Chapter 2
[Secret Maneuvers]
On July 25th, Tatsuya and Miyuki paid a visit to the Yotsuba main house.
Given their prior appointment, they were immediately escorted to Maya's presence on arrival.
When asked on what business brought him here, Tatsuya elaborated to Maya on his hypothesis derived from the [White Tablet] and the [Small Tablet Compass], asking for permission to visit the IPU.
"So, you want to travel to search for Shambhala? Seriously?"
Maya showed a rare look of astonishment after hearing Tatsuya's proposal.
"I personally don't believe in the existence of Shambhala. But I do believe that it is not all that unlikely that I may find the ruins of the civilization that was used as the basis for the legend."
"…Are you expecting to find any kind of Relics?"
"We may be able to find something even more valuable. Maybe an unused [Guru's Tablet], for example."
"A tablet is presumed to be from a prehistoric civilization that records magic, you say…"
The prospect of unearthing a previously unheard-of magic was clearly an exciting thought for Maya.
The established objective of the former Fourth Research Institute was the research of Mental Interference Magic, as well as the enhancement of the Magic Calculation Area itself. The Yotsuba Family inherited their research, but apart from the ostensible duty of contributing to the nation, the family's underlying mission was the advancement and enhancement of magic itself.
As the head of said Yotsuba Family, it was impossible to ignore the potential offered by the discovery of magic from prehistoric civilizations, which had clear advantages over modern magic.
"What pretext do you intend to use for your departure?"
When he dispatched Mayumi to the USNA, Tatsuya used some rather rough methods to wrest some freedom for magicians to be able to travel abroad. That's said, there must be a clear purpose for going out of the country. No claims of tourism by him would stick, of course, nor would the truthful declaration that he was going out to search for magical artifacts.
"I plan to take on the opportunity of the partnership between the Magian Society and FEHR."
"Specifically?"
"I will change the venue for the signing ceremony of the partnership from being in the high seas to Sri Lanka, and I would be traveling out to attend the ceremony."
"I thought it would be all done with electronic signatures."
In this day and age, contracts frequently don't involve the paper version, just a digital, electronic one, and, as Maya pointed out, the partnership between the Society and FEHR would follow the pattern.
"We changed it to a written document at the request of FEHR's legal counsel."
"Was it really an initiative from the other side?"
Maya asked Tatsuya in a teasing tone with a grin plastered on her face.
"Yes. Just a coincidence that just turned out to be quite convenient."
"Coincidence, I see…"
Maya's smile deepened at Tatsuya's dismissive reply.
"Well, fine then. Sri Lanka is ostensibly neutral, so there will be less waves than going directly to the IPU."
There were many parties included in Maya's analogy. Some are the Japanese government and the National Defense Forces, but others include foreign governments, militaries, intelligence agencies, as well as powerful people in the shadows, dubbed "Power Brokers" or "Éminence grise".
"So, are you taking Miyuki-san along again this time?"
Maya asked, glancing at Miyuki on his side, who abstained from any comment to this moment.
Miyuki maintained her downcast demeanor, not making eye contact with Maya.
"Yes, that is my intention. Beside me is the safest place in the world, after all."
He said with a straight face, to which Maya could only give a wry smile, "Oh my, oh my…"
"Besides, I'll also be bringing Lina with us this time."
Tatsuya sincerely believed that the safest place in the world for Miyuki is right next to him. But he also recognized that he couldn’t do everything himself.
There are places in society where only women are allowed in. To fill the gap, he needed someone of her same sex who is at least as capable as Miyuki herself.
Someone like Lina, for example.
"Is that so? Then I have no qualms."
"I'm grateful."
"I'll be waiting for good news."
Maya's last line was delivered with the expression of a child eager for a souvenir.
◇ ◇ ◇
On July 26th, the day following the visit to the Yotsuba main house.
Tatsuya showed up for work at the Machida office of the Magian Company.
Miyuki had exams stretching through the end of the month at Magic University. Tatsuya had been exempted from that burden upon his enrolment on the proviso of making contributions to the university's research. And if Miyuki was so inclined, she too could enjoy the same privilege, but she decided against it out of consideration of her image in the public eye. Thus, she diligently took on her exams today as well.
After finishing the clerical work around noon, Tatsuya made an international call to the Republic of India in the IPU. His contact was the representative of the Magian Society, Chandrasekhar.
[I understand. I don't have any problems with that.]
Chandrasekhar agreed to Tatsuya's request to change the location of the partnership signing ceremony with FEHR to the Society's headquarters in Sri Lanka.
"Thank you very much. All it remains is to get FEHR's approval. I will contact you as soon as I have a firm schedule."
[I'm free until around the end of next month, anytime until then works for me. On that note, Mister]
Her agreement didn't come free of doubt, however.
[What is your real purpose in coming here?]
She figured out soon enough that the signing ceremony was only a camouflage.
Chandrasekhar is not just some scholar, she is also an IPU stalwart with a prominent voice in national security. It was inconceivable that she wouldn't have known that much right from the start.
"I would very much like to visit your country."
[The Federation, not Sri Lanka?"]
Chandrasekhar expressed a touch of surprise on her face.
Any surprise contained in her voice was marginal.
"I would gladly discuss the details in person."
[…All right]
Chandrasekhar spent a few moments with Tatsuya's self-indulgent argument, before giving her answer.
[Then we can have you over at my house following the signing ceremony.]
"…Are you certain?"
The pause that Tatsuya's answer required was relatively longer.
[Yes, by all means. If you don't mind, I'd also like to discuss your Stellar Reactor and the Artificial Relic.]
"All right. Then let's go with that."
Understanding Chandrasekhar's plan to invite him under the pretense of an exchange of their scientific ideas, Tatsuya agreed to oblige.
◇ ◇ ◇
It was the next morning when Tatsuya chose to call Lena.
As if eager for the day, Lena consented on the change in the signing ceremony. When asked how many days she needed to prepare for her departure, she seemed inclined to go straight away.
Tatsuya then suspected that Lena also had an ulterior motive to go to Sri Lanka, or the IPU in general.
Perhaps it could be for the same reason as Tatsuya's party. The "White Tablet", i.e. the "map stone tablet" is still in USNA, although he believes that FEHR doesn't have what it takes to solve the puzzle of the map, but someone at FEHR must be interested in looking for Shambhala.
At least that was what Tatsuya thought. But he didn't care to speculate any further, and proceeded to discuss the schedule of the signing ceremony with Lena. They settled on August 2nd, right on the edge of the summer vacation, when Miyuki would have more free time.
◇ ◇ ◇
A few hours earlier, two hours before Tatsuya's call at 4:00 P.M. local time, Lena received a request from a USNA federal officer to meet with her.
It was a completely unexpected sudden visit. Lena would normally have declined such a request, but not when it was a federal officer, especially one of the Stars. She welcomed her surprise visitor into her office.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Fehr, I'm Second Lieutenant Evelyn Taylor of the Special Operations Magician Unit Stars."
The officer who came uninvited was alone. A slightly taller-than-average young looking woman.
"A pleasure to meet you, Second Lieutenant, I am Lena Fehr, FEHR's representative."
Lena stood up to greet her, and was overwhelmed by her size; Lena stood little over 160 centimeters tall, her guest was about five centimeters taller than that. Her visitor was only about five centimeters taller than that, therefore the height wasn't the reason.
Second Lieutenant Evelyn was particularly endowed. When Lena approached her for a handshake, she had the illusion of being oppressed by the large breasts protruding in front of her. As a matter of fact, Lena may harbor an inferiority complex about her girlishly slender, unreliable figure, which may account for why she was so keenly conscious of Evelyn's figure.
"Please have a seat. How can I help you today?"
Hiding her private feeling of defeat with a smile, Lena promptly asked about her business.
"I have an explanation and a request regarding the stone tablet you submitted as evidence."
"An explanation and a… request?"
"Yes."
Evelyn said with a nod, and told her of the high probability that the "White Tablet" was a map to Shambhala.
"Shambhala…? With all due respect, isn't that just a legend?"
"You can't believe it?"
At Lena's common sense reaction, Evelyn smiled.
"…If I'm to be honest."
Lena nodded hesitantly.
"As a matter of fact, so do I."
Evelyn's words, delivered without dropping her smile, took Lena by surprise.
Evelyn's didn't stop there.
"But please give it some thought. A hundred years ago, magic was just another fairy tale."
"…You think Shambhala also may turn out to exist?"
"I do not actually expect said city of Shambhala to exist to this day."
"It existed at some point, you're suggesting?"
"Yes, that's right."
Evelyn nodded with apparent satisfaction.
"We believe that the [White Tablet] points to the ruins of Shambhala."
"Like a treasure map, you mean."
Evelyn laughed out loud with the skeptical remark that escaped from Lena.
"A treasure map! I couldn't have put it better myself."
Evelyn's expression suddenly shifted. Her mouth remained upturned at the corners, but the rest of her face took on a serious aspect.
"We are willing to provide aid to your organization."
"Aid, you say?"
Doubt manifested in Lena's expression rather than delight.
"Financial aid is included, but there are also many other ways."
"……Are you suggesting bringing FEHR under the umbrella of Stars?"
"Aid, that's all. No strings attached."
Lena's penetrating gaze fixed on Evelyn. Unconsciously, her amber eyes took on a light golden hue.
"…May I ask what terms are involved?"
Lena was by no means shouting. Nevertheless, her voice reverberated through the room, filling the "space".
She did not use magic. The color shift in her eyes indicated the activity of her "power," but the voice that soaked into the heart, the ensuing solemn atmosphere that resembled the preaching of a virtuous eminent clergyman in a cathedral, was but one aspect of the Charisma that Lena possessed.
Evelyn expressed admiration. But that was all. She was amazed, but not much beyond that.
"Yes, of course. If I may borrow your words, I'd like you to go 'on a treasure hunt'."
"…You mean, going to search for the ruins of Shambhala?"
"Exactly!"
Evelyn nodded with a smile that said, "Good guess".
"If our decipherment is correct, the ruins of Shambhala are located in Uzbekistan in the IPU."
"In the IPU, you say…"
Lena's concern was less about the difficulties in leaving the country. USNA is relatively tolerant when it comes to magicians departing abroad. Although high level magicians, such as those listed as possible candidates for the Stars, are subject to strict restrictions, low level ones only have to pass a rigorous screening process, but are not barred from leaving.
"Would the IPU even allow the excavation of archaeological sites?"
"If we honestly declared your purpose, I doubt that they would give us a visa."
"…You're asking us to illegally enter?"
"Something along those lines."
Evelyn's matter-of-fact answer left Lena with a particularly uncomfortable feeling.
"And you'll be coming as well, Second Lieutenant?"
At face value, it was an understandable question; a commissioner would likely want to be present for the excavation.
But then, there would be no need to ask Lena in the first place. Then it struck Lena; while USNA military personnel were not welcomed to roam freely in the IPU, the same was not true for a private organization, such as FEHR.
"Here comes my second request. I'd like to ask to join FEHR."
"Are you implying that you will use the FEHR as a cover?" "Yes."
Evelyn confirmed without a single word of apology.
"Oh, of course. This is not a coercion. This is but a request from the federal army."
Again, not a shred of guilt behind, and in, Evelyn's smile. And like that, she waited for Lena's answer with a look that could even be described as innocent.
Ultimately, Lena chose to accept both of Evelyn's "requests".
◇ ◇ ◇
For the third consecutive day on July 28th, Tatsuya arrived for work at the Machida office.
His schedule for the beginning of the week would have him in Miyakishima today to wrap up Stellar Generator work. But, as it turned out, after his call with Lena from FEHR yesterday evening, he received a subsequent call from Sanada of the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment, with a "I need to meet with you" request.
He meets Sanada relatively often. Though Tatsuya may no longer be an Special Duty Officer, he maintains his ties with the NDF (in this case, a "Special Duty Officer" is not a person who did not undergo officer academy and received officer treatment as a special exception, but instead, an individual that is granted formal combatant and officer status, while retaining his civilian, non-volunteer status).
From CADs to a range of other magic related technology, even today, the military was still the largest source of demand for that market. Although sales related to Stellar Reactor accounted for a significant percentage of FLT's sales, and even at a declining rate, the military continued to be a major source of revenue for the company.
Even after dropping the Taurus Silver name, Tatsuya retained his position as a researcher at FLT. In that capacity, he regularly met with Sanada, a technical officer, at least once a month to discuss orders for his products.
"How can I help you today?"
Hence they skipped much of the greeting and Tatsuya immediately inquired about Sanada's business.
"I came on behalf of my C.O. with a request from Director-General Akiyama."
"From the Director-General? Please, go ahead?"
Chief of the Staff Headquarters, Director-General Akiyama, is one among the top brass of the National Defense Force who holds the most favorable stance toward Mageist, be it uniforms and the suits. He lent a helping hand, albeit half-intimidated, to ease the restrictions on Mageist travel from Japan following Tatsuya's bold move last month with his demonstration involving bombing of a comet.
Tatsyuya felt like he owed Akiyama a bit for that incident.
"Shiba-san"
Sanada was currently in front of Tatsuya as a business partner rather than a colleague. He naturally changed his address form accordingly.
"It came to our attention that you will be visiting Sri Lanka next week."
"Do you know about it already?"
It wasn’t that much of a surprise to Tatsuya. Unlike his last visit out of the country, his travel to Sri Lanka was not a secret. The application for the needed visa was also duly filed yesterday with the newly established Sri Lankan Embassy. As of April of this year, Sri Lanka seceded from the IPU and became independent.
His surprise was, as he put it, "you already know about it?".
"Will you be attending the Magian Society's ceremony?"
"Yes. The Society has decided to officially partner with an American organization called FEHR, and I will be attending its signing ceremony."
He didn't shy away. He not only confirmed, but also added the details of the ceremony to his answer.
"If your schedule allows, would you mind making a visit to the IPU?"
"To the IPU?"
He limited himself to a raised eyebrow. Had it been Miyuki or Lina, they would probably not have been able to hide their reaction. Suffice it to say, unlike his visit to Sri Lanka, the trip to IPU is a secret.
"You wouldn't need an additional visa to enter the IPU from Sri Lanka, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a personal invitation from Dr. Chandrasekhar if it was for Shiba-san."
"This is to say that I must ask Dr. Chandrasekhar to invite me into the country?"
"Oh, no. There is no compulsion. It's just a request. If possible, to pass on a message to General Lars Singh over at the IPU."
Lars Singh is the general in charge of what constitutes the Army of the former India inside the IPU army. Although his rank may be that of a lieutenant general, he wields a reputation among military insiders of having more substantive power than the general with the supreme command of the Indo-Persian Union Army.
"Do you want me to pass a letter of intent to him? Wouldn't it be better to ask the doctor in Sri Lanka?"
Other rumors suggest that Lars Singh and Chandrasekhar have a specially close relationship.
"No, verbally, please."
Sanada says, shaking his head.
Tatsuya's eyebrows rose again, this time in surprise. Sanada was asking Tatsuya to deliver a message that "couldn't be sent in any data or written form".
"Is it really acceptable for me to be privy to such a highly confidential message?"
"As long as there is nothing left behind, it's fine. The message itself doesn't hold much significance."
"…So, if I understand correctly, the question is to pass the message to general Sigh and no one else."
"That is correct."
Tatsuya mulled it over for about ten seconds, staring at Sanada's face, who didn't seem to be taking it seriously as much as he should have.
"Alright, I'll pass it on, if I get the chance."
"Understandable. I appreciate it."
With that, Sanada got up from his chair, walked around the desk between them, and brought his mouth up to Tatsuya's ear.
◇ ◇ ◇
After successfully evading the police raid, the FAIR figurehead Dean and sub-leader Laura relocated from their headquarters in San Francisco, which was now relegated by the law enforcement authorities, to a safe house in Richmond. One week has passed. Dean had yet to come from his impasse.
The raid of the headquarters was conducted by the San Francisco Metropolitan Police Department, but both Dean and Laura were now wanted nationwide by the federal authorities. That made for an exceptionally tight investigation.
Laura picked up from an information broker that Dean and his group were listed as wanted terrorists for their test run of [Babel] in Oakland. While the police weren’t made aware of [Babel], by word of the federal military, they were informed of an attempted terrorist attack in which Dean was the prime instigator.
The severity of the hunt for a terrorist is incomparable to that for an ordinary criminal. More so when it is the head figure — he could be shot dead even at the slightest gesture of fleeing. That was the reason for Dean's reluctance to venture out of the house.
Eight days into that situation, Dean received a visit from a lone man.
Although Rocky Dean's appearance was very much like that of the average caucasian of Italian descent, he was of ethnic chinese descent. It was thanks to his network of contacts among overseas Chinese, both public and underground, that he was able to stay hidden in America.
The man who visited the Richmond's hideout came through a referral from the same network.
The man introduced himself as "Lü Dongbin".
"If I'm not mistaken…"
Present at the side, Laura interjected in a reserved but clear tone of voice.
"Isn't 'Lü Dongbin' the name of a Bāxiān?"
Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓) is one of the exemplary Xians of the East-Asian continent.
The 30 year old or so looking man gave a faint smile at Laura's remark.
"I am in fact one of the 'Bāxiān'. The modern 'Bāxiāns', however."
"And what's the difference?"
Dean asked in a gruff voice. He knew at least the names of the legendary Xians, but 'modern Bāxiān' didn't ring any bells.
"Is an organization named as such within our military, sir."
Lü Dongbin answered casually. But Dean a major piece of information wasn’t lost on Dean.
"'Our military'? Are you a magician of the GAU military?"
Lü Dongbin did not answer either yes or no, just kept smiling.
"We are willing and ready to provide you with assistance."
Instead of answering the question, Lü Dongbin made his offer.
"You mean financial assistance?"
"If funding is what you need, we are willing to be as generous as you need us to be. But is funding alone sufficient?" "What about sending troops, then?" Dean asked back incredulously.
"Let me first offer what my person can do."
"You…?"
The suspicious look on Dean's face wasn’t one of mistrust of Lü Dongbin or doubt of his ability — Lü Dongbin made no effort to conceal his power from the moment he entered the room. Any magician could tell at a glance that this man had substantial power.
Dean's question was "Why such a powerful man?". "Wait a minute. Why are you helping us in the first place?" Laura was of the same mind, but she explicitly asked.
"Because Mr. Dean is a fellow compatriot."
Lü Dongbin's following answer was as unabated as if the conversation had been thought out in advance.
"Let us see… Shall I prove our commitment? How does retrieving the stone tablet stolen by the police sound?"
He proceeded to make the suggestion.
Laura glanced at Dean, inquiring about his decision.
"─Let's have a look at your performance, shall we?"
Dean's demeanor and language shifted as he agreed to the proposition.
◇ ◇ ◇
The "White Tablet" was returned to the San Francisco Police Department's safekeeping after the deciphering was concluded.
At the end of July, the sixteen stone tablets were stolen. The police would only come to realize this fact three days later, during the evidence inspection day.
Though surveillance cameras were installed throughout the station, none of them captured any images of the culprit.
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