Book 1: Records of Magus Killer – Chapter 5 - Crimson Fall of Dahan (3)

"Genzou-sama, the entire Hong Kong Imperial Hotel was destroyed. From information transmitted through Dahan's secret service, we have managed to intercept. Three high-ranking Generals died in the place, together with 25 Tactical-Class Magicians, including the Commander of Tactical Magic Special Brigade, Major Wang Jie."

The reports started flooding in as the Patriarch of the Yotsuba Clan grinned hearing the.

"Also, among losses reported, there were additional more than fifty military officers, three hundred soldiers, several politicians, officers from the Ministry of Defense, and many others. Loss of civilian lives is more than two and a half thousand, and still increasing."

One of the Yotsuba Clansmen responsible for the communication and intelligence reported to the Clan Head. 

"Excellent, excellent. Who would have thought that lad would implode the entire hotel to kill them? Though his choice is right, it was the best way to kill all of them in one place. Truly effective."

Yotsuba Genzou laughed heartily, enjoying the terror that his future-son-law brought to the Dahan.

Something that sent chills through several people because while the Yotsuba Genzou was the Clan Head of the Yotsuba Clan, the Yotsuba was becoming more "friendly" to the other Clans of Japan; he was still considered one of the most dangerous and bloodthirsty people in Japan.

Some of them saw the "lad" their Clan Head praised affectionately. At first look, he seemed very unimportant and almost invisible. Who would have thought he was that ruthless demon.

"Send a message to my future son-in-law that we will meet at meeting point K. He would command an attack on Kunlunfang Institute. Eisaku, you take your people and attack places marked... remember to kill them all."

What Yotsuba Genzou talked about was the parliament of Dahan, as tomorrow would be an emergency meeting.

"Tomorrow, they have an emergency meeting and will be in full attendance. Also, don't forget to lure away those two Strategic-Class Magicians properly; one of them has complete mastery over the Strategic-Class Magic."

The plan for that one was simple, as they would first lure away Strategic-Class Magicians and then attack the parliament of Dahan, massacring everyone there.

A few Tactical-Class Magicians won't be a threat to them.

"Yes, Aniki. All of them would be turned to corpses."

He grinned viciously at his younger brother.

"Also, Aniki, what do you think about those two projects that nephew Kiritsugu mentioned?"

"You mean Project: High Table and Project: Equilibrium?"

"Yeh."

"Both of them would be a great boon. Especially for Project: Equilibrium, we need to act as fast as possible. Why do you think the Juumonji and Ichijo clans agreed? It is all a show of the power we Ten Master Clans possess. What we currently need is not to have privileges in Japan... no..."

The Projects were... fascinating and crucial for the future development of not only their Clans but also all Magicians.

"We need to control the country. After we show our overwhelming strength to the world, we could pressure the government to let Ten Master Clans become part of the governing system."

The Clan Head of Yotsuba answered shortly.

"True. Now, we need to increase the political power of Ten Master Clans, not just us... every Magician in Japan. Not considered as weapons, not considered as assets..."

There were some long-term schemes and plans already in the play... everything for the Greater Good. 

"Don't worry. If this operation is successful, the rest of the Ten Master Clans, not including the three Clans participating here, will also do their showdown. All Clan Heads already agreed to the proposal; the only crucial thing is for us to win this flawlessly. If we win, seven of them will attack and destroy the fleets of USNA under the leadership of the Kudou Clan. Afterward, we can start the Project: Equilibrium."

Genzou grinned at his younger brother, revealing his teeth in the process. 

"Come... killing awaits us."

***

On the 4th February of the Year 2063, Japan, Tokyo, HQ of National Defense Forces, Office of Commander-in-Chief

In the HQ of the National Defense Forces, a man in his fifties with black hair on the sides of his head and was bald on top, was sitting behind the desk, 

He had a tuft of hair sticking up at the back of his head in a topknot and had thick black eyebrows and a long, thick black mustache.

He had a single large scar on his forehead, which earned him the nickname "Eijisai" due to its shape. He also had prominent wrinkles on his forehead, beneath his eyes, and on his shallow cheeks.

He was Commander-in-Chief Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, a very strong Magician, an Ancient Magic-user, who also underwent a genetical strengthening process to obtain more magical power.

A member of the long line of samurai that still prevails to this day.

"Damn fucking politicians. Don't they see that the era of non-magicals is already a thing of the past? Currently, all countries are attaching more and more importance to their Magicians and their growth."

Shouted a man in anger as he hit the large wooden table.

"Marshall Yamamoto, times are changing. Ten Master Clans started massively monopolizing technological research in the country and other economic aspects. Soon enough, I fear that there will be a direct conflict between normal people and Magicians. From information obtained by the secret service, National Diet plans to forbid any Magician possessing higher military rank than major and many other restrictions."

Reported his adjutant.

"Spinless cowards. They don't know what is good for the country. USNA, the New Soviet Union, the Indo-Persian Federation, and even those Chinese rats are creating a large number of magicians and chaining them. In Japan, it was a grave mistake for those politicians to give them freedom; now, Clans have the power to contend against them."

Examined the situation Commander-in-Chief.

"After all those sacrifices of soldiers of our nation, for the nation, all of that would be worthless the moment they start restricting magicians. Most magicians from Ten Master Clans started as soldiers enlisted in Research Institutes to undergo genetic surgery."

Continued Commander-in-Chief Yamamoto.

The origin of the Numbered Families, be it the Ten Master Clans, 18 Assistant Houses, and Hundred Families or Extra Families, all originated from the Military; most of them were military scientists or soldiers of the former JSDF.

Due to this, till this day, the Army and Clans enjoyed a special and close relationship, which was also shown in the fact that most of the Clans were militarized to the extreme. 

Not many people knew about the fact that his own son died in one of those surgeries, as many people chose to undergo one to become a Magician to serve the country.

Now soon, they would be shunned and despised because of their sacrifice.

"And if they start treating magicians as weapons, then the conflict would arise. Conflict in which Japan would be turned to ash... what to do. From a trustworthy source, we found that Ten Master Clans managed to obtain Nuclear Weapons."

Marshall Yamamoto's adjutant reported with an almost grave expression

Due to the development in the Japan, the Magic Clans in the nation, became almost separate entity from the Japanese government itself.

"They are working fast. Call Major General Kudou Retsu. I think it is time to choose a side in this conflict. At least this one could protect the country with more than just empty words."

He then sighed before proceeding.

"Tell him that National Defense Forces would unconditionally support their Project: Equilibrium if they can promise three things. Protection of Japan and its citizens, not restraining Military and advancement. It is time for glorious times of Imperial Japan to return, even if not as Empire, but the Imperial Will will prevail."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni decided what was best for the interests of the Military in the end, even though, it would be not in the total acceptance of the nation.

***

Japan, Ikoma.

In a huge, luxurious three-story Western-style building, a meeting between two people was happening. One of them was a man in his sixties in an elegant suit with a sharp gaze and hawk-like eyes.

He was the head of the Kudou Clan, Kudou Retsu.

Another man was a middle-aged man clothed in black kimono bearing the sign of the Yotsuba Clan, a younger brother of the Yotsuba Genzou, Yotsuba Motosuke.

"I must compliment you, Motosuke-san; everything is going according to your plan. You really have the luck that your daughter found such a fine man. Truly, I am envious that I don't have a daughter of a similar age."

Kudou Retsu sighed as he looked at the Yotsuba clansman, who showed a victorious grin on his face.

"Yes, yes. Now to the point. What do you think about the current state of things? Soon enough, our attacks would end with an attack on Kunlunfang Institute. Currently, we have shown the power of Yotsuba to the world, killing thousands of their people with minimal losses of lives on our side, with only three dead. After today, you need to play your part."

Remarked Yotsuba Motosuke as he looked at Major General Kudou Retsu.

"I know. Everything is going according to plan. If everything were as you promised, then, one week later, the rest of the Ten Master Clans with 18 Assistant Houses would attack USNA Fleet in the Pacific."

Right now, everything was going splendidly according to the plan.

"The only thing we need to prepare for is to counter their Strategic-Class Magic Leviathan, but those would be done soon enough. Afterward, we will get support from Commander-in-Chief Marshall Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. He sent a message this morning with his conditions."

Kudou Retsu answered while handing over the papers to the Yotsuba. Meanwhile, the Yotsubas were waging war against Dahan together with the Ichijou Clan, Juumonji Clan and National Defnese Force, the other powers in the background were working hard as ants.

"Acceptable. We would have done it even if he didn't ask. The hardest part would be to calm down non-magicians, but soon enough, people would adapt, seeing that country is prospering... humans are a very adaptable species."

Yotsuba Motosuku said casually as he looked over the papers.

"Motosuke-san, I have a proposition for Yotsuba Clan."

Questioned Retsu as small light shone in his eyes; that glint always appeared when he wanted something or...

"What?"

Even before he could ask, Yotsuba Motosuke already suspected what the old fox wanted to ask.

"Engagement between the firstborn son of Maya and her future husband. A child between those two should be a monstrous talent in terms of Born-Specialized Magic. I want engagement between him and a most talented girl born in the Kudou Clan of similar age."

Arranged marriages were pretty common among the Ten Master Clans, 18 Assistant Houses, and 100 Families and Extra Families.

Even the Magicians who were not part of the so-called nobility were often practicing arranged marriages to strengthen their Magician Genes, which then allowed them to produce stronger offspring.

"Does it include your Shields branch?"

Questioned Yotsuba Motosuke with a malicious smile.

"Yes, but only after the Shields branch fulfills its purpose. When they return to Japan."

Declared Retsu with a feral grin.

Motosuke asked for the Shields branch because he knew that that branch also had excellent magician genes, so it would be a shame not to include them in the deal.

"And that purpose is?"

Yotsuba Motosuke looked at his compatriot as Kudou Retsu suddenly paused for a while after opening his mouth to answer.

"Infiltration and subsequent destruction of the majority power of USNA."

Retsu slowly opened his eyes as dangerous light glinted there. Indeed that was the worthy goal of Kudou Retsu, one of the first Magicians that Japan has ever produced in their ranks.

When magic started emerging, the USA was one of the first nations to militarize magicians to secure its superiority on the global level, and it paid off. Slowly but steadily, they absorbed Canada and Mexico, creating the USNA, the United Nations of North America.

Currently, they are one of the world's hegemons as their military power has multiplied, and thus, they are open to the biggest enemies of Japan, especially after the last clash during World War III.

***

Dahan, nighttime.

"Sir, we have secured the perimeter of the Kunlunfang Institute."

One of the Yotsuba Clansmen reported to the future husband of the Yotsuba Clan heiress, who was in charge here.

"How high are the chances for them getting reinforcements before we are gone?"

Kiritsugu asked as he was smoking another cigarette.

"Almost zero. After Eisaku-sama accomplished his mission, the entire parliament was destroyed. Most of its members were killed during the explosion of Incomplete Strategic-Class Magic, which was cast by one of their magicians."

He listened to the report of the Yotsuba Clansmen before he closed his eyes and inhaled another wave of smoke.

"Still, one of our clansmen intercepted it with the method you proposed but unfortunately died due to internal injuries. An interception ended in magic exploding, killing the magician, and taking down an entire city block."

Now his biggest worries were gone, hearing this.

"Dahan is on the verge of collapse, Sir. After most of their governmental officers were killed, some splinter groups started appearing and fighting among themselves. We could see that the entire country would collapse from the inside within the next month."

With the stunt Kiritsugu did at the Imperial Hotel, he managed to take out the majority of their High Command and the rest were right now dying on the battlefield.

"Most of their government is dead, and military command, especially the High Command, is destroyed after Genzou-sama killed the last two generals of Dahan yesterday."

Right now, Dahan's Military was like a headless chicken, not knowing what to do and just running here and there in panic and attempting to save its own hide.

"Good. Wait for Clan Head to arrive. Then we could commence an attack. Be aware, from our information; we have to deal with High-Order Strategic-Class Magician with powerful defensive Strategic-Class Magic. He has an Earth Attribute called Genbu Shell, which is different from other magic and is mainly defensive.

Explained Kiritsugu as he remembered some information about the target that was relatively powerful and in charge of defenses around the Kunlunfang Institute.

"If he managed to cast it over the Kunlunfang Institute before we got inside, we would need hours to break through the spell defense. So we need to work especially fast."

From the information they got after killing some of Dahan's prominent generals, they stationed here a Strategic-Class Magician nicknamed Shell Turtle, Liu Yan. He had very strong defensive Strategic-Class Magic, Genbu Shell.

This magic could be cast only with a huge amount of supportive devices, so in normal combat, it would be useless, but here, where he has to defend the position, he had an enormous advantage.

"Clan Head would arrive within 30 minutes."

He heard that the Clan Head would arrive after half an hour; thus, Kiritsugu decided to wait and decide on the next moves together with his future father-in-law.

"Good, start securing the perimeter. Wait for the arrival of Genzou-sama."

Commanded Kirittsugu while he was observing the Kunlunfang Institute.

Currently, the entire Dahan was already collapsing from the inside.

Their parliament was destroyed, with almost all members killed.

Military structure fractured, as the whole High Command was killed, together with countless officials, and especially hundreds of their Magicians that were killed with various methods, such as bombing with Gem Sequence Explosion Spells or poisoning.

He heard that several younger members of Yotsuba were bold enough to sneak into a military base and fire several tactical missiles on several places which house the highest concentration of army magicians in Dahan.

Altogether the situation was terrible.

Some messages from National Defense Forces he got this morning reported that Northen China was just observing the situation and, apparently, gathering their army to invade Dahan after this entire thing would be over.

It was not that surprising that Northern China long ago eyed the territory of Dahan, especially for the Magical research conducted in Dahan after the Kunlunfang Institute attached itself to Dahan.

After half an hour exactly, Yotsuba Genzou, along with several people from the Yotsuba Clan, arrived at the scene.

The first thing, Genzou did was he looked at the remaining people, noticing no one missing, meaning zero losses, to which he sighed in relief.

"You did good, son."

Yotsuba Genzou praised his future-son-law a bit more affectionately, but Kiritsugu wrote it to the old man's tiredness from the war.

"Thanks, father-in-law."

He replied back, as both of them looked at the layout of the Kunlunfang Institute.

"So, how is the situation?"

Clan Head asked about the situation after he studied the layout of the Kunlunfang Institute for a bit.

"Complicated at best. Apparently, before destroying Dahan High Command, they decided to send here Liu Yan, a Strategic-Class Magician, with Genbu Shell, a Defensive Strategic-Class Magic."

Kiritsugu explained the situation to Patriarch with a grim voice.

"If he were to cast it over Kunlunfang Institute, we would need around two hours to breach the barrier."

As everyone was listening to that, they were deeply thinking about the strategy they should implement against the Dahanese.

"What about using the Time Loop: Slow Mode and creating an Anti-Psion Domain?"

Asked Genzou as they weighed their best chances.

"Not possible. Time Loop is incomplete Strategic-Class Magic; it cannot cover the entire Kunlunfang Institute. Also, suppose we create Anti-Psion Domain there. In that case, we can only attack from long-range, meaning our spells could seriously damage the Institute. If some research data is destroyed by any accident, it would be catastrophic. Maybe, I can cast Time Collapse on a specific area where Liu Yan is located."

Explained Kiritsugu as Genzou's expression hardened.

"Afterward, the moment the Anti-Psion Domain is created, someone would assassinate him... though... the person would die. It would be impossible to survive being surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, not to mention that Magicians of Dahan would notice and could kill the assassin from a distance."

He didn't like the suicide mission, but they didn't have a better opinion in such a short time.

They needed to kill Liu Yan for sure to have an unhindered path.

"You all heard him. Who among you will volunteer? If there is nobody, we will think of another way."

Asked Genzou with a somber voice, not liking the situation a bit, but there was no other choice.

Suddenly, an elderly man stepped out; he was in his sixties, clothed in a combat uniform. Yotsuba Genzou just nodded his head with a small tear escaping his ear, as the man who volunteered was his elder cousin.

Kiritsugu either didn't like too much of the idea of sacrificing people that were already family, but currently, they were in a bad situation.