Ch. 45: Unveiling the Source
4:00 PM, Black Army Occupied Yōkai Base
With the Black Army having full control over the heavily damaged Japanese base, more emphasis was put on resource allocation and defenses. All communication and administrators were moved into the partially damaged Command HQ. Warehouses and buildings that survived the battle were utilized as either makeshift hospitals or as detention centers for the captured Jorogumo Battalion.
Using captured Japanese weapons and vehicles, the Black Army soldiers defended the base by patrolling the trenches that surrounded the base. Various tanks, artillery guns, and machine guns lined the perimeter of the base just in case of Japanese retaliation.
While the surviving Black Army planes left the area to head to the airfield at the Training Facility, the Hongyeon and the Shinkirō were parked on one of the airfields that was cleared of debris and partially repaired.
Inside the Command HQ, various officers and officials were looking over maps, inventory papers, and captured Japanese intelligence.
"Zero! Five intact cases of morphine were discovered in one of the piles of rubble. Shall I put them in storage?" asked a Black Army officer.
"No. Deliver it to the medic team. We're going to need as much morphine as we can find to treat the wounded." Zero responded.
The officer then wrote some notes on a clipboard he was holding before leaving.
"Sir! Our kitchen staff have estimated that our food supplies have reached the halfway point. Shall I reduce the rations or bring out more food from storage?" asked a second officer.
"Maintain current rations. There should be some boxes full of biscuits, dried vegetables, and potatoes in Warehouse #2." Zero responded.
The second officer then nodded before leaving.
While Zero reviewed several papers listing the amount of gasoline and kerosene they had, Dietrich approached him from behind.
"Seems like we've really settled in quickly." said Dietrich.
"Fortunately we were able to scavenge much of these supplies from the debris. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to take care of both the Black Army and the Jorogumo Battalion." said Zero.
"Interesting how you chose to give medical aid and food to the Jorogumo Battalion, despite the fact that they are our enemy." Dietrich responded.
"Zero and the Black Army are fighters of justice. We are an armed force. Therefore we must treat our enemies as equal in order to maintain our dignity." Zero replied.
"It also serves to protect the Black Army's image by preventing the Japanese from depicting us as simply an armed mob." said Dietrich.
"By the way, how's Jo?" asked Zero.
"He's still recovering from surgery. Apparently he had a duel to the death with Tōdō and suffered a gunshot, a fractured shoulder, and several laceration wounds." answered Dietrich. "We found him limping towards us. Man practically fainted once he quickly told us what had happened."
"I heard about that." replied Zero. "And the Shinigami's body?"
"It has been recovered with the utmost care sir." said Dietrich. "We've also collected parts of his broken katana that were laying all over the ground."
"And where's the body now?" asked Zero.
"It's currently in a coffin we constructed out of some spare wooden boxes." replied Dietrich.
"And finally, is our equipment connected to the communication lines?" asked Zero.
"I've re-calibrated the wiring of the radio so it will connect with the Command HQ's telephone network." said Dietrich.
"Good. Now all we have to do is to get the message to the Viceroy himself." Zero replied.
"I can probably arrange that via one of our underground agents in the capitol." said Dietrich. "Still, I think calling and using the Viceroy is a little risky."
"The Viceroy seems to be a simple thinking person and can easily be swayed. His "assistance" can be extremely useful for us." said Zero.
4:22 PM, Office of the Governor-General of Chōsen, Keijō
Viscount Saitō Makoto, wearing his typical three-piece suit, was sitting at the end of a long table discussing colonial policies with other bureaucrats, businessmen, and administrators.
"If we raise the tax rate by 3-5%, we should be able to have just enough funding for extending one of the major railway lines." said one of the bureaucrats.
"But will the Chons tolerate that? There is already discontent with the current tax policies. We can't have them protesting in the streets again." added another bureaucrat.
"They won't do anything." said bearded man wearing a suit and spectacles. "The reforms we have recently passed have pacified any potential resistance. As for the ones already fighting us, you must remember that the Black Army fled Chōsen after they were defeated. Without their leadership, the Chons are unable to organize themselves into a threatening force."
"Besides it is extremely important for us to build extend these railroad tracks as soon as possible." said one of the businessmen. "Those railroads are needed to deliver the coal and timber from the Northern regions to the Southern ports so we can export them to the home islands. My Lord, surely you must agree with me?"
"Our Empire's survival is heavily based on raw materials. It is therefore the utmost importance to maintain the flow of raw materials between here and the home islands. I therefore approve of increasing the tax rate by 5%." Saitō responded. "Onto the next topic of business, Mr. Yukawa, how is the construction of the new General Government Building?"
"Very well my Lord." said Yukawa, a man in his forties with a handle-bar mustache. "Our architect, Mr. Nomura Ichiro, has stated that by taking into account the rate of granite deliveries and manual labor, the building should be completed in six more years."
"That's good to hear. Seems like the building is going to built within the original 10 year deadline." replied Saitō. "It's a shame Mr. De Lande won't be able to see his masterpiece finally be constructed."
"Hopefully by placing this new building on the grounds of the Chon's cherished Gyeonbokgung Palace, it will send a message of who's in charge of this peninsula." added one of the other administrators.
Suddenly the door to the meeting room swung open and in walked a young man wearing a waistcoat and tie.
"My Lord...you...won't...believe this!" panted the man.
"Well it better be if it meant you barging into this room while a meeting is in session." replied Saitō.
"My Lord it's Zero! He's on the phone as we speak!" yelled the young man.
Everyone in the room suddenly looked like they had just seen a ghost.
"Zero?!" said Saitō. "Where the hell is this call coming from?"
"Not exactly sure my Lord. All we know is that the call is being transferred from a communications station in the outer part of the city." explained the man in the waistcoat. "The communication officers there told me that the call was being received from a line that leads to Gensan. However the call can't be tracked back to Gensan's communications network, meaning this call is coming from an unknown source."
"But it can't be Zero. This is the last place he would call. It must be an impostor." said one of the bureaucrats.
"But what if it's not? Perhaps he's prepared to negotiate with us." said another bureaucrat.
"Negotiating with terrorists? That is completely unacceptable!" replied a third bureaucrat.
"Gentlemen!" yelled Saitō. "Only one way to find out what the hell is going on here."
Saitō then instructed the man in the waistcoat to bring a telephone and speaker from one of the offices and set them up in the meeting room. Once all the wires were reconnected and the phone's generator was cranked, Saitō picked up the phone's receiver while the other administrators in the room listened via the speaker placed in the middle of the table.
"Hello! Is this Zero or someone claiming to be Zero?!" asked Saitō.
"Good day Viceroy. This is indeed Zero and I have some information you would probably like to hear." responded Zero, who's voice was projected by the speaker.
"1. The Black Army is currently in control of the classified Yōkai Base outside of Wonsan, or Gensan as you call it.
2. We have taken in several platoons of Japanese soldiers, some of which belong to the Jorogumo Battalion, as prisoners of war.
3. The Shinigami has been defeated and is dead."
Saitō and the other men listening immediately looked at one another in disbelief.
"My lord this must be a propaganda trick! Tōdō couldn't have fallen down in battle, especially against a bunch of terrorists." yelled one man.
"I agree. This is obviously a bluff. Even though he knows about the Yōkai Base, which was known only to a select few within this colonial administration, he still would've had to overrun its multiple defenses!" yelled another man.
"Everyone just be quiet for a second!" yelled Saitō. "Since the call is being traced from a line that extends from the one from this area to Gensan. That puts Zero in the precise area of the base. And if what is saying is true, I must take this call as a serious situation."
All the men in the room silenced themselves while Saitō put the receiver up to his mouth once more.
"If what you are saying is true, why call me?" Saitō asked.
"Because I would like to make a deal with you Viceroy." Zero replied.
"What kind of deal are we talking about?" asked Saitō.
"At a predetermined, neutral location, I will released all the prisoners of war unharmed along with Tōdō's body, which has been cared for." said Zero.
"Using the Shinigami's remains as a bargaining chip just boils...!" angrily said one of the men at the table before he was calmly restrained by the man sitting next to him.
"I also promise to not disperse the information of this battle and loss to the general press." Zero added.
"And your demands?" asked Saitō as he grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away some swear dripping down his forehead due to all the stress.
"Simple. I want you grant the Black Army temporary immunity along with free access to the railroads leading from Wonsan to Inchon. Transfer of the prisoners will therefore occur at the Port of Inchon before my forces board a ship bound for Shanghai." requested Zero.
Saitō immediately started gritting his teeth upon hearing the list of demands.
"Zero please hold for a few minutes." The stressed Viceroy said with frustration before putting down the phone on the table.
"My Lord, I heavily advise against accepting their demands. When has the Empire ever made deals with terrorists?" asked one of the bureaucrats.
"But if word of another large military loss occurring on the peninsula goes public, the response from the general public could be more than we can handle. Chons in large droves might offer their support and lives to the Black Army." another bureaucrat countered.
"Of course this all relies on whether or not Zero keeps his word. He might decided to leak this out to the general public even after we give him what he wants. I say we mobilize a few battalions and send them over to the Yōkai Base and crush the Black Army." said a third bureaucrat.
"However you forget that the Jorogumo Battlaion and other Japanese soldiers would be caught in the middle of the fighting. Also the Jorogumo Battalion's commander Baron Michio Daisuke is among the captured." said the second bureaucrat.
"This indeed problematic for us." replied Saitō. "Normally I would just rush in, crush these terrorists, and have the prisoners be sacrificed for the greater good, but with Daisuke in the picture, I'm afraid that option is off the table."
"The Viceroy makes a good point." said the third bureaucrat. "Baron Daisuke and his family have established ties with other high ranking politicians and business leaders back in Tokyo. If word gets out that we left him for dead, or worst in the hands of the enemy, the political backlash could threaten our reputations severely."
"And like I said before, if chaos erupts on the peninsula once more as a result of the public knowing about this humiliating loss, I can bet you Tokyo will be telling us to empty our desks." said the second bureaucrat. "Besides, if Zero tries to pull a fast one on us, we'll be ready to react to it immediately."
Saitō gave out loud sigh before picking up the phone once more.
"Zero are you still there?" the Viceroy asked.
"Yes I am. Have you considered my offer?" Zero asked.
"Me and my advisors have discussed the issue and have agreed to your demands. However, any tricks or double-crosses will be dealt with swiftly without hesitation." answered Saitō.
"I promise with my very life that no tricks or deception will be used as long as you keep your end of the bargain." replied Zero. "Anyway I will give you all the information regarding traveling schedule and final negotiations."
"Very well Zero." said Saitō before he angrily hung up the phone.
"Damn you Zero! Making me look like a weak fool!" Saitō thought to himself.
Black Army Occupied Yōkai Base
"So Zero, you think we can trust the Viceroy to keep up his side of the deal?" asked Dietrich as Zero hung up the telephone.
"You must remember Viceroy Saitō is a politician who doesn't want his hands to be stained for fear of retribution from the Japanese Home Islands. I know he knows that word of of our victory could potentially rile up the Koreans still living on the peninsula. The last thing he needs to deal with is colonial insurrection." explained Zero.
"Good point." Dietrich replied. "I'll set up and arrange the preparations for the transfer along with the acquiring proper transportation."
Suddenly a Black Army doctor wearing a medical scrub partially stained with blood came running into the room.
"Z-Z-Zero!" said the doctor as he panted.
"Calm down doctor! What exactly is going on?" Zero asked.
"Sir, I was inspecting and treating General Jo's injuries when suddenly he woke up and started to yell "ZERO! MUST TELL ZERO!" repeatedly." replied the doctor.
"Excuse me Dietrich." said Zero as he and the doctor left the building and headed to a clearing full of tents labeled with a red cross. Both of them then approached and entered one of the tents. Inside was a bruised, bandaged Jo laying in a bed along with several other nurses holding him down to prevent him from getting out of his bed.
"MUST SEE ZERO NOW! LET ME GO!" yelled Jo as he tried to free himself from the grip of the nurses.
"GENERAL!" Zero yelled. Everyone in the tent suddenly focused their attention on Zero.
"ZERO! JUST THE PERSON I WANTED TO SEE!" yelled Jo who still tried to wrestle his way out of the bed despite having stitches and bandages covering various parts of his body along with his arm and shoulder in a cast.
"CALM DOWN GENERAL!" Zero yelled. Jo immediately calmed down upon hearing Zero's order. Zero then excused the two nurses and the doctor before approaching Jo. "So it seems you have something urgent you want to tell me?"
"Yes. In fact this information were the dying words of the Shinigami himself." said Jo in a calm tone.
"Wait a minute, did you say the Shinigami?" asked Zero.
"That's correct, which is why I was desperate to get this info to you as soon as possible." replied Jo.
"Well what did he say?" Zero asked.
"He told me the name of the individual who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. The one who outsmarted us last year along with forcing us to flee the Peninsula. He's the one funding the development of new weapons and promoting the expansion of heavy industries." explained Jo.
"And his name?" asked Zero.
"Hirohito, the Crown Prince of the Empire." whispered Jo.
Suddenly Zero felt as if a bolt of lightning just struck him.
"General, you did not tell anyone else this information correct?" asked Zero.
"Of course not. Why else would I be desperate to meet just you?" replied Jo.
"Very well. Now please rest, you still have a long way till you're fully recovered." said Zero as he exited the tent.
"The Crown Prince Hirohito? How can that be? The only thing he does are his royal duties. Then again since our intelligence networks can't even get near the Imperial Family, our only info on them are through the press. It's quite possible that while the press only reports him performing his royal duties, it is possible he could plot and manipulate when the masses aren't looking. He also would have the resources to pull off such moves. However, at least we have a name and a target we can focus on." thought Zero as he continued walking back to the administration building.
11:00 AM, October 29th, 1920, Port of Inchon, Chōsen
After a week of negotiating and making final preparations, trains carrying Black Army soldiers, equipment, and vehicles went back and forth from the Yōkai Base to Inchon. Due to some back room deals made by Dietrich, the Black Army was able to secure a large Chinese steam transport to use to get back to Shanghai. Armed Japanese soldiers, under strict orders not to act unless in immediate defense, watched over the Black Army soldiers helping load equipment and vehicles onto the steamer.
"WHOOOT!" could be heard in the distance as a train pulling several railcars behind it slowly came to a sudden halt. Once it fully stopped, the doors on each of the railcars suddenly opened. Black Army soldiers, followed by the Japanese prisoners of war, then hopped out of the railcars. The Black Army soldiers then instructed the Japanese POWs to line up in perfect formation.
Meanwhile Gang and Dietrich, who were in the last railcar, opened the door and hopped out. They then instructed the Black Army soldiers in their railcar to stay there and await further orders. Once they were out, Dietrich, wearing his usual suit, and Gang, wearing a Black Army officer's uniform, approached a group of Japanese men wearing suits and uniforms.
"Hello there. My name is Dietrich Ried, Black Army Minister of Propaganda and Communications. And this over here is Gang Chul-moo, Black Army Minister of Defense." said Dietrich as he extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Ried." said a Japanese mustached-man wearing a suit. "My name is Yukawa Keisuke, Personal Secretary to the Governor-General of Chōsen."
Yukawa then proceeded to shake hands with both Dietrich and Gang.
"I was under the impression that I would be meeting Zero himself on behalf of the Viceroy." replied Yukawa.
"Zero is currently preoccupied with other urgent matters and has appointed us to represent him on his behalf." answered Gang.
"This was not part of our original agreement. The deal was with Zero personally, meaning I will not talk to anyone but him." Yukawa protested.
"And shall I remind you we were under the pretense that we would be meeting with the Viceroy personally? Because technically we should only be talking to him, not you." Dietrich smugly replied.
"Whatever. Anyway we've given you enough time to load your ship. Where is the stuff you promised us?" asked Yukawa.
"All the prisoners have been accounted for and are ready to be transferred." answered Gang.
"As for the other thing we promised..." said Dietrich. He then signaled the Black Army soldier near the railcar to carefully carry out what was inside.
Suddenly several Black Army soldiers carefully lifted and carried a wooden coffin draped in a blood-stained Japanese flag. As the coffin was brought closer to them, Yukawa, along with the Japanese officers standing by him, immediately bowed in respect. The coffin was then slowly lowered onto the ground right in front of Yukawa's feet.
"This is actually the remains of the Shinigami right?" asked Yukawa. Dietrich nodded his head. "Because if it's not or if I find one trace of his body being desecrated, I will take action and...!"
"Mr. Yukawa there is nothing to worry about." replied Gang. "Zero instructed us personally to treat the Shinigami's body with total respect."
"You open the coffin!" ordered Yukawa as he looked at the officer standing next to him.
"Have you lost your mind sir? This is the coffin of the Empire's number one soldier and..." contested the officer.
"We need to make sure it's him and that the Black Army has kept their end of the bargain up! I am not going to be swindled." replied Yukawa.
The officer then cleared his throat before carefully approaching the coffin. He lifted up the flag covering it before he slightly opened the coffin to see what was inside. Once he saw what he needed to see, he immediately closed it and covered the coffin with the flag.
"Well...?" asked Yukawa.
"It's him sir. There's no doubt in my mind. I was able to see his shattered katana carefully placed on his body." answered the officer.
"It seems everything has worked out hasn't it sir?" asked Dietrich as he extended his hand out once more.
"I guess so..." said Yukawa with sarcasm as he shook both Dietrich's and Gang's hands once more.
With the transfer of the prisoners and the Shinigami's body completed, the Black Army soldiers boarded the steamer and prepared for departure. Once everything was double checked and everything was accounted for, black smoke started gushing out of the smokestack as the steamer blew its foghorn. The steamer then proceeded to slowly chug its way out of the port and into the open waters.
12:30 PM, Middle of the Yellow Sea
As the steamer continued to traverse the calm waters, Zero was in his cabin sitting in a chair reading a newspaper. Suddenly a knocking sound interrupted his train of thought.
"Come in!" replied Zero.
The door opened and Dietrich entered the room.
"Reading the news I see." he said. "Anything interesting in the world recently?"
"Nothing except for the League of Nations moving to Geneva, Switzerland along with the upcoming Presidential Election in America." replied Zero. "Anyway, have you contacted the Shanghai port authorities?"
"Already taken care of. We'll be able to enter and anchor without any interruption." said Dietrich. "I also would like to tell you that I received a message from Mr. Kim Gu."
"Oh, what does he have to say?" Zero asked.
"Well, the Provisional Government offers its gratitude to you for preventing the Japanese armaments from reaching Manchuria. Without those new weapons, the Korean guerilla armies under Kim Jwa-jin and Hong Beom-do were able to mostly halt the Japanese offensive and deal some damage towards them." answered Dietrich. "As a result of this cooperation between the Black Army and the Provisional Government, the Korean government officials have more confidence in us and are willing to sign an official agreement with us."
"Excellent!" Zero shouted. "If we can sign a binding agreement with them, therefore officially tying the Black Army with the Provisional Government, we'll have access to more resources."
"Shall I tell them to schedule a negotiation date as soon as possible?" asked Dietrich.
"Yes. Also tell Kim that I'm calling an emergency Black Army Cabinet meeting to be held when we arrive. There's some important information I will like to share." Zero requested.
"Very well sir." said Dietrich before he exited the cabin.
9:00 PM, Black Army HQ, Shanghai
Zero and the Black Army Cabinet members were sitting at a large table in the main conference room. Everyone was either quietly waiting for the meeting to start or were talking to one another.
"Gentlemen, I would like to call this emergency meeting into session." said Zero as he stood up from his seat a the end of the table. He then immediately proceeded to sit back down. "You are all probably wondering why I have called for a meeting so soon."
Everyone sitting at the table then proceeded to slowly nod their heads.
"Well, General Jo here managed to pry some information from the Shinigami before he died. Apparently the Shinigami gave us information allowing us to point to the one managing Japanese affairs behind the scenes." announced Zero.
"And who is it Zero?" asked Kim Gu who was sitting adjacent to Zero.
"Crown Prince Hirohito" answered Zero.
Suddenly everyone in the room slightly gasped with shock and began to whisper to one another about this new information.
"The Crown Prince Zero? Do we have any verification behind this claim? The Shinigami could've been pulling a fast one on us." asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Won.
"Minister I have already made up a partial report on whatever information we could find about the Crown Prince and it seems there is some activity going on behind closed doors." answered Dietrich as he handed copies of the report down the table. "It is therefore evident that the Shinigami was telling us accurate information."
"Besides, the Shinigami said it to us as a threat of is going to come in the near future." added Jo.
"But the Crown Prince mostly oversees Royal Duties. He couldn't possibly have the power to pull off what you are suggesting." said Gang.
"The Minister of Defense would normally be correct if it wasn't for the fact that the only actions of the Crown Prince that are most readily available to us are newspapers and rumors, which are only looking at his public actions." said Dietrich. "As a result, it has taken much more time and resources to access the information that is in front of you at the last minute."
"From what little we know, Hirohito has been socializing with various businessmen, politicians, and nobles much more often than before. It's therefore not unreasonable that he was able to pull some strings." said Zero.
"And if Zero's assumption is correct, it would fit the profile of the one who attacked us after the massacre last year along with providing newly developed weapons and planes to the Japanese colonial forces." said Jo.
"That is true. But the question now is what is he planning now." said Won.
"We're not sure about that yet Mr. Won. However, based on the hinted warnings from the Shinigami along with whom Hirohito is meeting lately, I would have to guess they are preparing to make a political move." answered Dietrich.
"You mean like a coup d'tat!" Rozhkov responded.
"I highly doubt that General." said Kim Gu. "A coup would immediately discredit him in the eyes of the public."
"However the report says here he's been hanging around people such as Prince Kotohito, Prince Aritomo, the Chief of the Army General Staff Uehara, Kojima Group Head Ichiro Kojima, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Marquess Matsukata, etc." said General Moravec as he flipped through the report. "Something big is definitely brewing behind the scenes."
"I agree General." Zero replied. "That is why I am redirecting a fraction of our resources on keeping a surveillance of all of Hirohito's activities ranging from who he socializes with to financial transactions. All ministries and military districts from here on shall report all Hirohito-related information immediately. Hirohito has proven he can outplay us once. I don't want him to have the element of surprise on us again."
"Sir!" everyone in the conference room said simultaneously.
Zero then announced the meeting was over and everyone got out of their chairs. Everyone except for Zero and Kim Gu then exited the room with the report they had just received. Once everyone was gone, Kim Gu placed his hand on Zero's shoulder.
"Glad to hear to came out alive and intact. Couldn't think what we could do without you." said Kim Gu.
"Well if something were to happen to me, you would then succeed me as Chairman of the Black Army." Zero replied.
"But what you have achieved is beyond what any one of us could achieve in a lifetime. Though I may have leadership skills, I still don't have enough to match yours." said Kim Gu.
"Leadership comes from the heart and mind Kim. One must have the intelligence to know how to lead along with the passion to continue fighting on despite the odds. And I am sure your heart and mind is more than qualified." said Zero.
"Well thank you very much Zero." said Kim as he bowed his head forward slightly out of respect.
1:00 PM, December 9th, 1920, Provisional Government of the ROK HQ, French Concession, Shanghai
A Black Army automobile stopped and parked itself in front of the Provisional Government HQ Building. The driver then stepped out and opened the passenger doors. Zero, wearing his usual Black Army uniform, and Kim Gu, wearing his usual suit, stepped out and started to walk towards the building's entrance.
"Zero are you sure bringing just me is appropriate? I mean we are discussing issues that affect the Black Army as a whole." asked Kim Gu as he walked next to Zero.
"With you as Deputy Chairman along with having a seat in the Provisional Government simultaneously, your presence is more than adequate." answered Zero. "Besides, with just you and me coming to represent the Black Army, we give off an appearance of unified leadership and solidarity. If we want any progress, we need to show the President how tight we are."
"You make a good point. I just hope the President, the Premier, and the other Provisional Government Ministers fully understand you." replied Kim Gu.
Zero and Kim Gu then approached the door and proceeded to knock on it. A thin young man wearing a suit opened the door and proceeded to let both Zero and Kim Gu in. They then walked down one of the long hallways and entered the main meeting room. In the center of the room was a long table with a centerpiece that consisted of the flags of both the Black Army and the Provisional Government.
Various Korean government officials were standing in groups talking to one another. An Chang-ho, who spotted Zero, stepped away from the group of me he was talking to and greeted Zero.
"Zero, how have you been since the last time we met?" asked An.
"Tiring and rough. However with another victory in our pocket I think I can manage a little work." answered Zero.
An then laughed out loud upon hearing Zero's answer.
"That is true. Anyway me and the others are thankful for preventing the shipment of weapons from reaching Manchuria. The guerillas fighting up there would be all dead if it wasn't for you." said An.
"Mr. An, I'm sorry to interrupt, but doesn't the President and the Premier want to meet Zero personally?" asked Kim Gu.
"Oh yes of course." said An. An then led Zero and Kim Gu back to the group of men he was talking with earlier. "Zero I would like to introduce you to Dr. Syngman Rhee, President of the Provisional Government, and Mr. Yi Donghwi, Premier of the Provisional Government."
Syngman Rhee was a 45-year old man with neat, short hair and a clean shaven face while the 47-year old Yi Donghwi had a thin, handlebar mustache. Both men were wearing standard suit and tie.
"Zero it's an absolute honor to meet you." said Rhee as he shook Zero's hand. "I've heard many things about your accomplishments."
"I can say the same thing about you. The various missionary groups and promotion of Korean interests in America and Hawaii has heavily benefited the Provisional Government as far as I have heard. Anyway, how was your trip from America?" asked Zero.
"The boat ride, despite being long, was overall ok. However, now that I am here in Shanghai, I am ready to officially lead this Provisional Government." replied Rhee.
"I said the exact same thing Dr. Rhee." replied Yi. "Since me, you, and a few other members of the Provisional Government were elected in absentia, we haven't been able to lead with our full potential. But now that we are here with the Man who makes Miracles, we can regain our native homeland."
"Well I must thank both of you for taking the time to discuss this potential agreement between the Provisional Government and the Black Army." said Zero. "Hopefully if this goes through, cooperation and sharing of resources between our two organizations can make things easier for us."
"I couldn't agree more Mr. Zero. Cooperation between our respective organizations allowed the Korean independence fighters in Manchuria to have a fighting chance against the Japanese." said Yi.
"But let's not forget that if Zero wants an agreement between the Provisional Government and the Black Army to be created, we expect him to follow the interests of the Korean people and the Provisional Government." added Rhee.
"Dr. Rhee you have nothing to fear or worry from me. The Black Army are defenders of justice and protectors of those who are oppressed. Therefore it's the Black Army's interest to fully support the Korean people and the Provisional Government." Zero replied.
"Well that's very assuring for us to hear Mr. Zero." Rhee replied. "Me and Mr. Yi here both hope we will work together effectively in the near future."
Zero then shook hands with both men before they along with everyone else in the room proceeded to sit down at the meeting table to negotiate on an agreement between the Black Army and the Provisional Government.
Author's Note: Thank you for being patient, but I finally revealed who Prince Schneizel's counterpart is. Was anyone surprised it was Hirohito? And now that the Black Army knows who the mastermind is, they now have potential targets to concentrate their resources on. Now all Zero has to do is to find out what Hirohito and his associates have in their minds. It's such an in depth investigation that Zero might have to get closer than ever to Hirohito and his associates.
Anyway the Black Army, now having the full confidence of the Provisional Government due to their recent victory, will be able to sign an official agreement between them and the Provisional Government. Hopefully the terms Zero will be able to get will be an advantage for him.
We also meet the President and Premier of the Provisional Government, Syngman Rhee and Yi Donghwi. The reason why we haven't seen them until know is because Rhee was in America while Yi was in Russia.
Please review if you can and please ask any questions if you have any.