Chapter 22: Nothing has truly ended
The lab's door was barged opened.
A certain boy hastily entered. He was completely drenched in his own sweat, huff and puff, unable to catch on his breath.
"Welcome back, Takeru san"
A silver hair fairy welcomed him of his return
"Takeru chan, you are back"
A red hair girl greeted him with a smile
"I am back"
Takeru answered with a wry smile
"So, you are back"
A certain mad scientist greeted him with a smirk
"I am back. Can I have a copy of the data and evidences that you have collected so far regarding of the involvement of the UN upper echelon and the fifth plan's agents? I need to pass them to the Shogun as fast as I could"
Takeru asked immediately
"So you succeed?"
Yuuko tossed him a disk while asking
"As if I could fail, you have the whole thing planned. You made predictable factors become controllable factors while crossing out all of the uncontrollable factors. Tell me how I could fail if you have the whole situation planned like that?"
Takeru caught the disk tossed to him by his Yuuko sensei.
"Who know? There is still one uncontrollable factor in the form of you, yourself Shirogane. What if you have a change of heart right in the middle of the operation?"
"As if I would…"
Takeru retorted as he walked out of the lab
"I will be back later after handed this disk to the Shogun. Please help me contact with that old man Yoroi if you are free… never mind, I will do it on my own later. Stop giving me such a glare"
He ran
He ran as fast as he could, without looking back at Sumika or Kasumi one bit.
No, he didn't have enough time for a touching reunion at all.
He has to make it, giving this disk to Yuuhi
Otherwise, Tsukuyomi is in deep trouble of her own.
She has played a huge role on the plot of his regarding how she snuffed out the American's TSF right in the middle of the operation.
No matter what kind excuse she came up with, it wouldn't spare her from her own predictable demise, even if she is a personal attendant of the Shogun.
Because the news of how the whole Hunter's unit was transported back to the Yokohama 11th Fleet has surely reached the American Army.
They will start an investigation right after this, it won't be long until they discover that it was Tsukuyomi's Takemikazuchi was the one who was solely responsible for the current painful state of the Hunter company.
They will bare their fangs at the Shogun and at the Royal Honor Guard for the crime he, Takeru has committed, struck down his allies right in an operation.
And it will be Tsukuyomi, who would bear the responsibility and punishment in his place for his crime, since they won't able to detect his hacking attempt inside their database. Because he has never, once, attempted hacking into the CIA or the American Army's database.
That's why, Tsukuyomi is the only link that the ALTERNATIVE V could use to investigate of how their TSFs were hacked with that virus, of how their Eishis were snuffed out right in an operation, of how their treacherous plan was found by the Shogun's attendant.
Why? Why the American Army can do that?
Right now, all the evidences of the American Army's involvement in this coup d'état is but the testimonies of those captured soldiers who took the guise of the rebels and an unconscious 2nd Lt. Thesleff.
2nd Lt. Thesleff would not give any testimony which harms the American Army, since her family's future is solely decided base on her action. And even if she did, she won't able to provide any evidences to support her claim. And so do the other captured agents.
The action of 2nd Lt. Thesleff could also be easily explained as being affected by the stimulant or it was Tsukuyomi who enforced her into that state, since Tsukuyomi's did gave all members of the Hunter unit a sedative to put them out of commission.
In this situation, even if their men are captured for interrogation, the fifth plan still has an upper hand over the Imperial Army and the Shogun. Since they will understand that Tsukuyomi who is only a personal attendant of the Shogun, would not able to plan such an elaborated plan on her own. They will think that it was the Shogun who stood behind this plot.
And if they read the record on the Hunter unit's recording, they would be sure that it was the Shogun who was the mastermind of this plot, seeing how she confront Major Walken over letting herself have a one on one conversation with the rebel leaders.
Even if the Shogun has truly had the ALTERNATIVE V surprise over this plot, that's all she can do. Even if all of their well trained agents were captured, no harm will be brought toward the State, since they are the best agents. Furthermore, this plot of the Shogun can easily help the ALTERNATIVE V a great deal by creating a confliction with the American Army.
But, even so, without any concrete evidences, there is no way that the Shogun can do to make the American backing off from requesting Tsukuyomi to be handed to them for interrogation. Since it would be unwise for Yuuhi to acknowledge of her involvement in this plot, because right now, without any concrete evidences, Yuuhi can't make the fifth plan's agent backing away.
But, the data inside this disk is different. They are raw data contained the evidences that would turn the tide of the negotiation. They were the last trump card which was meant to put the end of the fifth plan's attempt to extent their power to this Empire to disrupt our ALTERNATIVE IV's project.
What's the different between the data inside this disk and the data that one can gather from the American 11th Fleet? This disk contain all the evidences of orders and involvement of the fifth plan and the American Army in this coup d'état from the upper chain of command. Thus, they are concreted enough to make the American Army backing away from harassing the Shogun.
How is that Yuuko get such evidences without hacking into the American Army's database? Well, there is a method, a trick, a way that can be use only if Yuuko sensei has the knowledge of future. We can hack into the State Army's data base without actually hack into it. That is said, only Yuuko sensei and I could exploit such a method to seal the deal.
Now, the American Army has to acknowledge of the involvement in this coup d'état as long as Yuuhi provided the evidences inside this disk. But, they won't take the blame. The blame will be shifted to the fifth plan, the ALTERNATIVE V. Since there are concreted involvement of the agents of the fifth plan in this coup d'état, it is easy to shift all the blame to them. Thus, the ALTERNATIVE V will be used as a scapegoat, a cannon fodder for the American Army to shy away from their responsibility in this coup d'état. And that's the ultimate goal that Yuuko sensei and I have aimed for. Destruction of the fifth plan so that our fourth plan ALTERNATIVE IV could be advanced without hindering.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX
"Training squad 207. Attention. Salute the Japanese Imperial Grand Shogun. Her Highness Koubuin Yuuhi "
Marimo called us to salute.
Thank goodness that he made it, barely in time. Marimo darted her most vicious glare at him for his tardiness. But, he could not help it. He ran full speed from the moment he parked his Shiranui down at the hangar, ran full speed down to Yuuko's lab and travel back to the surface and ran back at the hangar. It's not something human can do after 16 hours of strenuous operation.
He did it anyway, fitted right in the time frame, regroup with his squad and waiting for the Shogun's arrival.
"You may relax"
The Shogun ordered
"At ease"
Marimo repeated.
"I, Yuuhi, give you my greatest thanks for your efforts this day"
Dignifiedly, the Shogun said
"Thank you Your Highness"
In harmony Takeru and his squad replied.
"This incident has carved deep sadness into the hearts of our country and the world. However, I was made to believe that it is possible for people to progress without spilling blood. And you who stand here today are none other than my hope that it is possible. Your squad, despite all its connection to this tragedy, came together and selflessly contributed with great courage to overcome this hardship. Such will are to be revered. I shall take this incident as a warning and keep the high standard you have shown close to my heart, as I continue to fulfill my responsibility as the Shogun. The UN and the Empire and individuals may value different things, but I believe their goals, their fundamental wishes are one and the same. I trust you all with humanity's future"
"Ma'am"
"I gave you all my earnest thank"
The Shogun said, while have her eyes fixed at a single person.
While those words are meant to convey to everyone within the vicinity, these words were meant to deliver to girl in person.
In silence, Meiya blinked her eyes, acknowledging the words that were meant to her.
Then, everyone's focus was shifted at someone else, other than the Shogun.
"Shirogane…?"
Marimo confusedly asked
Takeru grandly stepped out from his position and approached the Shogun.
Then he kneeled, with his hands held high a certain object, an envelope.
"Your Highness, I beg you to accept this gift of mine. I am truly believe that it would contribute somewhat to your cause, to make people progress together without spilling any more blood"
"…I thank you for your unwavering effort in bringing an end to this bloodshed. I will put this gift of yours into good use"
Said the Shogun as she stepped forward to receive the envelope in the boy hands.
"Please consult with 1st Lt. Tsukuyomi of the use of this disk, I have instructed her."
Takeru whispered in a volume that only he and the Shogun can hear.
"Eh… I am grateful of your contribution."
Slightly taken aback, but only a ten of a second, the Shogun replied in a manner which is fitting of her status.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
For the second time of the day, Takeru traveled back to Yuuko's lab once again.
Thank god that his Yuuko sensei insight is really good.
She sent 1st Lt. Elena to get him immediately after the Shogun has left.
That's why he is saved from Marimo's fury… for now.
While there is no more urgency, Takeru cannot let himself taking a break for now.
Because, it's not over
At least, to him, to those spies who were caught and delivered to the old spy Yoroi
"Sensei, I am coming in"
"Takeru chan"
"Takeru san"
The two girls who outfitted in the uniform of ALTERNATIVE IV greeted him.
"Sorry, I was in a rush just now. There was almost no room for dillydally. Why don't the two of you have a rest? I am sure that you two are really tired right now."
He tried to be considerate. These two girls played the toughest role in dealing with this coup d'état. The workload that they experienced is completely different to that of Yuuko sensei and his.
"Eh? Is that supposed to be the first thing that you tell us?"
The red head retorted. Her voice showed that she is displeased.
"The two of you have been working yourselves to dead before the eve of the coup. If you overwork yourselves at that rate, you may collapse. No, I am not kidding. Don't give me that questioned look. You will collapse at this rate. Look for a mirror and see how big those eye bags of yours are. You, too, Kasumi, don't take after sensei's bad habit. Unlike us, her constitution is just different. You can't have too many sleepless nights in a row."
"Something smells fishy about you right now, Takeru chan."
"…You are only imagine things"
Takeru replied, averting his eyes from the doubting stare of Sumika
"...Hmmm?"
Sumika approached the retreating boy with a doubtful pair of eyes.
"I said you are imagining it"
"Hmmm? There is a strange smell on you?"
Sumika said while sniffing around.
"Ouch. What are you doing?"
Cried out in pain, the red head massaged her forehead. The boy has just given her a sudden knock and stopped her from coming too close to him.
"Why the hell are you sniffing around like that? Are you a dog?"
Takeru growled while continuing to retreat further.
"I knew it. There is something strange about you Takeru chan. It's a girl, isn't it?"
"No, you are wrong"
Takeru denied as fast as he could, with his most innocent face and voice.
"…"
"I am serious. It's…'
"It's a girl."
Sumika interrupted with a claim.
"…"
"Stop being stupid. You have overworked yourself, have some sleep. There is no way…that I could have time to get involve with another girl in my position, isn't it? I, after all, am the Shogun's personal guard and coachman. Do you think that I have any spare time for such nonsense?"
"I will decide for myself whether it is nonsense or not. Takeru chan, remove my white buff limiter"
"…go to sleep"
"It would be faster for you to prove your innocence. If you don't want to remove mine, fine, remove Kasumi's limiter instead. She will decide whether you are truly innocent or not."
"Yeah"
The snow fairy puffed her mouth and said
"Not you too, Kasumi"
"Now, the two of you should rest up. I authorize of your investigation, but, you will do it later. Now, I still have some work for Shirogane."
Yuuko timely intercepted, opened an escape route for the cornered boy
"Sensei… If Yuuko sensei said so, Takeru chan, you better not ditch us after this"
Sumika said as she pushed the snow fairy toward the lab's door.
"…Don't be stupid, as if I have time to spend with some unknown girl. I was escorting the Shogun all the time, you can check the record on my Shiranui if you want"
Takeru growled in frustration. If Sumika dragged Kasumi into such a scheme, he won't able to practice on the twin seat system at this rate… since the silver hair girl will only focus to unlock those secret inside his head rather than the objective of the practice.
Only when the lab's door jammed shut, Takeru finally felt how exhausted he is. It seemed that the effect of those stimulants he used has wear out long ago without his knowledge.
"Did you remove it?"
"Here"
Takeru wearily replied. Takeru pulled out a certain object from his pocket. Well, these days, he always stuffs those important and amazing devices in his pocket. It would make people think whether if he is Doraemon.
"It" was referred to the device that he used against the rebels. "It" was referred to the device which was made by his genius sensei.
"Good. How about the audio record of your suit and your TSF?"
"White as Snow White"
Wearily, Takeru answered.
"And the Royal Guard Commander's?"
"Other than the Shogun, I don't believe that she would share that information with anyone else, even if they were her trusted subordinates"
"I have read Marimo's summary report. It seemed that you have encountered some unexpected people"
"They are neither belonged to the American Army or the rebels, since the emergency function of your trigger didn't work on them at all."
"I see…"
The mad scientist received the trigger while furrowing her brows as though she was guessing the identity of those assassins.
"More importantly, how is the thing on your side? Were you and the girls held suspicious by the American Army or the CIA?"
"Who are you talking about?"
Yuuko mischievously smirked
"Even if you used Sumika's ability to access to the CIA's database and made Kasumi to cover Sumika's track. It's still too dangerous and reckless"
"Speaking, the guy who fought against some assassins with the Shogun on his mech and then volunteer for some suicidal mission"
"… this and that is totally different"
"Don't worry. If the American and the CIA ever suspect of someone, it would be the Shogun and the Imperial Household Department."
"…"
Damn right. Since Tsukuyomi heroically took all the blames onto herself. The plot was designed so that other than the trigger on my TSF, no other traces of involvement of the UN Army or the ALTERNATIVE IV's members such as myself.
"I meant would the CIA be suspicious of how easily their database was hacked? And it was hacked without their knowledge at all?"
"And? There is not a trace of our hacking attempt from this base. How would they link the incident to us?"
'…"
That's right. We have never attempted hacking into the CIA's database from this base at all. Then, how we were able to inflict those viruses across the 11th Fleet and Major Walken's unit?
It was so easy. We just have to spread one type of Sumika's designed viruses among this Yokohama's database before the 11th Fleet come and controlled this place like their own.
Since those ALTERNAVE V bastards were so greedily to dig in and monopolize the database of this Yokohama Base for themselves, they only have that greed of them to blame. The act of downloading data and sharing the intel lines of this Base among all of the members of the American 11th Fleet helped us to spread the virus effortlessly.
Thus, the moment those ALTERNATIVE V's agents plunged themselves into searching and hacking for sensei's research within our base's database, it was already checkmate for them and the American Army.
What's about the rebel?
How on the earth we were able to hack into their database?
As if we did. Of course, we didn't. What Sumika did was, again, infected the database of the UN Atsugi Base with a different version of her virus that has been use against the US 11th Fleet. Since I have known that Capt. Sagiri would have the Atsugi Base captured for his aerial attempt, I can easily have Sumika make the Atsugi Base's database a nest of viruses before Capt. Sagiri captured it.
In the last loop, I have always wondered of how Capt. Sagiri was able to narrowing down our escape route so easily?
The answer is… he didn't just guessing and narrowing down our escape route at all. Neither there are spies who leaked our escape routes to him nor the rebels managed to tap our data links. Capt. Sagiri just seized it, the information network of the Atsugi UN military Base. Since all of the UN Army shared their data via a same network. That network was designed for transferring of data and intel between various UN Base. Just by secretly seized one of the Atsugi UN military base's database, Capt. Sagiri could easily read all of the movement of the entire UN Army within Japan.
And this time, by seizing the Atsugi Base's Database, Capt. Sagiri would just bring upon himself and his troops some Sumika's virus instead.
As how to infect the Atsugi military base without anyone acknowledge, we just have to not hack into their data base at all.
It would be a piece of cake for Yuuko sensei to make some shady deal with the upper echelon of the UN to seal the deal for her, secretly brought Sumika's viruses from this base into the Atsugi Base in the form of Intel and data.
Now, even if any of them has realized the real content those data and intel which were sent to the Atsugi Base, they still cannot doing anything. Why? If they acknowledge of our involvement in bringing shame to the ALTERNATIVE V, they will have to bear the same consequences as Yuuko sensei and I do and the wrath of the American Army as well. So, the only option for them is… to keep their mouth shut even if they have finally realized they were tricked. And since members of the Fifth plan will be the scapegoat of the America Army, there is no point in bringing us down with them, since from the beginning the only two choices to save the human race are the ALTERNATIVE IV and the ALTERNATIVE V. Unless those guys have seriously abandoned their lives to the BETA, they would sell us out. That's being said, those who made that shady deal with Yuuko sensei automatically wiped out all the trace of their and our involvement in bringing Sumika's virus to Atsugi Base to save their hides.
And how is that my trigger can freeze only the spies of CIA and the ALTERNATIVE V? Isn't the answer to that question is too easy?
We just didn't need to do anything. Those spies and agents did all of the work for us. While the American Army's network and the rebel army's network were infected with different type of viruses, those spies and agents have both type of viruses which were meant for the US and the type of viruses which were meant for the rebels.
How? Despite staying inside the rebel army, they can easily tap into the data link of the American Army using their secret codes and methods to receive information and orders. They have been trained for that.
And thanks to that, all of Sumika's viruses were brought into their machine. And thanks to Sumika's designing, I just have to use a different approach… use a code that only meant to freeze any of the vehicles that were infected with both type of the viruses.
That was how Yuuko sensei and Sumika has prepared those trump cards for me, those trump cards in form of virus activation's triggers.
And if people are wondering if I actually that smart, able to come up with such an elaborated plan on my own.
You fool! Of course not. I am only the co-script writer and the director as well as the actor in this plot. The only one who capable of writing such a plot is of course the genius Yuuko sensei of mine. She is the true mastermind and the main script writer of this plot.
That was the easiest part of the whole plan, since we just have to infect a certain area with the viruses written by Sumika and our adversaries did all of the spreading.
Any investigations of the CIA and the American Army doing later will focus on looking for hacking's traces, as the result, we are free from suspicion.
The hardest part of the plan is actually how that disk Yuuko sensei gave me a moment ago was made.
"Unlike what we have done with the viruses, wasn't it the riskiest part of the plan was to obtain the data in that disk?"
I asked, pointing my finger at the set of computers that Sumika and Kasumi used to get the data inside that disk.
"It is… or should I say it supposed to?"
Yuuko sensei answered indifferently
"Supposed to?"
Scratching my head in confusion, I parroted
"Both you and I have seriously misjudged the potential of her… Sumika Kagami as the 00 unit"
Yuuko sensei smirked
"…?"
I could only stare at her wordlessly, seeking for a clarification to her prior claim.
"Come here, you have to take a look at this"
Yuuko sensei instead gestured me to follow her and…
"Try skimming through this"
Yuuko sensei ordered as she pointed at a particular computer screen.
Wordlessly, I sat down on a chair and did as ordered.
What is this? A name list with pictures of the people in that name list?
"Who are they?"
I turned and asked
"They are the one who gave orders to the fifth plan's agents, the true mastermind of this coup d'état"
Indifferently came Yuuko's reply, with her devious smirk like usual.
"Bffft"
I spluttered
Yes, I did.
I spluttered like how dragons would release a torrent of flame from their mouth… except that mine was saliva
Thank god that I wasn't directly facing against Yuuko sensei. Otherwise, it would be a serious mistake. Sensei just might order my execution for that… before Yuuhi could test out my claim.
"Watch yourself. How old are you? You aren't a kid anymore"
Yuuko sensei reprimanded me with a surprise look on her face. No, the correct word should be amuse. She was amused of my earlier reaction.
(Several ladies sneezed in harmony at the moment. While they are not kids, they still made the same mistake as the boy)
"How…? How on the earth…you able to get this?"
I stutteringly asked
According the plan, Sumika and Kasumi only supposed to dig up the evidences of those fifth plan and CIA agents of receiving their orders from the State and from the ATERNATIVE V's upper echelon. We shouldn't able to get this much of information and definitely a full name list of those who gave orders to the agents we have captured.
"Wasn't the plan was to use Sumika's hacking ability and Kasumi's reprogram skill to get some concrete evidences of orders which were given to those captured agent were from the State? How on the Earth you were able to get a hand on something like this?"
I ask, knocking my fingers against the computer screen.
"Beat me"
Was Yuuko sensei's answer
"…"
The heck? What does she mean? She didn't understand as well? What on the ninth hell did Sumika do?
"What happened during the time I wasn't here?"
I asked. This is the most direct question.
"That girl..."
'That girl' must refer to Sumika
"That girl supposed to do a two stage hacking, using the Atsugi base's data link with the US 11th Fleet for hacking right into the 11th Fleet's database."
I knew this already. Using the Atsugi base's data link with the US 11th Fleet to hack into the fleet data base the moment Capt. Sagiri seized the whole base. Then after finish hacking and get all of the needed evidences, Sumika would transfer those data back to our base using the UN shared Intel Network with Kasumi rewriting, altering the protocols and erasing all traces of that transfer of data.
In itself, that plan is already… extremely reckless even for Sumika who is a first class hacker and Kasumi is one heck of a genius programmer. But how on the earth, it come to this? Even with the combination of those two, hacking into the CIA's database and the Fifth plan's data base should be impossible… within that kind of time limit. Meaning, even if they succeed to hack into those database, they will surely get themselves caught, alarmed the CIA and the American Army of their hacking attempt. And it won't be long before some agents would able to trace after our involvement in causing a mayhem in their plot in this coup d'état.
"But, that is the result after 35 minutes working with these computers. That girl has instead hacked into the database of the Fifth Plan."
"…"
I almost spluttered for the second time.
How on the earth it can happen? What she did and what she supposed to do is totally fundamentally different. It is like a person planned to jog 10 km but it turned out that he actually jogged 100 km in the reality.
It is totally bullshit. This doesn't make any sense at all. No matter how much of an idiot Sumika is she, making that kind of mistake would be impossible…
Damn. I retract my previous claim. If it is Sumika Kagami, it is possible.
If people are wondering what kind of a genius of a first class hacker that my childhood friend is, unlike Kasumi, she isn't.
Well, she was made into a first class hacker with the help of sensei's biochips of fifteen billions semiconductors. It's not like she has any knowledge of hacking or anything. She is actually technology illiterate more or less. It is the biochips of biochips of fifteen billions semiconductors inside her head that did all of the hacking.
If I would word it in a different way for everyone to understand, for Sumika, hacking and controlling electronic device is like have her heart beating and her lungs functioning. She won't able to explain how she was able to make her heart beating or how she makes her lungs functioning. Sumika just have to think something like I want to hack into that place… and the biochip of fifteen billions semiconductors implanted inside her head would have the work done without Sumika understand how those biochips of fifteen billions semiconductors did it.
And thus, since it is my god damn idiotic childhood friend, I will not be surprise if she has made a mistake of this caliber.
But then…
"Doesn't it mean… we are in deep shit?"
I asked, darting my eyes at sensei, hoping she would deny it.
"Yes and no"
Tiredly, came sensei's answer.
"…"
Sumika, you big idiot. Just when I thought that you were so super amazing, planting those amazing viruses into the rebel army and the US army; now I know. You are just the same stupid Sumika Kagami.
"Firstly, yes. No matter how good Yashiro chan is at covering the track, skills agents will find some sort of connections between us and this incident one day."
Damn, as I have expected.
"But, if we are able to trick them into believing that it was done by a member of the Imperial Household Department have done it and tried to shift the blame to us by faking the transfer of data from Atsugi Base to this Yokohama Base, it would be different"
Said Yuuko sensei
"How?"
I asked dejectedly. All of the sudden, I am extremely tired.
"Your performance has half-done it while I have instructed her to finish the other half"
"Thank god that you did. Wait. What did I do and what did you instruct that idiotic of a girl?"
"It's really tiring to explain everything to idiot of everything you do"
Yuuko sensei lamented
"…"
Damn . From Yuuko sensei's perspective, I must be no different to the idiotic childhood friend of mine.
"Your performance made people into believing that the whole incident of freezing TSF and administrating sedative into the American Eishis were planned by the Shogun and her Royal Guard's commander, right? Furthermore, by succeeding capturing, most the agents hidden within the rebel army, you make people into believing that there are members of the Imperial Household Department hidden within the rebel army as well. That's how, only the American Army's agents were administrated with sedative while the rebel isn't, since they have already believed that the Imperial Household Department has successfully hacked into the American Army database."
Damn. So she designed the plan in such way, if Sumika was to fail to perform like how she was expected, with this kind of backup plan… we still wouldn't be suspicious of any involvement in this plot. Damn. As I have expected. It is clearly not sensei's personality to do thing for free…
"You don't have to explain the rest of the plan. I already caught on"
I replied
"Hoh? It seemed that you are slightly better compare to that girl in putting your brain into good use"
Yuuko sensei teased with a smirk on her face. Geez. A smirk really suits her. With such a calculative personality, that kind of devious smirk really suits her.
What Yuuko sensei instructed Sumika to do is no other than hacking into the CIA's database and the ALTERNATIVE V's database through the Imperial Household Department's protocols.
That way, even when some agents found out of Sumika's trace of hacking attempt into the CIA's database and the ALTERNATIVE V's database in the State, they still believe that it was how the Imperial Household Department trying to trick them into believing that it was us who committed the act of hacking.
Thus, we are still free from suspicion of committing the act of hacking. Now, I understand what sensei told me that we had truly misjudged the potential of Sumika. While we have never expected that she would able to hack into the ALTERNATIVE V's database with that kind of time frame and make she hack into somewhere else instead. But, she actually hacked right into the ALTERNATIVE V's data base for real, fitting the time frame… when we asked her to hack to another place.
But, for some reason, Sumika's mistake came with a reward. We have even more concreted evidences of the ALTERNATIVE V involvement into this coup d'état. Those evidences will prove to be useful in the negotiation with the American Army on dealing with the aftermath and protecting Tsukuyomi.
Damn. This plot is really unfair for Tsukuyomi. I have seriously betrayed her trust and make use of her devotion and feeling toward Meiya and Yuuhi.
Why did Tsukuyomi accept such a suspicious and eerie device from me? Why did Tsukuyomi willing to take all the blame?
Because she judged that my plan is best to ensure the safety of both Yuuhi and Meiya.
Because even if she took all the blame for such outrageous crime of deceiving and striking down her allies, hacking into other country's database, as long as she kept her mouth shut, no harm will be directed at Yuuhi.
And I took advantage of her devotion and her feeling, force her into taking part in this plot and took all the blames in my place.
I understood that even if she has to taint her name and title as a Honor Guard commander, Tsukuyomi would do anything she could to ensure Yuuhi's and Meiya's safety.
While Tsukuyomi gladly accepted my offer, to take part in my plot and took the blames in my place, she didn't know that it was I who actually responsible for the whole situation. While I can prevent the whole situation and the whole coup d'état from happening, I didn't choose so.
I didn't stop people from getting killed and blood from being spilt, so that I could strike a blow at the ALTERNATIVE V.
No matter how many dogeza I do, they would not be enough to atone for my crime of what I did to Tsukuyomi today.
And Tsukuyomi is not the only person I have deceived and betrayed today.
Surely, there is Major Walken who put so much trust in me, who is looked so convicted of my own cause, straight forward and moved on by my emotion from the Major's point of view.
But, I, too, have betrayed him like how I did with Tsukuyomi.
Whereas I should tell him of 2nd Lt. Thesleff and the plan to sabotage with Meiya's speech to answer with his trust in me, I didn't do so.
I had Tsukuyomi put he and the rest of the member of his unit out of the commission right during a mission.
It is an unforgivable act… and yet, I don't have the courage to even take the blame on myself and put it on Tsukuyomi instead.
It's my entire fault that everyone has to suffer this ordeal once again.
Meiya and Yuuhi have to suffer for the bloodshed
Sagiri Naoya will be punished for his action
Our squad members have to suffered
Man must pint their guns at another man.
It is my entire fault that such thing was allowed to happen.
Only I can make a different
Yet, I didn't do so
I didn't make such a choice
Instead, my choice was this
Causing this bloodshed
Checkmate for the ALTERNATIVE V
And gathering the Shogun's trust and support for our plan
For that, blood was spilt
Innocent people was involved
People have to kill one of their own.
All of this would never happen if I have made the alternate choice, to save those people at Mt. Tengen with Meiya's help.
"Stop"
My train of thought was immediately cut short
I turned at the source of that voice
"Your face is extremely unsightly… right now. What? Haven't make up your mind yet?"
Yuuko sensei stared at me. Within her stare was plain disdain and utter disappointment.
"Nothing has truly ended. Do you really understand that? Neither the aftermath of this coup d'état was dealt nor the ALTERNATIVE V will be disbanded."
"…"
Yeah, that old spy Yoroi has not contacted me in person yet. We need him to make a compromise with the American Army. Make compromises… so that we can ensure of the safety of the spies and agents who we have captured.
But that is not my job, my role has long ended. It would be Yuuhi's and the old spy Yoroi Sakon's job to make a deal with the American Army and make compromise… so that it would advantageous to the government, so that it would be advantageous to our ALTERNATIVE IV's project.
And while the blame was shifted at the ALTERNATIVE V, it is not like the US will have them disbanded. After all, their project has born fruits… devil fruits. That's why, America will make public of stripping away the power and authority given to the members of the Fifth plan. But, in realty… nothing will actually change.
"I am not going to babysit you over something like this. If you proclaim to be…"
"…To be your aid, your assistant. I have to act like one isn't it?"
I asked, stop thinking about those grim thought.
Nothing has ended.
This is only the beginning.
And if I felt remorse over my own sins,
I have to learn from Yuuhi and Meiya
To atone them with action
And my war has only begin, the war between Yuuko sensei and me.
"I don't need anyone to babysit me. And you don't have to become one either Yuuko sensei. Now please excuse me. I have some business with that old spy Yoroi need to be attended. I will contact you later."
"Go ahead. Have a good rest after that. I don't want to see you collapse over overworking"
A rare encouragement was given by sensei
"Thank you sensei. You, too, should have a rest as well. Now, please excuse me."
I walked out of Yuuko sensei's lab, of my makeshift bedroom.
Nothing has truly ended.
This is just a beginning. A beginning of war between me and her, the genius Kouzuki Yuuko.
Because contrast to the relationship between American Army and the Empire right now, the compromises and contracts between the two of us are coming to an end. And this coup detat has proven it.
Our motive and goal are gradually out of synch.
But on this chessboard, only a single person has the power to move the pieces.
Thus, the phrase "Nothing has truly ended" which was mentioned by Yuuko sensei was her declaration of war.
The war to determine who has the right to move the pieces on this chessboard.
Author note:
Once again, I shift the schedule for Takeru to be struck with his own remorse to sometimes in the future. Since the mood isn't right for that in this chapter, and Takeru won't show his weakness in front of Yuuko.
Arg. So much of a hacker Sumika Kagami was. Just like how she was at the end of MLA, I have her using her ability as the 00 unit to swiftly bring an end to the coup d'état in Takeru's fashion. Naïve, stupid, awkward and unique in its all way.
Once again, the power of the Yokohama four geniuses is not to be look down on. Kouzuki Yuuko, the number one schemer. Sumika Kagami, the number one hacker. Kasumi Yashiro, the number one programmer and Shirogane Takeru, the number one genius Eishi.
No matter how much Takeru has resolved himself to shave off his feeling, to be cold and merciless so that his ultimate goal will be achieved, he is still the same person that we, fans of Shirogane Takeru knew. He is still the same naïve person who was first bought into the MLU world. The same kindhearted and courageous hero that we all love since MLA. And thanks to Yuuhi's words, he magnificently did his job this time, just like in MLA.
I said: "This is only a beginning." Once again, as you all may have aware. There is just no way that that's all Yuuko did in this coup d'état. Same goes for Takeru. They both did something … different than the plan they have plotted together.
Therefore, the line "Nothing has truly ended" was Yuuko's proclamation of war. The war has been delayed between Shirogane Takeru and Yuuko from the beginning of this story.
Thanks for read and supporting as always.