After all, the old Soviet Union never signed the peace treaty after WWII. Their intent to "invade whenever a gap appeared" was proven by the Sado invasion and Igor Andreivitch Bezobrazov's Tuman Bomba. No one had the moral standing to object.
While there was a risk of the Far East falling under the Great Asian Alliance's control, the benefits of ruling a perennially frozen region were slim. At most, they'd be busy enough just trying to build self-sufficient underground bases.
Political maneuvering aside, the immediate priority was the capture of Gu Jie.
"The mastermind is likely currently south of the Tama River and east of Hakone," Yugen explained. "He's moving between hideouts and relying on magicians he knows through Zhou Gongjin. The USNA is, of course, tracking this."
"International affairs aren't my specialty, so I'll leave that to you, Yugen. Tell me, do you plan to kill the terrorist?"
"No. He absolutely must return to the USNA alive. And he's going to be handed over right in front of the President."
The USNA—specifically, those who incited Gu Jie—wanted him dead. Killing him wasn't the issue; the location was. If he were killed in international waters, the USNA could frame the narrative and claim right of pursuit. They likely thought they could pin the entire scandal on a dead Gu Jie and keep their jobs, citing "patriotism" as their excuse.
But if he were killed within Japanese territorial waters, it would immediately become an international incident between allies. It would also directly implicate the National Defense Force, which had been strangely inactive—perhaps in a show of defiance against the Ten Master Clans.
"So, you're going to move as well?"
"Once the plan for the humanists is solidified, I'll mobilize the Shenzhou Association to detain Gu Jie. Grandfather and my mother have both stated they will be on the front lines for this one."
"I'd prefer they didn't overdo it, but I suppose I can't stop them," Gen sighed.
Despite their youthful appearance, both were in their eighties. Gen understood their power, but he couldn't help but worry about their age.
"I'll handle the USNA military side of things," Yugen added. "They'll likely use disposable soldiers, but I'll recover them and bring them into our own forces."
"I heard you recruited Stardust members during the Parasite incident?"
"Returning to the USNA would only result in them being used as lab rats. They understood that, which is why they accepted my proposal."
Return home to be a guinea pig, or abandon their country to live out their lives as magicians in a new land. The choice for the Stardust soldiers was obvious. They hadn't chosen to become "Stardust" out of malice.
Yugen had also secretly recovered "illegal" operatives and trained them to enhance their magic. Once they learned the truth, they pledged their loyalty. One operative had told him: "The military top brass in the States sees magic only as a tool, not as a part of a person. We want to live to show them we aren't just convenient tools."
"If they want to make this an international problem, I'm prepared to release every bit of scandal I've gathered not just to the USNA, but to the entire world. The people involved with Gu Jie will lose their heads," Yugen said coldly.
"Good grief. I wish Motoharu had a bit of your ferocity, but perhaps that's asking too much."
"I only do it because I can. If the other side is willing to settle things peacefully, I'll back off. But the USNA's responsibility for letting a terrorist run loose is something they cannot escape."
Once Gu Jie was detained, Yugen planned to announce through the government and media that the terrorist had been captured with the full cooperation of the Ten Master Clans. He would ensure local media captured the footage of the arrest to inform the public. He had already arranged for police officers from the Kyoto and Nara regions, who were skilled in Ancient Magic, to assist.
This was a byproduct of the "Traditionalists" being neutralized, but the narrative would focus on the police's success. Afterward, Gu Jie would be extradited to the USNA according to treaty. If anyone tried to blow him up during transport, Yugen was prepared to make them disappear.
This news would be broadcast by the foreign media outlets the Kagurazaka family had acquired, ensuring the world knew. He would also publicize Gu Jie's ties to Blanche and the No Head Dragon, effectively putting every nation to the test. Anyone who moved to harm Japan after that would be clearly identified as an "enemy."
"By the way, Father. This year marks the five-year anniversary of the Okinawa incident. I assume you've received requests regarding the Equinox (Higan) memorial service?"
"Has it really been that long...? You're right. In our family, that involves Motoharu, Honami-san, and you, Yugen."
In the August 2092 invasion of Okinawa by the Great Asian Alliance, Yugen had fought as "Special Officer Tatsuzo Kamijo." Alongside Tatsuya, who was there as a local volunteer, they had repelled the Alliance using Strategic-Class Magic.
A large-scale memorial service was planned for the summer to mark the five-year milestone, with an Equinox service scheduled for March. Within the magical community, including the Guardians and the Master Clans, the key figures involved were Yugen, Tatsuya, Motoharu, Miya, and Honami.
"The Magic Association has approached Motoharu as a representative of the Ten Master Clans... but Yugen, would you mind attending as the Mitsui family's proxy?"
"I was practically a Mitsui back then, so I don't mind. Tatsuya and Miyuki will likely be there as well."
Yugen had already discussed this with Maya and Hayama. Maya wanted Tatsuya and Miyuki to attend to bolster Tatsuya's status as the future head of the Yotsuba family—though Miyuki would technically be attending as Yugen's fiancée.
"I see... I expected you to find some way to dodge the responsibility," Gen noted.
"No, I fought on the front lines. I have a duty to mourn the dead. I can't claim to save everyone, but I can at least honor the will of those I couldn't save."
Yugen's presence was also a tactical move. He had noticed suspicious movements involving the Great Asian Alliance and the UK, with Edward Clark pulling strings in the background. The signs had appeared shortly after Tatsuya was named the next head of the Yotsuba family.
The enemy already knew Tatsuya was a Strategic-Class Magician and one-half of "Taurus Silver." Yugen had identified everyone trying to probe into his and Tatsuya's lives—including New Soviet agents. Needless to say, they had all been "redirected" to the Kamizumi family or Kyuu-jou Temple.
"I'll come back to report once the incident is settled."
"Understood. I'll let Motoharu and Honami-san know. I'll have them formally ask you to act as their proxy."
"I suppose having your first grandson makes you happy, Father."
"Of course. Between him and the children Mototsugu took in, I feel like a truly fortunate man."
Gen added that if Yugen's magic power hadn't increased, they might never have married him off to another family. When Yugen had first reincarnated, the fact that Motoharu and the younger siblings weren't yet in Magic High had helped keep the situation from becoming a major scandal.
"I've said it many times, but accepting you was the turning point for our family," Gen whispered nostalgically. "I was terrified at first, but when I looked at how much the public fears magic, I realized my own worries were trivial."
"...To be honest, the reason I decided not to succeed the family was because of the Toyama family. I could tell from one look that they were the type to judge people's worth on sight."
"Haha! You saw through them even then... I'm glad my own eyes weren't that clouded."
Yugen hoped the Toyama family would stay quiet, but he couldn't rule out them trying to cozy up to the Juumonji family once their status rose. Since they were tied to the 10th Institute, everyone from that background was practically family to them.
As for the Saegusa family? They had abandoned the 3rd Institute for their own government-sponsored convenience. They were out of the question.
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