Kamiya High School, Kendo club.
The loud noise from Mount Fuji at noon didn’t affect this place. During sumr vacation, mbers of the Kendo club still had to practice at school. As a powerhouse in Sword Dao, Kamiya High School’s training for its Kendo club was almost militarized. During training periods, mobile phone use was strictly prohibited. Every sumr, after participating in the Jade Dragon Flag, a collective training camp was held.
Sunaga Takashi continued his practice in the center as usual.
After the Tsuhara Research Institute was destroyed, research on Superhuman Potion X halted. Although Tsukahara Hikoshiro left behind many manuscripts, those heavily personalized papers weren’t easily deciphered. Moreover, Tsukahara Hikoshiro was the top dostic expert in this field. This was why he could lead the research institute. To put it bluntly, with his death, research on Superhuman Potion X had entered a phase awaiting abandonnt. The related research data was rely preserved. When research would restart depended on whether anyone could take over.
If no one took over, there was no need for anyone to participate in experints, and Sunaga Takashi returned to his daily life. He wasn’t bothered and continued his daily Sword Dao practice.
Ruriko Yokoo was very concerned. In her view, all dicines carry risks, let alone Superhuman Potion X, which affected the human body. With its abrupt cessation, who could guarantee there wouldn’t be future side effects? However, her worry was useless; that area of knowledge was beyond her understanding. Even the country’s top experts couldn’t clearly explain Superhuman Potion X, let alone a high school student like her. Regarding grades, she was only average in her class and wouldn’t get into Tokyo University.
Ruriko Yokoo sighed lightly, indifferent to the rampant online discussions. If Mount Fuji was gone, it was gone. Besides, according to the experts, its disappearance wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Sunaga Takashi stopped swinging his sword and walked over.
Ruriko Yokoo handed him a cup of tea, her voice laced with concern, "Takashi, are you feeling okay?"
"I’m fine," Sunaga Takashi replied, taking the cup and sipping from it.
Ruriko Yokoo looked at him and sighed. "The Jade Dragon Flag is the day after tomorrow. Please don’t overexert yourself. Stop imdiately if you feel anything wrong with your body."
"Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious." Sunaga Takashi shook his head.
Ruriko Yokoo began to nag again, "Aohana Vine is deliberately keeping Yutaro Shidori out of this national tournant. They’re playing a strategy of pitting a lesser horse against a superior one, clearly intending to catch us off guard at the Jade Dragon Flag. As the national tournant’s runner-up, their strength can’t be underestimated."
"Don’t worry, I will win," Sunaga Takashi replied indifferently.
He was participating in the Jade Dragon Flag purely to achieve what he hadn’t the previous year and to set a new record for the competition—nothing more.
Ruriko Yokoo added, "Undoubtedly, Aozawa from Brilliant high school will also participate in this Jade Dragon Flag."
Hearing this na, Sunaga Takashi finally showed so interest. "I hope he’s gotten stronger."
"Yes," Ruriko Yokoo replied, though in her heart, she just wished he would be alright; that would be the best outco. She might be overthinking, but anyone would worry about potential side effects if soone they cared about took a drug with unknown effects.
「anwhile.」
Chiyoda District, inside the Pri Minister’s residence.
An ergency eting was underway in the tea room, attended by the six major financial conglorates, representatives from Phoenix Academy, and the Pri Minister.
Previously, they had contacted various factions. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France all had collaborators from the six major financial conglorates and Phoenix Academy, as well as mbers of the Silver Hexagram. Call after call was made, cup after cup of tea consud. They appeared busy but had received no useful information.
Now, they could only wait for communication from the Minister of State and the Secretary of State. They hoped to see if the other side could be persuaded to open up and give them a chance to join the investigation.
Waiting was always agonizing. Even these powerful individuals couldn’t help feeling anxious, but they were skilled at maintaining composure, engaging in small talk to keep the atmosphere relaxed.
Phoenix Academy Maggie stood behind her mother. Unable to look at the floor, her gaze drifted and landed on the remarkably developed chest of a young girl present.
Her mind was filled with questions. All she knew was that the U.S. Army had already set up an offensive periter of barbed wire outside and built temporary watchtowers. Another brigade of U.S. troops was stationed there. Equipnt and supplies were continuously transported in, clearly intending to transform the area into a temporary U.S. military base. This was predictable. An asteroid capable of obliterating Mount Fuji, yet whose destructive impact didn’t spread outward, was clearly no ordinary object. To those in high places, it was almost certainly an otherworldly treasure or sothing similar.
Even Phoenix Academy Maggie began to doubt her original conjecture. She couldn’t understand Aozawa’s motive if he were behind this. One could attribute evil deeds to malice, but surely not the disappearance of a mountain. Could she have been mistaken all along? Or perhaps Aozawa was Dio, yet the Different World truly existed. Was this teorite fall the act of another Angel Envoy? She found herself lost in confusion, unable to grasp the underlying logic.
RING.
Kumazo Yasuda answered the phone, his expression turning particularly grim. "They’ve refused. They said they’ll notify us when they have information."
"Late information is useless," Iwasaki Yizo replied coolly.
Sotis, even vital intelligence becos worthless after a certain point. The United States’ stance was clear: they planned to share information only when it no longer held any value.
His gaze shifted to Phoenix Academy Kochou. "Any news from the MacArthur Family yet?"
Kochou shook her head. "They’re keeping an extrely tight lid on that information. Even the military doesn’t know everything."
"Then don’t bla us for joining forces with Bruno to make our move." Iwasaki Yizo was old. So old that every night when he went to bed, he worried he might not wake up the next day. For soone his age, passing away in one’s sleep was a common occurrence, often euphemistically called a peaceful death.
Many envied such a death, but Iwasaki Yizo didn’t want to die. He wanted to live longer, perhaps even achieve immortality. To reach this goal, he would spare no expense and fear no adversary. Whoever blocked his path to longevity would die.
What did one U.S. Army brigade matter? If the plan succeeded, they could quickly infiltrate and capture the desired footage. Sacrifices among the squad mbers were irrelevant; the crucial thing was the intelligence they could obtain. Iwasaki Yizo believed that once they fired the first shot, other spy organizations would quickly follow suit. If the United States still thought they could monopolize control as before, they were mistaken. When it ca to information about the Different World, no personal agendas could be tolerated.
"In that case, each of our families will contribute so people."
"The key is, how do we photograph the teorite?"
"I’ll contact our neighbors and see if we can get so long-range photography equipnt."
The six major financial conglorates had not only penetrated Europe and Arica but also their neighboring countries. Unlike the politicians performing on stage, they had to consider the long term. Ten years ago, the outco of a conflict between their country and its neighbor, given current dostic military strength, was uncertain. Now, however, anyone not blind could see the military disparity. Naturally, they had to secure communication channels and escape routes in advance. Politicians could flee; conglorates rely needed to change their nationality.
After deliberations, they finalized the terms of cooperation with the KGB and then dispersed, each returning ho.
Onboard Phoenix Academy’s helicopter, Kochou looked down at the city below and asked, "Maggie, what did you learn from that eting?"
Phoenix Academy Maggie thought for a mont. "One can be selfish, but not so selfish as to assu everyone else is selfless."
"Exactly," Kochou nodded. The United States’ actions this ti were indeed excessive. Such a massive event was impossible to hide, yet they still insisted on suppressing information. Even the special task force had been disbanded. They thought a brigade of troops and so fighter jets could protect the teorite’s secrets. What an arrogant notion.
"When you eventually lead the conglorate, never make such presumptuous blunders."
"Rest assured, Mother, I never will," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied respectfully, then hesitated. "Mother, may I go to Fukuoka at the beginning of August?"
Kochou glanced at her. "What for?"
"I want to see the annual Jade Dragon Flag."
"Now is not the ti for entertainnt." Kochou paused. The Jade Dragon Flag ant nothing to her, which indicated it wasn’t important. "Focus on your studies."
"Yes, Mother." Phoenix Academy Maggie sighed helplessly. She had hoped to et Aozawa to talk, but now she would have to postpone it until the training camp. Damn it, her heart felt as if a scratching little kitten resided within, desperate to know what exactly was going on!
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