"So you didn't kill Medjed, but someone else, who was not the Black Mask, did? But then you met the Black Mask and learned that there was not just one but at least two Black Masks?" Cornelia raised an eyebrow. "Are there any other important details that you didn't see fit to mention earlier?"
"That's what happened," Lelouch told her. "I- Ughh…". He clutched his head. Refrain was still coursing through his veins. With his head in as much of a mess as it was, he had almost recalled events incorrectly, and while what he had originally told Cornelia had been technically true, it was much too close for comfort. If Cornelia decided that his testimony was of no further value to her, then the consequences of that could be fatal.
Cornelia looked at him appraisingly. Mustering an effort, Lelouch firmly met her gaze, signaling that he was still capable of intelligently answering her questions.
"Still, much of what you've told me about Medjed meshes well with what we already knew, and fills in the gaps nicely. It also explains how the Irregulars came to operate in the Tokyo Settlement as well." She nodded. "But what you said about the first Black Mask - he was officially sanctioned by the Empire! Yet I knew nothing about it! Who was the one giving him orders?"
"You already know the answer to that, don't you, Viceroy? The only royals with the sufficient clout to keep such an operation hidden from you in your own Area, and the capability to lead a conspiracy are Second Prince Schneizel and Emperor Charles himself."
"Is that a mere deduction, or do you actually recall their involvement? You're making serious accusations, Zero, especially those against His Majesty."
"Both of them had their hands in it," Lelouch said vehemently. A memory flashed to the surface of his mind. "Don't you remember Schneizel's visit to Japan?"
"He did go to Area 11 at that time, yes," Cornelia admitted. "He had come to personally conduct negotiations with the Chinese Federation, though he paused to inspect our forces at Shikine Island and visit some ruins on nearby Kamine Island…" Cornelia's eyes narrowed. "You were there on Kamine Island as well. Earl Apslund invited his fiancé and a few of her friends to the island while he investigated the ruins at Schneizel's request. Quite a serious lapse in judgment…". Her eyes flared in sudden anger. "But aren't I the one who's supposed to be asking the questions?! What does a bunch of ruins have to do with anything?"
"Schneizel thought they had a link to the Cognitive world."
"Did he now? I'll have you elaborate upon that later."
Cornelia shifted her files and placed a new picture before Lelouch. It showed a severe-looking Japanese man, in his late thirties, with spiky brown hair and prominent eyebrows. He was dressed in military attire.
"Lieutentant Colonel Kyoshiro Tohdoh. A member and strategist of the Japan Liberation Front, who won one of the Elevens' only victories in the war at Itsukushima, without the use of a single Knightmare Frame. For this he is sometimes called 'Tohdoh of Miracles' by the Elevens," Cornelia said disdainfully. "You knew him when you were a hostage at the Kururugi Shrine, and you came into contact with him again, most likely through your mutual connections to Kyoto."
"Moving onto your next and most ambitious heist to date…" Cornelia continued, pushing Tohdoh's picture to the side. In its place, she put down a photo of a young man with pale skin, almost unnaturally white. He was dressed in yellow ceremonial robes, with a red, wavy border around the neck, with a green sash securing a white piece of cloth that fell from his waist like an apron. The man's head was crowned by a white headdress with gold trim and a short white veil wrapping from side to side. His lips were painted so that they appeared lilac in color, and a red line was drawn down his nose, with three red diamonds fanning out at the base of his forehead, just between his eyes. As bizarre as his appearance was, his blue-green eyes were greedy and calculating.
"Gao Hai, one of eight High Eunuchs of the Chinese Federation. Officially, they were merely advisors to their Empress. However, the current Empress ascended to the throne when she was merely a young child, and is just twelve years old, so in practice they hold all power in the Chinese Federation between themselves. In particular, Gao Hai was placed in charge of the Chinese Consulate in Area 11, here in the Tokyo Settlement, and it was with Consul General Gao Hai that Schneizel was to conduct his negotiations."
Cornelia's voice became low and dangerous. "I had no love for the High Eunuchs. They were a venal and unmanly lot. But you just couldn't resist an opportunity to interfere with the negotiations and cause an international incident, could you? We're still dealing with the fallout from it, and the situation grows worse every day."
She reached for another photograph. "Of course, you couldn't have infiltrated the Chinese Consulate without help, even in the Metaverse." She placed the photograph on the table. "Li Xingke, 23, an officer in the Chinese Federation military, assigned with Gao Hai to the consulate." The man in the picture had long black hair that fell down his back, and was dressed in a blue vest in the Chinese style with yellow trim and straps, with a red hairband around the back of his head that kept his locks from obscuring his vision. "We have reason to think that he was plotting against Gao Hai and the other High Eunuchs even before you got involved."
Cornelia leaned closer. "Tell me, Zero. How did you steal Gao Hai's heart? And what did Schneizel really hope to achieve in his negotiations with him?"
"Very well then," Lelouch smiled. Slowly but surely, Cornelia was starting to see the bigger picture.
A/N:
And the fifth arc begins! Next time, Ashford Academy's summer trip begins. It may take a chapter or two, but I'll see as I write. Thanks for sticking with the story, everyone!
Edits: Made some minor corrections to the chapter, including the spelling of Kamine Island, and Xingke's age, as he would only be 24 in the second season. He would be 23 in this story.