Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.
A/N: I would like to give thanks to animefan29 and Kaiya Azure for their wordings on the SAZ and mightyblacknight for the suggestions in how to respond to the SAZ and what to do going forth.
Reaction and Discussion
Euphemia's nationwide announcement of the Special Administration Zone of Japan had send shockwaves for not only for all of Britannia but to other countries as well. There were people who did not know what to really make of it and the Japanese people especially in question about it had opinions of what they felt about it. On one hand, there were a lot of people who were supportive of the plan and would like to be part of the zone. On another hand, there were a group people who wanted to support it but couldn't feel that they could be 100% behind it because for various reasons and then there were people who did not want to support it and one of the major reasons was Suzaku Kururugi. Suzaku still served as Euphemia's knight and no one had forgotten what they had learned about Suzaku and it was the fact that he was the one who killed his father, the late Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi and it was still spoken by a group of people that Suzaku killed his father to make Britannia happy. The people who didn't support the plan assumed that it was a ploy by Britannia in tricking them and luring them to false hope and security. There were Britannians who were disgusted at the idea for Elevens to have rights and there those that bad mouthed and mocked Euphemia for what she had proposed and started. It was shown that no matter what, there would always be majority of Britannians who would looked down on the conquered people and treat them as low class citizens or even less than human beings. A day after Euphemia's announcement, preparations were made for the Special Zone and decisions had to be made for those who needed to decide.
Viceroy Palace, Area 11
In one of the meeting rooms within the Viceroy Palace, there were high ranking government officials were meeting and were concerned about the Sub-Viceroy's decisions and were worried about their own situations.
"About this Special Administrative Zone of Japan," One of the government officials said, "there are some unpleasant rumors going around about Princess Euphemia ever since she made that announcement."
"Must be about what took place at Kamine Island," Another government official said, "Do you think she contacted and spoke with Zero there?"
"That is most likely," A female government official said, "I suspect that there may be a connection that goes all the way to the top."
"No, there isn't," The vice minister said, "There is no connection. The Viceroy herself wasn't the only one asking questions about what was going on."
"But at any case our connections to them need to be…" Another government official spoke.
"Yes," The vice minister said with a frown, "we have no choice. We need to sever ties with them at once."
The door suddenly opens.
"Oh it's too late for that," A female voice said.
The people in the room were shocked and they turned and saw that it was Bartley, Darlton, and Marrybell with the latter of the two smiled and Bartley glared at the government officials and the three considered them to be nothing more than greedy parasites.
"All the evidence has already been gathered Vice Minister," Darlton said.
"And that includes the profit sharing bribes," Marrybell added, "It's been made easy to find you out, you greedy corrupt parasites."
"I appreciate this," Bartley said, "thank you General Darlton and thank you Princess Marrybell."
"Don't think this changes things for you Bartley," Marrybell said.
"I know, I know it won't," Bartley said and then he had his thoughts, "It's true it won't change things but at least with this, we can finally sweep away the parasites that have been sucking Prince Clovis dry. Ha, there are more rats than expected and all of them are confused by Princess Euphemia's proposed special zone."
Stadium not far from Mt. Fuji
Preparations were made as the Special Zone was being worked on. In a building, there were lines of people who were signing up to be part of the special zone and officials were handling the paper work for those signing up to be part of the special zone. In the upper floor, Euphie and Suzaku were watching the lines of people who were signing up.
"There are so many people here," Suzaku said, "but it doesn't like every Japanese person is onboard with it."
"I guess there are those who are resisting and even absolutely against in joining the special zone," Euphie said as she was disappointed.
"Um well don't lose heart," Suzaku said, "I'm sure they will change their minds and more will come around later and sign up. It's the best thing for everyone and everyone will see it that way."
"I hope so," Euphie said.
"Although I suppose," Suzaku said.
"Hmm?" Euphie replied.
Suzaku had a sad expression, "It might be better if I wasn't—"
"Suzaku stop," Euphie interjected, "don't say anymore."
"But Euphie," Suzaku replied back, "surely you know that it's because me that there are still those that are resisting and even speaking out against it."
"So what are you suggesting?" Euphie asked, "That I remove you as my knight just to get more people to join the special zone?"
"Well um…" Suzaku looked away, "if it will help and increase the number of people of joining…"
"I won't turn my back on you," Euphie said, "not even for this."
"Euphie…" Suzaku said.
"We made a promise together, remember?" Euphie said
Unknown Place
There was a television on the table and Castor and Pollux rui Britannia were watching the news about the Special Administrative Zone.
"I can't believe this is happening," Castor said.
"It's disgusting in what Euphemia is doing," Pollux said, "giving the Elevens rights? They have no rights. They had no rights for seven years ever since we beat them like the dogs they are and now Euphemia just wants to just give them something they do not deserve."
"This will just bring shame and disgrace to our country," Castor said, "this cannot go on."
"So what do you suggest we do Brother?" Pollux asked.
"Well isn't it obvious?" A male voice said.
The twins were surprised and they looked and were shocked to see who it was and it was VV.
"It's you," Castor said surprised.
"When did you get here?" Pollux asked.
"Just a while ago," VV said, "but back at the matter at hand. It's clear that this Special Administrative Zone is a problem, a problem that needs to be dealt with."
"Well we do have our Geass," Castor said as he and Pollux activated their Geass.
"Well mine is sort of like our certain brother that you mentioned," Pollux said, "I think I can set things up to be destroyed."
"You know at this rate, you may be right," VV said, "I set up your brother a trap on Kamine Island but now I'm not sure if I'll be able to spring it."
"A trap?" Pollux asked, "What do you mean and why do you say that you may not be able to spring it?"
"Well," VV said with a frown, "call it a hunch. At any rate, I believe we can use them as well."
"Them?" Castor asked, "Are you talking about our subjects?"
"Yes," VV said with a grin.
At another room, Madd was watching Kewell and the other disgraced members of the defunct Purist Faction who were in large tubes and wires were attached to them. Madd looked on as he was pleased and grinned.
"You men are going to have a test run tomorrow," Madd said, "at that stupid ceremony."
Ashford Academy
Students in a classroom were listening to the radio in which it was a reporter speaking of the Special Administrative Zone as preparations were still underway in the stadium that was not far from Mt. Fuji.
"The Special Administrative Zone," The reporter said, "the first of its type by Britannia was personally proposed by Her Highness Princess Euphemia, the Sub-Viceroy of Area 11. It cannot be dismissed as a novel idea as it goes back being connected of the Third Imperial Princess when she was a student not too long ago."
The students in the classroom had concerning opinions of what was going on. Some were not sure to what to really think of it and some questioned Princess Euphemia and some even accused her of giving in to the Elevens and some even said that it had to do with Suzaku Kururugi and guessed that there was a fling going on with Euphemia li Britannia and Suzaku Kururugi and some students had nasty thoughts of Euphemia with what she was doing but chose not to say anything. In a room where the Ganymede was standing, Nina was sitting on the floor listening to the radio near her as well about the Special Zone.
"Princess Euphemia," Nina said, "I can't believe that she would actually do this. But if she feels that it's the best than I should probably get behind this as well… but still for her to…" Nina shook her head as truthfully she did not like this one bit, "I guess I should have seen something like this coming when I met her that time and the things she said."
Elsewhere in the Tokyo Settlement
Lelouch and Rai were standing on a sidewalk and looking at one of the huge screens and they were watching a female reporter speaking of the Special Zone.
"Ah man, this is not good," Rai said, "not good at all."
"I would have thought that my sister wouldn't be short-sighted," Lelouch said.
"A little harsh there Lelouch," Rai said.
"Harsh, yes," Lelouch said, "but it's the truth. Euphie has not really thought this through however…"
"However?" Rai asked.
"Even though this Special Zone cripples our part of our plans and goals," Lelouch said, "we can work our way around it."
"Hmm, sound like you have a solution," Rai said.
"I do… well sort of," Lelouch said, "which reminds me, have you coordinated with our allies in other Areas?"
"Yeah, everything you asked is set and complete," Rai said.
"Good," Lelouch said with a nod, "all tasks in hand are almost complete and so tomorrow…"
Area 11 Viceroy Palace
Cornelia was in a room and she was speaking with Schneizel who was in a screen.
"Euphie is quite amazing," Schneizel said as he was pleased, "now with this the Black Knights will lose their support and fall apart. They were the only real threat and obstacle against us. If they go against it, they'll be seen as the enemy by the majority of Elevens who will turn on them and everything that Zero spoke of will be nothing but empty words and if they do along with it, they'll have no choice but to disarm and give in. Public order will be stabilized."
"I'm still against this," Cornelia said as she was not pleased.
"But you understand the situation," Schneizel said, "that is why you sent Darlton to advise her, correct?"
"It's just to assure that public policy stays on track," Cornelia said, "It what any Viceroy would do, to take such an obvious measure."
"Hmm… did you accept Euphie's future and choice as the Viceroy or her older sister?" Schneizel asked with a smile.
Base of House Kyoto
The Six Leaders of Kyoto were meeting and they were concerned about the Special Zone.
"To think that something like this would occur," Kirihara said.
"And to think that one who would do this would be Euphemia," Yoshino said.
"This has definitely caught us all by surprise," Munakata said.
"What are we going to do about this?" Osakabe asked.
"I don't think that there's any we can really do about this," Kubouin said, "If we fight against this, we'll be seen as being no better the prejudice Britannians. We would be labeled with the group of fellow Japanese who are against equality and there has already been trouble for those who are against it."
"But this is nothing but an ugly farce," Kirihara said, "giving us a piece a land out of pity. That is what Euphemia is doing even if that was not her intent and thinking."
"We could say that this is the result of our constant resistance against Britannia," Yoshino said, "This special zone is sort of a small victory to us."
"Oh yes sure," Munakata replied, "a very hollow victory. Do you not hear yourself?"
"I'm just trying to be optimistic," Yoshino replied back, "But anyway, it's my understanding that we've all been asked to come to the ceremony tomorrow."
"It's also a fact that they want to give Lord Kirihara here a special position in exchange for the rights of the Sakuradite mines," Osakabe said.
"You're not actually going to give in to them, are you?" Kubouin asked.
"Of course not," Kirihara said, "I'm insulted that you would think that I would even consider it."
"Still we need to tread lightly on this," Munakata said.
"And what about the Black Knights?" Osakabe asked, "What is their take on this?"
"Yes, what does Lelouch and Nunnally say about this?" Kubouin asked.
"They didn't know that this was happening," Kaguya said, "they were just as shocked about this as well."
"So Euphemia gave Lelouch no indication that she was going to do this," Kirihara said.
"Still the Black Knights are the only real threat to Britannia," Yoshino said, "with this Special Zone, this may actually ruin the Black Knights, ruin Zero and Void."
"Lord Kirihara, Lady Kaguya," Osakabe said, "They have a solution for this, right? They'll be able to solve this… situation, right?"
"Neither of us has heard anything from them," Kirihara said.
"But surely Lelouch knows what to do," Kaguya said, "after all this Special Administrative Zone is not as great as it appears to be to the public."
"Yes, there are many… holes in this," Munakata said, "holes that likely Euphemia is not even aware of."
"But until we hear from them, we'll have to hope for the best," Kirihara said, "after all, all of us here know that the Special Zone won't truly help our people as Euphemia hopes that it would."
Black Knights' Mobile Base in Yokosuka
The core members of the Black Knights were meeting and they were discussing about the Special Zone.
"We have a serious situation," Todoh said, "a number of people have already signed up for the special zone and not only that it seems that some of our own members have already signed up for the zone."
"Some of our own members?" Keitaro asked surprised, "You mean that they don't realized how seriously flawed it is?"
"The Special Zone is flawed yes but in one perspective, it has minimal risk unlike being part of the Black Knights," Diethard said.
"Besides when you compare the pedigree princess to an unknown masked man, it's clear what is more appealing to them," Rakshata said.
"We've been informed by Kyoto that they were requested to give support and participate," Minami said.
"Yeah but it's just that they haven't made their decision on that," Sugiyama said.
"They shouldn't do it," Tamaki insisted, "they should be made clear."
"Even though they say that they are offering equality," Gen said.
"Offering equality," Keitaro said, "that's sounds appealing and all that but the thing is that this so-called Special Administrative Zone is not as great as it seems."
"Yeah no kidding," Naoto said, "the sad is that Euphemia herself doesn't realize it."
"To think we would be in such a vexing situation," Rakshata said as she twirled her pipe, "if we make it known that we're against this, the very people we swore to protect will turn on us and we'll be looked at as ones who are against equality. We'll be labeled as hypocrites."
"And yet if we accept this and accept their terms, we'll have to disarm and we'll be swallowed up by their regime," Todoh said, "we'll lose our independence."
"You know aside that this was proposed by Euphemia," Ohgi said, "I'm surprised that Cornelia went along with this by approving this."
"Oh yeah, that's a good point," Gen said, "Even those this effectively corners us and put us at a disadvantage, it's still surprising that Cornelia agreed and approved this."
"No, it wasn't Cornelia," Jinta said.
The others looked at Jinta.
"Huh, what do you mean?" Inoue asked.
"I sincerely doubt that it was Cornelia that approved the plan," Jinta said, "after all this is Cornelia we're talking about."
"Oh right," Todoh said, "Cornelia is quite prejudice towards non-Britannians and has especially a deep hatred for us Japanese and would never really go along with it even though it gives them what they need to trap us in a no win situation."
"In fact, it is certain that Euphemia understands this as well," Naoto said, "which means she went to someone else to have her plan approved."
"And who would that be?" Yoshida asked.
"I'm pretty sure that the person she went is the one who is currently Britannia's Prime Minister," Naoto said, "the Second Imperial Prince, Schneizel el Britannia."
"Schneizel huh," Diethard said, "yes of course, he would go along with it because he's looking this special zone and sees what it does to us."
"Hmph, right," Jinta said with a frown, "no doubt Schneizel is in glee right now about this seeing this as the way for the Black Knights to fall apart and we will be finished."
"Then unless we come up with something, we're screwed either way," Kallen said.
"We can't just accept it, at least not without guarantees in place," Diethard said.
"But realistically though," Keitaro said, "how long will it really last?"
"I doubt it would be long," Naoto said, "but I'm sure even though it won't last, it will already serve its purpose as they like it."
"Well it's not like we can just ignore it," Ohgi said, "Euphemia didn't just call for Zero and Void, she called for us here as well."
"Yeah, that's true," Inoue said.
"Man, what a dilemma," Tamaki said, "to think it would be Euphemia that would do things like this."
"Yes but all of here know one thing for sure," Naoto said, "and that is that despite for best intentions for people, this Special Zone is long term impractical at best and a complete disaster at worse."
Everyone nodded in agreement in what Naoto just said and they would wait as later on, Zero, Void, Rai, Alice, and Sayoko would meet with them and they discuss about the Special Administrative Zone.
Streets of Tokyo Settlement
Lelouch and Rai were on the sidewalk and were standing around waiting.
"So we'll be meeting him here," Rai said.
"Yeah," Lelouch said.
"Hey, this is a quite a coincidence," A male voice said.
Rai and Lelouch looked and saw that it was Rivalz on his motorbike.
"Oh Rivalz," Lelouch said.
"Hey, how's it going?" Rai greeted.
"Just fine," Rivalz said, "so what's up with you two?"
"Oh um, we're just meeting up with someone," Rai said.
"Oh, who would that be?" Rivalz asked.
"Greetings," A male voice said.
"Ah he's here," Lelouch said.
They looked and saw that it was Orpheus who waved his hand with a smile.
"Hey, glad you're here," Lelouch said.
"Hey Lelouch, it's been a while," Orpheus said.
"Huh, who's this?" Rivalz asked, "Friend of yours?"
"Yeah," Lelouch said.
Orpheus saw Rivalz and nodded with a smile.
"I'm Orpheus Zevon," Orpheus said, "You're Rivalz Cardemonde."
"Uh yeah," Rivalz replied as he was a bit surprised.
"Lelouch told me about you," Orpheus said with a smile.
"Oh really?" Rivalz asked and then he glanced over to Lelouch, "and how do you know Lelouch?"
"Ah well we actually met ten years ago," Orpheus said, "back in the Homeland."
"Oh I see," Rivalz said.
"There you have it," Lelouch said with a smile.
"I don't care about your Special Zone!" A male voice roared suddenly.
The four boys were surprised looked and saw the source. What they were seeing was a Britannian nobleman hitting a teenage Japanese boy with his cane. There was a tall man who was acting as the nobleman's bodyguard and a few people were just standing there watching.
"I don't care about support!" The nobleman continued as he continued to hit the defenseless boy with his cane, "I'd sooner die than sign and approve that garbage!"
"It's a nobleman," Rivalz said, "a shining example of class."
"Class?" Rai asked as he looked at Rivalz, "Do you really consider this class?"
"C'mon Rai," Rivalz said.
Rai frowned and he along with Lelouch and Orpheus looked on in what they were seeing and they were disgusted.
"This is an example of a typical Britannian mindset," Orpheus said.
"Behavior like this that is strongly encouraged," Rai said, "Discrimination as their national policy."
"I can't take this anymore," Lelouch said glaring at the nobleman as he walked over to the scene.
"You think you're equal to us now?" The nobleman asked as he stopped hitting the boy with his cane, "How foolish! The lower classes should just simply obey their superiors without backtalk, no questions asked!"
"There it is," Lelouch said, "the typical response of an arrogant noble who doesn't like change. This is the benevolence brought on by the Sub-Viceroy."
The nobleman, bodyguard, the boy, and the witnesses saw Lelouch as he approached them.
"What is this?" The nobleman asked annoyed, "What do you want?"
"Tell me," Lelouch said glaring at the nobleman, "does it really feel good to look down from above? It does make you feel like you're a god or something."
"Okay that's enough," The bodyguard said as he approached Lelouch, "You need to back off right now schoolboy."
"I have a better idea," Lelouch said as he looked at bodyguard and activated his Geass, "You can just go home."
Lelouch used his Geass on the bodyguard and it got the bodyguard on the command.
"Yeah okay," The bodyguard said affected by Lelouch's Geass, "I'll do just that."
The bodyguard left to go home and the nobleman was shocked.
"Hey wait a minute," The nobleman said, "what's going on? You, come back here at once!"
"What's wrong?" Lelouch said, "Well, you pompous nobleman."
The nobleman turned around to face Lelouch and he was angry that a mere schoolboy was actually talking down on him.
"Here's the problem with people like you," Lelouch said, "you confuse burrowed power with your own ability and that is a big mistake. The way I see, you're trash. You're disgusting vultures. You typical arrogant nobles are gluttonous parasites feeding off the backs of others and have grown too fat for your understanding."
The nobleman was livid with what Lelouch had just said to him and Rivalz was taken aback hearing what Lelouch said while Rai and Orpheus were pleased to see and hear Lelouch say what they felt was needed to say.
"You little bastard," The nobleman said angrily, "you, a mere schoolboy dare say that to me?! It seems that you're lacking in discipline and manners. Well I'll fix that right now and teach you about respect!"
The nobleman raised his cane with the intent to strike Lelouch. Rivalz was shocked and rushed to try and stop this and hoped to calm things down. However Lelouch saw this attack coming and quickly grabbed and held on the cane easily. The nobleman was shocked again as Lelouch yanked the cane from the nobleman and broke it in half and then he tossed the broken cane aside. It was shocking to everyone that saw it except for Rai and Orpheus and then nobleman didn't know what to do as he was taken aback with what Lelouch had just done.
"What's wrong?" Lelouch asked, "You said that you were going teach me a lesson. Could it be that you can't do anything without your cane? Pathetic, trash like you are one of the worst."
"H-How dare you!" The nobleman said angrily, "How dare you say that to me! You have the audacity to look down on me! Do you know who I am?"
"I know who you are," Lelouch said as he clenched his fist, "a pompous annoying aristocratic jackass!"
"You're going to pay for this boy!" The nobleman said angrily.
"Okay, that's enough," Rivalz said.
Rivalz approached them along with Rai and Orpheus.
"Let's all calm down," Rivalz said, "Lelouch, just take it easy okay buddy and mister, how about you just apologize and walk away."
"Apologize?" The nobleman replied shocked and then he pointed at Lelouch, "He's the one that should apologize for his blatant disrespect."
"That's funny coming from the guy who was going to hit him with a cane," Rai said, "and for attacking a boy who was minding his own business."
"He insulted me and has no respect," The nobleman replied, "I was well within my rights to respond how I saw fit," The nobleman looked at the boy on the ground and then he looked at Lelouch, "you're no different from the Elevens here. You're must be an Eleven sympathizer. It's sickening that fellow Britannians would want to be buddy-buddy with these lowlifes."
"You better leave right now," Lelouch said with a venomous tone, "unless you want to see what happens if you really piss me off."
The nobleman was shocked and clenched his teeth and got nervous at the murderous glare that Lelouch was given. The nobleman decided to cut his losses and just walk away.
"You're going to pay for what you did boy," The nobleman said, "You'll rue the day that you decided to display your ill-manners and disrespect with me."
The nobleman walked away upset and people looked on as the nobleman was leaving feeling red. Lelouch then went to the boy on the ground.
"Hey, are you okay?" Lelouch said.
"Oh y-yes," The boy said as got himself up and took his stack of papers, "thank you"
"Don't mention it," Lelouch said with a smile.
"Say Lelouch?" Rivalz said.
"What is it Rivalz?" Lelouch asked as he turned to Rivalz.
"I think you and I need to talk," Rivalz said.
"I know what it is but there's nothing to talk about," Lelouch said.
Someone was watching them and it was Shirley who was standing at the balcony of a second story building.
"Oh my," Shirley said, "the way Lulu stood up against that noble," Shirley started to blush, "so strong and showing no fear."
Shirley smiled in delight.
"Shirley, what are you doing?" A male voice said.
"Oh," Shirley replied as she looked and saw her parents, "sorry, I'm coming."
Shirley caught up with her father Joseph and her mother Susan.
Mt. Fuji
Kirihara was looking at view of the Fuji mines and standing next to him was Darlton. Kirihara knew that they would send someone to speak to him about the zone and the person was General Andreas Darlton.
"So they sent you of all people," Kirihara said.
"That's right," Darlton said with a smile, "I would say it's a good thing. But anyways, you and the others have not given us your answers."
Kirihara frowned and clutched on his cane and Darlton was still smile.
"The NAC," Darlton spoke, "or rather it's a cover up for Kyoto, the group known among the terrorists and now giving your full support to the Black Knights as their close allies."
"Huh, so you figured it out," Kirihara said.
"We've had our suspicions since the Battle of Narita with the evidence that we uncovered," Darlton said, "anyway you and the others should really take part as it wouldn't do you any good to refuse at this point. So with that in mind, after the ceremony tomorrow, why don't you break off from each other and leave Mt. Fuji for good? We can discuss a legal agreement if you Taizo Kirihara hand over the mining operations peacefully."
Kirihara turned to Darlton and glared at him.
"Of course that means it will be the end of your support of the Black Knights," Darlton continued, "whether Zero and Void show up tomorrow doesn't matter because either way, this is the end for them and with that their hope to take on and bring down the empire will die."
"Don't assume that things will go as you hope for," Kirihara said in his head, "this will not be the end. The Black Knights will continue…you underestimate the resourcefulness of your former prince and princess."
Kirihara was so of it sure as he recalled that earlier, Lelouch had got in touch with him and told him what he had planned to do for the Black Knights and regarding what he was going to do tomorrow for the ceremony. Kirihara was surprised as he did not expect it. He was told that it was not going to be easy and he agreed but he had faith in Lelouch, he had faith in Nunnally, he had faith in the Black Knights and the other Leaders of Kyoto shared Kirihara's faith and trust in them. Kirihara also felt sorry for Euphemia because with what Lelouch had planned for, it would mean that the Special Administrative Zone that she had planned for would most likely be meaningless to her since the main reasons that she set it up in the first place would not be there.
Area 11 Viceroy Palace
Marrybell was sitting in a desk in an office and writing things down.
"Tomorrow the ceremony will take place for this Special Administrative Zone," Marrybell said and had a concerning expression, "Euphie, I hope you know what you're doing… but this zone… a lot of Elevens are happy about this and signed up for it but there are a small percentage of them who are unwilling to go along with it and it's mainly has to do with Euphie's knight," Marrybell sighed, "everyone knows what he did and those against it refuse to take part it because they still see Suzaku Kururugi as the traitor who willfully sold out Japan to allow Britannia to take over," Marrybell looked outside from the window, "things may be tough tomorrow and with Euphie inviting Zero and Void and their top members of the Black Knights… question is will they even show up. Well with the way things stand, it doesn't even matter. Whether they show up or not, they lose so question is if they show up as a way to acknowledge that they've lost or don't show up and give indication that they are being unjustly stubborn and in which people will point out that are not what they present themselves to be."
Meanwhile Nonette was in a room relaxing and sipping on a cup of tea. Nonette was pleased with what was going on.
"Euphie is quite clever," Nonette said, "to think she would be able to come up with something that will effectively put an end to the Black Knights… to put an end to Lulu's hopeless crusade against Britannia," Nonette placed the cup on the coaster on a table, "this is for the best Lulu. With this, you won't need to fight anymore and going by what I was told on Kamine Island, I know he's not willing to respond that will get these people to turn on him and his group. Yes tomorrow will be all right. I'll give my report tomorrow morning before heading for the ceremony."
Yokosuka
In one of the warehouses, all the core members of the Black Knights were patiently waiting. The doors opened and it was Rai who had opened the doors. With Rai were Lelouch, Nunnally, Alice, Sayoko, Shirley, and Milly. They looked around and nodded.
"Good, everyone is here," Nunnally said.
"Yeah, we're all accounted for," Naoto said.
"Now that everyone is here," Lelouch said, "you all met Shirley and Milly."
"Yeah, it's good you both again," Ohgi said.
"Thank you so much," Shirley said.
"It's a pleasure," Milly said.
"Thanks for coming you two," Kallen said happily.
"Thank you Kallen," Shirley said happily.
"Now then…" Lelouch said as he turned and signaled someone.
The person came in and it was Jeremiah. The other members were surprised to see Jeremiah.
"Whoa, seriously?" Tamaki asked.
"This is definitely a surprise," Asahina said.
"Well now," Rakshata said with a smile, "this is interesting indeed."
"We're sure that you all know," Nunnally said, "this is Jeremiah Gottwald… former leader of the Purist Faction and now…" Nunnally smiled, "a new member of the Black Knights."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jeremiah said, "I know that we had our differences and we were enemies some time ago but now I dedicate myself to the Black Knights, I dedicate myself to my prince and princess here, Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally."
"We're no longer prince and princess Jeremiah," Lelouch reminded, "you know that."
"Even so, you're still are to me," Jeremiah said proudly, "and that will never change. I dedicate myself to you."
"Well this has gotten interesting," Diethard said.
"Diethard Reid," Jeremiah said, "so you're really a loyal member."
"I simply found that this was more worth my time and talents," Diethard said.
"We can discuss more later on," Lelouch said and then he turned, "come in."
"Sure," Orpheus said as he showed up and greeted the others, "hello."
"This is the person that we've mentioned," Nunnally said, "this is Orpheus Zevon."
"Greeting everyone," Orpheus said, "I'm Orpheus. I've met some of you already and it's a pleasure."
"You're from the organization called Peace Mark, right?" Rakshata asked.
"That's right," Orpheus said with a nod, "we're an organization that stands against Britannia and we have connections all over the world."
"They've been a real help to us," Rai said, "it's thanks to them that we've been able set up and coordinate with our own members in other countries, especially with the situation going on right now."
The other members spoke as they were impressed and grateful in what they heard and Orpheus nodded and smile as he was pleased to standing and meet members of the Black Knights. Not long afterwards, Lelouch brought everyone to their attention.
"The Special Administrative Zone," Lelouch said, "the one that was brought forth by Euphie."
"We all talked about this earlier," Naoto said, "and it's very concerning."
"Yes it really is," Lelouch said, "and either way, we lose… at least that what would be as they would see it however, I have something for this."
"I see," Todoh said, "then you have decided what to do."
"Yes and it won't be easy," Lelouch said, "but this will be for the best for not only for us but for the Japanese people who have signed up and support the zone."
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: The day of the Special Administrative Zone of Japan begins with its ceremony and the two leaders of the Black Knights meet with Euphemia as the plan sets in motion.