the country. Instead, it would mark the beginning of the annihilation of Humanist forces within Japan, with Gu Jie as ground zero. He had no way of knowing that his actions would ultimately lead to the condemnation of non-magicians causing excessive trouble for magicians.
Meanwhile, Tatsuya was compiling the design data for the ESCAPES Project. In the field of magic engineering, Tatsuya was in a league of his own, but in non-magic fields—particularly industrial technology—he was still limited to the level of a high school student.
Yugen, however, was different. According to Ushiyama's assessment, Yugen's industrial engineering skills were "on par with top-tier scientists and engineers." He was undoubtedly top-class globally, making him indispensable to the project.
(It makes sense if Yugen is a reincarnated existence. In fact, I can't hold a candle to him in this regard.)
Tatsuya had approached Yugen (back when he was still known as Yuto Nagano) for cooperation before the name ESCAPES Project had even been decided. Yugen had readily agreed. Upon seeing Tatsuya's original spelling for ESCAPES, Yugen had remarked, "This is too long, and the main concept is hard to grasp." He had then proposed the name: Especially Stellar drive CirculAtion Pan-pacific Energy line System.
Furthermore, regarding the four schemes Tatsuya was currently envisioning—power generation via the Stellar Furnace, hydrogen gas production using high-temperature steam electrolysis, fresh water extraction via reverse osmosis, and the extraction of useful and harmful substances from concentrated seawater—Yugen had declared he would implement them all.
Currently, a Stellar Furnace was already undergoing operational testing on Minami-Tate Island. The manufacturing of the "Artificial Relics" required to store the magic sequences was fully on track. By generating existing substances under special conditions, the Artificial Relic Omoikane had been created. This Relic was currently capable of sustaining magic activation for 24 hours (though regulations currently limited it to 12-hour intervals for safety checks).
These Relics were pre-programmed with location-recognition magic sequences. Transporting them required specific procedures; if one were stolen and taken out of the country, it was designed to self-destruct after 24 hours, causing an explosion with a ten-meter blast radius. Attempting to analyze the Relic within that time limit required the simultaneous input of thirteen specific Psion wavelengths. Furthermore, each Omoikane was assigned a unique wavelength pattern—a kind of security key—that had to be flowed in at precise timing. Three failed attempts would, naturally, result in an explosion.
If the Stellar Furnace technology were ever to be exported, a different Artificial Relic, the Magistore, would be used. Unlike Omoikane, the Magistore was currently set to sustain magic for only 6 hours (this could already be extended to 12, but they were holding back for now). Naturally, it employed the same type of security measures as Omoikane (though distinct enough to prevent cross-analysis). Yugen possessed the manufacturing know-how for both.
In short, receiving the Stellar Furnace technology was impossible without the permission of both Tatsuya and Yugen.
Tatsuya intended to seek cooperation in non-magic fields through the Magic Association, but now that Yugen had become the head of the Kagurazaka family, the Kamisaka Group under his umbrella (Yugen had mentioned its existence) offered vast industrial resources. Additionally, it would be easier to gain the cooperation of the Hokusan Group—the family business of Shizuku Kitayama, one of Yugen's fiancées.
(Yugen described me as 'the guy I never want to fight again,' but from my perspective, that's exactly how I feel about him.)
Yugen had said he didn't want to oppose Tatsuya because he recognized Tatsuya's power. But Tatsuya felt he didn't want to oppose Yugen because he recognized the authority and influence Yugen wielded—things Tatsuya lacked. Realizing they both regarded each other as "the opponent I least want to fight," Tatsuya couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle.
What started as a partnership based on high CAD design capabilities had evolved into a bond of close friendship and comradeship in arms. They were allies working to liberate magicians from the fate of being weapons. And in the future, when his cousin Miyuki married Yugen, they would become family.
The threads of fate are truly unpredictable, Tatsuya thought, a faint smile gracing his lips as he looked at the project summary on his monitor.
(Author's Note)
I've included various original settings and details referenced from the wiki. Regarding the NSA, after researching it, I felt "this is the only way it fits," so I integrated the Edward Clark plot line to feel natural. As for the Kudo family, dropping them immediately to the Extra Numbers would hinder future plot developments, so this outcome was unavoidable.
Regarding the Artificial Relics: simply put, they can be detached using a specific device, and the fundamental system structure is entirely black-boxed. As for the explosions to maintain confidentiality... well, that's just a staple of spy movies.
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