Day 340 - 6:21 PM - Renovated Reception Area, BAYZ Tower & Garden, Toyosu, Reclaid City, Ruins of Tokyo
After the unscheduled stop in the afternoon that caused a bit of delay, the welcoming of the delegation from Auraboros proceeded as planned. They were brought to where they would stay during their ti in the Reclaid City.
Everything that happened the previous afternoon was reported to the higher-ups by the witnesses. It was the case for the two representatives of the army who managed to follow the Empress into the base of the Evernight group, shedding so light on their mysterious existence.
The leader of Evernight, Mark, was acknowledged by the leader of the Japan Branch of Auraboros, The Empress, as a threat. Although there were currently no hostile interactions between the two groups or, possibly, organizations, Evernight was more of an enemy to Auraboros than an ally.
To think that the Empress would deem Evernight to be more of a threat when she did not even put the Japanese Governnt into her eyes. It was a clear testant to Evernight's strength and identity.
A notion to be allied with Evernight and proceeding with imdiate amicable interactions erupted within the higher managent of the Reclaid City's Governnt. With the acknowledgnt of the Empress and the unknown technology they had in their hands, there were more benefits than deficits for the governnt and the army to ally with this mysterious group.
The Evernight faced so problems after the [Mutated Hornet] incident. However, their stay in the Reclaid City should be mostly positive so far. If they start trying to get to their positive side now, it should be possible for the governnt and the army to get the group an ally.
Just imagine the soldiers being equipped with those amazing weapons. Even the Science Bureau would be able to research that unknown technology.
Unfortunately for the officials, their imaginations were doused with reality before they could even delve deeper.
There was the fact that the only reason the mbers of Evernight got their peace was because of the Temple's interference. Furthermore, one of the causes of the trouble was them, who wanted to get hold of that technology through various ans possible.
Furthermore, the Temple had a confird close friendship with the group, testified by the fact that the Priestess would sneak out of the Temple only to have lunch with them. People who would hear this information would think it was bull. However, it was witnessed by the two representatives from the army, and even the Empress was there.
And while the politicians were arguing about what to do, the new Pri Minister could only sigh with sothing deep inside his mind. He looked at the ceiling, not minding the noisy eting room. He still had a choice to make with a deadline for tomorrow.
The ssy eting of the governnt officials continued for a while. But without enough ti, the eting was adjourned for the ti being.
After all, there was still a welco banquet for the guests in the early evening.
Soon enough, the welco banquet began. Aside from the guests and the Empress, the main stars of the banquet were the representatives of the involved parties. The new Pri Minister, Hirokawa Isamu, represented the governnt and the army. On the other hand, it was clearly the Priestess, Ise Hikari, for the Temple.
There were also representatives from the Ancient Japanese Clans and Business Clans. These people held high amounts of influence over the Reclaid City's citizens. However, it was still farfetched to line them with the leaders of the main players of the alliance.
This welco banquet was planned despite the Reclaid City's overall situation. Winter finally ca creating a risk of food shortage for the whole Reclaid City. However, to try to make the alliance work nicely, the banquet was hosted to solidify relationships and support the incoming alliance eting.
But then... For those supporting the alliance, a dilemma imdiately appeared as soon as the banquet started.
It was due to the fact that humans hated Demons, and Demons looked down on these vulgar humans.
Although it was not shown frankly, the banquet hall was currently being divided into three groups. The supporters, the anti-Demons, and the guests. These divisions created a clear wall between said groups, with the supporters of the alliance having the hardest ti.
And the worst thing of all...
Both the Priestess and Empress were not cooperating.
Every ti the Priestess was out in public, interaction with her was always limited. The Priests and Maidens from the Temple were always around her, making the needed interactions for her.
By the looks of it, it was the sa for the Empress. The Empress already appeared to be an unapproachable existence to humans, and the number of guards surrounding her was not helping. Furthermore, although the Empress looked human enough, she was the exact sa [Kitsune] supposedly killed in the legends. With her historical background, those who knew of it would not dare approach her at all.
The supporters of the alliance could only lant this situation. There was already a lot of threat to humanity, and the human population had decreased to a small percentage of what it was before. Even if the alliance only consisted of a peace treaty, it was way better as it would drastically decrease the threat the people of the Reclaid City could face outside its boundaries.
And as if the trouble for the supporters was not enough, the biggest supporter of the alliance, the new Pri Minister, was behaving oddly. His status was enough for him to be able to interact with the Priestess and the Empress. Yet, he was not doing anything as if his mind was floating elsewhere.
The silent cries of the Pro-alliance faction were left unheard as they tried to do their best to keep it from moving positively.
***
Day 340 - 7:02 PM - Evernight Base, Kachidoki, Reclaid City, Ruins of Tokyo
Inside the restaurant area of the Evernight Base, Mark sat with the girls while playing another session on their phones. The girls surely caught Mark's hobby of playing video gas as they enjoyed playing together on a certain decade-year-old block ga.
Since there were a lot of things happening in the Reclaid City, along with the first snow of winter, it was ti for Mark's group to take a break from missions in the Bureau.
The girls also frolicked in the snow for a bit right after the visitors left. Well, they soon got tired of it. Emika was used to this scene as she was half-Japanese. Amihan was a [Sylph], so she did not like the freezing temperature too much. The three daughters of Mark were not too fond of the snow either for so reason. Maybe, because it was just boring compared to killing the [Infected]. Besides, they could do snowball fights within video gas, and no one would get too cold and drenched by the lted snow afterward.
And the rest of the day passed with everyone just spending so quality ti together at ho.
But now that night ti ca...
"Ti to sleep."
Mark told the girls as he urged i to bring them up with Spera and Amihan.
The three girls obeyed without problems, but Emika protested a little bit. In the end, all the girls went up to the second floor, leaving Mark alone.
It was when Mark stood up with a shrug as he opened the back door. There outside the door, five people, divided into two groups, stood waiting.
"Don't you people have a banquet to attend?"
Mark greeted the uninvited guests with a question.
The uninvited guests were no other than the Priestess accompanied by her grandniece and the Empress accompanied by Yukine and Kuroe.
"Enter."
Mark said with a nudge of his head, not waiting for the guests to answer.
The five won followed Mark inside to be seated. They then took the sa seats they had this afternoon. The only difference was the Priestess' grandniece, who took the seat beside the Priestess instead.
Since the temperature outside was quite cold, Mark already had hot water prepared, which he planned to brew coffee with. But as so guests appeared, he asked them.
"Any of you want to drink? I only have instant coffee and tea, though."
The Empress and her escorts only stared at Mark. It was clear that they were not too interested.
"Give coffee. We always drink tea in the Temple. It's nice to have sothing different."
And, obviously, it was the Priestess who said it while now being stared at by her grandniece.
The Priestess grandniece also declined the offer. But she declined politely, unlike the other three.
Mark had no problems and gave a cup of coffee to the Priestess while having his own cup. He then sat at a different chair, facing the two groups.
"Where should we start?"
Mark muttered.
"Then, I'll introduce myself..."
The Priestess grandniece spoke. However, Mark raised his hand.
"There's no need to. You're Ise Tsubasa, right? Granddaughter of her younger brother."
Mark said, pointing at the Priestess.
"How did you know?"
Tsubasa was, of course, surprised.
"She ntions you from ti to ti," Mark replied to Tsubasa while his eyes stared at the Priestess, "...saying that you nag her too much."
Tsubasa fell silent, staring at her grandaunt with a stern expression.
"Anyway, I'm planning to contact you two after the banquet. I didn't expect you two to appear before it ended."
Mark moved into the topic.
"I have no problem with that," The Priestess spoke after taking a sip of coffee. "I don't really appear too much in those kinds of sham events. In those tis, a double would take my place. It is a safety asure since many people want to get rid of soone like . It is easy since not many people know of my appearance. I always appear in those kinds of events with a veil to cover my face."
Hearing the Priestess reason, Mark turned to the silent Empress, forcing her to explain.
"I am using one of my tails to create a clone," The Empress said. "It is a way for to be able to appear in the places I did not want to be."
"And like her," The Empress continued as she turned to the Priestess, "It is also a safety asure. Have you heard of the myths ford with my involvent with the emperor in the past?"
"That myth where you got killed and turned to stone?"
Mark replied, to which the Empress made a slight nod.
"The one that got killed and turned to stone is one of the clones," The Empress explained. "That is why I am here despite the knowledge that I am supposed to be dead. Having my clones in dangerous places instead of going there myself had saved my life countless tis."
It was a perfect safety asure. In that case, the Empress, no, Tamamo-no-Mae, managed to stay alive and lay low after those events due to her magical clones.
As for the humans, they rejoiced in her death, not knowing that what they managed to kill was nothing but a clone. But there was probably sothing more to it since the Empress said she used her tail to create a clone. If that was the case, the Tamamo-no-Mae that was killed and sealed in that stone was probably not just so simple clone.
"So, the ones I fought before were your clones?"
The Priestess asked.
"Precisely."
The Empress replied with a beautiful but infuriating smile.
"Tsk... No wonder you just won't die..."
The Priestess pouted.
"Let us just move to the main topic, shall we?"
The Empress then asked Mark and the Priestess, to which both agreed.
Tomorrow would be the alliance eting and the likely ti the enemies would try sothing.
Then, it was ti to discuss things between the three factions. Perfect cooperation might still be far, but, at the least, they would be able to move on their own without hindering the other.
And on this dark snowy night of winter's beginning, the sches were cooked between the three leaders to face the possible threat for tomorrow.
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