Tatsuya was monitoring James, but Yugen was monitoring the entire sea zone. He knew the codes for every submarine owned by the National Defense Force; any suspicious vessel stood out like a beacon. The enemy didn't even realize they were already existing within Yugen's field of cognition.
Shizuku had invited him to stay longer, but Yugen had family business to attend to—including meetings for a memorial service—so he returned to the main island. Once there, he sought out Tatsuya.
"Tatsuya, are you moving tomorrow?"
"I think... no, let's move tonight."
Tatsuya decided it was better to strike now while the submarine was still reeling from Yugen's "magical attack" rather than letting them recover. He turned his gaze toward Lina.
"Lina, will you help?"
"I suppose. Miyuki did ask me to keep an eye on you, Tatsuya."
"...Miyuki?"
"Forgive me, Onii-sama. But with your temperament, if left alone, you'll shoulder every worry until you're exhausted."
Miyuki spoke with a knowing smile, and Tatsuya held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. Yugen couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle.
"Then I'll handle the communications with Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. Should I speak to Kyoko-san as well?"
"Please. I'll come up with some excuse for how I pinpointed their location."
"That would be a help."
Tatsuya knew he couldn't match Yugen's precision in locating targets, so he was content to fudge the details. As for Lina, she would be participating not as the Strategic-Class Mage "Angie Sirius," but as "Angelina Shields," the granddaughter of Kudou Gen.
As they entered the hotel lobby to finalize the plan, two young figures approached. They were Fumiya and Ayako Kuroba—second cousins to Tatsuya and Miyuki.
"It's been a long time, Tatsuya-niisan."
"Fumiya? And Ayako too? Why are you here?"
"On the Mistress's orders, to assist you, Tatsuya-san."
In the original timeline, Maya Yotsuba would have sent the sixth-ranked butler, Shirakawa. However, because Miyuki was now viewed more as Yugen's fiancée than a Yotsuba tool—and because Yugen had already proven himself as the head of the Kagurazaka family—Maya had sent her own "son" and daughter to support them instead. They had even taken a high-speed boat all the way from Sasebo.
The question of who had steered the boat was answered when another woman appeared.
"Kana-nee? Ah, I see. You do have a pilot's license, don't you?"
"Long time no see, Yugen. Though, this visit has a bit of Lady Yotsuba's 'intentions' mixed in."
"Intentions, huh..."
Ayako and Kana. The selection was clearly designed to place women around Tatsuya who might catch his interest—a blatant matchmaking attempt by Maya. Given that the head butler, Hayama, hadn't objected, it was clear the family was worried about the thinning of the bloodline.
Once they gathered in the suite, Kana let out a sigh and handed a letter to Yugen.
"Oh, right. Yugen, I have a letter for you from Mototsugu-niisan."
"A letter? He could have just called... Oh, I see."
The letter detailed a visit by Katsuto Juumonji to the Kamizumi household on March 24th. He had come to discuss a girl named Alisa.
According to Mototsugu, Katsuto had been informed by his father, Kazuki Juumonji, of the existence of an illegitimate daughter—Alisa. He had learned she was living with the Kamizumi family as an adoptee of the Mitsuya family. With the looming threat of "Overclocking"—an unavoidable tragedy for Juumonji magicians—Katsuto believed Alisa should be brought into the Juumonji fold as a member of the Ten Master Clans.
However, Mototsugu had flatly rejected the proposal. He informed Katsuto that the 'Overclocking' issue had already been resolved and that this matter involved the Kamizumi, Mitsuya, Kagurazaka, and Toogami families. The final say rested with Yugen's mother, Chizuru.
"—Katsuto. Following the final wishes of Alisa's mother, Dhalia Iba, she has been legally adopted into the Mitsuya family. The paperwork is finished. Furthermore, regardless of blood, you are not a direct party to this and have no authority to negotiate. Unless your father, Kazuki Juumonji, comes here in person to apologize to Alisa, there is no room for discussion."
For fourteen years, the biological father had feared the possibility of her existence but done nothing. What right did he have to show his face now? Kazuki Juumonji had legally forfeited his status as a father; if the head of a Master Clan couldn't follow the law, the concept of a nation governed by law would collapse. Mototsugu had been firm.
He had even added a final ultimatum:
"If you cannot accept this, I will have no choice but to break the engagement between you and Mika. Alisa is no longer the daughter of Kazuki Juumonji; she is the daughter of my kin, Gen and Shiho Mitsuya. Tell your father that."
Since the Kagurazaka family was involved, Yugen's consent was required, which is why Mototsugu had sent the letter via Kana.
Yugen's answer was, of course, a foregone conclusion.
"Yugen-san, is this about Alisa-chan?"
"Yeah... if they have a complaint, I've been ready to stand on the front lines for a long time."
"I feel like... if it's you, Yugen-san, you might actually just crush the Juumonji family entirely," Fumiya remarked.
The others in the room nodded in silent agreement, causing Yugen to let out a strained smile. He sighed deeply, deciding it wasn't worth getting angry over. Sensing the shift in mood, Ayako turned her attention to Fumiya.
"Yugen-san, you should know that Fumiya here is quite popular with his female subordinates, but he refuses to make a move."
"Wait, premarital relations are a serious issue! Tatsuya-niisan, Yugen-san, say something!"
Yugen had once helped out with the Kuroba family's special forces, but he had left the internal affairs to them since then. Seeing Ayako tease him, Yugen realized her concerns were probably valid.
Fumiya looked at Tatsuya and Yugen for support, but both men simply placed a hand on his shoulders.
"Fumiya, sometimes you just have to accept your fate," Tatsuya said.
"Tatsuya-niisan?!"
"I'll help you if things get dire," Yugen added. "I'll make sure you don't end up with a child too hastily, at least."
"Even you, Yugen-san?!"
Having already crossed that bridge with his own fiancée, Yugen figured that was the only honest advice he could give.
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