Interlude 3-B: "No More Miracles."

I sit in meditation, emulating the stillness of a moonlit lake.

Yet even here, in the heart of our Mt. Narita mountain fortress, my thoughts are troubled.

Things have been set in motion, events rapidly unfolding. Clovis, our longtime and rather lackadaisical Viceroy, is dead. As much of an oppressive presence as he was, the rampant corruption of his administration and his own incompetence at least made for a moderating force.

Now instead, the Witch of Britannia stalks these lands seeking vengeance for her lost siblings.

Both of these events have a single cause.

Zero.

No one knows where he came from, or his ultimate objective.

But despite his success at defeating Britannia three times now, I am troubled. Something about him has set me on edge. True, he killed Kusakabe. But in all honesty, I doubt I could have resisted the urge myself, to kill the man for his stupidity.

But even so, Zero gives me a feeling of unease.

And that speech he gave at Lake Kawaguchi crystallized it and sent a chill down my spine.

"それで我は大六天魔王だ!"

Demon King of the Sixth Heaven... Not once in the long history of our country has anyone dared to claim that title. Not since the most dreaded warlord in all of our history held it.

What do Zero's actions mean? Why claim the long-forgotten title of Demon King? I cannot decipher his actions, but it is obvious that the winds have changed in Japan since his arrival.

A knock at the screen door alerts me that someone is outside. I open my eyes to look ahead at the entrance.

"Come."

Senba, the elder statesman of my Four Holy Swords and my second-in-command is sitting outside the door, looking troubled.

"Colonel..., some of Kusakabe's men have returned."

I raise an eyebrow in surprise. That was unexpected. I didn't think any of them had escaped.

"How did they survive the operation at the convention center?" I ask my old friend.

Senba gives me a serious look, "It appears Zero himself spared them, in exchange for carrying a personal letter addressed to you, and Kusakabe's katana."

A letter? From Zero? Putting aside how this sword and letter were delivered, what could he possibly have to say to me?

As we make our way to where the remnants of Kusakabe's forces are, my first impression of their expressions can be summed up in a single word.

Defeated.

They look shamed and defeated. As they should be. This operation was not sanctioned, and has already cost us considerable support from the public.

Britannia has yet to make a public announcement, nor has Kyoto made their judgement known yet.

I open the paper and begin reading.

'Colonel Tohdoh Kyoshiro, I wish our first communication was not under such circumstances.

I am Zero. Leader of the Black Knights. And I write this with a heavy heart.

Lt. Colonel Josui Kusakabe was a despicable, honorless man. Upon my arrival to rectify his mistake, he proceeded to insult both of our persons. Myself, for declaring his actions to be pointless and that Japan as he once knew it is long dead. And yourself, for supposedly prizing honor over the Japanese people.

It was his next remark, however, that demanded retribution.

The Lieutenant Colonel declared his intention to publicly rape Princess Euphemia.

This action was not only repugnant to my person, but would have spelled a death sentence for the entire Japanese people.

As such, I had him executed as the despicable criminal that he was. His remains have been delivered to Viceroy Cornelia li Britannia; as it was her sister who was threatened, she has the right to his corpse.

As his commanding officer, as a samurai, and most importantly, as a man of honor, I have entrusted his sword to you. His lifeblood still adorns the blade.

The JLF is finished, Colonel. Kusakabe's actions, combined with his rank, will destroy the public's perception and support of the JLF. Kyoto will have no choice but to abandon you.

I am sorry it has come to this course, Colonel. But my duty as a man who has declared his protection of the innocent demands I do no less.

If you wish to discuss the future, I have included a communication frequency which I can be reached at.

Sincerely,

Zero, 大六天魔王, Grandmaster of the Order of the Black Knights.'

I lower the letter bonelessly.

That fool. That despicable 生ゴミ (raw garbage.) He's doomed us all.

I unsheathe his katana. The blood from his execution still on it.

I yell in rage as I shatter the blade across my knee, "おら!!!"

The pieces of the katana falling to the floor, ruined like Kusakabe has just ruined our organization's honor.

"Colonel! What are you doing?!" Chiba yells.

Senba says nothing, narrowing his eyes.

Asahina looks aghast at my actions.

And Urabe? He's looking over the letter I dropped.

He hands it to Asahina and turns to me, "We're finished, aren't we?"

I nod solemnly.

Senba looks over the letter, after an aghast Asahina put it down, then sighs as he passes it to Chiba.

"I knew he was angry, that he harbored resentment towards you. But this...?"

Chiba turns white and then turns towards me, "Colonel! You cannot be seriously treating this as true?! What if Zero is lying to sow dissension in the ranks?!"

I step directly in front of her. My eyes cold and furious.

"I knew Kusakabe. Such a thing IS within his character given the impossible situation he created. And had I been there instead of Zero? I would have killed him myself."

Chiba gasps at my remark.

Senba shakes his balding head slowly, "What now, sir?"

Indeed. What is our next move? The JLF will be crucified publicly for this. Kyoto will almost certainly deny us any further aid, just as Zero said.

For if a mere lieutenant colonel could do this? What does that say about our organization?

I rub my forehead. Bitter irony indeed. We were disgraced in our role as protectors of the nation during the war by our failure, and now one of our own has cast us as harboring terrorists and rapists.

義理 (Giri). The ideal of duty to an idea greater than oneself. I do not believe there are many within the JLF who understand just how far we have fallen from this ideal.

I close my eyes. The decision is the right one, but painful nonetheless. "Burn the hilt. Melt the sword down for scraps. It's as worthless as the man himself was."

I walk away, my heart in quiet despair.

I see no future for our organization as we are.

Perhaps Zero can prove himself more successful. But whether he succeeds or not, he was correct.

The JLF is dead. And it has been so for a very long time.