The Unknown of Humans (4)
"Chief Researcher."
At the sound of the door opening, Seriel snapped back to attention.
"It's time to attend the Temple."
"Understood."
She stubbed out her cigarette, fanned the smoke away with her hand, and slipped on her robe as she gathered her thoughts.
'Right. I have to meet him at least once.'
Stepping into the corridor, the World Health Organization delegation came up, escorted by knights.
"Let's go, Seriel."
"Yes."
The Temple's main assembly hall resembled a small colosseum, seating roughly six hundred.
As the room filled, the presiding chair of the Temple Council took the podium.
"We will now begin the 63rd General Assembly of the Temple."
Every global crisis had convened this council; the number sixty-three was another ring etched into history.
"Today we are here to select the World Guiding Nations. A Guiding Nation exists for the happiness and prosperity of all humankind..."
Even as the speech continued, the think tanks for each country kept working.
Albino's mind was turning fast.
'Opening remarks: five minutes per country. Order by vote—Tormia will be seventh.'
The speech had been drafted in advance, but it would need real-time edits in response to other countries' remarks.
"With the opening of the Temple, each nation receives three authorities. 'Rom' denotes one transferable vote that may be given to another nation..."
It was all common knowledge.
When it came time for departmental proposals, Dorothy, acting general of the Valkyrie's military, stepped up.
"Good day. I am Dorothy, Acting General of the Valkyrie. Given the current global tensions, the Ministry of Defense proposes..."
A hand went up in the Arachne delegation.
"Wait a moment."
His name was Pedra—he'd started out as a brothel manager and worked his way up to prime minister.
"I heard the general resigned, but I know nothing of the acting authority. Shouldn't you explain why you assumed command of the military before making a proposal?"
Dorothy answered bluntly.
"She's the general's girlfriend."
"A girlfriend…? No—" Pedra's exaggerated gesture broke the silence like a dropped stone. "Why? Is it just me who finds that strange? Huh?"
No one in the hall reacted, but the same thought rippled through every national leader present.
'It means the post is effectively vacant.' The Guiding Nation would receive the Valkyrie's full powers.
"...Therefore, the military's proposal offers a comprehensive approach to the peace accords. We ask the leadership of all nations to make the right decision."
Dorothy stepped down to dry applause. Smith, head of the Economic and Social Department, took the podium.
Smith was from Jaive originally, but nationality didn't matter to him when money was at stake.
"A Guiding Nation must carry a vision for humanity's prosperity. Currency values have plunged because of the arms race. I urge decisive action from the World Bank and national central banks, and measures to restrain the reckless development of war weapons—"
"I object."
Leez of the Nade Group raised a hand. The chair cautioned him.
"Wouldn't objections be better raised after the proposal?"
"No. I object to the proposal itself. The phrase 'reckless war weapons' could be read as a negative judgment of the military industries of particular nations currently at war."
The Nade Group's main business was armaments.
And if the option of developing elemental bombs was to gain traction, this point had to be made.
'Perfect timing.' Lupist nodded. 'Once the meeting gets going, it moves fast and rough. It's already too late to blunt the proposal.'
Smith retorted.
"The heart of this Assembly is world peace. I don't think it's odd to use strong language about restraining war weapons."
"Of course no nation opposes peace. But for the sake of fairness—each country's circumstances differ. Wording that could, by interpretation, grant de facto amnesty to certain nations should be avoided. I ask that the phrase be deleted or replaced with clearer terminology."
Smith pursed his lips.
"I will suspend the proposal for a moment." The chair agreed, and staff from the Economic and Social Department huddled together.
Five minutes later Smith returned to the platform and amended the text.
"Adopting the suggestion, we will replace 'reckless' with 'threatening to human peace.'"
All weapons could be called threats to human peace; that made the wording fair.
'That should do it...'
From here it all depended on how things were handled. Pony murmured, "Well put. It would have been embarrassing for the king to intervene."
Leez's objection landed because the military suppliers would be hit first by this proposal.
Lupist said, "Yes. If a non-businessperson spoke, the meaning could be distorted. Aple Leez is the current head of the Nade Group. She has hands-on experience and a good instinct."
That Leez alone had stood up among the assembled economic heavyweights spoke volumes.
'She doesn't pander to the royal court's watchful eye. That means she's tuned into Tormia's thinking. She could be trusted with an executive role,' someone thought.
As the proposals wrapped up and Leez moved to sit, Pedra applauded.
"Ha! What a formidable woman. You've got yourself a fine secretary. Congratulations."
Leez shot back, coolly.
"This isn't a laughing matter. And not a secretary—I'm the CEO leading the Nade Group."
Pedra narrowed his eyes.
"Oh? The Nade Group? So you're the one who pushed Nade out as the next head?"
"No, she's the general's girlfriend." It was true Leez had co-founded Nade Munitions, and the reply was enough for now.
Pedra leaned back in his chair.
"Good grief. Tormia's really gone off the rails. His girlfriend? What kind of announcement is that?"
"Heh, tell me about it."
The aide answering thought, 'Who do you think you are? Garbage human.' Setting aside rank, Pedra embodied contempt toward a single woman.
"What's he—some thug? Does he think this is a market stall?"
When Gis, king of Jaive, grumbled, the think tank "Smoke Curtain" informed him.
"He's the de facto power in Arachne. Through night politics he rose to prime minister."
"Night politics?"
The man twirled his little finger and raised his thumb.
"Ah—right."
Gis's expression warmed at once.
"Now I see he does the unpleasant work. Set up a meeting."
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Pope Constantine, head of the Department of Religion, mounted the platform.
"Let us pray."
"Oh my."
Gis sat up quickly, bowed his head, clasped his hands, and closed his eyes.
The prayer began.
"God Cria, all mankind suffers. Deliver us from this grim world..."
While the prayer went on, Shirone watched the bowed backs in the hall.
'How many of them are sincere?'
Those who truly wished for humanity's happiness.
'If everyone considered others, no one would end up harmed. In theory it's possible...'
But would it really happen?
Uorin gave a bitter smile.
'What a mess.'
Humans were not Gaians.
'Give it up, Shirone. The world you dream of will never come, because Eve crossed the forbidden line.'
"Your Majesty."
Gando whispered, "I have something to report regarding the placement of the shadow assassins."
"I said no. I don't like the idea of humans who look exactly like me. Besides, Kido will be at my side anyway."
It was pitiful that the only being she trusted was not human but a goblin.
"But we must prepare in case Kido's defense fails."
"Hmm."
Uorin glanced at Havitz.
The sight of Satan dozing sweetly through the Pope's prayer...
"Punish the evils of the world!" the Pope's voice rose and Gis began to cry.
"Sniff—God!" Uorin turned away from the snoring Havitz and continued, "As long as it's not a banishing, it's fine, right? Rido's already gone and Rian too. There's no such thing as an unstoppable situation. If anyone should worry about a royal assassination, it's foreign powers, not Kashan."
Her gaze shifted to where Shirone stood.
"However, keep an eye on Tormia. Treat every incoming piece of intelligence with caution."
"Tormia… you mean?"
"Yes. He possesses Kuan." The sword that had once beheaded Havitz.
"If it's a covert operation, aside from Havitz there's only that one to watch. Honestly, we might not even be able to stop him."
"Then all the more reason for the shadow assassins—"
"It's fine, I said."
Uorin took in Shiina, who sat primly reciting the prayer. She looked beautiful and sharp.
"He has a fatal weakness."
Albino, who had been pretending to pray, felt eyes on him and turned his head.
When his gaze met Uorin's he gave an embarrassed smile, though his thoughts were otherwise.
'Why does she keep staring? Annoying.' He knew full well why.
'He'll feel a tickle at the nape of his neck. From the assassination angle, Kashan's nemesis would be us.'
Havitz and Kuan each wielded deadly blades, but Tormia could accept the king's death.
'Of course it's dangerous. If the assassination's backers were exposed, public opinion would sour. Still, in desperation, you can cut once.'
So in a straight swap, the fatal one would be Kashan.
'But his sword is hard to handle. Then again, Havitz's is the same.'
Albino stroked his beard.
'Still undecided, huh? Foolish.'
Parka Kuan.
Two hundred meters from Delta headquarters, the guards of twelve nations had all gathered.
The line set by the Temple ran long, and stepping beyond it meant an act of aggression against other nations. Rai, keyed into the situation at headquarters, was addressed by Jaive's royal guard.
"Are you Captain Rai of the Strong-God Guard?"
"Yes, I am."
Though they knew how fierce the Temple's forces could be, the knights' eyes were keen.
"Oh! Then you're the elder brother of Ozent Rian?"
Rai's face tightened.
"Ah, I apologize if that was rude. You're the only swordsman who can match Imir."
"Are you saying I should feel some kind of inferiority because of that?"
"No, I didn't mean—though maybe it's true."
'Well, they wouldn't know.' No one understood what it was to be the older brother of the world's strongest swordsman.
'Why am I here?'
Because everyone better than him had been killed?
"Captain."
Tess's voice brought him back.
'Protect the king. Think of nothing else.'
At that moment Rai's spine went cold and the twelve national guards turned in unison.
"Who's there?!"
The clash of steel sounded as if one single wave had broken through the air.
"That is..."
A one-armed swordsman limped forward.