Miho, Hana, Saori, and Mako could only wonder what this "KV-85" was. Thy have heard of a KV-1, a KV-2, a KV-1S, and a T-34/85, but never a KV-85.
Yukari's eyes widened in delight. "That's a very rare tank, just like the Tiger P! Well, a lot more KV-85s were built than Tiger Ps, and the former even saw combat, but only about a 100 were made during the war! I didn't even know anyone manufactured any of those anymore for even senshado!"
"Yukari-san, do you know what this KV-85 is?" Miho asked. She could vaguely remember some variant of the KV-1, but that was where her memory ended.
"Of course, Nishizumi-dono! It was a KV-1S that mounted a Stalin tank's turret, armed with the 85mm gun found on earlier T-34/85s so the Russians had a heavy tank that could fight the new Panthers before the Stalin tanks entered production. Of course, they couldn't fit such a large turret on the old body, and had to fit fillets to the sides of the hulls. They were heavily involved in fighting in the Eastern Front, and were replaced as soon as the IS-2 entered production. The Russians also experimented by trying to put in a 122mm gun of the IS-2 into the KV-85 but-"
"Err, Yukarin, I think that is as far as we need to know for the moment," Saori cut in. She really was worried for Yukarin at times, when she just went on and on about tanks without realizing it.
Yukari noticed that yes, once again, she went on a panzer trip, and abruptly stopped herself. "Sorry…"
"Well, this is certainly surprising. How in the world this document and tank fell through the paperwork the first time around, I have no idea. This should have been sold years ago when we cleared out the inventory of everything that was not used. I wonder where this is right now," Lucius contemplated, "well, I believe that was the last of the papers. Thank you for all your help, everyone."
"What will happen to this tank?" Yukari asked. She simply had to know what the fate of this rare specimen was going to be. Though there were rarer pieces out there, it wasn't every day someone came upon a KV-85.
"It will probably be sold one way or another. Finding someone who will be interested in it will be a challenge, however. I daresay the Executive's secretaries will be earning their grant for this one." With that, Lucius left the room, headed in the direction of the student president's office.
"Yukari-san, could you go find our Student Council President and tell her about this spare tank Lucius-san told us about?" Miho asked after a short contemplation.
Yukari's eyes brightened, fully understanding the motive behind those words, "Of course Nishizumi-dono, I will go tell them right away!"
Student Council members' reactions to this revelation did not disappoint.
Anzu was ecstatic, to say the least. Another spare tank! And if what Yukari told her about the tank was correct, it wasn't just a surplus tank barely worthy of its title, it was a capable machine! If Vimy Ridge was planning to sell it anyway and if they were going to have a hard time finding someone interested in it, she could possibly purchase this KV-85 at a cheap cost. It was only be the publicity of winning a senshado tournament their school could stay afloat, and they had to be on the constant lookout for upgrades to maintain that reputation, lest their shaky pedestal collapse. Her assistants and friends, Momo and Yuzu, and Yukari, felt the same way, and kept their pace in time with hers to reach the office before anything final took place.
It was a testament to just how ecstatic she was that she more or less slammed the office door open with as much force as she could muster to her arms. The door swung into the wall with a resounding thud; a dramatic entrance if there ever was one.
Once the annoying barrier was moved out of the way, Anzu could see Vimy Ridge's school president and the school's senshado team captain locked in a particularly deep-looking discussion, going over some piece of paper laid out on the former's table. The latter was asserting something to the school president. The subject of their discussion was obvious.
"So I conclude that this building, probably an old, forgotten shed of some sort, must be the place where it must have been left. Everywhere else is regularly checked, and he was not so irresponsible that tanks would be lying around on some random patch of land."
Okay, maybe not so obvious.
Still, they must have been having quite the spirited talk, if they only noticed their entrance just now, even when the door was mercilessly thrown open, and even then only because the school president's usual seat was facing the door.
To the left of the table, Anzu saw that the Anglerfish team, excepting Yukari, was already in the room, tucked away ever so slightly toward the edge. Unlike the two arguing over what turned out to be a map, the Anglerfish team immediately noticed their entrance.
"You've made it," said Nishizumi-chan, to which Anzu simply smirked. She had to make sure to thank her later.
"Is something the matter, President Kadotani? Is there a particular reason you have tried to destroy my office door?" Mary inquired. Just like the first time Anzu saw her, Mary Hillson carried an air that decreed "I am superior to all of you" to everyone around her. Not a second had passed after she made her first statement, she continued, "I assume you are here because of the forgotten tank that we still have somewhere in the grounds according to the paperwork?"
Anzu steeled herself; Hillson was going to be a tough person to negotiate with unless she sounded serious. "Yes. I was just wondering what you plan to do with the surplus…KV-85."
"At this moment," Mary answered, "we plan to sell it, since we have no need for it. We will probably be selling it piecemeal; the gun, turret, and hull separately. That way we will get some decent profit from the sale."
"Or," Anzu started, "we can negotiate a deal for the tank that can satisfy both of us. You get paid to get rid of something you don't want, and we walk away with a capable vehicle."
Hillson's eyes sharpened ever so slightly. "How much are you willing to offer?"
Anzu mentioned the price. Everyone suddenly felt the room get colder.
"President Kadotani, excuse me if I sound rude, but I would consider that to be nothing short of theft. I know I can get a much better deal through other channels."
Anzu did not flinch. "That offer is negotiable. It is lower than average, I admit that. However, you did not find the tank yet, did you? We will do the search and restoration using our own finances. Also, please keep in mind that we will be taking the tank whole, out of your hands right away."
"I can have our own tankery club to do the search, and I am willing to wait if time allows me to gain a greater profit."
Vimy Ridge's president was not budging an inch. Yukari was starting to get worried; at this rate, her team would have to walk away barehanded, and she really did not fancy going into the next championships with the same lineup, minus the destroyed Type 89. Yukari looked around her.
Nishizumi-dono had the tip of her thumb clasped between her teeth.
Izusu-san wore a worried expression.
Reizei-san similarly looked frustrated in disapproval of the situation.
Takebe-san's hands were gripping the hem of her skirt.
Off to the side of the table, Lucius-san had his eyes closed, and was massaging the bridge of his nose. He opened his eyes. Yukari realized she was directly in front of Lucius.
Yukari pointed a finger at the two student council presidents, then brought her hands together as if she was praying.
Lucius furrowed his eyebrows. A moment later, he jabbed his thumb at himself while making a curious face.
Yukari nodded.
Lucius crunched his face in hopeless resignation and shrugged.
Yukari brought her hands together again, shaking and rubbing them together this time. Her entire figure radiated desperation.
Lucius's head pivoted downwards. He squeezed his temples with his index fingers. Eventually, he gave a small nod.
Lucius moved to intervene in the deadlock. "Please, we will achieve nothing if we maintain hostility towards each other."
"Well you don't expect me to accept that kind of an offer, do you?" Mary retorted, "Well, do you have any brilliant idea to solve this issue? Knowing you, you would not have cut in without a plan."
"Honestly, President Hillson? I believe you are being much too optimistic about the amount of money we can expect if we went ahead with current plans."
"Oh? Do tell, if you please."
"We will be lucky to get half the earning you want to milk out of the KV-85 be selling it in pieces; People would probably be willing to spend a little more money and get their hands on brand-new equipment rather than from a second-hand deal at that price. And we already know better than to even try selling it as a whole piece. Add to that-"
"I have seen the same parts up on offer at similar prices."
"I believe I have seen that too; I don't think they have been sold to anyone in two years. Anyway, add to that, we need to factor in the costs of properly disassembling the tank so all the arts come out in a usable condition, the costs of keeping them in a warehouse while we wait for a potential buyer, and the costs of making sure the parts remain usable during the time they are going to be sitting in the said warehouses wasting away. I will be better to just take this chance while we have one, and 'not look a gift horse in its mouth' as some would say."
Mary tried to make an argument, but could not find a proper one.
"Lucius continued, "Having said that, I do admit the offer is somewhat low. I propose this: Ooarai will add to the payment the cost of purchasing 70 rounds of the KV-85's ammunition; I believe that is the full complement of shells for this particular vehicle."
Anzu considered the compromise. Yuzu whispered to her that the additional cost compromise would not prove to be too much of a strain on Ooarai's senshado team budget. That was the last confirmation Anzu needed. "I find that satisfactory. How about you, President Hillson?"
Mary's chin rested on her clasped hands. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally stated, "…fine. I will accept. But you will be the ones responsible for actually looking for the tank. You will also be the ones to bear the costs of transporting it back to Ooarai Girls' Academy."
Miho and Saori gave a sigh of relief.
Hana clapped at what she understood as a good deal. Mako followed her cue.
Anzu and Yuzu rejoiced, and embraced each other in elation while cheering.
Momo gave a happy smile-when she thought no one else was looking-to Lucius.
Yukari could not bear her own joy any longer. She ran forwards, and took into her arms the boy who made this possible while shedding teardrops of delight. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Lucius could only look at her in surprise. "It wasn't something that was unachievable. Consider it a gift from me to you." Of course, when he said it, he meant to all the girls from Ooarai.
Naturally, that context went flying out the window in the mind of a certain orange-haired girl. Saori had observed how Yukari and Lucius had acted since arriving in Canada. She just knew they had to have feelings for each other. For what other reason would a boy gift something as expensive as a tank to a girl? And Yukari also got nervous when Saori asked if there was anything between the two of them. If Yukari did not have feelings for him, why would she have acted like that? But the two of them were probably oblivious about all of this. Yukari was so obsessed with tanks and anything or anyone to do with tanks to have any experience in this area, and Lucius always acted like the aloof gentleman. Maybe she should help them along. Yes…she should.
But first, she had to find someone she could trust on Vimy Ridge's side as well; this was going to have to be an operation from both sides.
Finally, once the initial excitement wore off, Anzu realized they still had to find the newly-obtained KV-85. After all, what they bargained for up until now amounted to a single sheet of paperwork saying the tank was not yet sold.
But that was no problem; after all, they had experience digging up tanks from the most ridiculous places. Anzu yelled, "Alright, everyone, let's get the rest of our teams and find that tank!" and sped out the door as fast as her short legs could carry her. Everyone else in the room followed her at a much more reasonable walking pace.
Everyone except Academy Chief Executive Mary Hillson. She remained in her seat. As Miho, Yukari, and Lucius was about to step out the door, she spoke. "Lucius, you sometimes seem to think yourself better and more knowledgeable than me, countermanding my decisions the moment you get annoyed. Like today. I will allow this for the time being, but know that there are lines that if you cross, I will act. Remember who he chose as his heir."
Lucius answered with clenched teeth, "Of course, Executive," and closed the door.
Miho was quite shaken by President Hillson's choice of words, and was glad that she was out of the room. She couldn't help but ask, "Is she always so…confident?"
Saori's question was much more blunt. "She was quite bossy; almost like back when our president forced Miporin to join the senshado club. You could have warned us about that, you know." She made a slight jab with her elbow at Lucius for emphasis.
"I do not speak ill of people. Especially not in polite company," was the only response they got.
AN: Bleh, This chapter was fighting me through the writing, and sounded better in my head. It was also supposed to be longer, but it was getting too long so I had to cut it off here, leaving some things hanging.